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

Chapter 143, Xu Qing: It's normal for a divine doctor to be ignorant of human relationships, right?

[A moderately auspicious sign. Accepting Xiong Qi's invitation will lead to acquaintance and friendship, and a third-grade opportunity. However, this is entangled in karma and concerns the future; choose carefully. Slightly auspicious.]

[Mid-lottery result: I declined Xiong Qi's invitation; nothing gained, nothing lost; a draw.]

Before Xu Qing could carefully examine the two fortune sticks, Situ Wanli spoke up again.

"Imperial Physician, consider it a favor I owe you. Go and see Xiong Qi."

"This Grand Physician Xiong Qi has a letter from Tian Guang, the leader of my Farmer's Clan. Whether you can continue to control the Hidden Dragon Hall in the future depends on whether you can use this person to build a good relationship with the leader."

Xu Qing looked at Situ Wanli, who was pleading with him. He still needed Situ Wanli to take control of the Qianlong Hall and help him collect medicinal herbs and prescriptions.

If Tian Guang were to transfer the other party due to their incompetence, the replacement might not be able to cooperate with him as sincerely as Situ Wanli.

It wouldn't hurt to go and meet Xiong Qi, just to give them face for the elixir they found this time.

“I can go and see this high-ranking official from Qin, but that’s all I can do,” Xu Qing said.

Upon hearing this, Situ Wanli's face lit up with joy, and he excitedly pushed open the door and said...
"Alright, your words from the Imperial Physician are enough. As long as I get to see him, I can consider this matter settled."

Xu Qing got up and, led by Situ Wanli, went up to the second floor and arrived at the door of room number B1. Situ Wanli nodded to Xu Qing and then went up to knock on the door.

Slightly hurried footsteps were heard, and the door was opened from the inside.

A mature and composed man dressed in a dark robe and wearing a jade crown appeared in Xu Qing's line of sight.

"Doctor, let me introduce you. This is the Imperial Physician, the Divine Physician Xu Qing."

"Imperial Physician, this is Xiong Qi, the Grand Physician of Qin who wishes to befriend you and the future Right Chancellor of Qin."

Situ Wanli stepped between the two and introduced Xu Qing and Xiong Qi to each other.

"I have long admired the Imperial Physician's reputation. He is indeed as handsome and dashing as the rumors say." Xiong Qi smiled and bowed to Xu Qing.

"I have often heard people mention a high-ranking official in the Qin state, a confidant of the King of Qin, who is exceptionally talented." Xu Qing returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

"Haha, you two are both outstanding individuals, the best of our time. It is my honor to meet you here in my Hidden Dragon Hall."

Situ Wanli diligently acted as a mediator, easing the tension between the two and bringing them closer.

"Master Situ, you flatter me. How could I possibly compare to a young talent like the Imperial Physician? I've been too busy talking. Imperial Physician, please come in for a chat."

Xiong Qi stepped aside and gestured for Xu Qing to enter.

Xu Qing gave Xiong Qi a deep look; the other party had treated him with very high regard in terms of both manners and demeanor.

The other party was a powerful minister of Qin, the future Right Chancellor, who lowered himself before him, a mere Imperial Physician of Han. It's no wonder that such a courteous and respectful attitude attracted so many followers.

However, this also made Xu Qing more cautious. What ordinary people see as being courteous and respectful to scholars, Xu Qing saw as something else entirely: unsolicited favors were either malicious or thieving.

"Thank you very much, Doctor."

Xu Qing bowed slightly and walked into the room, with Situ Wanli following closely behind.

Xiong Qi closed the door, walked to the table and invited the two to sit down, then poured them each a cup of tea.

"An urgent matter has arisen tonight, so I can only serve tea instead of wine. Please forgive my lack of hospitality, Imperial Physician. If there is an opportunity in the future, I would like to invite you to try the unique wine of my Qin Kingdom," Xiong Qi said with a smile.

"You're too kind, Doctor. I personally prefer tea to wine."

Xu Qing picked up the teacup, took a sip, and continued...

"Master Situ has already told me the purpose of your visit, but he doesn't know where the patient is or what the specific situation is."

Seeing Xu Qing's straightforwardness, Xiong Qi maintained his smile and placed the two boxes on the table in front of Xu Qing.

"The Imperial Physician is indeed a benevolent physician, but this is the Hidden Dragon Hall. We are borrowing Hall Master Situ's place, so we naturally cannot break the rules."

As Xiong Qi spoke, he opened the first box, and a peculiar fragrance immediately filled the room.

Xu Qing looked curiously at the item in the box. It was a palm-sized white block, and a fragrance emanated from it.

Situ Wanli looked at the fragrant, blocky object, pondered for a moment, and then said in surprise.
"Could this be the legendary ambergris? It is said that ambergris comes from the East Sea of ​​Qi. According to my family's records, fishermen from the East Sea saw a red dragon circling in the dark clouds, its saliva falling like golden threads into the waves."

"Therefore, some people said that this incense was formed from condensed ambergris, which had the effect of calming the mind and spirit, and that those who smelled it for a long time could prolong their lives."

"Because of its extreme scarcity, even royal families from various countries treasure it."

"And this white ambergris is even more exquisite, formed only through the tempering of the sun, moon, and tides, and a palm-sized one is extremely rare!"

Situ Wanli stared in shock at the ambergris, never expecting Xiong Qi to bring out such a rare treasure to befriend Xu Qing.

Listening to Situ Wanli's introduction, Xu Qing couldn't help but look at Xiong Qi with some surprise, not expecting that the other party would bring out such a treasure to befriend him.

He had naturally heard of ambergris, but this was the first time he had seen the real thing. He listened to Situ Wanli's account of its origin as just a story.

He knew that ambergris wasn't formed from the saliva of a red dragon, but rather from the secretions of a sperm whale. It didn't possess many medicinal properties; its value lay in its scarcity.

Ambergris is originally black, and only after being washed by seawater day and night can it gradually turn white.

Even a small amount of ambergris, about the size of a thumb, can fetch a fortune of tens of thousands of gold coins or more, and it's still highly sought after but rarely available.

The other party offering such a treasure in exchange for his token is practically giving it away for free.

"Such a gift is far too precious," Xu Qing declined.

Although the treasure was valuable, he remained true to himself and did not want to have too much involvement with Xiong Qi.

Xiong Qi saw Xu Qing decline but didn't say anything. Instead, he closed the box and opened the second box, which contained a rolled-up animal hide.

“I know perfectly well that such a mundane item wouldn’t catch the eye of the Imperial Physician. I’ve long heard that the Imperial Physician is fond of all sorts of classic medical books and prescriptions, so I specially prepared this second gift,” Xiong Qi said with a mysterious smile.
"Has the Imperial Physician ever heard of the witch doctor from the mountains of Sichuan and Chongqing?"

Although the ambergris gave Xu Qing a surprised feeling, it was nothing special. But the words "Shushan witch doctor" shocked him to the core.

"It is said that Mount Shu was once a place where immortals lived in seclusion. When Sichuan and Chongqing were struck by two disasters, wild beasts and plague, the immortals could not bear to see people suffer, so they went down the mountain to save them."

"After driving away the ferocious beasts and plagues, the immortal left behind methods for strengthening the body and medical books to prevent their return." "In order to commemorate the immortal, the people of Bashu established the Yu clan, taking the immortal's name as their clan name. The shamans are the Yu people who study the medical books left behind by the immortal."

Xu Qing slowly recounted the origins of the Bashu witch doctors, which he learned from Nian Duan during his studies there.

Nian Duan not only taught him medical skills, but also introduced him to many different schools of medicine, including the unaffiliated and court factions of physicians, as well as the Sichuan and Chongqing witch doctors and the Baiyue witch doctors.
"The Imperial Physician is indeed learned; the origins of the Bashu witch doctors are indeed as described."

"Back then, the Qin army, led by General Sima Cuo, conquered Ba and Shu, and obtained a large number of treasures from the royal palaces of the two kingdoms. This medical book records the core medical techniques of Ba and Shu witch doctors."

Xiong Qi looked at Xu Qing with a smile in his eyes. After learning from Tian Guang that Xu Qing liked books, he specially obtained this medical book from the Qin State Treasury as a gift for Xu Qing.

Xu Qing glanced at the medical book and then looked at Xiong Qi, who was determined to win. He sighed helplessly, knowing that Xiong Qi had him cornered.

He could refuse ambergris, but he couldn't refuse this medical book. The most prevalent practice among the witch doctors was Gu poison, a tradition even more ancient than that of the Baiyue people.

He promised the Tide Demoness that he would cure Bai Yifei's illness. There was no solution in the Baiyue royal family's collection of books, but the Bashu witch doctors, who also practiced Gu magic, might have a solution.

After all, the blood doctors of the Southern Frontier split off from the witch doctors of Bashu, and the Bat Blood Technique was originally a cultivation method created by the blood doctors.

Bai Yifei is also a vampire, so there might be some subtle connection between the two.

"These gifts from the Grand Doctor are too valuable; I cannot accept them," Xu Qing said, declining the offer once again.

Even though you want it, you have to maintain your image and decline the offer.

“Imperial Physician, please don’t worry about this. I prepared these gifts in exchange for one of your tokens, in exchange for a chance for you to make a move,” Xiong Qi said.

"May I ask what the patient's condition is?" Xu Qing asked.

"The Imperial Physician has misunderstood. There is no patient. But who can guarantee they will never be sick or injured? I like to plan ahead, so I would like to exchange one of your tokens for a rainy day."

Xiong Qi's smile deepened, as if he had everything under control.

"I only hope that you can come to my aid when necessary."

Xiong Qi felt he had Xu Qing completely under his control. By exchanging ambergris and a medical book for a token whose usage date was unknown, he was essentially giving away both items for free.

However, his purpose in coming to see Xu Qing was to befriend her. By giving her gifts and making her owe him a favor, he could gradually win her over in the future.

Unless Xu Qing throws away the reputation he has worked so hard to build, he will have to accept his fate.

"Is that all?" Xu Qing looked at Xiong Qi with a complicated expression.

He had assumed the other party would simply get to know him and offer a similar treasure in exchange.

Unexpectedly, the other party wanted him to owe a favor, which relieved him of a lot of burden and he didn't have to worry about being too involved with Xiong Qi if he accepted the gift.

“That’s right,” Xiong Qi nodded and said.

Some things can't be said outright, but he believed Xu Qing would understand his meaning, accept the gift, and thus owe him a favor.

“With Hall Master Situ as my witness, I will exchange these two treasures of yours.” Xu Qing readily took out a token and placed it on the table.

Xu Qing's quick agreement was certainly not because he intended to shirk his debt of gratitude, since it wouldn't benefit him if word got out.

However, Xiong Qi forgot his identity in the martial arts world. He was a divine doctor. Isn't it normal for a divine doctor to be ignorant of human relationships and have an eccentric personality?

Xiong Qi himself said he would exchange two treasures for his help in treating the illness, so he simply agreed. As for the interpersonal relationships behind it, what did that have to do with him?
His personality is eccentric. If you can't see it, you can't blame him. It's Xiong Qi's own lack of openness. What does it have to do with him?
Moreover, with Situ Wanli as a witness, he is in the right.

"Since neither party has any objection, then I will bear witness. Once the treasures are exchanged, they cannot be returned."

Situ Wanli pushed the two boxes and the token in front of both parties, signifying that the transaction was officially completed.

"That's the way it is."

Xu Qing and Xiong Qi looked at each other with smiles and put the things away.

After exchanging gifts, Xu Qing left Qianlong Hall under the escort of Situ Wanli.

He prepared one exchange token for each Yi Bao Conference, and after exchanging it with Xiong Qi, he naturally wouldn't participate in the Yi Bao Conference again.

"Hall Master Situ, please wait a moment," Xu Qing said, bowing to Situ Wanli.

"The Treasure Exchange Conference is about to begin, so I will not send the Imperial Physician's Order," Situ Wanli said, bowing.

Xu Qing boarded the carriage, and the driver drove it towards Xinzheng.

As Situ Wanli watched the carriage depart, he touched the two tokens in his pocket, his face filled with joy.

Before the Yi Bao Conference even started, he had already made a fortune. The two tokens that Xu Qing gave him were his personal items, not those of the Qianlong Hall.

The favors he gained by exchanging them were his own, not those of the Qianlong Hall or the Farmer's Family.

Although he didn't know the relationship between Xiong Qi and Tian Guang, the fact that the other party had Tian Guang's letters was enough to show that the two had a close relationship.

He successfully introduced Xiong Qi to Xu Qing, and Xiong Qi would naturally remember this favor. With this favor, he could continue to control the Hidden Dragon Hall with peace of mind.

Up in the attic, Xiong Qi stood by the window watching the carriage disappear into the night, his expression somewhat solemn.

He came to Qianlong Hall in person to win over Xu Qing because Xu Qing's influence in the Korean court was growing, and relying solely on Qianlong Hall to win him over was too slow, so he came in person.

The first step for Qin's eastward expansion was through Han, but the entire Han court was pro-Qin. They needed someone anti-Qin to stir up trouble in Han and delay Qin's eastward expansion.

He then chose Xu Qing as his candidate because Xu Qing's compassionate nature made him easy to persuade and control.

Although the outcome was as he had hoped, the process forced him to take it seriously.

"This should be our first meeting, so why is he so wary of me?" Xiong Qi said in a deep voice.

From the moment he first saw Xu Qing, he noticed a strange wariness and distance in the other's eyes. But he was certain that he and Xu Qing had no prior interaction, let alone that he had offended her.

"Perhaps the other party, being the Imperial Physician of Han, subconsciously feared and distanced himself from me, a high-ranking official of Qin. However, he did accept the gift, and with gradual efforts to win him over, it will be enough to lower his guard."

Xiong Qi closed the window again and walked outside. He had achieved his goal and naturally would not linger in the Hidden Dragon Hall any longer.

(End of this chapter)