Chapter 58, 4 years old

Chapter 58, 4 years old

Chapter 58, Fourteen Years Old

"Pee-chi~"

In the heart of the Nanchishan Mountains, in a cave not far from the Fire Spirit Mine Rift, Hua Changxi was concentrating on refining pills.

[First-class Alchemist (Superior Alchemy): Alchemy 101 Furnace 101/1000]
After refining more than 100 batches of mid-grade Yuanling Pills, the quality of the pills refined next will be upgraded to top-grade pills.

After Hua Changxi put the mid-grade Yuanling Pill into the Shennong Ding, he continued to refine the high-grade pill.

She knew that the current alchemy environment with no shortage of spiritual plants and no interruptions was not normal, so she had to take the opportunity to improve the quality of her alchemy.

A small part of the spiritual plants she needed for alchemy were collected from the bottom of the stone cliffs in the West Mountain, and a large part were collected around the Fire Spirit Mine.

After obtaining the Burning Silence magical power, Hua Changxi's combat power increased significantly, and she also dared to explore the situation around the Fire Spirit Mine.

Where there are spiritual mines, the spiritual energy is rich and there is naturally no shortage of spiritual plants and fruits.

In the valley surrounding the Fire Spirit Mine, first-level fire-attributed spiritual plants and fruits are everywhere, there are also quite a few second-level ones, and there are even some third-level spiritual plants and fruits.

It took Hua Changxi more than half a month to travel around the area and collect a large number of spiritual plants and fruits with fire attributes.

"Chirp~"

The fragrance of the top-grade Dandan was so strong that it attracted a fire crow.

"Whoo~"

The Fire Lotus broke through the air and covered the Fire Crow like a net. With a 'boom', the Fire Crow was burned to ashes and disappeared into the air.

Hua Changxi likes to come to the Rift Valley.

When refining medicine here, not only do you not have to worry about being discovered by outsiders, but when you get tired of refining medicine, you can meditate on the spot to practice, or go down to the rift to dig for fire spirit ore.

If you encounter a monster, you can also exercise your fighting ability.

Hua Changxi was eager to improve her strength as soon as possible. She knew very well that this Fire Spirit Mine would not remain undiscovered forever.

By the time others discovered it, the Fire Spirit Mine was either occupied by the imperial court or by aristocratic families.

By then, she might not even have the chance to get close to this side.

What she has to do now is to improve herself before others find out.

By the end of April, all the tasks at the pharmacy were completed and the errand boys in the errand hall had to return to the Medical Bureau.

Zhu Yu suddenly came to the Medicine Valley and said he was looking for Hua Changxi. Hua Changxi went to the Nanshan Rift Valley and no one was there, so the one-armed man saw him.

That evening, Hua Changxi came back and the one-armed man told her what happened.

"Butler Zhu, you're looking for me? What do you want me for?"

"They are going back to the Medical Department and are asking if you will go back."

This reason seemed reasonable, but Hua Changxi didn't really believe it. She was just an insignificant servant, and was left behind by the Grandmaster. Zhu Yu didn't need to make this special trip.

The one-armed man looked at Hua Changxi and asked: "You have a good relationship with Zhu Yu?"

Hua Changxi looked puzzled and shook his head: "I didn't know him before, and I didn't talk to him much during this visit to the medicine store. Master Guo, why do you ask this?"

One-armed man: "Zhu Yu came in the morning and left in the afternoon."

There is no need to be so attentive when treating an ordinary outsider.

Hua Changxi frowned: "Did he ask you what I did?"

The one-armed man nodded: "I told him that you went into the mountains to collect herbs."

This was considered a cover for Hua Changxi, and Hua Changxi immediately thanked him: "Thank you, Master Guo."

Other people in Yao Valley may not know what she does all day, but Guo Yu must know that she went to Nanchishan.

"By the way, hasn't Mr. You come back yet?"

When You Lao was mentioned, the one-armed man showed a look of worry on his face.

Master originally said that he would only be away for a few days, but now he has been gone for almost a month and has not come back yet. I wonder if he has encountered some trouble?
If it were in the past, he would definitely not worry, after all, his master was a master, and a master was the most powerful person with the highest martial arts skills.

But now, he wasn't sure.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Hua Changxi didn't want to continue the conversation, so he parted ways with the one-armed man.

Back at her residence, Hua Changxi thought about Zhu Yu. Apart from the big beard on his face that left a deep impression on her, she had no memory of anything else. She couldn't understand why he had come to inquire about her?
Yes, her intuition told her that Zhu Yu came here to inquire about her.

Hua Changxi thought of Old You and the one-armed man again. They had noticed something strange about her from the very beginning. Was Zhu Yu the same as them?
Mr. You used the spiritual plants at the bottom of the cliff to find out the secrets about her. Zhu Yu had not had much contact with her, but the fighting power she displayed still attracted his attention.

In addition, Grandmaster You Lao personally asked her to stay in Medicine Valley, which probably increased Zhu Yu's curiosity about her, so he made this visit today?
No matter why Zhu Yu noticed her, Hua Changxi sighed that there are cunning people everywhere, and any unusual behavior will attract their attention.

Hua Changxi had a headache. She couldn't just stand still and limit her own development because of these peeping eyes.

Thinking of the one-armed man who covered for her, Hua Changxi's eyes flashed.

Regardless of whether Zhu Yu believed the one-armed man's words or not, the one-armed man blocked some of the prying eyes for her.

After entering the Medical Department, she increasingly realized that she could not do it alone.

She is a human being, and being human means having limitations. In many cases, she can only take care of one thing but not the other.

Just like in the Menial Services Hall, she focused on cultivation and alchemy, and she only knew about some of the rumors about her after they were almost known to everyone.

This forced her to face the ridicule and mockery of others, and in order to protect herself, she had to engage in direct conflict with others.

If someone had informed her in advance, she could have avoided some conflicts in advance, and she wouldn't have had to expose herself too much.

She needs someone to help her keep an eye on the places she can't take care of!

Maybe, she should collaborate more with others.

Hua Changxi thought of You Lao and the one-armed man. These two people had noticed her abnormality early on, but they did not test her with force or power right away. Instead, they obtained definite evidence and took out the Fire Spirit Stone that she could not refuse in exchange for her secret.

After she told Master You that besides practicing martial arts, there was another way to practice, even though Master You was eager to know what that way was, he never came to see her again, nor did he let the one-armed man monitor her.

She should spend more time with people who act in an orderly manner and have principles in life.

After figuring this out, the next day, Hua Changxi gave the one-armed man the Digang Pill that Eunuch Yu had asked her to refine, on the pretext that the one-armed man had helped her stop Zhu Yu.

The one-armed man looked at Hua Changxi and felt that her attitude was not as distant as before. Thinking of how Mr. You asked him to have more contact with her, he took the pill.

"Don't worry, if someone comes looking for you again in the future and you're not here, I will help cover for them."

Seeing him being so understanding, Hua Changxi smiled and said, "Thank you, Master Guo. I can also refine the Tiangang Pill used by eighth-grade warriors. When Master Guo advances to the eighth grade, as long as you have all the herbs ready, you can come to me to refine medicine at any time."

The one-armed man also laughed. It is not easy to obtain warrior elixirs above the seventh grade. First, the medicinal materials are hard to find, and second, pharmacists are hard to find. Knowing a pharmacist who can refine high-grade elixirs is also a very valuable connection.

"Okay, I won't be polite then."

After reaching a preliminary cooperation with the one-armed man, Hua Changxi became more and more comfortable in moving around the Medicine Valley in the following days.

Time slipped away quietly as Hua Changxi was busy practicing and refining pills.

In a blink of an eye, it was the sixth day of June.

"Third brother, sixth brother!"

Seeing Hua Sanlang and Hua Liulang appearing at the entrance of Yaogu, Hua Changxi was very surprised: "Why are you here?"

Hua Liulang walked up to Hua Changxi and looked him over before saying unhappily, "You forgot that today is your fourteenth birthday." "I went to the Medical Bureau to find Yu Hui, and Yu Hui said that you were left in the Medicine Valley to work. Father and mother were so worried that they sent me and my third brother to check on you."

Hua Changxi certainly did not forget that today was his birthday. Just because he remembered, he stayed in the Medicine Valley and prepared to have lunch with the one-armed man.

In this way, I can celebrate my own birthday and deepen my relationship with the one-armed man.

Fortunately, she didn't leave, otherwise, the third and sixth brothers would have to wait for her for a whole day.

Looking at his brothers and sisters who were chatting, Hua Sanlang clasped his fists and thanked Mao Yong who led the way for them: "Thank you, Manager Mao, I'm sorry for taking up your time."

Mao Yong smiled and stopped. If he didn't want to resolve the grudge with Hua Changxi, he would not have brought these two outsiders to the Medicine Valley.

Hearing that today was Hua Changxi's birthday, he specially prepared a gift for her, a pair of pearl earrings.

"Sister Changxi, my brother and I are both rough people. We hope you can forgive us for any offense we may have caused you."

Mao Yong said as he handed the earrings to Hua Changxi.

Hua Changxi looked at him and took it with a smile: "Thank you, Manager Mao, for sending my two brothers here."

Mao Yong was relieved when he saw Hua Changxi accept the gift he prepared. "I won't disturb you two siblings from reminiscing about the past. I'll go back to the medicine store first."

Hanasaburo and Hanarokuro: "Take care of the matter, Mao."

Before Mao Yong could walk away, Hua Changxi took one of his brothers by the arm and said, "Third brother, sixth brother, Master Guo said he wants to celebrate my birthday and asked me to have lunch at his place at noon. Come on, I'll take you to meet some people."

"Master Guo is a seventh-rank warrior, and his master, Master You, is a master."

"I'm telling you, Master You and Master Guo have taken special care of me. When you go back, tell my parents not to worry about me."

Listening to the conversation between the three brothers and sisters, Mao Yong paused and was once again glad that he had taken the initiative to find Hua Changxi to resolve the grudge.

He knew about the stone cave halfway up the West Mountain. He had been the manager for all these years and had never been there. Yet Hua Changxi could go there at will, which showed that she had a very close relationship with You Lao and Guo Yu.

Hua Changxi stopped talking about You Lao and the one-armed man only after Mao Yong walked away.

Hua Sanlang tapped Hua Changxi's head lightly: "Are you having a problem with that Mao Guanshi?"

Hua Changxi said calmly: "A little bit."

Hua Liulang's face became anxious: "Did he bully you?"

Hua Changxi sneered: "He's not that capable yet."

Hua Sanlang frowned: "Jiu Niang, you have a hot temper. When you go out, you'd better restrain yourself. Not everyone is as tolerant of you as at home."

Hua Changxi was a little unhappy: "Why am I so hot-tempered? If someone bullies me, can't I fight back?"

"Also, has my family ever tolerated me?"

"Every time I want to do something, either this person disagrees or that person disagrees. If I don't obey the discipline of my grandparents, I'm either not allowed to eat or locked up in a small dark room. Is this called tolerance?"

Hua Sanlang had a headache: "Why do you have to go against grandparents?"

Hua Changxi: "I didn't go against them. I am a human being and I have my own ideas. You can't force me to act according to the will of my grandparents."

Seeing that the two were arguing again, Hua Liulang quickly separated them and said, "Jiu Niang, my mother made a lot of delicious food for us to bring to you. Come on, take us to where you live and I'll open it for you to see."

Hua Changxi didn't argue with Hua Sanlang anymore and took the two of them to the house where she lived.

Seeing that Hua Changxi lived in a large dormitory with four male servants living next door, Hua Sanlang and Hua Liulang were a little worried.

Hua Changxi saw it and said with a smile: "I was left here by the Grandmaster himself, no one dares to cause trouble to me."

Hua Liulang asked curiously, "You just said that the Grandmaster and the seventh-rank warrior took good care of you. Is that true?"

Hua Changxi laughed: "Of course, in order to intimidate Mao Yong, what I said was a little exaggerated, but it's pretty much the same."

As he spoke, he opened the packages brought by his two brothers and took out some food.

"Let's go to Xishan for lunch."

Hua Liulang was excited: "Are we really going to have lunch with the Grandmaster?"

Hua Changxi smiled: "The Grandmaster is not here during this period, only the seventh-rank warrior is here."

Hua Liulang was a little disappointed, but it was also good to meet a seventh-rank warrior. You know, the highest-ranking warrior he had ever met was his eldest brother, a sixth-rank warrior.

Hua Changxi looked at her two brothers. She couldn't tell their martial arts skills.

There was no way, the two of them were too weak in her eyes.

It’s like an elephant looking at an ant. Even the strongest ant has no weight in the eyes of the elephant.

Seeing his sister's scrutiny, Hua Liulang smiled and said, "My third brother and I are both third-rank warriors, and the other brothers in the family have also gradually entered the ranks of warriors."

Hua Changxi led the two people to the west mountain and said, "Those pills can also be eaten by girls. Don't just take care of yourselves, but also take care of your sisters at home."

Upon hearing this, neither Hua Sanlang nor Hua Liulang responded.

How the family's medicines are distributed is entirely up to their grandfather, and they have no right to interfere.

Seeing the two of them silent, Hua Changxi couldn't help but snort. Thinking that the two of them had come a long way to see him, he didn't say anything in the end.

Soon, we reached the halfway point of the mountain.

The one-armed man seemed to have known that Hua Changxi's two brothers were coming, so he took out the wooden table and benches from the cave and placed them on the cliff.

Hua Changxi smiled at him and said, "Master Guo, my two brothers are here to celebrate my birthday. Let's have lunch together."

In the past month or two, Guo Yu and Hua Changxi have interacted more often, and both of them are trying to get closer to each other, so they get along pretty well.

Hua Changxi introduced his two brothers to Guo Yu. Guo Yu was quite polite and told them that they could ask him if they had any questions about martial arts.

Hanasaburo and Hanarokuro were both a little excited to be in close contact with high-level warriors.

The four of them had lunch happily, and Hua Changxi took Hua Sanlang and Hua Liulang down the mountain.

On the way, Hua Liulang said with a smile: "I didn't expect that a high-level warrior would be so approachable."

Hua Sanlang was not as careless as his brother. He knew that Guo Yu was being polite to them because of Jiu Niang, so he couldn't help but ask, "Jiu Niang, how did you become friends with Master Guo?"

Hua Changxi looked at him and said, "Third brother, the interactions between people are all about mutual needs." Then he smiled and said, "In your eyes, I am the one who got close to him, but in fact, maybe he got close to me."

Hearing this, Hua Sanlang's eyes flickered, while Hua Liulang scratched the back of his head with a wry smile. They both had the same thought at the moment: Jiu Niang was so arrogant!

After going down the mountain, Hua Changxi took Hua Sanlang and Hua Liulang for a stroll in the medicine valley.

Looking at the medicinal herbs all over the mountain, Hua Liulang was speechless: "No wonder you want to stay here. If I also like medicine, I won't leave either."

Hua Sanlang was a little impressed by his sister at this moment. In order to improve her medical skills, she would rather stay in such a sparsely populated place with harsh conditions.

Outsiders are not allowed to stay in the Medicine Valley, so after wandering around for a while, Hua Sanlang and Hua Liulang prepared to leave.

Hua Changxi: "Go back and tell my parents that I'm doing fine here and tell them not to worry about me."

Seeing with their own eyes that their sister had a close relationship with the seventh-rank warrior, Hua Sanlang and Hua Liulang felt much more relieved. After giving her some additional instructions, they left.

Watching his two brothers walking further and further away, Hua Changxi suddenly became thoughtful: "I have a spiritual vein, do other people in the Hua family have it too?"

(End of this chapter)