Outside the pill furnace, several people watched in silence.
A fierce fire roared beneath the furnace, a wisp of murky black qi threading through its crimson flames.
Le Qingrou let out a soft breath. "It won't burn him, will it?"
Daoist Fire Crane curled a finger and tapped her lightly on the head.
"Show some respect."
Then Daoist Fire Crane smiled faintly and said to Jin Que:
"Even at the earliest, young friend Zhan will need another three days in the fire to break through to Dragon Tendon."
"Fellow Daoist Jin Que, junior sister, let us go discuss the Dao. The formation here runs on its own. Nothing will go wrong."
Jin Que gave a slight nod. His gaze lingered on the furnace, seeing through its walls to Zhan Lingyun, who was gritting his teeth and enduring the heat.
A flicker of anticipation crossed his eyes.
Then he followed Daoist Fire Crane and Qinglü, High Cultivator, away.
"S-senior brother."
Liu Yunche turned back and saw Le Qingrou calling to him quietly.
This time, he did not tease her. "What is it, junior sister Le?" he asked warmly.
Le Qingrou smiled. "You've been in Anfu City so long, senior brother, but you haven't gone out to look around. Why don't I show you the city?"
Liu Yunche nodded slightly. "In that case, sorry for the trouble, junior sister."
Sunlight had warmed the bluestone paving along the street. Houses stood shoulder to shoulder on either side, vendors' cries rose and fell, and the bustle of everyday life in Anfu City washed over them.
Le Qingrou walked briskly ahead, looking this way and that. One moment she stopped at a stall to pick up a little carved wooden beast; the next, a display of lustrous jade ornaments caught her eye.
Before long, she