Chapter 41: Saving Someone
The next day, Han Yu suddenly opened his eyes.
Morning light outside the window cast the slanted shadows of the lattice onto the bed. He pushed up his sore body, temples throbbing—how many cycles had he cultivated through before falling asleep last night? His memory was like muddied water, unable to recall when he had collapsed onto the bed.
"Not good!" He hurriedly flung off the thin quilt, but his gaze froze when it swept across the wooden table. The jade-green gourd stood there alone in the morning light, with a few drops of dew still clinging to its surface.
Han Yu struck the bedboard in frustration. He should have put it away last night.
He dashed barefoot to the table, but froze the moment his fingertips touched the gourd—a faint chime came from within, as if it held half a pot of clear spring water. His heartbeat quickened. Lifting it carefully, he saw through the semi-transparent jade wall a faint silver-white liquid flowing slowly inside.
"How is this possible…" he murmured. Just as he was about to pull out the jade stopper for a closer look, a deep, distant bell sounded. Han Yu shivered—today was the day of Mo Daoren's examination.
He hastily shoved the gourd under his pillow, then, still uneasy, transferred it into the inner pocket of his robe.
When he stepped outside, he saw Li Hanzhou already waiting.
"Morning, Senior Brother Li." Han Yu greeted him a little awkwardly. Li Hanzhou merely nodded in response.
Han Yu was not offended; he was used to it by now. After spending so many days together, he had long realized Li Hanzhou was cold on the outside but warm at heart.
"Senior Brother Li, how do you think Elder Mo will test us?" Han Yu lowered his voice, glancing toward the entrance of the medicinal garden.
Li Hanzhou's lips pressed together, his voice slightly hoarse. "Likely to check the progress of cultivation methods. Your talent surpasses mine—you have no need to worry."
They had spoken before, so Li Hanzhou naturally knew Han Yu had already sensed qi.
Han Yu heard the trace of dejection in his tone and, for a moment, did not know how to comfort him.
Just as he was about to speak, Li Hanzhou's expression sharpened. "He's here."
A cold wind swept across the medicinal fields, and the black-robed figure of Mo Daoren appeared before the stone platform.
His gaunt face showed no joy or anger, only those hawk-like eyes sweeping between them.
"Begin." Mo Daoren's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping, his manner as direct as ever.
He pointed toward Li Hanzhou. "You first."
Li Hanzhou stepped forward and extended his right hand.
Mo Daoren's withered fingers rested on his pulse gate, and a cold force instantly entered his meridians.
Han Yu noticed Li Hanzhou's brows twitch almost imperceptibly before smoothing out again.
"Operate the Longevity Formula," Mo Daoren instructed.
Li Hanzhou closed his eyes, fine beads of sweat gradually forming on his forehead. After a moment, Mo Daoren withdrew his hand, clear displeasure on his face.
"Have you sensed qi?"
"Disciple… has yet to feel spiritual energy entering the body." Li Hanzhou's tone was steady, but Han Yu noticed his fingertips trembling slightly.
A flash of disappointment crossed Mo Daoren's features. With a cold snort, he turned to Han Yu, his tone still even. "Your turn."
Han Yu took a deep breath and extended his wrist.
When Mo Daoren's spiritual power entered his body, he clearly felt the warm current in his dantian automatically circulate, slowly flowing along his meridians.
Time passed, moment by moment…
Unlike with Li Hanzhou, Mo Daoren's fingers lingered on Han Yu's pulse for a full 3 breaths.
Suddenly, the claw-like fingertips trembled, and the black robe's sleeve fluttered without wind.
Beneath the old man's gray-white brows, his clouded pupils suddenly contracted to needlepoints, reflecting the faint azure vein-light flickering on the youth's wrist.
"This is…" The hoarse voice caught in his throat, veins bulging at the side of Mo Daoren's neck like writhing worms. He suddenly gripped Han Yu's chin, his nails nearly digging into the flesh. "Run a full cycle of circulation! Now!"
Pain darkened Han Yu's vision, but he did not dare disobey. When he guided the warm current within his body through the Ren Meridian, Mo Daoren abruptly released him and stepped back two paces.
The old man's figure under the black robe rose and fell violently, as though countless insects crawled beneath the fabric.
"Good… very good…" Mo Daoren covered his twitching mouth with his sleeve, his knuckles cracking sharply.
"You truly have sensed qi! And you can already circulate it through your meridians on your own!"
Han Yu looked at Li Hanzhou in surprise. The latter gave him a slight nod, his eyes carrying both satisfaction and an unhidden trace of loss.
"Han Yu, from this day forth, you are my personal disciple!" A rare smile appeared on Mo Daoren's gaunt face. He reached out as if to pat Han Yu's shoulder, but pulled back abruptly before touching, as though afraid of breaking a precious treasure. "Starting tomorrow, I will personally guide your cultivation."
Personal disciple!?
Han Yu was struck by overwhelming joy.
In these past days, he had learned that disciples in the Eight Symbols Sect were divided into three groups: outer sect disciples, inner sect disciples, and personal disciples.
To leap directly from outer sect to personal disciple was nothing short of ascending in one step.
"Many thanks, Master Mo!" Han Yu said with heartfelt gratitude.
Even with his mature composure, he could not hide his excitement.
"As for you…" Mo Daoren turned to Li Hanzhou, his smile vanishing instantly. "Come. I will take you to see Elder Wang so he can reassign you to the outer sect."
Li Hanzhou bowed respectfully. "Yes, Elder."
Mo Daoren, for once patient, gave Han Yu a few instructions on cultivation matters before leaving with Li Hanzhou.
Han Yu watched their departing backs, feeling both thrilled and slightly uneasy.
"Senior Brother Li!" he suddenly called out. "I'll come find you later!"
Li Hanzhou looked back, nodding lightly, a flicker of complex emotion in his eyes.
…
On the mountain path, the mist grew thicker.
Following behind Mo Daoren, Li Hanzhou grew increasingly uneasy.
"Elder, this isn't the road to the outer sect…" He swallowed hard, stopping in his tracks as he warily scanned the surroundings.
Mo Daoren slowly turned, the wrinkles on his face twisting into something ferocious in the shadows. "Of course not."
Before the words had even faded, his withered palm flared with a strange green light, striking toward Li Hanzhou's chest.
"Though you have no spiritual root, your physical talent is good. I've been preparing to refine a corpse puppet—your body will make a fine vessel!"
Li Hanzhou's pupils shrank sharply as his body instinctively retreated, but Mo Daoren was faster. That green-glowing palm was already within reach.
At this critical moment, a streak of azure light descended from the sky, landing squarely in front of Li Hanzhou.
Mo Daoren's palm struck the light with a muffled "bang," the force scattering the surrounding mist.
"Who's there!?" Mo Daoren roared, eyes scanning the area in wary anger.
But in the next instant, the azure light merely swept around Li Hanzhou and vanished from the spot.
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