5. Obtaining the Medicine and Auxiliary Materials

As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard, he saw He Chunli wiping the shop’s doors and windows.

The young apprentice, seeing Xie An looking vigorous and spirited, was overjoyed. "Master, you look much more energetic!"

Xie An was in a good mood, his words tinged with a smile. "Lately, I’ve been feeling well, so naturally I seem more lively. By the way, where’s Zhang Bing?"

Before his stroke, Xie An didn’t look old; after all, being a court attendant wasn’t a physically demanding job, and he had maintained himself quite well. Although his appearance was now somewhat younger than before, there was no need to hide anything. But if his youthful look continued to reverse aging... then he would truly need an explanation.

He Chunli’s expression darkened. “Brother Zhang is still sleeping; he won’t get up until the hour of the dragon.”

Xie An glanced at He Chunli’s hands, cracked and frostbitten, immediately understanding the situation.

His apprentice Han Li had taken a few months off due to family troubles, which was understandable. But Zhang Bing had truly taken himself too seriously as a court attendant, bullying and mistreating He Chunli without restraint.

In the past half month, Zhang Bing had only come to see Xie An twice, each time perfunctorily. Xie An even keenly felt that each visit was accompanied by Zhang Bing’s careful attention to his complexion.

Rather than visiting out of concern, it seemed he feared Xie An’s recovery, secretly hoping for his early death.

Xie An encouraged He Chunli, “Little He, work hard, and you will surely rise above your station one day.”

He Chunli scratched his head in confusion but still replied, “Yes, Master.”

Xie An said no more and turned away.

With his current physical strength, Xie An could easily manage work back at the shop. But since Master Li had granted him three months, he might as well make good use of the time.

Besides, though cultivating health exercises was dull and arduous, each time he saw his body grow stronger and his lifespan extend, he felt joy.

In contrast, he found little interest in appraising antiques anymore.

...

The greatest master in town was naturally Chen Lei of the Chen Martial Arts School. Having mastered extraordinary martial skills and roamed the jianghu, he had returned home in glory and established a martial arts school, training warriors for the village. He was unquestionably the most influential figure in Wuqiao Town.

In these turbulent times, practicing martial arts was always the most honorable profession.

Though the Li family was wealthy, they were insignificant compared to the Chen family. Master Li had to lower his head and behave humbly when meeting Master Chen.

For purchasing medicinal supplements for martial training, there was no better place in Wuqiao Town than the Chen Martial Arts School.

Next to the school’s gate was the Chen Pharmacy.

Medicinal supplements prepared there were primarily supplied to the martial arts apprentices, with any surplus sold to outsiders.

The pharmacy’s manager, Chen He, was a distant cousin of Chen Lei, forty-nine years old, well-preserved from years of martial practice. He had privately asked Xie An to appraise many antiques and thus was acquainted with him.

Martial artists were generally straightforward and not bound by too many rules. Chen He did not look down on Xie An for his slave status but was amazed by his exceptional appraisal skills.

---

“Old Xie, why are you out so early? Aren’t you afraid of catching a chill... Hey, you look so spirited today?” Chen He, sitting behind the pharmacy counter, sized Xie An up with surprise.

Xie An chuckled, “I recently found a health cultivation method that relaxes the muscles and tendons, maybe that’s why. By the way, do you have supplements suitable for the Five Animal Frolics?”

Chen He withdrew his gaze and began describing enthusiastically, “Of course. For general effects, we have Bone Strengthening Soup, three silver coins per dose, taken thrice daily. For someone like you practicing casually, that should suffice.”

Knowing Xie An was a slave, his recommendation was quite fair.

The problem was, Xie An was not practicing casually...

He wasn’t satisfied. “Do you have anything better?”

Chen He looked a bit surprised. “Better? There’s Blood Nourishing Soup, eight silver coins per dose, taken morning and night. And there’s the Replenishing Yuan Soup…”

“And the best one?”

Chen He was more astonished. “The best supplement for health cultivation we have is Vital Energy Soup. It contains ginseng, angelica, and deer blood. Two silver coins per dose, taken every two days.”

Two silver coins per dose, taken every two days—that meant a daily cost of one silver coin.

Truly exorbitant...

Though pained in his heart, Xie An decided this was the medicine he needed but showed a troubled expression. “I want to buy five doses. Can you give me a discount, Manager Chen?”

Five doses equaled ten silver coins.

Chen He, having run the pharmacy for years, rarely met such a bold customer.

For others, he might try to talk them into it, but facing Xie An, he advised, “Old Xie, that’s no small sum. Don’t be impulsive. With that money, you could train in martial arts. Spending it all on health cultivation isn’t cost-effective.”

Before, Xie An might have hesitated.

But having tasted the benefits of health cultivation recently, he was resolute. “Thanks for your concern, Manager Chen, but at my age, I can’t practice martial arts anymore. I just want to focus on health cultivation.”

Chen He didn’t press further. “Five doses of Vital Energy Soup, I’ll let you have for eight silver coins. How’s that?”

Xie An knew that was a fair deal and agreed. “Okay.”

Chen He expertly packed the five doses in mulberry bark paper. Just as he was about to collect payment, he suddenly said, “Old Xie, I have an item here. Could you appraise it for me?”

Wealthy families in this era often collected antiques and paintings.

Xie An gladly agreed and examined the object.

It was a jade ruyi scepter, with beautiful color and pure translucence, crystal clear.

While Xie An appraised it, Chen He told its story, “I bought it at the county antique market for ten silver coins. They said it belonged to a princess from the previous dynasty. But the pawnshop called it a fake. Damn…”

Xie An examined it carefully, pointing to the swordfish carving on the jade. “Swordfish carvings originated in the late previous dynasty but were rare then, mostly popular among nobles in the capital. They only became widespread after the twentieth year of the Jing Tai era in this dynasty. Later, due to changing tastes, swordfish carvings declined.”

Chen He anxiously rubbed his hands. “Is it valuable?”

Xie An said, “Swordfish carvings are unique and scarce. But the claim that it belonged to a princess is exaggerated. It’s more likely from a noblewoman in the Jing Tai era, about thirty years old. If you find a knowledgeable buyer, selling it for twenty silver coins wouldn’t be a problem.”

Chen He couldn’t believe it. “Really?”

Xie An was confident in his skill. “If you wait ten years before selling, it could double in value. If you don’t believe me, you can sell it to me at the pawnshop today for twenty silver coins. But you’d be at a loss.”

“Hahaha, Old Xie, I trust your words,” Chen He said happily, calling him “old brother” without realizing.

When collecting payment, he only charged Xie An three silver coins, saying it was cost price.

Xie An naturally accepted this kindness.

He didn’t have much savings, so every bit helped.

“By the way, a health master will come to the martial arts school to give lectures in a month. Auditing costs only two silver coins. Old Xie, do you want to attend?”

“I’ll think about it.”

Back at the pawnshop’s backyard room, the sky was already bright.

Xie An closed the door, brought out a brazier from the corner, and lit a fire to decoct the medicine.

During the brewing, he practiced his health cultivation exercises.

The last words Chen He said echoed in his mind.

“My progress in health cultivation has slowed considerably lately, besides lacking supplements. Could it be that my practice method is wrong?”

Health cultivation seemed simple but mastering it was not easy.

Though one could push oneself to the limit to speed progress, incorrect methods would slow progress and lead to many detours.

Having a health master to guide him would undoubtedly double the efficiency.

Like antique appraisal, an ordinary apprentice exploring alone might never succeed in ten years, but with proper guidance, could make great strides in two or three years.

“It seems I have to spend those two silver coins to audit.”

As he spoke, the medicine finished decocting.

Xie An, utterly exhausted, drank three large bowls of Vital Energy Soup and was stunned.

A warm current in his lower abdomen suddenly surged as if injected with an excitant, wildly expanding...