The sun sank behind the western mountains, and the sky gradually darkened.
In the Medicine Workshop's little courtyard, Dongfang Liren wore fitted black martial clothes and held the Dragon-Mingling Spear, her head high and chest out as she maintained the Overlord Spear stance.
Ye Jingtang stood behind her, his right hand supporting Big Silly's waist and abdomen while his left lifted her arm a little higher.
"It's been almost half a year. How are you still so unsteady?"
"How am I supposed to stand steady with you pawing at me?"
"A martial artist's heart should be as still as dead water. If Your Highness loses her focus at one touch from me, won't you panic before even striking when you meet a truly powerful enemy? Come on, chest out, stand straight..."
"Touch me again and see what happens!"
Niao Niao had finished the camel hump meat but still hadn't come down from her blissful satisfaction. She perched on a nearby reclining chair, swaying and making noises that no one could make sense of.
From inside the house, with its doors and windows tightly shut, came the splashing of water.
Since this was Fan Qinghe's first time refining a Heavenly Lang Pearl, no matter how composed she appeared, she couldn't help feeling nervous. First, she solemnly burned incense and bathed, then took out more incense and faced north to worship the gods, making a full ceremony of it.
Only after Fan Qinghe finished her preparations did Ye Jingtang release Silly. He retrieved the brocade-wrapped Jade Box from the room and entered the Alchemy Room, looking at the Medicine Furnace, which was already giving off wisps of steam.
"Now we just pour in the Snow Lake Flowers?"
"That's what the recipe says, but..."
Fan Qinghe took the Jade Box and opened