Time drifted by, and two months passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, Lu Changsheng remained by Old Wen's side as usual.
Suddenly, Old Wen let out a long sigh and looked at Lu Changsheng with gratification. "Changsheng, truth be told, you're ready to complete your apprenticeship."
"Complete my apprenticeship?"
Lu Changsheng was slightly surprised.
He had only been studying under Old Wen for a few months, and he was already ready to graduate?
Following Old Wen, Lu Changsheng had learned a great deal, especially regarding the identification of medicinal herbs and understanding their medicinal properties.
All of this came from Old Wen's lifelong experience—knowledge that money could not buy.
Many herbs were not even recorded in the Classic of Herbs, yet Old Wen knew them like the back of his hand.
Nor did Old Wen jealously hoard his knowledge; he had imparted almost everything without reservation.
"Indeed. I've taught you everything I ought to teach; there's nothing more left for me to guide you on."
"You can now become a true apothecary."
"I'll report this to Miaoshou Garden. When the time comes, someone will naturally discuss your indenture contract and compensation with you."
Old Wen's face was filled with satisfaction.
He had seen geniuses before, but never one so gifted.
In a mere few months, he had advanced from an apothecary apprentice to a genuine apothecary.
"Thank you, Old Wen."
Lu Changsheng bowed to Old Wen.
He knew that with Old Wen's standing, once he reported upward, the matter was essentially settled.
Sure enough, by afternoon, a supervisor from Miaoshou Garden came looking for Lu Changsheng.
This supervisor was surnamed Zheng, a kinsman of the Zheng clan who belonged to Miaoshou Garden's upper echelon.
Supervisor Zheng beamed at Lu Changsheng, produced an indenture contract alongside an employment agreement, and said with a smile, "Lu Changsheng, you've been at Miaoshou Garden for exactly one year and one month."
"According to your indenture contract, there's still one year and eleven months remaining."
"However, Old Wen reported that you're qualified to become an apothecary. Miaoshou Garden has rules: once you become an apothecary or a physician, you transition to an employment contract."
"Take a look at the employment contract first. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask."
Lu Changsheng read through the employment contract carefully and nodded inwardly.
He had already looked into the circumstances of apothecaries in Miaoshou Garden beforehand.
An apothecary's monthly stipend was two taels of silver. During major festivals, Miaoshou Garden would also bestow various bonuses.
Furthermore, after serving Miaoshou Garden for over thirty years, one could appoint a descendant to directly become an apothecary apprentice without having to start as a chore apprentice.
All in all, Miaoshou Garden's benefits and pay were definitively the best in Nanyang City, bar none.
Lu Changsheng had no thoughts of leaving Miaoshou Garden anyway, so he nodded and said, "Everything looks fine."
"Very well. Please sign your name and affix your thumbprint."
Lu Changsheng signed and affixed his thumbprint, while Supervisor Zheng handed over the indenture contract directly. Lu Changsheng took a glance and burned it right there.
With Lu Changsheng's current strength, he did not actually need to care about an indenture contract. Still, being able to openly shed his servant status naturally made him very pleased.
From now on, in an official capacity, Lu Changsheng was an apothecary, no longer a servant.
Supervisor Zheng left with a smile.
Apothecaries were assigned dedicated courtyards. After packing up his few belongings, Lu Changsheng moved into his new courtyard.
The courtyard was quite nice. While not luxurious, its quiet seclusion meant no one would disturb him.
"An apothecary..."
Lu Changsheng pondered for a moment, then took out the Eight Treasures Blood-Replenishing Powder and tasted a pinch.
Then, he closed his eyes.
"Inside this, there's Chinese angelica, ginseng, deer antler..."
Lu Changsheng named the precious medicinal ingredients within the Eight Treasures Blood-Replenishing Powder one by one, particularly the eight core ingredients.
As an apothecary, identifying which herbs went into a medicinal concoction was simple enough. However, compounding it himself was another matter entirely.
After all, the most critical aspect of compounding medicinal cuisine was the ratio.
The proportions between ingredients had been worked out by generations of physicians through immense effort and painstaking trial and error.
Moreover, medicinal cuisine targeted the human body; it required a physician's dialectical diagnostic thinking to understand physiology and thus formulate the preparations effectively.
Lu Changsheng had always wanted to concoct his own medicinal cuisine. First, buying it was far too expensive, and second, the effects of the Eight Treasures Blood-Replenishing Powder were growing weaker and weaker; he hoped to concoct something even more potent.
Yet without understanding medical principles and holistic diagnosis, preparing proper medicinal cuisine was impossible.
"It seems merely being an apothecary isn't enough. I must become a physician."
"However, for an apothecary to become a physician, one must apprentice under a physician."
"I have no family or connections in Miaoshou Garden, nor do I know whose medical skills are the most profound. Furthermore, even if a physician possesses superior skills, they might not be willing to take me on as an apprentice."
Lu Changsheng reflected that becoming a physician held only benefits and no downsides. Even in martial arts, one needed a sufficiently deep understanding of the human body. Since ancient times, medicine and martial arts had always been intertwined, and for good reason.
Thus, Lu Changsheng grew even more determined to become a physician.
At Miaoshou Garden, the only person of notable standing Lu Changsheng knew was Old Wen.
With that thought in mind, Lu Changsheng stood up and went straight to see Old Wen.
"Old Wen, I've officially become an apothecary."
"However, I wish to become a physician. Might you have any recommendations?" Lu Changsheng asked directly.
Old Wen looked up. Far from being surprised, his face was filled with pleased approval.
"Good. I didn't misjudge you. With your talent, it would be a pity not to practice medicine."
"Miaoshou Garden has many physicians, but those worthy of being called renowned doctors can be counted on one hand."
"Among them, Physician Wu Jing is a true master of medicine. Forget Nanyang City—even across the entire world, he would be regarded as a master physician."
"If you can study under Physician Wu Jing, your future will surely be limitless," Old Wen said.
"Physician Wu Jing?"
Lu Changsheng pondered.
He had heard of Physician Wu Jing; he was indeed an eminent physician. Yet he was rumored to have an eccentric temper, and Lu Changsheng had never heard of him having any outstanding disciples.
A physician having profound medical skills did not necessarily mean they could teach.
Yet Lu Changsheng wasn't afraid. His comprehension was exceptionally high; even if he merely stood by Wu Jing's side and observed, he would still be able to grasp most of it.
"Old Wen, I don't know Physician Wu Jing personally. I'm afraid..."
Old Wen waved his hand. "No matter. Physician Wu and I are close personal friends. I'll go put in a good word for you; it shouldn't be a problem."
"Go back and rest for now. Just await my word."
"Then I will trouble you, Old Wen!"
Lu Changsheng bowed deeply to Old Wen in formal gratitude.
He spoke no superfluous words, merely engraving Old Wen's kindness firmly in his heart to repay when the opportunity arose.
Having just become an apothecary, Lu Changsheng was entitled to a few days off.
With nothing else pressing, Lu Changsheng continuously circulated his qi and blood in the courtyard.
Over the past two months, as his comprehension increased, his understanding of the Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Technique had grown increasingly profound.
Though high comprehension could not replace the various medicinal dishes needed for the Strengthening Blood Realm, greater comprehension deepened his grasp of martial arts, making each circulation of qi and blood more efficient.
With enhanced efficiency, his cultivation speed naturally accelerated!
Consequently, during these two months, Lu Changsheng's Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Technique had progressed by leaps and bounds.
Once, twice, thrice...
Lu Changsheng immersed himself entirely in circulating his qi and blood.
He had no idea how much time had passed.
*Boom!*
Lu Changsheng felt a jolt run through his entire body as a scorching aura emanated from him.
Inside, it felt as though a ball of fierce flame were blazing.
Lu Changsheng could clearly sense the mass of qi and blood within him swelling frantically at a rate almost visible to the eye.
Furthermore, this surge of qi and blood was unlike previous ones; it rapidly spread throughout his entire body, as if poised to envelop every part of him in its surging rush.
At the same time, a line of small characters floated before Lu Changsheng's eyes:
"Six Heavens Blood-Strengthening Technique reaches perfection. Comprehension +6."
Chapter 15