Chapter 213

  Spirits Blossoming (II)

  I noticed something quite peculiar as we made our way to the Greeting Hall--any patch of dirt that wasn't a building or a rather narrow pathway between the buildings housed a different kind of herb. Their colors, shapes, and sizes made for a fun little journey, as I never really knew what to expect when we turned a corner.

  "There isn't a lot of space to grow things here," Cao Xun explained. "Obviously. So, we mostly plant either rather rare medicinal herbs or those that require specific care to grow. For the common ones, we descend into the valley or the nearby mountains. That was actually why we were out this time--we ran out of common mint, so we went out to fetch some."

  "Oh."

  As we walked, he'd describe every herb and what it did, though, to be honest, it went into one ear and out the other. I can barely wrap my head around the things I already know about this world, and learning about alchemy?

  ... well, it's tempting. But I have a feeling I'm a bit too old for it. Then again, I do have some nifty experience in pharmaceuticals and such, though just how applicable that knowledge is to this world, I've yet to test.

  "Gu Hai, take the others to the Guest Hall and settle them in," Cao Xun said as we came upon a rather beautiful building--it was a single-story, temple-style structure with a wide, flat entrance and gold-embossed eaves, its facade wooden though painted over with a motif of spring.

  "Behave, you all," I warned the kids. Was I worried something was going to happen?

  Well, kind of.

  Not to them, but by them.

  "Yes, Master!"

  "They respect you a great deal," Cao Xun commented as we watched them walk away. I cringed a bit at the statement; while true, it was kind of... underselling it.

  "Hm. I've been blessed," I spouted randomly. "I haven't really been part of the world of cultivation for a long while, so my manners might be..."

  "Ah, no need to worry. Sect Master is... khm," he coughed awkwardly. "He's a free spirit."

  Oh no.

  "Let's go inside," he said, and I followed.

  The somewhat warm air cooled considerably as we crossed the threshold. An open space welcomed me, with a lot of flowers hanging off the walls and quite a few doors leading to quite a few rooms, I imagine.

  "Greetings, Elder Cao!" There was one desk and one chair, atop which a young woman sat, shooting to her feet as soon as we entered and greeting the old man. He nodded back rather curtly, speaking indifferently.

  "Is the Sect Master in?"

  "Y-yes, he's just arrived."

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  "Don't let anyone else in."

  "Yes, Elder Cao!"

  Wow.

  Strict.

  Maybe I should try being a bit more curt, too? Maybe the kids will cool off?

  ... nah. It's too late. Besides, it's not really my style. I always loathed strict teachers and professors and bosses and wanted nothing more than to stab them a few times with a very harmless but slightly painful spoon.

  We went into the centermost room, with the doors parting on their own, giving way to a much smaller but also a far more beautiful room. A few kneeling pillows lay organized around a low table, the surroundings decked out with a literal jungle. It wasn't just flowers or herbs; it was an entire ecosystem, like I wasn't walking into a room but a nature preserve.

  On the other end of the table was an elderly man, seeming to be about sixty, currently taking a sip of some tea. He wore rather simple white robes with practically no decorations, his long hair tied up by a needle, with loose strands framing his face.

  "Greetings, Sect Master!" Cao Xun bowed down fully, while I went only halfway, clasping my hands in front of me.

  "You're back, Cao'er," Wow. Just how old is that dude to be calling this already ancient dude so affectionately?

  "Sect Master, you promised you wouldn't do it in front of others..."

  "Really? I don't recall making any such promise."

  "You seem to be getting rather forgetful in your old age. Maybe it's time to retire...?"

  "I'll retire when I die," yeah. I kind of get what he meant when he said 'free spirit'. "Introduce me to our guest."

  "Yes. This is Junior Lu," Cao Xun said. "We met him and his disciples outside the city when Gu Hai, uhm, misspoke... and one of the Junior Lu's disciples--"

  "--aah, apologies, Junior Lu," the old man sighed, his expression turning strangely melancholy. "My grandson... he's rather talented with herbs and medicine and may even one day achieve the vaunted rank of a Soul-Grand Alchemist, but, truth be told... he's a moron."

  "Sect Master!"

  "What? It's true. If he were any stupider, I'd be scared of letting him leave his room. If he offended you in any way, I apologize in his stead since I know he didn't."

  "Nonsense," I said, putting on a faint smile. "He's a kid. If there's ever a time to be bold and sharp..."

  "Hm. Your patience certainly outpaces mine. Please, sit down. Let me pour you some jasmine tea."

  "Then, I will go hand out the haul to the Medicine Hall."

  "Hm. Come back later and report how it went."

  "Of course, Sect Master. It was a pleasure meeting you, Junior Lu. Please, if you need anything, you can find me at the Elder Hall."

  Hey, why are you leaving me alone with a complete stranger? As the doors closed behind me and as I sat down on the pillow--oh my God.

  Oh. My. God.

  "What is it, Junior Lu?" The old man must have noticed my strange expression as he asked with a look of concern.

  "Nothing," I said. "It's just that... this is the most comfortable thing I've sat on in over a year."

  "Ho ho, is that so? It's actually our own product," he spoke quite proudly. "And, believe it or not, it was made by my idiot daughter!" Are there any of your kids that you don't call stupid? "She's always dabbling in alternative ways of using herbs that don't have strong medicinal properties, and one of her experiments procured these. We have quite a few spare ones, so feel free to take them with you."

  "Thank you," I didn't even bother trying to act cute and rejecting the offer--fuck that. Now that I've sat on something that actually felt nice, there ain't no way in hell I'm going back to abusing my ass--nope, wow. Holy shit, is that a bad way of phrasing it? "Your home is quite lovely. Inspires tranquility."

  "Ah, if only it was the reality," the old man chuckled, pouring me a cup of tea; it was quite sweet-scented, with steam billowing out from the cup. "With the Gathering approaching, the city is being swarmed, and everyone wants more and more pills. It's great for business, but we are running out of Alchemists that aren't going bald from overworking."

  "I did hear that a fetching bundle of hair was the most important quality of an alchemist."

  "..." he cracked a smile, putting down the teapot. "I hope you forgive me, but I inspected both you and the kids as soon as you entered the compound. I understand that it is rude, but as much as I trust Cao Xun, he, too, isn't the brightest of the minds." He did? How come I didn't actually realize it? And why didn't Long Tao react? Did he miss it, too?

  ... nah. No way.

  "It's understandable," I replied.

  "... as such, I have a favor to ask," he said.

  "What favor?"

  "Please help me save Zhu Jiang."