Vili pondered for a moment, then asked Ladas in a tentative tone, "In your shop, do you have any Hemp Grass that’s been dried and ground into a powder?"
Even as he asked, Vili didn’t hold out much hope that Ladas would have any. Aside from its lower price, Hemp Grass, much like Sweet Star Grass, had a very narrow range of applications, so few Herbal Merchants bothered to trade it.
"Hemp Grass?" Ladas frowned, then his eyes suddenly lit up. "Yes, but it’s only been dried, not ground yet. If you need it, I can have Kuer grind it into a powder right now."
Ladas normally wouldn’t have stocked an unmarketable herb like Hemp Grass. However, a few days ago, a ragged old man had come into the shop with a handful, hoping to sell it. Ladas had been in a good mood that day, and taking pity on the man—plus the fact that the herb was indeed quite rare—he had bought it for a low price. Now, from Vili’s tone, it seemed this Hemp Grass might have a major use after all.
"Excellent. In that case, please grind it into a powder and bring it over quickly. And while you’re at it, bring a large basin of fresh water."
Vili hadn’t expected Ladas to actually have Hemp Grass. This would save him a great deal of effort.
Without waiting for Ladas’s command, Kuer immediately jogged out of the courtyard.
In just five or six minutes, he returned carrying a large basin of fresh water. He also pulled out a ceramic jar from inside his clothes. The jar was open, and inside was a pale yellow powder. Vili didn’t deliberately lean in to sniff it, but he could still smell a faint, pungent odor. It was Hemp Grass powder, alright.
"Is this enough?"
Kuer handed the jar filled with Hemp Grass powder to Vili.
Vili glanced at the amount of Hemp Grass powder and nodded. "This is enough."
"Vili, what do you need this Hemp Grass powder for?"
Ladas was perplexed. He had been wracking his brain but simply couldn’t imagine what connection Hemp Grass had with the three types of leaves in the mixture.
Vili didn’t answer Ladas right away. Instead, he poured the entire jar of Hemp Grass powder into the basin of fresh water.
The pale yellow particles made contact with the surface of the water. Instead of sinking immediately, they swelled into tiny bubbles that then burst and dissolved. Although the amount of Hemp Grass powder wasn’t huge, it still dyed the entire basin of water a deep yellow.
Then, as Ladas and Kuer watched with dumbfounded expressions, Vili dumped the entire crate of mixed leaves right into the basin.
"Vili!"
It took a moment for Ladas to snap out of his stupor. He shot to his feet, demanding of Vili in a voice filled with utter shock, "That will make all the herbs lose their active ingredients! What in God’s name are you doing!"
Once the Hemp Grass powder dissolved in the water, it became a medicinal solution. Adding the mixed leaves would trigger a drastic reaction with that solution, causing them to lose all their medicinal efficacy. Even if they were sorted out later, they would be completely useless, as their potency would have entirely dissipated.
Ladas felt blood rush to his head. If not for the sliver of reason telling him the young man before him was Sopps’s brother, he would have thrown a punch. ’This Vili... he’s completely ruined my entire shipment!’
"Vili, what are you..."
Kuer was at a loss. He also couldn’t understand why Vili had made such a reckless move.
’Looking at Ladas’s enraged and desperate expression, Vili could tell this Herbal Merchant hadn’t learned a single useful thing despite being in the business for over ten years.’
"Relax, Ladas."
Vili’s expression remained calm, showing no emotional fluctuation from Ladas’s accusation. "First, I need to correct a misconception you have. Not all herbs lose their active ingredients when mixed with a solution."
"What are you saying?"
Seeing Vili’s perfectly nonchalant demeanor, Ladas was momentarily baffled.
"A solution made from Hemp Grass powder won’t cause a loss of potency when mixed with seventeen specific common herbs. Among those seventeen are the Mam Grass, Vine Fragrance, and Vodka Leaf we need to sort."
Vili explained methodically, "When soaked in the Hemp Grass solution, Mam Grass, Vine Fragrance, and Vodka Leaf all undergo a temporary color change. Mam Grass’s surface will turn pale yellow, Vine Fragrance’s will turn dark green, and Vodka Leaf will appear somewhat whitish. This color change doesn’t cause the slightest loss in their active ingredients. Once they’re dried out again, they’ll return to their original colors."
"But... why does that change happen?"
It was Kuer who asked, as he couldn’t grasp the principles behind Vili’s explanation at all.
"All three herbs—Mam Grass, Vine Fragrance, and Vodka Leaf—contain a compound called Lanxiang Su. However, the concentration of Lanxiang Su is different in each one. This is what causes them to react differently and change to different colors in the Hemp Grass solution. That’s the principle I’m using to sort them."
Vili explained it in the simplest terms he could.
"Vili, my friend... you also know Pharmacy?"
By now, Ladas had recovered from his shock. He looked at Vili with some hesitation.
Pharmacy was the most profound and extensive specialized discipline within herbal lore, accessible only to nobles and a very small number of commoners. Only the major Herbal Merchants could afford to hire Alchemists as consultants, paying exorbitant fees for their services. ’As for a small-time Herbal Merchant like me,’ Ladas thought, ’an Alchemist wouldn’t even give me a second glance.’
"I’m just familiar with the properties of certain plants. I don’t actually know Pharmacy."
Vili was telling the truth. He was genuinely clueless about processes within Pharmacy like formulation and development.
Ladas nodded slowly, then gave an embarrassed smile. He was keenly aware of how inappropriate his earlier outburst had been. ’This is the price of ignorance,’ he thought.
"I’m so sorry, Vili. I..."
Ladas started to apologize.
"It was my fault for being so abrupt. I should have explained it to you before I did anything."
Vili gave Ladas an out, sparing them both from further awkwardness.
Kuer’s way of looking at Vili changed once again. ’The neighbor’s kid I haven’t seen in so long... he’s become someone I can’t even begin to understand.’ For a moment, he even felt that Vili was more impressive than his older brother, Sopps.
"We can pour the water out of the basin now."
Vili went over himself and tilted the basin, and the deep yellow solution began to pour out.
Ladas’s heart was hammering in his chest; the future of his shop was on the line. Even though Vili had explained the principle, he wouldn’t be able to rest easy until he saw the results with his own eyes.
As Ladas watched with bated breath, the water continued to drain from the basin. Soon, it was empty, revealing three types of leaves, each a distinct color.