The next day, in the royal capital of the Bamboo Step Kingdom.
Li Ling visited Master Chi's home again. This time, he alerted no one else and came alone.
Master Chi was packing his belongings. Seeing Li Ling appear, he exclaimed in surprise, "Immortal Master, what brings you back?"
"Master Chi, are you preparing to head south to take up your post?" Li Ling asked.
"The trading house's plantation is on South Li Island, to the south. Thanks to your guidance and the position you promised me, Immortal Master, this old man must hurry over and attend to his duties properly. Otherwise, if I miss this summer, I'll lose a whole year's chance to breed and select plants for no good reason."
Despite his advanced age, Master Chi spoke with boundless enthusiasm, brimming with a working man's spirit.
Li Ling said courteously, "You'll be traveling hundreds of miles by boat and carriage. Do take care of yourself."
"Heh, this old man's bones are still sturdy. I can work until I'm ninety at least. You needn't worry about me, Immortal Master."
As Master Chi spoke, he firmly tied up a large bundle of clothes, shoes, socks, and other belongings, then gathered some jars and bottles along with bronze steaming vessels.
Li Ling casually examined the apparatus Master Chi was dismantling and packing, ready to put into a chest. It was a two-tiered still with a bronze lid, looking rather like a double-layered steamer.
Mortals had discovered many things through practical labor, most of which cultivators rarely encountered.
Different stills had different efficiencies. From what Li Ling could see, this one should perform quite well; it had clearly taken many refinements to arrive at its present form.
This, too, could be called mortal ingenuity.
But cultivators possessed dharma power and could refine