Chapter Forty-Six: Choosing the Generals

The Supreme Elder of the Azure Profound Sect, Master Zhang Wanli, issued the Immortal Recruitment Decree, and within a single day, the news spread like wildfire throughout the entirety of Southern Jiang, Jizhou. This was the first time in many years that Jizhou had seen such a decree, drawing the attention of all the region’s powers.

In Old River City of Southern Jiang, Jizhou, Ye Hongyu stared blankly at the Immortal Recruitment Decree from the Azure Profound Sect. The site for the pill trial was Miao Village—how familiar that name was. It had been nearly six years. In those six years, the name Miao Village had almost become a taboo in the Che family; none dared utter it lightly. Yet that name lingered in her mind day and night, like a curse entwined around her soul, constantly reminding her.

Ye Hongyu could still clearly recall that day six years ago—the day that slender figure left her. “Wuyou, my child Wuyou… do you know I think of you every moment? Where are you now? Are you well?” Ye Hongyu murmured, her voice drifting like a dream.

Just then, a girl of about four years old skipped in. Seeing Ye Hongyu’s tears, her playful smile froze on her face. She gazed at Ye Hongyu in silence for a moment before pouting, “Mother, you’re crying again. Are you thinking of Brother?” Tugging at Ye Hongyu’s sleeve, she said, “If you miss Brother so much, why don’t you bring him back?”

Ye Hongyu looked at the tender child before her, lovingly stroking her hair. “Brother has gone to a place very far away—so far we’ll never find him again. He will never come back in this lifetime.”

The little girl tilted her head in thought. Suddenly, an indignant expression clouded her adorable face. She clenched her tiny fists. “Why did Brother go so far away? He must not want us anymore. I hate Brother, I hate him, I hate him…”

Ye Hongyu was startled by the child’s words. She looked down in disbelief—how could her daughter say such things about her brother? Raising her voice, she scolded, “Xian’er, what are you saying?”

The girl ignored the reprimand, repeating, “I hate him, I hate him…” Ye Hongyu’s temper flared. She raised her hand and struck the girl’s bottom several times, scolding as she did, “Be quiet! How dare you say that about your brother, how dare you!” Each blow was heavier than the last, until the girl burst into loud, sorrowful wails.

Seeing how heartbroken her daughter was, Ye Hongyu felt regret. How could she have lost control and hurt Xian’er so? She gently pulled the girl closer and began to remove her trousers. Upon inspection, the child’s little bottom was mottled with bruises. Ye Hongyu was overwhelmed with remorse. She hugged her daughter tightly, apologizing in a soft voice, “I’m sorry, Xian’er. Mother didn’t mean it. It was my fault—please don’t blame me…”

The little girl sobbed on Ye Hongyu’s shoulder for a long while, then sniffled, “I don’t blame you, Mother, and I don’t really hate Brother. I’m just angry—angry he won’t come home to see you, and keeps making you cry. Xian’er doesn’t want Mother to cry…”

Hearing this, Ye Hongyu’s heart ached all the more. Her daughter was pained for her sake. She held the child close, just as she had held Che Wuyou tightly six years ago…

In the Herb Garden Hall of Southern Jiang, Jizhou, an old man stroked his beard in silence. A low-grade treasure, rare indeed, but what’s rarer is that Miao Village has finally grown impatient. It was once said that the Miao family was the sacred ground of medicine in Jizhou, the uncrowned king, but their humility allowed the Herb Garden Hall to appear as the dominant force. If so, let them witness the true strength of the Herb Garden Hall this time.

Known as the overlord of Jizhou’s pill-making world, the Herb Garden Hall was revered as its sacred ground. The old man was none other than the master of the Hall, Old Whitehead. Lately, he’d heard much talk of the excellence of Miao family’s pills, their unmatched quality, which irked him greatly. However good Miao’s pills were, could they surpass the Herb Garden Hall’s?

And now, rumors were circulating that the Miao family was Jizhou’s true medical sanctum, the uncrowned king, and that they were using this Immortal Recruitment Decree to cement their supremacy in the pill-making world, hence setting the trial at Miao Village.

The more Old Whitehead thought, the angrier he became. It was sheer fabrication, utter nonsense. If the Miao family were so formidable, why wait until now to act? Why let the Herb Garden Hall reign for so many years? As his resentment simmered, he broke into a smile. Since Miao Shilin could no longer bear to hide in the shadows, he would ensure Miao’s reputation was ruined, his legacy lost.

Hands clasped behind his back, Old Whitehead paced, then called out to the attendant outside, “Pass my command: Have the ‘Ten Sages of the Herb Garden’ cease their seclusion and return at once. I have an important announcement.”

When the boy hurried off, Old Whitehead smiled in satisfaction. The ‘Ten Sages of the Herb Garden’ were his ten most outstanding disciples, each possessing formidable pill-making skills. They could easily found their own sects in Southern Jiang, Jizhou. Especially the tenth sage, Gerlan, who had surpassed even his master.

“This time, let the Ten Sages go to Miao Village. Let the top five trial spots be taken by my disciples, so that Miao Shilin loses all hope.” Old Whitehead mused, “This will thoroughly intimidate the powers of Jizhou, remind them of the Herb Garden Hall’s might. I’ve been inactive too long—perhaps they’ve forgotten.”

On a chilly, deserted street in Southern Jiang, Jizhou, a huge yellow notice board stood out conspicuously. A woman in her thirties looked at it in puzzlement. What was this? After some hesitation, she stepped closer to read…

She quickly finished, frowning as she muttered, “Miao Village—where is that? Why not hold it at the Herb Garden Hall?” Shaking her head, she said, “No matter. If there’s a treasure to be won, even if it’s only low-grade, I won’t say no, ha ha ha.” Her laughter was tinged with madness.

Her name was Lu Mengjie. Though her name sounded unremarkable, her nickname was anything but. A century ago, her masterful pill-making skills earned her the moniker ‘Charming Medicine Immortal’ in Jizhou’s pill world.

Yet, despite her prowess, Lu Mengjie was notorious for her indiscretions and wayward life, earning her the mocking nickname ‘Dream Sister.’ Of course, that name was only used behind her back; no one dared call her that to her face—unless they wanted to be beaten senseless.

A century ago, Lu Mengjie reigned over Jizhou’s pill-making scene. She was young and fiercely proud. But during one of her romantic escapades, she encountered Old Whitehead, the current master of Herb Garden Hall. Both were giants of the medical world, and naturally, they clashed.

After a few words, their rivalry erupted into a contest at the Herb Garden Hall. Lu Mengjie ultimately lost to Old Whitehead, though she was much younger, so her defeat was not without honor.

Yet Lu Mengjie was extraordinarily proud and could not tolerate her own failure. The blow drove her into semi-retirement, and she secluded herself for decades, honing her craft.

Feeling her pill-making skills had greatly improved, Lu Mengjie had lately grown restless. At this moment, she saw the Immortal Recruitment Decree from the Azure Profound Sect, and her eager heart could no longer be quelled. First, there was a low-grade treasure to win; second, she might encounter Old Whitehead again—surely, with her current abilities, she could redeem herself…

Time flowed onward. Han Feng, the organizer from the Miao family, was exceedingly busy. He coordinated with the Azure Profound Sect to welcome guests from afar, managed the venue, prepared pill furnaces, ensured the supply of fire, and handled countless other matters. Yet he uttered not a single word of complaint and found joy in his work.

The Miao family’s participants for the trial were nearly decided—all chosen by Han Feng himself, though he had not yet submitted the list to Miao Shilin for approval. According to the rules of this pill trial, only those capable of refining yellow-grade pills qualified to participate. Successful candidates would be rewarded generously by the Azure Profound Sect with medicinal materials, so the first round would surely require the refinement of a yellow-grade inferior pill.

It was known that pills were ranked in four tiers: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Each tier was further divided into inferior, moderate, superior, and supreme grades. Anyone able to refine a yellow-grade inferior pill had reached a certain level of mastery—in old parlance, had entered the ranks. If one could make a yellow-grade moderate pill, one would have a solid footing in Jizhou’s pill-making world.

Han Feng glanced at the string of names in his hand and shook his head with a wry smile. Even his master’s nominal disciples had applied. How absurd! Did they truly not know their own limits? Did they really believe they could refine yellow-grade pills?