East Dongting Mountain.
Deep within the tea groves.
"Why must I be tested on whether I can fling a hundred tea leaves with one hand? Xiao Bai, I strongly suspect Brother Hei simply didn’t have the patience to wait for you to pick tea and thought, ‘Why waste this future disciple of mine who costs nothing, asks for no alms, never complains, never argues, and never regrets?’ So he sent me to pick tea in your place." Fang Pingzhai waved his red fan. "Luckily, I am Fang Pingzhai—master of all things, capable of anything. A trivial skill like flinging tea leaves is child’s play. Though few in the martial world can achieve it, still..."
Yu Tuan'er pressed both hands onto the massive clay vessel she had molded, focusing her energy, intending to use the power of the blazing sun to fire the clay into pottery. This method had already been criticized by Fang Pingzhai over a dozen times, who claimed that even first-rate martial artists and venerable masters who had trained in yang energy for decades might not be able to fire clay into pottery with a single strike. A young girl like Yu Tuan'er, with such shallow foundations, could slap at it for thirty years and still not produce a single pot.
But Liu Yan turned a deaf ear. Every time Yu Tuan'er ruined a clay vessel, he simply told her to start over. Now, she was on her eighth attempt. Hearing Fang Pingzhai’s endless boasting, Yu Tuan'er cut him off. "What do you mean by ‘flinging a hundred tea leaves with one hand’?""Hand-flung Hundred Leaves is a unique skill where, using the force from your palm, hidden weapons, weapons, flowing water, flames, leaves—anything at all—you can flick a small motion outward and knock down exactly one hundred leaves from a tree a hundred paces away." Fang Pingzhai sat in the coolest corner of the thatched hut, waving and pointing his red fan at Yu Tuan'er. "It's a miraculous technique you could practice for thirty years and still never master, but for me—it's as easy as lifting a hand." Liu Yan, sitting nearby, remarked indifferently, "If it's so easy, why not lift your hand a few more times and gather a hundred pounds of tea leaves?" Fang Pingzhai tucked his red fan behind his back. "I'm genuinely curious—what do you need so much tea for? She's not a cow, a sheep, a donkey, or even a mule. Do you really need to refine a hundred pounds of tea into a hundred pounds of plant ash just to make one pill for her?" Liu Yan closed his eyes. "If you don't understand, don't ask." Fang Pingzhai shook his head repeatedly. "Ah, but eagerness to learn and no shame in asking—if you don't tell me the reason, I won't be able to sleep. And if I can't sleep, I might just recite poetry, compose couplets, or sing loudly at night to vent my restlessness." Liu Yan said coolly, "Are you sure you want to know?" Fang Pingzhai nodded emphatically. "Absolutely, I must hear it—no question about it." Liu Yan replied, "Tea leaves, especially fresh green tea, contain a high concentration of polyphenolic compounds. Through chromatography, they can be separated and purified, yielding a series of phenolic hydroxyl groups. After a very complex formula and synthesis with other materials, I can obtain FTIs." Fang Pingzhai waved his red fan. "Why is it that I understand every word you say, but not a single sentence? What in the world is 'Ah-Fu-Ti-Ai-Si'?" Liu Yan said coldly, "FTIs are farnesyl transferase inhibitors." Fang Pingzhai exclaimed in surprise, "'Fine, you transfer no chicken'? So 'Ah-Fu-Ti-Ai-Si' means 'Fine, you transfer no chicken'? Haha, so her illness can be cured just by eating a chicken! Then why are we here picking tea leaves? Let's go catch a couple of pheasants and have her eat them—problem solved!" Liu Yan ignored him and meditated with his eyes closed. FTIs could treat progeria in children, modifying the misfolded proteins to restore prematurely aged cells to normal—this was Yu Tuan'er's lifesaving medicine. Preparing FTIs in this era was incredibly difficult, but if he didn't try, no one in the world could save her.
After a while, he opened his eyes. Fang Pingzhai was still lounging idly, making no move to gather tea leaves. Yu Tuan'er's black veil fluttered as her ninth embryo vessel was about to fail again. Drenched in sweat, her black dress clung tightly to her back, outlining her graceful curves. Was living truly so important? A thousand years from now, she would still be an unknown corpse in the wilderness—no one would remember her, no one would mourn her. For those who didn't seek a life of grandeur, having lived or never lived at all made little difference. And yet... despite all these thoughts, why was he still determined to save her? Even he himself didn't understand.Lin Bu lay unconscious on the ground. Although his wound had been treated with high-quality trauma medicine, the deep chest stab from a sharp blade had caused him to develop a high fever within two days. Now, with the wound inflamed and his body burning up, he was already teetering on the brink of death. After a long silence, Liu Yan asked quietly, "Is he dead yet?"
Fang Pingzhai replied, "No, but he's close."
Liu Yan said, "Bring him here."
Fang Pingzhai responded, "Whether I bring him or not, he'll die either way. So I won't. I don't even know this guy, and it's not like I killed him. I'm sorry to say such blunt, morbid, and inauspicious words, but that's the truth."
Liu Yan said in a low voice, "He won't die."
Fang Pingzhai hummed in acknowledgment, stood up, and spun in a circle, his yellow robes fluttering. With great enthusiasm, he declared, "If you say he won't die, then I'll say he will. If I don't argue with you, how else will we showcase the miraculous healing skills of a peerless physician like you? Hmm... He's gravely injured and has no martial arts to speak of—he's definitely going to die."
"Yu Tuan'er," Liu Yan called softly. "Go into the woods and gather some moldy green fruits."
Yu Tuan'er obeyed and soon returned with a dozen or so moldy fruits, cradled in the hem of her skirt. Liu Yan selected one—a type of creeping melon—and carefully examined the mold. A few golden droplets clung to the surface. He meticulously collected them and instructed Yu Tuan'er to apply them to Lin Bu's chest wound.
Fang Pingzhai watched in astonishment. Were these golden droplets some kind of miracle cure? How could such insignificant drops make any difference?
But to Fang Pingzhai's surprise, the moment the golden droplets touched the wound, Lin Bu's injury began to heal at an astonishing rate. From then on, Yu Tuan'er gathered moldy fruits daily, and after Liu Yan identified the right ones, she extracted the golden droplets to apply to Lin Bu's wound. A month later, Lin Bu, who had been on the verge of death, was now spirited enough to stand and walk.
Liu Yan was no physician—he couldn't diagnose illnesses, let alone perform acupuncture or massage. Yet he knew exactly which substances could be made into medicine and which ailments they could treat. Fang Pingzhai had never met anyone so deeply versed in pharmacology yet so detached from conventional medicine.
A month passed, and Yu Tuan'er still hadn't finished crafting that clay pot, but her martial arts had improved significantly. As Lin Bu's wounds neared full recovery, he proposed that they stay at his property near East Mountain, where he would arrange for the purchase of the large vat so Yu Tuan'er wouldn't have to toil over it. Liu Yan didn't refuse, and the four of them soon left the tea grove for Lin Bu's home on East Mountain.
Time flowed slowly in the mountains. Liu Yan secluded himself in Lin Bu's residence, refining elixirs for Yu Tuan'er. Just as his elixir crafting neared completion, he remained unaware of the storm brewing in the martial world—where several major events had unfolded. The most significant of these was someone claiming to know Liu Yan's whereabouts—and declaring that if anyone could persuade the future abbot of Shaolin Temple to kowtow three times to him and compose a poem in his honor, he would reveal Liu Yan's location.
While Liu Yan remained hidden in the tea groves of East Mountain by Dongting Lake, Tang Lici descended from Good Cloud Mountain.When he ascended Good Cloud Mountain, it was Yu Furen who escorted him in a light carriage from afar, with Chi Yun and Shen Langhun flanking him as guards, while Shao Yanping, Cheng Yunpao, and others welcomed him in the hall—what a grand and spectacular affair. Yet when he descended from Good Cloud Mountain, he did so under the moonlight, slipping over the wall in the dead of night when not a soul stirred and darkness shrouded all, heading straight north of the mountain.
Thirty li north of Good Cloud Mountain lay a desolate, uninhabited mountain, even more eerie and terrifying in the depths of night. Even in broad daylight, finding the so-called "West Wind Garden" in this vast mountain would be difficult, let alone in pitch-black darkness where one couldn’t see their own hand. Tang Lici, clad in luxurious white silk robes and wearing cloud-patterned shoes, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the looming black mass before him.
"Beneath the camellia tree in West Wind Garden lies an underground prison."
This was both a clue and a trap, yet he had no choice but to come. Just as he had once forced his way into the Bodhi Valley Drifting Brow Garden, enduring great hardship to retrieve Fang Zhou’s corpse, this time the scheme was the same—and still, he came.
Tang Lici stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the mountain before him. After a moment, he took a step forward, poised to dash ahead when suddenly a voice called from behind, "Tang... Tang Lici..." His steps halted. "You really shouldn’t have followed me," he said. The person behind him shook his head. "Where are you going?" Under the moonlight, the man wore plain blue robes and carried no weapons, his face pale but his expression composed—it was Yu Furen. Tang Lici turned and smiled faintly. "I’m just out for a stroll." The soft moonlight illuminated his face, his features as exquisite as a painting, his demeanor as refined as jade.
Yu Furen said, "A stroll? You’ve strayed rather far. Your injuries..." At the mention of "your injuries," his face suddenly flushed crimson, veins bulging. After a long pause, he continued bitterly, "Your wounds haven’t fully healed. You shouldn’t be traveling this far." Noticing his strange expression, Tang Lici’s eyes curved with amusement as he leisurely walked back and patted his shoulder. "Young Hero Yu..." The moment Yu Furen heard these three words, he nearly jumped in shock. Tang Lici’s smile deepened. "How have you been feeling these past few days?" Yu Furen gave a pained smile, unsure how to respond, only to see Tang Lici slowly extend a hand, his index finger lightly lifting a strand of Yu Furen’s hair as he murmured softly, "You owe me a life..." Under the moonlight, those stunningly beautiful lips uttered these words, startling Yu Furen so thoroughly that a chill ran down his spine. The guilt and remorse he had harbored for this man suddenly twisted into confusion and unease, leaving him frozen on the spot. With a laugh, Tang Lici turned away. "Go back. Your emotions are unsettled, and you’re unarmed. Wandering these desolate mountains in the dead of night—if danger finds you, how will you handle it?" Clad in pristine white, he stepped into the darkness.Yu Furen stood where he was, unsure whether to stay or leave, when he suddenly couldn't help but ask, "You... what are you doing wandering around these desolate mountains in the dead of night?" Tang Lici, who had already stepped into the forest, took a step back as if somewhat helpless. "With your intelligence, surely you understand some questions shouldn't be asked?"
Yu Furen fell silent for a moment, then took a deep breath. "Are you taking a risk?"
Tang Lici smiled faintly. "Indeed."
Yu Furen pressed, "For what reason?"
Tang Lici sighed and looked at him gently. "It seems you won't go back. Fine, fine. If I knock you unconscious, I fear someone might abduct you. I was told Chi Yun was captured alone and is being held in these mountains. If he isn't rescued within three days, his life will be in danger."
Yu Furen was startled. "What... Chi Yun was captured? Who gave you this news? Is it true?"
Tang Lici replied, "Most likely. This place must be full of traps. If word gets out, the Sword Association will panic, speculating wildly about who captured Chi Yun. The passionate and kind-hearted will rush here, only to fall into a trap, and many may die needlessly. So..."
Yu Furen understood. "So you came alone in the dead of night to rescue him."
Tang Lici smiled slightly. "Since you refuse to leave, then..." He turned forward. "Follow me."
Yu Furen felt a surge of determination. Chi Yun had been captured, and Tang Lici was risking his life to save him—how could he not help with all his might? "I—I owe you my life," he said solemnly. "Tonight, I will fight to the death to rescue Chi Yun!"
Tang Lici, already ahead, gave no indication of whether he heard. His white figure flickered as he stepped deeper into the forest. Yu Furen followed closely. Before long, the moonlight was blocked by the dense canopy, making it nearly impossible to see. Fortunately, both men had refined Internal Force, allowing them to navigate smoothly.
Birds startled from their sleep cawed and scattered, while unseen creatures quietly retreated. After advancing twenty or thirty paces, Tang Lici had no choice but to light the Jade Smile Fire from his robes, holding it aloft for illumination. The forest was wild and untamed—broken trees, vines, spiderwebs, moss, and strange insects and snakes crawling slowly under the light. There seemed to be no path.
Yet, in this desolate wilderness, someone had marked the way with vermilion arrows painted on tree trunks, boulders, and vines. The bright red pigment, illuminated by the firelight, looked like coagulated blood—shocking to behold.
"These arrows seem to lead toward the mountaintop," Yu Furen whispered. "Should we follow them?"
Tang Lici glanced around. "What are these things?"
The marked trees and boulders were covered in peculiar vines—thin, with curling leaves that appeared black in the firelight. Among them grew dark purple berries. Tang Lici picked up a stone and threw it at one of the arrows. With a soft thud, the impact disturbed the vines, and the dark berries suddenly split open, releasing wisps of black smoke.
Yu Furen and Tang Lici both held their breath, but a faintly sweet scent still reached them. Clearly, these berries were dangerous. In unison, they leaped away from the marked path, retreating to the treetops."Under the camellia trees in the West Wind Garden, there is a dungeon," Tang Lici murmured to himself, gazing up at the moon. This mountain faced the direction of the west wind, to the east, and camellias... they needed sunlight, which meant they must be on the sunny slope of the mountain. Yu Furen's brows lifted at his words. "Then it should be on the sunny slope. Why aren't you heading there?" Tang Lici frowned slightly. The sunny slope, the sunny slope... "I..." Yu Furen took a step forward. "What is it?" Tang Lici waved his sleeve lightly. "Nothing. Let's go."
Yu Furen glanced at Tang Lici, puzzled. The camellia trees in the West Wind Garden were clearly on the sunny slope—why wasn't he heading there? But Tang Lici's mind flashed to the tombstone bearing Fang Zhou's name in Bodhi Valley, that patch of sunlit white sand covered in strange flowers, that silent graveyard filled with tombstones—all on the sunny slope. The sunny slope... beneath its brilliant sunlight, blood-red vines bloomed with snow-white flowers, while shattered, decaying corpses and the maggots feeding on them writhed under that very radiance... The air was thick with a mix of foul stench and sweet fragrance... A faint "crack" sounded as Tang Lici's footsteps halted abruptly. Yu Furen started, scanning their surroundings warily, but no enemies appeared. A chill ran down his spine—what was wrong with him?
"If it were you, what kind of ambush would you set up on the sunny slope?" After a pause, Tang Lici quickened his pace, striding toward the sunny slope, his tall, snow-white figure moving with eerie composure in the night. Yu Furen followed, his own bearing equally striking. "I... would probably station heavy forces along the path to intercept and kill you halfway." Tang Lici clasped his hands behind his back and smiled faintly. "Ha! You're not much of a schemer." Yu Furen asked, "And if it were you?" Tang Lici replied nonchalantly, "First, I'd kill Chi Yun and take dozens of hostages to intimidate the intruder, forcing them to hold back and preventing them from fighting at full strength. Then, I'd scatter Poison along the path to the dungeon, lay out venomous snakes, and deploy my strongest fighters to guard every entrance. Beneath the dungeon, I'd bury hundreds of pounds of explosives. By the time the intruder survives the Poison and snakes, endures the relentless battles, and—if by some miracle—reaches the dungeon, they'd be physically and mentally exhausted. Seeing Chi Yun's corpse would devastate them further. And then—" Yu Furen broke into a cold sweat. "And then?" Tang Lici said coolly, "Then I'd take some hostages and leave before detonating the explosives beneath the dungeon, leveling the entire mountain along with every man, woman, and blade of grass—blowing it all to smithereens, leaving nothing alive." Yu Furen gaped, horrified. "You... you..." Tang Lici smiled. "Me what?" Yu Furen forced a bitter laugh. "How could you devise such a vicious plan?" Tang Lici replied, "If you're going to kill, do it thoroughly." Yu Furen's smile grew even more strained. But you're imagining this ruthless scheme being used against yourself. If the enemy who captured Chi Yun thinks like you, what hope do we have of surviving? And yet, knowing such a plan exists, you still came alone—are you that confident in yourself, or... are you...
Are you the kind of person who would brave any danger, even death, for the sake of righteousness?
Yu Furen followed behind Tang Lici. This man... didn't seem like it at all.The sunny slope was soon reached, and the two ascended step by step along the hillside. The vegetation here was even more lush, forcing them to hack through vines as they advanced. After passing several mountain streams under the bright moonlight, they suddenly came upon a clearing. "Be careful!" Yu Furen reached out to stop Tang Lici. "The Five Stars Formation!"
The clearing had originally been dense forest, but someone had neatly cut away a section, leaving only tree stumps about two feet high arranged in the shape of a five-pointed star. A faint, pleasant fragrance drifted through the air, its source unknown. Tang Lici sighed. "What is the Five Stars Formation?" Yu Furen replied, "This formation originates from the Western Regions. It's said to be unpredictable within, full of sudden changes. Many renowned martial heroes perished in it years ago, hence its fame—though it's long since vanished from the martial world." Tang Lici said, "I don't understand formations." Yu Furen still shielded him. "Let me scout it first." With that, he leaped onto the formation. A gentle breeze immediately rose from the five-pointed stumps, carrying an increasingly rich floral scent, yet no trace of any enemy could be seen.
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