A Big Deal

Tu Wei jerked his chin at the notice wall. "The county has posted bounties. This is a rare opportunity. I plan to take a job and go out there to take a gamble."

"But bounties are dangerous."

"Is watching a medicine furnace not dangerous? Besides, the front lines are at the perfect moment to chase down the defeated and slaughter the fleeing. It's practically picking up scraps."

Tu Wei was brimming with confidence.

Deng Qing could not persuade him further, so he took his leave.

When Deng Qing returned home, Steward Liu was still waiting in the courtyard.

The fire beneath the stove had not gone out, and the pig offal in the pot was still bubbling away, steaming hot.

Steward Liu stood beneath the eaves, scraping at the ground with his foot. He had already dug out a shallow pit.

The moment he saw Deng Qing return, he hurried over. "Brother Deng Qing, how did it go? Is Brother Tu willing to come along?"

Deng Qing shook his head. "Senior Brother Tu isn't going."

Steward Liu's expression changed. "Why not?"

Deng Qing said, "The county office has posted bounties. Senior Brother Tu plans to take a job and earn some money."

Steward Liu frowned.

Deng Qing added, "I took a look as well. The bounty is indeed tempting. Killing one evil cultist at the Skin Refining Second Layer earns thirty taels. Even I was tempted."

The smile on Steward Liu's face could no longer hold. "Brother Deng Qing, that bounty isn't easy to collect.

Our apothecary deals in transporting medicine. We know better than anyone where it is peaceful and where it is chaotic.

The front-line reports say the imperial forces have won a great victory, but if the Donghuang Cult were truly so easy to wipe out, why would those above be in such a rush to post bounties?

As far as I know, several routes in the south used for transporting medicinal herbs have all been cut off. Several shipments made it halfway, and neither the people nor the carts ever returned.

So just listen to the battle reports and bounties for what they are. No matter how good silver is, you still need to be alive to spend it."

Deng Qing thought to himself, What Steward Liu said may not be false, but the moment I mentioned it, he became anxious. Senior Brother Tu guessed right—the current medicine-refining job must be urgent.

Deng Qing pretended to hesitate. "That may be true, but the bounty is high. Now that I'm practicing martial arts, I need silver for everything. I still plan to take a gamble."

Steward Liu's eye twitched. Gritting his teeth, he said, "How about this.

This isn't a long-term job. It's just one furnace of medicine, and it will take two days. As long as Brother Deng Qing helps me get through these two days, I'll pay you fifteen taels."

Seeing Steward Liu raise the price again, Deng Qing became even less willing to commit. He said he needed to think it over.

Steward Liu tried hard to persuade him, but Deng Qing refused to budge no matter what. Steward Liu had no choice but to take his leave.

After seeing Steward Liu off, Deng Qing realized that the apothecary must be refining some major medicine.

Naturally, he wanted to earn this money. The only obstacle now was that he could not judge the risk.

With a shift of thought, he thought of Elder Wu at the medicine shop.

At once, he went out to buy some pastries and headed straight for Celebration Hall.

When he arrived, Elder Wu was bent over the medicine cabinet, flipping through a medicine ledger.

"You brat, did you get another quota for a Medicinal Bath?"

Elder Wu remembered him clearly.

Deng Qing set the pastries on the table and smiled. "This junior came to pay his respects to Senior."

Elder Wu waved a hand. "Say what you have to say, and fart if you have to fart. This old man doesn't fall for that routine."

Deng Qing said awkwardly, "Senior's gaze is like a torch. This junior admires you greatly. This junior wanted to ask just how great the risk of watching a medicine furnace really is."

Elder Wu was taken aback, then advised, "Medicine poison is hard to cure. If you can avoid touching it, it is best not to. Silver may be good, but if you ruin your foundation, you will never make up for it in a lifetime."

Deng Qing said, "This junior cultivates an Internal Cultivation Method. Before the new year, I already went to Tianshun Apothecary to watch a medicine furnace. I guarded it for several days, and afterward there was nothing unusual."

Elder Wu stroked his beard. "It seems your Internal Cultivation Method has truly taken some shape. If that is the case, then it must be considered from two sides. Ordinary people cannot endure medicine poison, but you can withstand it. That counts as a means of making a living."

Deng Qing said, "This junior also wants to earn some silver through it. I am only afraid that some special medicine poisons may be too potent."

Elder Wu shook his head. "Medicine poison disperses through smoke. There is only so much that can be inhaled into the body.

As long as you do not stubbornly hold on until you faint, and your Internal Cultivation Method circulates properly, anything you cannot dissolve for the moment can slowly be dissolved later.

Besides, what particularly powerful medicine could an apothecary in this county possibly refine? At most, it would be Ginseng Pills.

Even if the medicine poison is somewhat heavier, as long as the protection is sufficient and you have an Internal Cultivation Method guarding you, it would not ruin your foundation all at once."

Deng Qing thought to himself, Could Tianshun Apothecary be refining Ginseng Pills?

Elder Wu was exceedingly shrewd. The moment he saw Deng Qing's expression, his eyes narrowed. "They're really refining Ginseng Pills?"

Deng Qing said, "This junior does not know. Tianshun Apothecary merely sent someone to ask me. They said one furnace of medicine would require two days, and they would pay fifteen taels."

Elder Wu frowned. "If that is so, then it really could be Ginseng Pills. Other medicines are not worth that much. There is no way they would pay fifteen taels to someone merely watching the fire.

But if they are truly refining Ginseng Pills, then only paying fifteen taels is downright cheating!"

The medicine ledger in Elder Wu's hand snapped shut.

Deng Qing's heart stirred. "The price is too low?"

"Too low?"

Elder Wu sneered. "If it is truly a large furnace of Ginseng Pills, it could produce several hundred, even over a thousand pills.

That would be worth several thousand taels of silver.

Watching the furnace does not require much skill, but for those who do not cultivate an Internal Cultivation Method, it is work that costs them their lives. For those who do cultivate one, it is skilled work. Fifteen taels for one furnace of medicine? They are trying to fool ghosts."

Deng Qing thought to himself that it was fortunate he had made this trip. He had nearly been tricked by Steward Liu.

Deng Qing clasped his hands. "Thank you, Senior, for your guidance."

Elder Wu suddenly frowned. "Something is wrong."

"What is wrong?"

"It makes no sense. If they truly wanted to refine Ginseng Pills, why would they entrust it to Tianshun Apothecary? They know how to decoct medicine and prepare powdered remedies, but they may not necessarily be skilled at refining Ginseng Pills. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

Elder Wu said, "Unless some great clan in this county needs them and is refining them locally.

Still, that has nothing to do with us. If you truly want to go, then harden your heart and raise the price. Do not let others butcher you like a tender lamb."

Deng Qing turned the matter over in his mind, then clasped his hands. "This junior wishes to do this deal together with Senior."

Elder Wu shook his head. "This old man is advanced in years, and his qi and blood have declined. I cannot endure medicine poison.

Besides, watching a furnace does not require two people."

Deng Qing said, "Senior need not enter the furnace room. Senior only needs to sit in the outer room. When the time comes, this junior will split the silver earned equally with Senior."

The look in Elder Wu's eyes changed at once.

Deng Qing said, "To be honest, this junior is still wet behind the ears and cannot negotiate a good price. The other side may not take me seriously either. If Senior comes forward, it will be different.

Furthermore, this junior does not trust Tianshun Apothecary. With Senior sitting outside to keep watch, they will not dare to scheme against me."

Elder Wu held his teacup and spoke only after a long while. "That is true, but this old man cannot take advantage of you for nothing."

Joy rose in Deng Qing's heart. "Then we shall do as Senior says."

Elder Wu said, "When will you begin?"

Deng Qing was startled. "This junior has not agreed to Steward Liu yet. He left in a huff yesterday, and I do not know whether he will come ask me again."

Elder Wu glared at Deng Qing. "You little brat, you're drawing cakes to satisfy this old man's hunger."

Deng Qing smiled awkwardly.

Elder Wu snorted again. "Do not be impatient either. Those who cultivate Internal Cultivation Methods are scarce to begin with, and those who can endure medicine poison are even fewer. If they truly lack people, they will come again."

Deng Qing's heart settled, and he clasped his hands in farewell.

Over the following days, the city grew increasingly unsettled.