Bandages

Prologue:

The storm still raged, changing the color of heaven and earth around them. Alleria and Sylvanas could not make out what lay within, but they shared the same thought: it was like a cocoon, about to burst open.

Gardener Old Wu truly could not think of anything he was not enthusiastic about. If there was one, it was surely the work he was responsible for every day at the Temple of the Jade Serpent. Although he sometimes assigned these tasks to new apprentices who came here to train, most of the time he had to do them himself. In his spare time, Old Wu enjoyed brewing. The troublesome part was that waiting bitterly for the beer to ferment was maddening. Not only was he impatient to find out how it tasted, but after every batch, all sorts of strange ideas sprang into his mind, and he imagined entirely new beer recipes.

The endless stream of novel ideas in his head gripped his curiosity tightly. Brewing required time, effort, and ingredients. His previous batch of fine brew had used up all his stored grains and vegetables, so now he had to prepare everything anew and search for fresh ingredients.

In the Emerald Forest, finding brewing ingredients was as easy as pie. The Red Candle Forest outside the Temple of the Jade Serpent grew many red honeydew berries. These berries were not ideal for brewing, since they had no flavor, but the juice beneath their skins was excellent. Just a little could turn a brew into an enticing crimson. Many people liked that color. Instructor Xia, who taught apprentices the basics, liked it. Master Shiquan, who taught practical combat techniques, liked it. Even Elder Yunpu, who managed the Temple of the Jade Serpent, liked it. Naturally, Old Wu liked the