Chapter 28: Apricot Yellow Medical Hall

In the following days, Su Yi's life became highly disciplined.

In the early morning, he would go to the mulberry tree forest by the Great Cang River to practice martial arts. At noon, he would return to the city to purchase medicinal herbs. And when he got home, he would simmer medicinal soups to cultivate his body.

Just three days.

Two sesame-sized Obsidian Spirit Crystals were completely refined.

And Su Yi's cultivation reached the pinnacle of the "Flesh Refinement" stage.

The next step would be to start cultivating the "Tendon Refinement" stage.

Such cultivation speed was astonishing, surpassing Su Yi's initial expectations by more than ten days!

However, such progress was within reason.

After all, the herbs he consumed each day were worth fifteen hundred taels of silver, and the refined Obsidian Spirit Crystals were extremely rare. Coupled with the mysteries of the Songhe Body Tempering Technique, it would be difficult not to make progress in cultivation.

"I have only two thousand taels of silver left..."

Under the jujube tree in the courtyard, Su Yi lazily lay in a rocking chair, basking in the sun. The dappled light sprinkled through the branches of the jujube tree, causing his eyes to narrow slightly.

He had just finished an intense cultivation session and his body needed rest.

In just ten days, he had already spent eight thousand taels of the ten thousand tael banknote gifted by Zi Jin. This made Su Yi contemplate ways to earn money.

"However, there's no rush to make money."

Su Yi raised his hand, picked up a cup of ginseng tea placed on a nearby table, and drank it in one gulp.

Immediately, a refreshing warmth flowed down his throat, spreading throughout his body like a tide. His blood and qi surged, and his exhausted body quickly recovered.

In just a moment, all fatigue vanished from his body!

This was a medicinal tea steeped with leaves of the Nine-Leaf King Ginseng. Su Yi had also added ingredients such as blood Poria and Polygonum multiflorum, which were brimming with abundant vitality and spiritual energy.

"Steeping the leaves for tea, boiling the roots for soup, chewing on the fruits... With this one Nine-Leaf King Ginseng, I can support my cultivation for several days," Su Yi thought to himself.

After all, the Nine-Leaf King Ginseng was a second-grade spirit medicine, more than enough to satisfy cultivation in the Qi Gathering Realm.

"Tomorrow morning, I'll go and forge a sword!"

Taking a deep breath, Su Yi's eyes brightened.

In his previous life, he had achieved enlightenment through the sword, eventually transcending the stars and becoming the unparalleled "Xuanjun Sword Lord" of the Great Wilderness Nine Provinces, a name revered by all.

The reason he reincarnated was also to break through to higher realms in the path of the sword!

One could say that Su Xuanjun's entire pursuit of the Dao was intertwined with the way of the sword.

As a sword cultivator, how could he not have a sword in his hand?

"Young Master, Madam requests your presence in the main hall. She says she has something to discuss with you."

Suddenly, a maid's voice sounded from outside the courtyard.

Su Yi paused for a moment before agreeing, "Alright."

...

Main Hall.

When Su Yi arrived, his father-in-law, Wen Changtai, and mother-in-law, Qin Qing, were already seated at the dining table.

The table was filled with a sumptuous lunch.

"You should sit down and eat too," Wen Changtai said, glancing at Su Yi.

"Hold on!"

Qin Qing glared at Wen Changtai disapprovingly.

Wen Changtai immediately shut his mouth and continued eating silently.

Su Yi didn't find it strange. His father-in-law, Wen Changtai, was an "honest man" with a simple and sincere nature. He had no big ambitions and just wanted to live a peaceful life.

Qin Qing put down her chopsticks and said, "Su Yi, do you know about the news that Lingzhao is about to become the personal disciple of Vice Palace Master Zhu in Tianyuan Academy?"

Su Yi nodded, "I've heard about it."

On the day after the banquet celebrating the Old Madam's birthday, news spread that Wen Lingzhao had caught the attention of Vice Palace Master Zhu, who intended to take her as his personal disciple.

Zhu Guqing was one of the few martial arts masters in Yunhe County, widely renowned and respected.

For ordinary martial artists, he was like a divine dragon in the sky.

The fact that Wen Lingzhao had been noticed by such a martial arts master made the entire Wen family ecstatic with joy.

When the news spread, it caused a great stir in Guangling City, creating a huge commotion that left countless people astonished.

But for Su Yi, it was merely a bit unexpected.

After all, Wen Lingzhao had only been in Tianyuan Academy for less than half a month and had already gained the favor of a martial arts master. Even Su Yi hadn't anticipated that.

However, he wasn't shocked by it either.

What was a disciple of a Qi Gathering Realm martial arts master worth in his eyes?

Qin Qing's eyes lit up with joy as she said, "This is a great joy for our Wen family. Early this morning, the clan leader personally promised us one thousand taels of gold, ten barrels of pearls, nine property deeds, and entrusted us with the management of the 'Apricot Yellow Medical Hall' on Qingque Street in Guangling City!"

As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with delight, and her whole being exuded a radiant glow. She couldn't hide her pride.

These past few days had undoubtedly been the most enjoyable time for Qin Qing. Everyone she met greeted her with smiles, full of enthusiasm and flattery.

Even the clan leader and the Old Madam treated her with obvious respect!

It made Qin Qing feel like she was floating on cloud nine, as if it were all unreal.

"This is indeed a joyful event," Su Yi casually responded.

Qin Qing suddenly became cautious and said, "You won't have any share in these riches, so don't even think about it!"

Su Yi couldn't help but laugh and cry. Even if he needed money, he had various means to earn it. There was no need for him to covet such trivial things.

Qin Qing seemed to recall something and her expression changed several times before finally making a decision. She said, "You have been in our family for a year now, and you can't keep relying on us. I plan to let you take over the business of the 'Apricot Yellow Medical Hall'!"

Su Yi was taken aback.

Qingque Street, although not the most prosperous area in Guangling City, was densely populated, attracting people from all walks of life.

The Apricot Yellow Medical Hall located on this street had been in business for many years and never lacked customers.

What made Su Yi skeptical was whether his mother-in-law, who had always rejected and detested him, would genuinely give him such an advantage?

Qin Qing's expression became stern as she warned, "I'm warning you, although I'm letting you manage the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall, you must hand over one thousand taels of silver to me every month. If it's less than that, don't blame me for being heartless!"

Su Yi suddenly realized. That's more like the mother-in-law he knew. She would never easily give him any benefits.

"One thousand taels per month?" Wen Changtai couldn't help but speak up.

Qin Qing proudly said, "I stayed up all night last night and finally sorted out the accounts of the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall. Based on the current situation, the medical hall can only earn about one thousand taels per month, at most a difference of three taels of silver!"

Su Yi was taken aback. In his mother-in-law's calculations, he was nothing more than a laborer, not even receiving compensation for his work...

What kind of situation was this?

Was the former revered master of the Xuanjun Sword, who once dominated the world, now being exploited and squeezed by his shrewd mother-in-law?

"What if Su Yi doesn't earn enough to reach one thousand taels of silver in a month?" Wen Changtai asked.

Qin Qing sneered and spoke quickly, "I'm not heartless. The one surnamed Su can owe debts for three months and repay them later. But in that case, he'll have to pay an additional interest. The more he owes, the more interest he'll have to pay. If he doesn't repay within three months, the interest will accumulate upon interest, and the total debt will double continuously."

After hearing this, even someone as honest as Wen Changtai couldn't help but shudder, feeling some pity for Su Yi.

Qin Qing took a sip of tea to moisten her throat, then looked at Su Yi with sharp eyes, "You won't default on your debts, will you?"

Su Yi countered, "What if I earn more than one thousand taels per month?"

Qin Qing immediately laughed and praised, "You, a freeloader, still have some ambition. You know how to earn more money. Let me tell you, any amount you earn exceeding one thousand taels per month will be yours."

"Good, it's settled then," Su Yi agreed without hesitation.

Qin Qing was momentarily stunned. She hadn't expected Su Yi to agree so readily, and it made her feel somewhat uneasy.

After some thought, she warned him again, "If you dare to play any tricks, don't blame me for not being polite!"

Soon, Su Yi left.

Qin Qing instructed him to go to the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall tomorrow and stay and eat there from now on.

For Su Yi, this was actually a good thing. Staying in the Wen family made everything inconvenient, but things would be different outside.

Only Wen Changtai and his wife remained in the main hall.

Wen Changtai couldn't help but ask, "Why do you want to let Su Yi take charge of the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall? It has always been controlled by our second brother. From the physicians to the servants, they are all from our second brother's side."

"If you let Su Yi go there, he will be bullied by them every day. How much suffering does he have to endure?"

Towards the end, Wen Changtai couldn't help but sigh deeply.

Qin Qing angrily said, "If you were as capable as your second brother, would the dowager allow Su Yi to marry into our family? Do you know how much our daughter Lingzhao has suffered because of this marriage?"

"Look at your eldest brother, the head of the Wen family, wielding great power and managing all the family's properties. How impressive. And you, neither scholarly nor martially talented, don't fight for anything, letting your two brothers take all the benefits!"

"These years, if it weren't for me personally managing our family, with your limited abilities, our entire family would have long been bullied to death by the other members of the Wen family!"

Wen Changtai was scolded to the point where he didn't dare to speak, only forced to smile bitterly. That was his nature, and he knew he was mediocre compared to his two brothers.

Qin Qing's dominance and shrewdness made him appear even more useless.

After a while, Qin Qing finally calmed down and said, "I know that the Apricot Yellow Medical Hall belonged to your second brother, but that's in the past. From today onwards, it belongs to our family!"

"As for whether Su Yi will be bullied... hmph, don't underestimate our son-in-law."

Wen Changtai was surprised, "What do you mean?"

"I heard that a few days ago, Su Yi taught Huang Qianjun, that playboy, a lesson at the Juxian Tower. I thought the Huang family wouldn't let him off, but unexpectedly, he is still lively and unharmed until now."

Qin Qing sneered, "Although I can't figure out the reason behind it, my intuition tells me that there is definitely something strange about it!"

After pausing for a moment, she sighed again, "It's a pity. If he were still the Outer Sect Swordmaster of the Qinghe Sword Sect, Lingzhao marrying him would be barely acceptable."

"But now, Lingzhao is about to become a disciple of the Grandmaster! Look at Su Yi, he's utterly useless!"

Her tone was filled with deep resentment.

Wen Changtai comforted her, "If he hadn't lost his cultivation, he probably wouldn't have become our son-in-law. After all, at that time, Lingzhao hadn't even entered the Tianyuan Academy for cultivation."

"You shut up!" Qin Qing slammed the table, her anger erupting. She interrupted, "Are you trying to comfort me or mock our daughter Lingzhao? Or is it that you've been feeling so frustrated lately and need to be dealt with?"

Wen Changtai's face showed embarrassment, and he awkwardly fell silent.