Chapter 1 The First Trial
The first trial concluded, and someone immediately came in to escort Xiao Man to the next examination, the identification of medicinal substances. The guide, a young medicine boy, led Xiao Man to the second examination hall. The pharmacy was filled with various kinds of drugs, even including poisons. If one were unfamiliar, they could easily be poisoned.
As soon as Xiao Man entered, she received a list inscribed with numerous medicinal ingredients: "Find all the herbs on this list."
Xiao Man took the list and immediately began searching for the medicinal herbs mentioned. However, to her surprise, three of the ingredients on the list were missing from the entire pharmacy.
After a moment of contemplation, Xiao Man selected three substitute herbs and then presented the chosen ingredients to the examiner.
The chief examiner, a middle-aged man, glanced at the herbs Xiao Man had selected, a faint gleam flashing in his eyes. "Let me see the medicinal list."
Xiao Man handed over the list. The middle-aged man read it, then slowly said, "Three of the medicinal ingredients are incorrect."
"I know. The missing ones are Bo Fu, Si Qing Ye, and Chuan Qian Zi, which are necessary for refining Tai Qing Dan. Since these three were not available in the pharmacy, I chose Qi Ye Lian, Shi Hu Hua, and Yi Jian Zi as substitutes. They can also be used to refine Tai Qing Dan."
The middle-aged man was slightly taken aback. "I can somewhat understand Qi Ye Lian and Shi Hu Hua, but Yi Jian Zi has entirely different medicinal properties from Chuan Qian Zi. How can it be used to refine Tai Qing Dan?"
"Tai Qing Dan's efficacy is to awaken the spirit and remove impurities. Chuan Qian Zi's efficacy is too mild. While it can awaken the spirit and remove impurities, it will also damage the body. Yi Jian Zi, while awakening the spirit and removing impurities, can also heal injuries and reduce damage to the body."
"Oh?" the man asked excitedly, "Is that true?"
"Sir, why don't you try it?"
The man immediately stood up. "Alright, I'll go and try."
As he reached the doorway, the man seemed to recall something. He took out a token from his怀, tossed it to Xiao Man, and said, "Youngster, you've passed."
Xiao Man caught it and thanked him. The medicine boy then led her to the alchemy room. The alchemy room was well-equipped. Xiao Man chose to refine a fifth-grade pill, Xue Ning Dan, but ended up refining a fourth-grade pill, thus earning her a fourth-grade alchemist badge.
As Xiao Man emerged with her fourth-grade alchemist badge, a figure rushed towards her in a flurry. Xiao Man quickly moved aside, and the person, in their haste, stumbled and fell to the ground, bypassing her.
"Oh dear, little brother..."
Xiao Man then clearly saw that the person who had fallen was the chief examiner of the second round of the examination.
He got up from the ground and said, "Little brother, I've managed to refine it! Using your method to refine Tai Qing Dan, it is indeed much better than the one refined using the old formula. Little brother, could you possibly stay? We could exchange insights on alchemy further."
"This..." Xiao Man hesitated. "Junior came to the Alchemist Association seeking a place to stay. My master is traveling far, and I have no lodgings yet."
"That's no problem! I can recommend a place for you," the man said excitedly. "My elder is short of an assistant medicine boy. I wonder if you're willing to bear this slight hardship and be a medicine boy."
"May I ask what grade of alchemist your elder is?" Xiao Man inquired.
"A second-grade alchemist."
Xiao Man's eyes lit up. "Excellent. Please, sir, introduce me. I would be deeply grateful."
"No trouble, no trouble at all. I'll immediately send someone to deliver a letter home, informing the elder of this matter. With your intelligence and talent, you will surely be favored by the elder."
"Thank you, senior."
"No trouble, no trouble. Come, tell me, how did you come up with this method for refining Tai Qing Dan? Can other herbs also be used as substitutes?" The man pulled Xiao Man towards his residence.
"Junior discovered it by chance. It was pure luck. As for whether other herbs can be used as substitutes, why don't we try it?"
"Alright, let's try."
Xiao Man had been at the Alchemist Association for three days when someone from the Jin family arrived.
"Elder Jin, someone from the Jin family has arrived."
Elder Jin, who was the guardian of the second trial, expressed his dissatisfaction upon hearing of the Jin family's arrival. "Why are they here so soon? I still have many questions to discuss with young friend Lan!"
"You wrote to me saying you encountered a good talent, and now I've come in person, and you don't want to let them go?" a resonant voice boomed. Elder Jin quickly stood up to greet them.
"Third Uncle."
"You brat! You found a good talent and now you don't want to let them go. Whether it's with you or with me, aren't they still part of the Jin family?" Elder Jin Third grumbled. "Bring the person you've taken a liking to out for me to see."
"Yes, Third Uncle." Elder Jin immediately called Xiao Man out to introduce her to Elder Jin Third. "Third Uncle, despite her young age, she's already a fourth-grade alchemist and has her own unique insights into alchemy. It just so happens that you're in need of a medicine boy, and this child is ambitious. Please take good care of her."
"Hmm."
"Lan Xiao, this is my Third Uncle, the Third Elder of the Jin family, a second-grade alchemist."
"Junior pays respects to Third Elder."
"No need for formalities." Elder Jin Third looked at Xiao Man and nodded with satisfaction. "Since Jin Yi recommended you, I naturally trust you. Youngster, are you willing to come with me?"
"Junior has nowhere to go. Fortunately, Elder Jin took me in. I am deeply grateful that Third Elder thinks highly of me and is willing to take me in," Xiao Man said quickly. "I've heard you are a second-grade alchemist. It is my honor to learn from such a formidable alchemist."
Elder Jin Third smiled and patted Jin Yi's shoulder. "Indeed, you have good judgment. It was worth my trip."
"The person I fancy is naturally outstanding."
Elder Jin Third sighed. "When are you returning home?"
Jin Yi fell silent, and after a long while, he spoke, "Does the Jin family still have a place for me?"
"Don't talk nonsense again! How could there not be a place for you?" Elder Jin Third chided. "You are, after all, a third-grade alchemist. It's not appropriate to be staying outside all the time."
"Even biological brothers cannot tolerate each other, let alone me, your uncle."
"Jin Yi!"
"Third Uncle, you know the current situation of the Jin family. If I return, I'm afraid that woman will be restless in her sleep." Jin Yi scoffed. "They say a woman's heart is the most venomous. This concubine is no simple character."
"Jin Yi, she is, after all, the mistress of the Jin family!"
"Mistress? Just a stepmother. She persecutes the legitimate son of the first wife, eliminates dissenters, and has turned the Jin family into a mess. How can she be considered a mistress? Not to mention the thing she gave birth to, it's like mud that cannot be plastered onto a wall..."
"Enough!" Elder Jin Third reprimanded. "Don't air our dirty laundry. There are outsiders here!"
"Who are outsiders?" Jin Yi glanced at Xiao Man. "Now that she's joined the Jin family, she's also part of the Jin family. She should know about these messy affairs of the Jin family, lest she encounter such vile and despicable people, and not only stain her eyes but also get herself entangled."