fantasy novels Chapter 16: Brewing the Medicine
Chapter 16: Brewing the Medicine
Wu He thought for a moment and realized that there were indeed some earthenware pots for brewing medicine and some medicinal patches stored in the Yuxianlou, which were specially prepared for guests who were weak and powerless, or who suffered from kidney deficiency and qi deficiency.
"have."
"That's good. If it's inconvenient for you to brew the medicine where you are, you can leave it with us and we'll brew it for you."
Upon hearing this, Wu He's eyes lit up slightly, and he nodded, saying, "Then let's leave it at your Xichuntang. I've never brewed Chinese medicine before, and I'm afraid I won't be able to control the heat properly if I do it myself. I'll pay you for your work."
"No wages required."
Wen Qiaoniang said with a smile, "Xichuntang will help customers brew the medicine."
"These two prescriptions have different prices. The one for nourishing the lungs and strengthening the body costs eight qian of silver per dose, while the one for replenishing qi and strengthening blood costs one liang of silver."
"How much do you want to buy first?"
Upon hearing this, Wu He's heart trembled.
That's really expensive.
A single dose of medicine cost him four or five months' wages.
Perhaps sensing his shock, Wen Qiaoniang explained, "If it's medicine used by ordinary people, the price won't be very high, usually only a few hundred coins."
"But for martial artists, the medicinal herbs they use are all rare plants that have been grown for more than half a year, so the price will be much higher."
Wu He nodded slightly.
He knew that the so-called precious plant was actually a special plant that had absorbed the essence of heaven and earth, making it rarer and more precious than ordinary Chinese medicine, and it had a great tonic effect on martial artists.
The two prescriptions that Wen Qiaoniang gave were indeed very expensive. If it were just for moisturizing the lungs and replenishing qi and blood, it might not have required so many precious herbs.
But since it's food that's going into your own stomach, and right now is the initial stage of a martial artist's life, the golden period for laying a solid foundation, so if you can eat well, you should eat as well as possible.
If you're short on money, I can lend you some.
Wu He waved his hand and took out a silver ingot, placing it on the table.
"Five sets for each person, please."
"it is good."
Wen Qiaoniang put away the silver ingots and also found a small amount of loose silver.
He then turned around and gathered and packed the herbs.
Xichuntang truly lives up to its reputation as a medical institution, with a special medicine storage point prepared for guests, marked by a wooden key, where the young pharmacist can help grind and brew the medicine.
This saves a lot of effort for many people.
Take Wu He for example.
He first asked Wen Qiaoniang to cook a lung-nourishing herbal soup.
Preparing medicine is also an art; the timing and heat must be very precise, as even a slight delay or speed can affect the efficacy of the decoction.
Even worse, what was a good medicine one second might become poison if delayed.
Therefore, while Wen Qiaoniang was boiling the medicine, Wu He carefully observed her and patiently explained the process and key points of boiling the medicine.
An hour later, the medicinal soup had cooled down, turning a dark black color and emitting an extremely pungent smell.
As Wu He picked up the ceramic bowl, a somewhat nauseating bitter taste rushed into his nostrils.
Then, holding his breath, he picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
bitter!
bitter!
In that instant, it felt as if I were myself and my throat was my throat.
The taste was extremely bitter and fishy, as if it wanted to strip away all the senses.
However, the taste wasn't great, but after drinking the warm medicinal soup, Wu He soon felt a warmth in his abdomen that he had never felt before, spreading in all directions.
It was as if there was a small furnace in my belly, constantly emitting a strange heat that flowed into my limbs and bones.
In an instant, it felt like being in a hot spring, with every pore on my body opening up and my cells cheering.
Especially in my lungs, the stinging sensation from practicing the Python Pattern Kung Fu these past few days has been quietly melting away, like ice in spring water.
Along with it disappeared the hunger that had plagued Wu He for so long.
"Medicine is medicine; no amount of meat can compare to its effects," he thought to himself.
"The effects of this medicine will be somewhat concentrated. You can use the Skin Tempering Martial Arts Technique to aid absorption, which will make the effect better."
Wen Qiaoniang reminded her from the side.
"Okay, I'll give it a try."
Wu He also clearly noticed that there seemed to be some residual medicinal effects in his stomach, so he began to practice the Python Pattern Kung Fu on the side.
At this moment, the Python Pattern Technique had been perfected, and within a few breaths, he entered a meditative state, with python-like patterns appearing and disappearing on his body.
[Progress Completed (Python Pattern Technique Mastery): 1/400]
And just as Wen Qiaoniang had said, wisps of heat began to dissipate outwards, and the efficiency of replenishing the python pattern technique seemed to have increased considerably.
Wu He was overjoyed and immediately focused his mind on cultivating his inner energy.
Unaware that not far away, an elderly man in his sixties, dressed in a blue jacket, was quietly watching with his hands behind his back.
"The Python Pattern Technique at the Mahayana Realm—this little guy has made considerable progress in just a few days."
Wen Xin spoke softly, a hint of appreciation in his aged eyes.
Wen Qiaoniang, standing beside him, nodded seriously: "I remember the last time I saw him, his aura was still at the mid-stage of the Skin Tempering realm. In just a few days, he has made such progress."
"The younger generation is truly formidable."
Wen Xin smiled kindly and turned to say, "Qiao Niang, all these years you've been in Zhuozhou, haven't you thought about practicing martial arts yourself?"
"I can't do it. My father said my physique is not right, and I won't be able to make a name for myself in martial arts."
She smiled wryly and said, "Martial arts are not for me. I prefer to study medicine, to heal the sick and save lives."
"Yes, you and your father both have such compassionate hearts."
Wen Xin paused for a moment, then said, "By the way, you should have already learned your father's Nine Needles of Resurrection, right?"
"I've only learned the basics."
Wen Qiaoniang spoke calmly...
After digesting the remaining medicinal effects, Wu He left Xichuntang and went to the butcher shop, where he bought 10 jin of deer meat.
The most common treasure beast in Xiongzhou is the mountain spirit deer. Its meat is delicious and contains a lot of essence and blood, making it the best choice for many ordinary martial artists to replenish their qi and blood during daily cultivation.
Then he found a blacksmith shop and bought a brand new Tang-style sword.
The art of splashing the blade excels in speed, so the Tang horizontal sword, which is not particularly long and leans towards lightness and agility, is the best choice.
Of course, this price isn't very good.
Three taels of silver!
Including the ten catties of deer meat I just bought, this whole trip cost me eight taels of silver.
Adding to the ten doses of medicine I just bought, the total cost was nearly twenty taels, and I bled all at once.
"Knives can be used for a long time, but treasure beast meat and medicine are definitely consumables."
"With the money I have left, getting through this month shouldn't be a problem, but it's hard to say what will happen after that. I still need to find a way to get more money."
"Sigh, practicing martial arts is truly a bottomless pit; no matter how much silver I have, it's never enough."
His expenses today weren't even that good; they weren't even average.
If you get injured or break a bone, even tens or hundreds of taels of silver might not be enough to cover your expenses.
On his way back to Yuxian Tower, Wu He truly understood what it meant to be poor in literature and rich in martial arts.
……
In the evening, Wu He practiced his knife skills in the courtyard, trying to make up for the last bit of progress that night.
The brand-new Tang-style sword pierced the air with its sharp edge, its moves fierce and precise.
Progress is also steadily increasing.
Before he knew it, Wu He felt a gaze fixed on him, and the soft sound of footsteps on the snow could be heard.