Chapter 241

The eastern horizon was just beginning to turn the color of a fish's belly as Ye Fan stood before the gate of the Alchemy Pavilion. He had not slept all night, and the warmth of the Longevity Fruit in his sleeve radiated through the fabric against his palm—a heat three parts warmer than body heat, pulsing like a living creature. The door creaked open. Master Yun stepped out holding a earthenware bowl, and his murky eyes brightened when he saw who it was. "Young friend Ye is even earlier than this old man," he muttered, blowing on the medicinal broth in his bowl. "Seeing you carry the sheepskin scroll back to your room yesterday, I guessed you would come looking for me. Come in." The Alchemy Pavilion was filled with the scent of pine soot, and twelve bronze lamps sat on the desk, their wicks burning with bean-sized flames. Just as Ye Fan placed the Longevity Fruit onto the sandalwood tray, Master Yun was wiping his hands with a rag, his movements coming to an abrupt halt. He narrowed his aged eyes and leaned in close, his withered fingers hovering three inches above the fruit before suddenly pulling back to rummage through the medicine cabinet—with a rattling clash, he fished out a pitch-black stone.