Chapter 35
While the sun hadn't yet set, the gathering clouds began to hide its golden rays, casting a gloomy feeling over the area. Inside a hidden room, the only light came from a flickering candle in the middle. A few people were gathered there, some hidden in the shadows, listening to a discussion among three men at a round table.
Two of the men were familiar to Shin Jiao: Xing Meng and Xian Jian Feng. The third was a youth with a half-mask, wearing a dark green robe with a touch of red on the collar and a black hood. The three seemed to have a tacit understanding, working together to hatch a plan. After some small talk, they got to the main point.
"So, how do you two propose we get the recipe from Senior Qin Lou? It seems the elders have suddenly decided to protect her," Xian Jian Feng asked.
"This is a real headache. I didn't expect that bitch to be able to make that kind of absurdly effective pill. It even overshadowed my 'Heavenly Touch Pill.' Anyway, I already have a plan, but it will require the help of some people. I'm not sure how strong Senior Qin Lou really is, but I think two or three primary gold core experts can take care of her. Plus, I have an ace up my sleeve, so we have a backup plan," Xing Meng explained.
"Alright, I'll volunteer to fight her if necessary," the masked youth said, signaling for two people to step out of the shadows.
When Xing Meng and Xian Jian Feng saw them, their eyes filled with awe and disbelief. The two newcomers were both famous fighters known for their ruthlessness. The three began to laugh evilly, picturing the scene where these two would defeat Qin Lou, allowing their group to get the secret recipe for the Rapid Haemostatic Pill and gain either spiritual stones or fame and fortune.
Meanwhile, Qin Lou was anxiously pacing inside a large room. Hu Ao had just told her about the situation and how important she would be to the future of the empire. Unknown to most, the Floating Lotus Alchemy School was not independent; it was secretly backed by the imperial family, with the current crown prince as its patron.
"I… I never thought things would turn out this way. I hope he's doing fine out there. I should have talked to him before this and learned more about him. Now I don't have time to talk to him anymore. Please… I don't want him to leave yet," Qin Lou said to herself, feeling a wave of anxiety. She knew their meeting was arranged by fate and that if she didn't seize the opportunity, she might lose a friend. Remembering his sincere and calming smile, her heart skipped a beat, but she forcefully calmed herself down. She shook her head and patted her cheeks, which were turning red under her white mask. No matter how hard she tried to not think about Shin Jiao, she kept remembering the good things he taught and the nice things he gave her.
Lost in thought, she was startled by frantic footsteps outside her room.
Knock! Knock!
"Senior Sister Lou! Are you in here?" a familiar female voice broke her musing.
"Ah! Who… who's there?" Qin Lou asked, a little annoyed.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, senior sister… but can I come in first?" the voice asked.
Without waiting for an answer, the door opened, and a small figure rushed inside, closing the door behind her. The girl's face was full of panic and anxiety as she pressed her ear against the door, listening for sounds outside.
Qin Lou recognized the girl—it was Susu Ling. Her clothes were disheveled and torn, as if she had just been in a fight and escaped for her life.
"Junior Sister Ling, what's happening?" Qin Lou asked, immediately becoming collected.
Susu Ling just looked at her, signaling her to be quiet. She continued listening outside the door. After a moment, feeling that everything was safe, Susu Ling let out a sigh of relief and patted her chest.
"Oh, senior sister, I almost forgot. There's some trouble. Your mortal servant was taken by someone. I saw them grab him while he was walking in the market. He was walking leisurely and then turned to enter an alleyway. I didn't know why he entered that dark and empty alley, but then five men suddenly grabbed him… I tried to stop them, but before I could follow, I was blocked and had to fight just to escape," Susu Ling explained.
"What! This can't be happening! Shin Jiao… this… It's all my fault. I must go… I… I need to save him. If only I hadn't entered the alchemy contest, he wouldn't be in danger," Qin Lou's heart filled with guilt and panic.
"Senior Sister Lou, I don't believe it's your fault, so please calm down. And I don't want you to put yourself in danger. You can't go… I think I know what they are up to, but we can't face them by ourselves. We must ask the elders for help, okay? This is far too dangerous for just the two of us," Susu Ling warned and suggested.
However, a resolute gleam appeared in Qin Lou's eyes. She had decided to save Shin Jiao no matter the cost. She knew how the pill was created, but there was a hidden process she believed was the most crucial part. She decided that if it came down to it, she would just give her enemies the recipe as long as Shin Jiao was saved.
"You don't have to worry about that, junior sister. But I thank you for informing me of the situation. I promise to pay you back later if I have a chance," Qin Lou said sincerely, giving Susu Ling a respectful salute.
"No need, no need. But I must advise against this, senior sister. I will tell the elders so they can act and help you," Susu Ling insisted.
"We can't be sure if some of the elders are with that group. If you inform them, my friend's life might be at risk, so I can't take that chance."
"But… but…" Susu Ling wanted to say something, but she realized the gravity of the situation. As if making a decision in her mind, she clenched her fist and looked at Qin Lou. "I… I won't let you face them alone… so… so… I will go and follow you. At the very least, I can help you fight off some of them," she said.
Qin Lou just nodded, a hint of gratitude in her eyes behind her mask.
After preparing what they needed for the fight, the two girls rushed out of the room. Surprisingly, Susu Ling had a spatial pouch containing some weapons and talismans. They quickly ran toward the building where the alchemy school elders were staying.
Unbeknownst to them, in another room, three old men were leisurely drinking tea.
"Master, what should we do? It's dangerous for her to be out there. I just can't understand why she would risk her life for a mere mortal boy," Hu Ao, who was sitting opposite his master, Lu Hao Duang, asked.
"I think that mortal servant of hers is not normal. There's something about him that makes me feel uneasy," the old man with a long beard said, slowly stroking it. This old man, commonly called Master Ju by his close friends, was the one who had moderated the alchemy contest. Outside, he was known as the Huntsman General of the southern kingdom.
"I agree with Master Ju. The thing that confuses me the most is the way that mortal was able to set up a formation array under our noses. Truly baffling…" Lu Hao Duang said, a glint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Haha, I agree with Old Lu. I even scanned it twice but was unable to see the formation… Do you think it's an array disk?" Master Ju's eyes lit up as if making a discovery.
"Are you sure, Master Ju? But you're a formation master, how come you couldn't see it?" Hu Ao suddenly asked in amazement.
"I'm not sure. But when I checked the mask that little girl Qin Lou wears, I discovered a miniature rune and a concealment array. Her old master is a level below me in terms of formation arrays, so I'm sure that thing didn't come from him," Master Ju said.
"Then we should help rescue that young mortal. Although he is just a mortal, with his proficiency in formation arrays, he would be a great addition to our school," Hu Ao suggested with a smile. As an elder of the Floating Lotus Alchemy School, Hu Ao truly valued talent.
"I agree with Hu Ao, but we must watch from the sidelines and let the young ones sort things out. We'll only interfere if the lives of those three are in danger," Master Ju said.
"What about that haughty boy, the disciple of old Master Kong?" Hu Ao suddenly asked.
"Ha! That boy truly thinks he's a genius. Tsk, tsk… Master Kong is truly blind. But I guess he's always blinded by his own greed. Sooner or later, his own actions will be his undoing," Lu Hao Duang exclaimed as he slowly took a sip of hot tea.
Qin Lou and Susu Ling were running frantically to the spot where Susu Ling had the fight. When they arrived, they found no one there, so they tried to find some traces of where the people went. Soon after, Qin Lou discovered a clue, and they followed it.
Inside an old house, Shin Jiao sat on a chair, his hands and feet tied tightly. His head was covered with an old sack that smelled of rotten things. This would have made a normal person vomit, but since he was playing the part of a weak prey, he acted it perfectly. Like a coward, he trembled and constantly gagged as he couldn't hold the smell anymore.
"What should we do with this mortal?" one of the men asked.
"I think we don't need him anymore. We should just waste him and be done with it. No matter what, I don't think that girl would give us what we need just to save the life of a mere mortal," another one said, licking his tongue, a murderous look in his eyes as he stared at Shin Jiao.
"Shut up! Do you want us to get into trouble? The young master clearly instructed us to keep him here and wait for instructions," the big and burly man who seemed to be their leader reprimanded the others.
Suddenly, a small talisman in the leader's pocket began to glow. He took it out and read the words that appeared on the blank page:
'We are currently negotiating and no longer need the hostage. Get rid of him now.'
After the burly man read this, a wide grin spread across his face. He looked at Shin Jiao as if he were already dead, his eyes showing a mix of fake sympathy and scorn. He nodded to the other young man, the one who had been itching to get rid of Shin Jiao. Seeing that the leader had agreed, the man enthusiastically walked toward Shin Jiao.
"Mortal trash, I think you've overstayed your welcome. It's time for you to depart. In your second life, try to be stronger and pray for your luck not to be a mortal anymore. Haha!" the guy said as he lifted Shin Jiao with one hand and dragged him toward the back of the old house.
"Please don't! Immortal master, I am good at anything. Please don't kill me," Shin Jiao begged as he was carried like a tied-up piece of meat ready for slaughter.
After searching for a while, Qin Lou and Susu Ling found themselves surrounded by several people wearing black leather cloaks. Then Qin Lou saw someone she recognized. This person seemed not to fear his identity being exposed as he walked nonchalantly toward them.
"Hello, Senior Lou. Nice seeing you again."
"You are… Xing Meng!" Qin Lou exclaimed as she saw the arrogant expression of the person in front of her.