12: Chapter 12 Third-Rank Pharmacist

The news of the fall of a Viscera Burning Realm expert was like a giant boulder thrown into the already restless Three Rivers Estuary, and the ripples quickly spread to every corner of the Water Dock.

In the days that followed, the atmosphere at Canglang Water Dock became noticeably tense.

The number of guards patrolling the docks doubled, their blades unsheathed, their eyes sharp as hawks.

Inspections at the dock gates became extremely strict; even the handymen from the Medicinal Cuisine Hall who went to collect medicinal materials daily were repeatedly questioned about their destinations and had their receipts checked.

The air was filled with a suffocating tension, like the calm before a storm.

This sense of tension naturally permeated into the Medicinal Cuisine Hall as well.

The apprentices, who were usually quite relaxed, now subconsciously lightened their footsteps and lowered their voices when speaking, terrified of provoking any Steward who might be in a bad mood.

Several apothecaries who usually focused on medicinal cuisine and rarely dealt with emergency trauma were frequently reassigned, either to accompany the guard fleets on voyages or to work shifts in the Medical Hall.

The Medicinal Cuisine Hall often appeared empty, with only a few young apprentices left to watch the furnace fires, dutifully brewing those basic decoctions for strengthening the foundation and nourishing the Qi.

Jiang Hanzhou silently observed all of this.

His desire to learn medicine was quietly born in this tense atmosphere and became increasingly clear.

Martial arts is a blade for self-defense, medicinal cuisine is the foundation for strengthening one's base, and medical skills—especially those for dealing with acute illnesses and trauma—are more like a "second life" that can save one at a critical moment in this crisis-ridden world.

He had witnessed the slaughter outside the black market, heard of the tragic casualties of the guard fleets, and was even more aware that in this world, injuries, poisoning, and even bizarre wounds caused by exotic beasts were daily occurrences.

Having an extra life-saving skill meant having more confidence to survive in this world.

However, as he had thought, the transmission of skills in this era was deeply sectarian.

Especially studies like medicine and pharmacy, which concerned life and contained vast amounts of experience and secret formulas, were firmly held by various families and were not passed on to anyone other than Personal Disciples.

For an apprentice like him in the Medicinal Cuisine Hall to want to cross over to learn the skills of the Medical Hall was nothing short of a pipe dream.

The arrogant official physicians in the Medical Hall would probably not even spare him a glance.

"It's difficult..." Jiang Hanzhou sighed inwardly, but his hands did not stop, carefully sorting the dried "Sanqi roots" according to their quality.

He had done this job countless times and was already skilled at it, so his thoughts drifted involuntarily toward the Medical Hall.

Perhaps he could take the Opportunity of delivering medicine to take a few more looks?

Even if it were just watching their wound-handling procedures from afar...

Just as his thoughts were turning, a slightly hurried yet steady sound of footsteps came from outside the hall.

Immediately after, a familiar figure appeared at the door; it was Pharmacist Qu Fengchun, the Steward of the Medicinal Cuisine Hall, who had been away with the fleet for several days.

Pharmacist Qu Fengchun's face carried a hint of exhaustion, with bloodshot eyes, but his spirit was still decent.

The hem of his gray cloth gown was stained with mud and water, clearly showing he had just returned to the Water Dock and had come straight to the Medicinal Cuisine Hall without even returning to his quarters.

His gaze swept across the slightly deserted hall and finally landed on Jiang Hanzhou, who was sorting medicinal materials, pausing for a moment.

"Jiang Hanzhou."

Pharmacist Qu Fengchun spoke, his voice slightly hoarse but clear and powerful.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hanzhou immediately put down his work, stood up, and bowed respectfully: "Steward Qu."

"Hmm." Pharmacist Qu Fengchun nodded and beckoned to him, "Come here."

Jiang Hanzhou was surprised, but it did not show on his face, and he walked over as instructed.

Other apprentices in the hall also stopped their movements, looking over with curiosity and a hint of envy.

Pharmacist Qu Fengchun led Jiang Hanzhou to a square table by the window and sat down. He sat down as well, rubbed his temples, and then asked:

"Has the hall been stable these past few days? Have the assigned portions of medicinal cuisine been prepared on time?"

"Reporting to the Steward, everything is as usual, and the portions have all been prepared."

Jiang Hanzhou answered concisely.

Pharmacist Qu Fengchun said "Hmm," as if it were just a casual question.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject: "Do you still frequently review the 'compendium of one hundred herbs' and the 'record of exotic beasts and spirit fish'?"

Jiang Hanzhou's heart stirred, and he respectfully replied: "I dare not neglect it; whenever I have a little leisure time, I recite them to myself."

"That's good, let me test you."

Pharmacist Qu Fengchun did not stand on ceremony and asked several questions about medicinal cuisine theory in succession.

These questions were deeper than the previous square assessment, more inclined toward practical application, and some even involved medical theory.

Jiang Hanzhou thought for a moment before answering each one. Not only were the answers accurate, but he could also extrapolate a little of his own understanding; although superficial, it showed he had truly put effort into pondering rather than rote memorization.

As Pharmacist Qu Fengchun listened, the exhaustion in his eyes was gradually replaced by a hint of imperceptible approval.

He picked up a cup of cold tea left by someone on the table, took a sip, and said slowly: "The Water Dock is currently in troubled times; the guard fleets are dispatched frequently, and casualties are inevitable. The Medical Hall is already short-handed, and recently it has been stretched even thinner. The few apothecaries accompanying the ships are also exhausted."

He looked at Jiang Hanzhou, his gaze becoming somewhat profound:

"I have observed that your Heart-Nature is steady, your memory and Comprehension Ability are both top-notch, and you have some talent in the way of medicinal materials and pharmacology. Now that the Dock is in need of people, the Dock Master has also explicitly stated that we need to cultivate more reliable people of our own... Are you willing to follow me to learn some more in-depth things? Not just medicinal cuisine, but also some basic medical theory and methods for handling trauma."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hanzhou suddenly raised his head, a flash of disbelief in his eyes.

He had just been sighing to himself about having no way to learn medicine, and in the blink of an eye, the Opportunity had fallen right in front of him in such a way!

The other apprentices in the hall widened their eyes at this moment, the envy on their faces almost turning into substance, mixed with thick jealousy.

Steward Qu was offering to teach him personally?

This was a tremendous Opportunity!

How many people broke their heads trying to get a word of guidance from Steward Qu and failed!

Jiang Hanzhou quickly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and without the slightest hesitation, he bowed solemnly: "This Disciple is willing! Thank you, Steward, for your cultivation!"

He knew that this was not just an Opportunity to learn, but also a rare protection and recognition in this turbulent situation.

"Good." A faint smile appeared on Pharmacist Qu Fengchun's face, as if he were very satisfied with Jiang Hanzhou's promptness, "Since that's the case, starting from tomorrow, after you finish your daily work, come to me. Given the special circumstances, there aren't so many empty rituals; how much you can learn depends on yourself."

"Yes!"

...

In the days that followed, Jiang Hanzhou's life rhythm accelerated again.

During the day, he still had to complete his daily work as an apprentice of the Medicinal Cuisine Hall: sorting, drying, cleaning, and watching the furnace fires.

But whenever he had free time, he would immediately go to Pharmacist Qu Fengchun's side.

Pharmacist Qu Fengchun's teaching, like his personality, was pragmatic and strict.

He had no systematic textbooks; it was more about combining the current needs of the Water Dock with his own decades of experience.

Jiang Hanzhou was like a dry sponge, greedily absorbing all knowledge.

The improvement in Aptitude and Comprehension Ability brought about by the promotion of the [Late Bloomer] fate to the third rank was vividly displayed at this moment.

Many complex and obscure medical theories and medicinal properties were often understood by him at a single point, allowing him to draw inferences about other cases.

When it came to practical operations, his steadiness and precision also made Pharmacist Qu Fengchun nod secretly.

However, the deeper he delved, the more Jiang Hanzhou felt the closed nature of medical inheritance in this era.

What Pharmacist Qu Fengchun taught were mostly time-tested general methods or some effective verified prescriptions he had explored himself, but deeper theories and certain acupuncture techniques and formulas regarded as secret legacies were still reserved.

But this had already benefited Jiang Hanzhou greatly.

Combining the hygiene knowledge and anatomical concepts he knew from his past life, his progress was so fast that even Pharmacist Qu Fengchun was often surprised.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

On this day, after Pharmacist Qu Fengchun watched Jiang Hanzhou skillfully complete the entire process of debridement, suturing, applying medicine, and bandaging on a pig leg model, he was silent for a moment.

He sighed softly, his tone complex, containing both gratification and a trace of emotion: "Alright, that will do."

Jiang Hanzhou stopped his movements and stood respectfully.

"This month, what you have learned far exceeds the work of an ordinary apprentice for several years." Pharmacist Qu Fengchun looked at Jiang Hanzhou and said slowly, "You have mastered the essence of trauma treatment, identification and preliminary response to common poisons, and the preparation of dozens of kinds of gold sore medicine and blood-activating and stasis-dissolving decoctions. What is even more rare is your steady heart and steady hands, not panicking when things happen. I have nothing basic left to teach you here."

Jiang Hanzhou's heart tightened, and he quickly said: "The grace of the Steward's teaching, this Disciple will never forget. What I have learned is but a drop in the bucket; I dare not be complacent."

Pharmacist Qu Fengchun waved his hand: "No need to be overly humble. I have seen your talent and hard work. The Water Dock is currently in need of people; since you have this ability, you should take on more responsibility."

He paused and said:

"I have already reported your situation. According to the rules of the Water Dock, those who understand basic medical theory, can independently prepare common medicinal agents, and handle general trauma, after passing the assessment, can be promoted to an Apothecary Apprentice... Hmm, although it is still an apprentice title, the treatment and authority are different. In two days, someone from above will come to assess you."

A rush of excitement surged in Jiang Hanzhou's heart.

Apothecary!

Even if it were just the lowest-ranked apothecary, it meant he had completely broken away from the slave class of "Fisherman," who had no freedom and whose life and death were in the hands of others.

He had become a formal "contract worker" of the Water Dock, with a monthly salary, more room for activity, and even a bit of status!

"Thank you, Steward, for your promotion!"

Jiang Hanzhou bowed deeply.

Two days later, the assessment took place in a side room of the Medicinal Cuisine Hall.

The examiner was an unfamiliar middle-aged Apothecary with a serious expression, said to have been sent by the Medical Hall.

Pharmacist Qu Fengchun accompanied him on the side.

The assessment content was very practical: identify twenty kinds of mixed medicinal materials and explain their main effects; prepare a portion of "Basic Qi and Blood Decoction" and a portion of "Standard Gold Sore Powder" on the spot; handle a simulated sword wound with dirt.

Jiang Hanzhou held his breath, concentrating fully.

The identification of medicinal materials was accurate and error-free, and the explanation was clear.

When preparing the decoction and powder, his technique was skilled, the dosage was precise, the heat control was just right, and the finished product was of high quality.

When handling the simulated wound, the debridement was thorough, the movements were fluid, and the bandaging was firm and standard.

The whole process was as smooth as flowing water, impeccable.

The middle-aged Apothecary checked the finished products Jiang Hanzhou had prepared and carefully examined the "wound" he had treated. The serious face finally showed a hint of relaxation, and he nodded to Pharmacist Qu Fengchun: "The foundation is solid, the technique is practiced, he is usable."

A smile appeared on Pharmacist Qu Fengchun's face.

Three days later, the official appointment came down.

Jiang Hanzhou was promoted to a Third-Rank Apothecary of the Medicinal Cuisine Hall, his monthly salary increased to three taels of silver, he was entitled to an independent dormitory, could freely enter and exit the Water Dock within a certain range with his token, and had the right to apply to consult some non-core classics of the Medicinal Cuisine Hall.

When Jiang Hanzhou received the ebony waist token that marked his new identity from the hands of Iron Hand Zhang, he felt a thousand emotions in his heart.

From a transmigrator who almost starved to death on the street, to a struggling Fisherman, and then to a Third-Rank Apothecary of the Medicinal Cuisine Hall...

Now, he could finally be considered to have truly gained a foothold in this world.