Simply Trading 116 Ming Qingsong 3

The same girl, however, seemed to have other concerns.

"I am glad that father is gone, so that I can have a word with you, Elder Brother Qin Feng. About Senior Sister Xuan Mei. I suppose you know that she is not ... really interested in you ... in that particular way? That all of this is just a scheme that her father cooked up?"

Qin Feng was surprised that Ming Qingsong was the one to broach that subject with him, rather than her father. But why was she doing that? What did she know about Elder Xuan's plans?

He didn't know, but decided that he might be able to wheedle some information out of the girl before him. So he simply nodded, and fixed a somewhat petulant expression on his face.

The last seemed sufficient to prompt another giggle from Ming Qingsong.

"Well, you might not be aware of this, since no one knew of it until three days ago. And it has never been repeated where it might be overheard. It seems Senior Sister Xuan Mei has a rather obnoxious pursuer, and he has been trying to get Elder Xuan to pledge her hand to him. That is one of the reasons why the Elder has no choice but to drag you into the mire."

Qin Feng scowled. Didn't that mean that he was nothing more than a meat shield? And for someone to be able to put Elder Xuan into such a dilemma ... Wasn't he likely to end up as ground meat instead? Especially if that obnoxious pursuer of Xuan Mei's started taking steps against him?

"But I think you won't be likely to get into trouble because of this. The one chasing after Senior Sister Xuan Mei's skirts is rather high up in the Heaven Sword School, so he would not throw his face away, by making a move against you.

"Besides, you are already under my father's protection. And everyone knows that you have been helping him to concoct medicines and such. That should keep you free of any trouble that that idiot could bring down on you," Ming Qingsong told him confidently.

That did make him a little less stressed. It seemed Elder Xuan was not completely heartless. And had taken steps to use Ming Guanhe as an additional layer of protection over this pitiful herb-grower.

But Ming Qingsong was going on, and her focus seemed to have gone back to her own situation:

"And I trust you have already heard about ... my illness? And how my father plans to do, to help me recover my health? Well, you might not have heard that ... Elder Xuan has offered to lend him a hand. Hence ... you can see why he was more than willing to sell you off to Senior Sister Xuan Mei?"

Qin Feng was a little surprised to hear her speak out about that. From what he had experienced thus far, he would have thought that Elder Ming Guanhe would hide the truth of her body's condition from the young girl. Who would have thought that she had already learned what was wrong, and even what her father intended to do about it?

And to think that she even knew what her own father was about, when it came to his deals with Elder Xuan and his daughter!

"Don't be so shocked. I have nothing to do at home, remember? And I am definitely not allowed to learn martial arts. So I have been poring over each and every book that father had managed to borrow from the School Library. And that includes the medical journals and herbal medicine texts that you have read."

She nodded with a smile as she said that. And waved in the direction of the door that her father had just stepped through. "I can guess what he intends to do, from the herbs that he had you gather for him. There are only two choices that he can make, after all. And I know which of them I would prefer.

"What do you think of our chances of getting our hands on seven to nine stalks of Purple Blood Ginger? Do you think it is possible? Within the next two, three years?"

Qin Feng's eyes widened at once. It seemed Ming Qingsong had not lied, when she said that she had read the same texts that her father had, regarding her condition. One of the options that was available required that particular herb. In fact, it was the crucial ingredient for the same. Although, from what he could remember, Elder Ming Guanhe had only managed to get his hands on two stalks of that herb. So it was certainly not enough to make him confident enough to try his hands at that particular solution.

"Purple Blood Ginger is ... rather rare, where we have been hunting for our medicines. And it is a restricted plant. If I was caught trying to bring that into the Heaven Sword School ... Even with your father's position ..."

Ming Qingsong dipped her head again, as if acknowledging his point. But the expression on her face did not change, as she spoke again:

"I understand. But the other option will cause ... my meridians to dry up and render me incapable of practicing martial arts, much less cultivating the miraculous arts that my father wishes to pa.s.s down to me. While I would remain alive if that happens, I would be little better than a crippled person. I definitely wish to avoid that fate, if I can."

She paused for a moment then, and turned to look at the doorway with the beaded screen, as if looking out for her father. "I think my father would rather have me able to learn his martial arts too, if he had a choice. We have already three stalks of Purple Blood Ginger, so that is enough for three months' worth of the tincture that I need.

"But it would be pointless if we cannot carry on with the medication, for the entire year. So we'll need another seven stalks of the herb, at least. Or nine, to be more confident of success. That is why my father has dragged you into this mess, if you must know."

Qin Feng sighed. He agreed that it was a lot more convoluted than he cared for, these schemes that Elder Ming Guanhe had cooked up. It would have been a lot less stressful, he thought, if he had simply tasked Qin Feng to find him the Purple Blood Ginger, and left out all of these crazed plans involving Xuan Mei!

Then he scowled. "If we cannot find the Purple Blood Ginger on our own, does that mean that we cannot purchase it off someone else? Aren't there Medicine Halls and businesses dealing with herbal remedies and the like, in the nearby Cities? Has anyone tried to find out if they carry the Purple Blood Ginger?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, if we can't find it in the Southern Woods ourselves, how about buying it off those medicine traders that have managed to find it elsewhere? So long as it is Purple Blood Ginger, it should serve its purpose, wouldn't it? It doesn't need to be freshly picked, does it? To work in that formula of yours?"

* * *