Tang Yu said, "It's possible that both cities have this characteristic. It seems our trip won't be so smooth."
Song Hao smiled and said, "I've weathered all the storms of the past, and I'm fearless now. Even if something unexpected happens to me, Tianyi Hall will still have you supporting it."
"Don't talk nonsense, you won't be in any accidents," Tang Yu said.
Song Hao said, "That strange black aura is making us confused. Let's rest for a few days before we leave."
Tang Yu said with lingering fear, "Don't mention that black aura again. I don't want to think about it anymore."
Song Hao laughed and said, "Alright, it seems you're not as brave as me!"
Tang Yu said, "That depends on the situation. After all, she's a girl!"
At that moment, Song Hao inadvertently looked up and suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the crowd on the street. He was startled and quickly got up to take a closer look, but the person had already disappeared.
"What's wrong?" Tang Yu asked in surprise upon seeing this.
Song Hao frowned and said, "I just saw someone. How did he get here?"
"Who is it?" Tang Yu asked.
“That Ji Dongyang from the Ji family, a medical clan,” Song Hao said.
"It's Ji Dongyang, the one I told you about who holds the secret of the 'miracle cure'!" Tang Yu exclaimed in surprise.
“It’s him!” Song Hao said, turning and leaving the restaurant.
Tang Yu quickly paid the bill and followed him out.
The two searched the town but did not see Ji Dongyang again.
"You haven't mistaken me for someone else, have you?" Tang Yu asked.
“I have a very deep impression of this person, I can’t be wrong. The Ji family has suffered a misfortune because they have no medicine formula, and he is the only one who escaped. Could it be that he is hiding here?” Song Hao said.
"Should we find him?" Tang Yu asked.
Song Hao shook his head and said, "Regardless of whether the legendary 'miracle cure without medicine' is true or not, it's best if we don't get involved. I've heard that many people are looking for him, hoping to obtain the 'miracle cure without medicine' from him. He's in a bad situation now, so let's not kick him while he's down. I've been through the days of being hunted down, and it's not a pleasant experience."
Tang Yu nodded and said, "That so-called 'miracle cure without medicine' is just like that bronze statue; it's a source of trouble. It's best if we keep our distance. Actually, I don't believe there's such a thing as a miracle cure without medicine, but your master was quite interested and asked me about it."
Song Hao said, "Master was just curious!"
Song Hao hesitated. His master, Xiao Boran, clearly valued this incurable remedy highly, and had even sent his senior brother, Wuguo, to investigate. Should he inform Shangqing Temple about seeing Ji Dongyang here? The thought crossed his mind, but Song Hao quickly changed his mind. He decided to focus on his own business.
On their way back to the hotel, Song Hao saw an advertisement for cordyceps in a herbal medicine shop. He then said to Tang Yu, "The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is good at producing cordyceps, and most of it is genuine. Let's go in and take a look. We can order a batch of this precious medicine for Tianyitang."
The two entered the pharmacy, looked at some samples, and inquired further. They learned that the local area was rich in this medicine and had a large stock. They also found high-quality safflower and deer antler. Although the prices were a bit higher, they were much cheaper than buying medicine locally at Tianyitang. So they ordered a batch from the shop owner.
Back at the hotel, Song Hao said happily, "Buying medicine directly from the place of origin is indeed cheaper and of better quality. I think Tianyi Hall should have a dedicated purchasing agent in the future. The medicines used by Tianyi Hall must be the best so that the therapeutic effect can be good and the skills of those masters can be put to good use."
Tang Yu said, "That's right. Although Qiu Ru will be in charge of the Hundred Herbs Garden in Wansongling in the future, she can't have all the medicines in the world. Moreover, the quantity may not be sufficient to supply in a short period of time. Establishing a special procurement channel by professionals and ensuring quality is also a fundamental principle for Tianyitang's existence."
Song Hao nodded and said, "There are still many things to be improved in Tianyi Hall. Let's take it one step at a time."
Tang Yu then called Luo Feiying to tell her that she had ordered a batch of valuable medicinal herbs from Qinghai, which would be shipped soon, and asked her to be ready to receive them. The two chatted on the phone for more than half an hour, laughing continuously.
Tang Yu then laughed and said, "Qiu Ru and her brother have already arrived at Tianyi Hall and have taken over the construction of the Wansongling medicinal herb base, recreating the true Hundred Herbs Garden of her dreams. Yingying also said, 'With me by your side, how come you still invited a rival back?'"
Song Hao was puzzled for a moment and asked blankly, "What opponent? Qiu Ru is the successor of the Medicine King Sect and a master of medicine. With her joining Tianyi Hall, the medicines of Tianyi Hall can be called true Chinese medicines."
Tang Yu listened without explaining, and laughed, "She was just talking nonsense, she's childish."
"By the way, Yingying also said that the new building of Tianyitang is under construction smoothly. Your three friends are really loyal. They started construction without Tianyitang paying a single penny upfront. Most of the original funds have already been invested in Wansongling," Tang Yu added.
Song Hao sighed, "I didn't expect Liu Tian and the others to be so generous. They helped implement the development plan for Tianyitang. Well, let's borrow their strength for now and repay them in the future. It seems that building Tianyitang in Baihe Town back then was the wisest choice. I was worried that the place was too small and not conducive to development."
Tang Yu laughed and said, "You have the advantage of timing, location, and people. If you still can't develop, then it's a problem with your ability."
Song Hao said, "The key is the people. Almost everyone is helping me. I would really be sorry if Tianyitang didn't work out."
Tang Yu laughed and said, "With everyone working together, how can we not achieve great things!"
Song Hao said, "We also need to complete our mission well. Once we get that book of 'Miraculous Prescriptions,' we can produce effective medicine ahead of time, saving everyone some research time. Also, based on the clues provided by Qiu Ru, I wonder if we can find Ren Zhiqian, who has the secret recipe for Hua Tuo's Mafeisan."
Tang Yu said, "We'll do our best and leave the rest to fate! We'll just have to do our best."
Song Hao first let Tang Yu rest, then went to the service desk to inquire with several waiters if there had been any strange phenomena here, such as the sudden appearance of black mist filling the sky.
The waiters thought Song Hao was joking, so they all shook their heads and laughed, saying they didn't know and had never heard of it.
Song Hao was merely asking, and he learned that the strange encounter was something he and Tang Yu had stumbled upon by chance. Perhaps it was just the two of them who had this extraordinary experience; otherwise, if it were a common phenomenon, the locals would surely know about it.
The next morning, after Tang Yu got up, she went to Song Hao's room and said, "Song Hao, let's set off today."
Song Hao knew that Tang Yu had been frightened yesterday, so he smiled and said, "Didn't we agree to rest for a few days before leaving?"
Tang Yu said, "I slept well last night and I'm basically fine. Besides, it wasn't a big deal anyway, so there's no need to linger here."
Song Hao said, "Let's rest for another day. The main thing is that you're driving, and I can't replace you in that aspect. You can't afford to not get enough rest. Safety comes first."
Tang Yu said, "Alright then, let's rest for another day. Actually, we can rest in Xining after we get there."
(Note: This strange experience was personally witnessed by a relative many years ago. At the time, one of his companions was armed and wanted to fire his gun to "show off," but the gun failed to fire, which was very strange. Some say it was the work of a deity, but it is simply inexplicable.)
Traditional Chinese Medicine Under Heaven - Volume 2: The Heavenly Doctor's Hall - Chapter 41: Rescue
The two strolled around the streets for another morning, found some food, and were just about to return to the hotel when Song Hao suddenly spotted someone in the crowd. He seemed to have seen him somewhere before, and after a moment's thought, he suddenly realized who it was.