118: Han Ruyi's Persistence

Everyone looked toward the source of the sound and saw a woman dressed in elegant palace robes,

a beautiful middle-aged woman with a graceful and noble temperament that couldn't hide the exhaustion etched between her brows.

Followed by two maidservants, she walked over slowly. Her features were sixty to seventy percent similar to Han Ruyi's,

but she possessed a more mature charm refined by the years. She was the wife of the City Lord of Biqiu City—Madam Liu.

Her gaze swept across everyone present, pausing briefly on the indifferent Yao Delong,

before finally landing on Master Zhou, who looked displeased, and her daughter, who looked anxious.

"Mother!"

Han Ruyi hurried forward to pay her respects and quickly gave a brief account of the conflict that had just occurred.

Naturally, she omitted the details of Master Zhou's proactive provocation, describing it only as a verbal misunderstanding.

Madam Liu's gaze swept over Yao Delong with physical weight; as an Inner Sect Elder of the Moyang Sect and a powerful Mid Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator,

she saw through Yao Delong's cultivation at a glance—it was the Early Golden Core Stage.

However, it was precisely this "seeing through" that caused a flicker of indescribable alarm to pass through her heart.

Although she had been at a distance just now, she had clearly sensed the collision of those two Golden Core Auras in front of the treasury door.

One belonged to Master Zhou, which she was naturally familiar with.

But the other was extremely Yang and rigid, pure and overbearing,

its momentary burst of power even made her, a Nascent Soul Cultivator, feel a trace of trepidation!

She had rushed over precisely because she was worried Master Zhou would suffer under this power and leave in a huff, severing her husband's last hope.

But what she saw before her was actually just a grey-robed youth at the Early Golden Core Stage?

That terrifying Aura that had even caught her attention was actually emitted by him? How could this be possible?

Madam Liu's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as her Divine Sense swept over Yao Delong carefully once more.

Yet she still only saw the Early Golden Core Stage Realm, though his elemental energy was exceptionally pure and condensed,

far exceeding those of the same rank, and faintly exuding an indescribable, harmonious dao rhyme. Strange!

However, this strangeness seemed insignificant compared to her husband's daily declining vitality.

A Golden Core Cultivator, no matter how gifted or how pure his elemental energy,

how could he possibly resolve that bizarre demon poison that even Nascent Soul Stage experts were helpless against?

Alchemy was the only hope! And Master Zhou was the only Sixth-Rank Alchemist they could currently rely on!

Therefore, when Han Ruyi finished her quick explanation of the conflict, although Madam Liu felt a hint of curiosity about Yao Delong,

she was more consumed by the urgency of needing to stabilize Master Zhou.

"I see."

A perfectly measured look of apology appeared on Madam Liu's elegant Face as her gaze fell upon Master Zhou.

Her tone was gentle yet carried an unquestionable weight. "Master Zhou, it was our City Lord's Manor's poor hospitality that startled you.

Master, your profound attainments in Alchemy are the only hope for my husband's recovery; everyone in the City Lord's Manor is deeply grateful for your benevolence.

These minor misunderstandings are all the fault of the servants' lack of oversight. I hope Master will be magnanimous and not lower yourself to the level of a junior."

With these words, she shifted the responsibility to the "servants,"

giving Master Zhou plenty of Face and highlighting his critical importance to the City Lord's injuries, lowering her posture significantly.

Master Zhou's expression softened slightly, but he remained arrogant, letting out a cold snort:

"Madam, you overstate things. However, when I perform Alchemy, I most dread a restless mind. Being disturbed like this might affect the success rate of the pill!"

"Rest assured, Master. I will certainly exercise strict control and never let anyone disturb your quiet cultivation again."

Madam Liu promised immediately, then turned to Han Ruyi with a tone of unquestionable command,

"Yi'er, why haven't you taken Fellow Daoist Yao to collect the medicinal herbs yet? Do not delay the Master's time any further."

She deliberately emphasized the words "collect the medicinal herbs," implying that Yao Delong's purpose here was limited to just that.

Han Ruyi looked at her mother's clearly biased attitude toward Master Zhou, feeling anxious yet helpless.

She knew well the danger of her father's injuries and understood that Master Zhou was their only current hope,

so she could only suppress her frustration and reply:

"Yes, Mother." Then she bowed to Master Zhou. "Master Zhou, please follow my mother to the flower hall for further discussion."

Madam Liu made a gesture of invitation to Master Zhou, and the two, surrounded by maidservants, walked toward the flower hall.

Before leaving, Master Zhou didn't forget to glance at Yao Delong out of the corner of his eye with a hint of a victor's contempt.

Once the two had walked away, Han Ruyi finally turned around.

Her beautiful Face bore a deep apology and a trace of imperceptible fatigue as she gave Yao Delong a graceful bow:

"Fellow Daoist Yao, I am truly sorry. My mother... my mother is also worried about my father's injuries.

If there was anything inappropriate in her words, I hope you can be magnanimous and not take it to heart."

Yao Delong's expression was calm as his gaze swept over the persistent worry between Han Ruyi's brows,

and his heart remained largely undisturbed. He understood Madam Liu's choice; when a loved one is at death's door,

it is only human nature to grasp at the only available lifeline. He shook his head slightly, his voice still flat:

"It is no matter. When a close relative is critically ill, it is hard to remain calm; "This Yao" understands. Miss Han, do not trouble yourself over it."

Hearing this, Han Ruyi felt slightly more at ease, and at the same time, her impression of Yao Delong improved due to his reasonableness.

She led Yao Delong into the depths of the treasury,

and personally took down two sealed jade boxes from a shelf labeled "Fire Attribute Rarities."

"Fellow Daoist Yao, here are the earth fire lotus heart and crimson sun refined gold sand you requested. Please examine them."

Han Ruyi handed over the jade boxes.

Yao Delong opened the jade boxes and swept his Divine Sense over them. The earth fire lotus heart was shaped like red jade, scorching and pure;

the crimson sun refined gold sand was a brilliant golden-red, containing a sharp Yang flame energy. Both were of superior quality.

He nodded and took out the corresponding amount of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, placing them to the side:

"The quality is excellent. Thank you, Miss Han."

As she watched Yao Delong put away the jade boxes, the thought Han Ruyi had forcibly suppressed began to surge again.

After hesitating repeatedly, she couldn't help but take a step forward, her beautiful eyes fixed on Yao Delong,

with a desperate hope, her voice trembling slightly:

"Fellow Daoist Yao... outside just now, you mentioned the Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, and Courier of the nine revolutions purification elixir... Could it be... that you also have some knowledge of Alchemy?"

She asked cautiously, terrified of receiving a negative answer,

which would extinguish the last faint flame of hope in her heart.

Yao Delong's movements paused slightly as he looked up at Han Ruyi. In those clear eyes,

there was now a full measure of anxiety, expectation, and a plea that bordered on despair.

This sincerity in seeking medical help for her father caused a small ripple to spread across his long-frozen heart,

as if a small pebble had been tossed into it.

He thought of his past life, of those parents on that barren land who had hunched their backs and

worked until their hair turned white just to support his studies... that heavy, selfless love.

He was silent for a moment before slowly speaking; his voice was still flat, but it held a bit less distance:

"I know a little. Sixth-Rank Medicinal Pills... are extremely difficult to refine,

with extremely harsh requirements for heat control, medicinal Fusion, and even timing and location."

He didn't directly admit to being an alchemist, but this "knowing a little" and pointing out the difficulty of the pill already explained much.

Han Ruyi's heart skipped a beat! It was as if she had seen a glimmer of light in the endless darkness!

She followed up almost subconsciously, her voice filled with urgency:

"Then... do you think Master Zhou... can he succeed?"