Chapter 85: Virtue Bears All Things

Upon hearing this, Master Qingxu couldn't help but feel a wave of worry wash over him. The dreadful disease known as "Inch by Inch Burn" was a terrifying affliction; when it struck, the pain was so intense, it pierced the soul and was nearly impossible to endure. The violent, heart-wrenching coughing fit he had just suffered had left his throat raw and bleeding. As he coughed desperately, he felt surges of heat in his abdomen, threatening to burst forth, but he forcibly suppressed them. He knew that this heat was his very life’s blood, and if it escaped him, his chances of survival would be grim indeed.

So, when he heard Bai Xiaoyue’s words, his scalp tingled and his heart quailed with unease. Yet, seeing the worried, anxious gazes of Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Songta'er, his heart warmed and he did not wish to let them worry further. Forcing a smile, he said, "Hehe, Xiaoyue, Xiaomeng, Songta'er, you needn't fret. Your old master has a stubborn life; I won't be visiting the King of the Underworld so easily. I just feel a bit tired and need to rest in my chamber."

"Master, let me help you to your room," Tu Xiaomeng said, reaching out to support him.

Not to be outdone, Songta'er eagerly extended his hands as well. "Master, let me help you too…"

Master Qingxu chuckled. "Xiaomeng, Songta'er, there's no need to support me. I am fine now." As he spoke, he stood and looked at Bai Xiaoyue with gentle affection. "Xiaoyue, I will rest in my chamber. This temple is now your home. You and Xiaomeng, Songta'er, are free to explore as you please. Get to know your surroundings."

Bai Xiaoyue smiled sweetly. "Thank you for your kindness, Master! Master, I am very interested in alchemy… May I visit the alchemy room with Xiaomeng and Songta'er?"

Master Qingxu laughed heartily. "Silly girl, this is your home now, why speak as an outsider? Not only can you visit the alchemy room, you could even climb onto the roof and remove the tiles if you wished—do whatever pleases you here!"

Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Songta'er all felt a rush of warmth in their hearts.

"Master, understood!" Bai Xiaoyue replied, her heart glowing.

Tu Xiaomeng exclaimed joyfully,

"Hehe, Master, we haven't even formally performed the apprentice ceremony, and you already dote on us! Having a master like you is wonderful! Just now you said we could do whatever we like… but what if we get into trouble?"

"No fear, your master will protect you," Master Qingxu replied with a smile. "But Xiaomeng, don't provoke anyone like She Meier—her master is far more formidable than yours. If you anger her, and she loses her temper, even your master won't be able to shield you! Hahaha…"

Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Songta'er all burst into knowing laughter.

Seeing Master Qingxu cheerfully return to his chamber, Bai Xiaoyue said, "Xiaomeng, Songta'er, come, let's visit the alchemy room…"

Tu Xiaomeng and Songta'er readily agreed, and together with Bai Xiaoyue, they made their way to the alchemy room, their spirits high.

Soon, the three entered the alchemy room.

The alchemy room was divided in two; the left side was larger and dedicated to forging golden elixirs. Here, everything was arranged in perfect order: cauldrons, stone tables, water jars, Yangcheng pots, iron pots, sand pots, sand basins, wooden basins, wooden bowls, porcelain bowls, ceramic jars, stone mortars, stone pestles, iron mortars, iron pestles, small iron shovels, charcoal stoves, charcoal, fine paper, bricks, fine sand, clay, sieves, bamboo shovels, palm brooms, boar bristle brushes, and many other implements, all spotless and gleaming.

Bai Xiaoyue’s eyes lit up, immediately captivated by the array of alchemical instruments before her. She exclaimed in awe and hurried to the cauldron, studying it intently.

Tu Xiaomeng and Songta'er quickly gathered around, brimming with curiosity, discussing their observations as they examined each item.

The three of them enthusiastically spent a full hour inspecting every instrument in meticulous detail.

Afterwards, invigorated, they moved to the room on the right. Though smaller than the alchemy room, it was even cleaner. Against the stone wall stood rosewood medicine cabinets, rosewood tables, and carved chairs, all exuding an antique charm and without a speck of dust.

Inside the various drawers of the medicine cabinets, arranged by type and category, lay cinnabar, realgar, orpiment, mirabilite, sulfur, gypsum, litharge, borax, alum, green vitriol, copperas, blue vitriol, amethyst, maifan stone, flower stone, mica, red clay, blue stone, pumice, dripstone, yangqi stone, magnetite, hematite, native copper, lead, mercury, lingzhi, ginseng, fo-ti, ambergris, deergrass, notoginseng, dragon’s blood, bird’s nest, musk, coral grass, seahorse, bezoar, canine treasure, pig sand, snow lotus, saffron, cordyceps, and countless other medicinal ingredients.

On the table rested a delicate, exquisitely crafted copper balance; beside it, several bamboo scrolls were neatly arranged—likely the secret manuals for forging golden elixirs.

At once, Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Songta'er’s attention was drawn to the dazzling array of alchemical materials.

"Hehe… So many stones—are they all for making golden elixirs?" Songta'er asked as he examined the materials up close.

Tu Xiaomeng shot him a look. "Of course! If they were for building walls, they wouldn’t be here."

Bai Xiaoyue stepped forward and laughed. "Xiaomeng, Songta'er, these aren’t just stones; they are rare alchemical ingredients. The 'Nine-Turn Golden Elixir' Master once took must have been made from some of these materials. Alas! I don't know how to craft elixirs; otherwise, I’d make a batch of 'Nine-Turn Golden Elixir' for Master to have on hand."

"Exactly!" Tu Xiaomeng echoed regretfully. "Sister Bai, Brother Yan can forge golden elixirs. Last time I saw him making one for you, I was so envious! Sister Bai, when do you think we’ll learn to make golden elixirs?"

"That’s hard to say," Bai Xiaoyue replied, examining the colorful, varied stones one by one. "As the saying goes, 'A master leads you to the door; cultivation is up to you.' Even though our master is skilled in the Dao and alchemy, if our comprehension is poor or our understanding weak, it may not be easy for us to learn the art of forging golden elixirs."

"True," Songta'er interjected. "Sister Bai, right now, just looking at these colorful materials makes my head spin… When we formally become apprentices and Master teaches us alchemy, if I can’t learn, won’t he be disappointed in me?"

"He won’t," Bai Xiaoyue quickly reassured him. "Songta'er, Master is broad-minded and generous. After we formally become his apprentices, if we devote ourselves wholeheartedly and train diligently, no matter what we achieve, he will never be disappointed in us."