Chapter 1028: Dont look for him anymore (2/2)

Old Pill master, do you know your Little Loony was none other than Little Qi, the boy who was expelled from Medical City after being used and betrayed by his own father as a living science experiment? The same little boy who lived like a rat in the streets until he ran into you?

Han Yunxi kept these thoughts to herself. She now knew why Gu Qishao hated Medicine Requesting Cave and threatened Pill Furnace Master with his own furnace when they met. Now the furnace was nothing more than an eyesore to her. In a cold voice, she said, “You shouldn’t search for your disciple anymore. Isn’t it fine to just guard that treasured furnace of yours for a lifetime?”

Pill Furnace Master grew agitated. With Han Yunxi and Long Feiye’s resources, it’d be a cinch to find someone. If they couldn’t do it, who could? He didn’t want to lose this chance and quickly explained, “This old man had never yelled at him since taking him in--not a single sentence! That was the only time, just once...I had taken some pills that day and couldn’t control my temper. This old man...this old man’s regretted it ever since!”

“You took medicine?” Han Yunxi clarified.

“That day, this old man took some Fire Dan pellets, which made my temper explosive. I couldn’t keep my temper in check. Even if I cherish this furnace, I wouldn’t get rid of Little Loony, ah!” Pill Furnace Master explained hastily.

Han Yunxi gave a start. Does...Gu Qishao know that?

“Lass, it was my fault first with the Returning Dragon Pills. Can’t I apologize to you? Just help this old man with this one request. I’ve already got one foot in the grave, but no matter how many mistakes I’ve made in my life, I can’t let down that child! This is my only wish. I have to explain myself to him.”

Han Yunxi felt stifled. She couldn’t help glancing towards the hole in the cave ceiling as she spoke. “Old Pill master, that child has long grown up. Even I don’t know if I can help you find him again.”

Pill Furnace Master didn’t get the message and only went on to describe Little Loony’s looks, temper, and talent in medicine all over again.

“Alright, I’ll help you find him,” Han Yunxi intoned. When she and Long Feiye left, neither of them stopped to look back again. By the time they reached the carriage, one of the shadow guards on standby came forward to report.

“Your Highness, Master Gu still hasn’t appeared.”

Xu Donglin and Baili Mingxiang were puzzled upon hearing this. Hadn’t Gu Qishao been the first to leave? Han Yunxi wasn’t surprised. She guessed that Gu Qishao had only been hiding away instead of really leaving. Otherwise, why would she try so hard to get answers out of Pill Furnace Master?

At this moment, Gu Qishao was hiding outside the cave, silently observing Pill Furnace Master spacing out in front of the Celestial Fire Qian Furnace. He didn’t leave, but remained concealed, having overheard every word between Poison lass and Old Loony. His expression was blank as he stood unmoving until a young medicinal assistant pushed him from behind. Before he could call out for Pill Furnace Master, Gu Qishao muffled her mouth and said fiercely, “Shhh! Don’t talk, or I’ll poison you mute!”

Terrified, the boy remained mute. Gu Qishao dug out a copper coin tied to a red cord and stuffed it into the child’s hands. In a low voice, he instructed, “Give this to your master and tell him…”

The little assistant waited for a long time, but Gu Qishao didn’t speak. He timidly looked up and saw the pretty older brother in red robes was absolutely expressionless.

“What should I...tell him?” the medical assistant ventured.

Gu Qishao’s voice had turned hoarse by the time he spoke again. “Tell your master that Little Loony’s grown up, so he should stop looking for him. Have him find a new disciple instead.”

Then he abruptly left, leaving the little assistant confused and lost. Still, he didn’t dare dawdle and quickly went into the secret entrance until he reached the end of the tunnel.

“Master, master! That big brother in red robes told me to give you this,” the assistant raised his hands to show the copper coin with string.

Pill Furnace Master was lost in his thoughts and ignored him. When it came to Gu Qishao, he had nothing but bad impressions of the man--besides his striking eyes.

“Master, that big brother in red robes wanted me to pass on a message too.”

Only then did Pill Furnace Master looked down, but froze at the sight of the coin in the medical assistant’s palms. The copper coin was unlike any other in that there was a flame insignia burned into the metal. He’d done the same just for his Little Loony. Snatching the coin, he cried in alarm, “Who...who gave you this?!”

“That big brother in red robes--the one who looks really pretty,” the little boy replied.

Gu Qishao!

How could Gu Qishao have this? How…

When he recalled Gu Qishao’s riveting eyes again, Pill Furnace Master’s heart gave a start. Without a word, he fled for the exit. It had been decades since he left the grounds of the Medicine Hut, but by the time he ran outside, Han Yunxi’s carriage was long gone with the rest of the group.

Pill Furnace Master hastily retraced his steps and asked the little medical assistant, “What else did he say?”

The little assistant had never seen his master so agitated or panicked and repeated all of Gu Qishao’s words without fail.

“He said, ‘Little Loony’s already grown up, so you should stop looking for him.’ He also told you to go find a new disciple instead.”

Pill Furnace Master clutched the copper coin in his hands and exclaimed, “It was him—it was actually him!”