Chapter 29

It is said that the founding emperor of the Great Virtue Holy Dynasty once obtained a divine map known as the Mountain and River Immortal Map.

This map is a divine object, said to be left behind by a true immortal, possessing immense power and profound mysteries within.

Every ten years, the Great Virtue Holy Dynasty would display this immortal map in the grand hall of the imperial palace, inviting all virtuous scholars from across the land to come and view it.

Over time, this has become a grand event of the Great Virtue Holy Dynasty.

As the governor of Fengxing Prefecture, Liu Jun could not leave to go to the capital, but the formalities could not be neglected. In half a month, Lu Qing would escort the tax silver and treasures of Fengxing Prefecture to the national treasury, representing Liu Jun to meet the emperor.

After Liu Jun nodded, Lu Qing agreed to take Qin Xianyu along in half a month.

"This grand event happens once every ten years. Why is there no record of it in Master Guanxu's notes? Could it be that he didn't know about this grand event?"

In the medicine room, Qin Xianyu stirred the spiritual water, lost in thought: "Or are those virtuous scholars who go to the capital all frauds, with the highest only having true qi cultivation?"

He sighed, dispelling his杂念, and focused on boiling the medicine.

Miss Liu has already woken up, and now she should rest and recover her vital energy.

Such matters can be handled by any ordinary physician, requiring just one dose of tonic. At this time, the Liu residence is filled with top physicians from Fengxing Prefecture, who can easily prescribe health-preserving formulas and boil nourishing soups.

Qin Xianyu also wanted to leave, but thinking about the advantage he had taken unintentionally, he felt it was improper and decided to personally boil this dose of soup. It's not that Qin Xianyu believed his skills in boiling medicine were better than those of the famous physicians, but he had spiritual water, which greatly enhanced the efficacy of the medicine.

Spiritual water is extremely precious, and this young Taoist originally wanted to save it whenever possible.

However, Miss Liu had lost a strand of her innate primordial qi, the most important source of life, the origin of the three souls and seven spirits. With this loss, Qin Xianyu could confidently predict that Miss Liu would suffer from frequent illnesses and a shortened lifespan.

This spiritual water is comparable to an immortal elixir, likely able to replenish her damaged primordial true qi.

"I have more than six inches of true qi in my body, and even if the gray-black mist erodes it for eight to ten years, it won't weaken much. But Miss Liu has not practiced Dao, and her primordial qi is extremely weak compared to mine. After being eroded by the gray-black mist, it has damaged her essence. The only way to treat her is with spiritual water."

Qin Xianyu looked at the soup, sighed, and said, "Ordinary tonics can only nourish the body, not the spirit. Only this spiritual water can likely restore her innate primordial qi."

Since he was treating her, he should do it thoroughly and not leave any hidden dangers.

If Qin Xianyu really ignored her, this Miss Liu, who had lost a large part of her primordial qi, would not have many years left to live.

"Using spiritual water can help me in cultivating innate primordial qi, and treating this illness is effortless."

Qin Xianyu estimated that the soup was ready and poured it out.

The servant girl beside him looked at Qin Xianyu with great respect.

Although the news of Qin Xianyu curing the illness had not spread widely, it was already spreading within the Liu residence. This young servant girl, who was called to assist Qin Xianyu, naturally knew about it.

The young servant girl's eyes sparkled, thinking to herself, "Even the old imperial physician from the capital couldn't cure Miss Liu's severe illness, but this young Taoist could cure it with medicine. No, that's not right. I heard he didn't even use medicine. His reputation is already quite high, and after this, he will likely become the top physician in Fengxing Prefecture."

"Looking at his young age and good looks, if he could redeem me, it would be great. Being the wife of the top physician would be a high status, and others would definitely envy me. With his high medical skills, he could easily maintain my health and beauty, and I could still look like a young woman in my fifties or sixties."

The pretty servant girl blushed as she thought about it, feeling embarrassed and scolding herself for being shameless. She couldn't help but glance at the young Taoist.

He had clear eyebrows and bright eyes, fair skin, and a handsome face. His black eyes were particularly clear, making him very pleasant to look at.

What a charming young Taoist.

The servant girl's face turned even redder.

Qin Xianyu lifted the soup, suddenly noticing the servant girl's appearance and asked, "Sister, why is your face so red? Are you sick?"

The servant girl quickly lowered her head, "No... nothing."

"Good, if you're not sick."

Qin Xianyu didn't think much of it, held the soup, and walked toward Miss Liu's courtyard.

As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he heard a few clear voices.

"What? That little brat of a Taoist really touched Miss Liu? I won't let him off. Miss, you don't have to worry, I'll beat him half to death."

"Ning'er, don't speak rashly. Perhaps... perhaps he was just treating her, and I misunderstood. I even hit him, which was unfair to him."

"Miss, you are kind-hearted and always think the best of people, not knowing the evil in their hearts. I think this young Taoist is just taking advantage. He even tried to take advantage of me, but I hit him back."

Qin Xianyu was startled. The first voice was clear and lively, familiar, belonging to Sister Ning'er. The second voice was weak and feeble, clearly Miss Liu's.

"Mr. Qin, why have you stopped?" The servant girl was puzzled.

They had just entered the courtyard, and the voices were coming from the upper floor, quite far away. Qin Xianyu, having cultivated true qi and taken spiritual water, had clear senses and sharp perception, so he could hear clearly. However, the servant girl heard nothing and was puzzled by Qin Xianyu's sudden stop.

Qin Xianyu coughed lightly, handed the soup to the girl, and said, "I have some important matters to attend to and can't deliver the soup. Please, sister, take the soup to Miss Liu for me."

After the servant girl took the soup, he hurriedly left.

He met a steward who was looking for him.

"Mr. Qin, Commander Lu has invited you."

Following the steward, he saw Lu Qing sitting in a pavilion, his sword placed aside, boiling water and making tea.

As a guard, being able to sit and drink tea so leisurely in the residence showed how much Commander Lu was favored by Lord Liu.

Lu Qing waved the steward away and smiled at Qin Xianyu, "Come, have a cup of tea."

Qin Xianyu sat down as instructed.

"This is a famous tea to be sent to the capital, but I took the liberty of keeping half a pound for myself."

The bold Lu Qing smiled, gestured, and said, "Would you like to try it?"

Qin Xianyu had drunk tea before but had never tasted such high-quality tea. He took a sip and felt a fragrant aroma, as if he were sitting amidst green mountains and clear waters, breathing in fresh air. He couldn't help but praise, "Good tea."

Lu Qing smiled, "Mr. Qin, you understand tea?"

"I don't," Qin Xianyu shook his head and smiled, "But this tea is so good that even a layman can appreciate it."

Lu Qing laughed, "Actually, I'm a rough man who only understands fighting, but I felt this tea, being a tribute, had a different taste, so I kept half a pound."

Secretly intercepting tribute, though not a capital offense, was still a serious matter. As the head guard of the governor, Lu Qing clearly knew this but ignored it, showing his bold and unrestrained nature.

Qin Xianyu didn't expect him to admit such a thing so candidly and was taken aback.

Lu Qing noticed his confusion and sighed, "I am ordered to protect Lord Liu, fighting in bloody battles, facing open and hidden dangers. Even with my internal strength, I might not last long. Enjoying life in the present is always good. After all, I am risking my life for the court, and Lord Liu mostly turns a blind eye to the half pound of famous tea."

"Let's not talk about these trivial matters," Lu Qing looked at Qin Xianyu and said, "I invited you here not just for tea, but to ask you something."

Qin Xianyu said, "Commander Lu, please speak directly."

Lu Qing took out a book from his pocket and handed it to Qin Xianyu, "A few days ago, when you treated the blood-marked snake, I was there and had someone investigate. The Great Virtue Pharmacy was found to be evading taxes, using inferior herbs, and so on. I had it sealed. But when the matter reached Lord Liu, he ordered a thorough investigation of all the pharmacies."

Lu Qing looked at him carefully and said, "Among them is your Qin Family Pharmacy."

Qin Xianyu flipped through the book, his face showing anger, and after a few more pages, his eyes turned darker.

A gentle breeze blew through the pavilion, dispelling the gloom.

Qin Xianyu, having cultivated true qi, immediately cleared his mind, put down the book, and said, "The Qin Family Pharmacy has not been under my name since my father's death."

This was very clear: since it's not mine, do as you please.

"I won't be polite then," Lu Qing took back the book and said, "I originally wanted to give you some face and let the Qin Family Pharmacy off."

"No," Qin Xianyu smiled brightly and said, "Handle it fairly, seal it if necessary."

Lu Qing, hearing his righteous tone, felt a bit strange, "I always feel... you are using my hands to punish the people of the Qin Family Pharmacy?"

"How could that be? What kind of person am I to seek personal revenge?" Qin Xianyu looked up and said, "The Qin Family Pharmacy has been passed down for three generations, ending with my father. These uncles and cousins took advantage of my youth and forcibly took the pharmacy. If they had managed it well, it would be fine, but their mismanagement is destroying the Qin Family Pharmacy. Seal the pharmacy, but note that these people are unscrupulous and have nothing to do with the Qin Family."

Lu Qing nodded, suddenly feeling something was off, and thought, "It sounds good, but in the end, it's just a matter of sealing the Qin Family Pharmacy. Why does it still feel like personal revenge?"

Qin Xianyu felt very satisfied, chuckled, and the tea seemed to taste even better.

"The matter of the pharmacy is just a routine issue, but I invited you here for another reason."

Lu Qing's expression turned serious, and he said, "Little Master Qin, do you know why I told you about the Mountain and River Immortal Map?"