Chapter 11

The next morning, Jiang Chen opened his eyes, and his bright eyes sparkled with a vitality he had never had before.

Rising to sit up, he stretched his limbs, feeling a sense of explosive strength throughout his body.

Even with only thirty to forty percent of the divine creation pill's power, it was still incredibly potent. It had healed his injuries to about eighty or ninety percent, and the breakthrough of the fourth meridian, along with the refinement of his four meridians' true qi on his physical body overnight, had significantly enhanced his physical functions.

Jiang Zheng arrived early in the morning, looking spirited. The thought of how he had reasserted his authority at home the previous night, scolding his wife into submission, and then displaying his prowess in bed, filled him with joy.

However, when he saw Jiang Chen walk out of the room, he was stunned.

"Little Lord, you... you..." Jiang Zheng was so surprised he couldn't find the right words to describe the changes in Jiang Chen. The transformation was too obvious.

The previous Jiang Chen had been a bit of a rogue, sometimes arrogant and domineering, sometimes listless and dejected, in short, lacking any sense of propriety.

But today, the appearance of the Little Lord was completely renewed.

His entire demeanor was like a sword that had been tempered in a furnace, sharp and full of vigor.

"Jiang Zheng, prepare the horse. I'm going out," Jiang Chen said.

"Yes!" Jiang Zheng was more than happy to comply. He had always found running errands for the Little Lord a chore, but since yesterday, he had a fiery enthusiasm.

After leaving, Jiang Zheng cautiously asked, "Little Lord, where are we going?"

"Of course, to the Apothecary Hall," Jiang Chen chuckled, whipping the reins and galloping away. He was in a great mood today, feeling the joy of success and the speed of his horse.

"Hey, Little Lord, wait for me!" By the time Jiang Zheng reacted, Jiang Chen was already gone like a puff of smoke.

The grand buildings of the Apothecary Hall soon came into view.

When Jiang Chen appeared at the entrance of the Apothecary Hall, the customers coming and going all looked as if they had seen a ghost.

Jiang Chen, after all, was the son of a feudal lord and had some fame in the capital. The fart he had let out in the Holy Hall had made him the top news figure in the entire capital for the past two days.

Farting during the Heaven Worship Ceremony, Jiang Chen was truly one of a kind.

So, over the past two days, Jiang Chen had become a household name, synonymous with eccentricity.

Jiang Chen farting during the Heaven Worship Ceremony, desecrating the gods, and being sentenced to death by the king, was news known throughout the capital.

However, the fact that Jiang Chen had survived the beating was known to very few.

Therefore, when Jiang Chen appeared, it inevitably sparked a lot of gossip.

"Did you see that? That guy looks like the rogue Little Lord from the Jianghan Fief."

"So what if he's a Little Lord? There are many powerful people in the capital. Do you want to cling to their coattails?"

"Cling to your sister's coattails. I'm talking about Jiang Chen! Didn't he fart during the Heaven Worship Ceremony and get beaten to death?"

"What? Jiang Chen, you mean the eccentric one who farted? Where is he?"

Such conversations were happening all around the Apothecary Hall, with groups of people discussing the same topic.

Jiang Chen, the subject of all this, naturally paid no attention to these idle gazes and wouldn't stoop to their level.

He had come to the Apothecary Hall for important business.

In two days, he would be entering the palace to diagnose the princess. No matter what, he needed to make some preparations. Otherwise, showing up empty-handed would be embarrassing.

Regarding Dongfang Zhiruo's condition, Jiang Chen had already formulated a basic plan. Today, he was here to make some preliminary preparations.

The staff at the Apothecary Hall, having learned from the incident with Jiang Zheng the previous day, had clearly improved their attitude.

Jiang Chen placed a list on the counter: "Staff, get the items on this list."

The staff member took the list and nodded, but when he saw the last ingredient, he frowned slightly: "Dragon Bone Yang Grass? A sixth-grade spirit herb? Sir, are you sure you want this herb?"

"Get the items on the list," Jiang Chen replied with a faint smile.

"But this herb..." The staff member hesitated.

"What? Too low-grade? You don't have it? Then the Nine Flame Aurora Fruit will do."

The staff member was thunderstruck, forcing a smile: "Sir, what is the Nine Flame Aurora Fruit? We don't have it. The Dragon Bone Yang Grass is a very rare and precious herb, one of our store's treasures. We currently have only one in stock. It's very valuable, and its price..."

"Are you worried I can't afford it?" Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow.

The staff member chuckled, thinking that Jiang Chen had some self-awareness. They were indeed worried he couldn't afford it. However, the experience of the staff member who got beaten the previous day taught them not to look down on people.

"Actually, this herb is very expensive, and even a steward can't get it. It requires the approval of an elder to make the transaction."

The staff member patiently explained, subconsciously leaning back, thinking that this customer wouldn't also slap him with a gold coin.

"Is a single Dragon Bone Yang Grass really that much trouble? Where is your elder? Call them out. I don't have time to waste."

Jiang Chen didn't want to waste time at the Apothecary Hall.

The staff member, helpless, went to inform the elder. Jiang Chen, feeling bored, suddenly noticed several people rushing into the hall.

The leader, dressed in brocade and sable, was about sixteen or seventeen years old. He stormed in and slapped the counter: "Call your higher-ups. I need a Dragon Bone Yang Grass, urgently. Hurry up, or I'll hold you all responsible."

This person's tone was arrogant, and he didn't even glance at the other customers.

Dragon Bone Yang Grass?

The other staff members were stunned.

Usually, it might take three to five years for someone to need a Dragon Bone Yang Grass. Why were there two people asking for it on the first day of the market?

Was the price of Dragon Bone Yang Grass rising?

Soon, three people emerged from the back of the Apothecary Hall: a staff member, a steward, and a female elder.

The female elder was in her forties, with exaggerated eyebrows and adorned with jewels, giving off a rather awkward vibe.

"Who wants to buy the Dragon Bone Yang Grass?" the female elder asked.

"It's me, it's me! Aunt Lan, remember me? I'm Bai Lingxian's son, Bai Zhanyun. When I was little, you used to hold me," the arrogant young man cooed to the elder.

"Oh, it's Little Lord Bai. Is the Dragon Bone Yang Grass for you or your father?"

The White Tiger Fief was one of the top five feudal lords in the Eastern Kingdom, so even the Apothecary Hall's elder had to show some respect.

"Aunt Lan, don't ask. I'm in a hurry. Just give me a price, and I'll thank you later."

The female elder smiled seductively: "So urgent? Little guy, are you trying to win over a girl with this herb?"

Bai Zhanyun chuckled: "Aunt Lan, you're a wise woman."

"Alright, I won't tease you. The Dragon Bone Yang Grass is priced at one million taels. Do you have that much money?"

"I do, I do. How could I come without money? Everyone knows your Apothecary Hall doesn't accept credit."

Jiang Chen, standing there, had been listening to their banter for a while.

His eyebrows twitched, and he tapped the counter: "Excuse me, is there a mistake here?"

"Doesn't business follow the rule of first come, first served?"

Neither the female elder nor Bai Zhanyun seemed to notice Jiang Chen until now, and they both looked at him with puzzled expressions.

Especially Bai Zhanyun, whose expression was particularly annoying, as if asking, "Who are you?"

"Whoever you are, staff, I ask you, wasn't I the first to request the Dragon Bone Yang Grass?" Jiang Chen asked calmly.

The staff member hadn't expected another buyer to appear so quickly. However, the Apothecary Hall's reputation was at stake, so he couldn't lie.

For a moment, he was speechless.

Bai Zhanyun seemed to understand something and sneered: "Kid, are you also trying to buy the Dragon Bone Yang Grass?"

Bai Zhanyun had rushed to buy the Dragon Bone Yang Grass not for himself but because he had heard that the daughter of the Eastern Kingdom's top feudal lord, Longteng Hou, named Long Juxue, had been poisoned by a cold evil during her trial. He wanted to be the first to buy the Dragon Bone Yang Grass and offer it to Long Juxue to win her favor.

Hearing that Jiang Chen also wanted to buy the Dragon Bone Yang Grass, Bai Zhanyun immediately thought he was a rival!

Jiang Chen glanced at Bai Zhanyun indifferently, not interested in talking to such an idiot, and addressed the female elder: "Elder, I only have one question. Does your Apothecary Hall follow the rule of first come, first served?"

The female elder, a seasoned veteran, smiled seductively: "Of course, we do. But things also have their priorities. This young man is buying the Dragon Bone Yang Grass to save someone. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. And he is the Little Lord of the White Tiger Fief. If you give him some face, it's also..."

Bai Zhanyun puffed out his chest proudly: "Right, kid, you look familiar. What's your name? If you give me the Dragon Bone Yang Grass, I'll protect you in the capital."

Jiang Chen was somewhat amused. He could see that the female elder was favoring Bai Zhanyun.

"What if I don't give it to you?" Jiang Chen asked with a light smile.

"What?" Bai Zhanyun was surprised, "Are you kidding? I'm the heir of the White Tiger Fief, the future White Tiger Lord. Are you saying you won't give me, one of the four great feudal lords, any face? Kid, you're pretty bold. Tell me your name. I want to see who dares to ignore the White Tiger Fief."

At this moment, someone in the crowd boldly said, "He's that Jiang Chen."

"Seems to be the heir of Jianghan Fief."

"Right, that's him, but wasn't he supposed to be dead?"

Hearing this, Bai Zhanyun and the female elder were stunned. The heir of Jianghan Fief?

Bai Zhanyun stared at Jiang Chen for a moment, suddenly recognizing him, and pointed at him, laughing: "Kid, it's really you. Weren't you dead? Jiang Chen, you faked your death. That's treason!"

Through his cultivation, Jiang Chen's demeanor had changed significantly. Moreover, Bai Zhanyun hadn't interacted much with Jiang Chen before, so he hadn't recognized him at first.

Once he did, he felt more confident: "Jiang Chen, you're pretty bold. Faking your death is one thing, but daring to show up like this is a direct challenge to the emperor's authority and a slap in the face of the royal family. I advise you to prepare for the worst. Dragon Bone Yang Grass? Even if you buy it, will you have the life to use it?"

Jiang Chen looked helpless, turning to the female elder and asking with a bitter smile, "Does your Apothecary Hall prefer to do business with an idiot rather than a normal person?"

Bai Zhanyun was furious: "Jiang Chen, who are you calling an idiot?"

Jiang Chen shrugged: "Clearly an idiot! Can't you see such a simple problem? Who else but you?"

The onlookers were excited. These two young masters seemed to have eaten gunpowder, each more aggressive than the other.

Was this going to be a showdown between two rogue heirs?