Chapter 287: What’s Going On?

Zhang Xuan was speechless. He hadn't expected the man to be so straightforward and decisive, collapsing the moment he mentioned it, without any hesitation.

"Ahem, what I meant was... I can solve it, but it will require additional payment. Now you've fainted, who am I supposed to settle the bill with?" He had already fulfilled his part of the deal—curing the man of the Contract Gu in exchange for being taken to the Poison Hall. Now that the man also wanted his injuries treated, Zhang Xuan couldn't just expend his True Qi for nothing. "To faint before I even finished speaking, isn't that a bit disrespectful to me as a physician?"

Hearing Zhang Xuan's muttering, Steward Lu, who was standing nearby, coughed and quickly stepped forward. "Ahem, our master merely wishes for a swift recovery. Physician Bai, please state your requirements directly to me; they will certainly be met!"

"That's more like it!" Zhang Xuan nodded. "Since you deal in medicinal herbs, you must have plenty of Soul Numbing Powder, right? Prepare three portions for me... no, make that ten portions." If he had been prepared earlier, he wouldn't have had to knock someone out. Now that he knew, he naturally wanted more. If he didn't exploit this wealthy family, then who would?

"Ten portions of Soul Numbing Powder?" Steward Lu was taken aback, blinking his eyes.

"Yes. Can't your esteemed Grand Apothecary Manor even produce that?" Zhang Xuan frowned, though inwardly he was a little nervous, wondering if he had asked for too much and if they wouldn't be able to provide it.

"This... well..." Steward Lu's face was contorted in a dilemma, as if constipated. "It's just that it's too cheap..." Soul Numbing Powder was merely a basic standard for physicians; one portion cost only a few hundred gold coins, and ten portions together amounted to only a few thousand. Such a small sum to save the Grand Apothecary's life... it seemed far too cheap!

"Cheap?" Zhang Xuan was momentarily stunned. He glanced at Mo Yu, who nodded with a helpless expression, before he gave an awkward laugh. "Uh... right, does your manor have cultivation manuals for Half-Grandmaster and Grandmaster realms? Any level is fine, the more the better. If you can collect over a thousand, that could serve as payment."

His cultivation had reached the peak of the Tongxuan realm, and to break through, he needed to gather more advanced manuals. Tianxuan Kingdom was too low-level, with Tongxuan being the highest realm; Half-Grandmaster manuals were exceedingly rare there. Honglian City, a city in a first-tier kingdom and a center for medicinal trade, might have cultivation techniques of the required level.

"Half-Grandmaster and Grandmaster realm manuals? Over a thousand copies?" Steward Lu was surprised that Physician Bai Chan wanted such an unusual compensation. After some thought, he said, "Our Grand Apothecary controls all medicinal herbs in Tianwu Kingdom and the twelve surrounding nations. Many cultivators who lack funds to purchase herbs trade their unique cultivation manuals instead."

"Because of this, over the years, we've accumulated several hundred Half-Grandmaster manuals. If you truly want them, with a single command from our Grand Apothecary Manor, gathering over a thousand in a short time would be no problem. As for Grandmaster realm cultivation manuals... if you don't demand specific levels, collecting several hundred is feasible, but a thousand might be difficult."

"Good, I'll take those!" Hearing that over a thousand Half-Grandmaster manuals and several hundred Grandmaster manuals could be gathered, Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up, and he quickly nodded. As expected of a city in Tianwu Kingdom, the level was much higher. Once these manuals were collected, he could easily break through to Half-Grandmaster, and even the Grandmaster realm. By then, even if he encountered danger in the Poison Hall, he would be capable of handling it.

"Alright, you go make the arrangements. I'll treat your master now!" Satisfied with the compensation of so many manuals, Zhang Xuan pressed his finger onto the Grand Apothecary's meridians, and a stream of Heaven's Path True Qi flowed in.

The Grand Apothecary's loss of vitality was essentially due to blocked meridians and stagnant Qi. Once these blockages were cleared, the robust True Qi of a Grandmaster would naturally re-nourish his essence, Qi, and spirit, restoring his health.

Boom! The pure True Qi surged through the blocked meridians, breaking through all previous restrictions. The after-effects of the Contract Gu vanished like snow melting under the scorching sun, leaving no trace. With the internal problem resolved, the Grand Apothecary's withered and loose skin regained its elasticity and vitality, as if he had instantly aged back by several decades.

"This..." Mo Yu, standing by, kept blinking her eyes. She had previously thought that Zhang Xuan's treatment, like other physicians', would involve various medicinal herbs and a gradual accumulation of time. She never expected that simply grasping the man's wrist would instantly restore him... Was this truly a physician's method? She had never heard of it before. In just a few days with this fellow, countless things she once believed had been overturned, and her worldview completely subverted.

"Done!" The True Qi quickly circulated throughout the man's body, clearing all blockages. Zhang Xuan stood up and let out a breath. It had been even simpler than he anticipated.

With the hidden problem resolved, the Grand Apothecary slowly woke up. Seeing his skin restored to its soft texture and feeling the surging power throughout his body, he was moved, though not as shocked as Mo Yu. The man before him could cure the Contract Gu, which had baffled countless physicians and poison masters. Restoring such minor injuries was child's play; it would be truly astonishing if he *couldn't* cure them.

"Thank you, Physician Bai Chan!" His face flushed, the Grand Apothecary knelt again. If not for this person, he would likely be dead by now. Such kindness was beyond monetary measure.

"Just a transaction! I'm simply curious, with your status, why would you sign this Contract Gu and allow yourself to be controlled?" Zhang Xuan waved his hand, looking at him with confusion.

Even Mo Yu couldn't understand. The Grand Apothecary was so formidable in Honglian City that even the Tianwu Royal Family dared not send troops against him. The idea of such a person signing a Contract Gu was unimaginable without seeing it with her own eyes.

"Ah, it's a long story. If you knew who made me sign the contract, you wouldn't think that way!" Noticing the confusion in their eyes, the Grand Apothecary gave a bitter smile. The other party had saved his life; having faced death, he knew there was nothing left to hide. "The one who made me sign the contract was... the Hall Master of the Poison Hall!"

"The Poison Hall Master?"

"Yes!" The Grand Apothecary nodded, his expression complex. "The Grand Apothecary may appear mighty and powerful, beyond reproach in Honglian City, but in reality, I'm merely a representative for the Poison Hall! It's not just me; every generation of Grand Apothecary must sign a contract with the Poison Hall Master, becoming their puppet in the outside world."

"Every generation?" Zhang Xuan and Mo Yu clicked their tongues, then understood. Honglian City was the sole gateway to the Poison Hall. Without the Poison Hall's backing, how could generations of Grand Apothecaries control such a lucrative medicinal market? And how could they face the kingdom without fear, even daring to execute princes and princesses? Only with the support of a mysterious and unpredictable power like the Poison Hall could they possess such deep roots. Otherwise, a mere decaying ancient city, even one controlling the flow of medicines, would certainly not dare to oppose a great nation like Tianwu! Tianwu Kingdom had two-star master teachers, and even more than one. With such master teachers teaching, while not everyone might become a dragon, the overall cultivation level would surely far surpass Tianxuan Kingdom. When their army marched out, it would be earth-shattering and overwhelming. If not for the Poison Hall's backing, how could a small Honglian City have become a lawless zone like this? It would have probably been razed long ago.

"The Contract Gu only activates upon the death of the one who cast it, so could it be..." Zhang Xuan thought of something and couldn't help but look over.

"Exactly!" The Grand Apothecary nodded. "This generation's Hall Master has died!"

"As Steward Lu mentioned earlier, the recent internal strife in the Poison Hall makes it very dangerous, and they're not receiving outsiders—that was not an exaggeration! This Hall Master suddenly died, and his three successors are all vying for the position, which triggered the chaos. Even I wouldn't dare to go there easily, otherwise, I wouldn't even know how I died." The Grand Apothecary gave a bitter smile. "To them, I'm just a puppet. As long as the Poison Hall exists, they can simply establish a new one later." Although he didn't want to admit it, Zhang Xuan knew this was the truth. With the Poison Hall's backing, choosing anyone to be the Grand Apothecary was just a matter of a word. The Grand Apothecary, so imposing to outsiders, was merely a dispensable puppet; it was hard to believe without hearing it firsthand.

The Grand Apothecary looked at Zhang Xuan with a serious expression. "Physician Bai Chan, you saved me, and taking you to the Poison Hall as per our agreement is my duty. However... with the three disciples vying for leadership, the entire Poison Hall is fraught with danger. Anyone who goes there now faces a dead end. If you can wait, you might consider staying here with me; I can keep you updated on the situation. Once a new Hall Master is established, we can go, and it will be much safer."

The struggle for the Poison Hall leadership was no different from a royal succession, filled with schemes and assassinations. An outsider entering now might inadvertently become a pawn and die without knowing how. It could be said that the Poison Hall was currently at its most tumultuous and dangerous. However, once a Hall Master was confirmed, they would need to win over supporters and suppress the defeated, which would stabilize the situation and make it considerably safer.

"I can't wait!" Zhang Xuan knew the Grand Apothecary was speaking truthfully and not trying to deceive him, but he couldn't afford to wait. Although the poison Qi in his body was suppressed by Heaven's Path True Qi, no one could guarantee when it might backlash. Waiting three, five, or even ten or fifteen days was acceptable, but waiting a year or two was definitely not an option.

"Actually... if Physician Bai is truly in a hurry, it's not entirely impossible." Seeing his savior was anxious to go to the Poison Hall quickly, the Grand Apothecary pondered for a moment. "The late Hall Master's three disciples each command a portion of support within the Poison Hall, making them evenly matched. Under normal circumstances, it would indeed be difficult to decide a successor within a year or two. However, there's a possibility..."

"Tell me!" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

The Grand Apothecary said, "The Poison Hall, like the Physician Guild and the Artificer Guild, has a headquarters and many branches. Our branch in the Red Lotus Mountain Range is just a small one!"

Zhang Xuan nodded. By reading various books, he knew that his current location was merely a drop in the ocean of this world, insignificant. Although the Poison Hall in the Red Lotus Mountain Range was well-known, its influence was significant only within the jurisdiction of Tianwu Kingdom. In higher kingdoms, there would naturally be more powerful branches.

"To my knowledge," the Grand Apothecary continued, "the late Hall Master died suddenly without passing on his position to anyone. The many elders within the hall have already dispatched messengers to inform the headquarters! If the headquarters decides to intervene and sends a special envoy to quell the internal strife and determine the Hall Master, it should be much simpler, and the time will be shortened!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up. As long as it was a branch, it had to follow the headquarters' arrangements. If a branch Hall Master died, and the headquarters sent someone, even if it was chaotic, it could surely be resolved quickly.

"Normally, how long does it take for the Poison Hall headquarters to send someone in such a situation? And how long would it take to quell the internal conflict? Have there been precedents?" Zhang Xuan couldn't help but ask.

"According to the Poison Hall's history, there have indeed been precedents, but..." The Grand Apothecary hesitated, a bitter smile on his face. "The timing truly cannot be confirmed. The Red Lotus Mountain Range Poison Hall, though it sounds grand, is actually just a neglected corner to the headquarters. If they truly send a special envoy, it wouldn't take more than half a month to completely stabilize it. However... if they deem it insignificant and don't send anyone, they'll let it develop on its own, and it won't be resolved for a year or two!"

Although sending a special envoy could resolve it, for the Poison Hall, a minor, dispensable branch wasn't worth the effort; it was quite normal for them not to send anyone. Such situations had occurred before. If that were the case, it would be quite absurd. Therefore, even he couldn't predict the duration of the internal strife.

"If it's uncertain, I can't just keep waiting indefinitely!" After hearing the explanation, Zhang Xuan grew even more frustrated. He wanted to find enough poison master books to study and resolve the hidden danger of poison Qi in his body. He couldn't possibly wait for an uncertain message for one or two years!

"The best option is to keep waiting, but if Physician Bai truly wishes to go, I can take you now. However... I cannot guarantee what might happen," the Grand Apothecary said, hesitating.

"I'll consider it!" He was only going to the Poison Hall to read books; as long as he didn't get involved in their struggle for the Hall Master's position, it shouldn't be as dangerous as it seemed. Of course, he didn't know much about poison masters, so he couldn't be sure if that was truly the case. He could only take it one step at a time.

"Once you've collected the books, we'll depart!" After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Xuan made up his mind. Having come all this way to Honglian City, he couldn't keep waiting indefinitely. Since that was the case, he would go when the time came, regardless of the internal strife. However, before that, any increase in strength was beneficial. As long as he reached the Grandmaster peak, with his pure Heaven's Path True Qi, he could even fight a Half-Saint. Even if the people from the Poison Hall wanted to kill him, it would likely be very difficult.

"Collect books?" The Grand Apothecary was a little confused. He had been unconscious when Zhang Xuan discussed the terms with Steward Lu and was unaware of the request.

"It's like this..." Zhang Xuan explained.

"So Physician Bai wants these books? That's simple! I'll personally supervise the collection; it will be faster. Within three days at most, we can gather all the Half-Grandmaster and Grandmaster realm books in Honglian City!" Hearing that the formidable Physician Bai Chan's requested payment was this, the Grand Apothecary was first surprised, then smiled, a look of strong confidence in his eyes. After years of his management, Honglian City was already a solid entity. Although these books were valuable, it would be very simple to obtain them if he personally intervened.

"That's good then, I'll rely on the Grand Apothecary!" Hearing it would only take three days, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

"Please have Physician Bai stay here for now. I will go oversee this immediately." The Grand Apothecary stood up, called a guard to arrange lodging for the two, and hurried out. He dared not delay his savior's request.

"Let's settle in first!" Zhang Xuan knew there was no point in rushing, so he and Mo Yu calmly settled into their lodgings.

"Do you think that fellow was right or wrong in his diagnosis?" Outside the Grand Apothecary Manor, the many physicians who had just left were gathered, each with furrowed brows. After leaving the manor, they hadn't departed but remained standing by. Esteemed two-star and three-star physicians, renowned across the kingdom, had been upstaged by an unknown one-star physician. Anyone would feel frustrated.

"A one-star physician, getting the diagnosis right? What a joke, he must have been talking nonsense!"

"That's not necessarily true. For the Grand Apothecary to react so strongly to a single sentence, how could it be if he wasn't right?"

"If he really was right, what is this Contract Gu? Why have I never heard of it before?"

The more they discussed, the more confused they became. If the man was spouting nonsense, it wouldn't have provoked such a reaction from the Grand Apothecary, even to the point of driving them all away. But if it was true, what exactly was a Contract Gu? And why had none of them ever heard of it? Did such an ailment even exist? Moreover... how could a one-star physician be more capable than them, and how did he discern it?

"This Bai Chan, I've known him for so many years, when did he acquire such skill?" Physician Cheng Feng in the crowd was so frustrated he wanted to tear his hair out. He was most familiar with Physician Bai Chan and had intended to mock him and make him look foolish. He never dreamed that Bai Chan would actually diagnose the problem correctly, delivering a harsh slap to his face.

"Stop agonizing over it. Right or wrong, by waiting here, we should get results soon!"

"If he truly diagnosed the Grand Apothecary's ailment, he can swagger out. Otherwise, he'll only emerge as a corpse!" Mu Hong and the other two most capable three-star physicians interrupted the discussion.

"Indeed!" Everyone nodded simultaneously. That fellow, not knowing his place, had knocked out the Grand Apothecary with one punch, which was a grave transgression. If he could cure the ailment, it would be fine, but if not, he would certainly be killed. Knowing this, the crowd no longer fretted. If the man walked out on his own two feet, it meant he had truly diagnosed the illness. If he was carried out horizontally, it meant he had been talking nonsense and courting death by showing off.

"No need to guess, he's definitely coming out horizontally..." Physician Cheng Feng gritted his teeth, but before he could finish speaking, he heard a "creak!" as the manor's main gate swung open.

"Look, someone's coming out..." Hearing the sound, the many physicians all looked over in unison. With just a glance, their eyes widened, and they nearly fainted on the spot.

An old man walked out, followed by Steward Lu, who had a respectful expression.

"Is that... the Grand Apothecary?" Recognizing the man's appearance, all the physicians simultaneously swallowed. They had just spent so much time diagnosing the Grand Apothecary, how could they not recognize him! Although this man appeared much younger than before, who else could it be, given Steward Lu's respectful demeanor? Just a moment ago, he was lying motionless in a chair, seemingly on the verge of death... and less than twenty minutes later, he was striding out, full of vigor, looking decades younger... Can anyone tell me what happened? Even if he truly diagnosed the ailment, treatment should still take some time, right? Cured in twenty minutes... and walking out on his own. Damn it, was this really not a mistake?

"This..." Physician Cheng Feng staggered, nearly spitting blood. He had just said the other party would surely be carried out, and yet... the Grand Apothecary walked out on his own two feet. Can anyone tell him what happened?

"Gentlemen, you haven't left yet?" Stepping out of the courtyard and seeing that the crowd hadn't dispersed, the Grand Apothecary smiled.

"Grand Apothecary, you're..." Physician Mu Hong could no longer hold back and stepped forward, his face full of bewilderment.

"Physician Bai Chan cured my ailment; his medical skill is truly profound!" The Grand Apothecary's eyes filled with admiration as he remarked, then cupped his fists. "Alright, gentlemen, I have matters to attend to, so I won't delay you further. Farewell!" With that, he strode away.

"He really cured him?" "In just twenty minutes, he made someone who looked over ninety appear less than fifty?" Although they had already suspected it, hearing his personal confirmation still made them feel dizzy and bewildered. So many of them, after studying the ailment for a long time, still couldn't comprehend it, yet the other party cured it in such a short time... What level of skill was this? Was he truly a one-star physician?

"It seems... we were all mistaken. This Physician Bai Chan is probably no longer a one-star physician!" After a long silence, a three-star physician couldn't help but say. A badge doesn't represent actual strength.

"Indeed, how could a one-star physician easily cure the Grand Apothecary... such ability must be at the four-star level!" The second three-star physician also said. Although he didn't want to admit it, Physician Mu Hong also nodded.

"A four-star physician... when he comes out, I must pay him my respects properly to atone for my earlier rashness!"

"Yes, I also need to consult him properly..." Hearing the three three-star physicians' judgment, the others' expressions simultaneously stiffened. Earlier in the main hall, they had often ridiculed Physician Bai. Now, knowing he might be a powerful four-star physician, they all felt a pang of panic.

"Damn it, don't let me see you, or I'll beat you to death..." As the crowd was making their silent resolutions, they heard an angry roar. Turning their heads simultaneously, they saw a man who wasn't even wearing his outer robe, standing nearby with a furious expression, waving his large hands.

"Physician Bai Chan?" Recognizing the man, all the physicians were stunned, then their eyes lit up, and they rushed toward him.

The poor Physician Bai, waking from his stupor, found not only his physician's badge stolen but also his outer robe stripped off. He screamed in frustration, and just as he was about to search for the "culprit," he saw a group of two-star and three-star physicians rushing towards him as if they had seen an idol. His anus tightened in fear, and his body went limp... These people, who usually acted superior and dismissive, were now treating him like a revered senior just because he had fainted for a bit? Can anyone tell him... what the hell was going on?!