Chapter 7: Parting Ways

“This is a Sanyuan Guixue Pill from our Ji family’s Changchun Hall.” Ji Wenyue opened the medicine box, glanced inside, and spoke without hesitation.

“No way! The Elder of Baiyao Hall is carrying your Ji family’s pills right on his person!” Xia Daoming was stunned.

“How could Baiyao Hall compare to us Ji family in alchemy? This Sanyuan Guixue Pill was crafted by me based on a fragmented ancient formula—it strongly replenishes and strengthens blood and qi.”

“Unfortunately, the herbs required are extremely rare, so we can only produce small batches. The price is high—one pill costs two hundred taels of silver—and even then, demand far outstrips supply.” Ji Wenyue spoke with a hint of pride.

“Two hundred taels per pill!” Xia Daoming sucked in a sharp breath.

Before robbing the Blood Wolf Hall, his entire fortune wasn’t enough to buy a single Sanyuan Guixue Pill.

“No wonder Baiyao Hall wanted to kidnap you!” After catching his breath, Xia Daoming remarked.

“The quality of these Sanyuan Guixue Pills is average. Each time we brew them, we set aside the finest ones exclusively for direct family members.”

“Unfortunately, I didn’t bring any this time—if I had, I could’ve let Brother Xia try one.” Ji Wenyue said.

“Looks like from now on, whenever I need a tonic pill, I’ll have to come straight to you.” Xia Daoming said, then reached out and reclaimed the box containing the four Sanyuan Guixue Pills.

“Brother Xia, you’re joking—I owe you my life. If you ever need any pills, just ask me directly.” Ji Wenyue hurriedly replied.

Xia Daoming smiled noncommittally and handed her the rolled meat bun he’d just made. “Have another.”

“Thank you, Brother.” Ji Wenyue took the bun and this time didn’t pull away—instead, she sat closer to Xia Daoming.

“Getting this close? Don’t you fear I might lose control?” Xia Daoming glanced sideways at her chest.

“Brother, you’re joking—you’re a good man, you wouldn’t.” Ji Wenyue laughed awkwardly, but her hips subtly shifted farther away, leaving Xia Daoming speechless.

Women are truly masters of saying one thing and meaning another.

Soon, both had eaten their fill.

“Sleep. We’ve got a long ride tomorrow!” Xia Daoming pointed to the single tent behind him.

“Ah, no, no need—I’m not tired.” Ji Wenyue glanced at the tent behind her, her heart jolted, and she blurted out.

“Relax. You’re sweaty and stinking—I wouldn’t even want to share a tent with you! We take turns—you take the first half, I’ll take the second.” Xia Daoming snorted.

“Thank you, Brother!” Ji Wenyue finally realized she’d overthought it, blushed, and quickly scrambled into the tent.

After Ji Wenyue entered the tent, Xia Daoming pulled out a Sanyuan Guixue Pill, swallowed it, and began practicing the Dragon-Snake Scripture.

An hour later, Xia Daoming slowly opened his eyes, his emotions complicated—unsure whether to be pleased or frustrated.

When he left Heishi City, his meridian strengthening progress was at 20% of Level Nine.

Since then, he’d eaten plenty of meat to nourish his blood and qi, yet over thirty days had passed, and his meridians had only reached 40% of Level Nine—nowhere near the speed he’d gained from consuming the Dragon-Patterned Purple Blood Ginseng during his escape.

The Sanyuan Guixue Pill’s effect was decent—after one pill, his meridians jumped to 50% of Level Nine, an immediate 10% increase.

But compared to its exorbitant price, this result fell far short of Xia Daoming’s expectations.

Remember, he was only at the Fourth Rank of Wu Shi.

By the time he reached Fifth Rank Wu Shi, even if he spent all six thousand taels he’d taken from Liao Min and others, he’d barely manage two levels of meridian strengthening.

And each Wu Shi rank allows for nine levels of meridian strengthening.

“No wonder they say the poor study literature, the rich practice martial arts—this cultivation really eats money, especially with my system, a true gold-devouring beast!”

“Forget the money for now—strengthening meridians and boosting power is the priority.” Soon, Xia Daoming stopped dwelling on silver and pulled out another Sanyuan Guixue Pill, swallowing it as he sat cross-legged and resumed the Dragon-Snake Scripture.

Fortunately, Ji Wenyue hadn’t seen this—otherwise, her eyes would’ve popped out.

The Sanyuan Guixue Pill’s potency was fierce; even a Fifth Rank Wu Shi would suffer swollen, aching meridians after one pill and needed at least three to five days before taking another, or risk permanent damage.

Yet Xia Daoming, still only a Fourth Rank Wu Shi, had taken a second pill just an hour after the first.

This time, he spent longer processing the pill’s energy—two hours passed before he opened his eyes.

Xia Daoming glanced back at the tent and faintly heard Ji Wenyue’s murmurs and soft snores; he shook his head and pulled out another Sanyuan Guixue Pill, swallowing it.

Inside the tent, Ji Wenyue stretched, then slowly opened her eyes.

“Ah!”

The moment her eyes opened, Ji Wenyue screamed and scrambled out of the tent.

In the distance, a fiery red arc of the sun was slowly rising above the horizon.

The sky blazed with crimson clouds.

Beneath the morning glow, a man stood with his back to her, slicing smoked meat into a pot—steam rose, carrying the scent of meat and noodles.

Watching this scene, a strange, indescribable emotion slowly bloomed within her.

Her gaze grew dreamy.

Last night, she’d been anxious at first, tossing and turning, fearing the man outside might suddenly burst in.

Later, exhaustion overtook her—she didn’t even remember falling asleep, and woke to find dawn already here.

“Wake up! Noodles are ready!” Xia Daoming said without turning around.

“Ah! Brother Xia, you made noodles for me? I’m so sorry—I overslept!” Ji Wenyue snapped awake, face flushed with shame.

Xia Daoming turned to look at her with a complex, subtle expression.

Ji Wenyue was baffled by his gaze.

After breakfast, they mounted their horses and continued their journey.

That day, Ji Wenyue no longer avoided Xia Daoming’s gaze—she even subtly lifted her chest with pride, making Xia Daoming’s temper rise. He wanted to avert his eyes, but the desert stretched endlessly, dull and barren; ignoring a beautiful young woman beside him felt foolish.

Another day passed without result.

Once again, a man and woman camped under the open sky.

By the campfire, Ji Wenyue sat very close to Xia Daoming.

Xia Daoming subtly shifted his seat, creating distance.

You really think I’m that saintly?

“Brother, will you take the first watch tonight again?” Ji Wenyue asked as the hour neared.

“Cough—uh, sure.” Xia Daoming nearly spat out his tea.

This time, Ji Wenyue didn’t oversleep—she woke promptly for her shift.

Xia Daoming didn’t bother with politeness.

“Look, Brother Xia—it’s Eya City! Eya City!” On a sand dune, Ji Wenyue pointed excitedly at the city nestled in a distant oasis.

Outside the city, caravans of horses and camels stretched toward its gates.

“Finally, Eya City!” Xia Daoming exhaled deeply, his face alight with relief.

“Brother Xia, let’s hurry into the city!” Ji Wenyue urged.

Without waiting, she kicked her horse’s flanks and charged down the dune.

“Are you walking straight into a trap?” Xia Daoming called out.

“Whoa!”

Ji Wenyue yanked the reins, spun her horse around, and returned to the dune.

“What do you mean by that, Brother Xia?”

“You’re smart—haven’t you considered that the five-hundred-year Fengyao Grass might just be bait to lure you here?” Xia Daoming sneered.

Ji Wenyue’s face darkened; after a long silence, she said, “The Wang steward has always been treated well by our Ji family—he wouldn’t…”

“It would be best if he hadn’t—but what if he has already betrayed your family?” Xia Daoming interrupted.

“So you mean we shouldn’t enter Eya City?” Ji Wenyue’s expression turned bleak.

“Now that you’ve seen Eya City, you must know how to get to Xiongfeng City?” Xia Daoming replied with a counter-question.

“Yes, I know. Xiongfeng City is a major northern city—it has a branch of our Changchun Hall, and one of my clan uncles is stationed there.” Ji Wenyue scanned the horizon and nodded quickly.

“Then lead the way,” Xia Daoming said.

“Thank you, Brother Xia!” Ji Wenyue said gratefully.

“Once we reach the outskirts of Xiongfeng City, we part ways.” Xia Daoming said.

“Ah!”

“What’s ‘ah’ for? You, Miss Ji, don’t care about your reputation—but I’m still unmarried. I won’t ruin my good name, and I don’t want to end up on Baiyao Hall’s wanted list.” Xia Daoming said.

Ji Wenyue stared at Xia Daoming, mouth opening and closing, unable to respond.

Two days later.

Three li beyond Xiongfeng City.

Ji Wenyue and Xia Daoming rode side by side, gazing at the distant city.

“We part here. Go into the city,” Xia Daoming said.

Ji Wenyue’s slender frame trembled slightly; she turned to look at Xia Daoming with a complex gaze.

In the desert, every day she’d dreamed of reaching a city—to bathe, to sleep comfortably.

Yet now that the day had come, she felt an inexplicable pang of reluctance.

“Brother Xia, won’t you come into the city with me?”

Xia Daoming didn’t answer. He raised his whip and struck the horse she rode.

The horse galloped toward Xiongfeng City.

“Brother, where can I find you later?” Ji Wenyue pulled the reins, turning back to call out.

“You don’t need to find me—I’ll find you.” Xia Daoming waved, then spurred his horse and rode off toward another city gate without looking back.

Cangmang Mountain stretches across Mangzhou, extending for tens of thousands of li.

Its northern slopes are steep, its southern slopes gentle.

The north is almost entirely sheer cliffs, thousands of zhang high, vertical as if carved, with no vegetation or gentle paths for climbing.

The south, by contrast, rolls with undulating ridges, layered peaks, dense forests, swirling mists, and ever-changing scenery—entirely different.

Moreover, the mountains teem with venomous insects and snakes, wolves, tigers, leopards, and even demonic beasts—none but the most formidable dare to enter or cross Cangmang Mountain.

To cross the Cangmang Mountains from north to south, one must pass through the natural corridors formed by these cliff-lined gorges.

Chiyan Valley is one such passage.

Every spring, the cliffs on both sides of Chiyan Valley sprout many shrubs with red leaves and red flowers.

By summer, these shrubs bear abundant red fruits.

Thus, during spring and summer, the valley is blanketed in fiery red, as if countless flames were burning across its slopes—hence its name, Chiyan Valley.

One month later.

Xia Daoming arrived at Chiyan Valley, weary from travel.