Chapter 500: A Chance Encounter

Zhang Xiaohua’s words made Valley Master Nie and Elder Zhang look at him in a completely new light. Valley Master Nie even probed him tentatively, saying: “Nephew Ren, weren’t you going to the Incense Spreading Sect to look for your brother? If he were in the Incense Spreading Sect, wouldn’t you leave him a Scarlet Flame Pill?”

Zhang Xiaohua shook his head and said: “Didn’t I already make it clear to you just now, Uncle Nie? Of the medicinal herbs you gave me, I only used half. I’ve kept the other half. If I need more, I can simply refine them again. In fact, if I didn’t need one Scarlet Flame Pill as a reference, I would have left all six of these Scarlet Flame Pills to Spring Rebirth Valley.”

As he spoke, he took that jade box out of his robe.

When he saw the jade box, Valley Master Nie was startled and asked: “Nephew, why didn’t you store the pills in porcelain bottles?”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and said: “Since the medicinal herbs need to be stored in jade caskets, the refined pills should, of course, be stored in jade boxes as well. Naturally, if Spring Rebirth Valley has jade bottles, that would be even better.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is,” Valley Master Nie said in sudden realization. He had always stored pills in porcelain bottles out of consideration for saving costs. Now that these Scarlet Flame Pills were for his own use, of course, they should be kept in the best containers.

When Elder Zhang heard this, he hurriedly fetched two jade bottles from the side. Zhang Xiaohua did not stand on ceremony. He took one of them, poured a single Scarlet Flame Pill into it, then handed the jade box in his hand—along with the remaining five Scarlet Flame Pills inside—to Valley Master Nie. After that, he stoppered the jade bottle and casually tucked it into his robe.

Valley Master Nie had been talking all along, but in truth, his eyes had never left Zhang Xiaohua. Only now did he see Zhang Xiaohua hand over the Scarlet Flame Pills. His heart was already bursting with joy—decades of longing had finally been fulfilled on this very day.

Valley Master Nie and Elder Zhang were both extremely careful as they pinched a pill from the jade box and held it up before their eyes to examine it closely, clicking their tongues in admiration as they looked.

This Scarlet Flame Pill looked exactly like the description recorded in the ancient texts.

Suddenly, Elder Zhang cried out: “Eh? What’s going on here? There seems to be a faint glimmer of light inside this Scarlet Flame Pill?”

Hearing this, Valley Master Nie also examined it more closely. Sure enough, he nodded and said: “Indeed. Nephew Ren, there really does seem to be a trace of light within it, but it’s only seen by chance. When one tries to look at it carefully, it disappears again.”

Zhang Xiaohua was startled for a moment. At once, he thought of the starlike radiance he had seen within the medicinal liquid and inwardly muttered, “No way… it can actually be seen?”

He then stepped forward and also took a pill from the jade box, examining it carefully with his divine sense. Although the Scarlet Flame Pill was a byproduct of the Meridian-Nourishing Pill, it was still a fully formed pill. Zhang Xiaohua’s divine sense was therefore unable to penetrate it, and he could only perceive a faint fluctuation of yuan qi within. When he widened his eyes and looked even more carefully, it was exactly as Elder Zhang and Valley Master Nie had said—within it, there really were faint threads of light seeping through.

In an instant, Zhang Xiaohua gained an insight. The Scarlet Flame Pill had an outer layer of so-called “formations” protecting it, which prevented divine sense from entering. Yet this light was not constrained by the pill’s “formations” and could pass through freely. On second thought, this was only natural. Light was something born innately, likely not belonging to the Five Elements at all. All formations—at least, all the formations Zhang Xiaohua had encountered—were unable to obstruct it.

But even if Zhang Xiaohua understood this, what use was it? How could he possibly explain it to the two of them?

What kind of person was Zhang Xiaohua? The thing he was best at was feigning ignorance. He immediately shook his head like a rattle drum and said: “This… I truly do not know. I refined the Scarlet Flame Pill strictly according to the prescribed steps, without the slightest mistake. Just by looking at the shape of this pill, the two seniors should be able to tell as much. As for the light inside, could it be some reflection from the outside, or perhaps the books simply never recorded it in detail?”

Valley Master Nie and Elder Zhang exchanged helpless glances. “That’s true,” they said. “The pill descriptions in the books only mention the outward appearance, color, and effects. They say nothing else. Perhaps the ancients simply didn’t observe it carefully enough.”

Zhang Xiaohua continued: “Two seniors, you should hurry and put away the five Scarlet Flame Pills. If they remain exposed for too long, their medicinal efficacy might leak away.”

At these words, the two of them stopped pursuing questions about the light or the pill’s appearance. They quickly poured the Scarlet Flame Pills into jade bottles, stoppered them, and carefully tucked them into their robes.

After the Scarlet Flame Pills had all been properly stored, Valley Master Nie asked again: “Nephew Ren, Elder Zhang and I have already discussed the effects of this Scarlet Flame Pill, but we’ve come up empty-handed. It seems we’ll only know after taking it. Still, this old man would like to ask—are there any special methods of consumption, or anything one should pay attention to when taking it?”

Zhang Xiaohua was momentarily stunned and said in puzzlement: “Uncle Nie, that’s a rather strange question for you to ask. I’ve never seen a Scarlet Flame Pill before either—how would I know the method for taking it?”

Elder Zhang laughed and said: “To be frank with you, young hero, since you were able to refine the Scarlet Flame Pill, we naturally assumed that you must know how it is meant to be taken.”

Zhang Xiaohua suddenly understood. Of course. This was a legendary pill of Spring Rebirth Valley—one that even Spring Rebirth Valley itself could not refine. Yet here was someone with no apparent connection who had refined it so easily. If he claimed he had never refined it before, or had never even seen the pill, no one would believe him, even if they thought about it with their heels.

Having thought it through, Zhang Xiaohua could only say helplessly: “I won’t hide it from the two seniors. This really is my first time refining the Scarlet Flame Pill, and I truly do not know how it should be taken.”

At this point, Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes suddenly lit up. The jade slip did casually mention the method for taking the Meridian-Nourishing Pill. Since the Meridian-Nourishing Pill nourished and repaired the meridians, its medicinal power had to be delivered into the meridians. After taking it, one had to immediately circulate one’s cultivation method, guiding the medicinal power through all the meridians of the body in order to achieve the best effect.

Thus, Zhang Xiaohua assumed a thoughtful expression and said, “Actually, the two seniors may be overthinking it a bit. Since it’s a pill that enhances cultivation, it can’t be separated from internal energy. As long as you take it while circulating your cultivation and run a few more cycles—say thirty-six or seventy-two circulations—it should be fine.”

Valley Master Nie and Elder Zhang nodded thoughtfully. This much they certainly understood; they had merely wanted to know whether the pill’s creator had any more concrete advice to offer.

Thinking of this, Valley Master Nie unconsciously reached out and touched the jade bottle tucked in his robe.

Seeing this, Zhang Xiaohua laughed and said: “Uncle Nie, you’re not planning to take it right now, are you?”

Valley Master Nie gave a wry smile. “With this Scarlet Flame Pill on my person, it’s like holding a ball of fire—my heart burns with the urge to swallow it in one gulp and see its effects. But the Incense Spreading Sect’s envoy is still in Spring Rebirth Valley. How could I enter seclusion to cultivate at a time like this? Only after I’ve seen you all off can I take it with peace of mind.”

At this point, Valley Master Nie suddenly remembered something and continued: “Nephew Ren, there is a matter I would like to entrust to you. I ask that, for the sake of Spring Rebirth Valley, you agree to it.”

As soon as Zhang Xiaohua heard this, his face fell. With such a heavy preface, it clearly wouldn’t be anything simple. Yet he had no other choice. He could only brace himself and say: “Please give your instructions, Uncle Nie. This nephew will certainly do his utmost.”

Valley Master Nie nodded, then turned to glance at Elder Zhang and said with a smile: “I ask Elder Zhang to step aside for a moment.”

Elder Zhang looked at the two of them in puzzlement and said: “All right, all right, I’ll take my leave. I won’t delay your… father-in-law and son-in-law conversation.”

With that, he stood up and went out.

However, just as Valley Master Nie was about to speak, they heard Elder Zhang’s loud voice from outside: “Oh! Steward Yang, you’re doing well, I see? It’s been a long time since this old man last saw you. And this must be your sect’s envoy for this year?”

Hearing this, how could Valley Master Nie still worry about giving instructions to Zhang Xiaohua? In two quick strides, he headed straight outside. Zhang Xiaohua looked on, thought for a moment, and followed him out as well.

Outside the alchemy chamber, the veiled envoy was being led past the entrance by Steward Yang. Just as they passed by, Elder Zhang happened to walk out from within. They heard Steward Yang make the introductions: “Lady Kong, this is Elder Zhang of Spring Rebirth Valley, one of their former elders. His surname is Zhang.”

Lady Kong gave a slight nod. “Greetings, Elder Zhang.”

Elder Zhang seemed somewhat flattered and hurriedly replied: “Greetings, Lady Kong. Lady Kong has such refined interest—to come into the inner valley of Spring Rebirth Valley to admire the scenery?”

As he spoke, Valley Master Nie also walked out and bowed in salute. “Lady Kong, there have been some mundane affairs within my valley, so I was unable to accompany you into the valley. My apologies. I wonder how Lady Kong finds the scenery of Spring Rebirth Valley?”

Lady Kong raised her head and glanced at the various herb gardens, then said casually: “Spring Rebirth Valley truly is distinctive. Though the space within the valley is small, it can still be said to be like a sparrow—small, yet fully equipped. The variety of medicinal herbs is also extremely complete. It is indeed quite nice.”

Although her words were directed at Valley Master Nie, her gaze drifted toward the surrounding scenery. Beneath the veil, how could anyone know her expression?

Valley Master Nie lowered his head and said, “Thank you for the praise, my lord. Compared with your esteemed sect, ours is but heaven and earth apart.”

As they were speaking, Steward Yang’s eyes suddenly caught sight of someone behind Valley Master Nie. He exclaimed loudly: “Oh! Valley Master Nie, could this be your Little Yu’s future husband? Truly a fine-looking young man—just as outstanding as the rumors outside say.”

Indeed, it was Zhang Xiaohua, strolling out of the alchemy chamber at an unhurried pace.

Hearing this, Valley Master Nie immediately said: “Yes, indeed. This is the future son-in-law of Spring Rebirth Valley. He has just come from…” At this point, he paused, glanced at Steward Yang, and then continued: “He has just come from my place, after asking Elder Zhang a few questions. Come, Xiaoyao—pay your respects to Lady Kong, the envoy of the Incense Spreading Sect. This is Steward Yang, whom I mentioned to you before. Yesterday you were unwell, so I did not have you greet them. Today, let us make up for it together.”

Ugh, in an instant, he’d been knocked down a whole generation. Zhang Xiaohua felt helpless. With no choice, he stepped forward. Steward Yang was standing quite close, so Zhang Xiaohua had to salute him first. “Greetings, Steward Yang.”

Steward Yang looked at him with a beaming smile, appraising him just like an elder admiring a junior, and repeatedly said: “Good, good. This child—if it weren’t for that tender-looking face, his build is no different from that of an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old youth.”

Then he grabbed Zhang Xiaohua by the hand and pointed toward Lady Kong. “Come, you should first pay your respects to Lady Kong. If she hadn’t given her approval, your matter of going to the Incense Spreading Sect would really have been difficult to arrange.”

Lady Kong had not been looking in their direction. Hearing this, she frowned slightly and said: “Steward Yang, this is a matter of your Pill Expansion Hall. It really has nothing to do with—”

She stopped mid-sentence and turned her head back, only to see Zhang Xiaohua standing before her. The rest of her words caught in her throat. Her eyes fixed on him, unblinking, and she stood there motionless for quite some time…