Free Web NovelChapter 1925: Chapter 1922: Sealed Medicinal Herbs
"Lingyu, who is he? He looks even older than the Great Elder?" The old man walked unhurriedly in front, but Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Ruyan dared not overtake him, only following slowly from behind. Lin Tian found it strange and asked softly. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
"Of course he’s very old. Elder Zhang Guoyao and Sister Ruyan’s master belong to the same generation and are highly respected in the Zhang Family. He prefers peace and quiet, so he voluntarily guards the medicine repository." Zhang Lingyu responded softly.
"Zhang Guoyao? Is he a descendant of Zhang Guolao?" Lin Tian asked instinctively.
The two women glanced at him, and Zhang Lingyu retorted curiously, "They both share the surname Zhang, what do you think?"
Zhang Guolao was a real historical figure, known as Mr. Tongxuan, who practiced alchemy and attained deep spiritual insight throughout his life. He was once summoned by both Wu Zetian and Tang Xuanzong. However, because his deeds were so extraordinary, he was mythologized by later generations, becoming one of the "Eight Immortals" in stories.
"You young ones, what’s the fuss about? You haven’t answered my question yet. What herbal materials do you need?" Zhang Guoyao halted and looked back at Lin Tian and the other two, seemingly having heard their discussion clearly.
Zhang Lingyu looked at Lin Tian, who nodded to indicate she should speak. The beautiful female Heavenly Master said, "Jade Flower Bud, Blood Vine, Ten-thousand-year-old Stone Stalactite..."
Zhang Guoyao initially appeared indifferent, but upon hearing the names of the herbal materials Zhang Lingyu mentioned, his white eyebrows gradually furrowed, and his expression grew increasingly serious.
"These herbal materials are definitely not used for ordinary recipes. Quickly tell me, what are they for?" Zhang Guoyao asked solemnly, his gaze fixed on the three.
"This..." Zhang Lingyu hesitated for a moment, unable to reveal the truth, as Lin Tian’s identity as a pharmacist was a secret.
Zhang Guoyao glared with his beard flying, "What’s this ’this’? Speak up without hesitation, when did you become so indecisive?"
Zhang Lingyu gave a wry smile; she truly had no temper when Zhang Guoyao scolded her.
"Elder Yao, don’t blame Lingyu. Let me speak. We need these herbs for alchemy," Lin Tian confessed. The old man had mentioned upon entering that without a suitable reason, they wouldn’t be given the herbal materials. If not candid, they might really not get them.
"Alchemy?" Zhang Guoyao was stunned, then full of disbelief, "Are you kidding? Alchemy, where’s the pharmacist? Zhang Heyuan, or you young ones?"
Though Zhang Guoyao was very old, his voice was vigorous and resonant, and when agitated, his voice reverberated loudly within the room, astonishing Lin Tian with its force—more like a high-level Ancient Martial Artist than a Demon Exorcist.
"Elder Yao, we are indeed using them for alchemy. I am a junior pharmacist." Lin Tian confessed again.
"You are a pharmacist?" Zhang Guoyao was about to express disbelief but met Lin Tian’s gaze, which was both clear and deep, devoid of youthful fickleness, with calm and a hint of inscrutability.
Inscrutability? Zhang Guoyao was slightly puzzled; he was almost a hundred years old but couldn’t see through this young man?
"How can you prove it?" Zhang Guoyao collected his thoughts and asked calmly, yet asked with an inexplicable sense of expectation.
Zhang Guoyao didn’t believe Lin Tian was a pharmacist, not because Lin Tian was too young, but because pharmacists have not appeared in the Demon Exorcism World and Ancient Martial World for a very long time, with elixirs and recipes gradually disappearing.
"We don’t have an association here to issue certificates or anything, so I can’t prove it. But I probably have something good with me. If Elder Yao trusts it, that’s great; if not, there’s nothing more I can do." Lin Tian reached into his pocket, took out a semi-transparent jade bottle, and handed it to Zhang Guoyao.
Zhang Guoyao accepted it with skepticism, opened the bottle to smell it, then looked inside. A smooth pill lay quietly in the jade bottle, and the old man’s eyes instantly lit up.
"Elixir?" Zhang Guoyao suppressed his excitement, looking at Lin Tian with great anticipation.
Lin Tian nodded, "That’s correct, it’s a Shaoyang Pill, made during practice. Besides some that were given away, I have some stock left."
"What, you gave elixirs away?" Zhang Guoyao’s eyes widened, looking at Lin Tian as if he were a spendthrift, "If I’m not wrong, though Shaoyang Pill is a basic elixir, it can dispel Yin Sha and is very practical. Whether an Ancient Martial Artist or a Demon Exorcist, they all need such elixirs."
"But you actually gave them away, and from your words, not just one? Who are they? Are they your lovers or your wife?" The old man appeared completely at a loss, wondering if Lin Tian was a dissolute offspring.
Beside him, Zhang Lingyu’s face reddened at these words because Lin Tian had indeed given her one. Lin Tian blinked, thinking, when did Miss and others become my wife or lovers?
"Uh, Elder Yao, don’t worry about who they are. I gave them; it’s no big deal. If Elder Yao likes it, I can give this one to you too." Lin Tian said generously.
He wasn’t pretending to be generous; these items were of little use to him but significant for Demon Exorcists. Demon Exorcists encounter demons and ghosts, Yin Sha spirits, and the Shaoyang Pill can indeed come in handy, potentially saving a life.
"Is this true?" Zhang Guoyao was delighted but quickly calmed down, returning the bottle to Lin Tian, "I can’t take such valuable items."
"Forget it, forget it, the old man here was quite mistaken. You are indeed a pharmacist. Come with me, I’ll take you to get the herbs." Zhang Guoyao gestured, not accepting Lin Tian’s offer but agreeing to lead them to the herbs.
Lin Tian and the two women exchanged glances, all showing delight, then followed the old man into the house.
Zhang Guoyao didn’t go upstairs but opened the basement door, and as he did, dust fell, and under the light, dust floated. It’s unclear how long it’s been since anyone visited the basement.
The basement was wide, with shelves around lined with wooden boxes and jars, but all uniformly thick with dust. This place seemed like a forgotten corner of the Zhang Family, sealed away in the annals of history. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Zhang Guoyao slowly walked past the shelves, his face full of endless desolation and sorrow.
Finally, he stopped in front of a statue, saying in a low voice, "The Zhang Family was once so glorious in both alchemy and demon exorcism, but now, although demon exorcism persists, alchemy has long been lost in the depths of history."
With a thud, Zhang Guoyao astonishingly knelt in front of the statue with both knees—a nearly centenarian man knelt with both knees, leaving everyone astonished. Lin Tian was about to inquire what was happening when Zhang Lingyu and Zhang Ruyan also knelt down.
"Ancestor, your descendants are unworthy. We failed to inherit your alchemical legacy, even losing the Nine Revolutions Dragon Tiger Pill’s elixir recipe, a sin deserving ten thousand deaths, dying with no face to meet you," Zhang Guoyao lamented, bowing down in reverence.
