These words warmed Shen Xiuhan's heart. He immediately bowed deeply and solemnly:
“Thank you, Master!”
Mei Shuangfeng nodded slightly and chuckled, changing the subject:
“Back then, I told you to return to the martial arts hall once you reached the Great Accomplishment of the Blood Tempering Rank. I had intended to pass on the Mystic Eagle Stance breakthrough notes written by your senior brothers and sisters in the inner courtyard, and also grant you the special medicinal bath of the Mei Courtyard to give you a better chance at breaking through.”
She looked at her disciple in front of her, shaking her head with a hint of helplessness:
“Who would have thought your cultivation speed would be even faster than I anticipated? You quietly went and reached the Bone Tempering Rank... Ah, well!”
With that, Mei Shuangfeng flipped her wrist, revealing a slender-necked white porcelain bottle in her palm.
“The other inner courtyard disciples all get the medicinal bath. It's a standard benefit of the hall, and I cannot show favoritism. Since you no longer need it, I will compensate you with pills instead.”
Having said this, she gently pushed the small white porcelain bottle toward Shen Xiuhan and said:
“A while ago, I obtained a piece of Yin Bone Fiend Mushroom. This herb is extremely rare. It only grows in battlefields where tens of thousands of lives have perished, after being steeped in yin qi for decades.”
“Using this as the primary ingredient, I refined a batch of Mystic Fiend Tendon-Bone Pills for your senior sister. These pills are of great benefit to both the Bone Tempering and Tendon Tempering Ranks. Only these two are left now, so they shall be your compensation.”
Shen Xiuhan took the porcelain bottle. As his fingertips touched it, he felt a chilling, sinister aura seeping through the ceramic.
However, his attention was not on the pills. His eyes flickered slightly, his mind caught by the implication of Mei Shuangfeng's words.
“Senior Sister, she...”
The corners of Mei Shuangfeng's lips curled up slightly into a faint smile, and she nodded:
“Qinghong has officially entered secluded cultivation to make a full attempt at breaking through the barrier to the Anjin Rank. With her foundation and potential... her chances of success this time are very high.”
Just as he had thought!
Shen Xiuhan couldn't help but marvel in his heart.
Even before joining, he had heard from Xu Chuan that First Senior Sister Jiang Qinghong was not only incredibly powerful, but her talent was also second to none.
To think she was already in secluded cultivation, aiming for the Anjin Rank in her early twenties...
Such natural talent would make her a top-tier figure even within the Star-Plucking Sect of the prefecture capital.
Shen Xiuhan spoke with sincere warmth, offering his heartfelt congratulations:
“Congratulations, Master, and congratulations to Senior Sister!”
Following that, he unstrapped the bundle from his back, set it gently on the table, and smiled:
“Your disciple didn't have bad luck on Yunyi Island this time. I managed to get a few rare items, and one of them happens to be perfect as a token of respect for Master.”
“Oh?”
Mei Shuangfeng raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement rising in her eyes.
With her realm and vision, ordinary items could no longer catch her eye. But she certainly wouldn't dampen her disciple's filial devotion. Wasn't this precisely where the joy of being a master lay?
Besides...
This kid had a sweet tooth, loved fish dishes, and possessed a heart dedicated to martial arts. Every single detail of him closely resembled a long-lost shadow deep in her heart.
For a moment, Mei Shuangfeng fell into a brief daze.
Shen Xiuhan kept his head lowered, so he didn't notice the strange look on his master's face. He unwrapped the bundle and carefully pulled out an oddly shaped "antler."
The antler was crystal clear, with a brilliant, coral-like color. It felt smooth to the touch, its surface covered in a layer of fine, soft fuzz, while the cross-section revealed honeycomb-like pores that emitted a faint, fishy scent.
Shen Xiuhan offered it to her:
“Master, take a look at this.”
Mei Shuangfeng recovered from her daze, her gaze falling upon the piece of antler. In the next instant, her expression froze, and she blurted out in astonishment:
“An Antler Chub!”
“Master has a sharp eye,” Shen Xiuhan praised, smiling. “This item indeed came from a Tier Two Precious Fish, the Antler Chub. I once browsed through the Chronicles of Miraculous Creation in the study and recognized that this would be highly useful for alchemy, so I specifically brought it back for you.”
Mei Shuangfeng instinctively took the piece of antler, her eyes suddenly lighting up with brilliant color:
“This item has the effect of harmonizing medicinal properties and increasing the success rate of pill refinement. Adding just a small piece of this antler to a cauldron can yield an extra two or three pills without diminishing their potency—in fact, it increases it. It is a rare auxiliary treasure for alchemy... You are very thoughtful!”
Shen Xiuhan smiled and pulled a long wooden box from his bundle. Opening the lid, he revealed three sections of lotus root that were as translucent as jade, emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance.
“This is... a jade-like luster, a body like mutton-fat jade... Is this the Precious Herb, Jade Heart Lotus Root?!”
Mei Shuangfeng's eyebrows twitched, the surprise in her voice deepening even further.
Shen Xiuhan placed the Precious Herb on the table and explained with a smile:
“Master, while patrolling the waters, I discovered this Jade Heart Lotus Root at the bottom of the lake. Just as I was about to harvest it, I noticed an Antler Chub hiding right next to it, so I caught both the fish and the lotus root together.”
“Excellent.”
Mei Shuangfeng held the Jade Heart Lotus Root in her hands, studying it for a moment before nodding gently:
“When exotic Precious Herbs grow, they are often guarded by Precious Fish or Precious Beasts. You truly have good fortune. This Jade Heart Lotus Root possesses a gentle and pure medicinal nature. Using it as the primary ingredient, I can refine an excellent pill for generating tendons and tempering bones.”
Hearing this, Shen Xiuhan quickly cupped his hands:
“I will have to trouble Master to refine it, then.”
“Very well,” Mei Shuangfeng placed the Jade Heart Lotus Root back into the long box and said, “Leave the items here. Come to the back courtyard tomorrow to collect the pills.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Shen Xiuhan felt immensely reassured. Now, he wouldn't have to worry about the pills needed to cultivate to the peak of the Bone Tempering Rank.
“By the way, I haven't told you yet, but that piece of Yin Bone Fiend Mushroom was sent back from the border by one of your senior brothers who finished his training years ago.”
Mei Shuangfeng was in a good mood today, so she spoke a bit more than usual:
“He is currently serving in the Longxiang Army. In his letter, he mentioned that in a little over two months, he will bring some men back to Changyun County to select some promising local talents to enlist.”
As she spoke, her gaze landed on Shen Xiuhan:
“Xu Chuan, Xiang Yunting, and Shen Huai all plan to join the Longxiang Army this time to carve out a career. Since you have also broken through to the Bone Tempering Rank and are at the right age, do you have any interest in seeking a future in the Longxiang Army? If you wish to go, I can personally recommend you.”
The Longxiang Army! And returning in a little over two months...
Shen Xiuhan's heart skipped a beat. Tian Ping'an would probably return around that time as well!
Shen Xiuhan remained calm and said evenly:
“Master, to be honest, I am free-spirited by nature and cannot stand the strict discipline of the military. I really have no desire to enlist.”
Mei Shuangfeng did not force the issue and nodded slightly:
“Everyone has their own ambitions. The military is indeed harsh and perilous, so it is fine to follow your own nature. However, when they return, we will hold a banquet in the courtyard. You should meet them and get to know them. Having more martial siblings opens up more paths; it's always beneficial when traveling the world in the future.”
“I will follow your arrangements, Master.”
Mei Shuangfeng nodded with satisfaction.
Afterward, she asked Shen Xiuhan about the difficulties he had encountered in his cultivation, guiding him through them one by one. Finally, she wrapped a small bag of freshly dried candied treats in oil paper and gave it to him.
Shen Xiuhan took it, his heart warming slightly.
Seeing that it was nearing noon, he was about to stand up and take his leave.
Suddenly, a chaotic commotion echoed from the outer courtyard.
“I'll go take a look.”
Just as Shen Xiuhan pulled the door open, Fifth Senior Sister Ding Qing ran over in a hurry, light sweat on her forehead. She nodded to Shen Xiuhan and called out anxiously toward the room:
“Master, something has happened!”
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