Sharing the Profits

The moment the words "County Magistrate Gong" were spoken, Zhu Shun's expression changed. He snorted coldly. "Fine. I'll give you one hour."

With that, he turned to the constable behind him. "Li Liang, stay here. In one hour, either bring the man back or bring back word."

Li Liang clasped his fists. "Yes."

Zhu Shun flicked his sleeve and left, leaving only Li Liang and two yamen runners standing guard outside.

Steward Liu lowered his voice. "Elder Wu, for now, all we can do is leave it to Brother Deng Qing's fate."

Elder Wu gave a grunt, his palms damp with sweat.

Inside the stone door, Deng Qing had long since shut out all distractions, focusing solely on controlling the furnace fire and refining away the medicinal toxins. He had completely forgotten the time.

An hour later, someone knocked on the stone door. Steward Liu's voice came through. "Brother Deng Qing, time is up. Come out."

Deng Qing stepped outside, his expression normal save for a trace of weariness between his brows.

Elder Wu let out a long breath. "The test is passed. Steward Liu, our luck is not bad."

Steward Liu chuckled happily.

Not far away, Li Liang saw this and clasped his fists toward Deng Qing. Deng Qing returned the gesture. Li Liang nodded, then left with his men.

Li Liang clicked his tongue in amazement. Deng Qing really knew how to worm his way in. It had only been a short while, yet he had already become so chummy with Tianshun Apothecary.

He secretly thought that he could not keep standing on the cliffs and looking down on everyone else. He really needed to find the time to shamelessly pay Deng Qing a visit and build some rapport.

After Li Liang left, Steward Liu worried that Deng Qing was not in his best condition. "The upcoming refinement of the precious medicine is of great importance. Young Friend Deng Qing, rest for two days first. Then we'll begin refining."

Deng Qing could not have asked for more. As long as they feed me, that's enough.

For the next two days, Deng Qing was arranged to stay at the apothecary. To ensure his recovery, Steward Liu provided him with five meals a day, with meat served without interruption.

On the third day, Elder Wu returned and reported on Celebration Hall's situation. He said that many disciples had been pulled up onto the city walls for guard duty, and no great battle had erupted yet.

Deng Qing chatted with Elder Wu for a while before Steward Liu came looking for him and informed him that the medicine refinement was about to begin.

Deng Qing immediately changed into a set of old clothes and followed Steward Liu down into the underground refining chamber.

The furnace room was still the same one as last time.

Only this time, the corridor outside the furnace room was already piled full of medicine chests.

Several old hands from the apothecary stood guard outside. Some checked medicine ledgers, while others inspected medicinal ingredients. None of their expressions were relaxed.

When Deng Qing reached the door, Elder Wu gave him a few more quiet reminders. Deng Qing nodded. "This junior remembers."

With that, he pushed open the door and entered the furnace room. The stone door closed once more behind him.

The furnace room was as stiflingly hot as ever. That great black furnace stood in the center, its belly heavy and still, like an iron beast lurking in the darkness.

After checking the fresh water and dry rations, Deng Qing walked to the furnace, crouched down, opened the firewood port, lit the fire, and fed in wood.

Before long, sounds came through the iron pipes beyond the wall.

The next moment, medicinal ingredients were slowly delivered into the furnace through the iron pipes. A muffled boom sounded from the furnace belly, followed by medicinal smoke spilling out.

Deng Qing inhaled only one breath of it before his chest and abdomen felt as though they had been pierced by hot needles. He immediately sat cross-legged beside the furnace, and the Violet Palace Method rose with a thought.

Once the main furnace was lit, there was no idle moment. Besides circulating the Violet Palace Method, he also had to control the fire with absolute precision.

He endured like this until nightfall, when the heat in the furnace room had become frighteningly intense.

Deng Qing was drenched in sweat, and his old clothes were soaked through as well.

Suddenly, the firelight within the furnace belly flared fiercely.

The next moment, crimson medicinal smoke surged back through the furnace cracks.

Deng Qing's chest jolted, and a metallic sweetness immediately rose in his throat.

Chaos erupted outside the stone door as well. Someone shouted, "The fire's too strong!"

Even Steward Liu's voice changed. "How could the fire be too strong? Check the medicine flow, quickly!"

Footsteps scrambled through the corridor.

Yet Elder Wu's voice sounded at that moment. "Suppress the fire. Steady your breath."

Deng Qing forcibly swallowed the metallic sweetness in his throat. He bent down and gripped the firewood port, first pulling the fresh wood halfway back out, then began withdrawing the fire.

Time seemed to stretch on endlessly. At last, that blinding red glow in the furnace belly gradually dimmed.

Only then did Deng Qing slowly let out a breath.

Outside the stone door, many people also released long sighs of relief.

The medicine refinement continued into the next day and gradually neared its end, while the medicinal toxins grew even heavier.

Crimson medicinal smoke settled inside the furnace room, unable to disperse, like a layer of heated fog.

Bitterness filled Deng Qing's throat, his eyes stung, and deep within his lungs and organs, it felt as though a clump of burning-red cotton had been stuffed inside.

He no longer thought about what lay outside, nor did he count the hours anymore. In his eyes, only the color of the flames remained; in his ears, only the crackling of burning wood.

After an unknown length of time, the invisible millstone between his chest and abdomen suddenly sank. With a turn of thought, a clear radiance emerged.

Violet Palace Method: 35% (Minor Accomplishment)

Joy rose in Deng Qing's heart. This bout of resolving the medicinal toxins to save himself had instead driven the Violet Palace Method forward by another great leap.

Just then, Steward Liu's delighted cry came from outside the stone door. "It's done!"

In an instant, cheers thundered outside. Only then did Deng Qing slowly exhale.

Not long after, the stone door opened, and a dense wave of medicinal smoke poured out from the furnace room. Deng Qing emerged while supporting himself against the doorframe, his face grayish white and his robes saturated with the smell of medicine.

Steward Liu hurriedly instructed a servant. "Quick, help Brother Deng Qing to the quiet room."

The servant supported Deng Qing as they walked, while Elder Wu followed behind. Upon reaching the quiet room, he immediately took Deng Qing's pulse.

A moment later, he released Deng Qing's wrist. "His foundation has not been harmed. The medicinal toxins simply have not been cleared. A few days of rest will do."

Before long, Steward Liu came in carrying banknotes. Perhaps knowing that Elder Wu was to receive a share, the banknotes he had brought included both whole and odd amounts.

Steward Liu handed over the banknotes. "Brother Deng Qing, we truly had you to thank this time. I won't say anything else. We must work together more in the future."

Deng Qing clasped his fists in thanks and quickly accepted the banknotes.

Immediately afterward, Steward Liu had someone carry over a sealed medicine jar. "These are the medicinal dregs left over from refining the Ginseng Pills this time."

"There is still medicinal potency inside, but the properties are mixed, and the fire toxins have not been fully removed. Ordinary martial artists cannot use it.

"Brother Deng Qing, since you were able to endure the medicinal toxins, you should be able to withstand this as well. If you do not mind, take it back and use it."

Elder Wu nodded at Deng Qing, and Deng Qing clasped his fists in thanks again.

Steward Liu waved his hand. "It's only right."

A thought stirred in Deng Qing's mind. He clasped his fists and said, "To be honest, Steward Liu, I'm terribly weak right now. If I go outside, the yamen may very well seize me again.

"I would like to ask Steward Liu to help me find a quiet place to recuperate for ten days. As for the outside world, sorry for the trouble, but please announce that I am still helping the apothecary refine medicine."

Steward Liu nodded. "That is easily done. Brother Deng Qing, simply rest here without worry."

As he spoke, he called someone over to lead Deng Qing to the western courtyard, to a small house by the lake.

The little house was simply furnished, but it had everything it needed. After a bit of tidying, Deng Qing could move in.

Deng Qing then took out the stack of banknotes, separated twenty-four taels' worth, and handed them to Elder Wu.

Elder Wu accepted the banknotes, smiling until the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes squeezed together. "This old man has truly gotten the better end of the bargain this time."

Deng Qing said, "Without Senior overseeing things, this junior might not have earned this money."

Elder Wu waved his hand. "Let's not fuss over that, the two of us."

As he spoke, he shook the jar containing the medicinal dregs. "Don't underestimate this. There is still plenty of medicinal potency inside, though it is mixed with some fire toxins.

"Those who can afford Ginseng Pills look down on these medicinal dregs. Those who cannot afford Ginseng Pills often lack an inner cultivation method, so even if they obtain them, they are useless.

"Steward Liu gave them to you because he knows his trade. Recuperate here in peace. After I adjust these medicinal dregs, I'll have someone deliver a dose of medicinal soup every day."

"Thank you, Elder Wu."