Chapter 38: Chapter 38
“Hoo…”
Watching Xu Chuan’s retreating back as he headed toward the rear hall, Shen Xiuhan let out a slow breath of white mist.
This was the benefit of having a martial hall behind you — a master’s shelter over your head.
Without that standing, a man carrying treasure beasts in the outer city was nothing more than a child clutching a gold brick, unable to take a single step.
Before long, Xu Chuan returned at a brisk pace, voice low:
“Go on in. This is a Ji clan specialty, a treasure beast — I’ve already briefed Master on the basics and where it came from.”
Shen Xiuhan cupped his fists solemnly: “Thank you for going to the trouble, Second Senior Brother.”
“We’re family — what trouble?”
Xu Chuan waved him off and sauntered back toward the outer court.
Shen Xiuhan picked up the fish basket, passed through the moon gate, and entered the deep, quiet rear courtyard.
This was only the second time he’d stood at the foot of these steps before the main hall.
All around him, silence — not even a servant’s shadow.
He set the bamboo basket down at the base of the stairs, bowed, and called out: “Disciple Xiuhan, requesting an audience with Master!”
“Enter.”
Creak.
Pushing open the carved wooden door, a wave of warm air laced with a dense medicinal fragrance washed over him.
The interior was arranged the same as before.
Mei Shuangfeng sat in her grand chair in a long robe, a cup of hot tea in hand. On the desk before her sat a plate of sugar cubes.
Seeing Shen Xiuhan come in, Mei Shuangfeng set down her cup, and her gaze flicked to the bamboo basket:
“Bring it here. Let me see.”
Shen Xiuhan stepped forward, drew the Azure Spike Fowl from the basket, and set it on the floor beneath the zitan wood table.
Mei Shuangfeng rose and approached. Her phoenix eyes swept over it. She turned the torn wound beneath the wing, then pinched the neck bone.
The room was very quiet. Only the occasional pop from the charcoal brazier broke the stillness.
After studying it for a moment, her eyes shifted, and she nodded slowly:
“Not bad. The wound under the wing — flesh peeled outward — was left by a wild beast’s bite. This is unmistakably a treasure beast from the Dali Mountains.”
“The plumage has a dark luster, the beak is hard as iron. From the condition, I’d put it at roughly six years old — a mature second-tier treasure beast, with its qi-blood at its peak… you had good luck, stumbling onto a bargain like this.”
“Ah, Master…”
Shen Xiuhan scratched the back of his head sheepishly:
“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask. What exactly are the tiers? I recall you mentioned the silver-backed fish last time was a second-tier treasure fish as well.”
Mei Shuangfeng explained simply:
“Treasure fish and treasure beasts are both spirit creatures that naturally nourish qi-blood. Based on the quantity of qi-blood they contain, they’re classified into first tier, second tier, and third tier.”
“In general, treasure beasts live in mountains and forests. They fight savagely, and their offensive and destructive power far surpasses that of aquatic treasure fish.”
“Treasure fish, on the other hand, may lack combat ability, but the qi-blood inside them tends to be purer.”
“Take your silver-backed fish from last time, for example. It posed virtually no threat, yet its qi-blood was so refined that it outstripped this Azure Spike Fowl by a fair margin.”
“And pills and salves refined from second-tier treasure fish and treasure beasts are enormously effective for Manifest Strength martial artists. Even Hidden Strength practitioners can use them to stabilize their foundation and nourish their roots.”
“But once one reaches the peak of Hidden Strength…”
Mei Shuangfeng paused here, then continued:
“Ordinary pills become nearly useless. Only treasure pills refined from a third-tier treasure fish or treasure beast can help one break through that barrier.”
Third-tier treasure fish…
A stir ran through Shen Xiuhan’s heart. He couldn’t help but ask:
“Master, has anyone in Changyun County ever caught a third-tier treasure fish?”
“Yes.”
Mei Shuangfeng spoke a name:
“Bai Qingcang.”
“Eighteen years ago, that man captured a third-tier ‘Azure Dragon Carp’ from the deep waters of Yunshui Lake, along with an entire school of ‘Azure Jade Carp.'”
“Afterward, he prepared a lavish gift and personally invited a Mei… an alchemist from the ‘Biwu Sect’ in Guangwu Commandery to refine them into a single treasure pill.”
“With that pill, Bai Qingcang entered seclusion for two and a half years and successfully broke through to Transforming Strength.”
Bai Qingcang — the Bai family’s old ancestor!
So he was the one who had caught the third-tier treasure fish.
The fearsome reputation of this Transforming Strength expert was thunder in Shen Xiuhan’s ears.
It was precisely because of him that the Bai family had vaulted to prominence, standing alongside Zhendong Martial Hall and the Luo clan as the three great powers of Changyun County.
And the Bai family… was the hidden hand behind the child-snatching cases that had the whole city in uproar.
But Shen Xiuhan couldn’t act rashly.
Beyond their Transforming Strength guardian, the Bai clan’s tendrils ran deep throughout the county.
The County Captain and the Rapid Division within the yamen were all in their grip.
One misstep and the boat could capsize in the gutter.
Fortunately…
His earlier ploy had set the Bai family, Tongbei Martial Hall, and Zhendong Martial Hall at each other’s throats. In the chaos, even the reports of missing children had quieted.
A small good deed, at least.
Just then, Mei Shuangfeng wiped her hands on the cloth from the desk and came to the point:
“To refine this treasure beast into pills, I’ll need six types of medicinal ingredients.”
“The expensive ones are Purple Blood Vine and a ten-year Mountain Ginseng — needed to harmonize the medicinal properties. That will allow me to refine Jade Blood Pills.”
“Per the hall’s rules, the cost of the supplementary ingredients will be deducted from your yield. Beyond that, I’ll take ten percent of the pills as furnace-wear and labor.”
“This treasure beast has a strong foundation. If I control the heat well, I’d estimate around ten or so Jade Blood Pills.”
“After deducting ingredient costs and my share, you should have seven or eight left in hand…”
Mei Shuangfeng’s phoenix eyes lowered, regarding Shen Xiuhan calmly:
“Any objections?”
“None whatsoever, Master!”
Shen Xiuhan’s eyes flashed with delight, and he bowed formally to seal the agreement.
Seven or eight pills!
He didn’t know the exact potency of these Jade Blood Pills, but they certainly wouldn’t be weaker than that bowl of Ebony Restoration Broth.
With these pills to fuel him, his push toward Full Mastery of Blood Tempering — the first gate of Manifest Strength — would speed up considerably.
“Very well. Rise.”
Mei Shuangfeng waved a hand and returned to her chair for her tea. “Leave the beast. Come to the rear hall tomorrow at dusk to collect the medicine.”
“Yes. Disciple takes his leave.”
“Wait…”
Shen Xiuhan paused in confusion and turned back.
Mei Shuangfeng rubbed her brow, as though just remembering something:
“You’ve already knocked on Manifest Strength. Tomorrow happens to be the day the inner-city families recruit for retainer positions. If you’re short on silver and want to find a way to earn, stay at the hall tomorrow and don’t miss the hour.”
“…Disciple understands. Thank you for the reminder, Master!”
“Junior Brother, over here!”
Shen Xiuhan had barely stepped out of the hall when he saw two people standing in the inner court.
One was Xu Chuan.
The other was a face he hadn’t seen before — a young man of medium build with unusually long arms that hung nearly to his knees when relaxed.
The young man stood at Xu Chuan’s side, studying Shen Xiuhan with open interest.
“Come. Let me make an introduction.”
As Shen Xiuhan approached, Xu Chuan pointed to the young man beside him and grinned:
“This is your Third Senior Brother, Xiang Yunting.”
Shen Xiuhan understood at once and cupped his fists:
“Greetings, Senior Brother Xiang.”
Over the past few days, Xu Chuan had already described the other inner-court disciples for him.
Eldest Senior Sister Jiang Qinghong — cold on the outside, warm within. Her cultivation was the highest among all the disciples, and her martial skill was the genuine article.
Third Senior Brother Xiang Yunting was the man before him;
Fourth Senior Brother Shen Huai was said to be a taciturn sort, rarely speaking;
Fifth Senior Sister Ding Qing was said to practice a family-inherited whip art alongside the Dark Eagle Stance. She’d broken through to Blood Tempering less than half a year ago.
Aside from assessment days, the outer-court disciples’ daily morning sessions were overseen by these five, who took turns supervising on the Master’s behalf.