Tu Wei jerked his chin toward the notice wall. "The county has posted bounties. It's a rare opportunity. I'm going to take a job and try my luck out there."
"But those bounties are dangerous."
"And tending a medicine furnace isn't? Besides, the army's chasing a fleeing enemy right now. It's the perfect chance to pick up an easy reward."
Tu Wei brimmed with confidence.
Deng Qing could hardly press him further, so he said goodbye and left.
When Deng Qing returned home, Steward Liu was still waiting in the courtyard.
The fire in the stove had not gone out, and pork offal bubbled away in the pot, sending up steam.
Steward Liu stood beneath the eaves, scuffing at the ground with his foot. He had already scraped out a shallow hollow.
As soon as he saw Deng Qing, he hurried over. "Brother Deng Qing, how did it go? Is Brother Tu willing to come?"
Deng Qing shook his head. "Senior Brother Tu isn't going."
Steward Liu's expression changed. "Why not?"
"The County Yamen posted bounties," Deng Qing said. "Senior Brother Tu plans to take a job and earn some money."
Steward Liu frowned.
Deng Qing added, "I had a look just now. Those rewards are tempting. Thirty taels for killing a heretic at the Skin Refining Second Layer. Even I'm tempted."
Steward Liu could no longer keep up his smile. "Brother Deng Qing, those bounties won't be easy to collect.
"The apothecary deals in transporting medicines. We know exactly which roads are peaceful and which are in chaos.
"They say the imperial troops won a great victory at the front, but if the Donghuang Cult were so easy to wipe out, why would the authorities be rushing to post bounties?
"As far as I know, several routes carrying medicinal herbs from the south have been cut off entirely. Several shipments got halfway here, and neither the men nor their carts came back.
"So take those battle reports and bounties with a grain of salt. Silver's no good if you don't live to spend it."
Steward Liu might be telling the truth, Deng Qing thought. But the moment I brought this up, he panicked. Looks like Senior Brother Tu guessed right—the medicine-refining job is urgent.
Deng Qing pretended to hesitate. "Even so, the rewards are high. Training in martial arts costs me silver at every turn. I still want to take my chances."
Steward Liu's eye twitched. He gritted his teeth. "How about this?
"It isn't a long job this time. Just one batch of medicine, over two days. If you help me through those two days, Brother Deng Qing, I'll pay you fifteen taels."
Seeing Steward Liu raise his offer again only made Deng Qing less willing to commit. He said he needed more time to think.
Steward Liu pleaded with him, but Deng Qing refused to budge. In the end, Steward Liu had no choice but to leave.
After seeing Steward Liu off, Deng Qing realized the apothecary must be refining some powerful medicine.
He wanted to earn the money, of course. The only thing holding him back was that he could not judge the risk.
Then he thought of Elder Wu at the pharmacy.
He went out, bought some pastries, and headed straight for Celebration Hall.
When he arrived, Elder Wu was bent over the medicine counter, leafing through a register.
"You've got another slot for a Medicinal Bath, boy?"
Elder Wu remembered him well.
Deng Qing set the pastries on the table and smiled. "I came to visit you, Senior."
Elder Wu waved a hand. "If you've got something to say, spit it out. This old man doesn't fall for that routine."
Deng Qing gave an awkward smile. "Nothing escapes your sharp eyes, Senior. I wanted to ask how dangerous tending a medicine furnace really is."
Elder Wu paused, then advised him, "Medicinal toxins are hard to treat. If you can avoid them, do. Silver is all well and good, but damage your foundation and you'll never repair it in your lifetime."
"I've practiced an Internal Cultivation Method," Deng Qing said. "Before the new year, I tended a furnace at Tianshun Apothecary for several days. Nothing unusual happened afterward."
Elder Wu stroked his beard. "Seems you've made something of that Internal Cultivation Method after all. In that case, it's a different matter. Ordinary people can't withstand medicinal toxins. If you can, that's a way to make a living."
"I'd like to earn some silver doing it," Deng Qing said. "I'm just afraid the toxins from certain medicines might be too potent."
Elder Wu shook his head. "Medicinal toxins spread through the fumes. There's a limit to how much you can breathe in.
"As long as you don't foolishly keep going until you pass out, a properly practiced Internal Cultivation Method will let you work through it over time, even if you can't clear it at once.
"Besides, what especially potent medicine could an apothecary in this county refine? At most, a Ginseng Pill.
"Even if the toxins are stronger, proper precautions and an Internal Cultivation Method should keep them from ruining your foundation in one stroke."
Could Tianshun Apothecary be refining Ginseng Pills? Deng Qing wondered.
Elder Wu was too shrewd to miss the look on Deng Qing's face. His eyes narrowed. "Are they really refining Ginseng Pills?"
"I don't know," Deng Qing said. "Someone from Tianshun Apothecary came to ask for my help. They said it was one batch over two days and offered fifteen taels."
Elder Wu frowned. "If that's the case, it could well be Ginseng Pills. No other medicine is worth enough for them to pay a furnace tender fifteen taels.
"But if they really are refining Ginseng Pills and they're only offering fifteen taels, they're fleecing you!"
Elder Wu snapped the register shut.
Deng Qing's interest stirred. "That's too little?"
"Too little?" Elder Wu sneered. "If it's a large batch of Ginseng Pills, they could produce hundreds, even a thousand, in one go.
"That would be worth thousands of taels.
"Tending a furnace doesn't take much skill, but for someone without an Internal Cultivation Method, it's a job they risk their life to do. For someone with one, it's skilled work. Fifteen taels for the whole batch? They must think you were born yesterday."
Good thing I came here, Deng Qing thought. Steward Liu nearly took me for a ride.
Deng Qing cupped his hands. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior."
Elder Wu suddenly frowned. "Wait. Something's wrong."
"What is it?"
"It doesn't make sense. If someone wanted Ginseng Pills refined, why entrust it to Tianshun Apothecary? They can decoct medicines and prepare powders, but refining Ginseng Pills may be beyond them. Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Unless a wealthy clan in the county needs them and wants them refined nearby," Elder Wu said.
"But that's none of our business. If you want the job, harden your heart and demand more. Don't let them slaughter you like a tender lamb."
Deng Qing considered it, then cupped his hands. "I'd like to do this deal together with you, Senior."
Elder Wu shook his head. "I'm old. My vitality has waned, and I can't withstand medicinal toxins.
"Besides, tending a furnace doesn't take two people."
"You wouldn't need to enter the furnace room," Deng Qing said. "You'd only have to sit in the outer room. When we're paid, we'll split the silver evenly."
Elder Wu's expression changed at once.
"To be honest, I'm too young to negotiate a good price, and they may not take me seriously," Deng Qing said. "It would be different if you spoke for me.
"Besides, I don't trust Tianshun Apothecary. With you there to keep watch, they wouldn't dare pull anything on me."
Elder Wu held his teacup for a long while before speaking. "That may be so, but this old man can't take advantage of you for nothing.
"Let's make it seventy-thirty. Seven parts for you, three for me. Otherwise, what would become of my reputation if word got out?"
Deng Qing was delighted. "As you say, Senior."
"When do we start?" Elder Wu asked.
Deng Qing paused. "I haven't agreed to Steward Liu's offer yet. He left in a huff yesterday. I don't know if he'll come back to ask me."
Elder Wu glared at him. "You rascal. You've been promising this old man a feast that isn't even on the table."
Deng Qing smiled sheepishly.
Elder Wu gave another snort. "Don't worry. Few people practice an Internal Cultivation Method, and fewer still can withstand medicinal toxins. If they truly need someone, they'll come back."
Deng Qing felt reassured. He cupped his hands and took his leave.
Over the next few days, the city grew increasingly unsettled.