Just as Li Huowang turned to walk back, he saw the albino girl shyly slip off one of her shoes. From her pale, almost translucent ankle, she removed a gold anklet tied with a red string.
His eyes widened as he took the gold anklet and weighed it in his palm. Although it was a bit thin, it was still gold. It was probably worth a lot of money.
Satisfied, he stuffed the item into the wide sleeves of his Daoist robe and pointed at the white-haired girl. "Listen up. From now on, the Ingredient Room is under her control. Everything goes through her."
Seeing everyone nod hesitantly, Li Huowang picked up the prepared Alchemy Ingredients and hurried toward the Pill Room.
As he walked, he snuck glances at the others' waists, trying to find another Jade Pendant. Unfortunately, to his disappointment, he did not find one.
When Li Huowang returned to the Pill Room, he saw the oppressive Pill Furnace slowly opening.
With a sweep of his wide sleeve, Master Danyang sent several dark-blue Elixirs flying in a neat line straight into the ochre Gourd at his waist.
Li Huowang's eyes burned with envy as he watched. This must be the Divine Skills Xuan Yin mentioned. I wonder if I can find a way to learn them.Worrying about money... my perspective is too narrow. If I could bring this ability into the real world, then…
Li Huowang bent down to set the Alchemy Ingredients aside, then prepared to stand quietly and observe with his head bowed. Since he didn't understand anything yet, it was better to listen and watch for now.
"Xuan Yang."
More work already? So soon? Have I really become just an errand boy? I can't keep running errands. I have to find a way to make that scabby-headed Master teach me his Divine Skills.
Li Huowang clasped his hands and bowed to Master Danyang, who had called his name. "Master, what are your orders?"
"Go to the Ingredient Room and bring me a Medicinal Guide named Bai Lingmiao."
Li Huowang's heart skipped a beat. His right hand, still raised in a bow, slipped into his sleeve and touched the anklet with the red string. So, Bai Lingmiao is the albino girl's name.
"Hmm?" Master Danyang turned to look at his new disciple, who hadn't reacted.
Li Huowang suddenly felt a pang of frustration. He had just promised to look after her, and now he was supposed to go tell her to walk to her death? He couldn't bring himself to do it.
"Did you not hear me?"
Feeling Master Danyang's tone turn hostile, Li Huowang sighed helplessly and closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the pristine white hospital room. Now, what do I do?
In the past, he would have done it without a second thought. The problem was that the other world might actually be real. If he really took the girl there, he would be killing someone. He just couldn't live with himself.
When the nurses finally let him go, Li Huowang began to pace the room, biting his thumbnail. What should I do? What should I do?
Before he could think of a solution, the ward door was pushed open, and Li Huowang saw his attending doctor walk in.
He forced a bitter smile. Great, now he was trapped on both sides with no way out.
The doctor jabbed a finger at him, his expression one of pure exasperation. "You… after your visitors leave, we're having a chat. Just you and me."
Visitors?
Before Li Huowang could react, he saw his haggard-looking mother hurry in, carrying tangerines.
"I heard you got into a fight at the hospital! What happened to your head? Why's it wrapped up like that? Does it hurt?" His mother rushed forward, anxiously scrutinizing him.
"It doesn't hurt, Mom. I'm fine, really. They're the ones who are wrong," Li Huowang hastily reassured her.
After a great deal of comforting, Li Huowang finally managed to stop his mother's tears from falling.
In front of his dearest kin, all other troubles had to be put on hold for the moment.
"Don't worry, I'm doing really well. My condition is much better, and I haven't fallen behind on my studies. I can still take the college entrance exams once I'm discharged," Li Huowang did his best to report the good news and hide the bad.
"Stop hiding things, the doctor already told me. Tell me, what actually happened that day? Who started the fight?"
Li Huowang explained as gently as he could, but it didn't seem to help much.
"Why should we pay compensation when we were in the right?! They were the ones who were wrong! Even if they're sick, that's the hospital's responsibility to watch over them! Our family never bullies anyone, but we absolutely will not be bullied! If they have the guts to sue, let them! We'll still be in the right, even in court!" the agitated Sun Xiaoqin yelled, slamming her hand on the table.
Seeing the doctor awkwardly rub his nose, Li Huowang continued to soothe his mother. "Mom, Mom, don't get so worked up. You rarely get to visit, so just stay with me for a bit."
Sun Xiaoqin suppressed her anger, bent down, and took some fruit out of her bag. "Don't you worry about this. Mom will handle it. Here, these are your favorite grapes, eat up. Look at you, you're all skin and bones. The hospital food must be terrible, right?"
"No, no, the hospital food is actually pretty good." Li Huowang sat beside his mother and started eating.
Listening to his mother's complaints and eating the sweet grapes, Li Huowang's mind began to calm.
He liked this feeling. It had been a long time since he had been admitted to the hospital, a long time since he had felt the warmth of family.
Looking at his mother, Li Huowang almost blurted out everything that had been happening to him, but the words died on his lips, and he swallowed them back down.
No, she's not like Yang Na. If I tell her, she'll just think my condition has worsened. I can't make her worry any more. I'll tell her when everything is stable.
Just as mother and son were chatting happily, the attending doctor's phone chimed. "Ms. Sun," he said, "patient Liu's family has also arrived. If you would…"
"Son, you stay here and rest. Eat more, and I'll buy you more when you're finished."
Sun Xiaoqin spoke gently to Li Huowang, then straightened her back and strode toward the door like a rooster about to enter a duel.
For some reason, watching her retreating back made Li Huowang feel incredibly at ease.
His mother was forceful, but as long as she was nearby, Li Huowang felt completely safe. She was like a large umbrella sheltering him from the wind and rain. In that moment, all the anxiety from his other troubles vanished.
Heh, I bet the lobby will be lively in a bit. Li Huowang picked another yellowish-green grape, popped it into his mouth, and bit down. The sweet juice exploded on his tongue.
Just as he had that thought, his body suddenly lurched, and everything around him began to shift colors again. Damn it, Mom's visit made me forget all about figuring out how to fool that scabby-headed Master. What now?
When everything stabilized, Li Huowang found himself back in the Ingredient Room. Master Danyang stood nearby, his expression sour. The other Medicinal Guides stood in a circle with their heads bowed low.
Master Danyang flipped his grimy right hand over, and a viscous, wriggling black mass appeared in his palm. Every squirm it made produced a sound like a toad licking its own eyeballs.
Hmm? Wasn't he going to use Bai Lingmiao for alchemy? Have we moved on from that?
After hesitating for a second, Li Huowang asked, "Master, what is this?"
"Hmph. Good stuff. Taishui. Black Taisui."