The Dog Stole the Pills

They left the city after dark. The road was hard to navigate at night, and it took two cars two hours to reach the foot of Little Lingyin Temple.

The three of them divided up the load and carried all the herbs and supplies up to Lingyin in one trip.

Zhang Yang had no intention of using anything else. He had brought everything he needed and only occupied the spacious main hall. Jiao Long stood guard outside, while Zhang Xin'ai helped, handing Zhang Yang whatever he asked for.

Legend said refining pills required a furnace, but Zhang Yang didn't have one. Besides, that was only legend. These days, if he had the means, he could even use modern equipment to make them.

He set up several large woks from Lingyin's kitchen. There was firewood on the mountain, so he lit the fires.

There were so many herbs that Zhang Xin'ai couldn't tell them apart. She couldn't remember their names even when Zhang Yang recited them. Fortunately, she had prepared in advance and started recording audio from the beginning. She had worried Zhang Yang might object; otherwise, she would have filmed the whole thing.

After working through the night, Zhang Yang had produced six pills. The tiny cinnabar-red pellets looked appealing, though they also brought poison to mind.

He came out yawning.

"Brother Long, let's go!"

Zhang Yang put the main hall back in order and walked out, stretching his arms.

"Mm."

Jiao Long never peppered Zhang Yang with questions. That was one reason Zhang Yang liked having him along. His ability to fight was a bonus; the important thing was that he wasn't nosy.

"Young Master, what are these six pills called?"

They had used up the herbs and left everything else at Lingyin. As they headed down the mountain,