On the way back, Zhuge Changdeng was so drunk he was completely disoriented, staggering and struggling to walk forward.
Li Jiang inherited her sect's skill: she can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, and can still walk in a straight line even after drinking a lot.
Liu Yuntai hadn't touched wine since his first taste, and he was perfectly sober at the moment. He walked side by side with Li Jiang, watching Zhuge Changdeng's swaying figure in the distance, feeling a rare sense of ease and comfort.
A gentle breeze blows through the street, causing the red lanterns in front of every house to sway and the wind chimes to tinkle softly.
It seems like it's been a long time since I've felt this carefree. It's as if I've been relieved of a heavy burden and feel like I'm floating on air, completely free.
When they returned to the courtyard gate, Luo Fan was no longer there; instead, someone else was guarding the gate.
After Li Jiang and Liu Yuntai took Zhuge Changdeng back to their room, they headed to their respective residences.
Liu Yuntai called out to him, but hesitated to speak.
After waiting a moment, Li Jiang said, "Brother Liu, please speak frankly."
After a long pause, Liu Yuntai finally spoke, "Brother Li, I have something I'd like to ask for your help with."
Li Jiang remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
Liu Yuntai took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to him, saying, "This is a letter I received from home a few days ago."
Li Jiang opened the letter, her expression growing increasingly grave as she read. "Is it because of this that you invited us to the Liu family?"
“That’s right.” Liu Yuntai: “If Brother Li is willing to help me, I will be extremely grateful.”
Li Jiang did not agree directly, but instead asked, "But, given the strength of the Liu family, how could they only have the option of surrendering?"
Liu Yuntai seemed to have something difficult to say, "I'm sorry I can't tell you that, but you'll know once we get to the Liu family."
Li Jiang remained silent for a long time. Just when Liu Yuntai thought there was no hope, Li Jiang nodded and agreed, "Okay, I will help you."
Liu Yuntai said gratefully, "Thank you."
...
Time flies, and seven days have passed in the blink of an eye.
The willow branches sway in the breeze, and the flowers dance wildly.
Under the tree, on a square stone table, there is the aroma of tea and a chessboard.
Qi Rong picked up a chess piece and placed it on the chessboard. He sat there languidly, his red robes as fiery as fire, exuding a unique and elegant air.
Qinghe rested his chin on his hands, stared at the chessboard for a long time, and then placed a piece.
Qi Rong: "You lost again."
Qinghe let out an "Ah," drawing out the last syllable, "I've already lost five games to you, this isn't fun anymore."
Qi Rong put away the chess pieces. "Playing chess requires concentration and calmness, and it's clear that you're not in a peaceful state of mind."
"Really?" Qinghe looked at the clouds drifting across the sky. "I don't think so."
Qi Rong: "Those involved are often blinded, I can sense that." He picked up his teacup, but stopped just before it reached his lips.
"What's wrong?"
Qi Rong smiled slightly, her eyes seemingly burning: "Finally out of seclusion."
Qinghe's eyes lit up as he looked in the direction of the pharmacy. "Senior Zhuge is back?"
"Not yet, but this cup of tea is never finished." He put down the teacup and said, "Let's go take a look."
"good."
Behind the mountain, there is a medicinal spring.
Qi Rong led Qing He all the way here.
The medicinal spring was shrouded in ethereal mist. Qinghe asked, "So Senior Zhuge has been in seclusion here all along. Why didn't I sense it before?"
Qi Rong came to the spring and looked at the bottom of the spring, saying to her, "It's not on the ground, but under this spring."
Qinghe looked over with him, and the hot air from the medicinal spring rushed towards them. She suddenly remembered that Luo Fan had said that there was natural lava under the medicinal spring, and the magma was scorching hot, with the sea of fire churning and making it unbearable. She never expected that Senior Zhuge would refine pills in such an environment.
Just then, the spring water suddenly churned and boiled like hot soup, the surface of the water surging and boiling more and more fiercely, until two streams of light flew out of the water and landed on the ground without a drop of water touching them.
The streak of light transformed into human form the moment it landed; it was Zhuge Hongming and Mu Dong.
Qi Rongqing stepped forward and said, "Senior Zhuge."
Zhuge Hongming's face appeared pale. Upon seeing the two men, he said, "You've arrived."
He extended his palm, and a flash of white light appeared, revealing a round, fragrant white pill in his hand.
"This is the Lu Yuan Pill?" Qinghe took it to admire it; its exotic fragrance was delightful.
The pills were small and exquisite, with flowing patterns on them shimmering with a faint golden light, truly dazzling and radiant.
She took Qi Rong's hand, placed the pill in his palm, and asked, "Will your injury heal if you take this?"
Qi Rong looked at her earnestly and said, "Yes."
Qinghe received the answer, and joy welled up on her face.
"Senior Zhuge, you've been working hard these past few days. Shall we take you back to rest?"
Zhuge Hongming nodded. He acknowledged that refining pills had indeed taken a lot of effort and that Zhuge Hongming deserved a good rest.
"Go and take the pill. Don't worry about me. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me." With that, he flicked his long sleeves and disappeared from the spot.
Mu Dong, holding the medicine cauldron, glanced at Zhuge Hongming who had left, then at Qing and Qi Rong, and after a long while, he finally reacted and said, "I'm leaving now, you guys carry on."
“Wait a minute,” Qi Rong walked up to him, “You were the one who picked up the Heavenly King Cauldron that day, weren’t you?”
Mu Dong: "To be precise, it came to me on its own."
"Could you lend me the medicine cauldron? I need to heal my injuries inside it."
Mu Dong generously replied, "Sure, here you go."
Qi Rong accepted the cauldron, thanked him, then turned to look at Qing He. They gazed at each other silently for a long time before Qi Rong transformed into a stream of light and entered the cauldron.
The Heavenly King Cauldron floated in mid-air until the strange light dissipated, at which point it moved and fell down.
"Senior sister, please keep this cauldron safe while he is healing."
Qinghe didn't speak, but simply nodded.
Mu Dong stopped bothering her and left on his own.
Qinghe sat by the spring, guarding the medicine cauldron, his gaze wandering aimlessly, eventually returning to the cauldron.
Now that he's gone, who knows when he'll be able to come out? Qinghe looked at the medicine cauldron and felt an emptiness in her heart.
She thought she was truly beyond redemption.
...
The next day, all the disciples of the academy learned that their dean had returned, and they put away their laziness and began to practice diligently.
Early in the morning, Zhuge Hongming summoned Liu Yuntai and handed him the Lu Yuan Pill.
This matter can be considered a complete success.
They were destined to miss the wedding. A few days before the wedding of the legendary Miss Hu, the town's most beautiful girl, the group set off for Wuji Mountain—the Liu family's territory.
Zhuge Changdeng was unable to join the main group and stayed at Tianqi Academy, with his entourage decreasing from the initial eight to six people.
Wuji Mountain is located far in the south-central region, requiring a long journey across the ocean. When Liu Yuntai came here, he used several top-grade teleportation talismans and traveled for several days to reach it. Now that the group has increased on the return journey, this method must not be used a second time.
Just when everyone was wondering how to get there, Qinghe brought good news.
"Actually, I have something that can solve this urgent problem."
Everyone watched as she took out a jade bottle, its surface clear and transparent, revealing the contents inside.
"An empty ship!" Mu Dong exclaimed, "And of a high rank! Senior Sister, how did you get one?"
Qinghe waved his hand: "This is a long story, let's not go into it. Anyway, can we leave now?"
“With an empty boat, it can naturally move,” Liu Yuntai said softly, looking at Qinghe with the eyes of a savior.
As the group set off, the sun was just rising, the sky was ablaze with rosy light, and even the gentle breeze seemed to drift across the ocean to see them off.
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