Chapter 153 - Hao Pharmacy (2/2)

This place was far more happening than Donglin County.

“Brother Ye Chen, is this the capital? There are so many people. More than the little village we were at!” Little Wingsy exclaimed excitedly. Due to their endless supply of food throughout their journey, the little boy had grown into a plump boy. He was much adorable than before, his cheeks were rounded and rosier, reminiscing that of the Chinese dolls.

“This is only the border. It would take the horse another half day to reach the capital. That place would be far more lively.” Ye Chen smiled.

“Oh? This isn’t the capital?” Little Wingsy widened his eyes. To him, this was considered happening enough.

Interesting toys were displayed along the streets. Valuable goods were sold there too. One could find anything there, some that even Ye Chen had never seen in his entire life. There were also stalls that sold herbs on the other side. Ye Chen’s Astral Body showed they were common herbs and most of them were not aged. A few herbs were greater in quality but they were still worthless to him. These herbs were for household uses only and were insufficient for alchemy.

Maybe Ye Chen would find something useful here.

Ye Chen’s Astral Body scanned a pharmacy that sold an item that caught his eye. He turned back to speak, “Little Tanuki, Little Wingsy, let’s head over to that pharmacy.”

Walking along the passage before them, they came across a rather grand-looking shop, with a flag that swayed beautifully along with the winds. The four words “Hao Pharmacy of the Hao Clan” were written on it.

Hao Clan? As in the Hao Clan from Xijing?

Ye Chen recalled his father and grandpa saying that the Hao Clan of Xijing were the second largest clan following the Xiwu Royal Family. The clan was famous for cultivating many talents and to date, had many Tenth Level combatants. They also had a few mid-ranking apothecaries, one of them who happened to be Master Apothecary Xuanyi’s disciple.

Ye Chen was here for herbs however, not to learn about the clan’s history. He had thirty million Chi-amassing Pills and fifty million Chi Deposition Pills stored in his armguard. Who else would ever do that? All of the county king’s possession was only enough to purchase ten million Chi-amassing Pills. The pills that Ye Chen possessed were far more than the possession of ten county kings combined, enough to buy the entire Hao Clan! The money he carried was the money the Ye Clan made from selling Lingzhi mushrooms. In the near future, they would surely prosper even more!

As long Ye Chen came across any good herbs, he would buy them and store them in the armguard. Perhaps someday, the herbs would prove useful to a situation, one can never tell. So, he decided to check out Hao Pharmacy to see if he might find himself a good grab.

Ye Chen strode into the pharmacy with a middle-aged man manning the counter. The built man looked to be in his forties. One look at him and Ye Chen could tell he cultivated too. He was at least Eighth level. The man was sipping tea at the counter while ten of his men got down to work.

At the Hao Clan, members who typically lacked education were sent to man the clan’s business affairs. To see an Eighth Level combatant stationed at a store was proof of how meticulous the Hao Clan was when it came to segregating members of different ranks.

People come and go into the pharmacy. Most were here to purchase herbs, with common herbs being the most bought commodity. The most prized herbs were hidden away in a metal cabinet behind the counter. One scan of Ye Chen’s Astral Body and he could tell it contained lots of goodies.

The metal cabinet looked sturdy and there was a huge lock in its place. It was obvious that the Hao Pharmacy knew the value of their prized herbs!

The Hao Clan bought and sold herbs throughout the Xiwu Empire. They would collect countless herbs annually, some of them rarer ones. The ones that they had no use of, they placed it up in the pharmacy to be sold. Most of the Xiwu Empire’s apothecaries were regulars in the pharmacy.

Ten customers were in the shop yet none of them purchased any of those prized herbs.

Coming across a customer who would have a taste for prized herbs was a rarity for a large store like the Hao Pharmacy. Yet when one showed up, the revenue that they would earn was sure to be greater than months of regular herbs’ worth of sales combined!

Ye Chen set his sights on the cabinet with prized herbs. The man manning the counter got excited. He had seen people from all walks of life and he could tell Ye Chen was a cultivator from a martial arts clan with just one look. He had a tanuki with him who looked like a Second or Third Level mystical beast to him. The amount that disciples like Ye Chen would willingly splurge on medicines and herbs were ten or hundred-fold compared to the regular customer.

“Can I help you, sir? Are you looking to pawn some medicines or herbs?” The man got up from behind the counters and greeted him courteously. “Old Man Hao Xu from the third generation of Hao Clan from Xijing.” As he spoke, he attempted to gauge Ye Chen’s worth and his background.

“I can pawn my herbs and medicines here?” Ye Chen asked curiously. He did not expect the pharmacy to provide such services.

“Yes. The Hao Pharmacy collects an assortment of rare and prize herbs and medicines and we provide reasonable prices.” Hao Xu twitched his brows. How could Ye Chen not know that? Perhaps he was a runt from a rural village.

Most large businesses or deals were handled by Hao Xu. The smaller ones were dealt with by the workers of the shop. Then again, since he had approached Ye Chen, he dared not walk away.

“What do you need? Are you looking to buy or sell?” Hao Xu asked calmly.