Chapter 5: Elixir

Water trickled gently!

Soon, everyone arrived at this waterfall, barely a foot wide.

“Hand me the bucket!” Zhang Da barked at He Pingsheng, then snatched the bucket and walked to the water’s edge to fill it halfway.

Zhang Da struggled to carry the water to the green-clad woman, then beamed and said, “Great Lady, please inspect it!”

“Hmm.”

The green-clad woman nodded, cupped some water in her hand, and brought it to her lips.

Her brows furrowed.

“Second Sister, what’s wrong?” The pink-clad woman stepped forward to ask.

Before the green-clad woman could speak, the pink-clad woman also scooped water and tasted it—then erupted in fury: “You’ve polluted this water source… Boy, you deserve to die…”

Her almond eyes glared at He Pingsheng.

But the green-clad woman shook her head: “Not necessarily. This is flowing water—even if tainted slightly, how could it lose its original flavor entirely?”

“I think the problem lies upstream!”

“Come!”

The green-clad woman softly commanded, and suddenly her magic power surged forth—a technique He Pingsheng couldn’t comprehend—whereupon a thread of water shot from the waterfall, landing precisely in her snow-white palm.

She promptly brought the water to her lips.

The pink-clad woman asked, “Sister, what do you think?”

The green-clad woman shook her head: “This water is wrong—completely different from before. The problem must originate at the source.”

“The source?”

The pink-clad woman lifted her gaze, following the waterfall upward.

At the very top, where the water originated, lay the highest ridge behind Xiuzhu Peak.

Here, cliffs and precipices made it impossible for ordinary disciples to climb.

For a laborer like He Pingsheng, he’d never set foot on the summit in his life.

Thus, in a sense, the water’s change had nothing to do with He Pingsheng at all.

The pink-clad woman knew this perfectly well—she had wrongly blamed him.

But as a senior inner disciple, her status was too exalted to apologize to a “lowly laborer.” Instead, she turned away, shot He Pingsheng a furious glare, and let out a cold snort.

“You’re in charge of fetching water. When the water quality changed, you should’ve reported it to me immediately. You’re at fault here!”

After all, she needed some excuse, didn’t she?

But the green-clad woman gave no quarter to the pink-clad woman. She looked at He Pingsheng and sighed: “He’s not to blame. Sister, report this to Master—we’ll send someone else to investigate.”

“What’s your name?”

The green-clad woman turned to He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng bowed: “Great Lady, this humble one is He Pingsheng.”

“This matter has nothing to do with you. My sister wrongly accused you.” The green-clad woman extended her jade hand and handed He Pingsheng a white porcelain vial: “Inside are two [Golden Bone Elixirs]. Take one—you’ll heal fully within three days.”

“The other is compensation.”

He Pingsheng’s heart fluttered—he didn’t know whether to accept or refuse.

But the green-clad woman had already slipped the vial into his chest.

“Sister…” The pink-clad woman looked displeased. “He’s just a lowly laborer. Why apologize to him? Let him die—he’s expendable. Does Xiuzhu Peak care about one or two laborers?”

“Sister, don’t speak like that!”

“Master told me: never kill mortals lightly, or you’ll accrue karmic debt that harms your cultivation. I’m looking out for you!”

Their voices grew quieter.

He Pingsheng looked up and saw the two women had already walked far away.

Phew…

He exhaled in relief.

Beside him, Zhang Da also exhaled in relief.

Many around them eyed He Pingsheng’s porcelain vial with hungry stares.

He Pingsheng instantly clutched the vial tightly.

“You—all of you—get the hell out!”

Zhang Da waved his hand.

Instantly, everyone scattered.

Only He Pingsheng and Zhang Da remained beside the mountain spring.

“Little He…” Zhang Da put on a smiling face. “What I said earlier was just for the ladies’ ears—you don’t take it seriously, do you? Would I really kill you?”

“Xiuzhu Peak is a place of order!”

He Pingsheng said nothing—he didn’t know how to respond.

Because just then, he had truly felt Zhang Da’s killing intent.

“Beating you up? That was saving your life!”

Zhang Da kept smiling at He Pingsheng: “Think about it—if I hadn’t hit you, wouldn’t that lady have struck you? Her sword was already aimed at you!”

“I hit you—only enough to make you bleed from nose and mouth, give you some bruises.”

“But if I hadn’t acted, she’d have sliced you in half—you’d be a cold corpse by now!”

“No—two cold halves of a corpse!”

He Pingsheng shuddered involuntarily.

Though Zhang Da twisted logic, his words were true—if the woman had acted, his life might truly be over.

Of course, that didn’t mean Zhang Da was kind-hearted.

“So, Little He!” Zhang Da grinned shamelessly. “I saved your life!”

“A life saved demands repayment, doesn’t it?”

As he spoke, his eyes fixed on He Pingsheng’s chest, on the white porcelain vial.

He Pingsheng finally understood: this bastard wants my elixir.

“Zhang Da!” He Pingsheng said. “I’m injured—I need this elixir to heal!”

“Otherwise, I can’t complete my duties these days!”

“Heh…” Zhang Da chuckled. “You’ve got two, don’t you?”

“Here’s what you do—give me one.”

“Keep the other to heal yourself.”

“And!” Zhang Da continued. “Starting tomorrow, I’ll give you an easier task. I’ll assign someone else to fetch water.”

“How’s that?”

He Pingsheng began weighing his options.

First—he couldn’t refuse.

If he refused, this bastard would keep eyeing the elixir, and he’d suffer for it later.

Second!

If he gave it, he’d gain something in return.

Fine… a wise man adapts to circumstances. This isn’t cowardice—it’s a small compromise.

“Fine!” He Pingsheng said. “I hope you keep your word, Zhang Da—give me an easier task tomorrow!”

He opened the vial, took out a red elixir, and handed it to Zhang Da.

Zhang Da didn’t take it—he nodded toward the vial. “I want the bottle too.”

In plain terms—he wanted the whole thing.

Fine…

He Pingsheng didn’t argue—he handed over the vial as well.

Zhang Da took it, opened it, glanced inside, and said: “Correct—first-grade Golden Bone Elixir!”

“Boy, I’m in a good mood—I’ll teach you something today!”

“See the patterns on this elixir?”

“That’s danwen. One line means inferior grade, two lines mean middle grade, three lines mean superior grade!”

“I’m off!”

Zhang Da tucked the white porcelain vial into his chest and strode away, smugly triumphant.