041 Humility

"Why should we move?" Zhang He's coachman, upon hearing the other party's request, was not pleased. In this sweltering heat, who but a fool would move their carriage out from the shade and into the scorching sun?

"Where did this country bumpkin come from? To think a piece of junk like this dares to act so brazenly in Luowang Prefecture! Do you have any idea who we are?" The other coachman, not expecting such insolence from the driver of a dilapidated carriage, felt his expression darken instantly.

"That's enough, Uncle Liu. Just leave the carriage here. You can wait for us to return. Let's go, little brother, grab the items and we'll head inside." A young woman's voice drifted over, as crisp and clear as silver bells.

The carriage curtain parted, and a woman in a pale blue robe stepped out. Her large eyes shimmered with wisdom, and with her fair, oval face and raven-black hair, she was a sight to behold. Though perhaps not as beautiful as Lian Yunbi, her appearance was still a feast for the eyes.

As she stepped down, she caught Zhang He watching her and offered a faint smile. Only then did Zhang He notice a small black mole on the right side of her nose; that subtle smile gave her an air of delicate charm.

Zhang He returned the smile. The fact that she had reined in her coachman and refused to bully others based on status earned her a sliver of his favor.

Behind her, a somewhat lean youth hopped down from the carriage. He was about Zhang He's age, and though his frame was thin, his brow held a distinct air of heroism. The youth cradled two three-foot-long boxes, moving with extreme caution as if they contained something precious.

I wonder what this person does, Zhang He thought to himself. After giving his coachman a few final instructions, he headed toward the Pharmacist Association.

Behind him, the woman watched Zhang He depart, feeling a slight sense of intrigue. The composure he displayed suggested he was not a man of low standing.

At the entrance of the Pharmacist Association, two gatekeepers stood guard. As Zhang He approached, he was unexpectedly blocked.

"Register first." The gatekeeper on the left swept his gaze over Zhang He, his tone indifferent.

Zhang He watched as a fat man carrying some goods walked right past them, swaggering inside without being stopped or asked to perform this tedious registration.

He couldn't help but frown slightly. "Why didn't he have to register?"

"He's a regular; we know him." The gatekeeper, annoyed that Zhang He dared to question him, snapped back. This brat actually dares to talk back? How ungrateful!

Suddenly, both gatekeepers stood up straight, their faces quickly shifting into humble, fawning smiles.

"Pharmacist Shi, you've returned."

Zhang He turned to see a middle-aged man in a moon-white robe approaching with an arrogant air. A badge hung prominently on his chest.

"An Iron-Rank Pharmacist!" Zhang He recognized the badge; it was identical to his own. It was the symbol of one's status within the Pharmacist Association.

"Hmm." Pharmacist Shi responded with a dismissive grunt. He didn't even have the interest to spare a word for the gatekeepers before striding inside.

The two gatekeepers didn't mind in the slightest. Only after the figure of Pharmacist Shi had disappeared did their fawning expressions fade.

Turning back, they resumed their cold, hard stares at Zhang He.

"If you want to go in, register quickly! Stop blocking the way; there are others behind you!" The gatekeeper barked, seeing that Zhang He hadn't moved.

Dogs looking down on people, Zhang He thought.

Shaking his head, he picked up the pen and wrote his name, his purpose for visiting, and, naturally, his status in the registration book.

The gatekeeper took the ledger and glanced at it, his expression shifting instantly. He looked up, staring at Zhang He with a hint of shock. "You... you are looking for Master Lu? You, you are a pharmacist too?"

Zhang He calmly produced his token. The black badge emitted a unique luster under the sunlight. The faces of the two gatekeepers twitched; they stared at the identity token, then up at Zhang He, shifting their gaze back and forth three or four times.

"Pharmacist... Pharmacist Zhang. Please, please, go right in!" One of the gatekeepers suddenly snapped to his senses, his face breaking into the most radiant smile imaginable—as humble as one could possibly be.

"Hmm." Zhang He tucked his token away. He had no desire to bicker with such people; they were merely pathetic creatures. With his token stowed, he walked directly through the gates of the Pharmacist Association.

Behind him, the two gatekeepers watched Zhang He leave, their faces pale. They wiped away cold sweat, both seeing the look of utter disbelief in the other's eyes.

"An Iron-Rank Pharmacist, and so young..."

"That identity token is genuine, not a forgery. Sigh, I never imagined we would have such poor eyes. I hope we haven't offended Pharmacist Zhang..."

The two gatekeepers were filled with trepidation. Within the Pharmacist Association, pharmacists held the highest status. If they offended one, a single word from the pharmacist would see them kicked to the curb. Working the gate was a lucrative position that occasionally brought in extra tips; if they were fired, they would truly regret it until their guts turned green.

In the background, the woman in the pale blue robe had just reached the steps and witnessed the entire scene.

A look of astonishment flashed in her eyes. That young man was actually an Iron-Rank Pharmacist of the Association? That was far too young!

She knew a thing or two about the Pharmacist Association and understood the revered status of its pharmacists. Many apprentices were young, and some unranked pharmacists could be relatively young as well, but generally, those who earned a badge were over thirty.

Yet, Zhang He looked to be not even twenty years old!

This person surely has boundless potential, the woman in blue thought to herself, a contemplative look appearing on her face.

Inside the grand hall of the Pharmacist Association, Zhang He saw counters similar to the service desks of modern communication companies. Over a dozen beautiful women in uniform were there, methodically handling inquiries and busy with registration tasks.

"May I ask if you need any assistance?" A smiling young man approached; his attire indicated he was also a staff member.

"I am here to see Master Lu Tiao. Is he in?" Zhang He asked calmly.

"Master Lu is currently busy. If you have any needs, our other pharmacists here can assist you," the young man replied with a smile.

Zhang He pulled out his token and said flatly, "I have official business with him. Please trouble yourself to announce me; tell him Zhang He is here to see him."

The young man saw the token and his expression shifted. He nodded hurriedly. "Please, wait a moment." With that, he turned and rushed off.

Zhang He was in no hurry and began to stroll leisurely around the hall.

Before long, the sound of hurried footsteps approached.

"Haha, you finally remembered to pay a visit. How have you been lately?" A hearty laugh rang out from behind. Zhang He turned to see Master Lu Tiao already before him, looking at him with a beaming smile.

"Greetings, Master Lu." Zhang He bowed respectfully.

"No need for such formalities in front of me." Lu Tiao pulled Zhang He along, full of warmth. "Come, let's head inside first. This is no place for a conversation."

As Lu Tiao spoke, Zhang He noticed that many people around them had caught wind of the commotion. When they saw Lu Tiao, their eyes filled with pleasant surprise, and several individuals already seemed on the verge of walking over.

Lu Tiao pulled Zhang He along and quickly headed inside. Those in the back who had intended to rush forward to curry favor with Master Lu Tiao were suddenly struck with disappointment. Yet, seeing Lu Tiao pull Zhang He away, they felt a sense of disbelief; who was that young man, and why was Master Lu Tiao so enthusiastic upon seeing him?

"As expected, this Zhang He has an extraordinary background..." Off to the side, a woman in blue who had been waiting to attend to her business saw the scene and her expression shifted.

In the quiet room, Zhang He sipped the tea Lu Tiao had personally brewed. The tea was slightly bitter upon entering his mouth, but a delicate, elegant fragrance immediately diffused across his palate, causing his mouth to water.

"I didn't see you when I went to Mengyin City last time. I heard you had gone to gather herbs, so I had Wang Pengyu pass the items on to you. How is it? Are you still busy with those Five Poison Beads?" Lu Tiao looked at Zhang He with a beaming smile.

This young man before him was no simple character. The introduction of the Five Poison Beads had not only allowed the Wang Family Pharmacy to immediately break into the market in Mengyin City, but the Pharmacist Association had also benefited as a result. Now, the Pharmacist Association enjoyed an incredibly high reputation in Mengyin City! As his introducer, he had naturally benefited immensely as well!

"Yes, I came straight here just after finishing the Martial Child Assessment. I came this time partly to pay you a visit, but also because I wouldn't disturb you without a reason—there is a matter I need the Pharmacist Association's help with," Zhang He said quietly. He set down his teacup and added a sincere compliment, "This truly is excellent tea!"

"Oh? What is it?" Lu Tiao looked at Zhang He with immediate interest.

"I need to find two types of medicinal herbs to concoct a certain pill." Zhang He took two sheets of paper from his person, unfolded them, and handed them to Lu Tiao.

Fearing that Lu Tiao might not know the names of these herbs, he had simply drawn two diagrams.

Lu Tiao took the diagrams and looked at them. When he saw the first one, a look of confusion flashed across his face, as he had no impression of the herb depicted. But when his gaze fell upon the second diagram, his expression became suddenly animated.

"What do you need 'Qushen Red Fruit Wood' for?" Lu Tiao asked in a tone of surprise.

Zhang He's eyes lit up: "You know this medicinal ingredient?" The second diagram depicted a Drunken Immortal Peach. Although the names were different, Lu Tiao's reaction indicated that he had seen the 'Drunken Immortal Peach'! It was highly probable that the Qushen Red Fruit Wood was indeed the Drunken Immortal Peach, for the fruit produced by the Drunken Immortal Peach was red and resembled a miniature peach.

"Naturally, I do. This 'Qushen Red Fruit Wood' can be found right here, though not many people know of it." Lu Tiao looked at Zhang He with curiosity. "This herb has many miraculous effects. Its scent can make one feel dizzy and muddled, but if someone suffers from gout or the like, they need only steep its petals in water to alleviate the pain. Its leaves are even more miraculous; if one holds a leaf in their mouth, it can keep the mind clear and alert, which is extremely precious for pharmacists who need to maintain sharp senses."

Upon hearing Lu Tiao say this, Zhang He became certain that the 'Qushen Red Fruit Wood' was, in all likelihood, the 'Drunken Immortal Peach,' one of the two main ingredients he was searching for!

"I need the root nodules from its base." Zhang He looked at Lu Tiao with burning intensity.

Lu Tiao spread his hands and said helplessly, "This Qushen Red Fruit Wood is a treasure of our Pharmacist Association here in Luowang Prefecture. If you take the root nodules, it will certainly cause the plant harm... Furthermore, its leaves are a benefit reserved for the senior pharmacists of the Association. Throughout the entire Pharmacist Association, only those with a Bronze-Rank level or higher are permitted to use them. This... your current rank is too low; you simply have no qualification to use it."