"Jade Skin Pill?"
Lu Li took the pill formula, gave Wu Liu a strange look, then continued reading: Jade Skin Pill, a fine medicine for circulating Qi, activating blood, and beautifying the skin... After a lengthy preamble boasting of its various efficacies, the actual formula finally appeared at the end.
Jade Skin Flower, Hundred-Herb Dew, Snow Lotus Seed, Octagonal Profound Ice Grass.
At a glance, it was clearly a pill meant for women.
"What do you think? Do you have confidence?" Wu Liu asked nervously.
Lu Li's eyes shifted slightly. "Senior Brother Wu Liu might not know, but alchemy isn't something one can simply begin upon receiving a formula. We must first familiarize ourselves with the medicinal herbs and fire control, so the initial attempt is almost bound to fail. I wonder how many sets of materials Senior Brother Wu Liu has prepared?"
Hearing this, Wu Liu hurriedly produced four jade boxes and handed them over, speaking with palpable anxiety: "I've prepared three portions of each. How is that?"
"Three portions."*
Lu Li furrowed his brow and put the jade boxes away. "To be honest, based on my experience, this Jade Skin Pill seems to lack a crucial supplementary herb. If we could add Stone Nettle Grass, the success rate would rise significantly."
Naturally, he was making this up on the spot. Altering a pill formula required countless trials; it was not something to be spoken of lightly.
Yet Wu Liu was an outsider to alchemy. He only knew that Master Qin's technique was exceptional. Over the past month, this person's Corpse-Nurturing Pill assignments had never once failed-a feat far surpassing those old men in the hall.
Learning that Stone Nettle Grass could improve the success rate, Wu Liu immediately agreed: "No problem. I'll go to the medicine hall later and exchange some for you."
"In that case, the chance of success will indeed be much greater."
Lu Li nodded, fell silent for a moment, and then probed cautiously: "Senior Brother Wu Liu, I... I'd like to ask whether the other pill refiners also consumed the Soul-Devouring Pill?"
Wu Liu replied with a trace of sympathy: "Not at all. They were given the Soul-Control Pill. As long as the Great Elder leaves them be, they remain unharmed, unlike Brother Qin, who suffers a flare-up every single month."
"So that's how it is."
With a dejected expression, Lu Li slumped back in his chair, let out a heavy sigh, and fell silent.
Seeing Lu Li in low spirits, Wu Liu had no idea how to offer comfort. Even if he possessed the ability to resolve the Soul-Devouring Pill affliction-which he didn't-he would never dare attempt it. For a time, both men lapsed into silence.
After they had sat quietly for over an hour...
Wu Liu suddenly noticed a young woman in black walking with a lazy gait onto the square directly opposite them. His eyes shifted, and he gave Lu Li's arm a gentle nudge, lowering his voice. "Brother Qin, I've heard talk of your situation. You should recognize her, right?"
Lu Li slowly opened his eyes, traced Wu Liu's gaze, and saw that it was indeed the young girl named Yue. He gave a faint sound of assent. "I remember. What about her?"
Wu Liu hesitated before speaking. "Brother Qin may not realize it, but Junior Sister Yue is deeply favored by the Great Elder. If I'm not mistaken, she almost certainly carries both the Soul-Devouring Pill and its antidote."
"Really?" Lu Li sat straight up instantly, fixing his gaze on the distant girl, a sharp brilliance flashing in his eyes.
Wu Liu nodded. "However, apart from the Great Elder and Junior Brother He Jin, Junior Sister Yue rarely interacts with anyone. Brother Qin, hoping to obtain the antidote from her is likely a fool's errand."
He then looked at Lu Li with stern emphasis: "Furthermore, I must remind Brother Qin that under no circumstances are you to breathe a word of what I've just told you to anyone. Otherwise, not only will it technique disaster for you, but even I shall be implicated."
Lu Li nodded. "Senior Brother Wu Liu can rest easy. I know where the boundary lies. Even if my identity is exposed, I will never drag Senior Brother Wu Liu down with me."
"Very good." Wu Liu nodded in satisfaction.
As they spoke, Wu Liu looked back across the square and saw the black-robed girl pause briefly at the edge before turning directly toward their location. He blinked in surprise. "It looks like Junior Sister is coming this way."
Lu Li remained thoughtful, saying nothing.
A moment later, the girl had closed the distance, stopping within ten feet of the two men. Her destination was evidently the pair of them.
Feeling somewhat bewildered, Wu Liu quickly stood and cupped his fists. "Is Junior Sister looking for me?"
Yue, whose gaze had initially been fixed on Lu Li, shifted her eyes to Wu Liu and smiled faintly. "So it's Senior Brother Six. What are you two doing here?"
"Ah, the Great Elder instructed me to bring Master Qin out to get some fresh air..." Wu Liu explained.
"Fresh air?" Yue's delicate brows furrowed slightly, her expression tightening. "No wonder I haven't seen the pill refiners around lately. Has Master shut them away in isolation?"
"Er-yes."
"I see. Might I speak with him alone?" Yue's eyes danced with mischief.
"Alone?" Wu Liu cast a suspicious glance between the two of them. After a brief hesitation, he said, "Well then, I was just about to head to the medicine hall to exchange some spiritual herbs. How about Junior Sister keeps an eye on him for a moment? I'll be right back."
"Very well, go ahead."
"In that case, many thanks." Wu Liu cupped his fists in gratitude, then turned back to Lu Li. "Master Qin, tell me-are three stalks enough?"
Knowing full well that Wu Liu referred to the Stone Nettle Grass, Lu Li resisted the urge to ask for more out of fear of arousing suspicion. He simply nodded. "Enough."
"Alright, you two chat for a bit, but make sure not to wander off, or there will be trouble." With that, Wu Liu strode away.
"Are you two conducting private transactions behind the scenes?" Yue seated herself beside Lu Li, eyeing him with a curious expression.
Lu Li felt a jolt inwardly, thinking that this seemingly delicate girl possessed a remarkably sharp mind. Shifting his thoughts quickly, he smiled and said, "He asked me to refine a pill meant exclusively for young women. I have no idea what use he has for it."
A pill meant exclusively for young women? Yue's curiosity was instantly piqued. "What kind of pill?"
This was precisely the reaction Lu Li desired.
Feigning hesitation, he stammered, "This..."
"Are you going to talk or not?" Yue glared at him with mischievous intent, issuing a crisp threat. "If you don't tell me, I'll report this to Master. At that rate, the two of you..."
"I'll speak, I'll speak!" Lu Li said with a show of reluctant compliance. "Actually, it's just a pill that circulates blood, beautifies the skin, and allows one's youth to endure forever..."
"Beautifying the skin and preserving youth forever?" Upon hearing those words, Yue widened her eyes in astonishment. "Have you already refined it?"
"No, no. I haven't even started."
"Is that so?" Yue's eyes rolled thoughtfully. "Could you... refine a few for me while you're at it?"
Lu Li put on a troubled look. "Even the most skilled housewife cannot cook a meal without rice; I can't refine anything without materials. Besides, concocting such a thing is mentally taxing, and with the poison of the Soul-Devouring Pill lingering in my mind, I'm afraid..."
"Soul-Devouring Pill?" Yue frowned, staring intently at Lu Li's forehead in shock. "Why would Master feed you a pill like that? Could he be trying to keep you under his permanent control?"