Shen Qing's eyes were slightly red-rimmed. As she accepted the old woman's solemn bow, a complex mix of emotions welled up in her heart. The confusion and loneliness of her vagrant years seemed to find a home at last in this very moment.
Life in Taoyuan Village quietly settled into a regular routine, and Shen Qing and Nian'an stayed. Every morning, sunlight streamed into the apothecary, and Shen Qing followed Duzhong in studying the Yue Family manuscripts, exploring how to harness and control the power of the Scent Vein. The texts on the manuscripts were archaic and abstruse, recording ancient secrets of the aroma arts—from the processing of spices and the neutralization of the Incense Poison to the methods of wielding the Scent Vein's power. Every single page held the wisdom of the Yue Family ancestors.
At first, the Incense Poison in Nian'an's body would still occasionally stir, causing her mild discomfort. But under the meticulous care of Shen Qing and Duzhong, the poison gradually calmed down, blending into her bloodline and transforming into a faint, gentle warmth. Young as she was, Nian'an displayed astonishing talent and possessed a superhumanly keen perception of the Scent Vein's power.
Chapter 58