I Want Three!

The Spirit Herb Garden was the same as ever, filled with medicinal fragrance. Bamboo fences enclosed vast stretches of herb plots, looking especially peaceful beneath the gentle sunlight.

As soon as Mo Yun entered the garden, he saw Xiao Liu, Luo Shan, Han Tang, Tang Yin, Tie Zhu, and Zhang Qiang crouching beside Herb Plot No. 3, working.

Xiao Liu spotted him first. He sprang to his feet, tossed aside the water dipper in his hand, and hurried over, taking the steps two at a time.

"Mo! You're finally back! Well? Well? Did you pass the examination?"

His face was full of urgency, his eyes round and wide, as though he had been the one taking the examination.

The others put down their work and gathered around as well.

Though Luo Shan still wore his usual icy expression, there was clear concern in his eyes.

Han Tang tightened his grip on his hoe, his face full of anticipation.

Tang Yin was unconcerned. "With Mo Yun's strength, of course he passed!"

Tie Zhu grinned good-naturedly without saying anything.

Zhang Qiang stood at the back, his fists clenched and his expression tense.

Looking at those familiar faces, Mo Yun felt warmth well up in his heart.

He smiled and deliberately drew out his words. "I didn't let you down-"

Then he paused. Only when the others were nearly impatient enough to hit him did he continue, "I took first place!"

"Holy freaking..." Xiao Liu nearly jumped into the air. "Mo, you're a beast! First place?!"

Tang Yin flashed a wicked grin. "Just what I'd expect from the man I've had my eye on."

Mo Yun: "..."

Brother, there's something a little off about you!

Even Han Tang offered a rare smile. "Brother Mo, congratulations!"

Tie Zhu scratched his head. "You're amazing, Brother Mo!"

Luo Shan said nothing, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly-a rare display of emotion from him.

They surrounded Mo Yun, clamoring over one another to congratulate him, and only settled down after making a fuss for quite a while.

"All right, all right, stop crowding around me." Mo Yun waved with a smile. "You haven't finished your work yet, have you? Get back to it before Zhou Bo catches you and docks your wages."

Only then did Xiao Liu remember that his water dipper was still lying on the ground. He hurried back to pick it up.

The others dispersed and returned to their work too, but they were all smiling, working with more vigor than usual.

Mo Yun smiled at their retreating backs, then turned toward the Precious Herb Plot.

He pushed open the wooden gate. The Precious Herb Plot was quiet, its air filled with a medicinal fragrance far richer than outside.

Zhou Bo was reclining in a wicker chair, basking in the sun. His bamboo cane rested against the chair, and his eyes were half closed, as though he were dozing.

Sunlight fell on his graying hair, giving it a faint silver sheen.

"Zhou Bo." Mo Yun walked over and called softly.

Zhou Bo lifted his eyelids, glanced at him, and closed his eyes again.

"Passed the Guard Examination?"

"I did." Mo Yun nodded. "I was lucky enough to take first place."

"Not bad." The corners of Zhou Bo's mouth lifted slightly. His tone was calm, but a hint of satisfaction came through. "Young and accomplished."

Mo Yun scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed.

After a moment's hesitation, he spoke. "Zhou Bo, once I leave the Spirit Herb Garden, I don't know whether I'll still have the chance to study the Pill Dao under you."

He genuinely was interested in the Pill Dao.

For one thing, the Pill Dao had already appeared as a skill on his panel, which meant he could invest points in it.

He simply wanted to improve his Martial Dao cultivation as quickly as possible, so he had no spare points for the Pill Dao at present. For now, he could only study through his own efforts.

For another, in this world where the Martial Dao reigned supreme, the importance of pills went without saying.

Whether for healing, cultivation, or breakthroughs, pills were indispensable.

If he could learn to refine them, he would no longer have to rely on others for everything.

Zhou Bo opened his eyes and glanced at him without speaking.

After a brief silence, he slowly rose from his wicker chair and, leaning on his bamboo cane, limped toward the nearby rest room.

"Wait here."

Mo Yun remained where he was, unsure what Zhou Bo intended to do.

A short while later, Zhou Bo emerged from the rest room with a thick, heavy book in his hand.

Its cover was yellowed and its corners worn. At a glance, it was clearly an old volume that had been leafed through countless times.

"Take it." Zhou Bo pressed the book into Mo Yun's hands.

Mo Yun accepted it and looked down, immediately feeling a little startled.

Four large characters were written on the cover: True Explanations of the Pill Dao.

"Zhou Bo, this is..."

"I came across this book by chance in my younger days. It's the foundation of everything I know about the Pill Dao." Zhou Bo settled back into his wicker chair, his tone indifferent, as though discussing something of no consequence.

"It's yours now. How much you learn from it will depend on you."

Mo Yun held the thick book, feeling its weight in his hands.

This was more than a book. It held decades of Zhou Bo's painstaking effort and accumulated knowledge.

He hurriedly bowed in thanks. "Thank you, Zhou Bo!"

"Don't thank me just yet." Zhou Bo waved a hand, his gaze settling on the book as a trace of complicated emotion flickered in his eyes.

"I've studied this book for over thirty years, but unfortunately, I've gained little from it. The pill formulas and medicinal principles recorded inside are too profound. There are many passages I still can't fathom."

He paused and looked up at Mo Yun, a measure of hope in his clouded old eyes.

"But I can tell it's no ordinary book. What it contains is far more profound than anything I've managed to grasp over the years. I hope you can bring out its true worth."

Mo Yun's heart stirred.

He knew how accomplished Zhou Bo was in the Pill Dao. Though he had never seen him refine pills himself, Liu Niang's attitude toward the old man made it clear that he was an expert.

If even Zhou Bo could comprehend only a small portion of it, the book's value was easy to imagine.

"Rest assured, Zhou Bo. I'll study it carefully," Mo Yun said solemnly.

"If you achieve something one day, I hope you won't forget this old man, lad. Come back and give me a few pointers."

Zhou Bo smiled, even his wrinkles relaxing. His tone held a hint of humor, but his eyes were serious.

Mo Yun nodded and answered sincerely, "I will!"

He meant it from the bottom of his heart.

Zhou Bo had shown him kindness. He would not forget it.

They chatted a little more. Zhou Bo asked about some details of the Guard Examination, and Mo Yun answered each question.

As they were talking, footsteps approached.

Mo Yun turned and saw Liu Niang emerging from deeper within the Precious Herb Plot, carrying an elegant notebook.

She wore a long blue-green dress that day, her hair secured with a wooden hairpin. She looked much more spirited than she had a few days before.

"Mo Yun, congratulations on passing the Guard Examination." Liu Niang approached, offering a rare smile.

"Thank you, Liu Niang." Mo Yun cupped his fist.

Liu Niang handed him the notebook. "These are some experiences and insights I've gathered while studying the Pill Dao over the years. I hope they'll help you."

Mo Yun accepted the notebook and opened it for a look.

The handwriting was neat and graceful, every stroke carefully written. It recorded the properties of various spirit herbs, when to harvest them, how to process them, and insights into refining some basic pill formulas.

It might not have been as profound as Zhou Bo's True Explanations of the Pill Dao, but the notebook was practical, clearly better suited to a beginner.

"Thank you, Liu Niang!" Mo Yun cupped his fist in thanks, sincerely grateful.

"Don't mention it." Liu Niang waved a hand. "You saved my life. What's a little thing like this?"

She paused, seeming to remember something, and her expression grew serious.

"By the way, Mo, although the Pill Dao has its merits, your talent for the Martial Dao is outstanding. Don't let the Pill Dao hold back your martial training..."

Liu Niang sighed, her gaze growing distant, as though she were recalling something.

"In this world, your own strength matters most. Otherwise, no matter how skilled you are in the Pill Dao, you're merely a tool in the hands of the powerful, something they can discard or replace at any moment."

Her words were blunt, even cruel, but Mo Yun knew they were true.

In a world where the strong devoured the weak, without strength, even the finest skill merely sewed a wedding gown for someone else.

"I understand, Liu Niang. I won't neglect my Martial Dao cultivation." Mo Yun nodded earnestly.

Liu Niang looked at him, a trace of relief flashing in her eyes.

"You're a clever man. You should know which choice to make."

She offered a few more reminders, mostly telling him to work hard in the Guard Team, stay out of trouble, and keep his wits about him when things happened.

Mo Yun agreed to each one.

After chatting for a while, Mo Yun saw that it was nearly mealtime and said goodbye to Liu Niang and Zhou Bo.

"Zhou Bo, Liu Niang, I'll be going now. I'll come back to visit when I have time."

"Go on." Zhou Bo waved, closed his eyes again, and continued basking in the sun.

Liu Niang nodded to him, then turned and headed back into the depths of the Precious Herb Plot.

Holding the two books, Mo Yun left the Precious Herb Plot, warmth filling his heart.

When he returned to the ordinary herb plots, Xiao Liu and the others were still working.

Mo Yun walked over and called out, "Don't eat at the Dining Hall tonight. My treat!"

Xiao Liu looked up. "Your treat? Where?"

"A restaurant," Mo Yun said with a smile. "After dinner, we'll head to a pleasure house and listen to some songs."

"Huh?!" Xiao Liu's eyes lit up, and he tossed his water dipper aside again. "Mo, are you serious? We're really going to a pleasure house?"

"Of course. Would I lie to you?" Mo Yun replied with a smile.

Xiao Liu hurriedly said, "Then don't start worrying about your silver. I want three!"

Mo Yun's face darkened. "Three, my ass! We're going there for perfectly respectable music!"

Xiao Liu chuckled. "I never said otherwise."

Mo Yun: "..."

"You're generous, Brother Mo!" Tie Zhu gave him a thumbs-up.

"Excellent. That's thoughtful of you, Mo Yun." Tang Yin focused his attention and began planning what to eat.

Han Tang shook his head with a smile, but did not refuse.

Luo Shan offered a rare hint of a smile and nodded.

After they exchanged a few more words, it was time for their break, and they went to the shaded shelter together to eat.

Once they finished eating, Mo Yun said goodbye to them. "I'll head back first. Keep up the good work, and don't forget tonight. I'll come pick you up then."