Ave Xia Rem Y

~~~

Powdered Lonefire Blossom.

Thrice-Burned Lotus.

Thundering Leaf extract.

600-Year Spirit Root

Many-Colored Lizard Scales.

The ingredients are all laid out before Liu Jin. He sits on the carpet, cross-legged, shifting around to make himself comfortable. For some reason, he is somewhat nervous. It is silly, of course. The complexity may be slightly higher than usual, but this is hardly the first time he prepares a pill.

How long has it been since he has done it, though?

Not that long, his mind instantly replies. Even while working to decode Doctor Wu’s notes, Liu Jin managed to find some time to help his father out. Making a few pills was the least he could do for the clinic. That can’t have been so long ago. Perhaps, a little over two weeks at most? While Liu Jin has not been keeping track of time, it is not as if a month has gone by. That’s just not possible.

And yet, it almost feels like a year has gone by.

It is not that Liu Jin feels sadness or melancholy. Such feelings have little hold on him as he is right now. It is just…

He’s tired.

Beaten.

His fingers clench around his knees. A candle starts flickering irregularly as if about to burn out.

No, that won’t do.

Breathe.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

In.

Out.

Liu Jin’s breath goes back under control, and as it does, so does the flame. It responds to his Qi and beats in tune with it, growing bigger and smaller with every breath he takes. Lazy wisps of energy rise from within Liu Jin and reach out, enveloping the ingredients gathered before him, tapping into their essence with practiced ease.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Essence into Vitality. Vitality into Spirit. Spirit into Emptiness.

Small flame. Big flame.

These are the basics of the basics. There is no way for him to get it wrong.

The Powdered Lonefire Blossom and Thrice-Burned Lotus go first. Liu Jin’s Qi mixes and harmonizes with the ingredients, refining them further and bringing out their essence. The Thrice Burned Lotus will serve as the core. It floats up, willed by his Qi, and is enveloped by the Lonefire Blossom. A breath goes by as Liu Jin waits for any sort of adverse reaction.

None happens.

Good.

His Qi plays the part of the furnace. Liu Jin could have requested one, and he’d surely have received it, but it is better this way.

Two hundred breaths go by.

It takes time to properly refine the 600-Year Spirit Root. It is a very high-quality ingredient and thus needs to be treated carefully. Liu Jin is surprised that Branch Manager Bianfu parted from something so valuable without even charging Liu Jin. Though considering the man was willing to waive his fees on the sale of the Earth Realm Dragon Core, perhaps something like this is only to be expected.

A pulse from the 600-Year Spirit Root tells Liu Jin it is almost ready. Good. The Thundering Leaf extract and the Many-Colored Lizard Scales have been waiting. Carefully, Liu Jin mixes the Thundering Leaf extract with the Powdered Lonefire Blossom and Thrice Burned Lotus. It doesn’t take long for the mix to spark and whistle, the Lonefire Blossom acquiring new life.

Come to think of it, wasn’t he having this conversation with his father the night everything went wrong?

Lonefire Blossom has a unique effect when powdered and mixed with Thundering Leaf extract.

The Lonefire Blossom is a potent plant with strong fire attributes, yet it loses most of them once harvested. By using Thundering Leaf extract, it becomes possible not just to awaken those attributes but also to drive them to greater heights. The intense heat and fire thus become a source of purification.

That makes it possible for the Thrice-Burned Lotus to be further refined.

The moment it hits the highest possible purity, Liu Jin adds the 600-Year Spirit Root and the Many-Colored Lizard Scales. He has to do it quickly before the Lonefire Blossom is consumed by its own heat. The resulting mix beats and pulses as if about to explode. Liu Jin tightly wraps his Qi around it to control those energies, suppressing and smothering them with every breath he takes.

After twenty breaths go by, Liu Jin’s Qi fizzes out. His palm rises up just in time to catch the finished product, a small reddish thing.

The Pill of Bliss is done.

“Amazing.”

Liu Jin looks to the side as he wipes some sweat from his forehead. Lei Kong is staring at him with wide eyes.

“I had never seen anyone prepare a pill like that.”

“I learned from my father.” Something like sadness flickers across Liu Jin’s face. “My father learned from his master. This?” Liu Jin holds up the pill. Making it had been slightly harder than he had been expecting. “This is nothing compared to what they could do.”

“They sound like great men.”

“They were.”

Red eyes meet brown, something passing between. A feeling. An understanding. Perhaps even a connection.

Lei Kong looks down.

“I am sorry.”

It is as if a spell has been cast upon the room. No one says anything. No one does anything. Only the flame flickering above the candle dares to move.

“Are you loyal to me?”

Liu Jin’s words break the spell. Although his question is blunt, his tone lacks any harshness to it. It is perhaps the softest his words to Lei Kong have been.

“My lord, you know that I am.”

No, Liu Jin doesn’t know that. If he did, this wouldn’t be so troublesome.

“You say you are loyal. How loyal?”

Lei Kong’s forehead touches the ground.

“Until I draw my last breath, I shall follow your commands, my lord.”

Liu Jin tilts his head to the side. “So, if I told you to die, you’d do so?”

“Without question, my lord.”

“Is that so?”

Liu Jin stands up. His soft steps are barely heard as he makes his way to Lei Kong and kneels next to him.

“So, if I told you to remain still while I killed you, you’d do so?”

“Yes, my lord.”

In a flash, Liu Jin’s knife is out and held at Lei Kong’s neck. Between it and Lei Kong’s skin, there is not enough space to even slide in a single sheet of paper.

“This knife is made from the claws of a Ravenous Silver Wolf. You might be in the True Realm, but it has the potential to hurt you. Lower your Qi.”

Lei Kong does.

“Now, it has the potential to kill you. One strike. That is all it would take. Do you realize this?”

“I do, my lord.”

“Even so, you won’t move?”

“If you seek to end my life, that is only fitting recompense for my actions.”

Liu Jin’s Qi rises around him, crackling with menacing intent. His grip around the knife tightens.

Lei Kong bleeds.

“You still will not move?” Liu Jin asks once more. Blood drips from Lei Kong’s neck.

Five millimeters.

That and no more.

That is how deep the cut Liu Jin just made is.

“My lord is free to continue.”

Liu Jin’s Qi spikes even further. The knife slashes at the air, away from Lei Kong. Blood taints the carpet as it is flicked away.

“Fine!” A single touch of Liu Jin’s hand heals Lei Kong’s injury. “Fine!”

He turns away from him, his steps loud even on the carpeted floor.

“Fine,” he repeats, quietly and more reluctantly this time. “I’ll take you at your word.”

“My lord has my deepest thanks,” Lei Kong says, still kneeling. He did not move when Liu Jin was threatening him, and he does not move now.

“I wouldn’t thank me. When you hear what I am about to ask of you, you’ll probably wish I had killed you instead.”

So Liu Jin tells him.

Watching Lei Kong’s face pale in fear after remaining so stoic for the past few minutes is unfortunately not something Liu Jin can take comfort in.

~~~

“Amazing!”

Branch Manager Bianfu’s eyes look like they are about to pop out of his skull as he examines the Pill of Bliss.

“Absolutely amazing! This is the first time I see a Pill of Bliss of this quality! Honored customer, you must tell me how you acquired it!”

Liu Jin chuckles politely. It is not surprising that Branch Manager Bianfu does not suspect him of being the one who made the pill. No matter how one looks at it, Liu Jin is far too young.

“Branch Manager Bianfu is as lively as always. Do forgive me for keeping the source a secret. I’m told people without secrets are dreadfully boring. Even so, judging by your reaction, I assume there will be no problems selling it?”

Branch Manager Bianfu looks disappointed but only for a moment. He brightens up as soon as the prospect of selling the Pill of Bliss is brought up.

“Naturally!” His smile freezes then drops. “However, there is still a problem to consider.”

“The Eternal Raging Valley?”

Branch Manager Bianfu nods, grim-faced. “Normally, a pill of this quality would sell for an exceedingly large sum!”

He is not exaggerating. A Pill of Bliss can heal many illnesses, but that is not its primary use. Although not originally created with cultivation in mind, the Pill of Bliss strengthens the meridians and places one in a meditative state that helps achieve exceptional results when cultivating.

There is not a single person who wouldn’t benefit from it.

“Is it really so certain the Eternal Raging Valley will show up?” Liu Jin asks, placing one of his elbows on the armrest. “Could Branch Master Ruan’s presence not merely have been a one-time occurrence?”

Branch Manager Bianfu sighs and shakes his head. “How I wish that could be the case, Customer Liu. However, just a day after that auction, I received a letter from the Eternal Raging Valley. They wished for me to send them a list of all the items we will put up for auction this month.”

Liu Jin’s eyebrows go up. That is… quite something.

If the Five Blessings Auction House does as the Eternal Raging Valley wants, then Branch Master Ruan will show up any time there is an item he wants. That would normally not be a bad thing. Indeed, Liu Jin is willing to bet there have been times in the past where Branch Manager Bianfu has informed the Eternal Raging Valley of valuable items up for auction ahead of time.

However, if Branch Master Ruan plans to act as he did a few days ago, it would become a massive problem for the Five Blessings Auction House. Over time, their profits will decrease as Branch Master Ruan keeps using the name of the Eternal Raging Valley to scare away all other bidders.

It is an incredibly boorish request that will only serve to alienate the Five Blessings Group over time.

No, Liu Jin amends seeing the look on Branch Manager Bianfu’s face, perhaps it already has.

“I see. That is certainly a regrettable state of affairs.”

That is a lie. Liu Jin’s idea wouldn’t work if Branch Master Ruan failed to show up at the auction. Although some would argue that Liu Jin’s idea not working can only be a good thing.

Lei Kong sure would.

“However, do not worry. I will ensure the pill fetches a proper price.”

“You will ensure...oh.” Suddenly Branch Manager Bianfu finds a renewed interest in the papers on his desk. “To bid on one’s belongings is not allowed in our Five Blessings Auction House. We are above such base scams. However, I certainly cannot tell one of our Black Card holders how to behave during an auction. Such things are above my station.”

“Branch Manager Bianfu is wise and respectful.”

~~~

“And now, for the star item of the night! We at the Five Blessings Auction House are proud to present... a Pill of Bliss!”

Liu Jin can feel the interest in the room spike as the Pill of Bliss is brought out, yet it is tempered. Everyone knows Branch Master Ruan is in the room, a predator ready strike whenever it suits his fancy. He has already taken three items this night, all for unreasonably low prices.

Sure enough, the moment the auction for the pill begins...

“The Eternal Raging Valley will bid one million and no more.”

The simmering frustration is almost palpable, yet no one else dares to lift their paddle. No one could possibly dare challenge the Eternal Raging Valley, one of the top four sects of the empire.

“Two million.”

For a moment, no one dares to breathe. People look around, astonished, unable to believe someone just dared to bid against the Eternal Raging Valley. Even Branch Manager Bianfu, who knew this would happen, looks shocked.

For his part, Liu Jin is very glad the seats of Black Card holders are darkened.

This would be nowhere near as impressive if everyone could see Lei Kong shaking like a leaf. It is surprising he even managed to lift his paddle.

“The Eternal Raging Valley will bid six million!”

Branch Master Ruan’s voice booms throughout the room. Just like that, Lei Kong’s bid has been tripled. For the Eternal Raging Valley to be challenged is one thing, but for it to lose?

That is simply unacceptable.

The loss of face, especially after throwing their name around like they have been, would be too much. That is why Branch Master Ruan’s bid is three times that of Lei Kong. He wants to scare him away.

He need not have bothered.

Lei Kong is already scared. It is a good thing Branch Master Ruan cannot see them due to how the seats are separated. Otherwise, Liu Jin has a feeling Lei Kong would have fainted by now.

“Ten Million!”

It is surprising, Liu Jin thinks, that Lei Kong’s voice manages to sound so clear while his body is so obviously about to shut down.

Perhaps, he should have made something to calm Lei Kong down ahead of time instead of just giving him something to alter his voice?

“Do you want my seat?” Liu Jin whispers, already standing up. Lei Kong doesn’t take him up on his offer so much as he collapses on it. Just in time as well.

“Thirty million!”

The silence, if possible, becomes even more overpowering. No one can believe the outrageous number that just came out of Branch Master Ruan’s mouth.

“That should be more than enough,” Liu Jin whispers, catching the paddle as Lei Kong is about to raise it for the third time. “More than enough to cover what we didn’t earn from the Earth Realm Dragon Core. It is fine to let them win now.”

Lei Kong makes no noise, but the sheer relief radiating from his body says more than words can.

“Sold!” Branch Manager Bianfu looks ecstatic. “The Pill of Bliss is sold to the Eternal Raging Valley for the sum of Thirty Million!”

~~~

“I must warn you. If you bid against Branch Master Ruan, he will not take it lightly. He may try to find your identity. While violence of any kind is forbidden inside the auction hall, we cannot control how our customers behave outside.”

“I was hoping Branch Manager Bianfu could help me with that.”

“Customer Liu does not have to worry about me. His name will not leave my lips. If you wish, I can arrange for transport out of the city. Indeed, that may be the wisest course of action.”

“Actually, I was hoping my name could leave Branch Manager Bianfu’s lips.”.

“You wish for me to point the Eternal Raging Valley in your direction?!”

“Not as the person who bid against Branch Master Ruan, of course. Rather, as the person who brought the pill to the auction house. Surely, Branch Master Ruan will prize the latter over the former.”

~~~