Chapter 1022: Doing less stupid things (1/2)

Han Yunxi’s Phoenix energy completely quenched the celestial fire, so the Celestial Fire Qian Furnace soon turned back to normal. Only by getting external boosts could it shorten the time needed to create pills. For the past few days, Long Feiye and Gu Qishao’s internal injuries had been too severe to continue, so Pill Furnace Master had to teach Xu Donglin the method for refining internal energy into fire. However, Xu Donglin’s reserves were limited and Pill Furnace Master didn’t dare to act out, so he only taught the guard the most basic technique that could be started and stopped at any time.

Han Yunxi had suffered through the Phoenix Baptism by Fire, but her internal injuries weren’t as serious as the two men. However, she didn’t dare try anything rash without a better understanding of the Phoenix energy. Now that everything was cleared up, she wanted to think of ways to finish the Returning Dragon Pills faster. There were plenty of other important tasks awaiting them outside.

Pill Furnace Master nodded prudently. “Naturally, the Phoenix energy is capable of assisting celestial fire to quickly attain your goals. However, you…”

Before he could finish, Long Feiye gave him a cold look. “What are the terms?”

Gu Qishao was serious as well. “Old man, you better make things clear. Otherwise, this old man will make your entire furnace pay for it!”

“The Phoenix energy not only speeds up refinement of pills, but is also capable of nurturing my Celestial Fire Qian Furnace. Naturally, this old man will tell you everything! There’s no limits to what Phoenix energy can transmute to, but it’ll use up a lot of internal energy.” Pill Furnace Master leveled Han Yunxi with an earnest look.

“Lass, if you’re still injured and haven’t assumed full control of the Phoenix energy, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll learn this technique.” At last, he’d spoken sincerely.

Han Yunxi didn’t push the issue, but asked, “Then what about after my injuries recover?”

“If they do, there’s no harm in trying it once,” Pill Furnace Master replied.

Now Han Yunxi felt at ease. The past ten days of recovery, combined with the help from dual cultivation, had more or less healed her internal injuries. She only needed a few more days to make a complete recovery. Even if she couldn’t use the Phoenix energy then, she could still use common methods to change energy into fire. With her and Xu Donglin combined, they’d shorten the refining time for sure!

“What time is it now?” Long Feiye asked.

“Your Highness, today is the first day of the eleventh lunar month,” Xu Donglin replied hastily.

“Then there’s only two months until the new year!” Gu Qishao exclaimed while heading for the pill furnace.

“What are you doing?” Han Yunxi asked doubtfully. Long Feiye didn’t speak, but stared at Gu Qishao, too. Unexpectedly, Gu Qishao actually somersaulted to the top of the furnace and started to show off his skills.

“Are you seeking death?” Han Yunxi demanded angrily. Between the three of them, Gu Qishao had suffered the most serious injuries!

“Get down!” Long Feiye’s icy tones were especially stern.

“This old man doesn’t want to pass the new year’s at a crappy place like this! The earlier we finish the Returning Dragon Pill, the sooner we can leave!” Gu Qishao said impatiently.

“I don’t want to drag a cripple back for the new year. We still have things to do after that. You get down this instant!” Han Yunxi rose to her feet. Although they only had two months left--or rather, one and a half months when one factored in travel time--she refused to allow Gu Qishao to keep persisting. The three of them still had to go to Tiger’s Den for a rescue upon returning to Three-Way Black Market. Besides poisonous tigers, there were probably other poisonous beasts hiding in ambush.

No matter how expert her poison skills were, a single person couldn’t fend off all eventualities. Moreover, one of their rescue targets was even pregnant. Gu Qishao was a mandatory member of their rescue team. Because Han Yunxi had no idea regarding Gu Qishao’s undying body, she assumed he was fooling around!

Long Feiye didn’t say anything beyond one look. In response, Xu Donglin flew up to the furnace and exchanged a few blows with Gu Qishao before the latter lost and was forced to fly down. Although Gu Qishao couldn’t die, he could still be injured. Despite almost burning to death a few days ago, he’d forgotten it at the back of his head. With his current condition, even Xu Donglin could best him in a fight.

After Long Feiye used actions to make Gu Qishao behave, the latter went to sit resentfully in a corner. Han Yunxi couldn’t help but laugh at the sight. Even Pill Furnace Master chuckled a few times. Over the past few days, he’d discovered that Gu Qishao was very much like a child.

Soon enough, everyone went back to mending their injuries again. Despite the mistake a few days ago, none of them had truly gone on to accuse Pill Furnace Master for his wrongs. Because of that, Pill Furnace Master became “perfectly willing” to go along with them. While the trio healed, he would join Xu Donglin in refining the pills. Although his reserves were average at best, his refining skills were peerless.

When night fell, Long Feiye brought Han Yunxi to rest before leaving her in the rooms. Pill Furnace Master had arranged for their room to be next to Gu Qishao’s, so Long Feiye saw him sitting cross-legged at the entrance as soon as he went out. Currently, he was flipping through a codex of poisons.

Looking down at him, Long Feiye asked, “What are you doing?”

“Searching for the Earthly Fire Kun Furnace. That stuff’s for making poison pills, so the codex must have a record of it,” Gu Qishao muttered back.

Long Feiye stood around for awhile before he ended up sitting next to Gu Qishao. The latter ignored him, his head buried in the thick book. But after a while, Gu Qishao looked up at him and asked, “You need something?”