"Why is this Daoist priest..."
Qian Bao stepped forward, only then realizing something was amiss.
Those bald priests who spouted mystical nonsense were completely bald, without a single strand of hair. This man was different. On closer inspection, he did have hair, though not much.
The slightly balding young man bowed. "I am Wan Nian, Assistant Director of the Astronomical Bureau. By His Majesty's edict, I have been traveling throughout the realm. Upon encountering the plague in the southern frontier, I came here specifically to seek a cure."
Wan Nian?
Qian Bao was startled. Even as far away as Three Mountains Pass, he had heard of Wan Nian. The rice and wheat from Chentang Pass had both been promoted by Wan Nian, and the fruit wine Qian Bao brewed at home was also his invention. Not to mention the Wan Nian Calendar, which everyone under heaven was using.
Still, he had his doubts. "I am Qian Bao of Three Mountains Pass. Brother Wan, why did you come to the bottom of this cliff?"
Wan Nian sighed. "While reading ancient texts, I discovered that bupleurum could treat the plague. The foot of this cliff is covered in it. It can be dug up in spring or autumn, then stripped of its stems, leaves, and dirt before being used as medicine to treat the plague."
Qian Bao was puzzled. "Isn't finding medicinal herbs a good thing? Why are you sighing?"
Wan Nian replied, "Although I can identify the herbs, I know nothing about preparing medicine or what proportions to use when combining ingredients."
Qian Bao slapped his forehead. "That's easy. You just do this, then this..."
In truth, he had not known either, but after a night's sleep, he understood it all.
Although the methods of preparing medicine recorded in the Inner