9: Medicine Gang Pursuit

Inside the Hundred Herbs Hall, it was spacious and bright, filled with the fresh scent of various mixed medicinal ingredients.

The clerks wore matching blue short jackets, busy yet orderly.

A clerk saw Chen Linsheng enter. Although his clothes were simple, the clerk showed no contempt, merely stepping forward routinely to ask, “Customer, are you here to fill a prescription or sell medicinal ingredients?”

Chen Linsheng deliberately lowered his voice, making it sound hoarse: “I'm selling medicinal ingredients. I need to see your manager.”

The clerk glanced at him. Seeing his composed demeanor, unlike that of an ordinary villager, he nodded: “Please follow me to the back hall to wait. I will inform the manager.”

Chen Linsheng was led to an elegant small reception room in the back hall. The clerk offered a cup of clear tea and then withdrew.

He did not sit down. Instead, he stood by the window, seemingly admiring the courtyard scenery, but in reality, he was subtly observing the movements outside through the gaps in the window.

The Spiritual Plant in his arms felt almost warm, keeping his mind on high alert.

A moment later, footsteps sounded, and an old man walked in, dressed in brocade robes, with a lean face and eyes that were gentle yet shrewd.

His gaze swept over Chen Linsheng. He cupped his hands and smiled, “My surname is Zhou. I serve as the Second Manager of this Hundred Herbs Hall. May I ask what rare medicinal ingredients you are offering, customer?”

Chen Linsheng turned around. Without speaking, he slowly took out the leather pouch he kept close to his body, untied the string, removed the wooden box inside, placed it on the tea table between them, and gently pushed open the lid.

In an instant, the unique fragrance of the crimson blood fruit, accompanied by a faint, precious glow, permeated the air, making the entire small room seem several shades brighter.

Manager Zhou showed surprise on his face upon seeing this. He leaned down to carefully examine the crimson blood fruit in the box, even cautiously leaning in to smell it.

“This is a crimson blood fruit.”

Manager Zhou's tone was calm, likely because he had seen too many Spiritual Plants.

Perhaps, to him, such things were quite ordinary.

Seeing Manager Zhou's usual attitude, Chen Linsheng felt the weight lift from his heart.

The more ordinary the other party acted, the more reassured he felt. If Manager Zhou had shown greed, he would have immediately fled.

“However, the harvesting technique is extremely skillful, and the medicinal properties are preserved almost perfectly!”

Manager Zhou praised him admiringly, then looked up and asked, “Customer, this item is valuable. What price do you have in mind?”

Chen Linsheng, still using his hoarse voice, calmly said, “I have long heard of the Hundred Herbs Hall's golden reputation for fair pricing. Manager, you are the expert; please name your price.”

Manager Zhou pondered for a moment and held up two fingers: “Although this item is of superior quality, it is still a Low Grade Spirit Medicine. I am willing to offer twenty-five taels of silver! Within Qinghe County, absolutely no other establishment can match this price.”

Chen Linsheng felt settled.

Although he was unsure of the price of Spiritual Plants, this amount of money was enough to resolve his immediate crisis.

“That is acceptable. But I require cash, and furthermore, I hope this matter...”

Manager Zhou immediately understood and stated solemnly, “Rest assured, customer. Hundred Herbs Hall always conducts business with immediate payment upon delivery and keeps our guests' affairs confidential. No third party will ever know the details of this transaction.”

Chen Linsheng found this somewhat amusing.

He had figured it out these past few days: the Medicine Gang collected medicinal ingredients at suppressed prices, but didn't they eventually sell them to the various pharmacies in the county town?

Hundred Herbs Hall, as the largest establishment, was also the biggest beneficiary.

After all, if anything went wrong, the Medicine Gang would take responsibility.

It was just that the role Hundred Herbs Hall played was different from that of the Medicine Gang.

Manager Zhou closed the wooden box and immediately instructed a trusted clerk to fetch the silver.

Soon, a heavy cloth bag was brought in.

Manager Zhou counted it in front of him: two ten-tael silver ingots and five taels of loose silver, totaling twenty-five taels.

Chen Linsheng carefully checked the quality of the silver. After confirming it was correct, he carefully put the silver away, cupped his fist toward Manager Zhou, and said, “It was a pleasure doing business. I'll take my leave.”

“Safe travels, customer.”

Chen Linsheng had just left the Hundred Herbs Hall with the silver when he paused.

Someone... was watching him!

His internal alarm bells were ringing loudly, but he maintained a calm expression, naturally blending into the street crowd like an ordinary passerby.

His peripheral vision quickly scanned the area, and he immediately locked onto several suspicious individuals.

They were wearing ordinary clothes, but the faint 'Medicine' character wooden plaque hanging from their waist betrayed their identity.

“People from the Medicine Gang? Why are they staking out this place? Did someone inside the Hundred Herbs Hall tip them off?”

Several thoughts flashed through Chen Linsheng's mind in an instant.

“Alas...”

Chen Linsheng sighed internally.

He had originally thought his plan was flawless, but he had still underestimated others.

How did the Medicine Gang find that Herb Gatherer back then? They simply sent people to stand guard outside the major pharmacies.

And he, Chen Linsheng, didn't have money for decent clothes, so he had to walk into the Hundred Herbs Hall wearing rags.

That alone was enough to attract attention.

Moreover, people who entered the Hundred Herbs Hall were either filling prescriptions or selling medicine.

If it was to fill a prescription, it could be done in the main hall, yet he was led into a side room.

Anyone with a bit of sense would realize instantly: he was here to sell medicine, and it must be good medicine.

Having analyzed the cause and effect in a flash, Chen Linsheng rubbed his forehead and abandoned the idea of returning to the Hundred Herbs Hall for refuge.

The transaction was complete, and they had no reason to help him.

Furthermore, he hadn't planned on returning directly to the village; there was still an urgent matter he needed to take care of.

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Linsheng turned sharply and quickly darted into a narrow alleyway nearby.

“Follow him! Don't let him get away!”

Seeing this, those Medicine Gang members shouted lowly and immediately gave chase.

The alleyways were intricate and crisscrossed, with sewage flowing everywhere.

Chen Linsheng utilized his Climbing skill to the extreme. His steps were as nimble as a cat's, sometimes leaping using corners and clotheslines, and sometimes flipping directly onto low rooftops like a Spiritual Ape, weaving through the complex residential buildings.

The curses and chaotic footsteps from behind quickly became faint and distant.

“Is this wretch related to a loach? How did he vanish in the blink of an eye!”

A gang member cursed breathlessly.

“Get lost!”

A burly man with a steel saber strapped to his waist pushed through the crowd, his face gloomy as he scanned the alleyway, his eyes mixing greed and anger.

“Hmph, the monk may flee, but the temple remains! This Qinghe County is not a place where a Low Grade Herb Gatherer can run wild. Daring to defy our Medicine Gang's orders and privately sell medicinal ingredients must be severely punished to serve as a warning to others!”

He spoke assertively to his subordinates:

“Such a wretch is not qualified to use the South Gate. He must be planning to exit through the North Gate. The few of you, go immediately and guard the North Gate! Keep your eyes peeled! I guarantee he won't be able to fly away!”

“Yes, Boss!”

Several gang members answered and rushed toward the North Gate.

Meanwhile, Chen Linsheng, relying on his extraordinary agility, had already stopped deep within a quiet alley in another area.

He listened intently for a moment, confirming that the pursuers had been completely shaken off.

“My Disguise has been seen through. This outfit can't be used anymore.”

Chen Linsheng quickly took out the water bottle he carried, rapidly washed off his Disguise, and restored his original, handsome face.

Next, he took off the set of ragged clothes, pulled out his usual clean coarse cloth clothes from his satchel, changed into them, and placed the discarded clothes and the bamboo hat into the satchel.

In the blink of an eye, he transformed from a weather-beaten, down-on-his-luck Herb Gatherer back into that seemingly ordinary, handsome mountain village youth.

Having completed all this, he did not hesitate and quickly walked toward the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall.