66: Chapter 66 Eight Treasures Stew, the Li Family

Although Jiang Hanzhou had a high Comprehension Ability thanks to his Tier 4 fate, "Late Bloomer," his current knowledge of medicine and medicinal cuisine far exceeded that of the pharmacists in Three Rivers Estuary.

However, improving this Earth Rank medicinal cuisine was still somewhat difficult for him.

But he had made a new discovery.

Jiang Hanzhou picked up one of the parchment scrolls, which was already filled with translations he had added using a brush.

Relying on his exceptionally high Comprehension Ability, he had almost mastered the book "Common Western Language," so he did not encounter any major obstacles when examining these parchment scrolls from the Silver Wing Family.

One of them, in particular, caught his attention.

This parchment scroll did not record a secret combat technique, but rather a potion recipe called "Evening Primrose Twin Brew."

Beside the recipe, detailed notes in ornate Western script explained its ingenious concept: by utilizing the Yin and Yang harmonizing properties of "Evening Primrose," supplemented by several auxiliary Materials with vastly different properties, and through a special process, two Materials with originally conflicting or even mutually exclusive medicinal properties could be perfectly combined. This would stimulate a nourishing effect that was far gentler and more lasting than a single medicinal formula.

"Neutralizing conflicting medicinal properties..."

Although he had not seen the so-called "Evening Primrose" of the West in Donghai Prefecture, the principle of "harmonizing and mutual assistance" contained in this recipe was like a flash of inspiration, cutting through the fog of his days of agonizing over how to improve the dragon tiger bone tempering soup.

"The dragon tiger bone tempering soup is primarily Yang-based and domineering, tempering the bones with fierce effects that are hard to sustain and place a significant burden on the internal organs. The eight treasures stew draws on the essence of eight types of marine Spirit Fish; its nature is relatively Yin, soft, and enduring, excellent for nourishing Qi and blood and moistening the Meridians, but it lacks the sharpness to break through barriers... The two are one rigid and one soft, one fierce and one gentle. They seem to be moving in opposite directions, but if one could find the key to neutralizing their conflicts and transforming them into mutual assistance, just like this 'Evening Primrose Twin Brew'..."

A bold idea for improvement gradually became clear in his mind.

This was not simply mixing the two medicinal cuisines, but rather borrowing the concepts of "harmonizing agents" and "transforming mediums" from Western potions. He needed to adjust the roles of the ingredients and reconstruct the entire brewing process so that the fierceness of the Dragon and Tiger would not cancel out the softness of the eight treasures. Instead, they would be layered and blended, combining rigidity and softness to achieve a more perfect, comprehensive tempering effect that was better suited to his current dao bone Foundation.

Jiang Hanzhou had pondered this many times on the ship back, and after gaining a high degree of confidence, he proceeded with today's practical application.

"Let's do it."

Jiang Hanzhou's gaze sharpened; he hesitated no longer.

He carefully put away the parchment scroll recording the "Evening Primrose Twin Brew" and then took out a greenish-black clay pot about half a person's height from his sumeru pouch.

The mouth of the pot was sealed with thick parchment soaked in medicinal oil and tied repeatedly with hemp rope.

This contained the "eight treasures" ingredients he had spent considerable effort catching, processing, and preliminarily marinating in the deep-sea region a few days ago.

Eight types of water-attribute Spirit Fish with different properties, all containing significant spiritual energy.

These Spirit Fish were not rare species, but gathering all eight and processing them while keeping them fresh had been quite a hassle.

Untying the rope and lifting the seal, a complex scent mixed with the smell of the sea, herbs, and a faint fermentation drifted out.

Inside the pot, the eight types of Spirit Fish meat, which had been finely processed, cut into large chunks, and marinated using specific techniques, were layered according to a certain pattern. Tucked between the fish meat were several mild medicinal herbs used to guide the medicinal properties and prevent spoilage.

After resting for these days, the essences of the different fish meats had quietly blended and permeated each other in the pot, forming a unified base.

Jiang Hanzhou moved the clay pot to a ventilated area of the kitchen, but did not use it immediately.

This eight treasures stew still needed the final step of a "medicinal primer" to be activated; the time was not yet right.

He turned around and began to process the Vicious Beast tiger meat, which was worth twenty thousand taels.

He deboned it, removed the tendons, took the most prime tenderloin and leg meat, pounded it until soft using a special technique, and then repeatedly soaked and massaged it in a secret medicinal broth prepared from over a dozen Yang-type herbs.

The tiger bones were carefully cracked to expose the marrow and, along with several other potent herbs, were put into a special soup cauldron made of deep-sea cold iron that had been prepared in advance. He poured in sweet, clear well water and simmered it over a low fire.

The process of making the dragon tiger bone tempering soup was complex and rigorous; every step was critical to the final efficacy.

Jiang Hanzhou was completely focused, his movements as skilled as flowing water, and his grasp of the heat, timing, and the order of adding ingredients was precise to the millimeter.

The following days slipped by in this regular and fulfilling rhythm.

By day, he was the benevolent and skilled Physician Jiang of Jishi Hall, seeing patients, prescribing formulas, and performing acupuncture and massage to treat the endless ailments of the neighbors.

From the acclimatization issues and pestilence brought by refugees fleeing from the north, to the panic and palpitations caused by rumors of Essence Spirits in the nearby sea, to the "affluent diseases" like Young Masters breaking their legs while fighting over jealousy... Jiang Hanzhou handled them all with ease. His medical skills seemed increasingly unfathomable, and his reputation spread quietly among the common people and some well-informed individuals.

At night, he closed his doors to guests and immersed himself in the great undertaking of improving his medicinal cuisine.

The brewing of the dragon tiger bone tempering soup had entered a critical stage. The color of the soup turned from murky to clear, and then to a faint amber-gold, as the essence of the tiger bones and the potency of the herbs were slowly extracted and fused under the low heat.

As for the pot of eight treasures stew, after he adjusted and added the final few "harmonizing medicinal herbs" based on the principles of the "Evening Primrose Twin Brew," its scent became mellow and contained, and the essence of the eight Spirit Fish achieved a delicate balance with the medicinal power.

Jiang Hanzhou waited patiently for the moment when both reached their optimal state to perform the final "combined refining."

In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.

That morning, Jiang Hanzhou rose early as usual, meditated for half an hour to regulate his breathing, then swept the courtyard and opened the doors of the medical hall.

In the faint morning light, two or three familiar old patients were already waiting quietly in the alley.

He smiled slightly and was about to greet the first one to come in, but a series of hurried footsteps, completely out of place in this poor alley, along with low shouts and the sounds of people moving aside, came from the entrance of the alley.

A group of about five or six people, surrounding a middle-aged man with ornate clothing and a reserved expression, walked straight toward Jishi Hall.

The middle-aged man in the lead was about forty, clean-shaven, with sharp eyes, wearing a silk long gown covered by a brocade vest, a jade pendant hanging from his waist, and a large jade ring on his finger.

The people following him, though dressed as servants, all had bright, sharp eyes and slightly bulging temples; they were clearly martial artists with steady Qi, at least experts of the Iron Bone Realm.

As soon as this group arrived, the poor patients who had been waiting in line in the alley immediately fell silent, subconsciously shrinking to the side to clear a path.

The luxuriously dressed middle-aged man walked to the entrance of the medical hall. His gaze swept over the simple, even somewhat shabby sign, and his brows furrowed imperceptibly, but he quickly smoothed them out and put on a slightly courteous smile.

He bowed to Jiang Hanzhou, who was organizing his medical records. His voice was not loud, but carried the habitual tone of someone who had long held a position of authority:

"You must be Physician Jiang, Jiang Hanzhou, right? I have long heard that Physician Jiang has superb medical skills and a benevolent heart, and enjoys quite a reputation in the neighborhood. I am Li Tao, the third steward of the Li Residence."

He paused, his gaze falling on Jiang Hanzhou's calm face, and continued:

"I have come presumptuously today because I have a request. A distinguished person in our residence has fallen ill, and the condition is quite strange. Several famous doctors in the city are at their wits' end. Hearing of Physician Jiang's miraculous hands, I have been ordered by my master to come and invite you. I sincerely hope Physician Jiang will move to the Li Residence to treat the distinguished person. The medical fee and reward will certainly not disappoint Physician Jiang."

The Li Residence? The Li Family, one of the three great noble families of Donghai Prefecture?

Upon hearing this, everyone in the alley gasped, and their gazes toward Jiang Hanzhou immediately became complex—filled with envy, worry, and awe.

Jiang Hanzhou's hand, which was wiping a silver needle, paused slightly. He raised his eyes to look at this third steward, Li, his gaze calm and unruffled. He was neither flattered nor panicked, just asking indifferently:

"May I ask what illness the distinguished person in your residence is suffering from? How is the condition? Could Steward Li please provide some details?"

Li Tao did not seem to expect the other party to be so calm and to ask about the condition before the reward. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but he immediately lowered his voice, his face showing a just-right expression of worry:

"The distinguished person's illness... is quite strange. They are sometimes cold and sometimes hot, their Divine Sense is sometimes murky and sometimes clear. There are no obvious external injuries on their body, but their Qi and blood are decaying day by day. For the specific situation, I ask that Physician Jiang move to the residence to examine them personally. As it concerns the safety of the distinguished person, it is really not convenient to speak in detail here."

Although his tone was polite, behind that "invite" lay a hint of something that could not be refused.