The history of the Qihuang Sect is quite poignant.
While other ancient medical sects trace their founders back to figures like Hua Tuo and Bian Que, or renowned physicians from the Tang and Song dynasties, the founder of the Qihuang Sect was none other than Qibo from antiquity. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the progenitor of all medicine.
Thus, the Qihuang Sect had always been the most powerful and formidable among ancient medical schools.
This continued until the advent of Western medicine in modern times. With diagnoses rooted in scientific principles, ordinary people gained a better understanding of many underlying mechanisms. However, most traditional medical practitioners remained set in their ways, reluctant to share their secret prescriptions. This led the public to believe that these ancient healing traditions, passed down through millennia, were nothing but quackery.
The common folk were indifferent to the centuries of service traditional medicine had rendered to the people of China before Western medicine arrived.
Yet, the fault did not entirely lie with the populace. It was the ancient medical practitioners themselves, who were unwilling to adapt to the times and clung to their old ways. Furthermore, a portion of them deliberately exploited useful prescriptions by feigning mysticism, thus tarnishing the reputation of traditional medicine.
The Qihuang Sect was also significantly impacted by the influx of Western medicine, but as the elder brother, it was their duty to lead the way.
Seventy years ago, the Qihuang Sect organized an ancient medicine exchange conference, summoning all existing ancient medical schools. The purpose was to foster unity among the various sects and discuss the future of traditional medicine.
At the conference, the former sect leader of Qihuang proposed that everyone publicly disclose their sect's prescriptions. This, he argued, would show the public that traditional medicine was not mere charlatanism and that it wasn't only Western medicine that could save lives. Only by doing so, he believed, could traditional medicine have a future.
However, this viewpoint was met with opposition from most sects. They believed that the respect traditional medicine commanded stemmed from its secret, unrevealed knowledge. Once these secrets were made public, the status of traditional medicine would be irrevocably lost.
Thus, a conflict was ignited.
To set an example, the Qihuang Sect publicly released three of its unique, peerless prescriptions. Any one of these prescriptions, if revealed, was enough to stir up immense turmoil.
Unexpectedly, it was precisely these three extraordinary prescriptions that brought about the Qihuang Sect's near annihilation.
The emergence of these three prescriptions made the other ancient medical sects realize the Qihuang Sect's immense power. Instead of uniting to counter the rise of Western medicine, they harbored covetous desires for the Qihuang Sect's prescriptions.
While other sects merely harbored such thoughts, the Hanshang Sect took action.
Taking advantage of the conference, the Hanshang Sect poisoned the food of the Qihuang Sect disciples, intending to steal all their prescriptions.
However, the disciples of the Qihuang Sect were exceptional individuals who easily identified the poison in their food. When their plot was exposed, the Hanshang Sect abandoned all pretense, colluded with a band of mountain bandits, and massacred all the Qihuang Sect disciples present on the mountain at the time, seizing a portion of their prescriptions.
Among these was the formula for the Tian Yuan Ju Hun Dan, which Yan Shouyi intended to deliver to Lin Zhitong!
The once prosperous Qihuang Sect was almost wiped out overnight, with only a few disciples living in exile managing to survive.
Old Jin's great-grandfather was once an elder of the Qihuang Sect and was among those who perished at the hands of the Hanshang Sect.
When Yan Shouyi had recited the formula for the Tian Yuan Ju Hun Dan, Old Jin instinctively assumed Yan Shouyi was affiliated with the Hanshang Sect. Unsure of Yan Shouyi's intentions, he deliberately lured them into his humble abode, intending to strike first.
However, Old Jin had not anticipated that Yan Shouyi was a descendant of Lu Ban.
It is common knowledge that descendants of Lu Ban travel the world, and the Lu Ban Shu records all manner of mystical arts. It was therefore not surprising that they possessed the formula for the Tian Yuan Ju Hun Dan.
Old Jin stretched his limbs, inadvertently brushing against his wound, which caused him to grimace in pain.
Despite his discomfort, he couldn't help but ask, "Although I don't have the medicinal ingredients you need, I do have channels to procure them for you. As for the cost..."
Now it was Yan Shouyi's turn to feel awkward. He lacked nothing except money.
If he were to ask, countless billionaires would surely offer him funds. However, Yan Shouyi disliked incurring favors without cause.
Long Feicheng patted his chest and said, "Old Jin, name your price. I'll cover whatever it costs, and I'll pay you back sooner or later."
"It's not much, just about three million," Old Jin said with a smile.
"Three million, hahahaha! Hahahaha! ...Haha! ...Ha..."
As Long Feicheng's laughter subsided, his confidence wavered. He clasped his hands and pleaded, "What medicine is so expensive? Given our friendship, could you offer a discount?"
"Forget the discount, just name a price."
"Three hundred?"
"Get lost!"
Old Jin retorted, "I know you, kid. Your family's always making noise, yet you're still poor!"
Yan Shouyi chuckled dryly, "I really need these medicinal ingredients, but I truly don't have the money for you right now."
Speaking to Yan Shouyi, Old Jin's amiable smile returned. "Actually, money isn't the most important thing. What matters is that I'm willing to be your friend. How about this: I'll help you get those medicines, and you owe me a favor. In the future, if I need your help with something, you won't refuse."
Yan Shouyi frowned. He worried that Old Jin might make unreasonable requests in the future, and as a descendant of Lu Ban, he was bound by his word. Refusing Old Jin would then lead to significant trouble.
As if sensing Yan Shouyi's concern, Old Jin quickly added, "Don't worry, I won't ask you to do anything immoral or make any unreasonable demands."
"Very well," Yan Shouyi nodded, agreeing. Ever since learning that Old Jin was a descendant of the Qihuang Sect, he no longer doubted Old Jin's capabilities.
Old Jin beamed with joy. People like him understood the immense value of a favor from a descendant of Lu Ban.
Although Old Jin appeared impoverished, like a beggar, this was merely a facade to avoid the attention of the Hanshang Sect, a deliberate act of keeping a low profile.
He possessed remarkable medical skills but never revealed them, content to run his dilapidated pharmacy rather than get involved in any entanglements.
Even his corpulence was cultivated to bide his time and conserve his strength.
Therefore, procuring the medicinal ingredients Yan Shouyi needed was not a difficult task for Old Jin. However, the promise of a descendant of Lu Ban was priceless.
"Come back to the Huichun Hall in three days, and I guarantee I'll have the medicines for you," Old Jin said.
With one concern resolved, Yan Shouyi asked, "I have another matter. I'd like to inquire about the Bai family of Feifeng Mountain in Rongcheng. How much do you know about them?"
"The Bai family of Feifeng Mountain? They are no trifling matter."
Upon mentioning the Bai family, Old Jin's tone became considerably more serious.
He cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "Rongcheng has three major aristocratic families: the Li family of West Lake, the Liu family of Guling, and the Bai family of Feifeng Mountain!"
Yan Shouyi's pupils contracted, and he repeated woodenly, "The Li family of West Lake..."
These three locations held significant meaning within Rongcheng.
Rongcheng's West Lake was located in the old urban district and was currently the most expensive area in the entire city. Those who resided by West Lake were either extremely wealthy or of high status.
Rongcheng's Guling, situated to the east of Rongcheng, stretched for dozens of kilometers, enveloping the entire city and shielding it from the eastern sea winds, thus making Rongcheng a livable city. Since ancient times, it had been regarded as a protective divine mountain by the people of Rongcheng.
Rongcheng's Feifeng Mountain, which originated in the Tang Dynasty, was rumored to be the nesting place of phoenixes. It later developed into a sacred site for Taoism, with several minor sects establishing themselves there, their incense burning continuously. It was also a major landmark of Rongcheng.
The three great families each occupied a landmark in Rongcheng, standing in opposition to one another.
Ordinary people knew of the Wang family of Jianzhou, the Lin family of Licheng, and the Zhang family of Rongcheng, but were completely unaware of the existence of these three great families. They were like clouds floating in the sky, a realm beyond the reach of mortals.
Old Jin continued, "The prosperity of the three great families is not only due to their long history and deep roots in Rongcheng but also, more importantly, because their ancestors bribed underworld grim reapers and the local City God. This allowed their ancestors to remain in the mortal world to continue protecting their descendants. Behind each of the three families lurks a formidable ghost king with immense magical powers!"
Old Jin's words had hit the nail on the head.
Long Feicheng asked, "Old Jin, you say the ancestors of the Bai family of Feifeng Mountain are protective of their young?"
"Haha, the Bai family's protectiveness of their young is legendary, especially their very young ones. Anyone who provokes their little ancestors suffers a terrible fate!"
As if recounting a humorous anecdote, Old Jin laughed heartily, holding his stomach. But as he laughed, he noticed the somber expressions on Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng's faces.
He gradually understood something, his laughter subsiding until he asked hesitantly,
"You haven't... provoked anyone from the Bai family, have you?"
Yan Shouyi confessed, "To be frank, yesterday we inadvertently killed one of their little ghosts."
"..."
Old Jin fell silent for a moment, then suddenly waved his hand. "Forget it, forget it. I don't want the favor anymore. You should pack your things and run immediately, before the Bai family discovers what happened. Otherwise, things will get complicated..."
The two were astonished. Was this Bai family truly so terrifying that Old Jin would abandon their deal so readily?
Yan Shouyi stopped Old Jin and said, "You go ahead and prepare the medicinal ingredients. Don't worry about the Bai family; I have my own way of resolving this."
"Are you sure? I'm telling you, lying will rot your tongue!"
"Rongcheng isn't solely dominated by the Bai family. I have a close relationship with the Li family of West Lake. At worst, I can ask them to mediate the dispute." Yan Shouyi replied.
Old Jin steadied himself. "If that's the case... then it might be feasible."
"Then it's settled. I'll come for the medicines in three days."
As Yan Shouyi finished speaking, he handed Old Jin a piece of wood.
Old Jin picked up the wooden piece and examined it. It exuded a blood-red hue, its grain clearly defined. It was made of genuine "Lu Ban Sacred Wood," inscribed only with the characters "Lu Ban."
This represented a favor owed by a descendant of Lu Ban, which would be repaid in the future. Only after the favor was repaid would the Sacred Wood be reclaimed.
If the promised descendant of Lu Ban disappeared, any other descendant of Lu Ban, upon presentation of the Lu Ban Sacred Wood, would be obliged to assist.
In the past, when descendants of Lu Ban faced hardships, they relied on this mutual support and assistance to establish themselves in society.
In modern terms, this was akin to a "chain enterprise."
Having received the Sacred Wood, Old Jin wasted no further words. He snapped his greasy fingers and said,
"Alright, I'll be waiting for you at the Huichun Hall in three days!"