Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 471 - 470: "Live Bait

As Zhu Yu was picking up food, she tapped Lu Qing’s chopsticks with her own. In the instant Lu Qing looked over, she subtly signaled towards the door with her eyes.

Lu Qing understood immediately, lowering her eyes first, and then nonchalantly taking a bite of the pickled vegetables before glancing towards the door.

Outside, it was crowded with people seeking medical treatment and medicine. Most of these people were thin and frail, with sallow complexions, and each carrying varying degrees of illness, which made them appear more lifeless and hollow-eyed.

But behind them, there was one person who seemed very different.

That person was also dressed in ordinary coarse clothing, not particularly noticeable, but he was clearly taller than the other Fan Country people, and his robust build was not concealed by his worn-out clothes.

The person did not squeeze into the middle of the crowd, only lingering at the end, usually with his head slightly lowered and eyelids downcast, only raising his eyes quickly to look inside when no one was noticing. His face was filled with smiles as he chatted with the person next to him in line. From his gestures and expressions, it was apparent he was inquiring about the ’Divine Doctor’ inside the inn.

Others might not notice, but Zhu Yu and Lu Qing saw it clearly. Each time he furtively raised his eyes, the cunning and fierceness in them were unconcealable.

"It seems the fish has arrived," Zhu Yu said softly to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing smiled, "To catch big fish, the bait cannot be too rigid; it needs to be lively, so the big fish will be willing to bite.

After breakfast, let’s go for a stroll, and be ’live bait’ for your ’Master’ once!"

After breakfast, Lu Qing left the Fu Lu with Yan Daoxin and took Zhu Yu and the rune out of the inn.

This time, they didn’t wander aimlessly but specifically inquired about the pharmacies in the city, heading over whenever they found one.

Fan Country has always been famous for its various witchcraft medicines, and for many years, it has been the most revered place for witch doctors and witchcraft medicine among the Four Seas and Five Countries. And now, they are in the capital of Fan Country, where the number of pharmacies is likely the highest in any part of Bhutan.

After visiting two pharmacies, Zhu Yu noticed that while common herbs were indeed rare there, the various peculiar witchcraft medicines that Fan Country relied on were not too scarce. The shops had a variety of them, but the prices were simply indescribable.

They certainly were not affordable for ordinary people. Not to mention buying them, just asking about the prices could make one’s heart pound and body ache with distress.

Listening to Lu Qing asking about prices, Zhu Yu felt her heart twitching repeatedly.

Especially since, whether to complete the act or because Lu Qing was genuinely helping Yan Daoxin gather herbs, he not only asked but also chose to buy some of them in bulk.

Although Lu Qing was not as specialized in medicine as Yan Daoxin, he had been taught by the Qi Yun Mountain People. Furthermore, having almost lost his life due to poisoning, he had become quite knowledgeable about the sources and uses of many witchcraft medicines during his recovery period. As they visited a few more shops, he acted with ease, really appearing like a doctor from another country who had come specially out of interest in witch doctors and witchcraft medicine.

However, Lu Qing did not seem very interested in ordinary witchcraft medicines. In every shop, he inquired about some special witchcraft ingredients not commonly found even in Fan Country.

Because what he wanted was truly difficult to obtain, the usual pharmacies had only heard of it, and many shopkeepers had never seen it, so naturally, they had nothing to sell to Lu Qing. They could only point him in the direction of larger, more comprehensive shops.

Thus, they wandered through the streets, moving from place to place.

At first, Zhu Yu didn’t clearly perceive it, but by the time they reached the last and largest pharmacy, even she was quite sure that the three of them were being secretly tailed.

However, judging by Lu Qing’s casual demeanor, he seemed quite satisfied with the situation.

The pharmacy in front of them was undoubtedly the largest in the entire capital. Just the facade was more grandiose than others. There were no attendants at the entrance to greet people, conveying a ’come if you wish, buy if you want’ attitude.

Lu Qing was the first to step inside. The lazy attendant by the door was taken aback and quickly stood up to follow, "What would you like to buy, sirs?"

Though he asked, his tone suggested he didn’t really believe Lu Qing and his group intended to buy medicines and assumed they were just passing by.

Lu Qing ignored him, not even sparing a glance.

The rune cast a cold glance at the attendant, "Call your Shopkeeper." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"You’re from out of town, aren’t you?" the attendant grinned, looking at the three’s clean but simple attires, and seemed to find something amusing in the rune’s words, "Aren’t you familiar with our establishment?

Our Shopkeeper is indeed very busy, not someone you can meet just because you want to."

Lu Qing reached into his chest, and the attendant, upon seeing this, brightened up, looking slightly pleased as if expecting Lu Qing to pull out some silver to tip him.

But instead, after a while, he saw Lu Qing take out a neatly folded piece of paper which looked nothing like a silver note or anything of the sort.

His expression turned disappointed, pursing his lips, his face becoming noticeably colder.

Lu Qing handed the paper to the rune, who nodded, took it, and shook it open in front of the snobbish attendant: "We wish to purchase these items. Regardless of the price, as long as you have them, we can discuss.

If you can make the decision, then it’s fine not to fetch your Shopkeeper. But if you can’t and refuse to call someone who can, we will leave.

After all, these items are either priceless or unpriced. Finding both the goods and agreeable prices is extremely difficult. Given that your shop sees few customers, once we leave, you can slowly wait for the next buyer."

Having said that, the rune was about to take back the paper listing the medicines.

The attendant looked carefully at the medicines listed on the paper. They were indeed items that couldn’t be bought outside and were very expensive.

Leaving aside affordability, those who could come straight here and specifically request these types of medicines weren’t ordinary people.

The attendant dared not neglect further and hurriedly put on a smiling face, "Sir, you see, you’re still a bit hasty. I said, while our Shopkeeper is busy, he must come out to meet esteemed guests visiting.

Please wait a moment, I will fetch the Shopkeeper immediately."