Dan Yangzi had found the culprit responsible for smashing the vase, but he was far from pleased. His face twisted with a mix of rage and betrayal as he stared at Zhengkun's mangled remains. With a furious kick, he sent the dismembered body flying across the cave.
"I practically raised you like my own son!" Dan Yangzi bellowed. "And this is how you repay me?!"
The cave was silent except for the sound of Dan Yangzi's heavy breathing.
Two incense sticks later, he finally raised his hand, pointing directly at Li Huowang. "You! Step forward and bow to the ancestral statues."
Li froze for a moment before walking forward under the watchful eyes of everyone present. Kneeling, he performed the full ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows before the three statues carved into the wall.
By the time he finished, holding three incense sticks in his hands, Li already understood what was coming.
"From now on," Dan Yangzi announced, "you are my final disciple!"
"Yes, Master," Li responded, his voice calm, though his heart pounded with excitement. Finally, the moment has come. Don't worry, you despicable old man. I'll help you 'achieve immortality,' I swear.
"Come with me," Dan Yangzi ordered, gently cradling the broken vase spirit's remains in his hands.
Li followed him back to his quarters, his thoughts racing.
Back in the filthy, foul-smelling room, the web of black-threaded copper coins unwrapped itself from the stone tablet like a nest of snakes, retreating into Dan Yangzi's sleeve.
The "heavenly book" was now fully exposed.
"Can you read this?" Dan Yangzi asked, gesturing toward the stone tablet.
Li leaned forward, squinting at the ancient symbols. After a long pause, he feigned confusion.
"Master," he began hesitantly, "didn't you say that immortality requires both internal and external alchemy? But... I don't see anything about internal alchemy here."
"What?!" Dan Yangzi's face darkened as he glanced at the broken remains of the vase spirit.
"I'm certain," Li said firmly, doubling down.
In truth, Li had no idea what the vase spirit had told Dan Yangzi in the past. But it didn't matter—the tablet's actual content was gibberish, and Li was determined to exploit that.
Dan Yangzi's expression shifted between disbelief and doubt. His paranoia began to work against him, and he started questioning everything.
No wonder I haven't achieved immortality, he thought bitterly. No wonder that damned vase spirit said the text kept changing, making it impossible to memorize. It's all fake!
With a spit of disgust, Dan Yangzi launched a glob of green phlegm onto the shattered remains of the vase spirit.
Turning back to Li, he growled, "Then what does it say?"
Feigning intense concentration, Li began improvising. "It's an internal cultivation method," he explained. "The tablet says that to achieve immortality, one must practice during the transition between the old and new year while consuming several specific pills. This allows one to intercept a thread of celestial energy descending from the heavens and absorb it into the body."
Dan Yangzi's eyes gleamed with interest.
Li continued, "One of the pills requires ingredients such as two liang and four qian of cinnabar, one qian of baizhi root, one liang and two qian of arsenic..."
Pausing for dramatic effect, he squinted at the tablet. "Wait, Master... this ingredient... 'Old Lord You'? Is that some kind of herb?"
Dan Yangzi didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stared at Li, his expression unreadable. "Boy, that vase spirit lied to me. You're not lying to me too, are you?"
"Master," Li replied earnestly, "this is the path to immortality! How could I lie about something so important? I want to achieve immortality as much as you do!"
Dan Yangzi's face lit up with a grin. "Good! Then this time, we'll achieve immortality together, as master and disciple!"
Feigning excitement, Li exclaimed, "Truly, Master? You'd allow me to join you? Thank you, Master! Thank you!"
Dan Yangzi watched him closely, searching for any signs of deceit. Finding none, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Good," Dan Yangzi said. "We'll start with the internal cultivation method. Once we've mastered it, we'll refine the external pills. There's still some time before the new year."
"Yes, Master!" Li replied, his heart racing.
Later that evening, Li left Dan Yangzi's quarters, holding a lantern as he made his way through the dimly lit tunnels. Despite the oppressive atmosphere, he couldn't help but smile. His plan was working perfectly, and for the first time in ages, he felt a glimmer of hope.
When he returned to the storeroom, he found the remaining workers wide awake, anxiously awaiting his return.
As soon as they saw him, they rushed forward, their faces alight with excitement. They all knew what had happened today. Li had made sure to keep them informed.
"Don't worry," Li assured them. "Good news is coming soon. You'll all be able to go home soon."
His words brought tears to their eyes. Many of them had given up hope long ago, and now, for the first time, they saw a way out.
"Senior Brother Li, you're like a living Bodhisattva!" one of the crippled workers cried, falling to his knees in gratitude.
The others quickly followed suit, bowing before Li with heartfelt thanks.
Li laughed softly, helping them to their feet. "Enough of that. If it weren't for all of you, I wouldn't have made it through today. Should I be bowing to you instead?"
The group erupted into laughter, their spirits lifted.
"Senior Brother Li, how was it? Did the old man fall for it?" Dogwa asked, puffing out his chest with pride.
"He did," Li replied with a grin. "Your performance was perfect. Without you, Dan Yangzi wouldn't have let it go so easily."
As the group chatted, Bai Lingmiao approached, her face etched with concern.
"Senior Brother, are you okay? Did he give you any trouble?" she asked quietly.
Li hesitated, recalling Dan Yangzi's ominous promise that they would "achieve immortality together." But he chose to keep that detail to himself.
"He had me translate the heavenly book," Li said, brushing off her concern. "I'm fine, really."
The group talked for a while longer, but eventually, Li's expression turned serious.
"The first day of the month is almost over," he reminded them. "Old Lord You will return soon. Let's keep it brief—Bai Lingmiao, has your grandfather told you any more stories?"
The "heavenly book's" fake pill recipes were far from complete, and Li needed more outrageous ingredients to ensure Dan Yangzi's undoing.
This time, the pills would be more poisonous than ever.
No half-measures. Dan Yangzi had to die, and Li would make sure it was permanent.