Chapter 1027: Smash the pot, ask to the end (1/2)

Pill Furnace Master glared at Gu Qishao and immediately caught the vicious glint in his eyes. Like a stubborn child, Gu Qishao recklessly did as he wanted, his gaze demanding answers. The sight startled Pill Furnace Master, who found it extremely familiar. It seemed like something he’d experienced before. For a moment, he didn’t know how to answer.

Gu Qishao kept glaring at him, but didn’t harm the Celestial Fire Qian Furnace any further. He grabbed onto the handlebar and pulled the door down, sending a waft of medicine into the air. Everyone looked over nervously. If the fourth of five pills were ruined too, it just be too depressing. Instead, what they saw were two round, intact pills of gloomy hue sitting in wait.

“Two pills,” Gu Qishao exhaled.

Everyone else’s hearts settled as well. They couldn’t begin to imagine their disappointment if all their efforts had led to nothing. Although they only got two, it was better than one! At least one of them would be worth using. Still, Pill Furnace Master spoke up and said, “Hold on, let this old man inspect them.”

Mere sight alone couldn’t confirm whether the pills were successful. Once again, everyone grew tense. Before Pill Furnace Master could take the pills, Gu Qishao beat him to the punch and tossed the pills to Long Feiye. “Catch!”

“Dan pellet pills are refined with external fires, so it’s likely the potency is inadequate. From a prudent standpoint, it’s better to examine it thoroughly,” Pill Furnace Master as he extended his hand towards Long Feiye. But he was soon quailed beneath the man’s icy stare.

His little act could fool the rest, but not Gu Qishao and Long Feiye’s eyes. How could the Returning Dragon Pills be inadequate after being refined with flame within the furnace? Otherwise, what would be the difference between this Celestial Fire Qian Furnace and one of ordinary make? Pill Furnace Master clearly wanted to trick a Returning Dragon Pill for himself. Once he got his paws on them, he’d definitely hold onto one and claim it needed more time for refining. Thus, that would leave Long Feiye’s group with a single pill.

Seeing Long Feiye’s icy visage made Pill Furnace Master resentful, but he finally gave up his final effort. Han Yunxi couldn’t help thinking that Gu Qishao really was Pill Furnace Master’s disciple. He could see through the old man’s machinations with a glance. This madman had no shred of trust to him and tricked others by feigning his might. Even his ignorance was a front for his shrewd and devious ways. If not for Gu Qishao’s sake, even she couldn’t stand him, much less Long Feiye.

No matter what, the Returning Dragon Pills were in their hands now.

“There’s finally hope for Gu Beiyue!” Han Yunxi sighed. Even getting the pills wasn’t as important as Gu Beiyue recovering his shadow arts! Could this count as their New Year’s present?[1] Wouldn’t he be happy to hear the news? In her memory, Gu Beiyue had never lost his cool from happiness or sorrow. He was eternally gentle and amiable, unruffled by honor or disgrace.

“Here!” Long Feiye gave the pills to Han Yunxi for safekeeping.

As a pill to recover the loss of internal energy, it specifically targeted the dantian used for cultivation. After the dantian healed, the practitioner was responsible for regaining his or her internal energy through their own efforts. Of course, a healed dantian only needed time to recuperate before quickly restoring the lost internal energy. They even had one extra pill now, though Han Yunxi hoped they’d never have to use another one again. If any of them needed it, it meant they were already 90 percent dead!

Now her group would naturally return to the Three-Way Black Market as soon as possible. They had tarried enough at the Medicine Requesting Cave and still needed time to travel back. It would be the middle of the twelfth lunar month by the time they arrived. Judging from the war situation in Northern Li, Jun Yixie’s forces would reach a stalemate with the emperor come spring. In other words, they would have to start on two major plans as soon as they reached the Three-Way Black Market.

First was the rescue, second came the punitive expedition to the north.

There wasn’t much preparation needed for the first mission with an insider like Bai Yuqiao on their side. Because she was watching over proceedings at Tiger’s Den, they could afford to leave Ning Jing and Mu Linger there to prevent raising Jun Yixie’s suspicions. However, a northern campaign demanded negotiations and carried risk. A concerted effort was needed to divide up tasks and duties. For one thing, Northern Li’s borders on the Three-Way Battlefield was protected by a hard-to-cross natural barrier. Both the Ning Clan troops and the East Qin Army had never crossed beyond that stretch to enter Northern Li itself. Though they had the superior forces, this wasn’t an obstacle Long Feiye took lightly.

Secondly, the Di Clan and East Qin had never cooperated in their lives. There would be plenty of problems incorporating both armies. Even if they could pool the wisdom of the masses, more people meant more opinions and chances for delays. Sometimes it was more effective to just act alone. Thus, Han Yunxi and Long Feiye treated the northern campaign both as a chance for their two sides to work together and a big challenge in itself. They had to make ample preparations before they even set out.

“Your Highness, the carriage is ready,” Xu Donglin muttered.

“If you leak any news about the Returning Dragon Pill or Phoenix energy, this old man turn your furnace into a heap of slag! I mean my words!” Gu Qishao understood Pill Furnace Master very well and knew the old man would never leave Medicine Requesting Cave, much less interact with the outside world. But he still tossed him some ruthless threats.

Long Feiye remained silent. If not for Gu Qishao’s sake, he would have sealed up Medicine Requesting Cave for everything Pill Furnace Master did for the Returning Dragon Pills. Han Yunxi hesitated, but still had Xu Donglin bring over the leftover snow wine. With a smile, she said, “Old man, how about we make a deal?”

Pill Furnace Master couldn’t get a Returning Dragon Pill or keep Han Yunxi. Losing both treasure and people had turned his heart into ashes, so he immediately grew alert at her tone. “Heheh, this old man won’t do business that gives me losses!”