30: Cause and effect are completely severed

"I know Elder Du hopes I can compile the book well and preserve the Medicine Field.

But I'm truly too tired. Brother Wu has more experience than me, and he'll definitely do a better job.

Especially Deacon Lu Xingwang's hard work, I don't think it should be buried.

I took the liberty to act, and I hope Elder Du won't be angry."

Jiang Hanwen smoothly relinquished his power, only stating the facts.

"Hmph!"

You're useless. Get lost, get lost, just looking at you annoys me." Du Qingfu waved his hand impatiently, shooing Jiang Hanwen away.

After several years, how could Jiang Hanwen not know if he was truly angry?

"Hehe, Elder Du, I wanted to ask, when will Old Shang return?"

"Why are you looking for him? Is your Father Jiang sick again!" Du Qingfu's sharp eyes swept over, a cold light like the tip of a spear.

It seemed sharp, but it was actually concern.

Jiang Hanwen's heart warmed:

"No, I want to learn some medical skills from Old Shang, to see if he's available. After all, my Father Jiang is getting old."

Du Qingfu hesitated to speak.

He was young now, and with the Medicine Field undergoing such a major change, it was the time to strive.

However, if he stopped him, it would be preventing him from fulfilling his filial duty, and he really couldn't bring himself to say it.

A surge of anger was pent up in his heart; he wanted to hit someone!

"Who's looking for this old man?" A clear voice rang out.

Jiang Hanwen looked in the direction of the voice. Shang Zian, dressed in white, holding a short flute, and possessing an ethereal Daoist demeanor, walked towards him.

"He wants to learn medicine from you." Du Qingfu looked indignant, not hiding the discomfort in his heart at all.

It was like his treasure had been tricked away by someone, yet he was willing, and Du Qingfu couldn't persuade him.

"Learning medicine is good. If I ever pass on, and you're about to breathe your last, he can mix you some arsenic, clean and swift." Shang Zian said with a smile.

"If you don't speak, no one will take you for a mute!" Du Qingfu rolled his eyes at him.

Jiang Hanwen smiled wryly, watching the two Elders bicker. At a time like this, he wished he had some melon seeds so he could enjoy their eloquent arguments.

Although Shang Zian had an ethereal Daoist demeanor, he was a chatterbox, always able to raise his voice even when in the wrong, and even more unyielding when in the right.

Du Qingfu seemed as steady as a mountain, but his heart was a powder keg, ready to explode at a touch.

When the two were together, there was hardly ever a moment of peace lasting more than ten breaths.

After a while, Shang Zian handed Jiang Hanwen three books, saying he would see him again in five days and told him to go home, memorize them, and then return.

Of the three books, two were about medicinal herbs and fruits, complete with pictures and an introduction to Spiritual Plants.

For Jiang Hanwen, this was like a university student learning addition and subtraction—a one-time pass.

The last book was a bit more difficult, discussing basic knowledge of pharmacology, Qi circulation, Yin and Yang, meridians, and Acupoints.

Relying on Elder Du's connections, Jiang Hanwen shamelessly found himself a teacher.

Before leaving, Wu Qinghe and Jiang Hanwen passed each other, one entering, one exiting.

Jiang Hanwen had an indescribably happy smile on his face as he strode out of the Council Hall.

With nothing to worry about, and with the matter of learning medicine as an excuse, Elder Du couldn't burden him with more responsibilities.

Next, he could spend more time Cultivating, practicing the Flying Locust Stone, accompanying his father, and enjoying a peaceful life.

Wu Qinghe turned his head and glanced. He had told his master about the task given to him, and his master's original words were:

He couldn't quite fathom Jiang Hanwen, but one thing was certain: never antagonize Jiang Hanwen!

Seeing him so happy today, a question mark appeared in his mind.

Jiang Hanwen, does he really detest the position everyone dreams of?

A month later, three major events occurred in the Medicine Field.

First, effective immediately, everyone was to study the newly compiled "Materia Medica." There would be an assessment one month later, and only those who passed could remain in the Medicine Field.

At the same time, the Medicine Field's scale did not decrease but increased, adding three hundred mu of land, and more people were to be recruited.

Second, a new assistant was appointed under Elder Du, Wu Qinghe, who would be responsible for approving and arranging specific matters in the Medicine Field.

Young Master Zhuang Bai, accompanied by his wife Su Xin, returned to the Medicine Field to serve as a deacon.

Third, the old deacon Lu Xingwang passed away peacefully and was buried in the northern part of the Medicine Field, at the foot of the mountain.

Outside the Council Hall, two new courtyards were built; these belonged to Du Qingfu.

The original Council Hall was now Wu Qinghe's office.

Mount Nanming had towering, straight peaks, almost vertically piercing the clouds, with a nearly 90-degree slope, qualifying it as a natural barrier.

The three hundred mu of land at the foot of the mountain was the expanded area of the Zhuang family.

At the foot of the mountain, a neat small grave mound, enclosed by white stones, rested beside a lush paper mulberry tree.

In front of the grave was a small stone tablet, with the setting sun shining directly on the three large characters in the middle: Lu Xingwang, gleaming brightly.

To the left of the prominent name, a string of smaller characters read: Disciple Wu Qinghe.

To the right, in the same line as the prominent name, even smaller characters were carved: Colleague, Jiang Hanwen.

"I'd like to entrust you with the land behind the Council Hall." Wu Qinghe stood with Jiang Hanwen by the grave, his tone rising.

The land behind the Council Hall was initially managed by Elder Du, and later handed over to Su Xin.

This was the most fertile place in the entire Medicine Field, apart from Elder Du's own plot.

Entrusting it to him was somewhat a gesture of reciprocating a favor.

Jiang Hanwen shook his head, refusing. He took out a brand new Secret Manual from hisin my arms (huái lǐ - bosom/pocket): "I'm more nostalgic, thank you.

Everything Old Lu Xingwang gave me is in here. This is also the last thing I can do for him."

On the Secret Manual, there was also a Dragon head staff.

Wu Qinghe was stunned for a moment. This Dragon head staff was given to Jiang Hanwen by his master, hoping he would pledge loyalty in exchange for his "protection."

Now, he was just one step away from a high position, while Jiang Hanwen was still a low-level herbalist, not even a deacon.

Given the disparity in status, Wu Qinghe did not immediately refuse, but remained silent.

After a while, he opened his hand and accepted both, without refusal.

If he hadn't accepted the Dragon head staff, Jiang Hanwen would have found it difficult to forcefully decline, as this was a scheme Old Lu Xingwang had orchestrated with his life's effort and personally entrusted to him.

Fortunately, he took it. From then on, he and Wu Qinghe's lineage had no connection whatsoever; their Karma was completely severed.

Wu Qinghe held the Dragon head staff, his chest unconsciously puffing out.

Previously, because of his master, he always felt suppressed in front of Jiang Hanwen.

Now, the Dragon head staff was in his hands.

He was the deputy manager of the Medicine Field, while Jiang Hanwen was just a small herbalist; their statuses were incomparable.

As the two chatted idly, the sound of running footsteps approached from afar.

Looking in the direction of the sound, his Father Jiang Yong was out of breath and sweating profusely.

Jiang Hanwen rushed over first.

"Dad, what's wrong?"

"Nothing... nothing."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh ~ Jiang Yong supported his knees with both hands, panting heavily, his eyes intentionally or unintentionally glancing at Wu Qinghe.

"I have other matters, I'll be leaving first." Wu Qinghe blinked, understandingly departing.

He didn't know what he would miss for the sake of his triumph today.

Life isn't like driving on a highway where you can get back on track if you take the wrong exit.

Some things, once missed, are gone forever.

Time would prove everything.

After the person left, Jiang Yong frowned, worriedly saying:

"Xiao Bu Dian was injured, quickly save it."

Xiao Bu Dian was the name his old man gave to the Pangolin Beast that kept stealing Spiritual Plants everywhere.

"What happened?"

"I don't know. Just now it crawled in front of me, and I saw it was covered in blood, looking withered. When I reached out to touch it, its bones were broken.

Son, you can save it, right?" Jiang Yong looked at his son expectantly.

"Let's go!"

Daylight faded, and night quietly arrived.

In Jiang Hanwen's room, a half-meter-long little creature was completely wrapped in bandages.

A strong herbal scent was mixed with a faint smell of blood.

Jiang Yong gently stroked the Pangolin Beast's pointed and round little head, as if caressing a child.

While stroking, he comforted it:

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, it won't hurt in a moment."

That gentle posture reminded Jiang Hanwen of his own childhood, when his old man, alone, would comfort him in the same way when he woke up hungry.

Two tears rolled down Xiao Bu Dian's eyes, glistening as they slid over the black scales on its forehead.

Jiang Hanwen turned and walked into the Medicine Field.

As the tears fell, a multicolored divine light emanated from the little creature's scales. Unfortunately, Jiang Hanwen didn't see any of this.

Pangolin Beast, a mid-tier savage beast, comparable to a fifth or sixth-level Mortal Transformation, but it was naturally affinity with the earth, good at digging, and had nothing else noteworthy.

However, Pangolin Beasts do not possess a wondrous multicolored divine light.

"Here, little one." Jiang Hanwen pulled out a plump bloodline grass and offered it.

The little creature opened its eyes, first looking at Father Jiang. Seeing Father Jiang nod repeatedly, it whispered:

"Eat quickly, eat quickly, you'll be fine after you eat."

Given permission, it then opened its small mouth, revealing a pink tongue and fine, white porcelain-like teeth, munching diligently.