Medicines 1

"Oh! I almost forgot to inform you. I shall need to head out to the Medicine Shop, and pick up some herbs and stuff. I'll need them to deal with Yang Xiaochun's injuries. They are rather bad, so I shall probably need to concoct a pill for him. Or two."

He finally recalled that he was still a son to this woman seated in front of him, and that it would be better if he threw out some excuse at her, before taking his leave. This would allow him to head into his old alchemy workshop, and make use of the items there.

Not to mention the herbs that he was going to be taking away from the shop. All of that was going to cost the Huang Family a bit, he was sure.

But Yu Baixi merely laughed and told him to do what he wished.

"What are you asking me for? That is alchemy, and I have never interfered with it. But if you are worried that Shop Manager Ma may ask about it, you can say that you have my blessing. Mother is glad that you are putting your alchemy to good use. And for your family. See, it can be helpful sometimes, like your father said."

Well, it certainly was that! And her 'for your family' - wasn't she clearly acknowledging that Yang Xiaochun was his brother-in-law now? That made everything easier than he had expected too, if he had to be honest. Well, since Huangfu Yun had already mentioned it to her, and she had given her blessing, it was rather legitimate. So he had no qualms doing exactly that.

Fortunately, Huang Fuyun was enough of a wastrel that no one would make too much of a fuss of his taking away those medicinal herbs. Probably.

Of course, not all of the herbs were meant for dealing with Yang Xiaochun's injuries. But naturally, he was not about to tell anyone about that! Not that anyone would be able to tell the difference; alchemists were notorious for keeping quiet about their recipes, so it was unlikely that anyone would dare to ask!

Not to mention the fact that no one had even heard of the pill that he was intending to formulate. So there was hardly any danger at all, of information leaking out of the Huang Family Medicine Hall.

Unfortunately, he would have to take to the streets, and head over to the same Medicine Hall, if he wished to get his hands on the herbal materials that he needed. Except for some high-priced, and rare, ingredients, most of the alchemical ingredients were stored at the Medicine Hall. Which was a good half-a-mile* away.

A little far to trudge, given how fat Huang Fuyun was. But since Huangfu Yun had taken possession of the body, it seemed it was up to him to bring the body back down to a more reasonable size. And get rid of the extra weight! And extra fat!

Especially what was wrapped around his waist!

He would just need more exercise, and some control of his diet, to get rid of that. Huangfu Yun was not one who paid too much attention to matters like that. But he had been a rather slim in his previous life, and had always considered himself somewhat good-looking. While he wasn't one of those who looked terribly handsome, he was not the sort who would be laughed out of a place because of his looks.

However, it was certainly clear that he would have to put in a good bit of work, to bring himself back into such a state. This Huang Fuyun had clearly neglected his body and simply lazed about everyday for all of his seventeen years. Well, it now fell to Huangfu Yun to help him burn off all of the fat that he had gathered over all that time!

That was his reasoning, when he decided to leave the Huang Family estate on his own two feet, and take this 'short' walk to the Medicine Hall.

Although he soon came to regret his decision, once he was out on the street!

It was some time in late Autumn, so the weather was cool and there were moderately strong winds that swept through Tangling City daily. So much so that most of the streetside stalls that dealt in small, petty adornments and sweets had closed down already. After all, those sort of things generally appealed to young children. And what family would allow their children to step out onto the city streets in this chilly season?

Even those who had no choice but to make their way in the chilly Autumn wind had put on thick clothes that were just a shade thinner than the sort of heavy, fur-lined garments that were more suited for the Winter. In fact, there were even some who ignored all convention, and were already wearing the latter. Clearly, they were holding their comfort above any teasing that they would receive.

Huangfu Yun, on the other hand, was far better 'insulated' than any of them!

Beads of perspiration formed on his temples and dripped down the sides of his cheeks before he got halfway to his destination. That was no more than fifty, sixty steps, he protested in his head. Just how poor was Huang Fuyun's physical condition, to be unable to bear such a short walk? Did he take a carriage everywhere?

But his body now belonged to Huangfu Yun now, and that was a far more resilient soul. What was this but mere discomfort? He had suffered beatings and torture that was far worse!

And he knew that it would only do him good, if he could finish this little trek. Huangfu Yun wanted to get rid of the unsightly fat on his rotund body, didn't he? Well, it seemed that this objective was going to require a lot more work than he had first expected!

By the time that he reached the shop, his robes were already drenched. Had it only been sixty steps? Huangfu Yun could not really tell, but it felt like it had been six miles to him! And he was already leaning against the pillars that flanked the main door of the shop, panting away when he arrived.

It wouldn't be too much, would it, if he took some time to catch his breath?

"Hmmph! Useless bum!"

The words seemed to echo in his ears, and Huangfu Yun was certain that they were directed at him the moment that he heard them. For a moment, he was tempted to bring himself up to his full height and give the one who spoke them a scolding. But he was too tired, and could only sneak a look in the direction of the speaker.

Only to see an old man, about sixty to seventy years of age, if one took his white hair and beard into account. His back was straight and proud, for all that he was missing his left arm. And there was a sneer on his face that was clearly directed at Huangfu Yun. He didn't bother to hide that, for all that he was stepping out of the Huang Family's Medicine Hall.

And it was obvious, from the disdainful look in his eye, that he knew just who Huangfu Yun was. Or rather, who Huang Fuyun was.

Which was enough of an insult that the fires started to burn in Huangfu Yun's belly. To think that someone dared to come to his family's shop, and insult its Young Master on its doorstep? Just how large was his gall-bladder?

Just who was that arrogant fellow? He dug into Huang Fuyun's head at once, eager to find out just who that one-armed old fellow was. If he dared to make such an insult, in such a place, he couldn't be a complete stranger, could he? At least he would know how to react, if Huangfu Yun ever met the old bastard again!

Then he found it! Wasn't that Old Retired General Sima Yuanhou, the father of Sima Leibing and grandfather to Sima Qingqin! And the last was the young woman who had been promised to be his bride!

So this old fellow would already have been his grandfather-in-law, if the marriage had really gone through!

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*I'm using the old Chinese mile here, or li, which is approximately 500m.