People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 142, An Invitation from Changping-kun Leads to Acquaintance

Outside Xinzheng City, there is the Qianlong Hall.

Xu Qing stepped down from the carriage, and Situ Wanli, who had been waiting at the door for a long time, immediately came to greet him.

"Imperial Physician, you've finally arrived," Situ Wanli greeted with a smile.

"Master Situ, you've kept me waiting," Xu Qing replied with a smile.

“It’s only right to wait a long time for such an honored guest. Let’s go inside and have a chat,” Situ Wanli said softly as he walked to Xu Qing’s side.

"This Qianlong Hall Treasure Exchange Conference is the highest-level one yet, with numerous treasures inside."

"Oh? The highest level?" Xu Qing looked at Situ Wanli in surprise.

“Of course, but I cannot disclose the other party’s identity to you in advance. This is the rule of our Qianlong Hall,” Situ Wanli said with a smile.

His relationship with Xu Qing grew closer due to their collaboration, but there were still some rules he couldn't break, especially when it came to such confidential matters involving identities.

"Then I'll be really looking forward to it."

Xu Qing wasn't angry about Situ Wanli's secrecy; the more the other party adhered to the rules of confidentiality, the safer his transaction with them would be.

The two chatted and laughed as they arrived at the reception pavilion. Situ Wanli led Xu Qing directly into room number two of the tiered suite.

On the table in the room were some pastries and snacks, as well as a pot of fine wine.

After Xu Qing took his seat, Situ Wanli brought three boxes to Xu Qing.

"Imperial Physician, these are the medicinal herbs and medical books that Qianlong Hall has collected over the past month. Please take a look," Situ Wanli said.

"Thank you for your trouble, Hall Master Situ." Xu Qing opened the three boxes one by one, revealing their contents.

The first box contained a vermilion fruit, which appeared to be only about fifty years old. The second box contained a rhinoceros horn as thick as an arm, also a rare and top-grade medicinal treasure.

As for the last box, it contained a bamboo scroll with the four large characters "Essential Techniques of Elixir" written on it.

"The art of elixirs? This bamboo scroll is a book on alchemy?" Xu Qing looked surprised.

Alchemy is different from medicine prescriptions. Ordinary doctors can summarize medicine prescriptions themselves, but alchemy is passed down from generation to generation without exception, and its rarity far exceeds that of ordinary medicine prescriptions.

"That's right, this is indeed a book on alchemy, but it doesn't contain a complete guide to alchemy. Instead, it describes the methods for making several unique pills."

"Seven days ago, a Taoist priest from the Yan Kingdom wanted to exchange a jade disc from the Hidden Dragon Hall. Because the jade disc was extremely valuable, and what the other party brought was not of equal value, he offered this scroll of alchemical text in exchange."

Situ Wanli stroked his goatee, a confident look on his face.

When he made the deal with the alchemist, he was certain that Xu Qing would like this scroll of alchemical text, which is why he exchanged it for him.

"Thank you, Hall Master Situ. I really like these items. Thank you."

Xu Qing closed the three boxes again; both the medicinal herbs and the alchemical texts were very much to his liking.

As he spoke, Xu Qing took out two tokens from his pocket and placed them in front of Situ Wanli, who immediately showed a look of joy.

"Thank you, Hall Master Situ, for your trouble in finding the medicinal herbs for me. These two tokens are my personal token of gratitude," Xu Qing said with a smile.

"Then I'll shamelessly accept them." Situ Wanli didn't stand on ceremony and put away the two tokens.

These two tokens may look unremarkable, they are just ordinary bronze castings.

But these are treasures that countless martial arts practitioners covet, simply because these two tokens can be used to ask Xu Qing to heal and save lives at crucial moments.

After Xu Qing and Qianlong Hall cooperated, in order to make it easier to gather favors, he came up with the idea of ​​the rescue order token.

At each Yi Bao Conference, he would give Qianlong Hall a token, allowing them to use it for the Yi Bao exchange.

The person holding the token can come to him for help if they are sick or injured.

Three tokens have already been sent out, and those who received them are either high-ranking officials from the seven kingdoms or powerful figures in the martial arts world.

There was a sudden knock on the door. Situ Wanli nodded slightly to Xu Qing, then got up and left the room. After the disciples of the Hidden Dragon Hall whispered a few words in Situ Wanli's ear, Situ Wanli looked surprised.

After nodding to his disciple, Situ Wanli returned to his room.

Xu Qing turned to look at Situ Wanli, and seeing the other's anxious expression, asked...

"Has something happened to Hall Master Situ?"

"No, it's nothing, it's just..." Situ Wanli said after hesitating several times.

"It's just that someone wants to meet the Imperial Physician and make your acquaintance."

"Huh? Now?" Xu Qing looked at Situ Wanli with a puzzled expression.

Besides trading in goods, Qianlongtang's biggest business is matchmaking, helping people from all walks of life get to know each other.

However, according to the procedure, the parties should only get to know each other after the YiBao conference concludes.

Now that the other party dared to break the rules of the Hidden Dragon Hall, and Situ Wanli not only did not refuse but also took the initiative to communicate with him, he was very surprised.

"That's right, the other party is also a distinguished guest of this Treasure Exchange Conference, but had to leave early due to unforeseen circumstances. He came to Qianlong Hall this time to obtain a token of your rescue order."

"Therefore, I am making this request in advance so that I can get to know you beforehand."

Situ Wanli looked at Xu Qing with trepidation. This did indeed violate the rules of the Hidden Dragon Hall, but the other party's identity forced him to do so.

Xu Qing also noticed Situ Wanli's hesitation and unease, and after thinking for a moment, asked...
"Who is the other party?"

"It is Xiong Qi, a senior official of the Qin state. It is said that he will soon become the Right Chancellor of Qin," Situ Wanli said.

The head of the civil officials in the Qin state was the Chancellor, and under the Chancellor were the Left and Right Chancellors as his deputies.

The Left and Right Chancellors were the highest-ranking officials in the Qin court, besides the Chancellor, the Grand Censor, and the Grand Commandant.

"Xiong Qi!?"

Xu Qing's pupils dilated; he hadn't expected that the person he was going to meet would be this Lord Changping.

Xu Qing was very familiar with the name of Lord Changping, Xiong Qi. Not only did he launch a rebellion when Li Xin attacked Chu, causing the Qin army of 200,000 to suffer a crushing defeat.

Moreover, he later successfully replaced his younger brother Xiong Fuchu and became the new King of Chu.

In the original story, this Lord Changping was exceptionally intelligent, powerful, and accomplished, eventually rising to the position of Right Chancellor.

At the same time, he secretly maintained close ties with various Jianghu forces such as the Farmer's School, the Mohist School, and the Quicksand, and was one of the initial planners and promoters of the Azure Dragon Plan.

He appeared to be a trusted minister of King Ying Zheng of Qin, but in reality, he had been secretly cultivating anti-Qin forces.

Prince Ji Dan of Yan, the leader of the peasant chivalrous family Tian Guang, and many others—he had people all over the country, from the imperial court to the martial arts world.

Xu Qing immediately wanted to avoid getting too involved with this dangerous person.

Although he wasn't sure why the other person had contacted him, he was certain it wasn't anything good.

"It seems the Imperial Physician has also heard of this Grand Physician's name. If you're willing, brother, I would like to ask you to help me see this Grand Physician," Situ Wanli pleaded helplessly.

If the other party hadn't possessed a letter from their peasant hero Tian Guang, he would never have pleaded with Xu Qing so desperately for their sake.

Although he perfectly completed the task assigned to him by Tian Guang, he revitalized the Qianlong Hall by leveraging Xu Qing's reputation.

However, the Tian family of the peasant clan still had their eyes on the Hidden Dragon Hall. If they wanted to rise from deputy hall master to hall master, they would need the support of Tian Guang, the chivalrous leader.

Therefore, he could not refuse Xiong Qi's request and could only ask Xu Qing for help.

Xu Qing looked at Situ Wanli and was about to speak when the ball of light in his mind lit up again, and two fortune slips flew out from it.

(End of this chapter)