Meeting at Night
Beyond the grass plain outside Mist City were mountains. Mu Yu needed to ask for directions after two days on the road, but there wasn’t as much as a wild beast around. He strictly controlled Xiaoshuai’s food proportions, much to Xiaoshuai’s chagrin. It was necessary to provide a meal plan since Xiaoshuai finished their food as soon as they left the city.
“I’m hungry,” cried Xiaoshuai, tugging Mu Yu’s ear.
“You just ate a chicken drumstick an hour ago.”
“And we’ve walked an hour since then!”
“I’m the one who’s doing the walking.”
“My body is going along with your steps.”
How I miss the days he was an egg, and I didn’t need to feed him.
Mu Yu cycled between walking and flying until the sun started to set. He found a spot to start a fire using the pill fire stone Cai Lie gave him. He wasn’t fond of fires. Fires could ward off certain beasts and provide warmth, however.
Xiaoshuai chucked the chicken bones left over into the fire and pitifully rubbed his belly, but Mu Yu shut his eyes and focused on practicing Dustfallen Mental Cultivation. He had slacked off recently without Uncle An figuratively whipping him. He had no choice but to start training again if he was going to waltz onto an island where Primordial Infant Realm prodigies gathered.
Mu Yu enjoyed the tranquillity Dustfallen Mental Cultivation evoked. He saw a green frog enjoying itself not too far away. The frog caught a mosquito trying to prey on Mu Yu. The breeze buried an aphid underneath leaves. Cicadas sounded weak after a long day.
“Let’s have a break. We’ve been on the road for days,” said a girl approaching Mu Yu.
“Yu Die, go ask the individual over there if he has any food,” suggested her male companion, with a gentle and refined undertone typically associated with scholars.
“I thought he was a weak scholar based on his voice,” Mu Yu mumbled under his breath as he espied the man with his sword strapped over his shoulder. “He can suppress his spiritual energy, but he gives the vibe of dominance. Is he Nameless Swordsman? She looks roughly twenty. I wonder if her ashen face is a sign of illness. I don’t sense any cultivation or spiritual energy circulation from her. Even the man supporting her looks concerned about her.”
“Do you have food?” the man, who looked older than his biological age, asked in a raspy voice.
Mu Yu: Did his voice just change?
“Nope. Nope,” replied Xiaoshuai, speaking with his mouth full after shoving all his food in at once.
The man swept his gaze over the duo and trained it on Xiaoshuai. “I shall eat you, then.”
The man seized Xiaoshuai before Mu Yu could move and then threw Xiaoshuai into the fire, completely dismissing Mu Yu’s presence.
“What’s your deal?” Mu Yu hurried over to help Xiaoshuai.
The man discharged a wave of spiritual energy, pummelling Mu Yu’s chest and knocking the youth away.
Mu Yu crawled to his feet with a scowl. “You’re an adept, yet you’re picking on a Golden Core Realm cultivator?”
Mu Yu charged forward, only for the man to knock his sword away before it could land. He then turned back to roasting Xiaoshuai. Xiaoshuai resembled someone fleeing helter skelter. “Help! Help! Help! I’m dying!”
“You shouldn’t do that, cough, cough,” scolded Yu Die, grabbing the man’s hand. “Look at how cute he is. He can even talk. Don’t hurt him.”
The man’s expression switched to an affectionate look, and he ceased jabbing Xiaoshuai. Xiaoshuai vaulted up and fled to Mu Yu. Mu Yu inspected Xiaoshuai for injuries. The little fellow was unblemished, prompting Mu Yu to express, “You look perfectly fine.”
“A fire couldn’t even scratch my itch. The pain was heart break. Mental pain is hard to treat,” fumed Xiaoshuai.
Seeing Mu Yu just watch the man help Yu Die sit down next to the fire, Xiaoshuai waved his hand at Mu Yu. “Are you just going to let them take our spot?”
Mu Yu: Tough guy, are you? You just take from people because you’re strong? You run the show because you’re strong? Reason doesn’t apply because you’re strong?
Also Mu Yu: “Yes.”
Xiaoshuai burst into tears and waved his fist at the duo sitting by the fire. “I’ll let you have you way for the next two days.”
“Two days isn’t enough,” argued Mu Yu, deciding to let the man have his way and not play hero when it was a death wish wrapped up as a medal of bravery.
“Two days is enough. She will bite the dust in two days. I’m sad to see her go, especially when she just saved me,” muttered Xiaoshuai.
“Who did you say will die?” raged the man, in a deep voice. The man’s imposing voice seized control of Mu Yu and Xiaoshuai simultaneously.
“He’s right. Don’t be mean,” chided Yu Die, coughing again, dying her handkerchief scarlet.
“You’ll be fine. I obtained another life extension pill from Alchemist Yao. You’ll be all right.”
Mu Yu and Xiaoshuai dropped to the ground.
“You know as well as I do that the pill’s effectiveness decreases with each usage. You’ve given me four pills. The fifth pill virtually won’t do anything,” Yu die conveyed.
“I want to be with you even if it’s just for another hour,” the man replied.
“Didn’t I tell you not to blabber mindlessly?” Mu Yu lectured Xiaoshuai, afraid Xiaoshuai’s mindless comments would eventually land them in hot water.
Life extension pills and life prolonging pill worked differently. Life prolonging pill granted those with only a few years left an extra few years, therefore commonly prescribed for elders – hence, prolonging one’s lifespan. If, however, the consumer was the victim of grievous injuries, it wasn’t any help. That would be when a life extension pill was the fix; it saved their lives as long as they weren’t the end of their lifespan – hence, extending life. Life prolonging pills could only be used when one was fading due to old age, while life extension pills could be used anytime, consequently classifying the latter as more valuable.
Although life extension pills could change fate via stimulating damaged organs, it was malpractice. One only had so much life in them. Stimulating it repetitively was akin to smashing it repetitively. They were challenging to produce due to the formula and ingredients requisite.
At Yu Die’s young age, a life prolonging pill was useless. She was either suffering a terminal ailment or grave wound.
Xiaoshuai tugged Mu Yu’s earlobe. “You can save her, can’t you?”
The man strangled Mu Yu by his collar. “What was that?”
“N-nothing! H-he said it,” answered Mu Yu, pointing to Xiaoshuai while trying to get oxygen.
Once I get free, your lecture is coming, Xiaoshuai!
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