Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Real ’Duhuo

The only way to solve a problem for good is to eliminate it at the source.

Otherwise, the trouble will never end.

Yang Chan had never liked trouble, so naturally, he intended to resolve this completely—by rooting out the source.

He had seen Li Junhao among the culprits, but a mere Pharmacist’s Assistant like him couldn’t have pulled this off alone. Therefore, Yang Chan would drag everyone involved in this scheme out into the open, leaving no one behind.

They had used Duhuo against him, so he would give them a taste of their own medicine and make them truly ’live alone.’

Yesterday, after discovering the issue with the Duhuo, he had remained outwardly calm. After questioning the Servant Disciple, he then spotted Li Junhao entering the Pharmacy to check on things.

Once he discovered this, he reported the matter separately to both Steward Li and Steward Wang. This was to prevent either of them from trying to protect Li Junhao. At the same time, he arranged for someone to deliver a letter to Sikong Yan, a Steward of the Medicine Hall, explaining the whole situation.

Since Yang Chan had decided to act, he naturally had to consider every angle to prevent any one party from causing trouble. It was a way of mitigating risk.

He wasn’t powerful enough yet to shoulder too much on his own. It was better to leave it for people like the Stewards to handle.

That would save him both worry and trouble.

“Most of the fresh medicinal herbs in the Sect are delivered as tribute, including things like Danggui and Duhuo. Before being sent to the Sect, the subordinate factions are responsible for sorting them. Under normal circumstances, herbs should never get mixed up.”

“Herbs that look as similar as Danggui and Duhuo are subjected to particularly detailed inspections.”

“Unless the faction delivering the herbs had ulterior motives, it’s impossible for them to make such a mistake. The Danggui came from the Lü Family Castle in Qinling. When they delivered it, they even specifically mentioned this particular stalk of Duhuo that strongly resembled Danggui.”

“So, how did this stalk end up mixed with the Danggui upon delivery to the Medicine Hall? I imagine you know the answer to that quite well.”

A faint smile touched Yang Chan’s lips as he looked Zhao Ziqing straight in the eye and posed the question.

’If he was going to make a move, it had to be a sure thing. Anything less would go against his cautious nature.’

“Yang Chan, who are you slandering? Steward Li, I was just assigned to inspect the herbs and I pointed out that there was a problem with this stalk. Are you saying that was the wrong thing to do?”

After a flash of panic, Zhao Ziqing quickly composed himself and spoke in a reasoned, logical tone.

’He couldn’t possibly admit to it now. If he did, the consequences would be dire.’

’Intentionally swapping herbs, targeting a Pharmacist’s Assistant, and then trying to frame him… all of that put together was no small crime.’

’If he confessed, his life would be over. It might even drag others down with him.’

“Why did you switch your herb inspection duty with Li Yufeng?”

Yang Chan wasn’t surprised by his reaction. He had fully expected it.

“I’m more familiar with Danggui, and I also happen to have some knowledge of herbs like Duhuo. So I traded with Li Yufeng for a task better suited to my skills. Is there a problem with that?”

Zhao Ziqing retorted.

While switching tasks seemed suspicious, the excuse was plausible enough.

“Do you have any idea how many years of experience it takes to identify that stalk of Duhuo you’re holding?”

Yang Chan didn’t answer, but continued his questioning.

“Three years. You’d need to study the *Medicine Scripture* for at least three years—and that’s if you’re a quick learner—just to be able to identify it based on its Medicinal Properties, effects, and Medicinal Qi. It’s an exceptionally rare specimen.”

Yang Chan didn’t wait for Zhao Ziqing to reply and continued.

“The Cyan Yuan Sect is not a Government Office. We don’t need hard evidence. As long as you’re suspicious, the Law Enforcement Hall will haul you away for questioning. They’ll start with your background, and they’ll dig up every single secret you’re hiding.”

“Oh, and by the way, Li Junhao has already been taken away. I expect you know what you need to say now. If you want a chance to redeem yourself by cooperating, you’d better be quick about it.”

Yang Chan looked at Zhao Ziqing and gave a slight smile.

’He wasn’t an official of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, and the Cyan Yuan Sect wasn’t a Government Office. He didn’t need conclusive evidence. He just had to make the report; the Cyan Yuan Sect would handle the rest.’

’Swapping herbs was a vile act. If it happened once, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t happen again. And if it went undiscovered, the members of the Cyan Yuan Sect would be the ones to suffer.’

’Especially the disciples on the front lines, fighting other sects and treacherous subordinate powers. They would be the first to demand justice.’

“Seize Zhao Ziqing.”

Steward Li immediately ordered the nearby Guard Disciples to seize Zhao Ziqing and take him to the Law Enforcement Hall.

Swapping herbs for Poison, framing a Pharmacist’s Assistant… acts like these were more than enough to put the Cyan Yuan Sect on high alert.

The Cyan Yuan Sect was currently clashing with the Three Major Sects. If there were problems with their supply of medicinal resources, the Sect’s disciples on the battlefield would suffer terribly.

At such a critical juncture, the Cyan Yuan Sect would never let a troublemaker like this off the hook. It would also serve as a warning to everyone else in the Sect: do not make such mistakes at a time like this, or you will be held fully accountable.

“Steward Li, listen to me, I really didn’t—”

Zhao Ziqing was still trying to explain when two guards flanked him, one on each side, and grabbed his arms.

Regardless of the final outcome, they had to secure him first.

“You damn bastard! Couldn’t you have just quietly accepted your fate?!”

A venomous look twisted Zhao Ziqing’s face. His skin instantly took on a Bronze hue, and with a burst of power, he sent the two guards flying.

He was a practitioner of External Refining of Flesh and Skin—something neither of the guards had anticipated.

“Yang Chan, you ruined everything! I’ll make you accompany me in death! Die!”

After sending the two guards flying, Zhao Ziqing charged straight for Yang Chan, intending to kill him with his External Cultivation.

’His background could never withstand an investigation by the Law Enforcement Hall. The methods of the Cyan Yuan Sect’s enforcers were notoriously effective and impossible to evade.’

’His original plan was to frame Yang Chan, and then use the “discovery” of the crime as a chance to approach Xu Gaocen and offer to become his Pharmacist’s Assistant. The odds of success would have been much higher.’

’That hadn’t been his initial plan, but who could have known that Yang Chan would immediately fill the vacancy left by Chu Mo?’

None of the other Intermediate Pharmacists needed an assistant.

Zhao Ziqing had a few potential targets, but then he was approached by someone looking to cooperate. They settled on Yang Chan, the newest Pharmacist’s Assistant, thinking it would be less complicated.

However, Zhao Ziqing had never imagined that Yang Chan would be so resourceful.

To identify the stalk of Duhuo he held, one would normally have to damage the herb, sacrificing some of its Medicinal Properties. Otherwise, relying on Medicinal Qi and theory alone would take even longer than the three years Yang Chan had mentioned.

That was why he never anticipated Yang Chan would be able to spot the issue. His plan was to “discover” it himself and report it, making everything seem logical. It all went according to his script, right up until Yang Chan opened his mouth and said, “I know this is Duhuo.” From that moment on, the situation spiraled out of his control.

Now that the Law Enforcement Hall was involved, he knew he was a dead man. Therefore, he had to take down the person who ruined everything.

In Zhao Ziqing’s eyes, Yang Chan was the source of all his misfortune, and he deserved to be dragged down to hell with him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep