When Li Ping'an saw Pang Jun arrive, he smiled, looked him over with his Dharma Eye, and nodded.
Pang Jun patted his chest.
Li Ping'an said, "Old Ox and I would like to stay here a few more days. Would that be all right?"
"What are you saying? I'd like nothing better than for you to stay longer, sir."
"Moo!"
Old Ox let out a call.
Pang Jun chuckled. "And Brother Ox too. I'd like Brother Ox to stay longer too."
Only then did Old Ox break into a happy smile.
Early one morning a few days later.
"Sir! Sir, breakfast is ready."
Xuan Ruo searched around the temple but found no sign of Li Ping'an.
She had thought Li Ping'an had gone for a stroll down the mountain, but then, unexpectedly, clanging and banging came from the northernmost room in the temple.
+
"..."
Was it a wild beast from the mountains?
Xuan Ruo cautiously walked over.
"Is that Xuan Ruo?" A calm voice came from inside.
"Sir?" Xuan Ruo was full of curiosity. What was he doing here?
She remembered that the northernmost room held a furnace. Her master had said it was for refining pills.
But the furnace clearly hadn't been used for a long time. It was covered in dust.
"Sir, may I come in?"
"Mm, come in."
Xuan Ruo pushed open the door and entered.
Smoke filled the room, and the furnace glowed red-hot.
"A fire?!" Xuan Ruo froze for a moment.
Li Ping'an explained, "It's not a fire. I'm refining pills."
"Refining... pills?"
Xuan Ruo noticed that Li Ping'an and Old Ox were both covered in soot, looking for all the world like a pair of heavy smokers.
"Old Ox, you can open the windows now."
"Moo!"
Xuan Ruo covered her mouth and nose,