Chapter 378: Other choices
After Lu Mingshu got her identity changed and pay as an elder, the days in Green Jade Valley was more peaceful.
Lu Mingshu now led a great life. All she had to do was bring out little daze for walks, chit-chat with her Master, and play with little boo.
Recently, An Tongchen came to test her ability. Due to him being injured, An Tongchen didn’t fight with her but instead watched her perform some skills. He was fascinated by how skilled Lu Mingshu had become, especially when she could control her sword energy with her limbs instead of a sword.
Lu Mingshu dared not explain the reason for her ability to do so, as she was afraid that An Tongchen would think she was mad. When one was in the harmonization and inner breath realm, their focus would be on cultivation instead of swordsmanship. However, the spirit realm was very different compared to the solid pellet realm. The solid pellet realm would allow one to perform many magical tricks, instead of just swordsmanship, while a spirit realm focused too much on the physical ability that it turned into a cultivator’s hindrance to improve further.
If she was to compare, the spirit realm is more like a false elixir, better than the foundation realm, yet not as powerful as a golden elixir. On the other hand, the assimilation realm was not restricted to any physical limitations, making it more powerful than a solid pellet but incomparable to a Yuan Ying.
In Lu Mingshu’s world, they focused more on martial arts. Thus it became a type of cultivation filled with loopholes due to the focus being all on skills. However, Lu Mingshu has formed a sword embryo, and she broke with the method that people in Jiang Wan’s society did to reach the freezing spirit realm. This made her way better than her spirit realm counterparts.
Surprisingly, An Tongchen didn’t probe or ask where did Lu Mingshu learn the skills from. It was Lu Mingshu, who was grateful for his care when he was younger, who told him about the skills. With that, An Tongchen went home on cloud nine, having learned more about the skills.
~Senior uncle An’s meridians may be injured too, and the winter-summer stone’s liquid might help. However, Master is my top priority still. Haish, if I could get Xie Lianzhen here for a day, it would be great. He is way better than any doctors in this world, especially after the years he used to train.~
As for the book she got from Grandmaster Qiu Yu, she tidied up the notes back at the emperor’s secret garden to benefit her friends and family. She wanted to give it to Gao Xiang, but unfortunately, he wasn’t around, so An Tongchen got this benefit instead.
She had been pondering whether she should open up her swordsmanship to the nine jade palace disciple, as it would benefit the sect tremendously if she did.
It’s nice to be kind; that’s what her grandfather used to tell her. There might be many bad guys in this world, but there was no need to marginalize the innocent because of them.
However, Lu Mingshu was a very petty person too. ~Why should I let them benefit for nothing?~
After walking little daze, Lu Mingshu went into the heavenly wheel.
After she broke through, it had become easier to gain accumulated points. Back then, if she didn’t do anything, she would gain two to three points per month. But now, without doing anything, she got a point daily.
As for her lottery chance, she had used it. Lu Mingshu only got a pill for recuperation, so she gave it to Liu Jizhen.
As soon as she entered the heavenly wheel, she received a message for her to go to the market as soon as possible.
Not after long, Qing Mu came over to her in smiles. “Miss Lu, you are finally here. Daoist priest Hao is going to leave soon.”
“Thank you for your hard work. Where is Daoist priest Hao now?”
“Follow me.”
She followed Qing Mu to a street and entered a building. They stopped at level two, and Qing Mu knocked on a door. “Daoist priest Hao, miss Lu is here.”
“Come in.” A hoarse voice could be heard.
Qing Mu went in and greeted him.
Lu Mingshu glanced at the man who seemed to be in his thirties sitting at the table, drinking alcohol. He’s wearing a loose grey colored gown, allowing one to see his well-defined muscles. The only thing that kept the gown in place and preventing it from falling was the belt on his waist. He had messy hair and stubble, making him look messy and unhygienic. Even so, he still looked energetic and even…handsome.
He glanced at Lu Mingshu and pointed to the chair in front of him. “No need for formalities; please have a seat.”
Lu Mingshu bowed and sat down.
There was a sword on the table, a habit that all swordsmen have. Even though he didn’t unsheath it, the sword gave off an aura that made Lu Mingshu stand on her toes.
~ He’s really something else, and his cultivation should be at least the assimilation realm or its equivalent.~
“I heard that you are interested in my medicine?” Daoist priest Hao took a glance at her before downing his alcohol.
“Yes.” Lu Mingshu nodded. “I wonder how much does it cost? I don’t have much-accumulated points, but any other things that the priest wants, I will try my best to get it.”
“It’s not for you, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Who is so important to you?”
Lu Mingshu remained silent for a moment before answering. “My master.”
Daoist priest Hao looked up at her, surprised. He blinked and started laughing. “Interesting, I thought that such a young girl like you would be doing all this for your lover.”
Lu Mingshu said nothing. She didn’t know how to converse with a stranger, and moreover, this Daoist priest Hao did not seem to need her response.
Dowing another cup of alcohol, the priest looked up and sighed. “To be honest, I exchange the prescription with accumulated points as I need them to save lives too. I don’t give out things for free.”
“Then why is the priest willing to meet me?”
Daoist priest Hao raised and eyebrows and laughed. “Smart. I heard that you have the winter-summer stone.”
“Is there anything else I can exchange it with? The stone isn’t with me, but it’s currently with a friend, and it’s not very nice to just take it.”
If Lu Mingshu asked, Xie Lianzhen would sure give her the stone. But it was such a precious ingredient, which pharmacist wouldn’t want it? She doesn’t want to be too heartless either.
“A loyal friend, huh?” The priest laughed. “Wanting to take care of both sides but do you think you are capable enough?”
“I can only try.” Lu Mingshu bit her lips. “I hope priest can tell me, so I can do my best.”
He drank another cup of alcohol and sighed. “I want to save someone’s life too. And the winter-summer stone is my hope. That’s why I need the stone and not its liquid.” He placed the cup down silently and looked at her, smiling thinly. “If you’re unwilling to give up the stone, it’s fine too. Help me look for an extremely rare plant called the bone blossom. If you can find it, I’ll give it to you. But you need to use the liquid of winter-summer stone as a deposit first.”