At the crowing of the rooster, Yu Hua left, stepping through the last of the night's curtain.
Gu Wen watched him leave, saw Yu Hua leap tens of meters and glide for hundreds more, uncertain whether the other was using some kind of treasure or a spell.
Gu Wen returned to his room and sat in front of the candlelight, examining the Jade-eyed Water Wave Pearl.
As his mind stirred, a shadowy form of a small loach appeared, coiled around his wrist, slowly and steadily sucking away his True Qi, while seductive thoughts transmitted to him.
The Jade-eyed Water Wave Pearl was thoroughly subdued.
Gu Wen invested his Divine Thought, and a flicker of enlightenment arose.
"This pearl, born from water veins and nurtured by Immortal Energy, placed at the qi sea, doubles the efficiency of refining Qi into essence. In possession, it controls water and assumes form. Due to the spirit beast's legacy, its mucus neutralizes attacks, providing excellent defense."
Accelerating cultivation speed, controlling water, and for defense!
Gu Wen could hardly contain his excitement. He looked around, then gripping the spiritual treasure, pointed at a half-glass of water on the table. A lump of boiling water flew out, hovering above his palm.
Increasing his Mana, the water mass took form, a layer of water film enveloping Gu Wen, touching and feeling slimy, like a lubricant.
A punch thrown felt like hitting jelly.
Hiss!
In an instant, Gu Wen was invigorated, a smile inadvertently flashing across his face.
Now with an internal mental method, a spiritual treasure, and a life-saving Pill provided by Yu Hua, his methods of preservation were finally taking shape, bearing a semblance to those of a cultivator.
Then, Gu Wen tested his cultivation. His True Qi circulated through the Cycle; the Jade-eyed Water Wave Pearl emitted strands of chill, and his True Qi seemed to ride on an east wind, speeding forward. The Artifact Spirit loach, during his circulation, seemed to transform into part of the meridians, giving him an expressway.
Cultivation speed increased by approximately one fifth.
So it continued until daylight; merely in two hours, one of the Five Internal Organs Spirits needed for the Third Level of Foundation Establishment — the "Mind Spirit" — advanced by one thousandth.
Ten hours of cultivation a day equals one hundredth; one hundred days could complete one Five Internal Organs Spirit, roughly two years to reach the Third Level!
Uh...
Gu Wen fell silent for a moment, deciding he better start searching for Heavenly Marrow.
Two years for a level was likely the normal speed of cultivation, but presently he didn't have the luxury of time to slowly progress.
Knock, knock, knock!
Just then, the door was knocked upon, and the voice of Jiang Fugui came through, "My lord, are you awake?"
Gu Wen concealed anything out of the ordinary and said, "Come in."
Jiang Fugui entered, his face beaming as he handed over a ledger, saying, "My lord, these are the dividends from the major brothels, totaling one thousand two hundred and fifty taels."
A yield of Heavenly Marrow was recorded.
Gu Wen nodded, saying, "Well done. I'll take one thousand taels; you keep the change."
"Aiyo, my lord, how can this be mere change? This is practically a whole feast!" Jiang Fugui laughed with glee, then pulled a small box from his sleeve and opened it to reveal a yellow pill.
"This is the Dragon Tiger Pill you asked for; it's fifty taels of silver each."
Gu Wen was even more pleased, placing the pill in his mouth. The outer shell was made of sugar, bitter inside, directly swallowed without much impact.
But the key wasn't this; he needed the Heavenly Marrow.
The Fate Diagram slightly vibrated, as if the Qi Sea of the heavens received a trace of fiery light stream.
The increase in Heavenly Marrow was more than what fifty pieces of the pill would yield; about one-tenth of a Heavenly Marrow.
Gu Wen was exhilarated; he could confirm that these outrageously expensive medicines in Bianjing, which he once thought as taxing on intelligence, were most likely spiritual medicines, each possessing Heavenly Marrow and imperial fluids.
Jiang Fugui was dumbfounded, saying, "My lord, do you need me to find someone to clean up the house? This medicine's effect is strong, if not released it might harm your body."
"I'm practicing a set of Inner Skills lately, needing some medicinal properties as assistance; do not speak of it outside," Gu Wen explained with a shake of his head, "I need a large amount of Dragon Tiger Pills; I remember these come from Qianfeng Tower."
Jiang Fugui replied, "That's correct, but there's a purchase limit. If you want many, you probably have to personally visit Qianfeng Tower."
Gu Wen pondered.
Fifty pieces of medicinal fruit yielded one Heavenly Marrow, costing a thousand taels.
Ten Dragon Tiger Pills for one Heavenly Marrow, costing five hundred taels.
Although Dragon Tiger Pills might expose him, he could disguise it under conjugal affairs. Currently finding no other sources and unwilling to wait idly, there's never a risk-free venture in the world.
Now possessing twelve thousand taels of silver, he had to quickly spend it; without Bianjing, he wouldn't know where else in the world he could casually purchase spiritual medicine.
-----------------
Another morning, and Yu Hua scaled the wall into the courtyard.
She yawned greatly. The old donkey ambling towards the gate said, "Young Ancestor, you didn't really fall into a love calamity, did you? Tsk tsk, I can't understand, what does Zhao Feng have that he doesn't?"
Yu Hua ignored the corrupt and bribe-taking mule, heading towards the house.
The old donkey followed, nattering on relentlessly.
"Not to mention other things, the other fellow has a Venerable father and holds the fortune of an Immortal Land dynasty. It's not an exaggeration to say he's born noble. Of course, to you, anyone coming is beneath you, but if you really needed a taste of mortal life, you shouldn't just plunge headfirst into it…"
"Enough."
Yu Hua's typically gentle voice rose slightly. Sleepiness and weariness didn't stir her anxiety, but the old donkey comparing Gu Wen and Zhao Feng and belittling the former made her unable to bear it.
Indeed she harbored no extra feelings for Gu Wen, but it didn't mean someone could compare a gem to dung and audaciously claim the dung was better right to her face.
And what benefits had it taken this time, even merely being a messenger was disconcerting.
"You've taken benefits again this time?"
Yu Hua's mood had barely lightened before it fell again, making it difficult for the old donkey to detect anything amiss through her tone.
Furthermore, due to the constraints of heaven and earth, even the greatest powers were confined to mortal flesh. Out in the world, it could move mountains and reclaim seas, but here, at most, it could help Yu Hua escape unharmed amidst thousands of troops.
As Yu Hua's elder, the old donkey, by common sense, would not try to speculate on her joys and sorrows; instead, he said with a chuckle, "Benefits are always being taken; it's all for the grand plan of the sect. The faster and higher I consolidate my foundation, the safer you will be."
"But I am not a matchmaker; I have always been straightforward. This morning that Zhao Feng visited again, I sensed more spirit charm in him; he has probably entered the Foundation Establishment."
There is no love without reason. Why, among so many sons and daughters, does Zhao Feng, the ninth son, receive utmost favor? Not only is he permitted to establish his mansion in Bianjing and act as a prince, but a great effort was also made to covertly replace the Gu family's Immortal Fate.
It turns out, Zhao Feng possesses extraordinary talents, capable of establishing a dao foundation.
Among the dragon's nine sons, he must be the most outstanding.
This standard is fit for a successor of a Major Sect; a talent like him might not emerge for decades in the Sanqing Taoist Sect, and indeed, this is the standard for a Daoist Saint Land. In smaller sects, he could be a rare genius appearing once in a millennium.
"Zhao Feng, the ninth son of the Zhao family, is a true prodigy indeed."
After finishing his statement, the old donkey added, "This line is paid for, but it's also a fact."
"Foundation Establishment entry?"
Yu Hua's expression turned strange. Although she agreed with the sentiment that a Foundation established signifies the stature of a True Monarch, making one crucial to any sect,
beside her was someone who had succeeded in the Four-day Dao Establishment, making Zhao Feng's recent entry somewhat comical.
Zhao Feng, being a son of the Venerable, held vast fortunes from Daqian, and had consumed countless Pills of wonder. According to the ledgers from Gu Wen's bookshelf, the Water House supplied him with hundreds of thousands of silver yearly; the amount of Spiritual Medicine consumed is unimaginable.
It's normal for a divine talent to use up massive resources rapidly, their ability to transform these into a foundation being a gift in itself.
But with Gu Wen predating him, Zhao Feng's brightness paled, as weak as a stone in a latrine pit.
Thinking Yu Hua was surprised, the old donkey continued, "With the strong foundation of the Zhao family, having a prodigy is expected, and this could be troublesome."
"This is because the Zhao family didn't give you enough benefits?"
Yu Hua was a little surprised and couldn't help but answer sarcastically. The old donkey wasn't annoyed and, splitting his donkey mouth, said, "If you could take him in as your dog, I would support it, but if you don't want to, I wouldn't dare ask. Yet, do you really think the Zhao family is as foolish as Zhao Feng?"
"Young love is foolish, but ancient families are wise for millennia; the Zhao family isn't foolish. Moreover, with a Venerable behind him, while the Lord Emperor can't make a move, Zhao Feng can."
Yu Hua sensed the murderous intent in his words and asked, "Are you intending to kill him?"
The old donkey shook his head, "I hope it doesn't come to that, but he is indeed a threat."
Should one kill if there's a threat...
The powers above are not of the same kind as creatures of the earth, like how a guardian spirit beast of the sect would unscrupulously receive benefits or like how a sect might replace its Guardian without a second thought from it.
Yu Hua felt more strongly the need to keep Gu Wen hidden; if this old donkey discovered him, his death would be inevitable.
Would it listen to me then?
Even she couldn't suppress a thread of murderous intent; if forced to choose between the two, Yu Hua couldn't deny harboring the intention to kill her own protector. She had the capacity, but it would come at a steep price, a price so high it would leave an untamable flaw within her.
But with a descendant of the Gu family who established his foundation in four days, refined his spirit in one day, what could this old donkey even compare with?
Moreover, so far, the Zhao family had been constantly striving to forge relations, and the sect's Guardian recklessly taking advantages, the only clue about the Immortality Pill currently came from Gu Wen.
What use are they then?
Rumors always persisted among the elders of the sect. Why should her Yuqing Sect's founder put in so much effort for the entire Daoist Sect?
The protector and I, might not be in the same boat.
Consistently used for exchanges with the Zhao family for minor matters, though insignificant, it was disconcerting enough to disturb one's peace.
Human hearts are separated by a belly, yet Yu Hua could hear the filth within them. Judging by deeds and not by heart bore no mistakes, but consistent disregard and small maneuvers were deepening the rift.
Yu Hua solemnly said, "Please do not reveal my information any longer."
"You still don't trust me, girl?" The old donkey donned an inappropriate head-of-the-house attitude, "I know my limits well, and I'll never speak of what shouldn't be spoken."
"Your limits, elder, might not match mine."
Yu Hua suppressed her murderous intent, and changed her tone, "The Immortality Pill must have once resided in the Dragon Spring Well; otherwise, it couldn't have given birth to a spirit beast—one that could be hung up and slain."
Uncultivated, only relying on the sacred land to awaken its intelligence.
Switching to the topic of the Immortality Pill, the old donkey became serious, "So the Immortality Pill is in the Dragon Spring Well?"
"It's not there; it only resided there temporarily. If it had been there, that spirit beast wouldn't have died so easily," Yu Hua shook her head.
"The Immortality Pill needs the essences of the Five Elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. According to the heavenly calculations made by the sect, it's still somewhere within the water element. But with miles and miles of water veins, it can't be confirmed without capturing its form."
"Go and speak to the Zhao family; have them prepare a boat for me. I want to go and check out the Qian River."
Yu Hua entered her house, closed the door, and lying on her bed, removed her hat.
Beneath the hanging curtain of light gauze, she took out a book she had acquired from Gu Wen and delved into the lines of ink.
"Spring river water levels connect to the sea, where the brightness of the moon is born of the tide..."
This time she wasn't focusing on the critical lines that animate the dragon in the drawing; instead, she started reading the opening lines.
"Does he enjoy the river?"
Overcome by exhaustion, she soon let out soft resonating snores.