Divine Doctor Mansion
Redwood, green tiles.
The beams were decorated with inlaid feathers, gold powder depicting auspicious clouds and cranes. Two large stone lions covered in gold foil stood at the entrance, with four rows of servants standing guard.
Many people came seeking medical help.
Those who could afford to spend 500 taels of silver for treatment were all dignitaries. Shang Yanting, clutching his 500 taels, was entirely unremarkable and had to queue at the very end.
From afternoon until dusk.
It was only when the sun dipped below the mountains and a servant from the Divine Doctor Mansion hung lanterns at the door that it was finally Shang Yanting's turn.
At last, he met the Divine Doctor.
The person appeared to be in his thirties, with average looks, and an expression cold, conveying an arrogant air of talent and self-importance.
"This Divine Doctor is so young."
Jia Xitong looked at him and sighed, having expected a white-clad elderly gentleman.
Shang Yanting offered no comment. The person was actually over fifty, just appearing young due to some techniques of preserving youth.
"What treatment do you seek?"
"I have some issues with my limbs."
Xie Qingxian sat up, examined him, and eventually issued a curt conclusion, "It can be treated."
Upon hearing this, Jia Xitong sat up instantly; though the Divine Doctor seemed very conceited, he did have some skill.
"The treatment cost is 5,000 taels of silver."
The Divine Doctor's next words pulled Jia Xitong back to reality with a jolt, "Additionally, you must supply the medicinal guides of crabgrass, Long Dan Root, and Wu zhong fu mushroom yourself."
Jia Xitong had never heard of any of them, but she knew they must be very expensive.
A regular person might not earn 500 taels of silver in twenty years, yet only received a "can be treated" for that amount in front of the Divine Doctor.
Now the treatment fee was 5,000, plus the cost of the medicine.
Furthermore, from the moment Shang Yanting entered the room, the Divine Doctor had been assessing Shang Yanting's attire with a slight air of superiority. Truth be told, Jia Xitong felt the Divine Doctor was somewhat bullying.
"Thank you, Divine Doctor."
Shang Yanting bowed, "I will return when I have gathered these three medicines."
"Hmm."
Xie Qingxian nodded slightly, providing a reminder, "These three types of medicines are extremely rare. Half a month later, there will be an auction at the Wan Bao Pavilion in the city; you might want to check it out."
"Thank you, elder."
Upon leaving,
Jia Xitong couldn't help but ask, "Don't you think this Divine Doctor seems like a swindler?"
"He is."
Shang Yanting glanced back at the Divine Doctor Mansion.
Ornate golden gates, colorful eaves; a lofty jade mansion, pavilions soaring upwards. If he didn't love wealth, how could a mere small city satisfy his extravagant desires?
##
The next day,
A man carrying a peculiar small beast strolled slowly into the largest pharmacy in the city.
Jia Xitong looked around the drugstore disinterestedly, and immediately saw jars labeled Wenyao Fish Blood and drawers marked Anjianxuan Grass.
Unfortunately, Shang Yanting wasn't there to purchase those.
"Boss, I want 10 taels of Wenyao Fish Blood and 1,000 portions of Anjianxuan Grass."
What?
Upon hearing it, Jia Xitong doubted her ears, "Aren't you buying medicine?"
"Shall I return them?"
"No!"
Jia Xitong hurriedly protested.
This is simply… amazing!
"Host, you are the best host in the world."
The shopkeeper looked at Shang Yanting, who muttered to himself, feeling strange. Nonetheless, in the face of a large transaction, he could care less if the customer talked to themselves or danced.
"May I ask where the gentleman would like these items placed?"
The shopkeeper politely inquired.
"Please, shopkeeper, keep them for now, I'll have someone collect them later."
Merely having raw materials wasn't enough; someone was needed to process them into real paper and ink.
Next, there was a need to find people capable of handling these materials.
It wasn't difficult; simply find a shop selling writing tools like pens, ink, paper, and inkstones.
Generally, such shops are family businesses, providing a one-stop service from production to sales to after-sales.
The shop Shang Yanting found was known as a century-old paper-making business.
He specifically checked the quality of their paper and ink before entrusting them with the materials.
"Rest assured, sir, we will handle these materials carefully; it will take approximately ten days."
Shang Yanting nodded, "Thank you, sir."
The middle-aged man quickly waved his hand upon hearing the term of address, "Unworthy, unworthy."
He was merely a craftsman, unfit to be addressed as 'sir'.
From within the Sea of Consciousness, Jia Xitong listened in, suddenly recalling the treasures she had brought back from the cave, "Host, can my Undetermined Secret Grass and Undetermined Silver Fish Fin be processed?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Yanting returned to the inn, taking out a bit of each, "Sir, could these also be made into paper and ink?"
The Undetermined Secret Grass had been picked many days ago, yet its roots still remained verdant, as if freshly picked.
The fins had turned gray after the Undetermined Silver Fish's death, emitting a faint fishy odor.
The middle-aged man lightly touched the severed part of the Undetermined Secret Grass root and examined a small piece closely. Next, he picked up a fin, smelled it, and even licked it with his tongue.
After observing for a while, the middle-aged man's brow slowly furrowed.
"Sir, these items… are quite special."
He shook his head, returning the fins, "I've made paper for half my life and consider myself the best in the city. Although this grass is peculiar, I'm willing to give it a try; however, I can't guarantee my abilities in ink-making."
He paused before continuing, "But I have a friend who is one of the best ink-makers in Dongxu Country. If you trust me, I can take them to him to try."
"Please, sir, handle it then."
After arranging everything, Shang Yanting strolled back slowly.
As Jia Xitong reveled in having her wish fulfilled, she began calculating Shang Yanting's remaining funds.
Buying materials for the Drawing Mixu Talisman had already cost 200 taels of silver, with another 15 taels spent on processing them. Adding the 500 taels spent yesterday, the silver was now gone.
Now, Shang Yanting had only 1 tael and 450 coins left.
"Host, you spent all the money on materials; what about your leg?"
There wasn't enough money left for medicine.
"Even if I didn't spend it, it wouldn't be enough."
Shang Yanting glanced at his wrist, where the scab had yet to fall off.
Treating his limbs was difficult.
Apart from the 5,000 taels for the treatment fee mentioned by Xie Qingxian, the real hurdle was the three medicines.
Every medicine he prescribed was both expensive and scarce.
Moreover, the Divine Doctor specified purchasing them from a specific location.
The relationship between the two was clear; it was merely a collaboration. The Divine Doctor prescribed, while Wan Bao Pavilion collected and opportunistically increased the price.
Originally, the price of each herb was as huge as a thousand taels, while attending Wan Bao Pavilion's auction would at least double it.
"According to Xie Qingxian's prices, curing my leg would require 20,000 taels of silver."
20,000 taels of silver.
Even for the Eight Great Families, it's a significant amount.
Shang Yanting knew that this money couldn't be gathered in a short time; he was already considering other methods.
Jia Xitong began calculating quietly too.
20,000 taels of silver, converting into talismans would require 134 sheets.
A particularly greedy middleman gradually considered large loans because of her admiration for the host's good looks and kind heart, she was willing to lower the interest just a bit.