Alchemy

Xiao Yan was dazed for a moment. In that instant, he had thought he might luckily catch a glimpse of Miss Wan's true face, hidden deep beneath the black veil of her Bamboo Hat, because of that gust of wind.

But Miss Wan merely raised a hand instinctively to steady her Bamboo Hat. The black veil separating the two of them only swayed slightly in the wind.

For no apparent reason, Xiao Yan felt a vague sense of regret.

After a brief daze, he finally recalled what Miss Wan had just said.

"...Miss Wan, what is it?"

"Did you feel anything when you used the medicine?"

Yao Wan raised a hand to gently hold her lightly swaying Bamboo Hat against the wind and could not help asking.

"A feeling..."

Xiao Yan hesitated before saying, "A little stinging pain."

"As expected."

Xiao Yan was rather special, after all, and Yao Wan did not want a momentary oversight on her part to leave him with any hidden dangers.

Besides, during her year-plus travels, Yao Wan had also come to understand what it meant not to flaunt one's wealth.

After all, the medicinal ingredients supplied to her by the Yao Clan and stored in her Storage Ring were all at least nearly a thousand years old. Most were rare heavenly treasures, and the vast majority were Spiritual Medicine meant specifically for cultivators. Their energy was too potent, and using them to save someone could easily cause trouble instead.

"Although I told you to dilute the medicinal liquid before using it to reduce the burden on your body as much as possible, it seems that it was still a little too much for you."

"A first-tier wood-attribute Magical Beast Core, two Spiritual Zhu Grass, and a section of Yu Root... Those should be enough."

Intense firelight illuminated the face concealed beneath the Bamboo Hat, though it only revealed her blurred outline beneath the black veil.

"So this is an alchemist?"

As Yao Wan explained, she skillfully manipulated the Dou Qi flames.

Yao Wan spoke amid Xiao Yan's somewhat surprised gaze.

Yao Wan knew very well that Xiao Yan's condition was a typical case of minor meridian damage. For Yao Wan, who had spent over a year traveling the Dou Qi Continent and had grown accustomed to seeing all manner of difficult ailments, it was not hard to treat.

The impurities and portions Yao Wan deemed unnecessary were burned away together, turning into white mist that swiftly dissipated amid the rising Dou Qi flames.

Beneath the Bamboo Hat, Yao Wan's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "Your Dou Qi is far too weak, and you may not even understand methods of circulating it through your meridians."

When Xiao Yan entered the guest room as well, Yao Wan spoke without turning her head.

"What are you standing around for?"

Xiao Yan nodded, then gently shut the guest room door.

As the wind gradually died down, Yao Wan lowered the fair hand holding her Bamboo Hat and said, "Using Spiritual Medicine to open up your meridians may do you more good than harm, but it has ultimately burdened your body. That is my responsibility."

"Alright... the pill is complete."

The once mysterious, seemingly distant girl held flame in her hand, as fiery and fervent as the blazing flames she wielded.

Yao Wan let out a breath. Refining a pill of this level was naturally as easy as eating and drinking for her.

Xiao Yan watched silently. Although alchemists held lofty status and great renown throughout the Dou Qi Continent, witnessing one refine medicine with his own eyes was still a rare first for Xiao Yan, who lived in Wutan City.

Yao Wan flicked her sleeve and adjusted her sitting posture slightly.

Gradually drawing her thoughts back to the present, Yao Wan controlled the flames with one hand while tossing the Magical Beast Core and medicinal ingredients into the Dou Qi flames with the other. The core and herbs slowly melted under the flames' intense heat.

For some reason, Xiao Yan suddenly realized: did this count as a lone man and woman sharing a room?

Forget it. Why am I thinking about that at a time like this?

Realizing the absurdity of his fleeting thought, the youth could not help shaking his head lightly and casting the distractions from his mind.

"Alright."

"For the next few days, don't rush to cultivate. Take it easy for now... Go inside and wait for me. I'll think of a way to remedy this."

"Here."

Though Miss Wan's process of refining medicine had deeply shocked him, Yao Wan had not actually taken very long. After only the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the flames at her fingertips gradually went out, leaving behind a single pill within the fire.

He had only just closed the door when a candle flame lit up behind him in the guest room that had been completely dark moments before. The flickering flame quickly grew stronger and brighter behind Xiao Yan before illuminating the entire room.

"This is..."

Xiao Yan could not help muttering to himself. People said alchemists were synonymous with mystery and power. Now, it seemed that was not wrong at all.

"...Sit down. After you take the pill, I'll nourish your meridians."

Yao Wan nodded lightly. "It seems the Body Tempering Spiritual Liquid I made is a little too much for your body in its current state."

"Close the door."

Before long, Yao Wan had gathered the medicinal ingredients she needed from her Storage Ring.

Come to think of it, she had bought all these ingredients in various cities while treating illnesses and saving people during her journey across the Dou Qi Continent after leaving the Yao Clan.

"It's only ordinary Dou Qi flame. It's no big deal. Once you become a Dou Zhe and formally embark upon the path of cultivation, you'll be able to do the same things I can."

In his eyes, Miss Wan, with the Dou Qi flames gathered in her hand, seemed to have become a completely different person all of a sudden.

"Miss Wan...?"

Xiao Yan froze, at a loss for what to do.

If she casually brought out precious Spiritual Medicine, it would be easy to invite disaster upon herself... though Yao Wan herself did not understand how a few thousand-year-old spirit herbs could count as any sort of valuable treasure.

"Sorting out your meridians won't make a piece of flesh fall off you. If you're coming, move quickly. Don't dawdle like an old woman."

Xiao Yan did not know what to say. He only vaguely realized that Miss Wan seemed to think using Spiritual Medicine to temper his body was not a good thing...

Xiao Yan instinctively turned around, only to see a bright flame condense in Miss Wan's hand.

But since it concerned his own body, he could not pretend to be magnanimous and simply let it go. He could only follow her for the moment and enter Miss Wan's guest room once more.

Yet before Xiao Yan could give any response, Yao Wan had already focused all her attention on her Storage Ring. Her powerful spiritual force swept rapidly through its vast space as though scanning a list, searching through the mountain-like pile of medicinal ingredients for the materials she needed.

In any case, the past year or so had indeed been a tense and exciting time for Yao Wan.

Miss Wan's rapid-fire words left Xiao Yan unable not only to refuse, but even to argue.