Chapter 4.1: School Gate
A trace of killing intent blazed across Yunxiao’s face. His lips parted, soft voice entering Jia Rong’s ear. “It’s best if you don’t hold any hatred towards me. Those who are unfriendly, planning secretly the downfall of my own demise, they rarely lived a long life in this world. Jia Rong, I don’t want you to accidentally lose your life after finally getting it back.
“Right, your hand, the right one to be exact, it’ll probably last for only three days. If you can’t find ten portions of each material within three days, you’ll lose your right hand completely. Unless a Ninth Rank Martial Emperor Arcane Master appears, you can forget about alchemy for the rest of your life.”
Yunxiao’s soft whispering caused a quivering fear to course throughout Jia Rong’s entire body. Mustering his courage, he stuttered, “Three… three days…?! I’ve never heard most of these materials and how do I know you’re not lying to me?!”
Yunxiao smiled lightly. “You’re very smart. I believe you have a way. How ‘bout this. Take the leaves of the White Moon Bamboo and Ash World’s strange ginseng. Mix them together and make them into an herbal medicine. Take a medium dose of the medicine early morning and late in the evening. It can ease the pain in your three major acupoints and allow your right hand to live for two more days—only two days. If you don’t have enough materials in five days, you don’t have to look for me because you might as well prepare your funeral. Good luck~”
Jia Rong pondered over the two medicinal herbs and slowly drew himself into his own world. Once brought back to reality, he noticed Yunxiao had long disappeared. His face darkened to the point that water looked like it’d pour out endlessly. The fingers on his left hand pinched into his flesh and he felt no pain at all.
“He’s but an ordinary youth, neither a Martial Artist nor an Arcane Master, yet why do I feel a shivering fear when in front of him…?” Humiliated, an indignant form of hatred spread through Jia Rong’s heart as he roared inwardly. “If you continue being this arrogant, don’t think that I won’t tear you into ten thousand pieces once I find a way to resolve my ailments! Jia Lan Academy, Li Yunxiao!”
He walked towards the crumpled lump of paper covered with snot. Under the astonished gaze from the crowd, Jia Rong picked it up with a flushed tomato face. Then, he took out a piece of cloth and wrapped it around the crumpled paper before putting it into his storage pouch.
The surrounding crowds lowered their heads consciously for they felt the aura of anger and killing intent seeping out of Jia Rong’s body. Some scattered about in fear and dared not look towards Jia Rong’s direction.
“There are ten catties of Spiritual Crane Roots and White Phoenix Dragon Lotus that Prime Minister Lan Hong asked for. They are extremely precious. Lu Yao, immediately send it over to the Prime Minister’s estate and personally hand it over to Prime Minister Lan.” Liang Wenyu carefully reminded Lu Yao.
T/N: Catty, kati or jin, symbol 斤, is a traditional Chinese unit of mass used across East and Southeast Asia, notably for weighing food and other groceries in some wet markets, street markets, and shops…
“Spirit Crane Root? White Phoenix Dragon Lotus?” She was stunned. Quickly regaining her senses, she whispered, “Such things, they really exist?”
Liang Wenyu frowned. “What’s wrong? What are you muttering about?”
Lu Yao quickly came back to her senses. “Ah, Lord Yiang, I apologize! I was distracted. A little youth gave me a list of materials. I didn’t recognize any of the things on the list so I thought he was pulling a prank and messing around with me, but among the lists was the Spirit Crane Root and White Phoenix Dragon Lotus Lord Liang mentioned.”
“A little guy?” Liang Wenyu fell into a deep thought. “The Spirit Crane Root and the White Phoenix Dragon Lotus are things that can enhance a martial practitioner’s strength. What else is on the list?”
“Just now, Lord Jia called me up. Lord Jia should have returned the list back to the young man,” Lu Yao replied carefully.
“Oh…” Liang Wenyu was slightly disappointed. “Do you remember what was on the list?”
As she recited the materials on the list, Liang Wenyu’s doubtful expression turned to one of shock, then, finally, into a dull expression.
“There are still a few medicinal herbs that I can’t remember.” Lu Yao’s beautiful brows knitted together. She was unable to remember the rest; after all, she’d only glanced a mere look at the list. Being able to remember so many of the materials already was considered a great feat.
Liang Wenyu came back to his senses and quickly pulled out a piece of paper and wrote down the materials Lu Yao pronounced. “Did the youth leave his name, contact, or anything of the matter?”
Lu Yao shook her head, heart brimmed with an impacting shock. To receive Lord Liang Wenyu’s attention with great rapture, just what sort of background did that youth have?
“Lord Liang, I’ve worked for the Arcane Master’s Association for more than three years, yet why haven’t I heard any of these things before?”
Liang Wenyu looked at the incomplete list and sighed. “There are a few of the herbal medicines you said that I’ve never heard of in my life as an alchemist, but when these things are combined together, my intuition tells me that it’ll result into a profound otherworldly creation! Surely it’ll bring great benefits to the cultivation of many martial practitioners!”
Liang Wenyu shook his head. “It can’t be. The combination of a few of these medicinal herbs is extremely mysterious and I’m unable to figure out the relationship between them when given a short period of time. If this youngster happens to pass by, you must think of a way to keep him occupied while you notify me of his appearance as soon as possible!”
“Yes, Lord Liang!”