"A change?"
"That’s right."
Xu Changqing explained, "Setting aside how the human pill is concocted, this thing is truly on the level of an Immortal Pill. For that Gu Master, Chen Xi, to consu it rely to prolong his life was a sheer waste of a heavenly treasure."
Since his master had said as much, Wang Jian took it to heart. "After I got ho yesterday," he began slowly, "I first felt my body heating up, but there was no discomfort. On the contrary, I felt incredibly energetic, like I had pent-up power I needed to release."
Xu Changqing nodded. That was more or less what he had guessed—it was simply a matter of energy overflow. But then he asked, "You didn’t try to relieve it with cold water, did you?"
Wang Jian was embarrassed by the question. He couldn’t really explain, because he had, at first, soaked himself in cold water. In their mountains, cold well water was the one thing they never lacked. But he was well aware that the dicinal power from last night had mainly been expended in bed; the running afterward was just post-coital conditioning. But he couldn’t possibly tell his master that.
Seeing his expression, Xu Changqing imdiately knew he’d guessed correctly. He couldn’t help but shake his head. "The well and stream water in your mountains are Yin-cold and can indeed provide so relief, but I’m afraid it still wasn’t enough."
Wang Jian imdiately replied, "Indeed, it wasn’t. So later, I carried two buckets of water and ran around the mountains until late into the night. Only then was the dicinal power finally exhausted."
Xu Changqing nodded and then chuckled. "Exhausted, you say?"
"What about it?"
"You don’t think it’s that simple to fully expend it, do you? The life energy from the dicine Pill will disperse into every one of your cells, continuously improving your physical condition. This is all just the beginning."
Seeing Wang Jian’s stunned expression, Xu Changqing laughed. "Starting today, when you practice Qi Cultivation, you’ll certainly achieve unexpected effects."
Forget the future, Wang Jian imdiately closed his eyes to sense his Qi, and it was then that he discovered the remarkable change.
Xu Changqing’s voice ca at the perfect mont. "If the classic texts are not mistaken, your perception of Qi will reach a frightening level, perhaps even surpassing my own. In the future, you might not even need to take a pulse to sense a patient’s internal condition. And that’s just for perceiving others; for yourself, it will be even stronger."
"Actually... my expectations for you go beyond just this."
Xu Changqing sighed deeply, his eyes becoming exceptionally gentle. "At your age, combined with the human pill, I’m very curious to see how far you can go."
Wang Jian was taken aback, assuming Xu Changqing was referring to his future achievents in dicine.
But Xu Changqing was thinking of sothing else entirely, which was why he had given this opportunity to Wang Jian. I’m already old. Consuming it would only serve to prolong my life, just like that Chen Xi. A sheer waste of a heavenly treasure. Giving it to Wang Jian fulfills my wish. And with the changes in his body now, my own aspirations might just be achievable.
One thing Wang Jian didn’t know was that in Xu Changqing’s eyes, he was like a small sun, his entire body brimming with an overflowing aura of Qi. Such a situation was unimaginable, so it was no wonder Xu Changqing was filled with such high hopes.
However, he did not share these thoughts with Wang Jian. An old man’s dreams shouldn’t be forced upon the younger generation. Xu Changqing much preferred that Wang Jian first focus on his own path, perhaps becoming a National Doctor one day.
At this thought, Xu Changqing suddenly threw his head back and laughed heartily, as if he could already see that very scene. I never had children of my own, so after taking Wang Jian as my disciple in my later years, I’ve long since co to see him as my own grandson. If he could achieve such a thing, of course I’d be overjoyed.
This sudden outburst of laughter left Wang Jian and the three won inside the house completely bewildered.
Wang Jian asked with a puzzled look, "What are you laughing at?"
"It’s nothing, just thinking about happy things." Xu Changqing reined in his laughter and suddenly said, "Now that we’ve finished talking, it’s ti for to leave."
"So soon?"
Wang Jian was reluctant to see him go. He had hoped his master would stay with him, as the mountains were actually very suitable for retirent. "Master, why don’t you stay here with ?"
"Eh!" Xu Changqing waved his hands dismissively, looking displeased. "Don’t give that, lad. I’m still spry! I don’t want to stay in one place waiting for death. I haven’t seen enough of our country’s beautiful landscapes."
If I didn’t know he was already seventy, I would never have guessed those were the words of an old man. Compared to him, I’m the one who seems old and far too zen.
Wang Jian shrugged. "A simple life, with plenty to eat and drink every day. Isn’t that good?"
"Pah!" Xu Changqing rolled his eyes. "You’re only in your twenties, yet you have the mindset of one of my old cronies."
No matter what Wang Jian said, Xu Changqing refused to stay. In the end, Wang Jian could only give up, watching as his master ambled toward the village entrance, refusing even to be escorted.
However, with his current eyesight, Wang Jian could see a car waiting at the village entrance—the sa one that had taken them to Naless Village yesterday. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
After Xu Changqing got into the car and before he had even settled in, the burly driver asked with surprise, "He didn’t ask you to stay for a al?"
Xu Changqing hastily waved his hands. "What al? I couldn’t wait to get away."
"Ah, Xiao Zheng, you don’t understand this disciple of mine," Xu Changqing sighed.
So the driver’s surna was Zheng, and his na was Zheng Jun.
Zheng Jun carefully recalled all the information he had on Wang Jian. As Xu Changqing’s designated driver, he had access to the files on almost everyone Xu Changqing interacted with, to say nothing of this closed-door disciple who had been taken in several years ago. He had a decent understanding of Wang Jian’s character, so he was puzzled by Xu Changqing’s words.
Xu Changqing naturally knew this and elaborated, "That kid is like a plague god. Trouble follows him wherever he goes. This old man wants to enjoy his golden years in peace and can’t be getting mixed up with him. Now that I’ve passed that Feng Yan kid off to him, I won’t be bothered with any future troubles. How delightful!"
"By the way, Xiao Zheng, let’s head to Tibetan Mountain this ti. It’s been a while since we visited the monks there. It’ll be a good way to escape the sumr heat."
"You got it."
Zheng Jun shook his head with a light chuckle. This big shot certainly has a unique way of thinking. My job is just to follow orders.
The two drove away from Paigou Village, soon disappearing along the mountain road.
After seeing off his master, Wang Jian had just stepped back into the house when he was imdiately questioned by Xu Qian.
"Why didn’t you ask Master to stay for a al?"
Xu Qian’s expression clearly accused him of being thoughtless. Wang Jian smiled wryly, noticing that Cai Qiong and Ren Yu wore the exact sa expression.
"It’s not that I didn’t ask. My master just didn’t want to stay any longer. There was nothing I could do."
Seeing that he didn’t seem to be lying, the won let it go.
But Xu Qian still sounded regretful. "What a pity. I was planning to cook a big feast to properly host him."
"Hey!" Wang Jian laughed. "There are plenty of us here today. Isn’t that the perfect reason to eat well?"
His words were t with enthusiastic agreent from everyone. The four of them went to the kitchen, and with everyone busy, the table was soon laden with a feast of at, fish, and soup. They ate to their hearts’ content.
That night, their dinner stretched on for a long ti, and toward the end, they even had a little wine.
The three won drank and caroused, especially the libertine Cai Qiong, who, emboldened by the alcohol, began groping Xu Qian and Ren Yu, completely ignoring Wang Jian as if he didn’t exist.
With his strong constitution, Wang Jian was unaffected by the small amount of alcohol. Watching the scene unfold, he nearly had a nosebleed. He managed to stick to his principles and not join the chaotic fray, but his observations weren’t entirely fruitless. He did, however, learn one thing: all three won were heroines with world-encompassing ambitions, and their figures were no less grand.
In the end, Wang Jian could only watch helplessly as Cai Qiong led the other two won into the room. Just before the door closed, he clearly saw the look in Cai Qiong’s eyes. It was a blatant challenge, or perhaps a provocation, as if to say, "Co in with us, if you dare."
But seeing Cai Qiong with her left arm around Xu Qian and her right arm around Ren Yu, Wang Jian truly didn’t have the courage to follow.
That damned woman! He even wanted to drag Cai Qiong away. Who knew what she might do to the other two won?
「The next morning.」
When Wang Jian woke up, the three won were still in the sa room. He hadn’t slept well, having worried all night that Cai Qiong, who he knew was attracted to won, might have acted on her lust.
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