Chapter 748 – Observations on the Medicine (1/2)
Chapter 748 – Observations on the Medicine
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
The small bag was long and slender. When it was still in the body of the expert from the Great Zhou Army, the bag's upper half was probably in the esophagus, the opening at the throat, and there also seemed to be some sort of mechanism concealed at the opening. The Wenshui Tangs had been able to make the Yellow Paper Umbrella, so they probably also had methods to cut off anything that was placed in the bag from the outside world.
The inn manager did not immediately open the bag. Instead, he very seriously and meticulously washed his hands until they were so clean that they seemed new. He then used four towels to wipe his hands dry, ensuring that there was no lingering moisture. Finally, he opened the bag and took out the item within.
It was a pill about the size of a pea. It had a dark red sheen akin to blood. Perhaps because it had been affected by the moisture in the corpse, its surface was slightly puckered. Upon seeing this, the manager seemed slightly distressed and the Tang Seventeenth Master's face became gloomy.
”It should be fine,” the manager said in a shaky voice, then hurriedly placed the blood-red pill in a pot that had been prepared in advance.
The pot was filled with wheat husks, and certainly no ordinary wheat husks. They had been filtered and dried many times, and were now ivory-white. They were absolutely dry without the slightest bit of moisture.
The manager covered the pill with the wheat husks and then used his hand to lightly rub the husks against the pill. His fingers moved with particular gentleness, as if he was caressing his lover. The pill rolled about the wheat husks, and with the passing of time, it gradually became completely clean, its dark red color growing increasingly vivid, arousing and entrapping the soul.
The Wenshui Tang clan's understanding of this pill was not complete. They only knew that it would melt upon encountering water and become very difficult to preserve. At this point, the manager finally confirmed that there was no problem with this cleaning method, so the gaze he aimed at the pill also turned gentle and warm. Of course, it was still inferior to the gaze he aimed at the Tang Seventeenth Master.
Beaming, he said, ”Seventeenth Master's wisdom is truly outstanding. This method really does work.”
The Tang Seventeenth Master ignored this flattery. He extracted a new, snow-white towel from his sleeve and padded his hand with it, taking the pill. After examining it for a very long time, his eyes gradually began to glow with fervor. He suddenly noticed this change in mood and slightly frowned. He grimly said, ”Is this pill truly so wondrous?”
The manager had not noticed the subtle change in the Seventeenth Master's emotions as he replied, ”It really is, or else we would not have troubled the esteemed Seventeenth Master to personally come.”
He was currying favor with his master, but as he spoke, he could not help but stare at the pill in the master's palm and lick the corner of his lips.
This subconscious action revealed that he was somewhat nervous and also revealed the greed and longing in his heart.
The Tang Seventeenth Master noticed this and his lips perked into a smile. ”Do you know what this is?”
The manager's expression slightly shifted as he thought, is this not the legendary Cinnabar Pill?
”This is neither pill nor wealth, but power.”
The Tang Seventeenth Master intoned, ”The power to decide life and death is the greatest power in the world.”
The manager praised, ”Seventeenth Master's words are extraordinary.”
The Seventeenth Master impassively said, ”If someone were to covet this power but lack the corresponding strength, they would only be seeking their death.”
The manager's body went stiff, and then he lowered his head, no longer daring to even glance at the pill.
……
……
A succession of people entered the secret room and encircled the black table. One of these people was a Guardian from the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets who specialized in medicine, two of them were the most renowned doctors of Fengyang County, one was a cleric of unknown background which the Tang clan had hired for an enormous amount of money, and there was also a physician who treated the Tang Old Master's meridians.