230: Chapter 228 Old Friends

Su Mubai.

Yun Ming never expected that the person standing at the door would be Su Mubai.

Su Mubai also didn't expect that the one opening the door would be Yun Ming. The two stared at each other for a few breaths before speaking simultaneously.

"Why are you here?"

"Why are you here?"

Then, they both laughed.

Yun Ming stepped aside, and Su Mubai walked in.

He sat down by the stone table, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard. He saw the uncleaned bowls and chopsticks on the stone table, the fox lying on the bamboo chair, and Yun Ming's moon-white robe that had been washed until it was faded.

Everything was very ordinary—so ordinary that it didn't look like the residence of a Fourth-Rank Alchemist.

"Sit." Yun Ming poured him a cup of tea.

Su Mubai picked up the teacup, took a sip, and frowned.

He didn't say it tasted bad, but his expression said everything. Yun Ming smiled and didn't explain.

Su Mubai put down the teacup and looked at Yun Ming. "When you suddenly disappeared back then, I thought you were dead."

Yun Ming leaned against the back of the chair, crossing his hands over his stomach. "I almost died. I nearly failed to dodge that strike from Cang Xuanzi. What about you? How is the Cangxuan Immortal Sect? With the Secret Realm destroyed, two of the three Nascent Soul experts dead and one fled, and having offended the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion and Shenduan Sect, life must be difficult."

Su Mubai was silent for a moment. "The Cangxuan Immortal Sect wasn't destroyed. After Cang Xuanzi fled, the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion absorbed the entire Sect. Disciples, Elders, resources—they took it all." He paused. "I was also lucky and was given focused training. The Xuanhuang Pill Mansion doesn't lack Alchemists, but it lacks talented ones. I had good luck and made the cut."

Yun Ming nodded. "So, what rank are you now?"

"Fourth-Rank Low Grade," Su Mubai said. "I can't compare to you. Nine successful batches out of ten for the Heavenly Dew Spirit Nourishing Pill—when that data reached the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion, those old fogies' faces turned green. They've practiced Alchemy their whole lives, and their best results were only five or six successful batches out of ten."

Yun Ming picked up his teacup and took a sip without speaking.

Su Mubai looked at him with scrutiny and curiosity in his eyes. "How exactly did you do it?"

Yun Ming put down his teacup and smiled. "Good luck."

Su Mubai didn't press further.

He knew Yun Ming wouldn't easily reveal his trump cards. If it were him, he wouldn't either.

The two began talking about other things.

Su Mubai asked how Yun Ming had spent these years, and Yun Ming gave a brief account.

He didn't mention the Fuli Heaven-Concealing Record, only saying he was lucky to have secretly followed Cang Xuanzi to the Ximing Continent, and then after much wandering and experiencing many things, he finally arrived at the Zifu Immortal Dynasty. He spoke very briefly, skipping many details, but Su Mubai could tell that within those "many things," quite a few thrilling events were hidden.

Su Mubai also shared his own experiences.

After being absorbed by the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion, Yao Chenzi left the Sect, intending to go out and find an opportunity for a Nascent Soul Breakthrough, and he too never returned.

He, on the other hand, was assigned to study under a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, starting from the most basic Pill Formula.

He had a hard time during those years; every day was nothing but Alchemy, with almost no time to rest.

But he endured, moving from a Third-Rank Medium Grade Alchemist to Fourth-Rank Low Grade step by step.

The two chatted very congenially, from Alchemy to Cultivation, and from Cultivation to the people and events they had encountered over the years.

Before they knew it, it was dark.

Yun Ming lit a lamp and brewed another pot of tea, and the two continued to chat. The moon rose and then set.

The stars brightened and then dimmed.

It wasn't until the horizon began to turn pale that Su Mubai suddenly remembered his purpose for coming to Qingyao City.

"I almost forgot the main business." He rubbed his temples. "I came to ask you about your Alchemy techniques."

Yun Ming looked at him. "The Xuanhuang Pill Mansion sent you?"

Su Mubai nodded. "Didn't I say? Your pill success rate is too high—abnormally high. The Xuanhuang Pill Mansion isn't at ease and sent me to get a sense of things. On one hand, it's to learn, and on the other, it's to verify. After all, we are also cooperating with the Third Prince; we have to check the quality of the Medicinal Pills you refine."

Yun Ming wasn't angry. He understood the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion's position; if he were in their shoes, he would also send someone to investigate. "So, what did you find?" Su Mubai smiled bitterly. "I didn't find anything. I was too busy reminiscing with you."

Yun Ming smiled. "No rush. You've traveled a long way; I can't let you go back empty-handed. But I can't tell you right now."

Su Mubai frowned. "Why?"

Yun Ming stood up and patted his robe. "The time has not yet come. Come on, I'll take you for a tour of Qingyao City."

Helpless, Su Mubai followed him out the door. Qingyao City wasn't large, but it was very lively. Yun Ming took him to the East Market and showed him the marketplace, Pill Pavilion, Equipment Shop, and Spirit Beast Shop. He also took him to the city gate to see the soldiers of the Patrol Camp and the merchant caravans entering and leaving the city. Finally, he took him to the tallest Tower in the city to overlook the entire city.

Su Mubai stood on the Tower, the wind blowing his robe. He looked at the gray rooftops below and was silent for a long time.

"This place," he spoke, "is far worse than the East Xuan Region."

Yun Ming nodded. "But it's quiet."

Su Mubai didn't speak. He understood what Yun Ming meant. The East Xuan Region was too chaotic, with numerous Sects fighting constantly; there wasn't a single day of peace. Although Qingyao City was impoverished, at least one didn't have to live in fear every day.

Over the next few days, Yun Ming took Su Mubai all over Qingyao City.

They went to tea houses and listened to storytelling.

They went to the theater and watched plays. They went to restaurants and ate the most expensive dishes.

Every time Su Mubai asked about Alchemy, Yun Ming would always say "the time has not yet come." Su Mubai was anxious, but it wasn't easy to press him. He knew Yun Ming's temperament; when this person didn't want to speak, nothing could be pried out of him.

By the fourth day, Su Mubai really couldn't wait any longer. "Yun Ming, when exactly are you willing to speak?"

Yun Ming was drinking tea in the courtyard and put down his cup upon hearing this. "What's the rush?"

"How can I not be in a rush?" Su Mubai sat down opposite him. "The Xuanhuang Pill Mansion is still waiting for my news."

Yun Ming looked at him and was silent for a moment. "Then tell them that my Medicinal Pills are fine, the quality is superior, and they can be used with confidence."

Su Mubai shook his head. "That's not what they want."

Yun Ming leaned against the back of his chair, eyes closed. "I know what they want. But not now. Wait a bit longer."

Su Mubai sighed and didn't ask again.

That night, Su Mubai tossed and turned in the guest room, unable to sleep. He didn't know what Yun Ming was waiting for, nor did he know how much longer he would have to wait. He got up to drink some water, lay down again, and still couldn't sleep. He simply stopped trying to sleep, sat by the window, and gazed at the moonlight in the courtyard.

The courtyard was very quiet. A faint mist drifted, and the formation patterns were silently operating underground. The fox lay on Yun Ming's lap, its nine tails hanging down and swaying slightly. Yun Ming's eyes were closed, his hand resting on the fox's back, as if he were dozing or thinking about something.

Su Mubai watched for a long time, then withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes.

The first thing Yun Ming did when he woke up the next morning was not to wash up, nor to brew tea, nor to check on the fox. He glanced at the System panel. Then he smiled.

Today is suitable for Alchemy.

He had waited for four days and finally got it.

He stood up and walked toward Su Mubai's room. Reaching the door, he knocked.

"Brother Su, get up. Today, you can watch."