"You're not imposing on us at all," Yu Jinqi said, putting away his healer's bag and pulling out several more herbs to mix into a medicinal soup. "This will taste bitter, but you're to drink it all. It's to help ward off the issues that come with bed rest," he said firmly, passing over the soup and watching Fang Lin drink it down.
"No one feels like you're imposing on them with this delay," the alchemist explained, retrieving the bowl from Fang Lin and ignoring the sour expression the other man made at the soup's taste. "I'm spending the time studying for my exams and practicing my concocting. Wu Ling is studying a new art, Su Xiang is studying her new manual, Zhang Buyan is adjusting to his increased cultivation and Jin Wuya won't be able to use her hand effectively for at least another ten to fifteen days. Everyone needs this time, not just you."
"I see," Fang Lin said, sighing in relief. If he was the only one holding up the group, he didn't know how long he'd be able to rest without feeling like he was making excuses. He could almost feel his father's disapproving stare even now. "I suppose I should figure out something to work on myself then."
"You brought books, didn't you?" Yu Jinqi asked. "If you're stuck in bed, you might as well read up a bit. I've been studying uses for beast cores and other bits of the wolves that Brother Xiong has butchered but I don't imagine they'll be all that useful to you, will they?"
"Not generally," Fang Lin acknowledged. "Not unless I wanted to use a beast core as a formation core, but I imagine that all of those are already claimed by our martial brothers and sisters."
"Why would you think that?" Yu Jinqi asked with a raised eyebrow. "We discussed this on the second night. For the duration of the expedition, if anyone is able to articulate a need for any of the materials we harvest to advance their cultivation, they have a right to ask for it. No one is allowed to horde things for later with a few exceptions," he explained.
"At the end of the expedition, when we return home," the young alchemist continued. "We'll pool everything and divide the remainder appropriately. Leader Wu and Brother Zhang both feel strongly that we should use the things we obtain on the journey to build our strength along the way instead of squirreling things away for later."
"When it comes to beast cores, I intend to use one each of the Red Mist Wolf cores to aid Brother Xiong and Sister Jin's cultivations," Yu Jinqi added. "But I haven't even claimed a Blood Moon Mist Wolf core yet because it's too soon to make plans for using it. Why, if you had a beast core, what would you do with it?"
"There's a legendary defensive formation," Fang Lin started, pulling a book out of his cosmos bag and flipping pages rapidly. "Here, it's called the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Entrapment Maze.' You have to fuse the beast cores of ten thousand spirit beasts into the formation core along with a tooth, claw or other 'weapon' of the beast formed into each of the formation anchors. Once the formation is established, it forms a disorienting maze filled with phantom beasts that attack anyone who enters the formation," he explained.
"That sounds like a very ambitious formation," Yu Jinqi said. "I don't think we'll slay close to ten thousand spirit beasts on this expedition."
"No, that's fine," Fang Lin said, flipping over several pages. "In the world of formations, there are two paths by which formations are developed. Maybe it's similar with alchemy. Most formations begin as simple constructions and are then expanded with additional elements layered on top of them, becoming increasingly complex as they grow in power. There are, however, formations that are derived the opposite way."
"Opposite way?" Yu Jinqi asked. "Simplified versions of greater formations?"
"Exactly!" Fang Lin said, feeling genuinely excited for the first time since this trip began. "The Ten Thousand Beasts Entrapment Maze was created by an Imperial Scholar thousands of years ago. It's a legend that few people can ever replicate. But, one of his apprentices created a 'Thousand Beast Mist Maze' that could be completed by Blessed Scholars, and later on, an even simpler 'Hundred Beast Guard Formation' that could be established by Independent Scholars was published."
"That is a fairly incredible feat," Yu Jinqi acknowledged. "Then, are there even simpler versions that are approachable for Novices or Initiates?"
"Don't tell anyone, but yes," Fang Lin said, a gleam of pride in his eyes. "My great grandfather, the one who established the Fang Banking Family in Silver Sword City, obtained the Hundred Beast Guard Formation and created two derivatives of it. The first is the Ten Sacred Guardian Beasts formation," he boasted.
"It's one of the Fang Family's premier offerings to protect the homes and treasures of moderately wealthy families in the Outer Wards. Because it can be erected and maintained by a Novice, there has never been a period where our family couldn't meet its obligations to keep these formations active or to move them if a family relocated to a different home or ward."
"The one I'm thinking about, however, is the simplest version of the formation to ever be developed," Fang Lin said, turning the book around to show Yu Jinqi. "The Sacred Beast Perimeter Guard. I just need a single beast core and a claw or fang from one of the wolves. Probably a fang, their bite is much fiercer than their claws," he said with a wince and a glance at his own wounded legs.
"I don't think that will be a problem," Yu Jinqi said. "I'll talk to Wu Ling and fetch you a fang and a beast core from one of the Red Mist Wolves."
"It would be better if I used the materials from a Blood Moon Mist Wolf," Fang Lin said. Since none of them had been claimed yet, he didn't see why he shouldn't be first.
"Um, Brother Fang, have you set one of these formations before using such a potent beast core?" Yu Jinqi asked hesitantly.
"Oh, no, I haven't," Fang Lin admitted, hanging his head again. "I've never actually set one of these before at all. Father said he wanted to see me become a late-stage Initiate before he'd give me a core to practice with." It was an odd moment for Fang Lin. Not that long ago, Yu Jinqi would never have challenged him if he said he wanted anything. The timid alchemist was always the first to back down.
Now, however, not only was the alchemist questioning whether or not Fang Lin could handle the beast core he was asking for, but Fang Lin himself felt the need to justify himself to the other scholar! Was it just because Yu Jinqi had taken a large step ahead when he became a novice?
"We're all trying new things, Brother Fang," Yu Jinqi said, putting a hand on the other scholar's shoulder. "I don't think anyone would deny you a Red Mist Wolf Core. Once you succeed in your formation, you can always move on to making a better one, right? So take your time, step by step. I know everyone will sleep better at night once you succeed Brother Fang."
"You're right, Brother Yu," Fang Lin said. In his heart, a fire began to burn. His father wouldn't even let him practice the formation, but if he succeeded here, what kind of expression would his father make when he showed him? The thought of it alone was enough to bring focus to his previously disordered mind.
"I'll do this one step at a time," he promised. "And next time we're threatened, we scholars will have another strong protector to keep us safe while the others fight on the front lines." After all, anyone could be called away or decide, like Wu Ling had, to prioritize a different part of the battle. The formation he deployed, however, would always be there to provide protection. He just had to work hard to master it and a tragedy like the last battle would never happen again.