After a while, the sound of footsteps could be heard. Li Yue was following behind a plump, chubby old man. He had a flattering smile on his face.
Meng Qinlin, High Official of the Herb Garden, rank six Scribe.
His chubby face had small eyes. When he saw the black spots, his eyes widened and he shouted, "Stop!"
Chu Li put down the grass stick and closed fist saluted, "Sir Meng."
"Young Chu, what are you doing?" Meng Qinlin rushed over and glared at him.
He went to one of the black spots, looked at it, smelled it, and then crouched on the ground to smell it. Then, he put a handful of soil in his mouth and tasted it.
"It's not rust!" Meng Qinlin frowned and spat out the soil.
Li Yue tactfully offered him a cup of tea, smiling apologetically.
Meng Qinlin pursed his lips and frowned. Rust was a common disease of Snow Orchids. There were many variations, and these black spots looked like rust, but it was very deceptive.
Meng Qinlin stared at Chu Li, "Young Chu, don't tell me you used rust to treat it?"
Chu Li said, "It's the Dew Eater."
"Dew Eater?" Meng Qinlin blinked. He had some impression of it. "Are you sure?"
"Sixty percent."
"You little brat, how dare you!" Meng Qinlin passed him the tea and said, "If it really dies, your life is over!"
Chu Li smiled and stepped forward to take the teacup.
Meng Qinlin saw his confidence and said, "How many days do you need?"
"Four days is enough."
"Alright, we'll wait and see. If it really dies, don't even think about staying here anymore!"
Meng Qinlin turned and left. Li Yue smiled and followed behind. Chu Li closed fist saluted and put down the teacup to continue applying the juice.
— — —
Chu Li stayed in the Snow Orchid Garden day and night. If there was a serious illness, he would shift his aura to it. Li Yue, who was serving food and drinks, noticed something strange.
The listless Snow Orchid that was not in a good state would be full of life after Chu Li touched it, as if it had taken the Energy Pill.
He asked Chu Li curiously. Chu Li said that it was a natural ability, and asked him to keep his mouth shut. Li Yue excitedly patted his chest and promised.
Although the East Garden was free and unfettered, it also had a heavy responsibility. If anything went wrong, it would be severely punished. Therefore, when he saw that the flowers were sick, he felt anxious and worried. He couldn't eat or sleep well.
Now that Chu Li had this ability, he could finally have a good night's sleep!
Three days later, the black spots disappeared, and the Snow Orchid returned to its crystal clear state. There was no trace of illness on it.
Li Yue invited Meng Qinlin over. Meng Qinlin had investigated the Dew Eaters and saw that Chu Li had succeeded. He praised Meng Qinlin and said that he would fight for Chu Li's promotion.
Other than gaining experience, there was another way for Imperial Bodyguards to be promoted — by making meritorious service. If they made a great contribution, they could be promoted.
This time, the High Duke's Public House had suffered from a lot of Xuelan. If they could use Chu Li's method to cure them, it would be a great merit, barely enough for them to be promoted.
— —
Chu Li was just about to take a nap when the sound of a jade chime was heard. Someone had entered the island. Chu Li and Lee Yue rushed to the shore to take a look.
Meng Qinlin got off the boat with a smile on his face.
Chu Li and Li Yue greeted him.
"Good, good!" Meng Qinlin patted Chu Li's shoulder and said warmly, "Young Chu, thanks to you, the East Garden has gained a lot of face."
The Herb Garden was in charge of all the flowers and herbs in the Public House. The East Garden belonged to Lady Xiao Qi, while the West Garden belonged to Master Xiao Tieying. The two factions fought fiercely in the Herb Garden, and Meng Qinlin belonged to the East Garden.
"All cured?" Chu Li smiled.
Meng Qinlin laughed. "A total of three hundred Snow Orchids!"
Li Yue quickly asked, "Sir Meng, will Brother Chu be promoted?"
"From today onwards, Young Chu Li is a rank nine Scribe. Young Li, you too, are rank eight!" Meng Qinlin smiled and took out two banknotes. "Ten thousand taels is Young Chu Li's, and one thousand taels is Young Li's. This money is a reward from the Herb Garden."
Chu Li took the banknotes and closed fist saluted. "Thank you, Sir Meng!"
Meng Qinlin must have put in a lot of effort to get such a generous reward.
"Not bad, Young Chu Li. You have a bright future ahead of Gu Litong!" Meng Qinlin was overjoyed.
Li Yue asked in surprise, "Did Gu Litong not find a cure this time? He's a genius! "
Gu Litong had been in the Public House for three years and was a rank eight Scribe. He had made two great contributions to the Public House and introduced two varieties of rare flowers. He had a bright future ahead of him.
Meng Qinlin waved his fat hand. "He's not in the mood for this."
Chu Li said, "Sir Meng, I have a small request."
"Speak!"
"I want to visit the Herb Garden."
"Oh, you're quite ambitious. You want to enter the Herb Garden?"
"I've heard of it for a long time. I'm curious."
"Hmm …" Meng Qinlin thought for a while and smiled. "Alright, you can only enter the rank nine Herb Garden!"
"Thank you, Sir Meng!"
"The Herb Garden isn't as beautiful as you think. Let's go!"
Meng Qinlin brought the two of them onto the boat. He stood at the bow and commanded while Li Yue rowed the boat. After half an hour, they arrived at a small island.
Four middle-aged Protectors stepped forward, their eyes as sharp as arrows. Meng Qinlin showed them his waist tag. The Protectors nodded and let them pass.
Li Yue covered his nose with his hand. He looked like he was about to vomit.
Chu Li shook his head and laughed. The smell on the island was really strong. With so many different smells mixed together, it was hard to smell good or bad. It was a torture to the nose.
Meng Qinlin smiled at Li Yue. "Young Li, if you stay in the Herb Garden for too long, you'll have the same smell on your body. No matter how much you wash it, you'll never get rid of it. What do you think? It smells good, right? Haha!"
Li Yue said with a bitter face, "Then how can we go to the New Moon Brothel? Which girl can stand this smell?"
Meng Qinlin laughed. "Do you think the generous reward is for nothing?"
The three of them arrived at a small courtyard.
Chu Li's Omniscient Mirror could see everything within a mile radius. He saw many small courtyards connected to each other. Each courtyard was a herb garden with a type of Spirit Medicine.
This courtyard had a patch of Green Foxtail Grass. Chu Li recognized it as the Floating Grass. It was considered one of the best rank nine Spirit Medicine.
A skinny middle-aged man was bending over to remove the grass. He was careful not to touch the Floating Grass. The hoe was made of jasper, small and delicate.
"Sir Meng!" He heard footsteps and turned around, fist saluting.
Meng Qinlin waved his hand. "Young Jing, go about your business. I'll show them around."
"Are they new here?" Jing Zhihai asked with a smile.
Meng Qinlin said, "They made a contribution and were promoted. As a reward, I'll show them around the herb garden."
Jing Zhihai's expression changed. He fist saluted solemnly. "My apologies, my apologies. Please help yourselves."
It was not easy to be promoted. People like them had a bright future ahead of them. If there was a good job or a good position, their first choice would be a Scribe with a high rank.
"Sir Jing, can I touch them?"
"… Of course. Just be careful. They are quite delicate."
Chu Li nodded and thanked him. He carefully touched a Floating Grass. The pure energy flowed into his body and circulated the Minute Pulse Cleansing Technique.
Using it to cultivate the Minute Pulse Cleansing Technique would take two years!
This was a rank nine Spirit Medicine. If it was a rank one Spirit Medicine, how fast would it be?
The combination of the Spirit Medicine's essence and the Minute Pulse Cleansing Technique was comparable to the Metamorphosis Fruit. The Metamorphosis Fruit could cleanse one's body and complete one's foundation. It even had great benefits. Unfortunately, it was a legendary item.
The essence of a Spirit Medicine was similar to the essence of a human's five grains. Once it died, the essence would dissipate. The medicinal effects of a Spirit Medicine and its essence were two different things.
Inner energy was used to convert the essence of the five grains into inner energy. The essence of the five grains was limited, but the essence of the plants was unlimited. If he could use it to replace the essence, his cultivation would progress by leaps and bounds!
Thinking of this, he was filled with hope!
"Young man, what are you thinking of?" Meng Qinlin interrupted his thoughts.
Chu Li let go of his hand and smiled.
"Let's go somewhere else. Young Jing, you can continue with your work." Meng Qinlin waved his hand.
Jing Zhihai escorted them to the door.
The three of them visited the five courtyards. Chu Li touched each one of them. The Floating Grass was the purest. He had to hurry up and advance his rank so that he could cultivate here.
The three of them returned. Li Yue rowed the boat. Meng Qinlin smiled at Chu Li. "Young Chu, do you want to come in?"
Chu Li nodded.
Li Yue quickly asked, "Brother, you don't want to stay in the East Garden?"
"I'll go both ways."
"Young Chu, you're too inexperienced. You'll have to wait for a few years."
"Sir Meng, there must be a way."
"There is a way. Contribution!"
"I hope Sir Meng can guide me!"
"You know that Gu Litong is researching the Moonlight Orchid, right?" Meng Qinlin smiled. "If you manage to grow the Moonlight Orchid before him, I'll guarantee that you'll enter the rank nine herb garden!"
"The Moonlight Orchid …" Chu Li frowned.
Its leaves were curved and emitted a white light at night, like a crescent moon. That was why it was called the Moonlight Orchid.
It was born on the Moonlight Island. Once it left the island, it would only live for a month. There were no exceptions to this rule. However, because of its beauty, it was highly sought after.
One Moonlight Orchid was worth at least two hundred taels of silver.
Two hundred taels of silver was enough to buy a small house in Chong Ming Town.
Chu Li was a rank nine Scribe. Ten taels of silver a month was already a high salary. He could not even afford a single Moonlight Orchid even after working for a year.
It was such an expensive Moonlight Orchid. Many masters were researching it to extend its lifespan. Unfortunately, no one had succeeded. Gu Litong was too proud to challenge it.
"You don't dare?" Meng Qinlin smiled at him.
Li Yue kept signaling Chu Li with his eyes.
Chu Li nodded. "Alright, I'll give it a try."
After sending Meng Qinlin back, the two returned to the East Garden. Li Yue complained to Chu Li as he rowed the boat. "Brother, you really dared to say it. It's the Moonlight Orchid!"
Chu Li laughed against the wind. "Why not give it a try?"
"If Gu Litong knew about this, he'd definitely have a different opinion!"
Chu Li smiled.
"Sigh … You've got guts …" Li Yue shook his head helplessly.
He admired Chu Li's carefreeness. It was as if he had nothing to worry about and could let go of everything. However, this personality of his could easily offend people and cause trouble.
Chu Li saw his worry and smiled. "He wouldn't dare to barge into the East Garden, would he?"
"Not really, but he's not a forgiving person. He'll do whatever it takes. He'll definitely cause you trouble!"
"Then keep your mouth shut and do it quietly!"
"Of course I have no problem with that!" Li Yue shouted.
Chu Li shook his head in disapproval. Li Yue was a man with no subtlety at all.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
