Zeng Rong stared at her. After a long moment, with slightly reddened rims of her eyes, she said with deep emotion, “Long time no see... Miss Shi, it is wonderful to see you well.”
Seeing her so deeply moved, Shi Yu could not help but say, “We only crossed paths once, yet I have troubled Sister to keep me in your thoughts.”
“What is there to talk about being troubled... It was fortunate that you happened to pass by today, Miss. Otherwise, my husband and I would have suffered a great loss.” At this point, Zeng Rong hurriedly pulled the honest, almost woodenly dull man beside her over, pursing her lips in a smile as she introduced him, “This is my husband.”
Then she whispered to the man, “This is the Miss Shi I told you about before.”
The man hurriedly cupped his hands in a somewhat restrained greeting, his expression filled with gratitude.
“There is no need to be polite.” Shi Yu returned the greeting, subtly glancing at him.
She had not forgotten that back then, Zeng Rong traded the remnant recipe of the Extreme Devouring Pill for a Lesser Longevity Pill, intending to offer the longevity item as a gift to a Foundation Establishment Realm Master to seek an immortal destiny for her husband.
Zeng Rong naturally recalled this as well. Her face turned slightly flushed, and her tone carried a hint of sweetness as she said, “My husband was unwilling to seek an immortal destiny alone. The Lesser Longevity Pill you gave me back then was taken to an auction house by the two of us and sold for a large sum of spirit stones. Using that as capital, we opened a small shop on the outskirts of the city. Though times can be difficult at times, things are generally getting better and better.”
Hearing this, Shi Yu looked at the honest man in surprise, thinking to herself that he was actually quite dependable and not a heartless or ungrateful person.
She felt genuinely happy for Zeng Rong.
After chatting for a bit, Zeng Rong knew that Shi Yu and her companions had stepped onto the mount lane likely because they had business to attend to. So she wrapped up her words, saying, “Miss Shi, you and the two Immortal Seniors should go ahead with your business. Do not let the two of us delay your important matters.”
Shi Yu smiled and nodded. “Sister Zeng, until fate brings us together again.”
After saying goodbye to her, Shi Yu, President Song, and Master Ji mounted their saddles once more and, after this minor episode, continued toward the Fang Clan mansion.
Zeng Rong watched their mounts gallop off into the distance until they vanished into the far silhouettes of the mountains before withdrawing her gaze. Smiling at the man beside her, she said, “Husband, let us continue our journey as well.”
...
When their mounts came to a stop in front of the Fang Clan mansion, Shi Yu looked at the residence before her, noticing it was even more dilapidated than it had been a year and a half ago.
The entrance doors of the mansion were tightly shut, their paint peeled away to leave only a few blurry characters. Half of the surrounding walls had actually collapsed, exposing the bricks, stones, and timber inside. The walls that still managed to stand were covered in numerous cracks and mottled patches. Damp, slick, dark-green moss and weeds choked the gaps between the ground paving stones, and the trees surrounding the estate were withered and bare, utterly devoid of life or vitality.
The entire mansion appeared thoroughly decayed and ruinous, resembling a lonely ancient tomb lying silently amidst desolation.
There was not the slightest shadow remaining of the prominent grand clan it once was.
Her nose twitched slightly as she caught a faint odor of decay. Shi Yu let out a soft exclamation. “Is this the power of the Calamity Physique...?”
Not only the clan members inside the mansion, but even these inanimate objects of wood and stone seemed enveloped by calamity, accelerating in their aging and decay.
All of this was merely because a little girl named Fang Sheng possessed the so-called Calamity Physique.
President Song frowned slightly. “I had never heard of this Calamity Physique before either. Ancient texts do record similar physiques that bring bad luck, but none possess such grand power—capable of driving a thriving, great clan into such rapid decline in just a few short years.”
Master Ji sighed. “The world is vast indeed; nothing is too strange under the sun.”
“If what Patriarch Fang said is true, once the Mengtian Pill is refined, it can blind the Heavenly Dao's perception of Fang Sheng. After that, the Fang Clan should be able to slowly recover. After all, Patriarch Fang is a mighty late-stage Golden Core expert.” Shi Yu pondered aloud, stepping forward. “In any case, let us go inside first.”
She knocked the bronze door knocker against its base and took a step back. Before long, a servant opened the door. Showing no surprise on his face, he bowed respectfully to each of the three in turn. “The Head of the Clan is waiting for you all. Please follow me.”
The three followed behind him and walked inside. Unsurprisingly, they saw that the interior of the mansion was also in complete disarray. What should have been places of blooming flowers and singing birds now contained only withered branches, fallen leaves, snakes, insects, rats, and ants. The clan members and servants passing by all bore indifferent, numb expressions, utterly lifeless.
Seeing this, Shi Yu felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest, feeling rather uncomfortable.
The servant led them into the main reception hall, served tea, and withdrew without a word, leaving the three to wait.
Under such circumstances, none of the three had any inclination to drink tea, nor did they even feel like sitting on the chairs in the hall. They stood together in one spot, frowning at each other.
Master Ji could not resist muttering softly, “Staying here for too long won't taint us with bad luck or ill fortune, will it—?”
He stopped halfway through his sentence. In his line of sight, Fang Yushan was hurriedly walking over while holding his young daughter's hand. “Everyone, apologies for keeping you waiting!”
President Song smiled and said, “We only just arrived ourselves.”
Master Ji, on the other hand, looked slightly embarrassed, unsure if his words from just now had been overheard.
Shi Yu turned her gaze toward Fang Sheng, whom Fang Yushan was holding by the hand.
Normally, a child at this age should grow rapidly, shooting up like bamboo shoots and changing in appearance month by month.
Yet the Fang Sheng before her was just as thin and small as she had been a year and a half ago. Her complexion was sallow, and there was a lingering sluggishness whenever her eyes moved, making her gaze appear somewhat dull, lacking any of the liveliness or vigor a child should have.
However, upon looking at Shi Yu, her expression grew vivid once more, and she whispered softly, “Sister Shi.”
Her voice was very quiet and light, like a gentle breeze brushing past the ear.
Shi Yu smiled at her and said softly, “Sheng'er, you still remember me.”
Fang Sheng nodded with a very subtle movement. Because she was so emaciated and her cheeks were sunken, her eyes appeared exceptionally large as she stared at Shi Yu without blinking.
Fang Yushan held her tightly and said to Shi Yu, “I have prepared the spiritual plants needed to refine the Mengtian Pill.”
His face carried a hint of hesitation. “There are only two sets in total, Miss...”
Shi Yu understood his concern. Shifting her gaze away from Sheng'er, she nodded. “I will do my utmost.”
Among the spiritual plants required to refine the Mengtian Pill, two were extremely rare and scarce, while the other two were ones Shi Yu had never even heard of before—presumably spiritual plants unique to this world.
Since she did not know their appearance or properties, Shi Yu was unable to simulate them within the space of the Illusory Resemblance Art. She had only simulated the spiritual plants she was familiar with, refining and purifying them a few times as practice.
Given the Fang Clan's current state, Patriarch Fang's ability to gather two complete sets of spiritual plants was likely no small feat. She could only hope that out of the two attempts, she would succeed at least once.
This was by no means an easy task.
The Mengtian Pill was a Tier-4 pill and an entirely unfamiliar recipe to Shi Yu, making it a significant challenge.
Had it been any other alchemist, they would likely be pointing at Fang Yushan's nose and cursing him for deliberately making things difficult. For an alchemist to successfully refine a new pill, it typically took at least a hundred repeated trials; who would expect a pill to be formed with only two sets of ingredients provided?
Even President Song beside them could not resist chiming in, “Patriarch Fang, refining a Tier-4 pill is truly no simple matter. Furthermore, there are only two sets of ingredients right now. If our girl fails to refine it, please do not place the blame on her.”
Fang Yushan hurriedly replied, “That goes without saying. I am already profoundly grateful that Miss Shi is willing to try. Even if she cannot form the pill... I will simply go search for more ingredients.”
Shi Yu smiled slightly. “In that case, please trouble Patriarch Fang to arrange a quiet room. I will begin refining right away.”
Rate on N.U.
