Chapter 42 One pill for an entire clan, from this day forward I shall be the king of the capital!
Three days after the trip to the ghost market, the east wing was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Su Wanqing locked herself in her small study.
She spread out the large bags of medicinal herbs she had obtained from Old Man Qian on the ground; each one was of superior quality and incredibly old.
These are rare items that are no longer available on the market.
She meticulously sorted through the herbs, moving some of them into her spatial storage to expand her medicinal herb species bank.
The rest she carefully sealed away as "original capital" for future industries.
Lu Zhanting's side didn't stop either.
Uncle He's intelligence network, along with his newly formed "Sharp Sword" peripheral forces, spread like a silent giant net towards the core of the Ghost Market—the Rare Treasures Pavilion.
The intelligence report was thin, but every word carried immense weight, even sending a chill down Lu Zhanting's spine.
The owner of the Rare Treasures Pavilion, codenamed "Pavilion Master".
This person's identity is the biggest mystery in the capital's underworld; no one has ever seen his true face.
Its influence is so great that it is said that even the heads of the most prestigious families in the capital are frequent visitors to Qizhen Pavilion.
"This sect leader has a terrifyingly deep foundation."
Lu Zhanting handed the investigation results to Su Wanqing, his expression grave.
"To be able to build an impenetrable underground kingdom in a place as deeply entrenched as the capital, the people behind it are probably people we can't afford to offend for the time being."
"The more this is the case, the more I want to meet him."
A fighting spirit, brighter than fire, ignited in Su Wanqing's eyes.
She knew very well that in this era, to build a business empire that could protect her family, simply following the rules on the surface was tantamount to a lamb entering a pack of wolves.
She must be qualified to set the rules in the dark.
Su Wanqing made more thorough preparations for the upcoming auction.
The ginseng cannot be taken out anymore.
One occasional stroke of good fortune may seem like a stroke of luck, but too many such instances can lead to disaster and death.
She spent two whole days drawing water from the spiritual spring in her spatial realm, blending it with century-old medicinal herbs, and refining three pills.
One of them is entirely emerald green, with a restrained luster, and is called "Azure Blood Pill," capable of curing all poisons.
A fiery red pill that exudes warmth when held in the palm of your hand is a "Pure Yang Pill" that can dispel cold toxins and replenish Yang energy.
A pure white pill, with a lingering fragrance, is a "Marrow Cleansing Pill" capable of cleansing the marrow and transforming the body.
If any one of these three pills were to circulate, it would be enough to cause a huge uproar in the entire upper class.
But in her plan, this was just a stepping stone.
It is the perfect description of her identity as a "mysterious pharmacist".
Three days later, late at night, the two stepped into the ghost market again.
The monkey was still leading the way.
But this time, his hunched back straightened a bit, and the smile on his face held a more genuine sense of awe.
Clearly, Su Wanqing's deal with Old Man Qian had completely changed her standing in the eyes of these local bullies.
After passing through the still noisy Baicaotang, the monkey led them to a more secluded cave.
Four men dressed in black stood at the entrance of the cave.
They stood silently in the shadows, their breathing steady, and their gazes carried a chilling pressure, revealing them to be true masters of internal martial arts.
"A token." One of them reached out, his voice devoid of any warmth.
Su Wanqing handed over the black iron token engraved with the character "money".
The man took it, carefully examined it by the light of the lantern, and after confirming that it was correct, stepped aside.
"please."
The heavy stone door opened with a deep, rumbling sound of a mechanism.
Behind the door was no longer a cold and damp passage, but a long corridor paved with bluestone slabs, with elegant palace lanterns hanging on both walls, casting a soft light.
At the end of the long corridor is a circular hall carved out of a giant cave.
There is no noise and chaos from the outside world here.
The heavy Persian carpet absorbed all footsteps, and the air was filled with the calming scent of top-grade sandalwood.
In the center of the hall is a circular auction stage, surrounded by two levels, which are divided into semi-open private rooms.
Bamboo curtains and gauze drapes hung down, blocking the view of those who wanted to investigate, but not affecting the viewing of the auction.
The elegance of this place is unlike that of a black market; rather, it resembles a gathering place for refined conversations among ancient nobles.
Su Wanqing, however, sensed a more naked desire and a colder set of rules beneath this elegance.
A graceful waitress in a cheongsam led them with light steps to a medium-sized private room on the first floor.
"Mr. Su, please." The maid's voice was sweet.
Su Wanqing then belatedly realized that because she was dressed in men's clothing and had deliberately lowered her voice, the other party had already assumed that she was a man.
She nodded noncommittally and sat down with Lu Zhanting on the armchairs in the private room.
This location offers a wide view, allowing you to see most of the venue.
She soon spotted Old Man Qian, who was sitting in a private room on the second floor with a great view. Noticing her gaze, he raised his teacup in greeting.
Su Wanqing's gaze silently swept across the venue.
There were about thirty or forty guests.
Most of them did not deliberately conceal their faces, but their expressions all carried an arrogance and aloofness that came from long-standing superiority.
These people are the real night owls of the capital.
Her gaze lingered for a moment on a corner of a private room.
There sat a pale-faced, thin young man.
He was dressed in a faded blue long gown, which stood out starkly against the luxurious atmosphere around him.
But on the table in front of him, there was a stack of land deeds and several thread-bound ancient books, which were clearly all his wealth.
The young man coughed softly from time to time, his eyes filled with a mixture of anxiety and desperate anticipation, staring intently at the auction stage as if awaiting his fate.
"when--"
A clear, melodious chime resounded throughout the hall.
The auction has officially begun.
A woman, also dressed in a cheongsam with a slit, walked onto the stage. She was about thirty years old, with a charming appearance and slightly upturned phoenix eyes. Her eyes were full of shrewdness and just the right amount of allure.
"This humble woman, Hongling, welcomes all gentlemen to grace the Pavilion of Rare Treasures tonight."
Her voice was clear and bright; she didn't waste any words and went straight to the point.
"The first item up for auction tonight is a rare Song Dynasty edition of the Shuowen Jiezi (a dictionary of Chinese characters), with a starting bid of one hundred taels of gold or an equivalent rare item."
Su Wanqing paused slightly at the tip of her finger.
This Pavilion of Rare Treasures is indeed a masterpiece.
After several rounds of bidding, the rare book was finally sold to the pale-faced young man in exchange for half of the land deed on his table.
His hands were trembling as he made the transaction.
The following items ranged from imperial porcelain from previous dynasties to scimitars from the Western Regions that could cut through iron like mud, and even included a fragment of a map showing the defenses of an armory, which sparked fierce bidding among several parties.
Su Wanqing and Lu Zhanting remained motionless.
Like lurking hunters, they calmly observed their prey, analyzing the identity, cards, and desires of each bidder.
Finally, halfway through the auction, Hongling clapped her hands.
Two burly men carried a huge tray covered with a red cloth and strode onto the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sure many distinguished guests have come here tonight specifically for this treasure."
With a mysterious smile on her face, Hong Ling suddenly lifted the red cloth with a flick of her arm.
A ginseng root, entirely dark purple, lay quietly on a tray.
Its roots are twisted and gnarled like dragon claws, and its body has a faint golden halo flowing around it.
A powerful and rich aroma of ginseng instantly filled the entire hall, and everyone who smelled it felt refreshed and their limbs felt more comfortable.
"Purple Gold Dragon King Ginseng!"
Someone in the crowd gasped in surprise.
“That’s right.” Hongling was extremely satisfied with the effect. “This ginseng grew on a cliff in the dragon vein of Changbai Mountain, bathed in the essence of heaven and earth, and is at least three hundred years old. What’s even more remarkable is that the herbalist who found it saw with his own eyes that its companion plant was the legendary Dragon Blood Vine!”
The last three words made Su Wanqing's breath catch in her throat.
The pale-faced young man was so excited that he trembled all over and gripped the edge of the table tightly.
"The Purple-Gold Dragon King Ginseng, starting bid: five large yellow croakers! Now, begin!"
"Six Roots!"
"I'll put out seven!"
"I'll trade you a three-courtyard house in the south of the city!"
Prices skyrocketed instantly.
This ginseng king is not only a life-extending medicine, but also a symbol of power and status.
Su Wanqing did not rush to speak.
She waited until the first wave of frenzied bidding gradually subsided and the price stabilized at "ten large yellow croakers" before speaking softly in her hoarse male voice.
"I'll offer one pill."
The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
The entire venue fell silent instantly.
Dozens of eyes turned to her private room.
Hongling's eyes lit up instantly, and she asked, "What kind of elixir does Mr. Su have?"
"This pill is called the 'Azure Blood Pill'," Su Wanqing said calmly. "It can cure all poisons in the world. Whether it is snake or insect venom or a strange poison from humans, after taking this pill, the poison will be cleared and the person will be safe within half an hour."
These words immediately sparked a subdued discussion.
"Cures all poisons? That's an exaggeration."
"Where in the world could such a divine object exist?"
A hint of doubt flashed in Hongling's eyes, but the rules of the Ghost Market did not allow her to question the items being auctioned.
"Mr. Su, do you have any evidence to support your claim?" she asked tactfully.
Before Su Wanqing could answer, Old Man Qian on the second floor suddenly laughed loudly.
"I, Qian, am willing to vouch for Mr. Su! Mr. Su's medicine is priceless and undoubtedly genuine!"
Old Man Qian's name carries immense weight throughout the entire Ghost Market.
As soon as he opened his mouth, all the doubts fell silent.
“Alright.” Hongling made a quick decision. “With Elder Qian as our guarantor, the Qizhen Pavilion values Mr. Su’s Jade Blood Pill at fifteen large yellow croakers. Is there anything higher?”
"I...I'll offer all the books in our Yan family's collection in Liulichang! Plus this ancestral warm jade!"
The pale-faced young man suddenly stood up and pushed all his last chips to the front of the stage.
The Yan family? Liulichang?
Su Wanqing's mind raced with thoughts.
There is a legend in Beijing that the Yan family, a prominent family of scholars during the Qing Dynasty, once managed the imperial library and was the foremost scholarly family in the capital. Although the family later declined, its cultural and ancient book circles remain unfathomably profound.
"The Yan family's collection of books... those are priceless treasures."
"That piece of warm jade is said to be a tribute from the previous dynasty. It can warm and nourish the human body and is the lifeblood of the Yan family."
A troubled look appeared on Hongling's face; the value of these two items was indeed difficult to estimate in gold.
Just as Su Wanqing was about to raise the price again, a lazy and aloof voice drifted down from the top floor of the third-floor private room, which was shrouded in heavy gauze curtains, without warning.
"Five hundred taels of gold."
These four words, like a thunderclap, exploded in the hall.
Five hundred taels of gold!
That's enough to buy half a street!
The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone was stunned into silence by this terrifying number.
The pale-faced young master of the Yan family lost all color in his face, swayed, and collapsed to the ground.
Su Wanqing's brows furrowed as well.
She had a lot of gold in her storage space, but taking out five hundred taels of gold at once would cause too much of a commotion.
More importantly, the other party's tone conveyed an absolute air that left no room for argument.
This person is determined to succeed.
"when!"
Hongling brought down the small hammer in her hand, sealing the deal with a single blow.
"Five hundred taels of gold, sold! Congratulations to our distinguished guest on the third floor!"
As the auction ended, the crowd, still deeply moved, gradually left.
Su Wanqing and Lu Zhanting also got up, preparing to leave.
Although we didn't get the Dragon King Ginseng, we've obtained a clue about the "Dragon Blood Vine," so the trip wasn't a loss.
As they stepped out of the private room, a figure staggered and blocked their way.
It was that young master of the Yan family.
"Excuse me... Mr. Su, please wait a moment."
He bowed deeply to Su Wanqing, his figure so frail that he seemed about to collapse at any moment.
Lu Zhanting stepped forward, shielding Su Wanqing behind him, his eyes wary.
"Is something the matter?" Su Wanqing gestured to Lu Zhanting not to be nervous, her voice still hoarse.
"My name is Yan Shaocheng," the young man said, his tone pleading as if clinging to a last shred of life. "May I ask, sir, is your Jade Blood Pill truly capable of curing all poisons?"
"nature."
"Then... is it possible to... cure the cold poison?" Yan Shaocheng's voice trembled with excitement.
“The Jade Blood Pill is effective against external poisons.” Su Wanqing’s answer was like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the flame that had just ignited in his eyes. “It is not very effective against chronic cold poison that is present from birth.”
Yan Shaocheng's body went limp, and he almost collapsed, his face filled with despair.
"but……"
Su Wanqing changed the subject.
“I have something else to deal with the cold poison.”
Yan Shaocheng's eyes suddenly flashed with a terrifying light as he stared intently at her.
“My younger sister has been frail since childhood. A wandering master predicted that she was afflicted with ‘Mysterious Yin Cold Poison’ and would not live past twenty… This year, she is already nineteen. That Dragon King Ginseng is the last glimmer of hope I have found for her… Sir, if you truly have a way, please save her life! My Yan family is willing to give everything to repay your great kindness!”
As he spoke, his knees buckled, and he was about to kneel down on the spot.
Su Wanqing reached out and steadily supported his arm.
This is the moment she's been waiting for.
"There's no need to give everything."
She looked at Yan Shaocheng with a calm and profound gaze.
“I can give you a ‘Pure Yang Pill’ to keep your sister alive and alleviate the cold poison. But this is only a temporary solution.”
She took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom.
"I'll give you this pill first. If you see remarkable effects within three days, come find me at this address."
Yan Shaocheng received the porcelain bottle with trembling hands, his posture as if he were taking over a world.
"Sir, your great kindness..."
“I don’t want your thanks.” Su Wanqing interrupted him. “I only have one condition. If I can cure your sister’s illness, I need the Yan family to promise to do three things for me. You cannot refuse any of them.”
She knew very well that although the Yan family had declined, its network of connections built up over hundreds of years, especially its influence in the fields of literati, antiques, and secret stories, was something that the Lu family, a newly powerful military and political family, did not possess.
This is precisely the piece of the puzzle she needs most to find her brother's whereabouts and weave an intelligence network.
"Don't mention three items, even three hundred or three thousand!" Yan Shaocheng agreed without the slightest hesitation. "As long as I, Yan Shaocheng, can do it, I will do it even if it means dying a thousand deaths!"
He left a contact address, then, as if he had found a treasure, clutched the small porcelain bottle and rushed into the night without looking back.
Su Wanqing put away the note with the address written on it, and together with Lu Zhanting, they walked out of Qizhen Pavilion.
Back on the ground, the night air was crisp and cool.
Su Wanqing, however, felt that the air was exceptionally pleasant tonight.
Lu Zhanting looked at her, and the corners of his lips unconsciously curled up: "The Ginseng King was stolen, but you act like you got a huge bargain."
Su Wanqing waved the note in her hand and smiled.
Her eyes shone with a confident light, as if she had everything under control.
"At most, a ginseng root can lead to one more clue."
"But a promise from a top family can give us a living map covering the entire capital."
"Sometimes, losing an auction is to win the entire capital."
She looked up and gazed in the direction of the mysterious private room on the third floor.
Who is this mysterious buyer who spends so lavishly?
But for whom did he buy that ginseng king?
She knew that the chessboard of the capital had already been stirred up by her arrival.
And she finally made her most crucial move.
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