Chapter 19

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Chapter 19: Medicinal Pill

     

The assembly hall was a spacious chamber, with rows of chairs neatly arranged inside, typically used by the sect’s high-ranking members for discussing affairs.

     

Today, the hall was sparsely populated, yet the atmosphere was particularly solemn.

     

Ou Peng, who had originally bid farewell to his wife with a cheerful expression, immediately changed his demeanor upon entering the assembly hall, his expression unusually serious. The few individuals following behind him also appeared solemn. Although Wenwen Hai and Xue Qing were Ou Peng’s direct disciples, rarely did they enter this assembly hall.

     

Upon entering, they naturally followed the rules, standing not far from the entrance, afraid to move recklessly. The Fourth and Sixth Elders of the Piaomiao Six Tigers, along with Ou Peng’s chief disciple Zhang Chengyue, stood in front of their seats according to the usual practice, waiting for Ou Peng to take his seat first.

     

Ou Peng walked to the innermost part of the hall where there was a rather large chair. He turned around and sat down, facing the others. As they saw him take his seat, the others cautiously sat in their own positions.

     

Ou Peng glanced at everyone before saying to Wenwen Hai and Xue Qing: “Come over too and take a seat.”

     

Wenwen Hai and Xue Qing thanked him in unison: “Thank you, Master.” Then, they took seats at the lower end of the table.

     

Ou Peng instructed: “Please explain what happened.”

     

Wenwen Hai and Xue Qing exchanged a glance. Wenwen Hai said; “Yes, Master, here’s what happened.” He then proceeded to recount in detail everything that had transpired since their departure from the Piaomiao Sect until their encounter with the two Senior Uncles, including the incident of saving Zhang Cai’s family. However, Xue Qing omitted the matter of leaving the token for Zhang Cai and the three herbs they had collected from the secret medicinal garden. Instead, she added: “There are two other matters that require explanation, which I will report later.”

     

After some consideration, Ou Peng nodded in agreement.

     

Then, Wenwen Hai and Xue Qing placed the brocade box and the small flat box from their arms, along with the herbs they had collected from the secret realm, on the square table next to Ou Peng.

     

Ou Peng didn’t open the velvet box but instead said to the Fourth Elder: “You handle the matter first, we’ll wait for you.” The Fourth Elder nodded in acknowledgment and quickly left his seat. Among those present, only Wenwen Hai and Xue Qing showed signs of confusion in their eyes, while the others remained silent.

     

Before long, the Fourth Elder returned, nodding at Ou Peng before taking his seat again.

     

Ou Peng then said: “Everyone has worked hard. After such a long period of effort, we finally have some results. Let’s see what treasures we have here.” As he finished speaking, a smile appeared on his face.

     

Wenwen Hai and Xue Qing were unaware that Sect Master Ou Peng, while usually amiable and warm, rarely smiled in the council chamber, he was typically serious. Seeing him smile today was a rare occurrence, piquing the curiosity of those who knew the situation, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. After all, any treasure that could make the Sect Master smile must be valuable.

     

Ou Peng carefully opened the brocade box first and found a small booklet inside. He took out the booklet, which felt soft and smooth to the touch, neither paper nor silk. The cover bore a single character “Sword,” written in a style similar to “Piaomiao,” but with a hint of sharpness and killing intent. Ou Peng stared at the character for a moment, then flipped through the contents silently, deep in thought, withholding any comment.

     

After a moment, Ou Peng turned his gaze back to the brocade box, examining it carefully. Suddenly, his eyes gleamed, and he reached into the box, pulling out the compartment beneath the booklet to reveal three small bottles arranged side by side. Surprisingly, the brocade box had two layers, with the compartment for the booklet occupying only a third of the box’s height.

     

Ou Peng delicately retrieved one bottle, carved from jade, sealed with an unknown substance at the mouth. The bottle bore three characters on top: ‘Qi-Boosting Pill’! Ou Peng felt a surge of excitement, this Qi-Boosting Pill was a rare treasure from centuries ago, used to increase internal energy. Its formula had long been lost, and according to the sect’s records, consuming one pill could boost one’s inner energy by thirty years.

     

If he were to consume one pill himself, his inner energy… Ou Peng thought, his hands trembling slightly.

     

Carefully, he placed the bottle back into the box and retrieved another one. This bottle was identical to the previous one, but it bore the inscription ‘Bone-Strengthening Pill’. Ou Peng frowned. What use could this have? Strengthening bones? It wasn’t recorded in the sect’s records, but being placed alongside the Qi-Boosting Pill, it must be an extraordinary treasure. He resolved to inquire about it with the other three sects when he had the chance, perhaps their records held some information. He gingerly returned the bottle to its place.

     

Next, Ou Peng took out the last bottle. When he saw the three characters on the bottle, Ou Peng couldn’t help but stand up, his eyes wide open. Everyone in the hall immediately stood up too, unsure of what the Sect Master had seen that was so incredible.

     

Ou Peng calmed his thoughts, suppressing his excitement, and sat back down, gesturing for everyone else to do the same. He regretted not having kept Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing alone in the secret chamber. With these things now displayed in front of everyone, they had to be informed. However, this thing was too precious. While he trusted everyone, the consequences of a leak could mean the destruction of the sect.

     

Ou Peng couldn’t help but close his eyes and ponder.

     

The others looked at the Sect Master’s reaction with curiosity, finding it quite unusual.

     

When Ou Peng finally made up his mind and opened his eyes, he immediately resumed his original expression. He placed the vial back into the box and picked up the small booklet, handing it to Zhang Chengyue, saying: “Let your Senior Uncles take a look at this, and all of you should take a look too.”

     

The booklet was passed around among the group and then Ou Peng instructed: “Chengyue, make a copy of this sword manual and give it to your sixth senior uncle. Place the original in our sect’s library for careful preservation.”

     

Zhang Chengyue nodded. Then Ou Peng turned to the Sixth Elder, saying, “Old Sixth, you’re in charge of training disciples. Select a few with excellent aptitude to practice these sword techniques. This will add another branch to our Piaomiao Sect’s swordsmanship in the future.”

     

The Sixth Elder said: Yes, Sect Master, I will spare no effort to promote this sword technique within the sect.”

     

Ou Peng nodded silently.

     

Then he addressed the group: “Today’s events must be kept secret, as they are the highest confidential matters of our Piaomiao Sect. Especially what I’m about to tell you later. I will inform the First, Second, and Fifth Elder personally.”

     

Everyone stood up and bowed, acknowledging the command.

     

Then, Ou Peng revealed the names of the medicinal pills in the first two bottles. Envy gleamed in their eyes, recognizing the value. They just didn’t know how many were in the bottles and whether they could get one.

     

Finally, Ou Peng spoke: “There’s one more pill bottle, seeming to hold the legendary ‘Longevity Pill.’ Its authenticity remains unknown.”

     

As he finished, the group’s expressions turned indescribably strange.

     

When it comes to the ‘Longevity PIll’ it was no less famed than the ‘Qi-Boosting Pill’. Everyone in the martial world knew it as a legendary panacea, coveted by all for its supposed ability to enhance one’s internal energy. Unlike the obscure ‘Bone Strengthening Pill’, in which even well-established sects like the Piaomiao Sect were clueless about its nature.

     

The ‘Longevity PIll’ wasn’t just known among martial artists, even common folk were familiar with its mythical reputation. It was said to add a decade to one’s lifespan. Yet, given its miraculous claims and the mystery of one’s lifespan, who could confirm its effectiveness? Moreover, who would administer such a miraculous remedy to someone on death’s doorstep? Over time, it became a subject of ridicule, dismissed as mere folklore embellished by storytellers.

     

Now, this mundane anecdote unexpectedly surfaced in the Piaomiao Sect’s assembly hall, alongside the revered ‘Qi-Boosting Pill’. Packaged similarly, it elicited equally perplexed expressions from the group, who couldn’t help but find the juxtaposition both amusing and bewildering.

     

Was it true? Was it false?

     

However, everyone knows that whether true or false, if it is known by other prestigious sects, none would not covet it. After that, the Piaomiao Sect would never have peace again, and the extermination of the sect?! It was not impossible.

     

No wonder the Sect Master was so solemn. It seemed that this matter must stop here. However, had the other three sects obtained the same thing?

     

Everyone, including Ou Peng, harbored such doubts.

     

Next, Ou Peng opened the package containing medicinal herbs, and once again, he was stunned. Hundreds of years old Ginseng, Tianqi, Mountain Essense, Fu-Ti… There were many he couldn’t even name. He looked at this package, feeling quite frightened in his heart. Despite all the calculations, never in a thousand years had he expected to obtain so many precious things this time.

     

If he had known earlier, why bother with restraint, why bother with mystery, he could have directly taken action himself, instead of listening to Yanming Hermit, playing that rock-paper-scissors, he could have faced him head-on. This time, that old fellow probably got a lot of benefits! It’s fortunate that Little Hai and Qing Er returned safely, and there was nothing wrong with these things. Otherwise~~ It would be too late for regrets.

     

It was no wonder Ou Peng had so many thoughts. What he just saw was all only heard in legends, perhaps distorted by hearsay. Who knew whether they were real or false, after all, the quantity is limited. But what was in front of him now was the real deal, tangible things that he could touch. A hundreds-year-old ginseng could be a lifesaver in critical moments. Combined with other medicinal herbs to concoct healing medicine, its effect would be even greater. When Little Hai and the others mentioned it earlier, he didn’t pay much attention, thinking Yanming Hermit was exaggerating. But now, it was clear that they needed to pay more attention to it. Moreover, there are still many of these herbs in the secret realm. It was time to sit down with their forces and carefully plan things out.

     

Later, amidst the equally bewildered looks of everyone, Ou Peng excitedly instructed Zhang Chengyue to quickly inform the Medicine Hall’s Hall Master and Elders to come to the assembly hall for a discussion.