Sword Scabbard

Fujin naturally could not outrun Mu Yang on land.

It only took a few moments.

Before Mu Yang caught her.

Mu Yang did not dare linger.

He immediately carried Fujin back toward the tea stall.

He knew that Medicine Master was almost never angry.

But among the four of them, when she truly lost her temper—

She was the most terrifying one.

If he dared leave her there and run off alone,

The consequences would definitely be awful.

Rather than sacrifice himself, he might as well sacrifice Fujin.

Who told her to cause this mess?

Back at the tea stall,

Mu Yang did not dare look at Medicine Master's expression.

That terrifying pressure

Sent even a chill down Fujin's back.

She hurriedly picked up Lingyuan.

Then sprinted home at full speed.

All the way there, she kept chanting in her heart.

I absolutely can't give Medicine Master time to react!

I absolutely can't give Medicine Master time to react!

Medicine Master grabbed Mu Yang with one hand just as he was tiptoeing away.

She kindly asked, "Where do you think you're going?"

Mu Yang broke out in a cold sweat.

"Uh... there's something going on at home..."

"Don't even think about it. Go sort herbs for me!"

And so, Mu Yang became unpaid labor at Medicine Master's pharmacy for the entire night.

Helping sort medicinal herbs.

At noon the next day,

Mu Yang saw Lingyuan sneak into the pharmacy.

She had even wrapped herself tightly in a blanket.

Fair enough. After that utterly humiliating scene last night,

She probably had no face left to show anyone.

But why had she not simply gone back to the mountains?

Wouldn't that have been easier?

Mu Yang stood beside the counter and watched Lingyuan make a fool of herself.

There were no customers in the pharmacy yet.

He had no idea what she was hiding from.

Mu Yang decided to scare her.

He shouted, "Catch the thief!"

"I'm not! I didn't do it!"

Only then did she realize that familiar voice

Belonged to Mu Yang!

She complained petulantly.

"Why did you scare me?"

Mu Yang walked out from the side.

"You were obviously the one sneaking in all suspiciously, weren't you?"

"No, I came to see Medicine Master about something. If she doesn't help me, I'll be too embarrassed to face anyone."

Mu Yang thought to himself.

After what happened yesterday,

It would already be merciful if Medicine Master did not hold her accountable.

Who looks better, you or Medicine Master?

How had she even thought to ask something like that?

Since when did she care about that sort of thing?

And she still dared come here asking Medicine Master for help?

Mu Yang told her,

"If you're too embarrassed to face anyone, then go back to the mountains."

"What could Medicine Master possibly do after something like this happened?"

Lingyuan said quietly,

"Fujin said there are still a few days until the festival, so I wanted to go back in a few days."

"She also said Medicine Master had a prescription that could help, so I came..."

The more Mu Yang listened, the more confused he became.

What the heck was this prescription supposed to be?

Could she have meant something like a disguise pill?

Medicine Master made things like that too?

The more Mu Yang thought about it, the more something felt off.

He cautiously asked, "Why did you suddenly ask me that question yesterday?"

Lingyuan looked puzzled.

"What question?"

"You don't remember anything from yesterday?"

Lingyuan thought back.

"I only remember Fujin giving me a new kind of tea."

"Then I ate a few extra Tea Cakes."

"I didn't eat that many, really, just a few."

"After that, I fell asleep."

Mu Yang rubbed his forehead.

Looks like she had drunk herself into a blackout.

But that still did not make sense.

If she had blacked out and remembered nothing,

Why was she wrapped in a blanket?

Mu Yang asked,

"Tell me honestly, what did you come to Medicine Master for?"

Lingyuan hesitated.

"Do I really have to say it? You can't tell anyone."

Mu Yang nodded.

Lingyuan whispered,

"Those few Tea Cakes I ate yesterday made me gain weight..."

Mu Yang: ???

What the heck?

"You gained weight?!"

"Shh, keep it down! I got fat from eating human food. How am I supposed to face anyone now...?"

Mu Yang was speechless.

He had already figured out roughly what had happened.

"So Fujin was the one who told you this, right?"

"She also said Medicine Master had prescriptions for weight loss and body conditioning, right?"

Lingyuan nodded repeatedly.

Mu Yang did not know how to tell her this cruel truth.

So he could only tell her

That Medicine Master was in the room inside.

Lingyuan went in.

Sure enough, before long,

She stormed back out in a rage.

"Fujin! You tricked me again! This time, I'll make you pay!"

Mu Yang watched her retreating figure.

Unable to help himself, he shook his head and sighed.

"Your body is made from Mortal Power."

"How could eating too much possibly make you gain weight?"

Some time later,

Mu Yang was, as usual,

Practicing swordsmanship outside his little wooden cabin.

He had begun to feel as though he had hit a bottleneck.

He did not know what else he could practice,

So he used whatever moves came to mind.

He did not even know what level he had reached by now.

Fujin and Medicine Master did not enjoy fighting.

Lingyuan could spar with him a little.

But Lingyuan did not use weapons.

She relied on close-quarters hand-to-hand combat.

Mu Yang's sword was too sharp.

The two of them often could not fully let loose when sparring.

"How about finding someone on the other side of the mountain to test myself against?"

The plan sounded feasible.

Mu Yang began planning his route.

After all, he had not seen Cloud Retainer and the others in a long time.

Now that he thought about it, he really did miss them.

Then he would go to Mount Aocang first, then Guili Plains.

Mu Yang had just been about to set off.

When he saw Medicine Master.

The barefoot beauty in plain robes walked toward the wooden cabin.

That was a rare sight.

Mu Yang knew she was usually quite busy.

Not long ago, he had even sorted herbs for her all night.

Why did she have time to come over today?

Medicine Master asked,

"Heading out?"

Mu Yang said yes.

"I'm going to see Cloud Retainer and the others."

"And spar with someone while I'm at it."

Medicine Master said, "I see. That works. Give them our regards."

Mu Yang said he would.

Then he asked whether Medicine Master had come over for something today.

"Shouldn't your pharmacy be quite busy?"

Medicine Master replied,

"It is busy, but a few disciples can see patients now."

"Leaving for a few days won't be a problem."

Mu Yang said, "I see. Then today, you came because..."

Before he could finish,

Fujin and Lingyuan arrived as well.

The two of them sidled over mysteriously.

"Medicine Master, you didn't tell him beforehand, did you?"

"We agreed to surprise him together."

"Of course I didn't. If I hadn't held him back, he'd already be at Mount Aocang by now."

Now Mu Yang was completely confused.

A surprise?

What were they up to this time?

None of us have birthdays or anything like that, do we?

Before Mu Yang could figure it out,

the three of them had him place his sword on the small wooden table beside him.

Then they turned their backs.

A moment later,

"All right, you can turn around now."

Mu Yang turned around.

He found that his sword had already been fitted with a scabbard.

Now, the sword looked exactly like its character artwork.

White branches curled upward.

They had probably been condensed from Mortal Power.

The three Soul Fragrance Flowers at the guard

were carved from jade.

"Hehe, surprised? We worked on this gift for a long time."

"These three flowers represent the three of us."

"The scabbard will protect the blade."

"Just like how we'll always protect you."

Mu Yang's nose stung slightly.

After hearing those words,

it was impossible not to be moved.

He truly hadn't expected the scabbard to symbolize pure friendship.

Fujin said playfully,

"My idea was pretty good, right? Mu Yang is so touched he's practically about to cry."

The three exchanged smiles.

They were quite satisfied with Mu Yang's reaction.

With his friends here,

Mu Yang could only postpone his journey.

In a moment like this, if they didn't brew a pot of fine tea

and spend time with friends,

how could they do justice to such sincere friendship?