Chapter 769: As solemn as him (2/2)

“There’s about seven to eight days left. If nothing like a epidemic happens, we should have enough medicine to last,” Gu Beiyue said.

“Pill King has already replied. He expresses that he’s still willing to help us,” Han Yunxi added.

“Esteemed wangfei, Pill King can only solve a temporary emergency, not the fundamental issues. You mustn’t promise him anything,” Gu Beiyue grew serious. “If we don’t have enough medicine in our stores, we can put bigger materials to smaller use. Pill Fiend Valley should have plenty of rare medicinal ingredients that we can use to challenge Medicine City and Medical City’s stance while buying the common people’s hearts.”

The majority of medicines used were ordinary ingredients, not rare, high-priced ones. But the rare medicines could also cure common illnesses, sometimes with instant results. The key point laid with whether Gu Qishao was willing to part with such expensive goods!

Gu Qishao put on a flashy smile. “As long as Poison lass needs them, don’t mention Pill Fiend Valley--I’ll even be happy to offer up my life.”

Although they were discussing serious matters, Gu Beiyue and Gu Qishao managed to relax the atmosphere. Han Yunxi had no idea how much difficulties she’d be facing without those two. The issue of medicine was resolved along with the matter of physicians. She’d been keeping in contact with Mu Linger, who said that ten or so doctors would show up daily from thousands of miles away. They listened to Imperial Physician Huang’s arrangements and were sent to various prefectures in the south central regions and a few of Jiangnan’s pharmacies. This was Gu Beiyue’s big surprise for Han Yunxi; she never thought such a “homebody” who rarely socialized could have a wealth of connections to associates who were willing to help out.

Of course, Medical City had long threatened to take away practice privileges for any and all doctors remaining in South Ning’s commander-in-chief’s estate’s area. Medicine City followed along by banning all pharmacies from accepting prescriptions from these doctors. But South Ning’s current physicians and medicine stock had freed itself from both prohibitions to become self-sufficient.

In the long term, this path was a dead end, but for now it was effective. People with plots had already fanned the flames of internal strife to its limits. Thanks to the timely resupplying of all the pharmacies, the anger of the common people faded. After all, most of them only paid attention to what was in front of them. None of them would refuse medical treatment and protest in front of the commander-in-chief’s estate because of Medical City’s “righteous principles” or the Poison Sect’s “calamitous existence.”

“It’s about time to step forward,” Han Yunxi said seriously.

South Ning’s commander-in-chief’s estate had long declared their intentions to fight Medical City to the end, but she, as the person concerned, had yet to formally admit anything. If she stood out to acknowledge her status while South Ning was relatively stable, accuse Medical City of its heartless methods, and claim it was framing the Poison Sect, the commander-in-chief’s estate would be bolstered by her stance while the commoners would support her as well.

“I’ll step forward with you!” Gu Qishao had been waiting a long time for Han Yunxi’s words.

Gu Beiyue looked at them both while smiling like an older brother. “There’s no rush. It’s not time yet, and we still need to watch for the old fox at our backs.” He was the most careful of the lot. Either he made no moves at all, or one that ended in decisive victory. Right now, his concerns were whether they could make it to Medical City peacefully and join in the Apricot Woods Conference.

Han Yunxi and Gu Qishao both nodded their heads in agreement. The entire journey, Han Yunxi had trusted and increased her admiration of Gu Beiyue. Gu Qishao had started seeing him in a much more favorable light, too. Besides them, nobody else in the world knew they were headed for Medical City, much less the startling things they had planned! Everyone was waiting for a good show to break out in South Ning instead! In fact, most of them had staked that the commander-in-chief’s estate would fall apart within a month.

Ning Cheng was winning victory after victory on the western front and in excellent spirits because of it. His stature was tall and straight to begin with, but today he was dressed in a set of silvery-white battle robes that made him as impenetrable as a mountain wherever he stood.

“At least ten days more. Your lordship has to force Chu Tianyin to lay down his arms and surrender!” he laughed out loud, his tone lofty and aloof.

“In other words, we’ll be able to head south with our troops after ten days?” his deputy general exclaimed in delight.

“I heard that the Gu Beiyue doctor in South Ning’s commander-in-chief’s estate is quite capable. He helped Han Yunxi solicit quite a few doctors to help out,” Ning Cheng probed.

“Isn’t that so? With their current situation, they could probably last for another half of year,” the deputy general had no choice but to praise. “If not for those red coat cannons, we wouldn’t have finished our battles in half a year, either.”

Ning Cheng silently rejoiced in his heart. If he hadn’t been decisive, then they wouldn’t have seized this chance to score entry into South Ning soon. Of course, his true goal wasn’t war, but Han Yunxi. He didn’t want to be Medical City’s attack dog and capture her, but he needed the excuse to force South Ning to hand her over. Only with Han Yunxi in his hands could he seize the chance to ask Chu Qingge about the whereabouts of the Shadow Clan…

1. Phoenix Breath - note that this pill was originally called “Summon Wind Perch” in Chapter 765, but has since been corrected.