Chapter Twenty-One: The Essence-Nourishing Pill

Zhang Nian-kang was even more incredulous. “You are the one Qing Song spoke of, the disciple of Master Pine and Crane?”

It was said that Master Pine and Crane had lived for over a century—how could his disciple be so youthful?

The guards, upon hearing the name of Grandmaster, exchanged uneasy glances; their swords dropped involuntarily, no longer daring to threaten Lin You.

Such was the awe inspired by a Grandmaster.

Even a mere title could command reverence throughout the land.

Within the vast domain of Great Yu, stretching a million li, there existed only eight Grandmasters; each one was a living legend.

At such a level, their true essence was forged to perfection, surging like great rivers; every gesture carried a power akin to shifting mountains and overturning valleys.

They had transcended the realm of ordinary mortals.

Even the Emperor of Yu, upon meeting a Grandmaster, would not dare to be disrespectful, but would show utmost reverence.

Lin You found himself surprised by their reaction.

Though he had once traveled the world with Master Pine and Crane, the elder had already reached a venerable age, rarely displaying his abilities.

Most of what he had taught Lin You were the arts of alchemy and medicine, not martial prowess.

Thus, Lin You had never fully grasped what the title “Grandmaster” truly meant.

Suddenly, Zhang Nian-kang stepped forward, gazing deeply at Lin You as if to commit his features to memory.

He bowed respectfully and said, “So you are indeed the esteemed disciple of Master Pine and Crane! I beg your pardon. My sister and I came to the mountain to pay our respects; these few carts of humble gifts are but a token of our sincerity. Please accept them, Master!”

Lin You gave him no heed.

He had gathered many herbs for nourishing the spirit that morning and was intent on returning to refine them, to fully heal the wounds upon his soul. He wished not to be delayed.

With a wave of his hand, he summoned the mountain’s mist with the power of his domain, enveloping all present in a shroud.

Dense white fog rendered the surroundings utterly invisible.

The guards were alarmed, rushing to protect Zhang Nian-kang behind their blades, eyes wide with fear.

But Zhang Nian-kang pushed them aside, calling anxiously, “Sister Xi-yue! Sister Xi-yue!”

His cries vanished into the mist, swallowed without echo.

The leader grabbed him, fear written across his face. “Young master, let us withdraw! Miss Liu is unlikely to be in danger—let us report to the lord first!”

Without waiting for Zhang Nian-kang’s protest, several guards seized him and began searching for an escape.

…

“Miss Liu, do not worry. They will be unharmed—I have merely sent them down the mountain,” Lin You said, then spoke no more, slinging his bamboo basket onto his back and continuing up the slope.

Wherever he walked, the mist parted, revealing an ancient stone path.

The morning dew had not yet dried; droplets fell from leaves and branches, transforming into wisps of fog as they touched the ground, merging with the air.

“Miss Liu, hurry and follow!” Bai Yi called, seeing Liu Xi-yue still stunned in place.

Unlike her aversion to Zhang Nian-kang, she felt a deep sympathy for Liu Xi-yue, seeing her as yet another pitiable girl deceived by hypocrites.

Xi-yue recovered from her shock, watching Lin You’s silhouette fade into the mist. After some hesitation, she followed.

Though his methods were uncanny, she felt he meant her no harm.

Yet worry lingered—what if her brother suffered some injury?

Bai Yi saw her anxiety and quickly comforted her. “Don’t fret! Since the master said he’d send them down the mountain, he won’t harm them. By the way, I heard you came here to visit him?”

Xi-yue felt her heart ease as Bai Yi chatted beside her, and gradually she began to converse.

The two girls and the fox slowly vanished into the depths of the mountain mist…

…

At the foot of Red Pine Mountain.

Zhang Nian-kang’s party stumbled out of the mountain, exhausted and disheveled.

The leader glanced back at the swirling clouds atop Red Pine Mountain, his eyes full of dread.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and whispered, “Young master, that sorcerer must possess illusionary arts. With Miss Liu trapped on the mountain, we must seek the lord’s aid at once!”

Zhang Nian-kang cast a resentful look at Red Pine Mountain. “Back to the manor!”

They abandoned their carts and belongings, mounted the fastest horses, and galloped to the city.

Two incense sticks’ time later, within the Zhang estate.

Zhang Zong-cheng stood with hands behind his back, listening to Zhang Nian-kang recount their experience.

When he heard of the white fox attacking Zhang Nian-kang, his eyes narrowed slightly.

All beasts of the wild were difficult to tame—even as a martial master, he could not force them into submission.

Otherwise, he would have used the white fox as a pawn to probe the mountain’s secrets.

Yet now, the fox had been subdued by the stranger.

Such a feat could only be achieved by a Grandmaster.

It seemed there was no doubt about the origins of Master Pine and Crane’s disciple.

“Draw his likeness, then go rest,” Zhang Zong-cheng said calmly.

“What about my sister?” Zhang Nian-kang asked, unwilling.

“Be patient. The situation is unclear—wait a few days. With this portrait, the Listening Wind Pavilion will uncover his background and Master Pine and Crane’s location within half a month,” Zhang Zong-cheng rebuked.

His rise had always been guided by caution and deliberation.

For the strength of a Grandmaster was truly terrifying.

Were it not for the will of Lord Wei, he would never seek to provoke one.

Zhang Nian-kang could only sketch Lin You’s features.

His skill in painting was considerable, and soon Lin You’s ethereal bearing appeared vividly on the paper.

Zhang Zong-cheng took the portrait, his eyes narrowing unconsciously.

Such a young Daoist—and possessed of extraordinary arts! Truly a prodigy.

If not eliminated soon, he would surely become a formidable enemy.

A murderous glint flickered in his gaze as he studied the youthful figure.

…

Red Pine Dao Palace.

Lin You brought Liu Xi-yue to the grand hall, then plunged into the alchemy chamber.

It was a modest room, dominated by a tall bronze cauldron carved with sun, moon, and stars.

Scattered nearby were heaps of herbs, nurtured by the spiritual energy of Red Pine Mountain.

Some had aged for over a century; only as master of the Dao site could Lin You find such treasures hidden in deep ravines.

The alchemical fire blazed fiercely, filling the room with heat.

Lin You followed the methods in his memory, forming seals with his fingers to guide the fire with true energy, employing Master Pine and Crane’s secret extraction technique to draw out the essence of the herbs.

Clouds of multicolored medicinal vapor rose above the cauldron, coalescing into a mist that filled the chamber with a refreshing fragrance—just inhaling it brought vitality.

At that moment, Master Jade Embryo, his hair white as snow, stood by the furnace, stunned by the sight.

His junior, Jade Morning, had borrowed the chamber and cauldron for alchemy; he’d thought nothing of it, expecting only ordinary pills.

Yet the techniques that followed overturned all his decades of experience.

Normally, alchemy involved steaming and boiling to extract the properties, blending with auxiliary herbs, kneading the paste, and forming pills for storage.

But Lin You, with ever-changing seals, used true energy to extract the essence, balanced yin and yang with precise heat, and finally forged the pills in roaring flames.

Such a method was unheard of—like horns hung on a nimble antelope, elusive and mysterious.

With a muffled bang, Lin You slapped open the lid.

Nine emerald pills shot upward, hovering in midair under Lin You’s true energy, spinning and swirling.

“Brother, what are these pills?” Master Jade Embryo asked, shaken.

“They are called Essence Nourishing Pills,” Lin You replied with a smile.

He swiftly produced several jade bottles, carefully storing the pills to preserve their potency.