Chapter 150 — Random Pills, Not Fond of Tea

Early the next morning, Lian Mu brought the freshly refined pills to the library pavilion. When she reached the top floor, she found the door shut and knocked for quite a while without any response.

She thought Feng Tianche must have fallen dead asleep again, so she pushed the door open, only to discover the room was empty.

The room that had been in utter disarray just yesterday was now spotless; even the vase on the table had been put back in place. It looked as if no one had ever lived here.

Puzzled, Lian Mu walked to the desk and saw a few books and a letter with her name written in the corner.

She opened it — it was from Feng Tianche.

Feng Tianche had something urgent and had gone to Vermilion Bird South with Elder Yi Zifei. His soul body couldn’t leave this room on its own, but when attached to the bracelet, he could be carried away.

“This great master is off to Vermilion Bird South to visit an old friend. I’ve left you some homework — with your comprehension, I trust you’ll finish it before I return. As for the spirit replenishing pill, your idea was decent. I’ve tried it myself; it’s suitable for long-term use.

I’ve calculated that the demonic beast inner cores you’ve collected should sustain you until the Immortal Sect Grand Competition is over. Of course, relying solely on spirit replenishing pills won’t solve the root problem. Listen to your senior brother — find a way to get your hands on the Wuyang Feng Clan’s secret manual. Steal, burn, loot — this great master won’t mind.”

After reading the letter, Lian Mu didn’t know what to say.

So, in the end, she still had to rely on herself.

She flipped through the books Feng Tianche had left behind — all rare alchemy recipes. She carefully stowed them away and left the room.

Feng Tianche’s sudden departure meant he wouldn’t be back for at least a month or two. Fortunately, she learned quickly and had already mastered the new spirit replenishing pill recipe. She had even planted all the necessary spiritual herbs inside the luminous stone.

She had only been inside the library pavilion for less than fifteen minutes before coming back out, leaving Ji Mingyue stunned.

“Master Feng isn’t here?”

“He had to leave for a while and won’t be back soon. My body’s fine for now anyway, so I should return to White Tiger West.”

“Alright.” Ji Mingyue took out the Fish-and-Goose Stone. “I’ll inform Elder Murong.”

They contacted Murong Yi immediately, and a response came almost at once. When Murong Yi’s face appeared on the Fish-and-Goose Stone, Lian Mu was momentarily unprepared.

Murong Yi glanced at her. “How’s your body?”

“Almost fully recovered,” Lian Mu said. “There won’t be any problems before the Immortal Sect Grand Competition.”

“Then why do you look even weaker than before?”

“???”

Ji Mingyue explained for her, “She’s been obsessed with sword practice day and night, to the point where she can’t even sleep. Ever since learning she’s a Heavenly Spiritual Root, she’s determined to carry the sect’s revival on her shoulders and win a good ranking.”

Lian Mu nodded. “Exactly.”

She obviously couldn’t say it was because she’d spent the whole night planting fields with a demon race man and ended up like this.

Murong Yi looked calmly at her. “Do you really expect me to believe you’re diligently practicing swordsmanship? Stop pretending — everyone knows how you are. Anyway, focus on recovering. The rest can wait.”

“Elder, I think I can return today.”

Murong Yi paused, raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you want to come back now? Fine. Pack up. Depart immediately. There’s something good waiting for you tonight.”

“!”

A wail came from Murong Yi’s side — it sounded familiar, but before Lian Mu could figure out who it was, Murong Yi ended the communication.

Ji Mingyue murmured, “…That sounded like Xu Xianxing screaming just now. Lian Mu, maybe we should delay our return? I have a bad feeling — tonight, we… no, you are in for trouble.”

Murong Yi had only spoken to Lian Mu the whole time and hadn’t even mentioned Ji Mingyue.

“?”

“I’m an injured person returning home — Elder Murong wouldn’t beat me up for no reason, right?”

“Alright then.”

Neither of them had anything else to do in the sect anyway. Ji Mingyue had come with Lian Mu and naturally would return with her.

—

At noon, the silver kite landed at the Returning Immortal Sect’s gate, ready for departure.

They were the only ones leaving, and the senior sister guarding the gate knew they were going back for the Immortal Sect Grand Competition, so she specially opened the gate for half a day.

“In such a hurry — is the next trial realm starting soon?”

Ji Mingyue was still packing up while Lian Mu stood at the gate chatting.

“There’s still some time,” Lian Mu said. “White Tiger West is too hot, and I heard there are sandstorms recently. Plus, the northern desert you must cross to reach Azure Dragon East is experiencing a demonic beast tide, so it’s not very safe for now.

Everything’s settled here, so staying longer is boring. My friends are all at White Tiger West anyway.”

The senior sister smiled. “I see. Safe travels to you both.”

Lian Mu, having nothing better to do, picked a pile of giant spirit fruits and sat on the steps munching. Halfway through, Ji Mingyue came out.

“Why are you eating giant spirit fruit again?” Ji Mingyue couldn’t help but comment. “Only you can swallow that stuff.”

“I think it’s getting sweeter.”

Lian Mu put the remaining fruits in her spatial pouch to snack on later.

“Junior Sister Ji is here,” the senior sister at the gate said with a smile. “Before Elder Yi left, he asked me to give you something.”

She handed over a small box. “Elder Yi left in a hurry last night and asked me to pass on this box of Jade Mountain flower tea. He said you’d been hanging around drinking his tea all the time, so he figured you must like it.”

Ji Mingyue accepted it, opened the lid, and a faint fragrance wafted out. She nodded. “Please thank Master for me when he returns.”

Lian Mu glanced at it and clicked her tongue. “Jade Mountain flower tea again… You have the nerve to criticize me when this tea tastes the worst.”

“Lian Mu, did you…” Ji Mingyue looked at her gravely. “Did you take some random pill that ruined your taste buds? Jade Mountain flower tea is famous for a reason. Everyone says it’s delicious — you’re the only one who prefers that weird-tasting giant spirit fruit. You’re completely backwards.”

Hearing this, Lian Mu suddenly doubted herself. “…Could be.”

After all, she had taken a lot of pills. Five years ago she’d thought giant spirit fruit was bitter, but now it tasted sweet… Had she really eaten too many pills?

“Master Feng should have tailored a pill formula for you, so don’t go taking random stuff for now. I’ll keep an eye on you.”

Lian Mu thought it over. “Alright.”

They boarded the silver kite and bid the senior sister farewell.

As Returning Immortal Sect gradually disappeared behind them, Lian Mu unexpectedly felt a weight lift from her shoulders. “Finally leaving.”

This time, Ji Mingyue was the one flying the silver kite. She had complained about how fast it was on the way here, but now she flew it even more recklessly than anyone.

Ji Mingyue’s hair whipped wildly in the wind, and the wind roared too loud for her to hear clearly. “What did you say?”

“Nothing.” Lian Mu’s expression was blank as the wind buffeted her. “I’m about to get blown off.”

“Don’t sword cultivators love flying around on swords? And you’re scared of this? Hold tight — I’ll see if we can reach White Tiger West within an hour.”

“…”

The higher they flew, the colder the wind. It mixed with ice shards and snowflakes, stinging her face like knives.

Lian Mu silently glanced toward Hidden Guest Mountain. From here, she could vaguely see the silhouette of Thousand Spirit Peak’s spirit tower before it soon vanished into the clouds.

She was still thinking about what was written in that letter. “…”

Master Feng had stayed in the library pavilion for so many years without ever leaving, yet last night he suddenly left—perhaps because she had brought up the matter of Elder Yin.

A soul body stored within a spiritual artifact must be carefully protected; if the artifact is damaged, the soul body would dissipate along with it. Ordinary people would never casually move an artifact containing a soul.

Given how much Elder Yi valued Master Feng, there must have been something truly important to take his soul body to Vermilion Bird South, a place full of dangers.

For some reason, knowing that Master Feng had left, she suddenly didn’t feel like staying in the sect any longer either.

Lian Mu couldn’t help but think of that nightmare again—the scene of rivers of blood felt vivid before her eyes. Yet… nothing had happened this time when she returned to the sect; even the two senior brothers she had seen in her dream showed no signs of anything unusual.

Could it be that the time hadn’t come yet?

Lian Mu pondered for a while, beginning to question whether that dream was real at all.

“What are you thinking about?”

Ji Mingyue’s voice broke her train of thought.

Lian Mu snapped out of it and said calmly, “Nothing, I’m just a little cold.”

Ji Mingyue tossed her a jade bottle. “Take a warming pill.”

“I thought I wasn’t supposed to take random pills?” Lian Mu chuckled as her vision gradually cleared.

Ji Mingyue said, “It’s just a warming pill—it won’t cause any problems. I meant don’t take those with strange recipes.”

“Yours are the strangest, though.” Lian Mu said, “Your pills always have to include some bugs—no matter how you look at it, it’s weird.”

Ji Mingyue smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, I won’t harm my own people. It’s the Ji family’s secret pill refining method.”

“As for the deeper use… you’ll understand it someday.”