What was there still to consider? This was exactly what they had been looking for!
Just as Gu Zuo’s voice fell, the five sworn brothers and sisters had already opened their mouths in tacit understanding: “We’re naturally willing. Many thanks for regarding us, Pharmacist Gu! Many thanks for taking us in, young master!”
Seeing that they responded without the slightest hesitation, Gu Zuo felt comfortable in his heart.
What did this mean?
It meant that this group of five was optimistic about him and his big brother. Moreover, it proved that his insight was correct. These people knew to pay back favors!
As such, Gu Zuo made a decision. He was going to give them a prismatic Innate Mending Pill — There was definitely a difference between his own people and outsiders.
Gu Zuo considered something, and said: “Later on, you guys will listen to big brother’s arrangements and handle matters for him. Once you’ve made some contributions, it’s only to be expected that I’ll bestow medicinal pills to you. Right now, you guys have just pledged yourselves to him, and haven’t made any contributions yet. If I reward someone without a reason, it’ll harm the relationships between you and your fellow workers.”
Rules were rules. Previously, regardless of whether it were battle slaves, servile race members, or people who voluntarily offered their services, no one had been rewarded for not working —When all was said and done, a prismatic pill was extremely precious. It wasn’t the same as a monthly allowance. Moreover, the aptitudes of the five brothers and sisters weren’t outstanding enough for targeted nurturing. Naturally, it couldn’t be said that it was for the sake of diverting more resources in their favor.
The sworn brothers and sisters were aware of this reasoning as well. The rewards and punishments were clear, and matters were handled justly. This would allow an organization to walk along the path of development for a long time. It was just that they couldn’t help worrying about Xue Shen’s health. After all, he had been enduring this for so many years.
Of course, these people didn’t raise any objections. They only decided that it was necessary to properly complete any arranged affairs and accumulate enough contributions as early as possible. Then, they would request a reward.
Gu Zuo saw how obedient they were, and sent a meaningful glance at Gongyi Tianheng.
Tianheng smiled and nodded.
At this moment, Gu Zuo and Tianheng were sharing a voice transmission.
[Big brother, I’ve already refined the prismatic pill. Let’s keep an eye on their work capability and the style they handle matters before deciding when to bestow the medicinal pill. In any case, so long as they start working, we can always loan them some credit. We can give them a helping hand!]
Tianheng grinned.
[What Ah Zuo says is quite true.]
Gu Zuo was glad. He pondered something, and decided to give the five brothers and sisters a bit more hope: “I also know that the matter of Xue Shen’s health can’t be delayed for too long…You guys don’t need to worry. Once you make some contributions, even though there won’t be enough to conduct an exchange for the time being, there’s an excuse for you guys to use other methods to make up for it. It’s just that you guys need to put in even more effort afterwards. If the way you guys handle matters can’t earn the respect of big brother’s other subordinates, it’ll be useless even if I deliberately help you guys succeed. Do you understand?”
Of course, these determined brothers and sisters only felt an unexpected happiness upon hearing this. At the same time, they fondly recalled the kindness of Gu Zuo and the magnanimity of the young master who had been silently smiling on the side.
At once, they bowed and saluted. This was paying their respects to their master: “Yes! We shall do our utmost! Many thanks, Pharmacist Gu! Many thanks, young master!”
Xue Shen silently clenched his fingers.
Based on their experience, it wasn’t that they couldn’t hear the bit of probing implications in these statements. It simply didn’t matter. Even if he was interested in taking them in, there wouldn’t be one hundred percent trust at the very beginning — That would be the height of stupidity.
In any case, the two people they followed were willing to make this kind of promise, which was enough to prove that they were following the right people. No matter what tests there were, every sentence the other party spoke was reasonable, fair, and just. For them, this made the pair even more trustworthy.
He submitted with a gladdened heart.
If he could recover completely… With the grace of a new lease on life, he would spare no effort to work for the young master and Pharmacist Gu with his brothers and sisters!
Afterwards, the five brothers and sisters withdrew.
If it was said that they previously treated their prospects with melancholy and only possessed a speck of hope, then now, they were blooming with enthusiasm — It wasn’t only towards Xue Shen’s ailments, it was also with regards to their own futures.
After they left, Gu Zuo turned his head: “Big brother, how was my performance just now?”
Tianheng laughed and said: “Excellently done.”
Gu Zuo was immediately in high spirits.
The corner of Tianheng’s mouth faintly curled up.
There were people who were given inside the sect, there were outsiders who valued his potential and the power of the sect, and there were those who followed only him for various reasons… The first type was trained by the sect, and was loyal and true. Although they could be trusted, there would inevitably be concerns. The second type was eagerly drawn by benefits — Utilizing them required proper handling. As for the third type, they tied themselves completely to him, and had no way of retreating.
Although the first two types had points that might’ve caused hesitation, their backgrounds possessed enormous implications that bound them. So long as they were selected prudently and utilized well, they were exceptional helpers. Meanwhile, the last type was extremely devoted, but they were uncontrollable due to a lack of bindings. Therefore, under his administration, all three types were indispensable, and there wasn’t one type that stood above the others. It could be likened to a cauldron balanced on its three legs — Each side restricted one another, and allowed him to completely control the three types in his hands. The situation would be as steady as Mount Tai.
With these thoughts running through his mind, Tianheng’s gaze, which had fallen onto Gu Zuo, became warm and doting.
He knew that his little pharmacist didn’t necessarily consider things as deeply as he did, but these actions had already helped him expand the ranks of this third type of people.
Was this also considered an invisible kind of tacit understanding?
This made his heart feel comforted and cozy. He was quite happy.
Soon after, Tianheng and Gu Zuo returned to the summit.
As before, Gu Zuo was busy with refining medicine and studying the source sand. As for Tianheng, he arranged Chang Min, Yu Fei, Ming Wanzhu, and Lian Xinzi among the battle slave elites. He had them work behind those Atomic Realm battle slaves as deputy generals. They all trained together, and learned the way of leading armies.
Presently, although the battle slaves already formed a large army, if all of the available troops were entrusted to the battle slaves, it wouldn’t have been the way Tianheng operated. In the future, he certainly had to choose the most outstanding children from numerous adherent organizations, and temper them to form an army. At that time, if these four people were somewhat successful, they could become military commanders. If they weren’t successful, the opportunity would be handed over to others.
With regards to Tianheng’s personal motives, he naturally wanted to keep those commanders within his grasp where they were only loyal to him alone. Therefore, he didn’t want the positions of the commanders to be chosen from among the various forces. This was to prevent the commanders from unconsciously favoring their own organization. When making selections within their own armies, this would lead to a loss of impartiality and would damage their own prestige. However, supposing that the capabilities of those only loyal to him were no good, then he would have no other choice but to go through some inconveniences, and select people from the organizations. But at that time, he would naturally re-establish rules and practices, whereby members of many forces were divided among several armies to keep them in check.
However, these considerations were concerns for the future. The present legion was incomplete. He was also only slightly pondering over this, and it didn’t require much thought.
Several more days passed by.
During these couple of days, because Gu Zuo still hadn’t made a lot of headway in researching the source sand, he set this matter aside for the time being. Instead, he came to the thousand-person courtyard down the mountain to see Wu Xing and the others.
It really wasn’t for any other reason except for the fact that, after Tianheng eliminated the flood dragon, several organizations that were determined to cast their support and were accepted by Tianheng had come to Ten Ultimates City in quick succession.
After Tianheng met and discussed things with them amid his busy schedule, he accepted them into Ten Ultimates Sect, and brought them to his compound.
At the same time, these forces brought out their own clans’ foundations, which included the construction of their own residences. Soon, the vast compound became an extremely bustling place. Those buildings rose steeply from the ground up. Crowds of people who had pledged their loyalties had their own work to do, and the flames of industry blazed up to the sky.
Within these organizations, there was one that was merely an insignificant nonconventional force. However, this organization also had a technical ability — They were a medicine refining aristocratic family. It was just that, because they only relied on a familial inheritance and never recruited pharmacists from outside the family, their properties were curtailed and didn’t have an enormous scope of activity.
But when it came to the medicine refining skills and aptitudes of the core younger generations, they weren’t that much worse than the children of the Wu Clan.
Gu Zuo’s visit this time was also to allow everyone in this household to familiarize themselves with his face — Wasn’t it important to let them know who their immediate boss would be in the future?
So long as the people of this household were pharmacists, they similarly had a place to stay in this thousand-person courtyard.
If by any chance there wasn’t enough space, he could always make extensions! Although the borders of the thousand-person courtyard had been made earlier, this didn’t mean that he couldn’t expand them.
As he arrived in front of the gates of that thousand-person courtyard, Gu Zuo was a little surprised.
How long had it been since he came here? The entire courtyard had already changed beyond recognition. It was even more spacious and elegant. After that, he saw a few people appear at the gates in a flash. He lifted his eyes, and the ones he saw were the Wu Clan’s two brothers.
The present Wu Clan Head and Fourth Young Master, Wu Xing, as well as his biological younger brother, Seventh Young Master Wu He.
Gu Zuo silently recited the names of these two people in his head, and suddenly felt a little peculiar.
If the family lived in harmony, all affairs would prosper… The former clan head might’ve had this idea. However, with the addition of their surname, the meaning was the complete opposite.
His train of thought instantly derailed. Gu Zuo shook his head, and pulled his thoughts back on track.
Yet, under Wu Xing’s leadership, the Wu Clan was definitely harmonious. Moreover, it was in the middle of a revival.
At this moment, Wu Xing and Wu He had already bowed and stated: “We respectfully welcome Pharmacist Gu.”
Gu Zuo settled himself, and didn’t say any unnecessary words of salutation. Rather, he said: “You guys have worked hard.”
Wu Xing smiled and said: “Now that we are fortunate enough to work under the command of the young master and Pharmacist Gu, we naturally have to work harder.”
While speaking, he guided Gu Zuo into the thousand-person courtyard.
This courtyard had already been given the name “Myriad Medicine Estate”. Gu Zuo didn’t have any objections, but as he looked at the name Wu Xing chose, he could see that Wu Xing held grand ambitions.
— Of course, this wasn’t anything bad.
Inside the Myriad Medicine Estate, there was a curtain of overlapping medicinal fragrances. The area was also peaceful and calm.
Gu Zuo raised his eyes, and noticed that the originally vacant land was already densely-packed with numerous medicine lodges. Within each medicine lodge was a pharmacist who was right in the middle of refining medicine with pill furnaces or cauldrons.
Those fragrances were coming precisely from these buildings.
Wu Xing explained: “Myriad Medicine Estate was originally a thousand-person courtyard, but it would eventually become unsuitable if it was only used as a residential area. Consequently, this subordinate altered sections of the interior layout, extended the courtyard, and divided it into two regions.
“The inner estate is where the numerous pharmacists dwell. Each person has their own room, which is further subdivided into a living space and personal pharmacy. It provides them a place to rest and to study medicine refinement.
“Besides this, the outer courtyard was spread out as much as possible, and divided into several side courtyards of equal rank. There are many medicine lodges in every side courtyard where the pharmacists who practice the same type of body cultivation method can refine medicine, spar, and communicate with one another. If there’s an obstruction, one can swiftly investigate it with someone else, and resolve the difficulty.”
As Gu Zuo listened to this, he inwardly nodded.
Wu Xing continued: “Presently, there’s one large side courtyard and a number of small side courtyards. Our Wu Clan has many people, so the direct descendants are in the large courtyard, and the previously recruited pharmacists are placed in the side courtyards based on their cultivation methods for practice. Meanwhile, another place has been arranged for some underaged pharmacists who haven’t grown up yet.”
Speaking up to here, he mentioned: “The Hu Clan’s Hu Changfeng and Hu Changbi are training together with many peers of similar ages inside a certain side courtyard.”
Gu Zuo said: “This is fine.”
Wu Xing saw that Gu Zuo didn’t have any complaints, and added: “Recently, I’ve heard that another household of pharmacists has joined, and it appears that the number of people isn’t small. After this subordinate meets them and makes some inquiries, this one will certainly be able to make the appropriate arrangements.”
Gu Zuo was very satisfied, and said: “Sure enough, the Wu Clan Head has handled matters properly. After I go back, I’ll let my big brother know.”
Wu Xing smiled: “Pharmacist Gu and the young master have treated us with such grace. A few trifles shouldn’t have to be looked after by these two sirs. Now that this subordinate has obtained Pharmacist Gu’s praise, this one is extremely happy and will certainly do his best to live up to his lord’s expectations.”
Gu Zuo: “…”
Although he knew that he was being unobtrusively flattered by these pleasant words, he still felt rather pleased.
It was no wonder why everyone was fond of people who had strong work capabilities and were adept at speaking well… This was also to his liking.
Subsequently, Gu Zuo followed Wu Xing, who gave a tour of the numerous small rooms of the inner estate. He discovered that while those rooms were small, they were as integral as the organs of a sparrow. Gu Zuo couldn’t have been more satisfied with Wu Xing’s management.
Afterwards, the group walked out of the Myriad Medicine Estate, and went into a pavilion on the side. There, Gu Zuo met the clan head of the newly-joined, medicine refining aristocratic family. It was the Tan Family Head, Tan Deyuan.
This Tan Family Head wasn’t like Wu Xing. He had the facial features of a seemingly middle-aged man, but he was actually two hundred-something years old. However, he was nevertheless a golden-level pharmacist with an internal qi realm at the Atomic Realm. This was unlike the customs of the Wu and Hu Clans, which were currently controlled by martial artists.
The Tan Family had direct descendants whose medicine refinement had been passed down generation after generation with the assistance of cadet branches.
But it was probably for this reason that, although the medicine refining techniques of every generation were consummate and exquisite, few profound-level pharmacists appeared. While some existed, there often wasn’t a successor.
As a result, even though the Tan Family occasionally met the criteria to be an iron-ranked force, it would quickly drop back down. It could only be said that it was regarded as a well-known family among the nonconventional ranks.
Upon seeing the arrival of the Wu Clan brothers and Gu Zuo, the Tan Family Head lowered his posture: “This Tan welcomes these gentlemen.”
Gu Zuo smiled at him. When all was said and done, he stood on behalf of Tianheng. At this time, he needed to be a bit more reserved.
The Wu Clan brothers would be colleagues with him in the future, so they reciprocated with greetings of their own.
The Tan Family Head seemed to sigh in relief at this treatment. Then, he sat down with the other three in the pavilion.
Gu Zuo gestured at Wu Xing, and handed everything over to him so that he would explain matters to the Tan Family Head.
Speaking of which, although the entirety of the Myriad Medicine Estate belonged to Gu Zuo, the one who had really been handling its affairs the whole time was Wu Xing, who was considered the main steward of Myriad Medicine Estate.
Though Wu Xing himself wasn’t a pharmacist, his Wu Clan had been developing well with each generation. He was an individual with foresight, drive, and strategy, and he knew how to manage pharmacists. While his strength as a martial artist was decent, it would be a waste of human resources to make arrangements for him purely as a martial artist.
Thus, Wu Xing had originally intended for his seventh brother to be the one to get close to Gu Zuo. But later on, the one who occupied an acknowledged place by Gu Zuo’s side was himself.
This kind of work was undoubtedly something he enjoyed. And under this kind of situation, his seventh brother could concentrate on medicine refinement. So long as Wu He’s skills improved, and the two cooperated tacitly, they could grasp even more important positions.
Of course, while Wu Xing was the main steward, he kept in mind Tianheng’s first command — Only pharmacists could live in Myriad Medicine Estate. As a result, even though he had this job, he still went back to his own courtyard to rest at night, and didn’t take the opportunity to stay within the estate.
He knew to behave appropriately, and he worked straightforwardly and efficiently.
Just like now. Gu Zuo had been sitting for just a short period of time, and Wu Xing had already told the Tan Family Head about the current circumstances of Myriad Medicine Estate. He had also inquired about the ranks and composition of the Tan Family’s pharmacists.
The Tan Family’s direct line had twenty-eight people, and its cadet branches had fifty-two people. Added together, the sum didn’t even reach one hundred.
However, between these eighty people, the direct line had sixteen pharmacists. Among them, eight were golden-level pharmacists, two were human-level pharmacists, and six were still underaged. Meanwhile, the cadet branches had forty pharmacists. Among them, three were at the golden level, twenty-five were at the human level, and twelve were still underaged.
Once Gu Zuo finished listening, he felt like gasping in surprise a little bit.
The Tan Family hadn’t recruited any other pharmacists. In other words, the capabilities of every person who had medicinal beads seemed to be pretty good. Also, the probability of a golden-level pharmacist appearing truly wasn’t low!
It really was worth it.
Wu Xing was also shocked by the quality of the Tan Family’s pharmacists. He quickly thought about his own clan, and swiftly calculated whether the Tan Family could snatch away even more importance due to this reason. He also considered those body cultivation methods that Gu Zuo bestowed upon them, and pondered whether Gu Zuo would bestow the same things to the Tan Family… Many thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, but Wu Xing restrained any of those that were improper.
This wasn’t the time for any crafty ploys and machinations. He was handling matters for Gongyi Tianheng. Granted that he sought benefits for his clan, it needed to be established under the prerequisite that Tianheng’s interests were protected and left completely untouched.
The Tan Family was useful to Tianheng, so he naturally had to make suitable arrangements. He couldn’t casually suppress them.
Immediately following this, Wu Xing carried out some plans for the Tan Family.
These plans weren’t wretched or poverty-stricken. On the contrary, they were quite generous. The monthly allowances and other such arrangements were no different from what his Wu Clan had. Included among these, he made an official request to Gu Zuo for the protection received by the Tan Family’s pharmacists to be the same as those of his Wu Clan.
Gu Zuo naturally gave his approval.
However, he wasn’t prepared to give the Tan Family any inner cultivation methods.
Firstly, it was because the Tan Family hadn’t come as early as the Wu Clan. He couldn’t disregard the Wu Clan’s seniority and leave them feeling disillusioned. Secondly, since the Tan Family was so strict with the inheritance of their medicine refinement methods, it meant that they greatly valued their own techniques. If Gu Zuo rashly made a decision, not only might the other party not feel gratitude, they would instead feel that he was throwing his weight around. As such, was it really worth the trouble?
It was better to wait till a later date to get a clearer picture of everything. Then, things could be discussed.
Once arrangements were made for the Tan Family, the Tan Family Head asked to be excused. There were still many things that he had to do. Settling down the family members also required his guidance. There was no way for him to tarry for long.
Gu Zuo suddenly thought of something. He looked at Wu Xing, and asked: “Wu Clan Head, how is Hu Chang’an doing right now?”
It seemed that Wu Xing had known earlier that Gu Zuo would ask this question. He gave a detailed response: “The prescriptions that Pharmacist Gu left behind have been very efficacious. Presently, the Hu Clan Head’s constitution is gradually developing, and he practices the techniques of the Hu Clan. Oftentimes, the martial skills he exerts are all extremely mighty… His realm hasn’t advanced yet, but his strength is ten times stronger than before. His temperament is also more firm and resolute. After the Myriad Leaking Body has reached a preliminary level, he can handle matters for the young master by himself…”
From Wu Xing’s words, Gu Zuo heard many things.
Yes. Hu Chang’an had undergone many changes. If he still wasn’t able to mature, then it would also be impossible for him to revive the bloodline of the Hu Clan’s main branch.
Moreover, it appeared that Wu Xing somewhat approved of Hu Chang’an. At the very least, he no longer addressed Hu Chang’an as Young Lord Hu. Rather, Wu Xing was willing to call him the Hu Clan Head. As far as Wu Xing was concerned, there was certainly a significant difference between the former and latter.
After Gu Zuo was done listening, he felt relieved.
Since Hu Chang’an was adapting well to everything, how ever much importance Hu Chang’an received under his dear big brother’s commands in the future depended on Hu Chang’an’s own skills.
After a round of such conversations, Gu Zuo abruptly reacted to something. He turned his head to look.
Then, he saw a streak of blue shadow coming towards him from far away. In a flash, the figure was already before his eyes.
— Big brother?
T/N: Thanks for the corrections, Charysa.
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