At the Pharmacy Institute, pharmacists enjoyed excellent treatment. Junior Potionists had offices all their own, and Apothecary Xu enjoyed far better benefits than most. Not only did she have a private office, she also had a small Medicinal Herb Garden of her own. It was not large, but two or three herb slaves still stood watch over it.
Dongfang Minghui grumbled inwardly all the way there. No wonder Pharmacist Xu always put on airs around herb apprentices like them. She actually had some capital to back it up.
"We're here." The herb apprentice stopped outside the door without going any farther. "Apothecary Xu should be waiting for you inside."
"Thank you." Dongfang Minghui thanked her, then hurried after her again after taking a few steps. "Could I trouble you for a favor? Yesterday, the supervising senior brother and I agreed to visit the eldest senior brother together. If he can't find me today, could you please tell him I'm here with Pharmacist Xu?"
"All right. I'll tell him when he comes back." The other girl agreed without a second thought.
Only after watching her leave did Dongfang Minghui slowly enter Pharmacist Xu's office. The room was a complete mess, littered with broken roots and leftover branches, along with some prepared medicinal liquids.
"Apothecary Xu?"
She stood at the doorway and called into the room twice. When no one answered, she prepared to leave.
"In such a hurry to leave? Are you worried the results of the earlier investigation will work against you?" A faintly mocking voice suddenly rang out.
So this was the woman's true face. Usually, she put on an air of fairness and impartiality, but behind the scenes, she was all sneers and cutting remarks.
Dongfang Minghui smiled good-naturedly. "Why would you think that, Pharmacist Xu?"
Apothecary Xu tossed her gloves aside and propped herself halfway up to look at her. "I actually have a good suggestion regarding this matter. You might as well hear me out."
She stood to one side, all ears. "I'm rather slow-witted. Please enlighten me, Pharmacist Xu."
Apothecary Xu pointed at her domain. "What do you think of my place?"
She had already looked over the courtyard on her way in. As benefits for a Junior Potionist went, it was quite impressive, especially since the setup was exactly what she had envisioned herself. She also wanted a private Medicinal Herb Garden where she could plant all the herbs she liked, and which liked her in return.
"To have accomplished so much at such a young age, Pharmacist Xu, you really are someone to envy."
Apothecary Xu smiled smugly and lifted her chin haughtily, gesturing for her to find a seat. "My suggestion would not only resolve the matter of you destroying the beauty bamboo, but also provide an excellent safeguard for your future."
"What opportunity?"
Why did this sound more and more wrong?
Completely oblivious to her impatience, the woman continued on her own. "My courtyard may be small, but it offers freedom. If you help manage my Medicinal Herb Garden here, I'll certainly promote you once I become a senior pharmacist. You know perfectly well that as a herb apprentice in the White Angelica Garden, you might struggle to advance even in ten or a hundred years. With your abilities, staying there would be a waste of your talent."
She understood now. The woman had dug a pit for her to jump into, just to recruit her as a garden keeper? How shameless did she have to be to come up with such a bizarre idea?
After listening for quite a while, Dongfang Minghui could not help yawning. "Apothecary Xu, is this all you called me here to discuss?"
Xu Lian had not expected her to remain unmoved. Whatever else might be said, she was a Junior Potionist of some standing. Countless people throughout the Comprehensive Institute rushed to curry favor with her and watched her expression before acting. Yet a mere herb apprentice dared disregard her. She had refused the offered toast and chosen the penalty wine instead.
"Do you really think I can't do anything to you?" Xu Lian's face filled with anger, making her look several times sterner than usual.
Dongfang Minghui wore a professional smile. "You're overstating things, Pharmacist Xu. I'm just a little herb apprentice. How would I dare oppose you?"
A confident smile curled Xu Lian's lips. She had known the girl would agree. But the next words out of her mouth nearly infuriated her to death.
"However, Pharmacist Xu, we both know perfectly well whether I actually destroyed that beauty bamboo. If you have evidence, bring it out for everyone to see. If not, as the saying goes, you can eat carelessly, but you can't speak carelessly." Dongfang Minghui gave her a slight smile, though Xu Lian saw nothing pleasant in it.
"I still have work to finish today. If you have no other instructions, Pharmacist Xu, I'll take my leave."
Xu Lian did not utter another word before she left. Her gaze darkened, and her fingers almost gouged a hole in the wooden chair. In all her life, she had never encountered such an ungrateful little girl who refused to recognize a favor.
In that case, the girl could not blame her for showing no mercy.
The moment Dongfang Minghui stepped out of Pharmacist Xu's courtyard, the supervising senior brother pulled her aside. "Junior sister, did Pharmacist Xu deliberately make things difficult for you?"
"Thank you for your concern, senior brother. She can't bully me."
Her optimistic expression gave the supervising senior brother a headache. He said quietly, "Let's talk as we walk."
They quickly left Xu Lian's courtyard. Along the way, she heard plenty of gossip about Xu Lian, including that she had an older brother named Xu Jin who ranked among the top fifty on the Wind and Cloud Rankings. The Pharmacy Institute had originally refused to admit her, but her brother had used his connections to secure her a place as a herb apprentice. Later, she found a good master who poured everything into teaching her. Yet somehow, she had managed to force her master out and take over the management of the White Angelica Garden.
"So there's that story too." Dongfang Minghui almost wanted to applaud the woman. These days, people could betray their masters and ancestors without so much as changing expression.
"Senior brother, how do you know everything?" she asked curiously.
The supervising senior brother shook his head and sighed. "I shouldn't be telling you these things, but honestly, junior sister, sometimes you don't have the slightest wariness of others. I told you earlier that we needed to inform the eldest senior brother about this, or you wouldn't even know how you died. Over the years, if Pharmacist Xu hasn't ruined ten talented herb apprentices, she's certainly ruined seven or eight."
Dongfang Minghui bared her teeth in feigned fear. "What a terrifying woman."
"Good, as long as you know to be afraid." The supervising senior brother escorted her to the garden and left. After mulling it over, he still felt it was unwise to let things continue unchecked. Remembering Senior Brother Situ's attitude toward Qian Minghui, he hurried out again.
Dongfang Minghui performed her daily work flawlessly, leaving others hard-pressed to find fault. Even so, she could still detect signs in Xu Lian's expression.
The woman's patience was almost at its breaking point.
Before the storm arrived, however, the heroine came to the White Angelica Garden.
When the supervising senior brother told Dongfang Minghui, she could hardly believe it. The heroine had actually come looking for her in person! Clearly, her earlier efforts to build affection had worked. Oh, yes!
"Seventh Sister, what brings you here?"
Dongfang Wanyu had settled all the miscellaneous matters involved in entering the academy before coming to the Pharmacy Institute to find her. Remembering what Qing Mo had said earlier, she still could not help worrying.
She brought the heroine into her little courtyard, and they sat on the stone stools. "Seventh Sister, this is Blue Star Dream, the one I just told you about. It lives with me now."
Hearing her call, Blue Star Dream extended a tender branch in greeting.
Dongfang Minghui waved back. Dongfang Wanyu watched the exchange between girl and tree. "Why do I feel like it's gotten smaller?"
"Yes. The one at the Situ Household wasn't its original form. That was how it looked after its growth had been forced."
The little courtyard was very empty. Having been abandoned for years, it had once been overgrown with weeds and inhabited by snakes, insects, rats, and ants. Later, the supervising senior brother had thoroughly tidied it and disposed of all the rubbish. It looked much cleaner, but lacked a little life.
"Ninth Sister, this place is very quiet. It's suitable for cultivation." Dongfang Wanyu vaguely sensed something was amiss here, but could not put her finger on exactly what.
Dongfang Minghui blinked mischievously and cautiously suggested, "Why don't you come keep me company, Seventh Sister? There are still several empty rooms in the courtyard, and I'm often out during the day anyway. If you moved here, I wouldn't have to be so lonely."
Nothing mattered more than seeing the heroine every day and building up her affection.
Their thoughts had coincided without either saying a word. Before coming, Dongfang Wanyu had considered suggesting that Dongfang Minghui move in with her. She worried that if Dongfang Minghui lived with many others, she would reveal things without realizing it. Just now, for example, her exchange with the tree had seemed like a simple greeting. But as far as Dongfang Wanyu knew, even someone with exceptional wood affinity and a strong rapport with plants might not be able to make plants obey her, unless they were contracted magical plants.
Yet her ninth sister made no effort to hide her closeness to these plants, which only worried her more.
"I did consider it." Dongfang Wanyu nodded. "I was planning to have you move out and live with me. The Thunder Hall treats students with dual affinities very well. They arranged a room for two for me, and I intended to let you take the other bed." That had been the purpose of her visit. But after arriving, she discovered that her little ninth sister had taken excellent care of herself and even obtained a private courtyard. Clearly, her earlier worries had been unnecessary.
Dongfang Minghui's eyes shone as she listened. The heroine seemed not to dislike her anymore!
"Now, though, it looks like you can't leave this Blue Star Dream, and it can't leave you either."
That refusal struck like thunder from a clear sky. Dongfang Minghui looked utterly crestfallen, inwardly cursing herself for being a pig. Why had she meddled? Now look what she had done-she had practically pushed the heroine away herself. Boo-hoo.
Unbearably stupid.
Seeing her dejected expression and her whole little face scrunching up, Dongfang Wanyu could not help smiling. "Little Nine, didn't you say you wanted to become a pharmacist? Once you have a say of your own, I'll come keep you company."
Ding-dong.
Dongfang Minghui's eyes immediately lit up again. She had thought of a brilliant plan.
"Seventh Sister-"
"Qian Minghui, the Dean wants you to come to his office building." A herb apprentice called loudly from outside.
Before she could say anything, someone interrupted her. "I understand. I'll be right there."
"Seventh Sister, I have something to attend to now, so I can't keep you company."
Dongfang Wanyu stood and gave her a questioning look, though her thoughts went deeper. Why would the Dean want to see a mere herb apprentice? Situ Hao had arranged everything when Ninth Sister entered the Pharmacy Institute. They had never even met the Dean.
What could be important enough for the Dean to receive her personally?
"What happened?"
Dongfang Minghui hurriedly covered her mouth and shook her head. "Nothing."
A sign proclaiming there were no three hundred taels of silver buried here.
The Pharmacy Institute's layout was extremely complicated, and strangers could easily lose their way. Dongfang Minghui asked the guileless herb apprentice from earlier to escort her seventh sister out, then turned and ran toward the Dean's office.
She knew his summons was most likely about the beauty bamboo.
Dongfang Wanyu's brows drew tightly together. She smiled at the herb apprentice beside her. "Thank you for today. Without you guiding me, I'm afraid I would have gotten lost in your Pharmacy Institute."
Seeing how courteous she was, the herb apprentice naturally dared not put on airs. "You're too kind. Even if I hadn't guided you today, the supervising senior brother would have arranged for someone else to see you out. I just happen to know Minghui fairly well and took the opportunity to slack off a little."
"My Minghui can be a little headstrong. In the future, if she does anything wrong, please offer her some guidance so she doesn't make mistakes."
She watched the herb apprentice's face as she smiled and, as hoped, saw her expression freeze briefly. "What is it? Have I put you in a difficult position?"
Seeing her disappointed expression, the girl frowned anxiously, unsure whether she should speak. In fact, lately, the herb apprentices had all been discussing Qian Minghui's destruction of a spiritual herb behind her back. Most had already started betting on whether she would be allowed to remain at the Pharmacy Institute.
"Well, something did happen."
The girl told Dongfang Wanyu everything that had happened recently, then said awkwardly, "Destroying a spiritual herb is a serious matter. No one can escape the consequences. It's the highest directive the Dean issued when he took office. This summons is probably to expel her from the White Angelica Garden..."
Dongfang Wanyu's expression turned cold, and she snorted inwardly. Dongfang Little Nine's wings had grown strong. She actually wanted to hide something this serious and slip it past everyone.
To borrow Little Lecher's words, her foolish partner had no sense of fear. She would not stop until she had brought the sky crashing down on you.
Dongfang Minghui walked briskly to the Dean's office and rubbed her face, making herself look pitiful and helpless.
"Is the Dean here? I'm Qian Minghui." Dongfang Minghui called softly and nervously from outside.
"Come in." The voice was exceptionally warm and kindly.
She pushed open the door and first saw a plump old man seated inside. He was so fat that his body could occupy two seats. His hair and eyebrows were completely white, but his face was rosy and fresh, and he looked full of vigor.
Xu Lian and a tall man sat on the left. When she arrived, they did not even spare her a glance.
On the plump old man's desk sat a pot of beauty bamboo on the verge of withering. It was barely alive, yet still struggling against death. Dongfang Minghui could feel the helplessness and despair radiating from it.
Having survived all these days, perhaps its life was not meant to end yet.
"You're Qian Minghui?" When the plump old man smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits. He was the Dean of the Pharmacy Institute and an ancestor of the Situ Household, Situ Hongying.
Dongfang Minghui smiled as well, revealing two dimples.
The plump old man liked the girl at first sight. Having met countless people, he could tell roughly what sort of person she was from those bright, lively eyes. She was nothing like the person Xu Lian and the others had described.
"Xu Lian says you destroyed this beauty bamboo. Do you have a different account?"
Dongfang Minghui pursed her lips and fiddled with her fingers. "I'd like to confront Pharmacist Xu Lian here in person. Would you permit that, Dean?"
Situ Hongying could not stop praising her inwardly. This little girl had courage.
"Of course. As head of the institute, I'm here to uphold justice. I have always judged the matter, not the person. Anyone who breaks the rules I established must accept punishment, whoever she may be."
The Dean's small eyes swept lightly over Xu Lian, sending an inexplicable chill through her. She felt as though those words had been aimed specifically at her. But when she looked again, he was smiling at Qian Minghui.
"Apothecary Xu, you keep insisting that I destroyed the Beauty Bamboo. Apart from the fact that it passed through your hands, mine, and one other person's, do you have any concrete evidence?"
Xu Lian also stood and walked over to the beauty bamboo. "Of course. There's someone who can testify that you tampered with it on your way to the examination area. We've already completely ruled out the other person as a suspect."
What a naked conspiracy.
Dongfang Minghui nodded and addressed the plump old man. "Dean, since there's a witness who can prove I personally tampered with the beauty bamboo, I also request that she appear and confront me."
Xu Lian scoffed. "How could that be possible? If she confronts you in person, wouldn't she have to fear your retaliation afterward?"
"If I really did it, I'd be expelled from the White Angelica Garden and the Royal Academy. How could I retaliate? With no one to rely on and no one backing me, how could I take revenge? You don't dare let her confront me face-to-face-is that a guilty conscience? Or are you afraid she'll spoil your plans?"
"Qian Minghui!"
Xu Lian had never known that the girl who always kept her head lowered could be so eloquent. "Fine. Since you insist on a confrontation, I'll grant your wish."
She gave an order outside, and soon another person dressed as a herb apprentice was led in.
Dongfang Minghui recognized her. When they had selected spiritual herbs earlier, someone had shoved her to the outside of the crowd. Everyone else had rushed forward and snatched the other nine pots, leaving only one pitiful beauty bamboo for her. So this girl had played a part in that too.
Tracing it back like this, could she conclude that the whole thing had been a pit Xu Lian dug for her?
"You said you saw me tampering with the beauty bamboo. Could you describe exactly what happened again?" Dongfang Minghui asked gently.
As though reciting a memorized passage, the girl immediately described Dongfang Minghui fiddling with the beauty bamboo's flower on the way.
"Pharmacist Xu, is that what you think as well? That I applied some substance to the beauty bamboo to make it wither as quickly as possible?"
Dongfang Minghui rubbed her chin. She had indeed touched the beauty bamboo's flower on the way to the examination area. So someone had been watching her every unintentional gesture.
Xu Lian nodded.
"Dean, I admit that I touched the beauty bamboo's flower with my hand on the way to the examination area." Dongfang Minghui was perfectly frank and admitted it readily.
Xu Lian's lips curled, and she could not help smiling.
"But that doesn't mean I destroyed the Beauty Bamboo." Dongfang Minghui blinked at the plump old man.
The Dean watched her with a smile, growing more pleased by the moment. Inwardly, he dragged that brat Situ Hao out for a thorough scolding. Someone like this had been admitted to the Pharmacy Institute, and he had nearly missed her. From her confident expression, she clearly had more to say.
"Go on."
Dongfang Minghui walked over and pointed at the beauty bamboo's once-glorious flower. Beautiful as a lovely woman, it had now withered into something resembling the face of an elderly woman in her seventies or eighties. Clearly, it had suffered severe depletion.
"Any pharmacist with a little common sense knows that beauty bamboo concentrates its spiritual energy in its flower. But touching its flower doesn't mean I caused its spiritual energy to leak." Dongfang Minghui did not dare touch it again, lest someone with ulterior motives make more of it.
"The real reason it's so weak is that someone accidentally damaged its roots. That's what caused its spiritual energy to leak and left it on the verge of withering."
Xu Lian and the man beside her looked stunned, with a trace of panic.
The room fell completely silent. For once, no one contradicted her.
"You're so certain the problem lies in the beauty bamboo's roots?" the Dean asked.
Dongfang Minghui nodded. "Yes."
"That still doesn't prove you weren't the one who destroyed it. Since you know there's something wrong with its roots, perhaps you were the one who damaged them." Xu Lian splashed another basin of dirty water onto Dongfang Minghui.
"It couldn't have been her." This time, Dongfang Minghui did not need to defend herself; the Dean spoke for her. He glanced casually at Xu Lian and the man beside her. "A Junior Potionist and an intermediate pharmacist, yet neither of you knows as much as a herb apprentice. Beauty Bamboo is special not merely because its flowers resemble faces, but also because it is a cutting-planted species."
A cutting-planted species meant that beauty bamboo was propagated from a branch separated from another beauty bamboo. A single branch was enough for it to survive. Once inserted into the soil, it began spreading other branches. Only after all those branches had burrowed deep into the soil would it sprout, grow, form buds, and flower.
If someone wanted to tamper with its roots afterward, it would be virtually impossible.
"Xu Lian, what else do you have to say?" The Dean gave her a penetrating look. "Spiritual herbs like beauty bamboo are always kept on the mountain behind us. An ordinary herb apprentice from the White Angelica Garden couldn't possibly come into contact with one."
Xu Lian was speechless, yet remained stubborn. "Dean, she says there's a problem with the Beauty Bamboo's roots, but we haven't examined them. How can we know whether she's telling the truth?"
"Since you still refuse to give up, come inspect them yourself."
Dongfang Minghui stepped forward, hesitating to speak. To examine its roots, they would have to uproot the beauty bamboo. Already barely alive, it might truly have no hope of surviving.
"What? Afraid we'll discover you made all this up?" Seeing her nervous expression, Xu Lian immediately began baring her fangs and claws again.
"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed in a moment, Pharmacist Xu."
"Such a sharp tongue."
With both parties' agreement, the Dean shattered the beauty bamboo's pot directly. The soil enclosed tiny remnants of roots. As they separated the soil from them, they found that the remaining roots had already withered in the earth. Some were oozing thick green fluid and giving off a foul stench. As for the main branch, half of it had already rotted before borers infested it and gnawed away until the entire main stem was hollow.
This was the source of the beauty bamboo's unbearable suffering.
"Dean, this means there's nothing more for me to do here, right?" Dongfang Minghui spread her hands.
Seeing her secretly smiling like a little fox, the Dean could not help rubbing his smooth forehead. "We were indeed in the wrong here, accusing you without knowing the facts. As compensation, you may make any request you wish, and I will grant it."
Oh, there's compensation too.
"If the Pharmacy Institute is so concerned about a single spiritual herb, then you'll surely investigate thoroughly to find out who actually damaged this beauty bamboo, won't you, Dean?" Dongfang Minghui asked with a smile.
The Dean nodded. "As I said earlier, I'll certainly get to the bottom of it. What compensation would you like? Whatever you ask, I'll grant it."
He deliberately emphasized the words "whatever you ask."
"Oh, in that case, Dean, if I ask for this beauty bamboo, you'll give it to me too, won't you?" Dongfang Minghui pointed at it lying on the desk. Without the soil's nourishment, its spiritual energy was dispersing even faster, and its lamp was nearly out of oil.
"You want it?" The Dean looked incredulous, his tiny eyes widening considerably.
The promise he had just made was worth a fortune. Yet she had resisted the temptation and made such a request instead. It was truly astonishing. The more he looked at her, the more satisfied he became. Excellent, excellent. Her character had passed the test.
Xu Lian and the man beside her sneered. Hearing such a request, they both thought her stupidity knew no bounds.
Dongfang Minghui, whom they had collectively branded a fool, saw that the Dean had no objection and immediately gathered the beauty bamboo into her arms with delight. Secretly, she transferred a little spiritual energy to it, hoping it would hold on until she brought it home.
"I'm off."
Someone hurried back in a blazing rush, never noticing Dongfang Wanyu watching her leave with a smile.
"I never imagined your ninth sister could be so sharp-tongued. Looks like you worried for nothing."
Dongfang Wanyu had been worried that someone was bullying her, so she had questioned the herb attendant and come to the Dean's office, unexpectedly discovering another side of Dongfang Minghui.
"This trip wasn't wasted."
It was her first time seeing her ninth sister so radiant and spirited.
Once Dongfang Minghui reached her little courtyard, she placed the Beauty Bamboo on the stone table and murmured, "To save your life, I can only sacrifice all of you."
Beauty Bamboo was a resilient plant. As long as even a trace of its living veins remained, it could survive.
She noticed a tiny bump on the stem beneath its flowers-a little offshoot. Although it was only the size of her thumb, Dongfang Minghui decided to give it a try.
She planted the thumb-sized offshoot a meter away from Blue Star Dream. "Blue Star Dream, you'll have a little companion soon."
Blue Star Dream waved its branches, delighted.
Afterward, she dealt with the Beauty Bamboo, cutting away its rotten roots and burying all the remaining parts beneath the little offshoot.
"I hope you'll grow better and better."
The next day, she had just finished collecting morning dew when the senior brother in charge took her to the Dean.
The sight of the pudgy Dean made Dongfang Minghui want to laugh. Smiling, she asked, "Dean, what did you want to see me about?"
"I called you here to give you some good news. We've found the person who damaged the Beauty Bamboo. He admitted that when he transplanted it, he wanted to make a potion, so he cut off half its stems for an experiment. He never expected the consequences to be so serious."
"I understand." Everything matched what the Beauty Bamboo had told her. Dongfang Minghui could finally rest easy, though she suspected that with one scheme thwarted, Xu Lian would hatch another.
Seeing her indifferent expression, the Dean added, "He was an intermediate pharmacist. Yesterday, I expelled him from the Pharmacy Institute. Are you satisfied with that punishment?"
Dongfang Minghui did not know much about the Pharmacy Institute's rules, but that rule of the Dean's was excessively harsh. Given how much he cherished medicinal plants, perhaps there was a reason behind it.
"I'll leave it to you, Dean."
What did her satisfaction matter? That man was merely a sacrifice in Xu Lian's struggle against her. He might even be a scapegoat Xu Lian and her people had dragged out.
The Dean looked at her with a smile. "Would you be interested in coming here to help me?"
Dongfang Minghui thought she must be hearing things. She blinked, then blinked again. The wind was strong; she must have misheard.
"I'm often busy making potions, and I happen to need a potion-making assistant. I asked Yong Xing, and he told me about your performance recently. I think you've done very well."
Become the Dean's assistant?
She could not help laughing. "Dean, you must be joking. Actually, let me tell you a secret. I'm a Junior Potionist."
Startled by this secret, the Dean's flesh quivered twice. "No wonder."
Seeing how composed he was, Dongfang Minghui spoke frankly. "Dean, why don't you arrange for me to take the Junior Potionist qualification test tomorrow?"
That would solve a great many problems. She also very much wanted to see the spectacular expression on Pharmacist Xu Lian's face.
"Even if you're a Junior Potionist, you can still come help me." The Dean looked at her with narrowed eyes, his expression kindly.
"Dean, could you let me think about it?"
Instead, the Dean laid out his terms. "If you become my assistant, you'll be entitled to enter both the White Angelica Garden and the vast medicinal herb fields on the mountain behind us whenever you like."
Sold. Dongfang Minghui answered at once, "Dean, how about I become your assistant once I've earned my Junior Potionist qualification?"
The Dean smiled too. Like foxes that had stolen a taste of forbidden meat, the two happily reached an agreement.
The Pharmacy Institute offered a chance for promotion only once every six months, whether for herb attendants or pharmacists. However, the standards for a pharmacist's promotion were extremely strict, and few people passed under normal circumstances.
"Wasn't the last semiannual pharmacist promotion just three months ago?" one pharmacist asked.
"I'm not sure. I just got back from outside, so I don't know why the Dean summoned us this time."
Everyone present was a pharmacist from the Pharmacy Institute, ranging from junior to senior. Many were still in seclusion brewing potions; those who had not made it were in the minority.
The Dean drew everyone's attention as soon as he appeared, mainly because his enormous bulk resembled a small mountain. They could not ignore him even if they wanted to.
Dongfang Minghui quietly followed behind him, completely concealed by his mountain-like body. Yesterday, she had asked Yong Xing many questions about the rigorous Junior Potionist examination and had gained a little understanding of it.
A hundred or so people had actually come to watch a Junior Potionist examination. It was unbelievable. She did not know whether to call the pharmacists united or simply starved for novelty.
"All right. I'm sure everyone understands why I summoned you. An exceptionally talented herb attendant has emerged from the White Angelica Garden, and this attendant intends to attempt the Junior Potionist qualification." The Dean's voice was loud enough to reach every corner of the Pharmacy Institute.
Soon, the Pharmacy Institute was abuzz. Promotion was one thing; there was always a chance every six months. But an herb attendant attempting the Junior Potionist qualification was a first in ten years.
Who had been the last one, again?
After hearing this much, how could Xu Lian fail to know who it was? It had to be that person.
Dongfang Minghui scanned the crowd. Alas, she had even made a point of telling the heroine about her attempt at the Junior Potionist qualification. Was she not coming after all?
"This is her." The Dean pushed her forward, and she immediately found herself standing before everyone. She deliberately glanced at Xu Lian and successfully caught the dramatic change in her expression.
Dongfang Minghui suddenly felt much better about the heroine's absence.
"Everyone, make your preparations." Satisfied that she had thoroughly caught everyone's attention, the Dean pulled her aside. "Yong Xing explained all three stages of the Junior Potionist examination to you, didn't he?"
"He did."
The first stage of the junior examination was to identify ten medicinal plants, their medicinal properties, and their grades.
Ten Junior Potionists placed their ten favorite medicinal plants before her for identification.
There were tens of millions of medicinal plant varieties. Without sufficient familiarity with them, she might not even pass the first stage when faced with ten chosen at random.
As she examined them, Dongfang Minghui explained to everyone, "This is a junior-grade fire pearl herb. It clears heat and dispels cold and can be used as a supporting ingredient. It can be paired with neutral herbs such as seven star herb, angelica, and astragalus. The second is junior-grade white roc grass, a living herb that grows along the borders of the White Roc Tribe's territory. It releases a stench that can knock members of the Fox Tribe, with their keen sense of smell, unconscious. The third is a junior-grade demonic plant. Its uses are far too..."
"I have a feeling your ninth sister will grow very quickly. When that time comes, even the Royal Academy may not be able to keep her." Qing Mo mulled over Wanyu's thoughts. "Are you certain she won't harm you?"
Dongfang Wanyu stood in a corner, watching Dongfang Minghui calmly and effortlessly identify the medicinal plants one by one at the center of the gathering. In her hands, those plants seemed exceptionally obedient, inexplicably giving Wanyu the impression that they were bowing their heads and pledging allegiance to her.
"Don't worry."
Qing Mo was not reassured at all. He felt that Dongfang Minghui was an explosive fire mine that might detonate at any moment. If Wanyu kept her close, there was no telling when she might drag Wanyu down with her.
Years later, the facts proved his premonition true.
The Dean watched the entire examination from the sidelines. Seeing Dongfang Minghui easily identify all ten medicinal plants in the first stage without a single mistake, he felt fortunate that he had secured her agreement beforehand.
Her performance in the first stage caught everyone's attention. They had expected yet another candidate to arrive full of enthusiasm and leave crestfallen. Who would have thought this little herb attendant would be so heaven-defying that she made not a single mistake?
None of those present dared claim that they could identify different medicinal plants with perfect accuracy.
Xu Lian recalled the time she had also asked her to identify medicinal plants before a crowd. Qian Minghui had been the first to rush forward, identifying the grades of three herbs with near-perfect certainty. Just as she did today, she had shone so brilliantly that others could barely open their eyes. Although she had claimed not to recognize the last plant, she had actually been trying to conceal her sharp edge. Yet Xu Lian had foolishly announced her excellence to everyone.
Xu Lian truly trembled all over with rage. She could foresee that once the other woman became a Junior Potionist, she would surely be the first person she dealt with.
Dongfang Minghui rested for the time it took an incense stick to burn, then proceeded to the second stage of the Junior Potionist examination: brewing a potion.
One of the Junior Potionists handed her a formula. Dongfang Minghui quickly read through it. It was a fast-acting potion that specifically required six medicinal ingredients.
This Junior Potionist was rather gentle. Seeing her stare blankly at the formula, he could not help reminding her, "The examination rules allow us to provide three medicinal ingredients. You must supply the other three yourself."
Dongfang Minghui was dumbfounded. Where was she supposed to get medicinal ingredients? Little Lecher, that gluttonous demonic plant, had swallowed all her medicinal plants. Only a few leftover roots and scraps remained in her storage space.
"I didn't prepare any," Dongfang Minghui told him bluntly. She was poor.
Her words immediately sent the crowd into roaring laughter.
Even the Dean could not help tugging at his eyebrows. This little girl really was something. He had just asked whether she understood the rules.
The Junior Potionist who had given her the formula grew anxious and kindly reminded her, "You still have two hours before your allotted examination time is up. Why don't you hurry and find the herbs?"
"No need." Dongfang Wanyu suddenly appeared and pulled the dumbstruck Dongfang Minghui to her feet. "Which medicinal ingredients are you missing?"
Dongfang Minghui checked the formula again. "Seventh Sister, I still need one soulmark grass, one white whisker herb, and one bamboo root."
Dongfang Wanyu checked her own storage space and quickly took out the herbs.
"Wanyu, have you gone mad? That soulmark grass is meant for making the Divine Soul Pill to steady your mind during your lightning tribulation! If you give it to her, where are we supposed to find another?" Qing Mo stamped his feet in her soul sea. Despite all his shouting, Dongfang Wanyu handed it to Dongfang Minghui without so much as blinking.
"Seventh Sister, you're wonderful!" Dongfang Minghui excitedly hugged the heroine. At the moment she needed someone most, the heroine had suddenly descended like an immortal from the heavens. She could not have been happier.
Before you continue