“This servant will take you there.”
Ah Tian walked up to Peach Blossom and made an inviting gesture for her to follow.
Peach Blossom’s gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them, her expression stiff and painfully awkward.
They were just about to get hot and heavy, and now she was dragging Ah Tian away? This was worse than being a third wheel. Besides, she already had Little Bamboo to lead the way!
Thinking that, she was about to politely refuse when Ah Tian suddenly stepped in front of her and started leading the way.
“Protector, this way, please.”
“Uh… it’s fine, I can have Little Bamboo take me…”
“Please come with me.”
Ah Tian cut her off before Peach Blossom could finish.
Peach Blossom felt too embarrassed to turn her down a second time, so she could only follow.
Yan Hong, who had been watching the whole exchange with amused interest, suddenly spoke up.
“Ah Tian, don’t forget what I just told you.”
With that, she deliberately walked up beside Ah Tian and leaned in close to her ear, speaking in a low murmur that everyone could clearly hear.
“I’ll be waiting for you in the Punishment Hall.”
She reached out and smoothed a loose strand of hair that had fallen from Ah Tian’s bun, gently tucking it behind her ear with a pampering smile.
Ah Tian’s eyes lowered, her expression utterly calm, like an old monk entering meditation. She didn’t react at all.
Peach Blossom was a little stunned.
What on earth was going on? Were these two not in the kind of relationship she thought they were?
Yan Hong was just about to leave. She had only taken one step when she suddenly stopped and turned back. Smiling at Peach Blossom, she said,
“I suddenly remembered, I haven’t greeted Protector yet.”
Peach Blossom choked for a moment, then forced a polite smile.
“Hall Master is busy with important matters. There’s no need to bother remembering such small things.”
“Then this subordinate will take her leave first.”
Yan Hong smiled, bent slightly toward Peach Blossom in a courtesy salute, then sauntered out of the garden.
Watching Yan Hong’s departing back, Peach Blossom couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
Ah Tian showed nothing on her face, but inwardly she let out a silent sigh of relief. Left Protector had really come at the perfect time.
“Protector, this way, please.”
“Alright.”
Peach Blossom was curious, of course, but this was ultimately something between Yan Hong and Ah Tian. It wasn’t her place to pry, so she quietly followed behind.
They arrived outside Guan Fusha’s study. Ah Tian knocked on the door. Only after getting Guan Fusha’s response did she open it for Peach Blossom.
Guan Fusha looked a little surprised.
“Junior Sister, what brings you here all of a sudden?”
It was Peach Blossom’s first time in Guan Fusha’s study, and she couldn’t help glancing around.
The furnishings were very similar to her bedchamber: simple furniture as the base, a few little trinkets on the table, and some feminine ornaments hanging on the walls. But what caught Peach Blossom’s eye the most was a painting of a beauty amid a sea of flowers.
The woman in the painting only showed half her profile, sitting alone in a vast field of blossoms, playing a zither. Her expression couldn’t be seen clearly, yet for some reason Peach Blossom felt she looked terribly lonely and desolate, weighed down by sorrow, like someone waiting forever for a lover who would never come.
“Junior Sister?”
Guan Fusha walked over. Seeing Peach Blossom spacing out, she called her again.
“Huh?”
Peach Blossom finally snapped out of it. She paused, then remembered why she’d come. She took out the Flying Dragon Sword Manual from her sleeve.
“I’ve already memorized this sword manual.”
A hint of surprise flashed through Guan Fusha’s eyes.
“You memorized all of it this quickly?”
“Mm, I’ve memorized the whole thing.”
Peach Blossom nodded.
Back in her old life she had studied liberal arts; memorizing texts was never hard for her. It was just that after more than ten years of cramming education in that glorious Heavenly Dynasty, she could never quite bring herself to like rote memorization.
“Good.”
Guan Fusha gave her an approving smile.
“Since you’ve already memorized the entire sword manual, I’ll start teaching you martial arts next.”
Peach Blossom couldn’t help looking curious.
Normally, people learning martial arts started from the most basic horse stance. Why had Guan Fusha made her memorize the sword manual first?
Guan Fusha seemed to see her doubt. She smiled mysteriously.
“Junior Sister, come with me.”
Peach Blossom followed her out through the back door. They walked down a deep, winding path, and at the very end there was actually another room. All four windows of the house were tightly shut, leaving no gaps for anyone to peek in, and the door was secured with three different locks. It was extremely well-protected.
Hidden this deep, whatever was inside had to be something extraordinary.
Guan Fusha produced a key from who-knew-where, opened all three locks, and pushed the door in. Peach Blossom quickly followed her.
As soon as the door opened, a thick medicinal scent rushed out.
Peach Blossom couldn’t help furrowing her brows. She really didn’t like this smell.
In the middle of the room stood a massive golden pill furnace, and the cabinets along the four walls were crammed full of herbs. Beside two of the cabinets were small hidden doors, likely leading to other areas.
“Senior Sister, this place is…?”
“This is the alchemy room. Ordinary idle people are not allowed in here.”
As Guan Fusha answered, she pushed open one of the hidden doors and gestured for Peach Blossom to follow.
Peach Blossom lifted her skirt and trailed behind her down a flight of steps, feeling a little secretly pleased.
So that meant she wasn’t considered an ordinary idle person, right? Perfect. If Guan Fusha trusted her this much, that meant she had well and truly latched onto a thick, sturdy thigh!
At the bottom of the stairs was an iron door made of cold mountain blacksteel, hard as could be. The lock on the door was an Eight-Treasure Exquisite Lock crafted by the “Number One Ingenious Hand Under Heaven.” Whether it was cannons or the best thief in the world, without a key, there was no opening this door.
Once the door swung open, what came into view were rows upon rows of brocade boxes, big and small, red and green, neatly filling several wooden shelves. The sight was dazzling; Peach Blossom’s eyes almost went blurry.
“Senior Sister, what’s inside all these brocade boxes?”
Guan Fusha only smiled, not answering. She walked up to one of the shelves, picked up a small yellow brocade box, and handed it to Peach Blossom.
“Open it and see.”
Peach Blossom, full of curiosity, lifted the lid. A refreshing fragrance immediately wafted out. Inside lay a red pill about the size of a chocolate malt ball.
Puzzled, Peach Blossom asked,
“This is…?”
“This is a Longevity Great-Tonic Pill.”
“Longevity Great-Tonic Pill?”
Peach Blossom was completely confused. Sure, this body of hers was on the frail side, but it wasn’t so bad that she needed some heaven-defying tonic pill, was it?
“That’s right. The Longevity Great-Tonic Pill not only beautifies the skin and prolongs life, its most important function is that it can increase a person’s internal strength by ten years’ worth without the slightest effort.”
Guan Fusha smiled faintly.
Peach Blossom’s jaw practically hit the floor. Her eyes were about to pop out of her head as she stared at the red pill.
Ten years of cultivation?
Wasn’t that basically a legendary cheat code in pill form?!
Heavens, did this mean she no longer had to live life as a piece of trash who got out of breath after running a few steps?
Happiness had come way too suddenly!
