Liu Rumeng nodded. To put it simply, it was just like cooking—the exact same ingredients and proportions could still yield completely different flavors.
"One of the key secrets lies in the fire."
The Medical Saint walked over to a stove, added something into the flames, and in the time it took to turn around, the fire suddenly surged over a human's height. Its color was dazzling and bright like the sunset, yet strangely, she could feel no heat at all.
"This is the Cooling Fire. Although it looks intensely hot, its actual temperature is only half of normal."
Next, with a wave of his right hand, he sprinkled something into the hearth, and the flames abruptly shrank, a streak of red mixed within the white light. "This is the Extreme Fire. It is used for refining potent medicinal pills and is the hardest type of fire to control."
What piqued Liu Rumeng's curiosity was what he was holding in his hand.
The Medical Saint walked over and opened his palm, revealing only a small pinch of fiery powder.
Using just this single material, he could conjure up all sorts of varied flames. Liu Rumeng found it remarkable.
"Girl, you have a lot to learn, so don't rush. Tonight, read this book first. Learn to walk before you think about flying."
Liu Rumeng took the book and left.
The Medical Saint walked outside the door and looked off into the distance. "Where is my Sanyuehong?"
Someone came walking out from the moonlight, dressed in fluttering white robes with a light step. A white lotus faintly flickered between his brows, his thin lips curved slightly, and slender fingers held a sparkling white wine flask. "If I didn't give you this wine, you'd probably hold a grudge against me for the rest of your life."
"How would I dare hold a grudge against the Fourth Prince? With just a single word from you, my old life would be forfeit."
"The Medical Saint isn't even afraid of His Majesty, so why would he fear a lowly prince like me?" As he spoke, the man had already approached. Even through the flask, the rich aroma of Sanyuehong wafted out, making the Medical Saint's mouth water uncontrollably.
The man tossed the flask to the Medical Saint, who immediately uncorked it and took a gulp. The intoxicating liquor swept him away with delight. "Good wine, truly good wine! I have searched this world over, and yet the Prince's Sanyuehong remains the most mellow and fragrant."
The man sat down on a chair, his white robes bathed in the bright, glowing moonlight. He hooked his lips into a faint smile, his eyes as deep as a quiet pool, as if he could see through all things in the world. "There is no need for such formality between us. You can just call me Qing'an."
"Qing'an, for the sake of my good disciple, you were willing to part with your Sanyuehong, took the risk of placing a Spirit Companion, and now you've even stolen that old Emperor's treasure and given it to her. What on earth are you trying to do?"
"You know very well in your heart, why bother asking?" Wenren Qing'an half-curved his lips in an ambiguous smile.
"You can't possibly have taken a fancy to that girl?!"
Although the girl was decent enough, what kind of person was Wenren Qing'an?!
How could he possibly fall for such a little girl?
They had known each other for years, yet all he knew was that the man was the Fourth Prince of Hong Country; everything else remained a mystery. A man of such peerless elegance should, by all accounts, fall in love with the number one beauty in the world or something similar. His disciple might be clever, but with that scrawny little frame and that little face... no matter how he looked at it, she was still just a yellow-haired girl.
"Is a mere appearance enough to catch the eye of Wenren Qing'an?" Besides, who could possibly know the brilliance hidden beneath that little face?
He was even afraid that one day, when she broke out of her cocoon to become a butterfly, countless men would fall head over heels for her.
How arrogant of a man!
"This is the first time I've ever seen you make a face like that over a woman. Tell me quickly, does my disciple know you have feelings for her?"
Wenren Qing'an smiled faintly and said nothing, suddenly rising to his feet. "I'm going to go check on my little one."
He wondered if she had missed him.
Holding the wine flask, the Medical Saint felt goosebumps break out all over his body from the smile at the corner of Wenren Qing'an's mouth, and he hurriedly chugged two mouthfuls of wine to calm his nerves.
Meanwhile, after returning from the alchemy room to her bedroom, Liu Rumeng anxiously opened the book and began reading earnestly.
It was an ancient text introducing medicinal herbs, and many of the plants within it were ones she had never even seen before.
These herbs were different from the ones in the Medical Saint's storeroom; they were specifically used for refining pills. Half-plant and half-beast, they defied standard classification.
Take the cat-ear flower, for example: its leaves could transform into sharp claws tipped with poison, while its blossoms resembled cat ears and were adept at emitting a woman's cries in the night to lure men in and drain their vital essence. Neither its stem nor its leaves were edible, but its pistil was a top-tier seasoning that, when mixed with other medicines, could regulate breathing, relieve pain, and dissipate blood stasis.
She flipped further down.
The Demon Grass loved to dwell in cliffside caves and was skilled at disguise. Its stem and leaves were toxic, extending long tentacles to capture prey; it especially loved hunting low-level spirit beasts. Its roots could serve as a base ingredient and constituted a superb medicinal herb.
So the Demon Grass that had attacked Daxue and Sanxue was actually a medicinal ingredient used in pill refining! At the time, she had thought the Demon Grass was just another kind of spirit beast—there were simply too many things in this world.
Once her body recovered, she would definitely have to catch a few Demon Grasses and refine some pills as a gift for Daxue.
Liu Rumeng put the book down, her heart beginning to yearn for Mother and Xiaoqing.
Although she had only known them for a short time, she already regarded them as her own family. Moreover, this was intertwined with her emotions as Yang An; by now, she could no longer tell whether she was truly Liu Rumeng or Yang An.
Liu Rumeng sighed, got up, and walked over to the window.
Hearing her sigh, Qingye curiously stepped onto the window sill, tilted its little head, and blinked its bead-like eyes incessantly. "Master, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, just feeling a bit homesick."
This feeling was truly unfamiliar, yet rather pleasant.
"Where is Master's home?"
"Home, well..." Liu Rumeng thought for a moment. "The Realm of Ice and Snow."
From the very moment Yang Zhengchun drove Yang An and her mother out of the Yang Estate, that place was no longer her home.
"Then why doesn't Master go back?"
"When you give your word to someone, how can you go back on it?" She had promised the Medical Saint a full month, and a month it would be.
During these past fifteen days, she had repeatedly sent Baoma to deliver letters. The letters only said that she was studying outside and would be returning soon, and Mother Yang had always encouraged her to study hard. Yet with half a month still remaining in the one-month term, she had already begun to miss home.
Qingye didn't quite understand, but it flew onto her shoulder anyway, gently rubbing against her head to comfort her.
Liu Rumeng stroked its little head, about to close the window and return inside, when her footsteps suddenly paused.
"Since you're here as a guest, why bother hiding?"
Wenren Qing'an was slightly startled. In her current condition, it was utterly impossible for her to detect his whereabouts. Could it be that in the few days he had been away, she had already nursed her body back to health?
Such a broken physique—even with his personal assistance, it would take a year and a half to recover.
How could she have completed her recuperation in just a few short days?
Liu Rumeng looked out into the night scenery, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.
Could she have misheard?
Even though that aura was extremely well-concealed, she could sense someone standing in the courtyard.
Qingye paced back and forth on her shoulder, mimicking human speech: "Since you're here as a guest, why don't you show yourself at once!"
With a soft chuckle, Wenren Qing'an stepped gracefully out from the moonlight.
His moon-colored robe was as pristine and bright as silver, making him look as though he had stepped out of a lunar palace. A faint smile hung on his incomparably handsome face, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, and his eyes—as deep as a cold abyss—seemed to see through everything, leaving anyone caught in his gaze with nowhere to hide.
Between his sparkling white brows, a white lotus rotated faintly.
It was him!
Liu Rumeng stiffened, instinctively taking a step back.
How did he know she was here?
Did the thing he planted in her come with a GPS tracking function?
Watching her reaction, Wenren Qing'an spoke in a teasing tone, "Girl, are you afraid of me?"
Liu Rumeng raised her head; you could lose the argument, but you couldn't lose your posture. "Does Your Excellency always make a habit of dropping in uninvited? You certainly have the demeanor of a common thief."
Faced with Liu Rumeng's taunt, Wenren Qing'an merely smiled faintly.
His sleeve brushed past his waist, kicking up gentle ripples of breeze, and a serene fragrance drifted on the wind, floating straight into Liu Rumeng's nose.
It was a very crisp and clean scent, resembling a lotus yet not quite a lotus, much like the man himself—cold and detached from the mortal world like a lonely moon in the high heavens.
Liu Rumeng didn't dislike the scent, but she hated the man!
In the blink of an eye, Wenren Qing'an had already walked up to the window, his deep gaze fixed on Liu Rumeng's face. "I haven't seen you in a few days. Have you missed me?"
Miss your big head!
Liu Rumeng snapped back to her senses, the corners of her mouth twitching downward.
Why don't I plant something on you and see if you miss me?
Wenren Qing'an didn't get angry; instead, he found it amusing. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to him like this.
Though Liu Rumeng's face was half-concealed by a veil, and the exposed skin was sallow and rough, her pair of eyes were exceptionally clear and mischievous. How could anyone not love that?
His right hand reached toward Liu Rumeng's face, but she dodged out of the way. "I miss you every single day."
Liu Rumeng rubbed her arms. Did this man's personality style change a bit too fast?
When she first met him, he was clearly a cold-and-lofty boy; how had he turned into a passionately devoted type in just a few short days?
Did he pick up the wrong script?
Miss her?
Liu Rumeng let out a dry laugh. "Your Excellency probably just finds me, this little toy, very entertaining."
"Why demean yourself so? Come here." Wenren Qing'an reached out a hand toward her.
Instead of stepping forward, Liu Rumeng retreated. This man was too dangerous; if she couldn't beat him, she could at least run away.
Just as she prepared to slip away, her waist felt warm, followed by a blur before her eyes. The world turned upside down as someone hoisted her upside down over his shoulder.
It was the first time Liu Rumeng had ever been slung over a shoulder like a sack of grain. For a moment, she was both angry and annoyed, and she threw a punch with her right hand toward the man's back.
Her wrist grew warm as it was gently clasped by the man's thick palm and pulled to his lips. "Why can't you ever learn to behave?"
"Put me down!" Liu Rumeng said coldly.
As soon as she finished speaking, another dizzying spin of the world occurred, and Liu Rumeng found herself sitting in the man's lap instead.
His handsome face lowered, phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, and the deep, scattered starlight fell into his dark, unfathomable eyes. The corners of his lips curved upward, his smile carrying a hint of unbridled evil charm. "As you wish."
Restrained by him and unable to move, Liu Rumeng simply stopped struggling.
"Speak, what is your objective?" Teasing her was merely for a momentary novelty; once the novelty wore off, he would naturally forget her. She might as well just be obedient and let him grow tired of her sooner.
How could Wenren Qing'an not understand her intentions? His thin lips curved slightly, and the white lotus between his brows faintly emerged. "I heard you've been learning quite a few things from the Medical Saint recently."
Liu Rumeng couldn't even be bothered to ask how he knew.
"I've learned a lot, but I can do very little."
The little thing was certainly being modest; the Medical Saint had told him everything—that this girl was a once-in-a-century genius and was about to squeeze him dry of all his medical knowledge.
Wenren Qing'an closed his eyes, resting his right hand on her pulse. After a long moment, he gently let go.
There was no improvement; it was still as chaotic as before.
Yet within that chaos, a strange power seemed to be lying dormant in secret, waiting for an opportunity to make its move.
Wenren Qing'an withdrew his hand.
Liu Rumeng said, "I'm not going to die anytime soon, so you can rest assured."
Instead, she saw Wenren Qing'an break into an arrogant laugh. "The woman chosen by Wenren Qing'an—even the King of Hell himself what can he do to you?"
Such an arrogant man!
Spring Examination
"It seems you don't believe it." Wenren Qing'an's lips curled upward, and he suddenly grabbed Liu Rumeng and flew out.
The night was boundless, the vast earth dyed in a layer of clear moonlight.
Wenren Qing'an didn't use a mount; instead, he held Liu Rumeng and soared through the forest.
Mountains, rivers, and hundreds of streams flashed past below them, the vast earth turning into a backdrop.
Qingye chirped excitedly without stopping, flapping its small wings in an attempt to fly alongside them, but alas, it was still too small, and after flying for a little while, it dropped back down to land on Wenren Qing's shoulder.
Before long, the two landed on a mountain peak where everything in sight was covered in a blanket of pristine white snow.
The Realm of Ice and Snow!
Liu Rumeng pulled away from his hand, couldn't help running a few steps forward, and immediately spotted that inconspicuous little wooden cabin.
He had actually brought her back home.
Liu Rumeng turned her head, and Wenren Qing'an smiled. "Go on."
Without overthinking it, Liu Rumeng ran all the way to the front door of her house.
Before she even pushed the door open, she heard the conversation between Xiaoqing and Mother.
"I wonder how Xiauan is doing with her studies... *cough, cough*."
"Mistress, you can rest easy. Young Miss is smart, she'll definitely do very well. Your health isn't good, so please don't dwell on it so much."
"How can I not worry? Xiauan's health is poor, and she has no spiritual power. Will she be bullied out there?"
"Mistress, the Young Miss is blessed and will naturally be fine. Besides, the Young Miss's health has improved a great deal; who knows, she might even be able to take part in the exams next month."
"*cough, cough*, Xiaoqing, I know you're just trying to comfort me. With Xiauan's aptitude, how could she possibly take the exams? I'm afraid she won't even qualify for the preliminary selection."
"Mistress, you must have faith in the Young Miss. Moreover, if the Young Miss passes the Spring Examination, she'll never have to suffer bullying from others again. Who knows, the Master might even remember the Young Miss and welcome her back to the estate."
"Don't you ever say such things in front of Xiauan. I know her temperament best; that Yang Zhengchun has thoroughly broken her heart. Even if she had the chance, she wouldn't go back."
"Mistress, even if you don't consider the Young Miss, you must think of your own health."
"Say no more, I know my own body. I'm afraid my time is running out; why burden Xiauan any further? Once I pass away, Xiauan will be free, and she won't ever have to care about the Yang family again."
Liu Rumeng silently backed away.
Mother Yang endured humiliation and carried heavy burdens for her sake; how could she still have time for self-pity? She had made up her decision: she was going back to the Yang Estate, and she would make Yang Zhengchun welcome them back in grand style!
Her waist grew warm, and a crisp, clean fragrance drifted to her nose. She didn't even need to look to know whose it was.
"Not going in to take a look?"
She shook her head. "My return will only cause them worry."
Mother Yang might just assume she wanted to come home seeking comfort because she had been bullied.
Wenren Qing'an lowered his head. The woman in his arms was unusually quiet, yet her face was filled with determination, and her eyes were incomparably calm.
His heart suddenly skipped a beat. He carried Liu Rumeng and flew to the top of the peak, caging her within his embrace. "What do you want to do?"
Liu Rumeng raised her head. "What is the Spring Examination?"
Wenren Qing'an raised his right hand to support his chin, while his left hand gently stroked her long hair. "You only need to ask Qingye for such simple questions."
"Master just needs to ask me, Qingye knows everything." Qingye hopped and skipped as it climbed onto her shoulder. "Qingye is so smart."
With that, it shook its head with the posture of an old pedant: "The Spring Examination is held once a year. Those selected become eligible to take the academy's assessment. Those who pass the assessment get the opportunity to become disciples under the top experts of Hong Country. Graduates are awarded a jade belt; a single-bead jade belt is equivalent to a seventh-rank official post. Although it comes with no actual government position, it is boundless glory, which is why so many people sign up every year."
Liu Rumeng grew interested. If she could manage to bring back a few jade belts, Yang Zhengchun would definitely look at Mother Yang in a different light.
"Are there any conditions?"
"First, you have to pass the preliminary selection. Those who pass the preliminary move on to the secondary selection, and those who pass the secondary selection finally enter the official examination. Master, Qingye advises you not to take it; you won't even pass the preliminary selection."
Liu Rumeng was startled. "Why?"
"You don't have any spiritual power at all. How could you possibly pass the test of the Spirit-Testing Stone?"
"The Spirit-Testing Stone?"
"The Spirit-Testing Stone can measure the strength and weakness of one's spiritual power. Only those whose spiritual power breaks through the fifth stage can pass the preliminary selection. Master, your Zen Sect is even sealed off—where would you get any spiritual power?"
"Little thing, is that how you sing down your own master?" Liu Rumeng flicked its little head.
Qingye looked aggrieved. "It's the truth, though! Master will only get laughed at if she goes."
"How much time is left?"
"One month." Wenren Qing'an answered in Qingye's place.
Liu Rumeng murmured softly, "One month..." Not too long, but not too short either.
If she could find a way to unseal the Zen Sect, there might still be hope.
"Girl, if you want to do it, then do it."
Liu Rumeng looked at him. Wenren Qing'an leaned half-against the cliff edge, a peerlessly brilliant and bright smile blooming on his lips, the white lotus between his brows faintly flickering. His low, magnetic voice was exceptionally sexy: "No one can stop you, can they?"
He understood her too well. Who could possibly stop her from doing what she wanted to do? And as for him, he had no intention of stopping her either.
"I suddenly realized that you're not actually as annoying as all that," Liu Rumeng smiled.
"Ah, getting a compliment from you is truly not easy," Wenren Qing'an sighed.
Liu Rumeng secretly curled her lip, suddenly breaking free from his embrace and strolling over to the cliff edge.
How easy was it to recover her spiritual power? Given her current state of injuries, she needed time to recuperate anyway. To condition her body and unseal the Zen Sect in just one short month—the days ahead were going to be difficult.
"Don't you need my help?"
Liu Rumeng replied, "Your Excellency's conditions are too harsh; I wouldn't be able to manage them."
Ask him for help? Who knew what kind of inexplicable conditions he would propose! Besides, as for the things Liu Rumeng wanted to do, so what if it meant defying the heavens?
What was the point of borrowing someone else's hands? What she wanted, she would get on her own!
"I haven't even brought it up yet; how do you know you can't handle it?" Wenren Qing'an teased.
"What else do you want to plant inside my body?"
So she still held onto her lingering resentment over the Spirit Companion.
However, Wenren Qing'an did not plan on telling her the truth so early.
The so-called pursuit was naturally a process of you running and me chasing that made it the most exhilarating.
"If you need help, you can have Qingye come find me anytime."
Hearing her name called, Qingye immediately flew onto his shoulder, rubbing its head against his face without stopping while its little tail wagged frantically.
Leaving Liu Rumeng speechless at the sight.
...And here she thought White Phoenixes were famous for their loyalty... Heh.
The moment it saw a handsome man, it forgot who its master was!
The corners of Liu Rumeng's lips curved upward, a flash of confident radiance deep in her eyes. "It looks like Qingye is going to have a lot of free time lately."
Wenren Qing'an suddenly burst into laughter. "Very well, I shall watch how you stir up the winds and clouds!"
...
That night, Liu Rumeng returned to the Medical Saint's dwelling.
Wenren Qing'an stood outside the window with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of elegance. "You really don't need me?"
The answer he got was the window slamming shut with a bang.
Having hit a wall, Wenren Qing'an wasn't annoyed; instead, he turned to look at little Qingye. "Your new master's temper isn't very good."
The window opened once more: "Qingye, if you don't come in right now, you can leave with him!"