Arrived in the Nick of Time

Arrived in the Nick of Time

A faint feeling of exhaustion welled up inside him. It was a side effect of driving his true qi out of his body. At the fourth level of the True Martial Realm, one could attack with true qi outside the body, but the cost was enormous. At this stage, one's mind wasn't strong enough, and such attacks consumed a great deal of both true qi and mental energy.

An ordinary person would be completely worn out after just three consecutive attacks with true qi outside the body, having exhausted so much of their true qi.

"My true qi is abundant now, so I can launch twenty consecutive attacks with it outside my body. But the strain on my mind is still severe."

Zhang He knew that he wasn't suited to fighting with true qi outside his body just yet. Only when he reached the Gangwu Realm would he be able to greatly mitigate his lack of true qi and weak mental strength.

"If only my true qi were a little more abundant, I could break through eight acupoints. I've reached the fourth level now, but I still can't cultivate the first level of the Rejuvenation True Explanation."

Thinking of the Rejuvenation True Explanation he was cultivating, Zhang He felt helpless again.

"Looks like I'll have to absorb the other Cold Flood Dragon Poison Pill before I can cultivate the first level." Once he reached the first level, Zhang He would be able to unleash the power of the Half-Step Blast Fist!

The Half-Step Blast Fist was a powerful move created specifically for the first level of the Rejuvenation True Explanation! Without opening eight acupoints, he couldn't unleash its explosive force!

Still, Zhang He's cultivation had now reached the fourth level of the True Martial Realm, which meant his status would rise considerably. In Mengyin City, the heads of the great clans were generally at the fourth level. Zhang He's cultivation could be called one of the best in the entire city. Even in Luowang Prefecture, he would be considered formidable.

"Now that I've broken through and passed a major threshold, advancing through the next two levels won't be difficult."

The remaining levels still focused on increasing one's true qi. That posed no challenge for Zhang He.

Suddenly, Zhang He heard sounds outside, as if someone were talking. The Alchemy Room was well insulated to prevent people outside from disturbing whoever was inside.

"Who's outside?" Zhang He wondered. Once someone entered the Alchemy Room, its door could only be opened from the inside.

When he opened the door, he saw Lu Tiao and the young pharmacist outside. They both looked delighted to see Zhang He, as if a weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

Lu Tiao let out a relieved breath, then looked Zhang He up and down with a puzzled expression.

"What is it?" Zhang He glanced down at himself in confusion.

"You've been in there for so many days without making a sound. We thought something had happened to you. Huh, that's strange. Why do you feel so different from before?" Lu Tiao said.

Zhang He's skin glowed with a smooth, lustrous sheen, as tender as a newborn's. But what surprised Lu Tiao most was the remarkably steady aura about him. His eyes in particular were clear and deep as a tranquil pool.

"What? How many days have I been in there?" Zhang He asked in surprise. It felt like he'd been inside for no more than a day.

"You didn't know?" Lu Tiao exclaimed. "You've been in there for five whole days, without food or water... I really don't know how you managed it."

"Five days?" Zhang He's expression changed dramatically. Damn it! Didn't that mean Lian Yunbi's birthday was tomorrow? The journey from Luowang Prefecture to Mengyin City took a whole day!

"Did you finish refining your pill?" Lu Tiao asked. Unable to contain his curiosity, he added, "What kind of pill did you make?"

"I succeeded. It's a pill that can help me break through—a pill for someone at the fourth level of the True Martial Realm." Zhang He nodded, but his face was full of rueful amusement. "This is terrible. I didn't expect it to take so long. Master Lu, I'm very sorry, but I have an urgent matter to attend to. Let's talk next time."

With that, Zhang He sprinted away. Behind him, Lu Tiao stared, deeply moved. A pill that could help a True Martial Realm expert advance? Even at the Pharmacist Association, such a pill would be a treasure!

He wanted to ask Zhang He more about the pill he had refined, but Zhang He had already vanished.

"What urgent matter has him rushing off like the house is on fire?" Lu Tiao wondered, perplexed.

When Zhang He returned to Old Man Qin's little courtyard, he found it no longer as disorderly as before. The firewood had been neatly stacked in piles. Though the place was still a little shabby, everything was tidy and orderly. It seemed its owner had found a renewed enthusiasm for life.

"Young man, you've finally come! I've finished those pieces of jewelry and have been waiting for you to pick them up. You never showed your face, and I haven't dared leave the house for days."

When Old Man Qin saw Zhang He, he let out a relieved breath and spoke half-jokingly.

"I've been busy with some things and couldn't get away." Zhang He looked a little embarrassed. "Could I have the jewelry now? I'm in a hurry to hit the road."

The trip from Luowang Prefecture to Mengyin City took at least a day. And Lian Yunbi's birthday was only a day away.

Old Man Qin nodded. Seeing how anxious Zhang He looked, he didn't waste time. He immediately led him inside, then pulled a scroll of calligraphy off the wall. Beneath it was a hole sealed with wooden boards. Zhang He looked at it, slightly taken aback.

Old Man Qin smiled at Zhang He, then pulled a delicate box from the tightly sealed hole.

"Take a look first. If anything isn't quite right, I can make adjustments right away. It won't take long." Old Man Qin wiped away his sweat. Though he said this, the corners of his mouth lifted, and his eyes shone with confidence and pride.

He was sure Zhang He would be delighted when he saw the jewelry!

He was confident because these pieces were the most satisfying jewelry he had ever made—or even seen. He was eager to watch Zhang He open the box and see the surprised look on his face when he laid eyes on the jewelry, which was nothing short of art.

Zhang He opened the box. The moment he saw the jewelry inside, it struck him to the heart, and he held his breath. He wasn't as crazy about jewelry as women were, but his heart still gave a sudden thump at the sight of the pieces before him.

They were so beautiful—unbelievably beautiful!

Though the jewelry was made of gold, it lacked gold's bright luster. Instead, it had a hazy glow. Looking inside the box, the pieces resting on the red velvet seemed to be surrounded by mist.

"Works of art!" Zhang He exclaimed once he'd recovered. These pieces of jewelry had been entirely handmade, which was impressive in itself. And the pale, gleaming poison pill on the necklace radiated moonlight as it sat nestled in the golden haze, giving it an even more ethereal beauty.

"After I finished them, I felt they were too bright, so I took the liberty of giving them a hazy finish. What do you think? Are you satisfied?" Old Man Qin asked, pretending not to know, his face wreathed in a smile.

"Absolutely perfect!" Zhang He praised from the bottom of his heart.

Noon.

"Clip-clop, clip-clop!"

A carriage raced up to the gates of Mengyin City, trailing a long plume of dust.

"Phew, after riding through the night, I finally made it back!" Zhang He said, gazing at the familiar city gate with relief. To save time, he'd had the driver push on through the night.

The middle-aged driver was utterly exhausted, and the horse was panting heavily.

Zhang He noticed it all and felt a little guilty. "Uncle Li, take the carriage home and get some good rest. I'll double your pay for this month. Oh, and after you get home, give the bundle in the carriage to my mother."

When Uncle Li heard he'd be paid double, all his weariness vanished. Even after riding through the night, he broke into a grin and nodded good-naturedly.

The Lian family residence was not far from the city gate, so Zhang He could walk there. He took out the gift for Lian Yunbi, climbed down from the carriage, and headed toward the Lian family residence.

Outside the Lian family's main gate, Lian Yunbi stood looking into the distance, her pretty face showing signs of anxiety.

By rights, as the guest of honor today, she should have been inside rather than greeting guests herself. People coming and going found it strange to see Lian Yunbi waiting at the gate.

"What's going on with Lian Yunbi? Why is she standing out here?"

"Looks like she's waiting for someone."

"Who? Ha, what kind of important person could make the eldest young lady come out to greet him herself?"

"Anyone who can earn Miss Lian's favor must be someone of great standing."

The passersby talked among themselves, curious about whom Lian Yunbi was waiting for.

Lian Yunbi paid them no mind. She was too anxious.

"That annoying man. It's getting late—why hasn't he come? We already agreed on this. Has he forgotten?"

Lian Yunbi gazed down the road. Fewer and fewer carriages were coming her way, and with each passing moment, her hopes dwindled.

A maid came out and said to Lian Yunbi, "Miss, the banquet is about to begin. Master asked me to bring you inside."

"I know." Lian Yunbi looked toward the road, now empty. She smoothed her hair, unable to hide her disappointment, and her heart sank.

Lian Yunbi was about to turn around when she suddenly caught sight of a dark figure striding toward her from the end of the road.

"Zhang He!" Lian Yunbi's beautiful eyes widened, her face lighting up with joy. She recognized him at once. Zhang He looked travel-worn and tired, but his bright black eyes gave her a strange feeling.

When Zhang He reached her, he saw her waiting there and felt embarrassed. "Sorry I'm late. Something held me up."

"Phew, it's all right as long as you came. I was worried you'd forgotten." Lian Yunbi pursed her lips and smiled shyly, as lovely as a flower.

Zhang He couldn't help staring.

"Come on, the banquet's about to begin. Ha, since you're so late, I'll have to punish you later." Lian Yunbi gave him a playful blink, then took his hand and led him inside.

Behind them, the maid was astonished to see the eldest young lady acting so intimately with a man. Her gaze fell on Zhang He. He was dressed plainly and didn't seem remarkable at all.