Mountain and Sea Demon Martial Arts, Starting with Vertical Pupils

Chapter 28 Seeking Medicine

"So far, everything has gone smoothly." Chen Luo walked into the martial arts gym, still feeling somewhat relieved.

He certainly wasn't there to deliver goods for the mountain produce shop, and Huanglian, who was delivering medicinal herbs, hadn't suffered a stroke.

He had learned that the mountain produce shop delivered medicinal herbs to the Qingyun Martial Arts School every seven days, and the deliveryman was Huang Lian, a shop assistant at the mountain produce shop. So he pretended to be Huang Lian and used the delivery of mountain produce as an excuse to come in.

But the mountain produce in the bamboo basket was real; it was all common, basic medicinal herbs, which cost him three taels of silver.

After this series of actions, he successfully fooled the gatekeeper, who even kindly gave him directions. The price was only a few coins.

In short, after spending a total of three taels of silver, he finally managed to sneak in.

However, Chen Luo did not get carried away. He had only just passed the easiest hurdle. The key was how to obtain the medicine next.

He walked into the front yard, looked around briefly, and found that the front yard was actually very small.

At first glance, the bluestone-paved ground was covered with a little moss. There was only an old locust tree with gnarled branches in the courtyard, and two smooth stone blocks were casually placed under the tree. On the left and right sides were low walls, some of the plaster was peeling off, and there was nothing else.

Chen Luo walked up the corridor and past the front yard. Suddenly, a wide open-air martial arts arena came into view, almost the same size as the Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy. The rammed earth ground was covered with deep and shallow footprints and weapon marks.

Directly opposite the training ground was a tall but equally simple brick and tile house with three stone steps in front of it and the door wide open, its purpose unknown.

Overall, the interior of the Qingyun Martial Arts School is far too simple and unadorned, which does not match its reputation at all.

Furthermore, Chen Luo walked along the way, only to find that he hadn't seen a single person from beginning to end.

Even on the training ground, no disciples of the so-called Qingyun Martial Arts School were seen.

He was puzzled. Did no one from Qingyun Martial Arts School ever go to the training ground to practice martial arts on weekdays?

Puzzled, Chen Luo could only continue walking along the corridor until he came to a narrow gravel path. Beside the path was a low wall covered with ivy, and a moon gate opened in the wall.

Passing through the moon gate, you enter another garden, next to which is a rockery made of several uncarved gray-brown lake stones.

The entire garden was quiet and secluded, with only the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind and the faint sound of flowing water.

Perhaps because he hadn't seen anyone for a long time, hearing these ethereal voices made Chen Luo feel inexplicably nervous.

As we walked to the end, we gradually came to smell a strong and complex herbal aroma.

The smell originated from a low-lying tiled house.

"This is the pharmacy?" Chen Luo was a little surprised. The house looked only slightly larger than his own, and its exterior was quite simple.

The tiled house door was open, and looking through the door, the interior furnishings were quite simple. It was a small courtyard with a wing room on the east and west sides.

There was a small stove in the courtyard with a fire burning underneath, obviously for brewing medicine. A man sat next to it, fanning himself with a fan, and he looked like a handyman in the pharmacy.

Not far from the man, a woman sat at a stone table, wearing a light blue gauze dress. She looked to be in her forties, elegant and graceful, still charming, and was reading a book in her hands.

This was the first time Chen Luo had encountered a living person since entering the Qingyun Martial Arts School.

"Is Pharmacist Xu a woman?"

"No, it could also be Pharmacist Xu's wife."

He thought to himself, a little nervously, and knocked on the open door, but didn't go in.

Even without him knocking, the two people in the courtyard probably noticed him.

The man fanning the air said without looking up, "Just put the medicine at the door."

To complete the act, Chen Luo did as instructed, taking down the bamboo basket and placing it at the doorway. However, he didn't leave. Instead, he paused, then asked the woman, "Excuse me, is Pharmacist Xu here?"

Before the woman could speak, the man looked up, glanced over, and said, "That's me. What do you want?"

Chen Luo was taken aback. Was this man not a handyman?

He hadn't expected that this man was the pharmacist Xu. It wasn't that he judged people by their appearance, but rather that the man looked too ordinary. He wore coarse linen clothes, had a dark face, and was short in stature, looking no different from an ordinary farmer.

In his imagination, Pharmacist Xu should be someone extraordinary, like Commander Luo or Instructor Li.

"I have met Pharmacist Xu."

Chen Luo looked at the man, carefully organized his thoughts, and then solemnly said, "My name is Chen Luo. I have come here not only to deliver medicine, but also to ask Pharmacist Xu for a specific medicine."

After saying these words, Chen Luo felt much calmer.

It was nearly impossible for a pharmacist from the Qingyun Martial Arts School to concoct medicine for a lowly snake catcher like him. The simplest solution he could think of was to come in directly, find the person, ask for medicine like this, and then improvise as needed.

The very act of asking for medicine now is already the most difficult step.

Pharmacist Xu paused, glancing at Chen Luo. "Seeking medicine? What kind of medicine do you need?"

Seeing that he did not immediately send him away, Chen Luo's heart stirred, and he quickly said, "Reporting to Pharmacist Xu, I would like to request medicine to strengthen my muscles and bones."

Pharmacist Xu didn't answer, but instead asked calmly, "I saw that the person who delivered the medicine before was Huanglian, why did it change to you?"

"Huang Lian caught a cold and took leave today, so I'm delivering the medicine in his place," Chen Luo said.

"I see you're genuinely asking for medicine, but delivering it is just a pretense," Pharmacist Xu sneered, glancing at Chen Luo from head to toe. "You're a disciple of the Zhengyang Martial Arts Academy?"

"Yes."

"Is your musculoskeletal system weak?"

"Yes."

"How many levels have you cultivated the Nine Yang Strength to?"

"Double force".

Chen Luo answered his questions truthfully one by one. Pharmacist Xu couldn't help but let out another cold laugh, "You, a mere disciple of the Yishu Academy at the second level of martial arts, come here under some pretext to ask me for medicine. What do you intend to offer?"

"That depends on what Pharmacist Xu needs," Chen Luo said, bowing his head.

Upon hearing this, Pharmacist Xu almost laughed in anger. "Ha, what do I need that you might not be able to give me?"

But Chen Luo remained calm, only keeping his head down as he said, "Perhaps I can't give it to you now."

The pharmacist was startled again. He stared at Chen Luo, and after a long silence, he looked at the woman who had remained silent, and his tone suddenly became gentle, "Madam, please go to the back room and bring him that red bag."

"Okay." The woman nodded, and after a moment she returned, carrying a red bag. She came to Chen Luo and handed it to him with both hands.

Chen Luo accepted the bag with both hands, feeling flattered. His heart was pounding uncontrollably. He didn't know what was in the bag, but it looked like the bone-tempering medicine he was looking for.

Did he really get the medicine?

Seemingly having heard Chen Luo's thoughts, the pharmacist Xu said calmly, "The bone-tempering medicine you requested is inside. Take three grams daily, dissolve it in boiling water, and soak your body in the medicine bath."

It really is a bone-strengthening medicine! Chen Luo was somewhat incredulous for a moment; he hadn't expected to get the medicine so easily this time.

You should know that even deer antlers and deer velvet, which enhance qi and blood, cost eighteen taels, so this medicine for strengthening bones and muscles will only be more expensive.

Such valuable medicine, and you just gave it to him like that?

The ease with which it worked made Chen Luo wonder if there was something wrong with the medicine.

He looked at Pharmacist Xu, but Pharmacist Xu just waved his hand impatiently, "You can leave now."

"Thank you, Pharmacist Xu." Chen Luoqiang suppressed his excitement and quickly bowed.

Regardless of whether there's a problem with the medicine or not, he couldn't possibly raise any questions at this moment.

It's already unbelievable that they were able to get their hands on the medicine so easily.

However, before leaving, he thought for a moment and solemnly added, "I will always remember your kindness today."

Pharmacist Xu merely sneered at these words and ignored them.

The woman, however, waved her hand gently and said in a soft voice, "Go ahead, it's alright."

Chen Luo thanked him again before leaving.