White Cloud Temple, in the Herbal Room.
Su Yue was bent over various medicinal herbs, smelling this one, touching that one. A couple of years ago, she had researched a type of Five Poison Scatter, which was extremely potent. Aside from her, no one could resolve it.
However, sometime ago, Third Senior Brother wrote a letter saying that there was a poison similar to the Five Poison Scatter appearing in the markets. He wanted Su Yue to look into the differences between the two poisons, to see if she could develop an antidote. His friend had been afflicted with this poison, and he could not resolve it. He could only use the antidote pills he had previously obtained from Su Yue, along with the Golden Needle Method, to temporarily suppress the effects.
Xuan Little Four was lounging on his side in her Herbal Room, chewing on a stalk of dog-tail grass.
"Little Five, have you finished researching? It's been three days already."
"Hmm, almost," Su Yue replied impassively.
"This poison that Third Senior Brother's friend has contracted, is it really powerful? Even he can't resolve it and has to come find you. Ai, what a divine physician."
"Third Senior Brother is skilled in medicine, not poisons."
"But every time he returns, he studies those poisonous substances with you. How is it that he hasn't learned anything yet? He must be too dull."
Su Yue: ...Calling others dull, yet at least Third Senior Brother is a divine physician capable of treating wealthy and noble patients. What have you learned from Master's teachings? Eating? Master was never as gluttonous as you.
Su Yue ignored him and continued her research. Finally, after who knows how long, she revealed an expression of relief.
Got it.
As for the person who concocted this poison, they were quite talented. Her Five Poison Scatter was made from five venomous creatures, but those creatures were also fed various toxins, making the poison even more potent. This poison, however, was made from five poisonous plants. Over the past three days, the difficult part was not identifying which five plants were used, but rather the order in which those five plants were used in the poisoning process.
"How's it going? Finished?" Xuan Little Four sat up, twisting his waist. Aiya, laying down for too long.
"Yes."
"Then we should hurry and have someone send it over!" His eyes gleamed.
"Little Five, don't you think it would be a delay if I sent the antidote down the mountain to Uncle Xu at the Divine Medical Hall, and then have Uncle Xu arrange for someone else to deliver it to Third Senior Brother?"
Su Yue inwardly rolled her eyes.
He just wants to go down the mountain, his intentions written all over his face.
Xuan Little Four, without any self-awareness, continued, "Little Five, I think for something this important, we can't entrust it to others.
"Third Senior Brother must be anxious right now. Aside from us, he rarely has people willing to befriend him. He must cherish this friend dearly."
"So you see, this matter should be handled by us."
"To help Third Senior Brother, we should make this difficult journey." His eyes twinkled as he envisioned the roast duck, chestnut cakes, candied fruits, sweet and sour fish, sponge cakes... all in front of him. Hahaha, so many delicious foods.
Su Yue ignored him and turned to leave.
"Hey, Little Five, Little Junior Sister, say something!" Xuan Little Four trailed behind Su Yue.
Boom!
A tremendous noise rang out. The two of them paused and exchanged a glance before heading toward the backyard.
"Master, Master is that you? What was that huge commotion, did you split the mountain again?" Xuan Little Four shouted noisily.
"You rascal, what nonsense are you spouting." That graceful, imposing figure appeared.
Master Xuanji had a ruddy complexion and was clad in a white robe as he stood before them.
"It was just your old master's cultivation increasing again. I was testing it out but couldn't control the force properly, accidentally causing the back mountain to collapse."
Su Yue: ...
Xuan Little Four: ...
"Congratulations, Master." "Congratulations, Master." The two said indifferently.
"What's wrong? Aren't you two happy for your old master?" The old man glared.
Su Yue: These past few years, your cultivation has been increasing yearly. You've almost split White Cloud Temple into baldness.
"Of course we're happy, Master. The stronger you become, the less people will dare to bully me when I go out," Xuan Little Four fawned.
"Slap! Slap! Slap!"
"Aiya Master, don't hit me, don't hit!"
"You little rabbit whelp, what karma did I, Xuanji, accumulate in my previous life to take on such a foolish disciple? Your other Senior Brothers don't need me to worry about them, and your Junior Sister is even more outstanding. But you, just what have you been up to all this time?"
"You can't cultivate your martial arts properly, know nothing of medicine or poisons, and only barely get by with Qi Men Dun Jia. You tell me, what use are you, other than embarrassing me as my disciple?"
"Master, but I can cook delicious food for you. Didn't you say my sponge cake soup was tasty last time?"
"Can any of your Senior Brothers or Junior Sister make it as well as me? Even Aunty Chen can't make it better than I can."
"I can recreate Little Junior Sister's dishes perfectly just by watching her once."
...
"Enough, enough, shut your mouth."
Su Yue watched her Master and Senior Brother bicker impassively, her heart sinking. Alas, they were her Master and Senior Brother, so she would endure it.
Master Xuanji finished scolding his Fourth Disciple, then turned to Su Yue, his expression gentle, like he had changed faces, speaking tenderly, "Little Five, your Master has been in secluded cultivation for over a year now. Did you miss me?"
Xuan Little Four: Ugh—Master's expression is too infuriating.
"Is there any perplexing illness you couldn't resolve and need your Master's guidance?"
"No, Master," the calm, cool voice replied.
"Aya, our Little Five is just so capable!" Master Xuanji smiled, his brows no longer brows and his eyes no longer eyes.
"Mas...Mas...Master, don't smile like that, it's creepy," the ill-fated disciple Xuan Little Four timidly said.
"Shut up." The old man roared.
"Both of you, come inside with me." He turned and entered the room.
Inside the room.
Master Xuanji sat in the main seat, eyes closed in meditation, an air of profound mystique about him. Su Yue prepared tea for the old master. Xuan Little Four fawningly picked up the teacup and brought it before the old master, "Master, quickly, drink this tea. The tea leaves were made by Little Five. Have a taste, Master."
"You offering me the tea your Junior Sister prepared, hmph." The old man nonetheless took a sip, then another. "Not bad, not bad. These tea leaves are quite good."
"Little Five, do you have more of these tea leaves? Leave extra for your Master, or else when you all go down the mountain, your Master will have no tea to drink."
"Go down the mountain? Master, you're telling me and Junior Sister to go down the mountain?" Xuan Little Four excitedly asked.
"Master, I'm not going down the mountain. If Senior Brother wants to go down, just let him go by himself," Su Yue calmly stated.
"Little Five, are you silly? It's been over a decade up on this mountain, and you haven't had enough yet? Let's go take a look down below," Xuan Little Four anxiously said, afraid his Junior Sister wouldn't want to leave, preventing him from going as well.
He tugged at his Junior Sister's arm and whispered, "If we go down the mountain, we can find Big Senior Brother. He's been enthroned as the Emperor now. We can go pester Ouyang Xu and have him take us to eat delicacies." Xuan Little Four's sole desire was to go find Ouyang Xu, no, his sole desire was to taste the roast duck Ouyang Xu had mentioned before.
Master Xuanji continued sipping his tea. After a while, he said, "Little Five, aren't you the least bit curious about your origins?"
Su Yue's eyes flickered: What was there to be curious about? When she had first transmigrated here, that mother of hers had told her everything she needed to know, though she didn't know if the newborn infant could understand at the time.
The experiences from her previous life had caused her to remain cold and indifferent over the years. But she was grateful to that woman. That woman had mentioned a brother, her paternal grandparents' family... Alas, for many years she did not wish to dwell on it, as thinking about it made her feel she had wronged the woman who risked her life to give birth to her.
And now...
