Almost three days have passed since Xie An absorbed the jade stone's essence.
What if the white fox secretly came…
Unfortunately, Yuhe poured cold water on him, "No."
Xie An was slightly disappointed…
He guessed that the white fox hadn't finished digesting the precious plant after eating it, or that something had delayed the white fox. As long as the precious plant sprouts, the white fox should come again.
Five Animal Breathing Technique… I'm counting on you.
Xie An carefully examined the plump seedling, "Yuhe, continue to increase the dosage of fertilizer to make it grow faster."
This precious plant is different from ordinary plants. It doesn't seem to have any rules for sprouting, flowering, and fruiting in seasons. It just grows suddenly after fertilization.
Since this is the case, increasing the dosage should make it grow faster.
Yuhe showed a troubled expression, "Master, these medicinal materials for cultivation are too expensive. Blood Lingzhi, water ginseng… are all extremely expensive medicinal materials. There is not much surplus left at home…"
After speaking, Yuhe ran into the west wing, took out a booklet, opened it and flipped through it for Xie An, explaining, "According to the method of cultivating precious plants, each fertilization requires a collection of nine expensive medicinal materials. Originally, it was once every half a month, but Master changed it to twice a day… Each fertilization costs about seventy to eighty taels."
Xie An looked at the account book, and indeed the expenses were too high. Cultivating the precious plant has cost nearly one thousand five hundred taels so far!
It's possible that Yuhe has even subsidized a lot, this master is really…
Xie An's annual salary as a fifth-rank chief is only five hundred taels, which is not enough for a few fertilizations.
This is outrageous…
He's short on money.
It hurts, but he still needs to fertilize.
Xie An returned to the room, took out the remaining two First Level Inner Strength Pills, and handed them to Yuhe, "Take them to the black market to sell. Exchange them for silver and continue to buy medicine for fertilization. By the way, keep one or two hundred taels for yourself, don't subsidize it anymore."
Yuhe felt very warm after hearing this, "Then I'll go ask Weisheng Martial Arts School how much they are willing to give. Then buy all the cultivation medicinal materials?"
Xie An stopped her firmly, "Buy."
"Master is so decisive."
Watching Yuhe leave, Xie An couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
What I lack the most… is money.
Can cultivating a precious plant empty the family fortune of a fifth-rank chief?
Besides, although Xie An lacks money, money is relatively easy to obtain. But essence, is hard to find even with ten thousand gold. Naturally, he can't miss the transaction with the white fox. Let the precious plant sprout as soon as possible, and then trade. Advance the Five Animal Breathing Technique.
He had thought about setting up a trap to catch the white fox.
But it's not necessary.
On the one hand, the white fox is extremely magical and probably has a great background, maybe there is a big shot or a big demon behind it. There is no need to provoke it for no reason.
In addition, if you catch the white fox, and the other party stubbornly refuses to be coerced… that would also be troublesome.
It's good the way it is now. He has the precious plant, a renewable resource, and can trade with the white fox.
You are happy and I am happy, why make it a life-and-death situation?
Two hours later, Yuhe returned with large and small packages of medicinal materials. She carefully placed these medicinal materials wrapped in mulberry paper on the long table, reached out to wipe the sweat, and a smile that could not be concealed appeared on her face.
"The master of Weisheng Martial Arts School, Lü Dazhong, is a very nice person. When he heard that Master wanted to sell them, he gave three thousand taels of silver. I have exchanged them all for medicinal materials, enough for fertilization twice a day for more than half a month."
Xie An felt extremely pained looking at the pile of medicinal materials that cost three thousand taels. But he felt even more sorry for Yuhe, "Didn't I tell you to keep some silver for yourself?"
Yuhe giggled: "I have food, drink, and shelter with Master, keeping silver is useless. It's better to use it to cultivate precious plants."
This girl is always thinking of him, she is already the closest person to Xie An.
Previously, when Xie An was at the Sixth Level Martial Master level, he had obtained a Sixth Level Inner Strength Pill for Yuhe. At that time, Yuhe was greatly moved and repeatedly refused, but Xie An persuaded her before she accepted it.
According to Xie An's five senses, he knew that Yuhe had not yet broken through to the Sixth Level Martial Master.
Under normal circumstances, it would take about three Sixth Level Inner Strength Pills.
Xie An was calculating in his mind that he had to help Yuhe get two more Sixth Level Inner Strength Pills.
The higher the level of the Inner Strength Pill, the more scarce it is, and the more difficult it is to obtain.
You can't buy it even with money.
"I'm thinking about when the precious plant's seedling will grow out." Xie An naturally wouldn't say it before he got the Sixth Level Inner Strength Pill, so he made an excuse.
Yuhe smiled: "It won't be that fast, it will take two or three days at least. I will keep an eye on it. I will tell Master as soon as it grows out."
Xie An was naturally relieved with Yuhe handling things.
He returned to the room, pondering how to get the Sixth Level Inner Strength Pill.
Previously, when Xie An was at the Sixth Level Inner Strength, he could receive two pills a month. Xie An used one, and gave the other to Yuhe. After Xie An entered the Seventh Level Inner Strength, he could no longer receive the Sixth Level Inner Strength Pill.
Now Xie An found that Yuhe had reached the point of impacting the Sixth Level Martial Master. He couldn't delay it.
The best way is naturally to find Su Yuqing, the eldest princess.
But this eldest princess's request is a huge favor. Xie An doesn't like owing people too much. And he doesn't want to form path dependence.
Su Yuqing is still an outsider to Xie An, but Yuhe is his own person, there is a difference between the two.
"Go find Chen Tie and ask."
…
Xie An put on his official robe and came to the Demon Suppression Division with the Demon Suppression Saber.
The Demon Suppression Division was still as lively as usual. The training ground was never short of martial masters or martial artists practicing martial arts. The recruitment office was also not short of people lining up to participate in the examination.
Since the Demon Suppression Office was upgraded, it has become more and more lively here. However, the Demon Suppression Division is still a semi-hidden yamen, and its influence is not as great as the county yamen. After all, the common people usually deal with firewood, rice, oil, salt and tax matters, and deal with the county yamen more. But for martial artists and martial masters, the Demon Suppression Division far exceeds the county yamen.
Xie An deliberately passed by the training ground, but did not see Chenxi.
He had been vigilant about this fairy queen, and even didn't want to see her. But now he didn't see Chenxi in the training ground… he actually felt a bit unaccustomed.
"Chief Xie."
It was Liu Chun who came back from the pharmacy. He came over to greet him in a hurry. Then he looked at Xie An in surprise, only feeling that Xie An's aura was restrained and unfathomable.
Compared to the previous few days, he was much more profound.
Just now, Liu Chun had also inquired with Ye Luo, saying that Xie An received the First Level Inner Strength Pill a few months ago, and had already received the Seventh Level Inner Strength Pill a few days ago.
Can a person break through from the First Level Inner Strength to the Seventh Level Inner Strength in a few months?
But the pharmacy's distribution of Inner Strength Pills cannot be fake.
Previously, Liu Chun only thought that Xie An was promoted by relying on his relationship with the eldest princess, but now it seems… he is really a talent.
Seeing Liu Chun staring at him in a daze, Xie An reached out and waved in front of him, "Captain Liu, is there something wrong?"
Liu Chun came back to his senses, and said with a smile: "No, it's just that I see Chief Xie is becoming more and more radiant, and his martial arts are becoming more and more advanced, which is admirable."
Exaggerated, exaggerated…
Xie An walked with Liu Chun for a while, and casually asked: "That girl Chenxi hasn't come to the training ground to give guidance recently?"
Liu Chun said, "This girl Chenxi is indeed amazing, she is proficient in all kinds of martial arts. She taught me a few tricks before, which benefited me a lot. She is indeed an honored guest from Nan Province. Recently, girl Chenxi said that she was not feeling well and went out to see a doctor. I'm afraid it will be a while before she returns."
Not feeling well?
Went out to see a doctor?
Xie An wouldn't believe it. It's probably going to cause trouble…
Arriving on the seventh floor, Xie An found Chen Tie. After some greetings, he explained his intention.
Chen Tie sat upright in front of the long table, holding a wolf brush and outlining on the book, and casually said; "Ye Luo and I have a very good relationship, two Sixth Level Inner Strength Pills are not a problem, just give me the money."
Xie An let out a breath, still with doubts, "The control of Inner Strength Pills is very strict. Every time one is taken, it must be recorded. If there's a private transaction, won't that leave hidden dangers?"
Chen Tie placed the wolf-hair brush on the mountain-shaped brush rest, looked up, and smiled at Xie An: "Chief Xie is unaware, although Ye Luo is employed in my Demon Suppression Division's pharmacy, he's not directly under the Demon Suppression Division, but comes from elsewhere…"
Under Chen Tie's detailed explanation, Xie An understood the inside story:
The Demon Suppression Division is mainly responsible for slaying demons and monsters, and monitoring officials. However, considering the need to use resources to cultivate talent, and also considering the casualties and medical situations, the consumed medicinal materials and precious medicines are astronomical figures.
The Demon Suppression Division isn't so large as to be a completely self-sufficient system. Many things are constructed to be complete through cooperation.
Some of the precious medicines on the Demon Suppression Division's merit record are owned by the Demon Suppression Division itself, and some are traded from cooperative partners. The various precious medicines provided by ordinary pharmacies, and even the large number of high-end weapons provided by weapon shops, are all purchased through external cooperation.
And the Demon Suppression Division's biggest partner is Myriad Treasures Pavilion. Ye Luo is also a pharmacist sent by Myriad Treasures Pavilion to settle in Qingwu Demon Suppression Division. Many treasures and Inner Strength Pills of Qingwu Demon Suppression Division are obtained from Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
Chen Tie brought a porcelain cup and tea leaves, proactively brewed a cup of tea for Xie An, and patiently explained: "If you look for Ye Luo as the Chief, then Ye Luo naturally can't provide convenience. After all, the Demon Suppression Division needs to spend huge sums of money to buy medicines from Myriad Treasures Pavilion every year, and this part must be accounted for and cannot be faked. If Chief Xie looks for Ye Luo as a friend, for a private transaction, he can obtain extra goods from Myriad Treasures Pavilion, and it won't be a problem."
Xie An took a sip of tea, secretly sighing that there were quite a few secrets within the Demon Suppression Division.
He hadn't realized that Ye Luo had this background, he was hiding it quite deeply.
"Then the price…"
"Sixth-level Inner Strength Pills are expensive. From my understanding of Myriad Treasures Pavilion, even with a favor price, it would still be three thousand taels per pill."
Three thousand taels per pill, two pills would be six thousand taels… and that's still a favor price.
No wonder there are few powerful martial artists in Qingwu County. On the one hand, there aren't many talented martial artists, and on the other hand, it's because it's too expensive. The Giant Whale Gang, with their exploitation of the people, the two gang leaders probably have the idea of accumulating wealth to advance in martial arts.
The saying 'Cultured in poverty, martial in wealth' is absolutely correct.
Whether it's Zhao Qing'er, or Wei Haoran, or even Chen Tie in front of him… they're not old, but their martial arts are extremely high. On the one hand, it's personal effort, and on the other hand, it's because they have noble family backgrounds and don't lack money…
But Xie An, the Chief… is the poorest!
Being the Chief… is stressful.
Chen Tie seemed to see Xie An's thoughts and said, "If Chief Xie is in a hurry, I can help pay for a few sixth-level Inner Strength Pills first. In addition, Myriad Treasures Pavilion is one of the largest chambers of commerce in Great Qian, and also collects some rare treasures. If Chief Xie has some treasures, you can also take them out for trade."
Xie An weighed it for a while and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Deputy Chen to arrange a meeting with Ye Luo."
Although Ye Luo is a small shopkeeper in the pharmacy, he has the behemoth Myriad Treasures Pavilion behind him. Moreover, as an official in the Demon Suppression Division, Ye Luo has always been cautious. Xie An directly going to meet him might not achieve the desired effect.
That night, Chen Tie invited Wei Haoran and Ye Luo for a small banquet at the Red Sleeve House.
The Red Sleeve House is the best brothel in the county town, with a very elegant setting, independent private rooms, and the performing girls are dressed scantily, with graceful postures, playing the pipa and zither, and also playing the xiao.
It's quite atmospheric.
This was Xie An's first private gathering with Chen Tie and Wei Haoran, and it was even in a brothel. Xie An could see that Chen Tie was deliberately trying to befriend him.
It's said that those who haven't carried guns and fired cannons together aren't brothers…
In this kind of atmosphere, it's indeed easy to relax and bring people closer.
And Xie An could also see that Ye Luo, Wei Haoran, and Chen Tie were already very familiar, and there was no awkwardness.
After a few rounds of wine and a taste of the dishes,
Wei Haoran opened the conversation, "Chief Xie, I heard from Master Ye that you broke through from a first-level martial artist to a seventh-level martial artist in a few months. That's really amazing. I, Wei Haoran, admire you, I toast to the Chief."
Xie An accompanied him for a cup, "I was just lucky and got a bit of an opportunity."
Wei Haoran also said, "Chief Xie, you don't know. Since the last time we returned from exterminating the Giant Whale Gang, that crazy woman Zhao Qing'er has been praising you everywhere. She's also constantly comparing me to the Chief, always saying that I, Wei Haoran, am not as good as the Chief in every way. It's really making me suffer, my life is difficult."
Xie An comforted him, "Zhao Qing'er is straightforward, Brother Wei doesn't need to take it too much to heart."
What he wanted to say in his heart was, you're suffering my ass, with the Duke of Wei behind you, you have everything you want… unlike me, getting two Inner Strength Pills is so laborious. You're just being pretentious…
Seeing that Wei Haoran was about to continue pouring out his grievances, Chen Tie stopped him in time, "Alright, don't forget today's business."
Then he took out a list, plus a thick stack of silver notes, and handed them to Ye Luo together, "Master Ye, the precious medicines on this are all what I need for my recent practice. I'm troubling you."
Ye Luo accepted it with a smile: "It's easy to say, I'll send it to Master Chen tomorrow."
"And mine." Wei Haoran also followed suit and took out silver notes and a list, and handed them to Ye Luo together.
Xie An glanced slightly out of the corner of his eye, the silver notes that Wei Haoran and Chen Tie took out were no less than several thousand taels each, and the precious medicines on them were all needed for practice…
Only now did Xie An understand how the children of aristocratic families cultivated.
They don't rely on the Demon Suppression Division's welfare at all…
They rely on throwing money!
There's no harm without comparison.
Even Xie An, this fifth-rank Chief, felt that he was… too poor!
Practicing martial arts also requires throwing money.
However, because Xie An was the Chief, everyone still took care of Xie An's emotions. Chen Tie said that if Xie An needed anything, he could directly ask Ye Luo, as for the bill… it would be on Chen Tie's account.
Wei Haoran also rushed to say that it would be on his account.
It would have been better not to mention the account, the more they mentioned it… the more it showed that Xie An was poor.
It's like a classmate reunion in his previous life, when everyone was chatting happily, suddenly a nouveau riche classmate stood up and said: You guys can play whatever you want tonight, it's on my account.
This difference… isn't that like rubbing people on the ground?
Fortunately, Xie An had passed the age of comparing himself to others, and after thanking them and declining, he said, "Master Ye, may I take some treasures for exchange?"
Ye Luo said: "Of course. Although I'm the shopkeeper of the pharmacy, I also hold the position of a traveling agent for Myriad Treasures Pavilion. The treasures that Chief Xie offers must be extraordinary, please let me take a look."
Xie An took out the Xuan Iron given by his third brother, Yi Qiutang, and the Fish Demon Treasure Bone given by his fourth brother, Chen Donghai.
Although Xie An knew that these two things were good things, he wasn't sure about their value.
After Ye Luo looked at them, he nodded repeatedly, "Extraterrestrial Xuan Iron, Horned Fish Demon Spine. Both are rare good things, and can be exchanged for two sixth-level Inner Strength Pills. Does the Chief want to exchange them for sure?"
Xie An breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Ye Luo was deliberately raising the price slightly out of consideration for his status, "Yes, I'm sure."
Ye Luo accepted the two items, "Then tomorrow I'll have someone send the two Inner Strength Pills to the Xie residence."
"Thank you, Master Ye." Xie An remotely thanked his third and fourth brothers in his heart: Third brother, fourth brother, your fifth brother is poor now, and has to sell the gifts you gave, don't blame me, don't blame me.
With two sixth-level Inner Strength Pills in hand, Yu He's breakthrough to a sixth-level martial artist was settled, which made Xie An feel comfortable.
Then Xie An took out a piece of jade given by Bai Hu and handed it to Ye Luo, "Master Ye, do you know what this is?"
From Xie An's experience, demonic energy should only exist within the bodies of demons and monsters, and would only be absorbed by the Longevity Destiny after death. But why is there demonic energy in this jade?
Xie An felt that this knowledgeable Master Ye might be able to tell what it was.
