While Zhao Guodong was suppressing his excitement as he rushed home, Zhao Yuan had found his potential landlord to go see an apartment. On the way, the landlord was very curious about the burlap sack Zhao Yuan was carrying, but after hearing it was just luggage, they didn't ask any more questions.
After seeing the apartment, Zhao Yuan was very satisfied. The place was small, but it had all the essentials. Most importantly, it was very close to West Hua Medical University. He signed the contract on the spot, and after paying six months' rent, got the keys.
After seeing the landlord off, Zhao Yuan set down the hundred-plus pounds of medicinal herbs and went out to purchase the tools he needed for Medicine Making.
Whether it was for the Blood Circulation Soup, Bone Refining Pills, or Soul-Stabilizing Incense, the herbs first needed to be ground into a powder. An herb grinder was therefore essential. Besides that, he also had to buy a large pot, a wooden tub for medicinal baths, a cutting board, a syringe, and a kitchen knife.
The other items were easy enough to find, but the syringe was a different story. Neither pharmacies nor medical supply stores would sell one to him. Left with no other choice, Zhao Yuan had to return to the university's anatomy building to grab one.
In addition to the tools for Medicine Making, Zhao Yuan also followed the instructions on the Information Leaf and bought the items needed for Drawing Talismans: a Wolf Hair Brush, Yellow Paper, and vermillion ink.
By the time he was finished, it was lunch. He scarfed down a massive meal at a small eatery downstairs—so much that the owner nearly called the police—before returning to his apartment. He used the herb grinder to pulverize all the medicinal herbs, then bagged the powders and arranged them neatly. Immediately after, Zhao Yuan started making the Bone Refining Pills and Soul-Stabilizing Incense. The Blood Circulation Soup was comparatively simple, only requiring the powder to be mixed in the wooden tub with boiling water, so he set it aside for the time being.
To make the Bone Refining Pills, another key ingredient besides the herb powder was honey.
Zhao Yuan took out the high-quality honey he had bought at the supermarket. He measured out the proper ratio, poured it into an iron pot, and brought it to a boil over a Martial Fire before reducing it to a Mild Fire to simmer.
In the process of making Medicine Pills, this step was called "honey refining," and its purpose was to remove impurities from the honey.
Under the high heat, the honey's color gradually turned yellow. When he figured enough time had passed, Zhao Yuan took out a chopstick, dipped it into the honey, and let a drop fall into a bowl of cool water he had prepared nearby.
The drop of honey didn't dissolve in the water. Instead, it solidified into a perfectly round bead and sank straight to the bottom of the bowl.
This phenomenon was known as 'a drop forming a pearl in water,' which indicated that the honey was fully refined and ready to be used for making the Medicine Pills.
Following the formula for the Bone Refining Pills, Zhao Yuan measured the required powders into an iron basin. He gradually added the honey, mixing it all together in a process much like kneading dough. Once the honey and powder had formed a dough-like mass, he tore off a small piece and rolled it into a ball about the size of a large marble.
The medicinal ball was translucent and beautiful, looking just like a piece of amber.
Soon, the entire batch of dough had been rolled into just over sixty Medicine Pills, which he arranged neatly on a flat wicker basket to dry.
Since this was his first time making Medicine Pills, Zhao Yuan didn't dare make too many. He made this batch first to get some practice and test the pill's effects.
After a short rest, Zhao Yuan began to make the Soul-Stabilizing Incense.
The Soul-Stabilizing Incense also required mixing a medicinal paste, but this time there was no need for honey; plain water was sufficient. Some incense makers would add fragrance oils or other additives to enhance the scent, but that was unnecessary for the Soul-Stabilizing Incense. Its own medicinal aroma was potent enough.
Once the medicinal paste was ready, Zhao Yuan took out the syringe, removed the needle, and loaded the paste in through the back. He then forcefully extruded the paste onto a clean wooden board, forming a long, thin Incense Thread.
Soon, several hundred Incense Threads were complete.
Zhao Yuan then took the kitchen knife and trimmed the ends of the Incense Threads, keeping only the straight middle sections. He then covered them with white paper, and once they had dried in the shade, they would be ready to burn.
Even though the Soul-Stabilizing Incense was not yet completely finished, it was already giving off a deeply refreshing fragrance. The scent drifted out from under the door and permeated the entire floor, where many of the other residents caught a whiff of it.
"Huh, what's that scent? It's so soothing. I feel like my body and soul are completely relaxing." A middle-aged man, who had just returned home from the night shift, was yawning constantly, utterly exhausted. But after smelling the medicinal fragrance, he suddenly felt much better. He then fell onto his bed and into a sweet sleep, the quality of which was far higher than usual.
"This homework the teacher assigned is way too hard. How am I supposed to solve this problem?" A middle-school student, stumped by his math homework, suddenly smelled the scent wafting in and felt his jumbled thoughts immediately clear. In front of him, the problem that had troubled him for so long suddenly had a solution. "Ah, I've got it! Substitute X equals A into the equation, and then... this, and this... Haha, I actually solved it! I'm a genius!"
Many people on that floor smelled the fragrance, and every single one of them felt refreshed and invigorated, their minds and bodies at ease. Those plagued by insomnia had a wonderful dream for the first time in ages. Others suffering from nervous exhaustion felt a long-lost vitality surge back into their bodies, making them feel as if they were reborn!
A wonderful scent!
A magical scent!
"What is that scent? Where is it coming from?"
This same question arose in many people's minds. They came out of their rooms one by one, searching for the source. However, the scent had already filled the entire floor, making it impossible to tell where it was coming from...
Zhao Yuan had no idea that his still-unfinished Soul-Stabilizing Incense had already caused such a sensation.
Zhao Yuan moved the Bone Refining Pills and Soul-Stabilizing Incense to a spot near the window to dry. He then returned inside, cleaned up his Medicine Making equipment, and took out his brush, ink, and paper. He arranged them on the room's only table and prepared to Draw a Talisman.
Before he began Drawing the Talisman, Zhao Yuan carefully read through its description one more time.
'Enchanting Talisman. Originating from the Zuyou Department, it is often used in conjunction with Cannabis Boiling Powder for surgical procedures to eliminate the patient's pain. Used alone, it can cause a person to temporarily lose their senses for a duration of four to eight breaths...'
'This Talisman is actually a catalyst for Anesthetic Powder? Don't tell me the Anesthetic Powder wasn't some fabricated legend, but a real Spiritual Formula?' Zhao Yuan was stunned.
Anesthetic Powder, it was said, was created during the Three Kingdoms Era by the renowned physician Hua Tuo to anesthetize patients for surgery. According to ancient texts, its effects were comparable to modern general anesthesia. Unfortunately, after Hua Tuo was unjustly imprisoned and put to death, the formula was lost along with the Qingnang Scripture. The versions of "Anesthetic Powder" circulating today are merely later creations borrowing the name, and their effects cannot compare to the real thing at all.
'The Anesthetic Powder's effects were said to be god-like. As its catalyst, I wonder what the Enchanting Talisman can do. A duration of four to eight breaths? That's only ten to twenty seconds. It doesn't last very long...' Zhao Yuan grew excited, impatient to see what the Enchanting Talisman could do once it was complete.