Chapter 38 (2/2)
He was a doctor, not a Druggist; he could prescribe medicine but he couldn’t refine it.
Shen Zhe thanked him again.
Zhao Chen asked a clerk to fetch the herbs after receiving the prescription. The clerk quickly returned with a tremendous amount of herbs and said, “Young master, we’ve found 71 of the 74 herbs listed on the prescription, but the last three were nowhere to be found…”
“Which three?” asked Zhao Chen.
“Blood of the Blue Fox, Gold and Silver Tobacco and Bark of Penghe!”
The clerk who fetched the herbs explained, “The Blood of the Blue Fox is retrieved from Blue Foxes, which are beasts that only appear late at night. Their blood can dissolve the lightning’s aggression since they absorb the coldness of the moon.”
“The Gold and Silver Tobacco is also a rare herb. It will have two blossoms when it’s mature; one gold and the other silver. The two blossoms will kiss each other and yield fragrance at sunset. As for the Bark of Penghe, it’s the skin of the Penghe Wood. We do not sell it, but it’s available in the mall!”
“Where?” Zhao Chen’s eyes glittered. “Go and buy it no matter the cost!”
“Well… I’m afraid I can’t do it!” The clerk smiled bitterly. “It’s in the Empyrean One Pavilion!”
“The Empyrean One Pavilion? The royal store where herbs are not sold but offered if you answer their questions correctly?”
Zhao Chen was stunned.
“Yes!” The clerk nodded.
Zhao Chen was at a loss for words.
Shen Zhe looked at him and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”
“You don’t know the Empyrean One Pavilion because you’ve never been to the Gold Source Mall before! It’s a store established by the royal family and they have many rare treasures. They’re not for sale though; you can get them for free if you can answer the difficult questions you’re asked!” explained Zhao Chen.
“If I can answer difficult questions?”
“That’s right. I’m told that the young princess herself was the one who came up with the questions. Many people have tried to solve them ever since the Empyrean One Pavilion was founded five years ago. In fact, some questions were worked out, but the remaining ones became harder and harder to solve. Even the real geniuses in our school would be unable to answer them…” said Zhao Chen.
They certainly couldn’t answer questions that geniuses couldn’t.
“The young princess?”
“It’s said that the young princess is both smart and beautiful. She completed the courses for the fifth grade when she was three, and she answered all the questions and conundrums for the illumination of the Seven Stars when she was nine. She’s as good as any genius in our school!”
“No questions in the Abyssal Ocean Kingdom were hard enough for her by the time she was twelve, which was five years ago. Even His Majesty, a level-three Mage, admitted that he couldn’t compare to her. She was so bored that she came up with these questions, hoping that someone could work them out. However, it’s been five years and many are still unanswered!” said Zhao Chen with mixed feelings.
Shen Zhe clicked his tongue.
He couldn’t understand first grade questions and had seriously considered studying in a kindergarten. And yet, the princess had answered all of them when she was nine. It was unbelievable!
“While fate has favored her in that regard, she is less lucky in other aspects… Her physical condition is poor; even though she can answer all the questions, her body prevents her from really illuminating the stars or practicing body-polishing arts. I was also told that her longevity is limited as well!”
Shaking his head, Zhao Chen concluded, “Forget it. It’s a secret of the royal family not to be discussed by us… Anyways, the questions of the Empyrean One Pavilion are too hard for anyone! Nobody dares to steal things from that place, either. The Bark of Penghe is as good as being nonexistent if it’s there!”
Shen Zhe understood everything.
Who would dare to steal the royal family’s possessions?
If the questions were too hard to be answered, it would be as if the treasure didn’t exist at all.
However…
Just because other people couldn’t answer the questions didn’t mean Shen Zhe couldn’t!
Would he get the answers straight off by using the equal sign on the second page of the notebook?
Shen Zhe’s eyes glowed; he couldn’t help but clench his fists.
However…
He really shouldn’t show off anymore. He had to lay low if he didn’t want to catch unnecessary attention and be killed.
Considering for a moment, Shen Zhe asked for the location of the Empyrean One Pavilion and then said with a smile, “Would you please deliver the herbs to my dormitory? I’ll do some shopping in the mall since we’re free today!”
“I’m free right now, we can shop together…” said Zhao Chen.
“You’d better treat your wounds first!” Shen Zhe replied and shook his head, “Otherwise, your opponents in the contest won’t even bear to attack you if you’re as wretched as this.”
“Well…”
Lowering his head, Zhao Chen smiled in embarrassment. “Alright. Take care of yourself.”
He indeed had to soak himself in herb liquid to boost his recovery, but he suddenly stopped when he was walking away. Deep in thought, he asked, “Right… Do you think I’ll recover faster if I eat more dog meat?”
“…” Shen Zhe was at a loss for words.