Sweets

"Bang, bang, bang..."

"Come in!"

In the rear courtyard, inner hall.

Mei Shuangfeng, dressed in an elegant plain robe, sat quietly behind a pearwood desk.

On the table sat a small white porcelain bowl, an exquisite little wooden mallet, along with some malt sugar and honey.

Without even raising her head, she focused on the task in her hands, gently pounding with the mallet.

Only when Shen Xiuhan pushed open the door and entered did she casually ask:

"Which family did you choose?"

Shen Xiuhan stepped forward respectfully and answered truthfully:

"Reporting to Master, I chose the Ji Family. They said I would serve as a resident island patrol envoy on Cloud Ripple Island."

"Tap..."

The little mallet in Mei Shuangfeng's hand paused slightly, then resumed its original rhythm.

She picked a piece of malt sugar into the porcelain bowl and, together with honey, methodically ground and crushed it.

"Cloud Ripple Island... that place is near Sunken Sword Dock. It is dangerous territory. Have you thought it through?"

"I have."

Shen Xiuhan said solemnly, "The Ji Family's terms are quite good. They have also specifically permitted this disciple to enter their library and choose one cultivation method or martial skill."

"Oh?"

Mei Shuangfeng slightly raised her phoenix eyes, seeming somewhat surprised as well.

"...Did they say which level they would permit you to enter?"

"The first level."

"Mm... On the first level, for fist, kick, and movement techniques, you may choose River-Torrent Step, Wind-Rending Leg, or Jade-Shattering Returning-Wind Palm. Those three are the most practical during the Manifest Force stage. If you are considering weapons and martial arts, only Willow-Sweeping Sword Technique and Gate-Cleaving Saber are barely worth a look..."

"Th-Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

Shen Xiuhan was startled by how she recited them as though she knew every treasure in her own home.

Master usually kept to herself and rarely went out. How could she know the cultivation methods in the Ji Family library so thoroughly?

She spoke as casually as if she were picking cabbages from her own backyard.

Mei Shuangfeng paid no heed to his shock. She set down the mallet, drew an exquisite little blue porcelain bottle from her sleeve, and pushed it to the edge of the table.

"Here. Take it."

"That Azure Awl Chicken had exceptionally vigorous qi and blood. This batch of Jadeblood Pills produced six pills, all of superior quality. They will be of great benefit to Manifest Force martial artists."

"With your foundation, taking three or four pills will be enough to push your qi and blood to completion, allowing you to begin preparing to break through into Bone Tempering."

At this point, her expression turned stern as she warned him:

"But remember this well: pills refined from a second-tier treasure beast are tyrannical and fierce in potency. You must wait seven days between each pill. Only after the medicinal power has been fully refined may you take the next."

"If you greedily seek quick success and swallow them consecutively, your blood vessels may burst. Do you understand?"

"This disciple understands!"

Shen Xiuhan accepted the blue porcelain bottle, pulled out its wooden stopper, and lightly sniffed at its mouth.

The next moment, a rich pill fragrance shot straight into his head, and the qi and blood within his body began to stir and boil of their own accord!

As expected of a second-tier treasure pill!

A fine pill!

"And these Azure Awl feathers."

Mei Shuangfeng pulled another gray cloth sack from beneath the desk and casually tossed it onto the table.

Inside were the Azure Awl Chicken's plume feathers, as hard and sharp as refined iron.

"You can sell them at an armory in the southern market. The better-quality ones can fetch ten coins apiece. If you have your own connections, you may also take them to a blacksmith and have them forged into arrows for your own use. How you dispose of them is up to you."

"This disciple understands."

Mei Shuangfeng nodded slightly and added:

"Did the Ji Family say when they wanted you to take up your post on Cloud Ripple Island?"

Shen Xiuhan thought back.

"Steward Ji Zhong told this disciple to visit the Ji residence the day after tomorrow to choose a martial art. As for the date of departure for the island, he did not mention it."

"Then it should be at the beginning of next month."

Mei Shuangfeng said lightly, "There are still seven or eight days until next month. Stay at the martial hall these days and steadily consolidate your qi and blood. When the day to take up your post arrives, go to the Ji Family to report in and board the ship."

"Yes, this disciple will remember."

"When you work on the water in the future, you must not neglect Mystic Eagle Stance either. If you encounter any bottlenecks or matters you cannot understand in your cultivation, you may return to the courtyard on your days off and seek me out. I will resolve your doubts."

Hearing these instructions, Shen Xiuhan's heart warmed. He immediately clasped his fists in salute.

"Thank you for your generous care, Master!"

Mei Shuangfeng nodded. Then she picked up the purple clay teacup at hand, lightly flicked its lid, lowered her eyes, and took a sip.

That was her way of telling him to get lost.

Shen Xiuhan was just about to take the hint and excuse himself.

Out of the corner of his eye, however, he noticed the porcelain bowl and wooden mallet on the desk, and his expression shifted.

"Master, are these... rare objects used to assist in pill refining?"

Hearing this, Mei Shuangfeng lowered her head and glanced at the half-finished sticky concoction. She could not help but laugh.

"No. I am merely passing the time by making some sweets..."

"Sweets?"

Shen Xiuhan's eyes lit up. Seemingly interested, he stepped forward two paces.

"Master, might you... reward this disciple with some of these sweets?"

Mei Shuangfeng slanted her phoenix eyes at him, her gaze carrying a strange hint of amusement.

"You are already this old, and yet you still crave such cloying little snacks meant for children?"

Under her stare, Shen Xiuhan felt his toes curl into the ground. He forced himself to say:

"Ahem. This disciple came from a poor family. Since childhood... I have always been fond of such sweet foods..."

Seeing his embarrassed appearance, an extraordinarily faint, gentle smile appeared on Mei Shuangfeng's usually ice-cold face.

Yet very soon, she seemed to recall something, and her gaze abruptly became complicated.

The smile faded. She turned her head, closed her eyes, and said softly:

"Once the malt sugar has been crushed and blended, it must still be aired in a ventilated place before it can solidify into pieces... Come to the rear hall and collect it two days from now."

"Thank you for Master's reward!"

Shen Xiuhan was overjoyed and clasped his fists again.

"Go..."

Mei Shuangfeng waved her sleeve.

After Shen Xiuhan's footsteps gradually faded away, silence returned to the room. She silently lowered her head and picked up the little wooden mallet once more.

When he left the martial hall, it was still early.

Shen Xiuhan was in no hurry to go home. He first took a detour to the southern market.

After searching around, he found several fairly large armories and took out the Azure Awl Chicken feathers to test the market price.

Just as Master had said.

Materials from a second-tier treasure beast were tough as iron and incomparably sharp along the edges. They made excellent fletching for arrows and were quite popular with the armory owners.

The feathers from ordinary parts generally sold for seven or eight large coins each.

The dark-colored hard tail feathers could sell for ten large coins apiece.

Shen Xiuhan quickly calculated.

If he brought over the pile of blue feathers at home as well, together with those in his possession, he could probably exchange them all for seven or eight strings of cash.

Not bad at all...

He had saved up another sum toward buying a house.

Thanks, chicken bro.

He chose an old-established armory that offered a fair price and readily sold off the blue feathers.

Before leaving, he arranged with the shopkeeper to bring over the remaining blue feathers in a few days. Then he headed toward Little Path Bay.

He pushed open the gate to his courtyard.

Inside the thatched cottage, Madam Zheng was once again weaving fishing nets.

Shen Momo sat obediently beside her, helping out.

"Mother, I'm back."

Madam Zheng hurriedly set down the half-woven fishing net and rose to her feet.

"Why are you back so early today... Hurry and rest. I'll go make you something to eat."

"Let's do it together."

Shen Xiuhan rolled up his sleeves and smiled. "Perfect timing. I'll teach you how to make blanket noodles."

"Noodles!?"

Shen Momo, who had been gloomily passing bamboo strips to Madam Zheng beside them, sprang up on her little legs at those words. She raised her tiny face expectantly.

"Big Brother, are you making noodles for Momo?"

"That's right, we're having noodles."

Shen Xiuhan smiled, picked her up, and pinched her little nose.

The little girl immediately brightened up. Her lotus-root-like little arms wrapped around him, and she buried her face in his shoulder, rubbing against it as she mumbled:

"Big Brother, Momo loves noodles the most. I'll be loyal to you forever!"

"Hahaha..."

Shen Xiuhan burst into laughter, and rare cheer filled the cottage.

However, just then...

Bang, bang, bang!

A burst of violent pounding suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate, followed by a rough voice.

"Open the door!"

"The Turbulent Wave Gang is conducting business! Everyone inside, get the hell out here!"