Five days later, before the gates of Medicine King Valley.
The last time Lu Chen had come here was during the bloody battle at Hundred Herbs Garden.
In that battle, he had slain Shen Qiu, forced back Netherfire Venerable and Corrupt Heart Old Monster, and after Mu Tianqing escaped, the latter had personally handed the Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Pill to him.
The mountain gate was still the same mountain gate, but the spirit herbs lining the bluestone steps had been replaced with fresh growth—the soil once contaminated by dead qi had been turned over three times, and new shoots of Dragon Blood Grass were pushing up from the earth, their pale golden leaves glimmering faintly in the morning light.
Yun Qingyue walked at the front.
Once they entered the gate, every Medicine King Valley disciple they encountered along the way lowered their heads in salute. Their gazes lingered briefly on her face before shifting to Lu Chen behind her.
The Root Severer sword of the Duke Who Pacified the Nation was far too conspicuous. The dragon-scale patterns on its scabbard gleamed gold and purple beneath the sunlight; no one could fail to recognize it.
Mu Wanqing was waiting for them outside the alchemy room on the main peak.
She was somewhat thinner than when they had last met, with a few more white hairs at her temples, but her eyes remained sharp enough to see straight through a person.
She first took Yun Qingyue's hand and examined her from head to toe before turning to Lu Chen.
"The Valley Master is waiting for you atop Divine Farmer Peak. He says he owes you too much and is too ashamed to meet you at the foot of the mountain." Mu Wanqing stuffed a token into Yun Qingyue's hand. "The restrictions around the