Wanyun Ting asked Ouyang Shen to rest first, as he was old and had traveled by plane, car, and mountain climbing, which was bound to be tiring.
After returning to his room and tidying up, Wanyun Ting walked out and saw the snow-capped mountains. He couldn't help but take out his phone and take a few photos, sending them to Fang Yanxi, Gu Luotang, and Su Ke'er.
The ones who responded were naturally Gu Luotang and Su Ke'er. Fang Yanxi was probably still busy.
"Sect Leader Wan..."
Ziqing came out, wearing a thick grey cotton robe. Her messy long hair was tied with a branch, revealing her exquisite features. Her naturally dazed phoenix eyes gave off an aura of detachment from worldly affairs, as if nothing could capture her attention.
Wanyun Ting was about to go find the old Daoist priest Zhang Yansong to discuss the refinement of the Condensing Fragrance Pill. Seeing Ziqing and Lan Xin, the master and disciple, approaching, he went to greet them with a smile, "Senior Sister Ziqing, I apologize if there was any inconvenience during my absence. I hope you can forgive me..."
"Hey!"
In the next second, before Wanyun Ting could finish speaking, he saw Duan Yingying, wearing a bright red down jacket, jump out of the house and greet him with a mischievous grin. Wanyun Ting's expression froze, and he exclaimed, "Why are you here?"
"Hehe, of course I'm here to play."
Duan Yingying went up and put her arm around Lan Xin's small shoulders, smiling playfully at Wanyun Ting.
This made Wanyun Ting hold his forehead with a speechless expression. He said, "I'm in Wudang Mountain on business, and I'll be returning to the capital in a couple of days. Are you coming back to the capital with me?"
"Sure."
Duan Yingying pouted, acting indifferent. She glanced at him and said with a smile, "If you don't want to take me to the capital, then give me money. After I've had enough fun at the Wudang Sect, I'll buy a plane ticket back myself."
"Asking for money just like that, am I indebted to you?"
Wanyun Ting rolled his eyes at her and didn't bother with the girl. Since she was here anyway, he would take her to the capital later and then return to Huadu City. He turned to Ziqing and said, "Senior Sister Ziqing, where does your Uncle-Master Zhang live? I need to discuss the matter of refining the Condensing Fragrance Pill with him."
"I'll take you."
Ziqing nodded and led Wanyun Ting, Duan Yingying, and Lan Xin to Uncle-Master Zhang Yansong's residence.
They passed through Xiaoyao Valley, and ahead was a building with green tiles and red walls. However, the roofs were covered in snow, creating a stark contrast with the red walls, like a touch of red in a world of white, very artistic.
"Senior Sister Ziqing, you're back."
One of Zhang Yansong's female disciples, dressed in a thick grey cotton Daoist robe and with a delicate appearance, bowed and greeted Ziqing.
Ziqing nodded. Lan Xin, beside her, said to this martial aunt, "Sect Leader Wan is here to ask Uncle-Master about refining medicine."
This female disciple, whose Daoist name was Yaoxin, sized up Wanyun Ting, who was following Ziqing, and nodded slightly. "Please come this way."
Wanyun Ting smiled and nodded. The group walked up the steps and entered the gate. This was a courtyard, with an architectural style similar to a siheyuan, but not entirely. In the center of the courtyard was a large ceramic water缸, its water frozen. A young Daoist boy was sweeping the snow in the courtyard with a broom. Seeing Yaoxin leading Ziqing and Wanyun Ting in, the boy, with his sturdy build and rosy cheeks from the cold, quickly bowed, "Greetings, Senior Sister Ziqing."
"Wow, Little Chuanzi, I haven't seen you in ages."
Lan Xin went up and rubbed the face of this little Daoist boy, nicknamed Little Chuanzi, because he was from Sichuan. His family used to work here, but unfortunately, Little Chuanzi's parents died in an accident. He was then adopted by the old Daoist priest Zhang Yansong and brought to the Wudang Sect, becoming his youngest disciple. He was only twelve years old.
Little Chuanzi looked at Lan Xin, annoyed by her rubbing his face, and said loudly, "Sister Lan Xin, you have to call me Martial Uncle!"
Lan Xin was stunned. She straightened up, put her hands on her hips, and glared at Little Chuanzi with her big eyes, huffing angrily, "You brat, you just entered the sect a few years before me. You're younger than me, so don't take advantage of me."
Little Chuanzi tilted his head proudly and snorted, "No, the sect must follow seniority. I am under my master, so I am your Martial Uncle."
"Pfft, don't expect me to call you Martial Uncle. Sister is leaving, I won't play with you anymore."
Lan Xin, furious, glared at him fiercely and chased after Wanyun Ting and Ziqing, who had already entered a reception hall. There, the old Daoist priest Zhang Yansong was sitting by the stove, discussing some medicinal herbs with Tan Zhiyuan. Beside him was a bronze medicine furnace, from which wisps of white smoke drifted from the hollow lid, emitting a rich medicinal aroma. At the bottom of the furnace was a fire pit, still burning with fruitwood.
"Master, Senior Sister Ziqing is here."
Yaoxin brought Ziqing and Wanyun Ting in and said, "Sect Leader Wan has something to discuss with you."
"Ziqing, Sect Leader Wan, you've arrived. Please, have a seat."
Zhang Yansong turned to look at them, smiling and inviting them to sit on the chairs beside them. Tan Zhiyuan also nodded and greeted Wanyun Ting with a smile, continuing to sort the medicinal herbs in his hands. Wanyun Ting nodded and approached, looking at the row of medicinal herbs laid out at their feet. Among them, he saw a dried Condensing Fragrance Flower. He couldn't help but pick it up and examine it, asking, "Daoist Zhang, is this the Condensing Fragrance Flower?"
"Mmm."
Zhang Yansong nodded and smiled, "This Condensing Fragrance Flower can only be found in our Shennongjia mountainous region. Alas, the ecological environment is severely damaged. Decades ago, this Condensing Fragrance Flower was everywhere in the Shennongjia mountains, but now it's becoming rarer and rarer. These few Condensing Fragrance Flowers were collected by me and Zhiyuan last year when we went up the mountain to gather other herbs. We accidentally discovered them and brought them back and preserved them until now."
Wanyun Ting nodded and smiled, "It seems this is fate."
"Indeed."
Tan Zhiyuan smiled, "I hope the Condensing Fragrance Pill you mentioned, Sect Leader Wan, can cure your sister Ouyang Fanmeng's 'stinky fish disease'."
Wanyun Ting put down the Condensing Fragrance Flower and took out a piece of paper from his pocket, handing it to Zhang Yansong. "Daoist Zhang, this is the formula and method for refining the Condensing Fragrance Pill. Please take a look and see if there are any issues."
Zhang Yansong's old face stiffened. He took the paper and opened it. It was Wanyun Ting's handwritten formula and method for refining the Condensing Fragrance Pill. His old eyes lit up, and he said, "Sect Leader Wan, I'm very curious, where did you get this formula? The method for refining the Condensing Fragrance Pill is very detailed. If it's refined according to the instructions, there shouldn't be any problems."
Hearing that there were no major issues, Wanyun Ting was relieved. However, he naturally wouldn't tell Zhang Yansong and the others that he obtained it from a valley in the Kunlun Mountains, from the medicine refinement books left by Senior Kang Guangling. "My master passed this formula to me!"
Zhang Yansong looked at him and said, "Is it the Ghost Hand Medical Saint who was rumored to be able to snatch people from the King of Hell back then?"
"Mmm."
Wanyun Ting nodded and smiled, "As for where my master got it, I don't know. As long as the refining method is fine, that's all that matters."
Zhang Yansong nodded and smiled, "Let me study it for a night, and we'll try to refine it tomorrow. You can come and watch."
"Alright."
Wanyun Ting was happy and cupped his fists with a smile, "Thank you, Daoist Zhang."
"No need for thanks."
Zhang Yansong waved his hand, holding the formula he gave him with a smile. "If there's anyone to thank, it's me thanking you for this formula to refine the Condensing Fragrance Pill. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to refine this Condensing Fragrance Pill..."
Wanyun Ting, Ziqing, and the others stayed with Zhang Yansong for a while before leaving. They then wandered around the area. Soon, it got dark, and the group returned to their accommodation. Senior Brother Xianyun had already arranged dinner for them.
Ziqing and Lan Xin also went to the large cafeteria where the disciples ate with their martial brothers and sisters. However, when Wanyun Ting and Duan Yingying returned to their residence, Ouyang Shenhe had already woken up. He was boredly watching television in the reception hall. The food was already set on the table. Seeing them return, Ouyang Shenhe stood up and smiled, "Xiao Wan, it's time to eat. Hmm, who is this girl?"
Wanyun Ting turned to look at Duan Yingying, who followed him in, and introduced her to him, "Grandpa, this is Duan Yingying, the daughter of Sect Leader Duan from our Wuliang Daoist Temple. She was in Huadu City some time ago, and today she came to Wudang Mountain with Senior Sister Ziqing to play. I brought her here to have dinner."
"Oh, I see. Then let's sit down and eat quickly, don't let the food get cold."
Ouyang Shenhe smiled and nodded. The butler, Zhang Heng, set the bowls and chopsticks for them. Wanyun Ting and Duan Yingying took their seats. The three of them chatted while eating, and soon the topic turned to something else. "Grandpa, I heard that the old head of the Kong family is also at the Wudang Sect?"
Ouyang Shenhe nodded and smiled, "Are you looking for Old Kong because of something that happened to your master back then?"
Wanyun Ting put down his chopsticks and said, "I want to pay him a visit and understand some of the details from back then."
Ouyang Shenhe smiled, "Then it's settled. I'll take you to see him tomorrow when I have time. I came here this time intending to see him as well."
"Okay."
Wanyun Ting smiled and nodded, picked up his chopsticks, and put some food into Ouyang Shenhe's bowl. This made the old man very happy. He also put food into his grandson's bowl, which made Duan Yingying, sitting beside them, feel a little awkward. She changed the subject and asked, "Hey, shall we go see the Sword Cliff on the back mountain of Wudang Mountain tomorrow? I heard from Lan Xin that as long as someone has talent in swordsmanship, just by observing the character 'sword' on the Sword Cliff, they can inherit the sword intent of that Sword Ancestor of the Wudang Sect."
Wanyun Ting glanced at her with a mocking smile and said, "That's basically not for you. You can't even practice the Wuliang Sword Technique well, let alone comprehend the sword intent within."
"Hey, who are you looking down on?"
These words made Duan Yingying glare unhappily. She pouted indignantly and huffed, "You're so amazing, you're the best at everything. Don't go anywhere and not be able to see anything."
Wanyun Ting said smugly, "At least I'm better than you."
"Haha..."
Ouyang Shenhe looked at the two of them bickering and couldn't help but laugh. It made him feel very good.