Xu Hao spent the following morning reviewing the medicines he'd listed for Li Min's treatment.
His notebook lay open on the table, surrounded by the treatment records the Li family had provided. Several pages contained prescriptions from previous healers, while others described how her symptoms had changed over the past few months.
He had read most of them twice.
Some of the medicines appeared reasonable enough. Others had been selected on the assumption that Li Min was suffering from poisoning or damaged meridians, and there was little evidence that those diagnoses had been correct.
What troubled him was that no one seemed to have examined the possibility of a persistent internal injury.
He made another note beside one of the prescriptions.
If the foreign energy really was preventing her stomach from healing, strengthening her body would only provide temporary relief. She might feel better for a few days, but the underlying problem would remain.
And that was assuming the medicine didn't make things worse.
Xu Hao put down his brush and rubbed his eyes.
He'd expected his first patient to be someone with a minor injury, perhaps a sprained ankle or a troublesome fever. Instead, he was preparing for a difficult operation involving an unfamiliar form of spiritual energy.
His mother would have found the situation fascinating.
She also would have demanded to know why he thought he was qualified to attempt it.
He could almost hear her questioning every decision.
Xu Hao looked at the list he'd prepared.
At least the surgical instruments were being made. Bai Feng had seemed genuinely interested in the designs, although it would be another two days before Xu Hao could inspect the first prototypes.
That left the medicines.
He needed suitable preparations for pain relief, recovery and the management of complications. He also wanted something that might help support Li Min's severely weakened condition.
His Healer card had provided information about several ingredients, but he wasn't familiar enough with Hibiscus Town's medicinal trade to know which were readily available.
Golden Meridian Trading House was the obvious place to begin.
Xu Hao closed the treatment records, tucked his notebook into his bag and went outside.
General Drumstick was standing near the gate, watching Captain Omelette and Sergeant Nugget investigate a patch of earth beside the fence.
The rooster gave a loud crow when Xu Hao approached.
"Good morning to you too, General. I'll be going out for a while, so please make sure your soldiers don't eat anything they shouldn't."
General Drumstick looked at him with an expression that suggested he hadn't asked for instructions.
Xu Hao smiled and secured the gate behind him.
He considered bringing Sia, but the trading house would be crowded, and he had no desire to explain why an enormous husky was following him through the medicinal department.
Besides, she was far more comfortable resting inside her card than waiting outside shops while he argued over the prices of herbs.
He made his way towards the central market.
---
Golden Meridian Trading House was already busy when Xu Hao arrived.
Several merchants stood near the entrance arguing with an appraiser over the value of a beast hide. Farther inside, a richly dressed cultivator was examining an ornamental dagger while an attendant explained the qualities of its metal.
Xu Hao recognised the broad display hall from his previous visit.
He'd spent a considerable amount of time exploring it then, fascinated by the extraordinary items available to anyone wealthy enough to purchase them.
Today, however, he went directly towards the medicinal department.
He had too much work waiting at home to spend another afternoon admiring artifacts he couldn't afford.
The herb counter occupied a quieter section of the building, separated from the main hall by carved wooden screens.
Shelves filled with sealed jars lined the walls. Bundles of dried roots hung from narrow racks, and a pleasant medicinal fragrance lingered in the air.
An attendant approached as Xu Hao opened his notebook.
"Good morning, young sir. Are you looking for a particular medicine?"
"Several ingredients, actually. I'm preparing treatment for a patient, and I'd like to inspect the quality before purchasing anything."
He handed her his list.
The attendant read through it, occasionally checking the names against a small catalogue.
"We have most of these in stock, though some are rather specialised. I'll need to ask one of our senior staff about the last few items. Would you mind waiting a moment?"
"Not at all. Thank you."
While she disappeared into the storeroom, Xu Hao examined the nearby shelves.
He recognised several common herbs from his Healer knowledge, though their appearance sometimes differed from what he expected.
He spent a few minutes comparing their labels and grades.
It was encouraging to see that medicinal merchants in this world had developed reasonably consistent methods of classifying their products.
He was examining a jar of dried leaves when someone spoke from behind the counter.
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I was beginning to think you might never visit me again, Little Scholar."
Xu Hao turned.
A young woman stood beside the storeroom entrance, carrying a shallow tray of freshly sorted herbs.
Her hair was tied neatly behind her head, and she wore a simple working robe with the sleeves rolled back.
He recognised her immediately.
It was the travelling herb merchant he'd met on the road to Hibiscus Town.
For a moment, he simply looked at her.
She smiled.
"What's wrong? Have I changed so much that you don't recognise your big sister?"
"I recognise you perfectly well. I'm just surprised to find you working here. The last time we met, you were travelling through the countryside with a mule and a cart full of herbs."
"That doesn't mean I have to spend the rest of my life travelling through the countryside, does it? Besides, Golden Meridian handles medicinal ingredients from all over the region. It's a useful place for someone in my trade."
Xu Hao considered that explanation.
It was reasonable enough.
He'd noticed during his first visit that the trading house bought as well as sold unusual herbs. Someone with experience collecting and trading them would probably be useful.
"And how is your mule?" he asked. "I hope he's recovered from his adventure on the hillside."
"He's doing wonderfully. He's found himself a comfortable stable and seems convinced that the servants exist solely to bring him food. I suspect he'll refuse to travel again once he discovers how pleasant retirement can be."
Xu Hao laughed.
"After the trouble he caused us, perhaps he deserves a little rest."
"That's generous of you, considering you were the one helping to pull him out of the mud."
She placed the tray on the counter and glanced at the list the attendant had left behind.
Her expression became more attentive.
"These aren't ordinary household remedies, Little Scholar. Are you purchasing them for someone who's seriously ill?"
Xu Hao nodded.
"I'm helping treat a patient who's been unwell for several months. Some of the ingredients are needed for her recovery, while others are intended to support her condition during a more complicated treatment."
She studied the list again.
"Then you'll want to be particularly careful about the quality. We have several grades of these roots, and the cheaper ones aren't necessarily suitable for someone who's already very weak."
"That's why I wanted to inspect them. I know what properties I'm looking for, but I'm still learning how the local merchants classify their medicines."
"Then come with me. I'll show you what we have, and you can decide which grade you want."
She collected the list and led him towards a smaller counter near the back of the medicinal department.
An elderly assistant was weighing dried roots on a brass scale.
She spoke to him briefly, and he brought out several sealed containers.
Xu Hao watched as she opened the first.
"These are blood-nourishing roots from the southern plantations," she explained. "The better specimens have a deeper colour when cut, and they should still retain a faint medicinal fragrance. If the cut surface is dry and grey, they've probably been stored too long."
She handed him a piece.
Xu Hao examined it carefully.
The interior was reddish, and the fragrance matched what he'd expected.
"These should be suitable. How much for the better grade?"
She quoted the price.
He wrote it down.
They continued through the list, examining one ingredient at a time.
Whenever she suggested a substitute, Xu Hao asked about its properties before deciding whether to accept it.
She appeared pleased by his questions.
"Most customers come here asking for whatever medicine is strongest. You're the first person today who's asked whether one ingredient might interfere with another."
"Strength isn't always the same thing as suitability. My patient has already undergone several treatments that didn't help her, and I don't want to repeat those mistakes."
She nodded.
"That's sensible. Some physicians forget that a medicine can be perfectly good and still be wrong for the person taking it."
Xu Hao looked up from his notebook.
"You sound as though you've had experience dealing with difficult physicians."
"Anyone who spends enough time selling herbs eventually meets a few. Some of them are wonderful customers. Others believe that being able to identify a rare flower makes them experts on everything that grows."
He smiled.
"I'll try not to become one of those."
"I'd appreciate that. It makes my work considerably easier."
They spent the next hour examining the remaining ingredients.
A few required discussion with the elderly assistant. Others were available in several different grades, and Xu Hao had to decide whether the extra cost was justified.
He found the process unexpectedly reassuring.
The young woman clearly knew her trade, and she didn't attempt to persuade him to purchase the most expensive version of everything.
More than once, she recommended an ordinary ingredient instead of a costly alternative.
By the time they reached the end of the list, Xu Hao had obtained most of what he needed.
There was only one troublesome item remaining.
He looked towards her.
"Do you happen to have Moonwell Leaf? I haven't seen any displayed on the shelves."
She raised her eyebrows.
"Moonwell Leaf? That's quite a specialised ingredient. What are you planning to use it for?"
"Possibly to support the patient's energy circulation while she recovers. Her condition is complicated, so I'd like to have it available if my further examinations confirm it's suitable."
The young woman considered him for a moment.
"We received a small shipment recently, though I don't know how much remains. Let me check the storeroom."
She disappeared through the rear doorway.
Xu Hao used the opportunity to calculate his expenses.
The Li family had provided an advance, and he had brought some of his own money as well.
Most of the ingredients were reasonably priced.
The difficulty was that he needed several different kinds, and the total was growing steadily.
He wondered how much Moonwell Leaf would cost.
Given how the young woman had reacted when he mentioned it, he suspected the answer wouldn't be encouraging.
He closed his notebook and waited.
The young woman returned carrying a small wooden box.
"We're fortunate. There was one bundle left from the shipment, and the leaves are still in excellent condition."
She opened the box.
Inside lay several pale green leaves marked by delicate silver veins.
Xu Hao leaned closer.
The leaves appeared fresh, and a faint coolness lingered around them. He could sense something of their Water-aligned nature even without touching them.
"These are very good," he said. "Would you mind letting me inspect one?"
"Of course. Just be gentle with it. The leaves are more delicate than they look."
Xu Hao examined a specimen and compared it with the description in his Healer knowledge.
The quality appeared excellent.
He carefully returned it to the box.
"I'll take the bundle. How much?"
She told him the price.
Xu Hao checked that he'd heard correctly.
Then he looked at his notebook.
The problem wasn't that the price was unreasonable for a rare ingredient. He'd seen enough of Golden Meridian's merchandise to understand that unusual medicinal materials could be expensive.
Unfortunately, the remaining money he'd brought wasn't sufficient to cover it along with the other supplies.
He recalculated the total.
The shortfall was smaller than he'd feared, but it was still more than he had on hand.
He could return to the Li residence and ask for additional funds. Li Tianming had already promised to pay for whatever was needed.
That would be the sensible approach under ordinary circumstances.
But Moonwell Leaf was rarely available, and the trading house had only one bundle remaining.
Xu Hao considered asking the attendant to reserve it.
Before he could speak, the young woman noticed his expression.
"Is something wrong? You've been studying those numbers rather seriously."
"I've spent more than I expected, and the Moonwell Leaf has pushed me beyond the amount I brought. I can arrange the additional money, but it would mean returning later."
"How much are you short?"
Xu Hao told her.
She considered the amount.
"That's not an enormous difference. Is the patient someone close to you?"
"Not particularly. I only met her recently, although her father has entrusted me with preparing her treatment."
"And you're worried that if you leave the Moonwell Leaf here, someone might purchase it before you return."
"Exactly. I'm still preparing for the operation, and there are too many things that could delay us. I don't particularly want a missing ingredient to become another problem."
She put the wooden box down.
"An operation?"
Xu Hao nodded.
Her expression changed.
"You're going to perform surgery?"
"Possibly. I still need to complete the examinations and make sure everything is properly prepared. But at the moment, I believe it may be the only way to address the cause of her illness."
The young woman studied him.
"You look rather young to be undertaking something like that."
Xu Hao gave a faint smile.
"That seems to be everyone's first observation."
"Well, I imagine it must be a difficult case if you're looking for these ingredients. Have you performed the procedure before?"
He hesitated.
He'd been asked that question by Li Tianming already, and the answer hadn't improved in the meantime.
"No. I've studied the methods involved, but this would be my first actual operation."
She looked at him more carefully.
"And you're the one responsible for deciding whether to proceed?"
"The patient will decide whether she wishes to undergo the treatment. My responsibility is to determine whether I can perform it safely and explain the risks."
Xu Hao glanced towards the medicine boxes.
"That's what I've been trying to do. I know what needs to be prepared, but every time I finish reviewing one part of the procedure, I remember another detail that needs attention."
He closed the notebook.
"To be frank, I'm rather nervous about the whole thing."
The young woman was quiet for a moment.
"That might be a good thing," she replied.
Xu Hao looked at her.
"Being nervous?"
"Being aware that something can go wrong. I've dealt with merchants who borrowed enormous amounts of money because they were certain a particular shipment would make them rich. The ones who worried about what could happen if the shipment failed were usually better prepared than the ones who never considered the possibility."
Xu Hao smiled.
"That's surprisingly sensible advice."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Little Scholar, were you under the impression that your big sister survives entirely through good looks and charming conversation?"
"I wouldn't have put it quite like that."
"How considerate."
He laughed, then returned his attention to the Moonwell Leaf.
The young woman followed his gaze.
"Well, there's no point standing here worrying about the price. I'll cover the difference for you."
Xu Hao looked up.
"You don't have to do that. I can return to the Li residence and collect the money."
"I know you can. But you've already explained why you'd rather finish purchasing the medicines today, and the amount isn't particularly troublesome."
She smiled.
"Besides, I didn't say I was giving you the money for free."
Xu Hao became suspicious.
"I thought there might be a condition."
"You're learning."
She rested her hands on the counter.
"Big sister will cover the difference, and in return you'll owe me another favour. Does that sound fair?"
Xu Hao stared at her.
He'd been expecting the suggestion, but hearing it didn't make him feel any better.
"I already owe you one."
"Then you'll owe me two. I'm very good at keeping accounts, Little Scholar."
"Apparently better than I am."
She laughed.
Xu Hao thought about the arrangement.
The first favour had been promised in exchange for a single copper discount on the medicinal salve he'd purchased during their first meeting.
He'd agreed that it could be something reasonable, within his abilities and not unlawful.
This would be the second promise.
He didn't particularly enjoy accumulating obligations, especially to someone whose background he knew so little about.
But she'd dealt with him fairly.
When her mule had become trapped on the hillside, she'd offered to pay him and the Wang brothers for helping rescue it. He'd declined because the rescue had been the right thing to do.
She'd remembered that kindness.
And today, she'd been genuinely helpful in choosing his medicines.
He looked towards the Moonwell Leaf.
"Before I agree, I want the same conditions as last time. Nothing unlawful, nothing unreasonable and nothing beyond my abilities."
"Of course. I wouldn't ask my little scholar to do something impossible."
"And you won't suddenly decide that I owe you three favours because you helped me choose the other medicines?"
She laughed.
"You're becoming terribly suspicious."
"I've had some experience with merchants."
"Have you? Then I'm delighted to know I've contributed to your education."
Xu Hao shook his head.
"Very well. I'll accept your offer."
She smiled and extended her hand.
"Then we have an agreement."
Xu Hao shook it.
The arrangement was straightforward enough, although he couldn't help wondering what she'd eventually ask him to do.
She took out a small purse, counted the additional money and passed it to the assistant handling the account.
Then she carefully packed the Moonwell Leaf in its own container.
Xu Hao recorded the amount in his notebook, making a separate entry for the money she'd covered.
She noticed.
"Keeping a record?"
"I'd rather not discover six months from now that I've forgotten how much I owe you."
"Very wise. Though I doubt I'll let you forget."
Xu Hao smiled.
"I rather suspected that."
She handed him the finished packages.
"Keep the Moonwell Leaf somewhere cool, and don't leave the box in direct sunlight. As for the other herbs, I've marked the ones that need special storage. You should inspect everything again before preparing the medicines."
"I will. Thank you."
He gathered the containers carefully, making sure the more delicate items wouldn't be crushed in his bag.
The young woman watched him.
"There's something else, Little Scholar."
Xu Hao looked up.
"What's that?"
"Remember to look after yourself while you're preparing for this operation. You've barely stopped studying that notebook since you arrived, and I suspect you'll spend the rest of the evening doing the same thing."
He smiled faintly.
"I hadn't realised I was being so obvious."
"You were standing in front of a shelf full of expensive medicines for several minutes without even looking at them. I almost thought you were considering purchasing the entire display."
"I was thinking about the instruments I still need to inspect. The blacksmith has agreed to make them, but we haven't tested any of the designs yet."
"Then perhaps you should leave a little time for eating and sleeping between all that worrying."
Xu Hao considered her advice.
She wasn't wrong.
He'd spent much of the previous evening reviewing treatment records, and he'd woken early to continue.
He couldn't afford to make careless decisions simply because he was tired.
"I'll try. Although I suspect I'll have rather a lot to do before everything is ready."
"That's usually how important work goes. But even a diligent little scholar needs to rest occasionally."
He smiled.
"I'll remember that."
For once, she didn't add another teasing remark.
Instead, she looked at his carefully packed medicines.
"I hope your patient recovers."
Xu Hao met her eyes.
There was genuine warmth in her expression.
"Thank you. So do I."
He bowed politely and prepared to leave.
Before he reached the doorway, she called after him.
"Little Scholar, don't disappear for too long. I still need to collect those favours."
Xu Hao looked back.
She was smiling again.
"I'll do my best to remain available, although I'd prefer you didn't collect them both on the same day."
"No promises."
He laughed and continued towards the main hall.
---
By the time Xu Hao left Golden Meridian Trading House, the afternoon market had begun to thin.
Some merchants were packing away their stalls, while restaurants along the street were preparing for the evening crowd.
Xu Hao adjusted the strap of his bag and checked that the medicine containers were secure.
The visit had gone better than he'd expected.
He'd obtained nearly everything on his list, including the rare Moonwell Leaf.
The ingredients appeared to be of excellent quality, and he'd learned more about their storage and preparation.
He also owed a rather troublesome young woman two favours.
Xu Hao smiled to himself.
He wondered what sort of repayment she had in mind.
Considering the way she enjoyed teasing him, he suspected that whatever she eventually requested would be considerably more interesting to her than it would be to him.
For now, he needed to return home, examine the treatment records and prepare for his next visit to the Li residence.
There was also the matter of his surgical instruments.
Bai Feng had seemed confident that most could be made, but Xu Hao knew better than to assume that a successful design on paper would automatically become a suitable instrument.
He would need to inspect every piece and become familiar with using it.
And once the instruments were ready, he still had to decide whether he possessed the skills necessary to attempt Li Min's operation.
That question troubled him more than anything else.
He thought of the young woman lying in bed, trying to reassure her exhausted father while quietly admitting that she was frightened of dying.
Xu Hao had promised to do everything he could to help her.
He intended to keep that promise.
But first, he needed to make certain that his good intentions didn't become another danger to the person he was trying to save.
He headed home.