As soon as Wei Zhaoheng’s voice fell, the atmosphere in the courtyard instantly became subtle.
The expressions of everyone from the Five Elements Dao Sect changed slightly. Duan Xianxing was particularly anxious, shooting glances at Wei Zhaoheng, while Mu Wenyan was already prepared to change the subject at any moment.
They all remembered very clearly the look of utter grief on their junior sister’s face when she returned from the secret realm.
Although she could now calmly mention her master’s title, no one wanted her to relive that sorrow. During those days, Li Nanzhu’s grief was so profound it was as if she were about to lose her life, leaving everyone at a loss.
The pain of that time was something even they were unwilling to recall, let alone their junior sister.
Wei Zhaoheng was baffled by everyone’s reaction and was about to ask more when Ye Zhiqiu keenly sensed something was wrong.
She noticed the abnormal expressions on the faces of the Five Elements Dao Sect members and immediately realized there must be some hidden story. She quickly interrupted, "Junior Brother! How can you just ask about such things so casually? If it’s inconvenient for Junior Sister Li to say, then just forget it."
The other Shenmu Sect disciples also sensed the awkward atmosphere and lowered their heads, pretending to drink. Jiang Zhi even secretly kicked Wei Zhaoheng, signaling him to shut up.
In this awkward moment, Li Nanzhu offered a slight smile, a gentle light flickering in her eyes.
With a few cups of spirit wine in her system, she was indeed more willing to talk than usual.
Those memories of her master had been cherished in her heart for too long, and now she finally had an opportunity to share them with others.
"It’s alright," she said softly, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the wine cup. "Master... he was a very special person."
Everyone’s gaze focused on her, and even the Shenmu Sect disciples who had been pretending to admire the flowers and the moon quietly pricked up their ears.
"The first time I met Master, I thought he was a pervert." Li Nanzhu couldn’t help but laugh out loud as she said this. "Thinking back now, his way of taking a disciple was indeed not normal at all."
Everyone’s interest was piqued. Even the Shenmu Sect disciples who had been pretending to drink quietly sat up straight.
"At the time, he put all sorts of messy trials together, and they were specifically designed to dig pits for me." She rubbed the green jade fan in her hand, her eyes full of nostalgia. "Those trials were simply inconceivable. Even now, I can’t figure out how he came up with such tricky methods."
The audience listened intently, their breathing becoming light.
"Back then, I felt this person was completely unreliable. I was originally thinking of leaving, but regardless of whether I agreed or not, he directly claimed me as his disciple. His reason was that a pervert should naturally take a little pervert as a student.
"And before we could even exchange more than a few words..." Li Nanzhu shook her head. "He directly shoved a jade slip into my hands and forcibly took me as his disciple. At that time, I didn’t even know his name, and he didn’t know mine."
Wei Zhaoheng couldn’t help but laugh. "That’s way too casual!"
"Wasn’t it?" Li Nanzhu smiled. "I was so angry I directly fought with him... although it was just me attacking unilaterally while he kept dodging."
Ye Zhiqiu couldn’t help but imagine. "He sounds like a very lively senior."
Others nodded in agreement; after all, someone who could earn the title of Pill Venerable must have lived for countless years.
However, Li Nanzhu blinked and revealed a mysterious smile. "No! Master is clearly the most handsome and elegant genius in the world!"
These words left everyone stunned, and they looked at each other, not knowing how to respond for a moment.
Duan Xianxing opened his mouth, looking at Li Nanzhu with a complicated expression, as if his eyes were saying: Junior Sister, you aren’t sick, are you?
Looking at the confused expressions of the crowd, a flash of mischief crossed Li Nanzhu’s eyes.
She wasn’t going to tell them that she had been forced to praise him like that for an entire year, moving from gritted teeth in the beginning to heartfelt sincerity later on.
"Later, he was extremely strict when teaching me." Li Nanzhu continued, her eyes reflecting laughter mixed with a bit of helplessness. "When I first started learning fire control, if the temperature was even slightly off, I had to start over. Once, I failed over a hundred times in a row until my eyes were bloodshot. Master just sat nearby leisurely drinking tea, then gave me an ointment to apply myself, telling me to rest for a bit before continuing practice."
Hearing this, Jiang Zhi couldn’t help but frown. "Isn’t that too strict? Failing over a hundred times in a row... even a Golden Core stage cultivator’s divine sense wouldn’t be able to hold up."
The other Shenmu Sect disciples also nodded in agreement.
Although they had also undergone strict training since childhood, such intensity was truly unheard of.
Li Nanzhu shook her head. "Later I understood that he wanted me to remember there are no shortcuts in the Dao of alchemy. Thinking back now, if not for that initial strictness, I wouldn’t have the control I have today."
The Shenmu Sect disciples looked at each other with expressions of disbelief on their faces.
They had originally thought that Li Nanzhu’s achievements were entirely due to that mysterious Qingming Pill Venerable passing everything down to her.
They hadn't expected that Li Nanzhu had actually reached her current heights through sheer, brutal effort.
This realization made the name of the Qingming Pill Venerable even more mysterious and lofty in their hearts.
What kind of extraordinary person must that Pill Venerable be to cultivate such a disciple?
Jiang Zhi couldn’t help but ask, "Fellow Daoist Li, how long did you... have to practice every day back then?"
Li Nanzhu thought for a moment and said softly, "For the first six months, I had to practice for at least nine shichen every day. Master said that if my techniques weren't practiced until they became instinct, I hadn't truly mastered them."
"Eight shichen?!" Wei Zhaoheng cried out in shock. "Doesn’t that mean you were practicing all the time except for eating and sleeping?"
Ye Zhiqiu also looked shocked. "Such intensity... you were still in Qi Condensation back then, right? How did your body endure it?"
Li Nanzhu smiled. "It was indeed very tiring. Sometimes I practiced until my fingers cramped and my eyes blurred. But Master would always appear at just the right time, bringing me special medicinal baths and recovery pills."
She paused, her voice becoming soft. "But Master was actually very gentle. Every time I practiced late into the night, he would always silently prepare warm spiritual tea. If I made even the slightest progress, he would find ways to praise me—sometimes with a rare spirit fruit, sometimes with an interesting story about an alchemy formula. Sometimes I was so tired I fell asleep, only to wake up and find I was already back in my own bed..."
As she said this, the rims of her eyes turned slightly red, but she quickly put on a smile again. "The most interesting thing is that Master particularly loved sweets. Every time I succeeded in refining a pill, he would make candied fruit for me to eat. Later, I realized he was just looking for an excuse to eat sweets, all while claiming it was a reward for his disciple."
She mimicked her master’s tone from back then, making everyone laugh.
The night deepened, and spirit wine jars were emptied one by one. Everyone drank and talked freely, unknowingly becoming drunk.
In the heat of the moment, Wei Zhaoheng actually stood up unsteadily and threw an arm around Li Nanzhu’s shoulder. "Fe-Fellow Daoist Li! We hit it off so well, why don’t we become sworn siblings!"
Ye Zhiqiu hurriedly tried to pull him back. "Junior Brother! You’re drunk and confused!"
Duan Xianxing also jumped up. "What are you doing grabbing my junior sister? Don't you have your own sister? Go find your own sister to be sworn siblings with!"
Just as the courtyard descended into a chaotic mess, the inner room door opened.
Feng Yi walked out accompanying Su Muli and Elder Tan. The three of them were stunned by the scene before them.
People were lying all over the courtyard in various states.
Wei Zhaoheng was hugging a stone stool, sleeping soundly. Ye Zhiqiu was slumped over the table, mumbling alchemy formulas. Jiang Zhi was still sitting somewhat upright, but his eyes were glazed over.
On the Five Elements Dao Sect’s side, Duan Xianxing was sprawled out on the ground. Zhu Yinxi was barely maintaining a sitting posture but kept nodding off. Feng Qingping and Feng Weilan were leaning against each other for a nap. Jiang Yifan was still persistently pouring wine, but it was spilling all over the table. Li Nanzhu had also long since slumped over the table, fast asleep.
The only one who was still relatively sober was Mu Wenyan.
Feng Yi, Su Muli, and Elder Tan: "..."
Forget it, as long as the children are happy.
Rate on N.U.
