At the commotion outside, Elder Wu frowned.
Before long, a Medicine Hall errand boy rushed in, his face pale. "Something's wrong! People from the County Yamen are here!"
"What are you panicking for?" Elder Wu asked sternly. "Explain clearly."
The errand boy hurriedly said, "The County Yamen is conscripting martial artists from a roster, and Senior Brother Deng Qing is on it. They said every martial artist named must gather at the south gate."
Deng Qing's heart sank.
He knew perfectly well that going out at a time like this was the worst possible choice.
But caught in the net, he had no say in the matter. Deng Qing cupped his hands to Elder Wu and headed for the door.
Elder Wu suddenly reached out and clamped a hand on his shoulder. "Where are you going?"
"My name is on the roster," Deng Qing said. "I can't disobey orders."
"Trust this old man," Elder Wu said quietly. "Don't go and be cannon fodder."
Deng Qing stopped in his tracks. Of course he didn't want to go.
But the County Yamen was calling people up by name from its roster. Failing to answer was disobeying orders at best; at worst, it was evading service.
"But the law is merciless," Deng Qing said quietly.
"The law, my ass."
Elder Wu grabbed Deng Qing's arm. "Come on. You're coming with me to the Tianshun Apothecary."
Deng Qing had no idea what he intended, but followed him anyway.
They crossed the small courtyard behind the Medicine Hall and left through a side door.
A narrow back alley lay outside.
As they walked, Elder Wu said quietly, "The Tianshun Apothecary has powerful backing and deep ties to the authorities. Once you're in its Cultivation Room, if they're willing to protect you, you'll get through this."
Deng Qing murmured his agreement and quickened his pace.
By now, the streets had become a pot of boiling chaos.
Shops that had still been open were now putting up their shutters one after another.
Several runners hurried past along the street, carrying iron rulers.
The two walked swiftly, covering half a long street and skirting two alley entrances before finally reaching the Tianshun Apothecary.
Outside, chaos reigned as though war had broken out, yet the Tianshun Apothecary remained open for business. No one had even come to trouble it.
As soon as Deng Qing and Elder Wu arrived, Steward Liu came out to meet them. "You two—didn't we agree to hold the furnace trial tomorrow?"
"Better sooner than later," Elder Wu said. "With everything in such turmoil, if young Deng gets sent to defend the city, it'll all be too late."
Steward Liu's eyelid twitched. He immediately turned and gave orders. "Open Cultivation Room Three and prepare the smoke-inducing medicine. Tell the gatekeepers to keep their eyes sharp, too. No one is to barge into the Back Courtyard today."
The assistant went off to carry out his orders.
Steward Liu turned back to Deng Qing, his expression serious. "Brother Deng Qing, let me lay out the unpleasant truth first. The medicinal smoke used in the furnace trial is much like the medicinal toxins produced during the actual refining.
"If you can endure it, you can work at the main furnace. If you can't, don't try to tough it out. Leave immediately."
Deng Qing nodded. "I understand."
Of course he understood.
This furnace trial was no longer merely a matter of silver.
If he failed to endure it, the Tianshun Apothecary would have no reason to protect him.
When the County Yamen's men caught up with him, he would most likely be sent to defend the city.
That was hardly what he wanted, especially with Tu Wei's example before him.
Steward Liu said no more and personally led them to the Underground Refining Chamber.
Two apothecary assistants were already waiting outside furnace room three.
The stone door stood half open. Inside, a great pitch-black furnace stood quietly in the center.
It was taller than the furnace Deng Qing had tended before the New Year, with a broad belly.
Several iron pipes were still connected to its top. They passed through the wall, leading into unseen depths of the Medicine Hall.
Steward Liu pointed to the fire tongs, hardwood, and fire-recording tablet in front of the furnace.
"The rules are the same as before the New Year. The trial only involves introducing the medicine. All you need to do is watch the fire, keep it steady, and last these two hours."
Elder Wu cautioned him, "Once the trial starts, pay no attention to any commotion outside.
"Keep your eyes on the furnace. If you really can't endure it, knock on the door without hesitation. Don't gamble with your foundations."
Deng Qing cupped his hands. "I'll remember."
With that, he entered the furnace room, and the stone door slowly closed.
Deng Qing walked over to the furnace, crouched, and opened the fuel hatch.
Some charcoal was still burning at the bottom, its embers a dull red.
He added firewood and stirred it a little with the tongs, letting the flames gradually lick upward.
Then faint sounds came from the iron pipes overhead, as though medicinal liquids and powders were being fed into the furnace.
A moment later, a wisp of medicinal smoke seeped out.
Deng Qing inhaled only a little before a burning sensation struck his chest. These medicinal toxins really are far more potent than what I encountered before the New Year.
He immediately sat cross-legged, setting the Violet Palace Method into motion with a thought.
He had only just steadied his breathing when a commotion suddenly arose beyond the stone door—first footsteps, then angry shouting.
"Where is he? I have the county magistrate's signed warrant! Who dares hide him?"
Even through the stone door, the voice carried clearly into the room.
Deng Qing's brows shifted slightly. Just then, Elder Wu's voice came from outside. "Calm the Mind. Still the Heart. Let nothing distract you."
Elder Wu's voice was not loud, but it instantly pinned down Deng Qing's wavering mind.
Deng Qing slowly exhaled and paid no further attention to the outside.
In the apothecary's Back Courtyard, Zhu Shun stood in his head constable's uniform, a saber at his waist and the county magistrate's signed warrant clenched in his hand. His expression was grim.
The men he had brought blocked the underground entrance. The apothecary assistants dared not truly obstruct them and could only stand in their way with apologetic smiles.
Zhu Shun stared at Steward Liu and said coldly, "Steward Liu, your Tianshun Apothecary certainly has some nerve.
"The County Magistrate has issued strict orders. Celebration Hall is to give its full support to the city's defense, and every martial artist on the roster must report at the south gate today.
"My men saw a Celebration Hall disciple slip into your place, and you're still telling me you know nothing about it?"
Steward Liu repeatedly cupped his hands, his face wreathed in smiles. "Please calm down, Head Constable Zhu. Calm down. The assistants were careless and failed to pass the message on properly."
As he spoke, he turned his sleeve, letting a hefty silver ingot slide neatly into Zhu Shun's hand.
Zhu Shun felt its weight in his palm, and his expression softened a little. "This time is different.
"The County Magistrate is pressing hard. I have to go back and account for myself, too."
Steward Liu's smile did not fade. "Head Constable Zhu, even the law leaves room for human consideration."
Zhu Shun frowned. "Don't try to fob me off with that."
Steward Liu did not argue. He merely raised a hand and pointed toward the sky. "This batch of medicine is a matter of great importance.
"If anything goes wrong with this furnace, not only would I be unable to bear the responsibility, I'm afraid you would have trouble accounting for it as well."
Zhu Shun's gaze sharpened. Naturally, he understood the implication.
The Tianshun Apothecary had operated in Everjoy County for so many years because it had powerful backing.
It had connections in the county, and in the prefecture as well.
If this were merely an ordinary martial artist, he could simply arrest him and be done with it.
But if medicine intended for those above was truly involved, that was not a responsibility a mere head constable could bear.
Still, he could not let himself be sent away with a single remark. "Steward Liu, don't try to pressure me with your superiors.
"The County Magistrate's signed warrant is right here. If I fail to bring the man back today, I'll have trouble accounting for myself just the same."
"I wouldn't dare put you in a difficult position, Head Constable Zhu," Steward Liu immediately said.
He pointed to the tightly shut stone door. "The man has already entered the furnace trial room. We'll know the result in two hours."
Zhu Shun frowned. "What do you mean?"
"In two hours, if he fails the medicinal toxin test, that will prove he's unsuitable for tending the furnace for this batch. You can take him away immediately. I won't say another word."
Steward Liu lowered his voice. "If he endures it, that will show he's precisely the worker our apothecary urgently needs.
"In that case, I hope you'll do me this favor, Head Constable Zhu.
"Later, County Magistrate Gong will have something to say on the matter."