The group moved to the guest hall within Yaoshan Sect.

Jin Ming, Ning He, and that senior brother were the first to notice Lu Wu, whose long hair reached his waist.

It wasn’t just his appearance—his features were too soft, his long hair too striking. Yet strangely, despite his gentle demeanor, he didn’t appear effeminate at all.

A man like a spring breeze.

Besides Lu Wu, Baixing was equally eye-catching. Compared to the long-haired beauty, this one seemed less approachable, a hint of indifference lingering between his brows. Only when Lu Wu looked at him could one glimpse a rare hint of warmth in his eyes.

The remaining figure, another senior from Yuanqing Mountain, was quite familiar. He was the great-uncle of the Yaoshan Sect, his portrait still hanging in the library.

Meanwhile, their own elders and valley master stood rigidly to one side, awaiting instructions.

“Disciples pay respects to the Ancestor,” the three declared in unison.

“Honored Elders, these are the three disciples involved in the incident,” the elder said, clasping his hands. “We humbly request your guidance.”

Jin Ming had been the most gifted alchemist disciple in Yaoshan Sect. Both he and the Valley Master had intended to cultivate him intensively. Unfortunately, his temperament had grown stubborn and unruly. This setback had severely tempered the youngster’s arrogance, leaving him looking noticeably more subdued.

Ning He, too, was a master of the Thousand Machinery Arts. Had the Valley Master not wished to keep him for a few more years, he would have long since sent Ning He to the Celestial Star Sect.

Such promising young talents, yet both proved troublesome. They had offended a great power and suffered greatly as a result.

“Baixing, go check on them.”

“Understood.” Without further ado, Baixing flicked a strand of light from his fingertip. Before the other disciples could react, the light surged into their foreheads. Within moments, it had scanned them from head to toe.

“Nothing…” Baixing began to report, but suddenly, the spiritual light seemed to relay feedback. He furrowed his brow slightly. “There is indeed something amiss.”

Memories reside within the mind, yet traces of tampering were evident in their brains.

“To erase a person’s memory, one must either deliver a crushing blow to the head or… perform a soul-searching seal.” The former risks death, the latter risks the soul’s complete annihilation.

Yet now, all of them unanimously lacked memories of that hour. Their heads showed no injury, and regarding their souls… he could find no explanation.

But precisely because neither seemed to be the issue, that was the greatest problem.

“That person must have given us something. We have no memory of what happened before or after taking it. We only remember excruciating pain—pain that lasted three days, nearly killing us, before it finally eased.” Ning He spoke softly, still visibly shaken by the memory of that agony.

Jin Ming added, ” It felt like our hearts were being carved out. We didn’t feel the pain while it was happening, but when we woke up after it was done, that’s when the agony hit.“

”Memory erasure, regardless of the method, always causes pain,“ Baixing stated matter-of-factly. ”The pain manifests only after the memory is gone. It’s likely the potion contained pain-numbing and hallucinogenic ingredients. They temporarily numbed your pain receptors.”

The elder and several disciples nodded in agreement.

“Most crucially,” Baixing frowned, “that segment of your memories is blank even at the soul level. A pill that acts upon the soul… This person is a master.”

A remarkably skilled master.

As far as he knew, substances capable of affecting soul memories could cause anything from losing one’s three souls and seven spirits to complete annihilation of the soul. For alchemists, such a pill could be classified as a forbidden substance.

“He knew this forbidden substance would cause your amnesia, and he knew its effects wouldn’t kill you. “ Baixing continued, ”Or perhaps he didn’t know if it could kill you. Ultimately, he didn’t care whether you lived or died.“

”I lean toward the former,“ Lu Wu picked up Baixing’s thread. ”To take their memories without taking their lives—mastering that precise balance is the most difficult part.“

Baixing: ”Are you certain?“

Lu Wu pondered, ”Half certain.”

A forbidden drug that doesn’t take lives is actually the most difficult to create. But the half Lu Wu wasn’t certain about was… whether such a master existed in the lower realm.

No, wait.

The lower realm… has such a person.

Lu Wu’s eyes grew deeper. “The alchemist you offended… what was he like? How old was he?”

Baixing sensed the shift in his master’s tone and felt his heart sink. Could it be…

Jin Mingning and the other three exchanged glances before lowering their heads in unison—

“In his twenties. Qin Zhou. Son of a pill merchant. Appearance… fairly handsome.” Jin Ming recalled Qin Zhou.

Lu Wu looked surprised. “In his twenties? He’s not a cultivator?”

“No, he isn’t. Back then, I was so angry I wanted to… take over his family’s business. He accepted my challenge to a pill-making contest, and I lost.” Jin Ming said sheepishly, “Later, I asked around. That Qin Zhou isn’t a cultivator. He was even mocked for failing the talent test.”

Not a cultivator. No talent. Lu Wu immediately dismissed the notion that Qin Zhou could be the village chief.

“Senior, I believe Qin Zhou likely has a master guiding him,” the elder interjected. “According to their accounts, he wasn’t a cultivator until recently. But during my trip to the provincial capital, I uncovered something: Qin Zhou passed the talent test. Not only that, he’s connected with the Snowflake Pavilion, a major pill merchant in the provincial capital, and has begun selling precious-grade elixirs.”

“So either Qin Zhou stumbled upon some extraordinary fortune, or he has a powerful mentor guiding him. No wonder he could produce precious-grade pills to challenge our junior brother. It’s a pity my memory is unclear, but piecing things together with the Patriarch’s deductions, I suspect the one refining those precious-grade pills for the Qin family might not be Qin Zhou at all—but the mysterious figure who’s been hiding behind him all along.” Ning He’s senior brother speculated.

The group continued their discussion, oblivious to the darkening expressions on Baixing and Lu Wu’s faces.

”Wait, what did you just say?“ Baixing spoke up first.

Ninghe’s senior brother stammered, ”…That Qin Zhou had a master guiding him…?”

“Not you,” Baixing fixed his gaze on the elder. “He wasn’t originally a cultivator and failed the talent assessment. Yet the intelligence you gathered claimed he passed it. Is that correct?”

The elder’s heart tightened. “Yes. It happened within a month.”

Is… is that a problem?

Lu Wu and Baixing exchanged a glance.

“Looks like we need to pay Qin Zhou a visit,” Lu Wu murmured. His voice was soft, yet it carried an authority that silenced any dissent.

First, there were soul-altering forbidden drugs.

Then, Marrow Cleansing Pills that reshaped innate talent.

The former might be dismissed as a pill master’s twisted whim—harmless as long as it didn’t cost lives. But the latter… was an absolutely forbidden substance.

The ‘master’ behind Qin Zhou was brewing nothing but banned potions.

Regardless of whether this master had ties to the village chief…

In the present lower realm, pills used for bone marrow cleansing absolutely must not see the light of day.

Just as they spoke, a messenger arrived at the door.

“Valley Master, word from Snowflake Pavilion—Young Master Qin has arrived in the provincial capital. They demand we deliver the alchemical ingredients.”

This report startled the Valley Master.

The elders had only just expressed their desire to meet this Young Master Qin, and now he’s already in the provincial capital?

“Esteemed elders, to cultivate relations with Qin Zhou, Yaoshan Sect previously placed an order for two hundred precious-grade pills with him. His arrival in the provincial capital is likely concerning these two hundred pills,” the Valley Master explained. “If the elders wish to meet him, I shall arrange it immediately.”

“No need. We’ll deliver the pill ingredients to him ourselves. Whether he’s a mule or a horse, we must see him in person to know,” Baixing said.

Lu Wu nodded in agreement.

The emergence of the Marrow Cleansing Pill was a matter of utmost gravity.

“Then please follow me, esteemed elders.” The Valley Master gestured invitingly.

The group followed his lead and exited together.

The Elder attempted to follow, but Jin Ming seized the hem of his robe from behind.

“Master.”

The elder froze. “What is it?”

Jin Ming pressed his lips together. “I didn’t dare say it earlier… The piece of Spirit Focusing Wood you entrusted to me… It’s gone.”

The elder’s eyes widened instantly. “What did you say?!”

Jin Ming lowered his head, unable to speak.

“That piece of Spirit Focusing Wood could refine at least three Core Stabilizing Pills! The pills produced would be no less than third-tier! Do you know what that means? It was your master’s gift to you—your stepping stone to joining a sect when you enter the upper realm someday! And you… You lost it?!” Seeing Jin Ming’s demeanor, the Elder’s heart shattered.

That was Spirit Focusing Wood!

Just that one small piece!

Jin Ming kept his head bowed as he recounted the events: “Master, I can’t recall anything from that entire hour. I only remember searching through my Cosmos Bag afterward and not finding Spirit Focusing Wood. Now that I think about it, could it have been that Qin Zhou…”

The Elder paused, his heart twisting with agony.

Yet he dared say nothing. Whether Qin Zhou or the powerful figure behind him was friend or foe, they clearly weren’t opponents they could afford to provoke.

“Jin Ming, consider it lost. Say no more.” The Elder admonished him, stifling his pain.

Jin Ming snapped his head up, his eyes brimming with confusion. “Master, why… If the elders come, and he’s not a good person, they can certainly retrieve it for me…”

“It won’t be retrieved,” came Lu Wu’s voice from the doorway. “That’s the price you paid for losing the pill battle and still going looking for trouble. To put it bluntly, it’s the money you paid for your life. Or you could consider it the price for that memory-erasing pill.”

The voice remained slow and steady, like a mountain stream flowing down the slopes. Yet in early spring, even a stream still carried the chill of eight parts frost and snow just beginning to melt.

Jin Ming froze. “I…”

He hadn’t told this elder that he’d gone looking for trouble with Qin Zhou after losing the pill battle.

Lu Wu chuckled softly. “Everything in this world has its cause and effect. Sow this cause, reap this effect.”

Jin Ming needn’t say more.

Lu Wu had already pieced together the entire story.

The arrogant prodigy had never suffered defeat in alchemy before. Losing to an unknown rival naturally left him seething with resentment, driving him to confront the challenger. Unfortunately, he ended up humiliated. Now, seeing that his opponent had powerful backing, he naturally sought retribution.

The so-called prodigy was merely someone who’d sat too long in a well, believing the sky ended where it stood.

In Lu Wu’s view, the fact that the other party possessed the skill to refine forbidden elixirs yet only fed them amnesia pills suggested they’d witnessed something they shouldn’t have. That the other party hadn’t taken their lives in the end was, given the circumstances, an act of mercy.

The Valley Master, who had already stepped outside the door, heard these words. He cast a regretful glance at Jin Ming, who stood helplessly inside, silently shaking his head.

The threshold before them seemed like the dividing line between Chu and Han, separating the elders of Yuanqing Mountain from Jin Ming.

Jin Ming stood there. Perhaps he was very close, yet he would likely never set foot on Yuanqing Mountain again.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

The medicinal ingredients were sent directly to the Dragon-Phoenix Pill Shop—the Qin family’s establishment in the provincial capital.

Qin Zhou sat waiting inside the shop.

His appearance gave little hint of the days he’d spent without rest. Dark circles were faintly visible beneath his eyes, yet they shone with a light that could illuminate the night.

“Is Young Master Qin present?” someone called from outside.

Qin Zhou rose and went out. Sure enough, it was the Snowflake Pavilion people, accompanied by those from Yaoshan Sect. The green-robed figures from Yaoshan Sect were still fresh in Qin Zhou’s memory.

But…

Among those in green, two seemed to wear slightly different attire.

Qin Zhou lifted his gaze slightly and noticed that the two differently dressed cultivators wore masks.

The masks depicted two New Year’s paintings of children—bright red faces beaming with joy, as if randomly grabbed from a street vendor’s trinket stall. At least they looked festive.

Yet paired with their finely tailored blue robes, they added a touch of absurdity.

“Young Master Qin, we’ve brought the alchemical ingredients. Please take a look…” the Valley Master began.

Hmm. Aside from the two masked figures, these two middle-aged men belonging to Yaoshan Sect didn’t seem like ordinary disciples either. Qin Zhou’s gaze swept over the four individuals, forming a conclusion in his mind.

“Let’s discuss inside,” Qin Zhou said, withdrawing his gaze and motioning for everyone to enter.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

The Dragon-Phoenix Pill shop was tiny. In the provincial capital, where every inch of land was precious, it looked downright shabby.

Still, it had all the essentials—chairs included.

“Please, take a seat.”

After they sat down, Qin Zhou didn’t want to waste time. He didn’t care who the Yaoshan Sect people had brought with them. His mind was solely on his two hundred portions of pill ingredients.

“I’ve reviewed this order and accepted it. While the delivery time isn’t specified, Dragon Phoenix Pill promises that within three days, we can send someone to Snowflake Pavilion to collect the pills.”

“Three days…” The Valley Master and the Elder exchanged glances, surprised by Qin Zhou’s response. They had deliberately omitted the delivery time to curry favor with him, yet he had committed to delivering the pills within three days…

Setting aside the fact that he hadn’t appreciated their gesture, could two hundred pills really be produced in three days? Was he serious?

Thinking this, the Valley Master couldn’t help but say, “Young Master Qin, we require two hundred pills.”

Qin Zhou nodded. “I understand. Is there anything else?”

The elder cleared his throat. “Young Master Qin, we’re not seeking pre-made pills. We require precious-grade elixirs crafted from our own ingredients.”

Qin Zhou nodded. “Of course.” His gaze then swept over the two elders, his eyes seeming to ask, What else could it be?

The Valley Master and the Elder: “…”

Right, right, right. Truly a ‘master’.

“Young Master Qin says the pills will be ready in three days. When do you plan to begin the refinement? If possible, might we observe the process?” The man wearing the New Year’s painting mask spoke first.

Qin Zhou: “Observing isn’t necessary. I’m not refining any high-grade elixirs; there’s little academic value to it. If you don’t trust me, you may wait outside the alchemy chamber. I will definitely use your elixir ingredients. Business thrives on trust—I would never deceive you with pre-made pills or pass off inferior goods as superior.”

That wasn’t what the Yaoshan Sect people meant!

They recognized Qin Zhou’s abilities—or rather, the power of the master behind him—which was why they’d eagerly offered him money just to befriend him.

But the speaker was a senior from Yuanqing Mountain. Even if they wanted to explain, they could only hold their tongues for now.

“Agreed,” said the man in the New Year’s painting mask.

Qin Zhou nodded. “Then let’s head to the alchemy chamber now.”

Qin Zhou rolled up his wide sleeves. He was in a hurry. After refining these two hundred pills, he intended to return home to tend his fields.

He seemed quite impatient. The others could see his urgency, yet they couldn’t fathom its cause.

No one was pressuring him to produce the pills.

Well, so be it. This was for the best.

It provided the perfect opportunity to test Qin Zhou’s true capabilities.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

To prove he wouldn’t substitute inferior ingredients, Qin Zhou moved all the tools needed for grinding herbs and refining pills out of the alchemy chamber.

Two hundred pills’ worth of ingredients filled two large baskets, not a single one more or less.

Without a word, Qin Zhou began peeling the Spirit Heart Fruits.

His technique was masterful. A light swipe of spiritual energy from his palm across the fruit’s surface, a gentle twist of his fingers gripping the flesh—and out came the intact seed.

Those present noticed he didn’t discard the pits immediately, but instead placed them in an empty basket. It seemed they had another purpose.

Yet no one asked what Qin Zhou intended to do with the pits. No one cared.

Only the long-haired cultivator wearing a mask lingered his gaze on that basket of pits, unable to tear his eyes away for a long while.

“Everyone, if you have no other business, perhaps you could lend a hand?” Qin Zhou paid no mind to their stares. But at his pace, even working swiftly, peeling these two hundred Spirit Heart Fruits would likely take until nightfall.

They come to peel? Though the Valley Master and the Elders could contribute, they hesitated, waiting for the two seniors’ instructions.

Baixing glanced at his dazed master before replying, “I can.”

With that, Baixing walked over, took a Spirit Heart Fruit, and began assisting.

Seeing this, the Valley Master and the Elder hurried forward. “We’ll help too.”

Qin Zhou rose, handing each a small stool.

The stool was passed to the long-haired masked man.

“You want to help?” Qin Zhou asked.

The masked man seemed reluctant to meet his eyes, silently accepting the stool. “…Help.”

Qin Zhou gave him an extra glance but said nothing.

The Valley Master and the Elders witnessed this scene. They all thought to themselves: Qin Zhou is formidable. He took their order, intending to profit from them, and he certainly doesn’t hesitate to put people to work. Even the two elders from Yuanqing Mountain were compelled to peel Spirit Heart Fruits.

But there was nothing they could do. After all, who asked them to insist on watching the alchemy process?

Several people bustled about, grunting and panting.

The old saying held true: many hands make light work. Before long, all two hundred Spirit Heart Fruits were separated—flesh from seed.

Qin Zhou gathered the seeds into his Cosmos Bag, then carried the fruit flesh to the alchemy chamber.

Watching his retreating figure, the Valley Master and the Elder murmured softly, “Qin Zhou sure is quick at peeling Spirit Heart Fruits. Doesn’t seem like a novice alchemist just starting out.”

“But he doesn’t seem like a seasoned expert either.”

After all, his cultivation level was obvious at a glance.

Not even Foundation Establishment yet.

At that moment, Baixing offered a friendly reminder, “But a month ago, he couldn’t even pass the talent assessment. Now he’s already at Qi Cultivation Stage 7.”

Valley Master, Elders: “…”

True.

Baixing turned back and saw his master staring longingly in the direction of the alchemy room. A pang of bitterness immediately welled up in his heart.

He’d never seen his master like this before.

Was it enough that he bore a passing resemblance to someone from the past?

After a moment, Baixing stood and called out toward the alchemy chamber—

“Young Master Qin, might we observe you refine a single furnace? Just one furnace.”

Lu Wu looked at his speaking disciple in surprise.

Baixing remained unflinching.

In the end, he couldn’t bear to see his master like this. Whether that man was truly the revered master his master longed for—asking would reveal the truth.

Soon, the alchemy chamber door opened.

“If it’s just one furnace, then yes,” Qin Zhou’s voice echoed out.

Lu Wu’s heart skipped a beat as he glanced at Baixing.

Baixing, however, smiled and said, “Go ahead, Master.”

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Qin Zhou stood guarding the ignited furnace, hearing footsteps gradually draw nearer.

The long-haired youth wearing the New Year’s painting mask entered, still carrying the small stool from earlier.

Qin Zhou noticed the figure simply sat quietly beside him, moving with utmost stillness. True to their words, they came only to observe his alchemy, showing no intent to disturb.

“Your hair is sweeping the floor,” Qin Zhou suddenly remarked.

Lu Wu: “…My apologies.”

Lu Wu hastily gathered the stray strands of his excessively long hair.

Qin Zhou knew these two masked figures were likely no ordinary mortals—certainly not from the lower realms.

Their aura reminded him of his first encounter with Wen Jue. Wen Jue radiated a more overt sharpness, while these two seemed slightly gentler. Standing closer, he could even detect the faint scent of medicinal herbs on them.

It was a clean fragrance, like one steeped for years in various medicinal herbs and spiritual substances. They were likely formidable figures from some alchemy sect in the upper realms.

The fire within the furnace gradually grew more intense. Qin Zhou snapped out of his reverie and focused intently on his furnace.

Lu Wu did not disturb him, merely sitting nearby and watching.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

From outside the alchemy room window came the playful chatter of fellow disciples.

Young Lu Wu glanced back and saw several disciples perched at the half-open window, discussing him.

“Look! Lu Wu’s helping the village chief refine pills again!” Lu Qi teased.

“How can Fifth Brother sit still like that? Hours on end—doesn’t he get tired?” asked Little Shisi.

“That’s just how alchemists are,” Lu Yi nodded in agreement.

“Hey! Fifth Brother!” Little Shisi spotted him looking their way and called out softly, waving vigorously.

Lu Wu smiled faintly in return, his expression seeming to ask, What are you lot up to?

“Hmph, alchemy must’ve fried his brain—he’s grinning like a fool,” Lu Yi remarked sharply before grabbing Little Shisi. “Come on, let’s head down the mountain and have some fun.”

Lu Qi waved him off. “I’m staying. I’m going find Lu Er—he said he’d teach me swordplay.”

“Swordplay is so boring.”

“What do you know?” Lu Qi lifted his chin, his arched eyebrows and upturned eyes seeming to say, You’re a dog, you wouldn’t understand.

Lu Yi: “…Then I absolutely have to tag along and see for myself.”

“Watch what?”

Lu Yi draped an arm over Lu Qi’s shoulder, eyes crinkling with amusement. “Watch you two lovey-dovey, of course.”

Lu Qi brushed him off irritably, yet couldn’t resist the teasing, his cheeks flushing slightly.

The sounds of their banter faded into the distance.

Yet it seemed as if it could still be heard.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

This furnace took one hour.

Qin Zhou refined for one hour, and Lu Wu sat beside him for one hour.

Only when the furnace fire died down, and Qin Zhou opened it to retrieve the pills, did Lu Wu snap back to reality.

He realized he had been watching for so long.

The medicine Qin Zhou extracted was no ordinary item. Golden light swirled around the pills. Undoubtedly, they were of rare quality.

Therefore, Qin Zhou had no ‘master’ backing him; the precious-grade pills were his own creation.

“What brings you two here to see me?” Qin Zhou finally asked.

He sensed no hostility from either of them.

Having traveled all the way from the upper realm, it couldn’t be to avenge the disciples of Yaoshan Sect.

“It’s about the forbidden elixir you’ve refined.”

“Forbidden elixir?” Qin Zhou clearly heard this term for the first time.

Lu Wu patiently explained, “Now… throughout the heavens and lower realms, elixirs that affect the soul level are called forbidden elixirs.”

Qin Zhou understood. “If you mean the Memory-Loss Pill, I’ve already spared the lives of those Yaoshan Sect disciples.”

“Not that one,” Lu Wu said. “Besides that forbidden pill, another type exists in the lower realms today.”

Qin Zhou paused, eager to hear more.

“The Marrow Cleansing Pill.” Lu Wu uttered these three words, his eyes fixed intently on Qin Zhou’s face, searching for any evidence that might confirm he was the man from the past.

Unfortunately, Qin Zhou didn’t give him that chance.

Qin Zhou showed no sign of guilt whatsoever. Instead, he asked, “What Marrow Cleansing Pill?”

Lu Wu’s brows furrowed slightly, uncertainty creeping in. If Qin Zhou was the village chief, then the Marrow Cleansing Pill… he should know about it.

“A month ago, Young Master Qin couldn’t even pass the talent assessment. Now, judging by talent alone, he’s practically a genius,” Lu Wu pointed out.

He had taken the Marrow Cleansing Pill—that much was obvious.

Qin Zhou remained silent for a long moment, not answering directly but countering with a question of his own: “Why is the Marrow Cleansing Pill banned? Has the spiritual energy in the lower realms become so depleted that even cultivators in the mortal world can no longer sustain themselves?”

Clearly, Qin Zhou wasn’t asking him. He already understood the reason, merely stating his own judgment.

Cultivators rely on the spiritual energy of this world to advance. With diminishing spiritual energy, even the strongest cultivators cannot progress further.

If the Marrow Cleansing Pill existed in the present world, every mortal in the lower realms could potentially become an immortal. As the number of cultivators increased, the world’s spiritual energy would be depleted at an accelerated rate.

What would happen if, one day, this cultivation world truly ran dry of spiritual energy?

Would it become an ordinary world? Or… would it collapse entirely?

Judging by Lu Wu’s expression, Qin Zhou surmised it would be the latter.

If that were truly the case, then the Marrow Cleansing Pill could indeed be considered a forbidden substance.

“Since you understand, please ensure such a thing never sees the light of day.”

“Understood.” Qin Zhou nodded.

Truthfully, he never intended to sell the Marrow Cleansing Pill anyway.

The difficulty wasn’t in refining it. The problem was that consuming it invariably brought excruciating pain—a misstep could be fatal. If someone couldn’t endure it, it would only ruin his pill business.

The conversation abruptly ended, yet Lu Wu felt a lingering sense of unease.

He had come for the Marrow Cleansing Pill, yet his purpose extended beyond it.

After a moment’s hesitation, Lu Wu voiced the question weighing on his mind, “Sir… who exactly are you?”

A sudden gust of wind swept through.

It blew open the pill room’s window, left unsecured by its wooden latch, making it creak loudly.

The wind failed to enter the inner chamber, leaving the pill room still warm and steamy.

Qin Zhou placed the extracted pills into a bottle, then slowly lifted his head to meet the gaze beneath the mask. “Have you decided what you wish to ask me?”

Lu Wu’s body trembled. In his ears, the words sounded more like—

Are you ready to acknowledge me?

The two words of address were on the tip of his tongue.

“Village Chief…” Lu Wu lowered his head, reaching up to remove his mask, revealing his true face.

“Mhm.” Qin Zhou gave a light nod, his tacit consent.

Truthfully, Lu Wu’s identity wasn’t hard to guess.

Among the hundred members of the Lu household, only one person could sit quietly by his side for hours on end, watching him refine pills without causing the slightest disturbance.

To this day, the most frequently appearing message in his alchemy interface during gameplay still left a deep impression on Qin Zhou—

[Alchemy completed. Villager Lu Wu accompanied you for two hours of alchemy. Alchemy Knowledge EXP +2.]

This message was the most common sight in his alchemy interface.

Though occasionally, it would change to different villagers, such as—

[Alchemy completed. Villager Lu Yi accompanied you in alchemy for two hours, sleeping soundly.】

Well, not everyone grants +2 EXP.

But then again, he had once thought that if any villager were to become an alchemist in the future, it would undoubtedly be Lu Wu.

“The Soul-Restoring Grass for refining the Soul-Stabilizing Pill that Shisi brought—you gave it to him. “ Qin Zhou pondered briefly, and the matter became clear. ”He saw me and must have gone back to tell you. The Core Stabilizing Pills he brought on this trip to the lower realm were also from you.“

”Village Chief, I…” The renowned Alchemist of the Peach Forest, celebrated throughout the cultivation world, now flushed crimson, as if he’d committed some grave offense.

It wasn’t that he deliberately refused to acknowledge it.

Originally, after Shisi informed him the Village Chief had returned, he should have personally descended to the lower realm to pay his respects.

But…

He dared not.

“You needn’t speak if you don’t wish to.” Qin Zhou seemed to understand he had his own reasons.

He had long anticipated that some might, for various reasons, refuse to acknowledge the past or remember him as their Village Chief.

After all, time had moved on.

He had indeed poured considerable effort into the villagers back then, but ultimately, his presence was merely a fleeting chapter in their long lives.

People couldn’t live forever in the past, eternally grateful to someone who lived nearly ten thousand years ago.

Of course, those who chose to call him Village Chief, he would acknowledge them—after all, they were his children.

As for those who didn’t…

Thinking of a certain someone… Qin Zhou paused, thinking to himself that for those unwilling, he could turn a blind eye.

“It’s not that I don’t want to acknowledge you,” Lu Wu said dejectedly, “but I’m afraid of disgracing the village chief.” He couldn’t refine a sixth-tier Soul-Stabilizing Pill, couldn’t save Shisi, nor could he save the other fallen disciples.

He had no face to show the village chief.

“There’s no shame in that.” Qin Zhou rose, placing a hand on Lu Wu’s head. “As long as you youngsters are still alive, that’s cause enough for me to be glad.”

Lu Wu was the sole pill master among the Lu family’s top ten disciples, and also the most gentle-natured of the Lu brothers.

But this very gentleness meant he’d always thought more and worried more than others since childhood.

Qin Zhou sometimes wondered if Lu Wu’s jet-black hair wasn’t woven from the strands of worry tangled within his mind.

At these words, Lu Wu’s eyes suddenly reddened.

In this world, only one person would forever see them as children.

In that moment, Lu Wu desperately wanted to pour out everything that had happened over the past ten thousand years to the village chief—his helplessness, his anguish. Yet, in the end, Lu Wu held his tongue.

Even Shisi had grown up. How could he still be a child?

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

When Baixing entered, this was the scene he witnessed.

He had never seen his master like this. His usually gentle master sat before Qin Zhou, eyes reddened, thin lips pressed tightly together, struggling to control his emotions.

It seemed…

Baixing understood something. He removed his mask, stepped closer, and bowed with clasped hands, “Disciple Baixing pays respects to Grandmaster.”

Though he spoke, his gaze lingered on Qin Zhou’s hand resting atop his master’s head.

Qin Zhou noticed the depth in his gaze and promptly withdrew his hand.

Lu Wu wiped the corner of his eye and stood up. “Village Chief, this is my disciple, Baixing.”

Qin Zhou nodded, acknowledging the title of Grandmaster.

“Master, Grandmaster, the people from Yaoshan Sect have been waiting for quite some time,” Baixing said.

Qin Zhou: “Hmm, go out.”

Stepping out of the alchemy chamber, daylight still filled the sky. Out of the corner of his eye, Qin Zhou caught sight of Baixing and Lu Wu behind him. He sensed something, but said nothing.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Having obtained the precious-grade elixir and seeing no reaction from the two elders, the Yaoshan Sect disciples were finally convinced that this precious-grade elixir had indeed been refined by the seemingly young Qin Zhou before them.

At this point, they resolved to cultivate a good relationship with Qin Zhou. As for the earlier incident involving Jin Ming’s disciples, they simply chose to turn the page.

After the matter was settled, the Valley Master and the Elder bowed and departed.

As for Lu Wu and Baixing… naturally, they stayed behind to assist.

Qin Zhou had been troubled by the lack of manpower. With Lu Wu and Baixing now helping, the alchemy process would undoubtedly speed up considerably.

Once he finished refining these two hundred pills for Yaoshan Sect, he could return to Ping City. He would still have time to plant the Spirit Heart Fruit seeds before leaving.

Qin Zhou wasted no time, dividing the remaining alchemical materials into three equal portions.

Each set was taken for their respective preparations.

Neither Lu Wu nor Baixing objected.

Lu Wu was delighted to assist the village chief. As for Yu Baixing, his master’s happiness was his own.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Meanwhile, in the upper realm’s Immortal Restraint Prison, a visitor arrived.

The guest stood before Wen Jue’s cell door, sizing him up with several appraising glances. “You seem to be living quite comfortably.”

Wen Jue sat cross-legged within the cell, lifting his hands bound by iron chains. The chains clanked rhythmically, as if mocking, “You call this comfortable?”

“What brings you here?” Wen Jue asked the man before him with unhurried composure.

“After you beat my son into that state, shouldn’t I come find you?”

The visitor was none other than Lu Xiao’s father, the Supreme Patriarch of the Demon Sect, Lu Qi.

Leaning against the cell door, Lu Qi frowned slightly. “If you ask me, Lu Yi, beating your own nephew—did you really have to go that hard?”

“So you’re here to pick a fight today?” Wen Jue shot him a glance. “Go ask your precious son what good deeds he’s done first.”

Lu Qi shot him a withering look, pulled a handful of melon seeds from his Cosmos Bag, and began cracking them open right in front of Wen Jue. “He sent me to question you, you send me to question him—are you two playing games with me? Spit it out.”

“Nothing much,” Wen Jue replied. “He nearly sold me out over some petty spy.”

Lu Qi froze. “That definitely deserves a beating.”

“That little spy happens to be your ex-lover’s junior disciple,” Wen Jue added, delivering the final blow. “Your son was protecting that little spy, so I beat him up.”

Lu Qi suddenly found the melon seeds in his hand no longer tasty.

“Old Seven, this love-hate drama between the Demon Sect leader and the Sword Sect disciple—it runs in your family, doesn’t it?” Wen Jue chuckled.

Lu Qi glared up. “…Shut up.”

Wen Jue snorted derisively.

“Lu Xiao spent some time at the Sword Sect when he was young. Back then, Jiang Huan was just a little kid, always trailing after Lu Xiao like a shadow.“ Lu Qi recalled. ”Lu Xiao felt nostalgic for those days and feared you might go too far, so he took the fall himself.“

”What a pair of childhood sweethearts.“ Wen Jue nodded in agreement. ”That trait runs in your family, too, huh?”

“Get lost.” Lu Qi couldn’t stand hearing the words “childhood sweethearts” more than anything. If anyone deserved the title of “worst friend,” Wen Jue took the cake—the only person in the world bold enough to rub his past in his face.

“I didn’t come here to listen to your jokes,” Lu Qi cleared his throat, finally getting to the reason he’d brought sunflower seeds today—

“I heard from Lu Xiao that you found a lover in the lower realm?”

This time, it was Wen Jue who fell silent.

“A pill-refiner? A mortal at the second stage of Qi Cultivation?” Lu Qi’s eyes burned with intensity. After all, he’d been waiting for gossip about Lu Yi for countless years.

“…Do you really think so? That I would choose a mortal as my lover?” Wen Jue snorted derisively. “What sort of mortal could possibly be worthy of me? Do you think this is some cheap romance novel?”

Speaking of which, had Qin Zhou died?

He had said he would return to cultivate his spirit essence, but it had been nearly half a month now… The barrier had shifted several times, but the frequency didn’t sound like someone skipping squares.

Could it be that bastard hasn’t thought about him at all?

Lu Qi glanced at the hairpin atop Wen Jue’s head, suddenly recalling something. His desire to gossip vanished instantly. “Whether mortal or cultivator, it’s better than pining for someone as elusive as a phantom.”

Wen Jue remained silent.

Lu Qi frowned. “Lu Yi!”

Wen Jue curved his lips into a smile. “Leave it to me.”

Once he set his path, he would walk it to the bitter end. Even if he hit a brick wall, he wouldn’t turn back. Keep crashing into it, and who knows? Maybe he’d break through the wall.

“You didn’t show up today just to discuss your son’s affairs and these baseless rumors, did you?” Wen Jue asked.

“Not exactly. The millennium is nearly upon us again, isn’t it? The Secret Realm will open once more. Our Demon Sect must prepare—see how many are willing to die for their greed.” By the end, Lu Qi narrowed his eyes, cracking sunflower seeds with a nonchalant air that treated human lives as worthless, radiating a certain malevolence.

No matter how many years passed, Wen Jue still couldn’t get used to Lu Qi’s mannerisms as the Demon Sect’s leader.

He interrupted with a faint sigh: “The millennium battle won’t be entertaining. I think the real spectacle will be your reunion with Lu Er.”

Lu Qi nearly flung a sunflower seed at his face, snapping irritably: “…Then you wait and see!”