Chapter 15: Identifying Medicine

The young man was named Tang Yu, and like Ye Yuan, he came from the Danwu Academy. The difference was that Ye Yuan was there through connections, while Tang Yu had entered the Danwu Academy on his own strength.

In fact, most of the geniuses at the Danwu Academy came from the noble class, while only a small portion were from the commoner class. The noble class had resource advantages that the commoner class lacked—a gap that no amount of effort could change. The geniuses of the commoner class lost at the starting line.

Cultivation techniques, pills, money—the noble class possessed advantages that commoners could never achieve in a lifetime of effort. These were advantages accumulated over generations.

The fact that Tang Yu could enter the Danwu Academy as a commoner already spoke volumes. Being at the fourth level of the Qi Realm at his age was not particularly outstanding, but it was by no means mediocre.

The jump from the third to the fourth level was a hurdle. Being able to cross it without a pile of resources showed that Tang Yu had considerable talent in martial arts.

Tang Yu's current strength and entry into the Danwu Academy were certainly due to his own hard work, but his father's support also played an indispensable role.

Tang Yu's father was named Tang Zonghuai, a veteran beast hunter. Over the years, Tang Zonghuai had risked his life in the Boundless Forest, all for the sake of his son's better future.

However, if you walk the night path often enough, you're bound to meet a ghost. This time, Tang Zonghuai encountered a powerful beast in the Boundless Forest. He escaped with his life by the skin of his teeth, but his injuries were extremely severe.

Tang Yu was a sensible child. He had witnessed his father's countless injuries over the years, and so while pursuing martial arts, he also aspired to become an alchemist, hoping to help treat his father's wounds at any time. If he hadn't spent time on the alchemical path, Tang Yu's achievements might have been far greater.

However, alchemy was an even more expensive profession, and Tang Yu simply couldn't afford it. Before entering the Danwu Academy, he had spent a great deal of time learning theoretical knowledge, but his practical experience was virtually zero. Only after entering the Danwu Academy did he have the chance to actually practice refining pills.

Even so, what he had learned was still very shallow.

Over the years, to support Tang Yu's martial arts training, the family's savings were not substantial. Tang Yu could no longer afford the cost of a finished pill. But he couldn't bear to watch his father die before his eyes, so he decided to make a last-ditch attempt—to see if he could refine a Great Recovery Pill himself.

Tang Yu had never spoken about his family matters in front of others, but he hadn't expected Ye Yuan to reveal them in one breath. Moreover, the young man before him seemed about his age, yet his alchemical skills were far superior. If he were willing to help refine the Great Recovery Pill...

Thinking this, Tang Yu put away his earlier coldness, bowed to Ye Yuan with cupped hands, and said sincerely, "Brother, I was anxious and spoke rudely just now. I sincerely apologize."

Ye Yuan knew his earlier words had had the desired effect, so he smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Since it's to save a life, there's no need for formalities."

Tang Yu hesitated slightly, then spoke, "From what you said earlier, could it be that you're also interested in this six-leaf grass?"

Tang Yu was a clever person. From the few words just now, he had guessed that Ye Yuan also had designs on the six-leaf grass, which was why he had been so brusque.

Ye Yuan didn't hide it. He smiled and said, "That's right. These three six-leaf grasses are of great use to me. However, I also know that you're trying to save someone. Would you trust me to go see the patient? Perhaps I might be able to help in some way."

If Ye Yuan had said this from the start, Tang Yu would have scoffed. But Ye Yuan's earlier words had indeed shaken him, showing him the gap between them, forcing him to reconsider.

In truth, Tang Yu himself wasn't very confident about treating Tang Zonghuai's injuries, and even less confident about refining the Great Recovery Pill. That was why he had bought all three six-leaf grasses—to prepare for failure.

His father's injuries couldn't be delayed any longer. After a brief hesitation, Tang Yu made up his mind, cupped his hands toward Ye Yuan, and said, "Then I'll trouble you, brother. May I ask your name?"

"My surname is Ye, given name Yuan." Ye Yuan didn't hide it and said directly.

"Ye Yuan?" Tang Yu savored the name, feeling it sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere.

The shopkeeper beside them, seeing that the young master had been cowed by this youth, gained a better impression of Ye Yuan. But when Ye Yuan announced his name, he inwardly cried out in alarm. The name Ye Yuan was far too famous in the imperial city.

Sure enough, after thinking for a moment and connecting it to the Medicine Fragrance Pavilion, Tang Yu suddenly realized where he had heard the name.

"You... you're that bottom-of-the-barrel student from the Danwu Academy, that super-profligate Ye Yuan who ranks last in every subject?" Tang Yu blurted out.

Ye Yuan sighed inwardly, unsure whether his predecessor had lived a failure or a success to have made such a name for himself.

"That's right, I'm that Ye Yuan. But don't rush to refuse. If I'm not mistaken, you're not very confident about refining the Great Recovery Pill yourself, are you?"

"This..." Ye Yuan's words made Tang Yu's heart tighten.

"How about this: let me go take a look first. If I can't solve the problem, I'll ask my father to personally refine a Great Recovery Pill for you. How about that?" Ye Yuan pressed his advantage.

When Ye Yuan brought up his father, Tang Yu's eyes lit up. If Ye Hang were to personally take action, his father's injuries would surely be brought under control.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course I'm serious. If you don't believe me, we can draw up a written agreement."

Tang Yu felt it wasn't right to be so distrustful of others, but his father was on the brink of death, and he couldn't afford to worry about that. Moreover, given Ye Yuan's reputation, he simply couldn't take the risk. If his father could be saved, he could apologize to Young Master Ye later.

Having made up his mind, Tang Yu cupped his hands and said, "Then I'll trouble you, Young Master Ye."

Ye Yuan waved his hand and said calmly, "No need to be polite. Shopkeeper, help me draw up the agreement."

The shopkeeper naturally didn't dare to be negligent. He found paper and brush and drew up the agreement. Ye Yuan signed his name on it, and only then did Tang Yu feel at ease.

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, the shopkeeper felt a sense of unreality. He knew the old Ye Yuan best; he would never have been so easy to deal with. Could it be that after the great disaster, he had truly matured?

...

In the imperial city, every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. Even though beast hunters earned much more than ordinary people, Tang Zonghuai couldn't afford a large house, let alone support his son's martial arts training.

This was a very common dwelling, somewhat dim inside. As soon as Ye Yuan entered, a scent of medicinal herbs assailed him.

"Heart-Lotus, Red Pine Seeds, Golden Fruit... These herbs are all ingredients for entry-level pill formulas. It seems Brother Tang is still practicing refining first-grade pills. But the Great Recovery Pill is a top-grade first-grade pill. At your current level, even if you waste all three six-leaf grasses, you probably won't be able to refine it, right?" Ye Yuan's words were blunt, hitting the nail on the head about Tang Yu's skill level.

Tang Yu couldn't even imagine how skilled Ye Yuan was. Just by smelling the air, Ye Yuan had completely assessed Tang Yu's level. Although they were about the same age, in front of Ye Yuan, Tang Yu felt like a toddler learning to walk.

Ye Yuan had deliberately revealed some of his strength to keep Tang Yu from underestimating him. It couldn't be helped—given how extreme his predecessor had been, he had to be a bit assertive.

Hearing this, Tang Yu wasn't angered but instead felt a shock. They had just entered his home, and the herbs were placed deep inside the room, completely out of sight. Yet Ye Yuan could identify them by smell alone, and with perfect accuracy. How high must his alchemical skill be? Even the academy instructors probably didn't have such ability.