Arriving Just in Time

A faint sense of fatigue welled up in his heart. This was the aftereffect of forcing his true qi to manifest outside his body. At the fourth level of the True Martial Realm, although one could launch attacks with externalized true qi, the cost was immense. At this stage, one's spirit was not yet sufficiently powerful, so externalizing true qi for combat drained both one's energy and mental focus significantly.

For the average person, launching three consecutive attacks with externalized true qi would exhaust their reserves so thoroughly that they would collapse from exhaustion.

My true qi is currently quite robust; I could force out twenty consecutive externalized attacks. However, the mental toll is also severe.

Zhang He knew that he was not currently suited for relying on externalized true qi attacks. Only when he reached the Gangwu Realm would he be able to significantly alleviate the drawbacks of his true qi deficiency and mental weakness.

It's a pity. If my true qi were just a bit more substantial, I could have broken through eight acupoints. Now that I've reached the fourth level, I still cannot successfully cultivate the first stage of the Rejuvenation True Explanation.

Zhang He thought of the Rejuvenation True Explanation he was practicing and felt a sense of helplessness.

It seems I must absorb the other Cold Flood Dragon Poison Pill to reach the first stage. Once he reached the first stage, Zhang He would be able to unleash the power of the Half-Step Blast Fist!

The Half-Step Blast Fist was a powerful technique specifically created for the first stage of the Rejuvenation True Explanation! If he couldn't cultivate the eight acupoints, the explosive power of the Half-Step Blast Fist could not be unleashed!

However, Zhang He's current cultivation at the fourth level of the True Martial Realm meant that his status would rise significantly. In Mengyin City, the heads of wealthy, prestigious families were generally at the fourth level. It could be said that Zhang He's current cultivation was among the best in all of Mengyin City. Even in Luowang Prefecture, he would be considered formidable.

Now that my cultivation has broken through, I've crossed a major hurdle. There shouldn't be any difficulties in the next two levels of improvement.

The remaining cultivation progress focused primarily on increasing true qi, which posed no difficulty for Zhang He.

Zhang He suddenly heard movement outside, as if people were talking. In the Alchemy Room, the soundproofing was excellent to prevent outside disturbances.

Who is outside? Zhang He wondered. The door to the Alchemy Room could only be opened from the inside once someone had entered.

He opened the door to find Master Lu and the young pharmacist standing there. When they saw Zhang He emerge, their faces lit up with surprise, and they both seemed to heave a sigh of relief.

Master Lu exhaled, then stared at Zhang He with a curious gaze, looking him up and down.

"What is it?" Zhang He asked, checking himself in confusion.

"You stayed inside for so many days without a sound; we thought something had happened to you. Hey, it's strange—why does it feel like your aura is completely different from before?" Master Lu asked.

Zhang He's skin emitted a lustrous glow, as delicate as that of a newborn baby. But what surprised Master Lu most was the aura Zhang He exuded, which gave him an unusually steady feeling. Especially when looking into Zhang He's eyes, they were as clear as the water in a deep pool.

"What? How many days have I been inside?" Zhang He asked in surprise. He felt as though he had been in there for at most a day.

"You don't even know?" Master Lu was suddenly astonished. "You've been in there for five full days, without eating or drinking... I really don't know how you managed."

"Five days?" Zhang He's expression changed abruptly. Oh no, doesn't that mean Lian Yunbi's birthday is tomorrow? It takes a full day to travel from Luowang Prefecture to Mengyin City!

"Did you succeed in refining your pill?" Master Lu asked at this moment, unable to suppress his curiosity. "What kind of pill did you refine?"

"It was a success. It's just a pill to help me break through my cultivation level, specifically for the fourth level of the True Martial Realm." Zhang He nodded, though his face was full of a wry smile. "This is terrible. I didn't expect to be delayed for so long. Master Lu, I am very sorry, but I have an urgent matter to attend to. I won't say more for now; let's talk next time we meet."

With that, Zhang He dashed away. Behind him, Master Lu looked moved. A pill that helped a True Martial Realm expert improve their cultivation? Such a pill would be considered a treasure even at the Pharmacist Association!

He wanted to learn more from Zhang He about what exactly had been refined, but Zhang He had already vanished from sight.

"What urgent business could he have? Why is he in such a rush?" Master Lu wondered, looking puzzled.

At Old Man Qin's small courtyard, Zhang He arrived once again to find it no longer as cluttered as before. The firewood in the yard was stacked into neat piles. Although the place was somewhat dilapidated, everything was organized, showing that the owner had seemingly regained his passion for life.

"Young man, you've finally arrived. I've finished those pieces of jewelry and was just waiting for you to pick them up. I haven't seen a shadow of you, and it made me afraid to leave the house for even a step these past few days."

Old Man Qin felt a sense of relief upon seeing Zhang He, speaking in a half-joking tone.

"I've been busy with some things these past few days and couldn't get away," Zhang He said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Can you give me the jewelry now? I'm in a hurry to get on the road."

Traveling back from Luowang Prefecture to Mengyin City took at least a day, and there was only one day left until Lian Yunbi's birthday.

Old Man Qin nodded. Seeing the anxiety on Zhang He's face, he stopped wasting words and immediately led Zhang He into the house. He pulled aside a painting on the wall, revealing a hole sealed by wooden boards. Zhang He was slightly taken aback.

Old Man Qin smiled at Zhang He and retrieved an exquisite box from the secure hole.

"Take a look first. If there's anything lacking, I can modify it immediately; it won't take much time." Old Man Qin wiped the sweat from his brow. Although he said this, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and his eyes shone with confidence and pride.

He believed that once Zhang He saw these pieces of jewelry, he would be absolutely satisfied!

He was full of confidence in his work because these pieces were the most satisfying ones he had ever made or even seen. He now looked forward to seeing the look of surprise on Zhang He's face when he opened the box and beheld the jewelry, which could be called a work of art.

Zhang He opened the box and, upon seeing the jewelry inside, felt an immediate impact on his soul. He held his breath; even though he wasn't as fanatical about jewelry as women were, his heart skipped a beat when he saw the pieces before him.

It was too beautiful! Absolutely stunning!

Although the pieces were made of gold, they lacked the bright, piercing luster of typical gold, instead possessing a hazy, ethereal glow. Looking into the box, the jewelry resting on the red velvet seemed to be surrounded by a mist.

"A work of art!" Zhang He regained his senses and couldn't help but exclaim. These pieces were purely handmade, which was already rare. Moreover, the necklace in particular, with the milky-white poison pill emitting a moonlight-like radiance embedded within the golden mist, gave off a strangely hazy beauty.

"After I finished making them, I felt they were too bright, so I took the liberty of creating a hazy effect on the surface. How is it? Are you satisfied?" Old Man Qin asked, knowing the answer. The wrinkles on his smiling face bloomed like a flower.

"It's simply perfect!" Zhang He praised sincerely.

Noon.

Clatter, clatter, clatter.

At the gates of Mengyin City, a carriage sped in, trailing a long tail of dust.

"Phew, traveling through the night, I finally made it back!" Zhang He looked at the familiar city walls and let out a sigh of relief. To save time, Zhang He had to push the driver to travel through the night.

The middle-aged driver looked exhausted, and the horse was panting heavily from fatigue.

Zhang He saw it all, and feeling a twinge of guilt, he said, "Uncle Li, you go ahead and drive back to get some good rest. I'll give you double your wages for this month. Oh, and that bundle in the carriage—take it to my mother once you're back."

Upon hearing he would receive double pay, Uncle Li felt his exhaustion vanish into thin air. Despite having traveled through the night, he grinned broadly and nodded with honest, simple-hearted sincerity.

The Lian Family estate was located not far from the city gate, so Zhang He could easily walk there. He took out the gift he had prepared for Lian Yunbi, stepped off the carriage, and headed toward the Lian residence.

Outside the main gate of the Lian estate, Lian Yunbi was standing there, gazing into the distance, a look of anxiety etched upon her pretty face.

By rights, as the guest of honor for the day, she should have been inside the house rather than out here greeting guests herself. The passersby who saw Lian Yunbi standing at the entrance all felt a sense of bewilderment.

"What's wrong with Lian Yunbi? Why is she standing out here at the gate?"

"It looks like Lian Yunbi is waiting for someone."

"Waiting for whom? Ha, what kind of person could it be to make the eldest Miss Lian come out to greet them personally?"

"To be held in such high regard by Miss Lian, they must be someone of great importance."

The passersby whispered and speculated among themselves. They were all curious as to what kind of figure Lian Yunbi could be waiting for.

Lian Yunbi had no time to concern herself with what these people were thinking; she was anxious.

That annoying guy, it's already getting late, why isn't he here yet? We had already agreed on it, could he have forgotten?

Lian Yunbi looked toward the intersection in the distance, where the number of carriages passing by was dwindling. The hope in her heart was steadily fading as well.

A maidservant walked out and said to Lian Yunbi, "Miss, the banquet is about to begin. The Master sent me to ask you to come inside."

"I know." Lian Yunbi looked toward the intersection, but there was no sign of anyone there anymore. She smoothed her hair, unable to hide the disappointment on her face, her mood sinking even further.

Just as Lian Yunbi was about to turn around, she suddenly caught sight of a dark figure striding toward her from the intersection with the speed of a flying bird.

"Zhang He!" Lian Yunbi's beautiful eyes widened instantly, her face full of joy. She had recognized that silhouette. Yet, at this moment, Zhang He looked travel-worn and somewhat weary, though those dark, bright eyes gave her a strange, different feeling.

When Zhang He reached her and saw her waiting there, he couldn't help but feel ashamed. "I'm late, my apologies. I was held up by a small matter."

"Phew, it's enough that you could come. I was worried you had forgotten." Lian Yunbi pursed her lips and offered a shy smile, blooming like a flower, full of charm.

Zhang He was momentarily stunned as he watched her.

"Let's go, the banquet is about to start. Ha, since you arrived so late today, I might just have to punish you later." Lian Yunbi blinked playfully and pulled Zhang He inside.

Behind them, the maidservant saw the eldest Miss acting so intimately with a man and couldn't help but let a look of shock flash through her eyes. Her gaze fell upon Zhang He; he was dressed plainly, with nothing particularly remarkable about him.