Chapter 16
Level 5
"As I said, this is the pill from Grandmaster Bai."
After Uncle Huang went to instruct the caretakers to bring excellent tea and snacks to the guest room, he hurried to bring the strange pill he had received from Bai Fanxian up to show the clan head.
Tang Tianjie sat in his study. He hadn't yet gone down to greet Bai Fanxian, still suspicious of the young woman. A Grandmaster in her twenties—it was too unbelievable.
He also wasn't certain about the young woman's background.
He didn't know if she was friend or foe, so he needed time to investigate a little.
He looked at the ash-gray pill that seemed suspicious. It had neither the aura of a high-level pill nor any power manifesting from it at all. So he concluded it must be just a low-level pill.
He was still suspicious of the young woman's intentions, his gaze at this pill full of wariness.
Even if it was a real pill, a low-level pill surely couldn't help his granddaughter. It might even cause strange side effects.
He really didn't dare take the risk.
"Sir, no matter what, it's a pill from Grandmaster Bai. When the time comes, you'll need to thank her," Uncle Huang suggested. When speaking of Grandmaster Bai's name, he spoke with an extremely respectful tone without realizing it.
"You're certain that woman's truly at Grandmaster level, Huang Zihuan?"
Tang Tianjie asked in a low voice.
"My Heaven Sense couldn't detect even a fraction of her power," Uncle Huang said confidently. "Besides, when I left the room earlier, I was pushed out by her qi without being able to resist anything."
His second sentence was spoken with a chilling tone.
"Wasn't it because you weren't ready?"
"Not being able to resist means my qi couldn't circulate when it touched hers. It was like it got completely suppressed..."
"..."
"...The real deal then."
"Yes, sir."
After receiving confirmation from his confidant, Tang Tianjie sighed even more deeply with stress. His granddaughter's condition was getting worse. On the other hand, there was a Grandmaster-level cultivator in the house whose intentions he still didn't know.
"Sir, you don't need to worry. It seems Grandmaster Bai has an agreement with the young master. And it was the young master who invited Grandmaster Bai to protect the young miss on the day of the journey to see the Divine Doctor," Uncle Huang explained.
"Really?"
Tang Tianjie relaxed a little. As the Tang clan head, he had to think about everything carefully. It was this very caution of his that allowed the Tang clan to survive for dozens of years.
"So what should we do with this pill?"
"Good question." Tang Tianjie picked up the ash-gray pill to examine it closely again. On his desk, of course, there were various pieces of equipment. He picked up a strangely shaped tool and scraped lightly at the pill's surface, causing some fine powder to fall off.
In that instant, however, a powerful aura surged out from that tiny scratch, startling even Tang Tianjie who was holding it.
The aura was full of tremendous life force, freshness, and a healing sensation. Just inhaling it made both old men in the room feel their fatigue disappear.
The weariness and headache from today's events gradually eased, slowly but visibly. Both Tang Tianjie and Uncle Huang stared at the pill in his hand in disbelief.
The hand holding the pill trembled slightly, uncontrollably.
"The aura leaking from this tiny scratch is stronger than the Life Replenishing Elixir, isn't it, sir?" Uncle Huang said uncertainly. When his young miss took the Life Replenishing Elixir, its aura wasn't as powerful as this pill's at all.
And this was just the aura leaking from a tiny scratch. Yet it could restore their fatigue.
If someone ate the whole pill, how powerful would it be!?
"...Could this be a level 5 pill?"
"Level 5!?"
The Tang clan head's words shocked Uncle Huang to the utmost. "Level 5 pill"—what did that mean? It meant a pill that existed only in legends, one that no one in this era could refine!
Refining a level 4 pill already required Grandmaster-level power. As for this level 5 pill, Tang Tianjie didn't think anyone in this country could refine it anymore!
The only reason he knew it existed was from rumors that it had been passed down among the powerful in the government. But he had never seen it with his own eyes before. Even a level 4 pill like the Life Replenishing Elixir was a treasure he had obtained through great difficulty at auction!
Tang Tianjie set down the pill as gently as possible. He was afraid it would be damaged. The aura bursting from that tiny scratch gradually faded and disappeared as the pill became smooth again. The old man turned his attention to the powder—just tiny grains he had scraped off earlier—instead.
"Sir, let me test it," Uncle Huang said worriedly when he saw Tang Tianjie about to test the pill's effectiveness himself.
"Alright then."
Tang Tianjie stepped back. Uncle Huang came forward to receive the pointed tool with the fine powder of this miraculous pill at its tip.
Uncle Huang thought he could trust Bai Fanxian. Besides, if that young woman wanted to harm the Tang clan, he thought she wouldn't need to waste time poisoning them like this at all.
Just her physical strength should be enough to crush the Tang clan flat.
He placed the pill powder on the tip of his tongue without hesitation.
The instant it entered his body, Uncle Huang felt a faint warmth flowing out. It swirled around his body before gathering at the scar located in the middle of his chest.
He felt a burning sensation, so he touched his chest. The scar was slowly healing, but before long it stopped. Uncle Huang immediately understood—it was because the amount wasn't enough.
What he ate was just the fine powder scraped from the pill.
He didn't want to think about what would happen if he ate the whole pill!
His entire body would probably be reborn!
"Sir, this medicine is real!" Uncle Huang said excitedly.
"It restores the body, repairs worn parts, and even relieves fatigue and stress, right?"
Tang Tianjie, worthy of being the Tang clan head, quickly saw through this pill's properties.
"Yes. Should we take it to the young miss to try?"
Uncle Huang asked eagerly. If this pill could save Tang Yeye's life, he wanted to bring it to that child as soon as possible.
"Of course. But before that..."
.
.
.
In the luxurious guest room full of amenities, Bai Fanxian looked at Hui'er walking out of the bathroom. The little girl wore a light pink t-shirt with "Little Bear" design, and her shorts also had "Little Bear" printed on them.
"Do you like the bathroom here?"
Bai Fanxian asked the child who had just experienced her first bath in a tub. Hui'er was extremely excited. The room still had many strange things she'd never seen before.
"Yes! It was so comfortable, my lady," Hui'er answered happily. She looked at Bai Fanxian, who was still in the same outfit, and asked in confusion.
"Aren't you gonna bathe, my lady?"
Since entering the room, her lady had just sat sipping tea on the balcony and told her to bathe first.
As a follower, she should bathe after her lady!
When her lady ordered, however, the little girl obediently complied.
"I'm waiting."
"Waiting for what, my lady?"
"...They're probably coming now?"
Before Hui'er could get an answer, the door to their room was knocked lightly and politely. Hui'er looked at her lady once for permission. When her lady allowed it, she walked to open the door readily.
"Am I disturbing you, Grandmaster Bai?"
Standing at the door was Uncle Huang, standing straight with respect. Next to him was Tang Tianjie, slightly surprised to see little Hui'er opening the door.
"Hui'er, is Uncle Huang disturbing you?"
It was one of Uncle Huang's charms—he always maintained politeness when conversing with guests, even if that guest was a little girl. He looked at Hui'er, wearing the little bear t-shirt, with affectionate eyes.
"Hello, Uncle Huang. My lady asked me to open the door for you."
Hui'er herself also liked this elderly butler. Today he'd kept sneaking snacks to her.
"Then may I trouble you, Grandmaster Bai?"
Uncle Huang, seeing Bai Fanxian calmly sipping tea on the balcony, asked politely.
"...Mm."
Bai Fanxian nodded in acceptance. That made the two old men walk into the young woman's room. Tang Tianjie quickly surveyed the young woman he'd heard was at Grandmaster level, careful not to be rude.
He could sense nothing, of course.
With a young woman who could produce a level 5 pill, however, her background couldn't possibly be ordinary.
"Grandmaster Bai, this is the Tang clan head, Tang Tianjie," Uncle Huang politely introduced his master to Bai Fanxian.
"An honor to meet you, Grandmaster Bai." Tang Tianjie clasped his hands to show respect in the martial world way.
"Mm...hello."
Bai Fanxian just nodded in acceptance. She didn't even stand up to greet him.
That didn't make Tang Tianjie angry at all, however. A Grandmaster-level identity had the ability to act this way.
Everything was decided by real power!
"Why haven't you given the pill to that child yet?"
Bai Fanxian took a sip of tea and asked without making eye contact with the two old men. She just sat on the balcony and let the breeze blow lightly against her, making her comfortable.
Her question startled Tang Tianjie. That pill was still kept in the pocket at his chest.
"Grandmaster Bai, could I ask you something?"
Tang Tianjie walked over and spoke politely. Bai Fanxian nodded lightly as permission.
"Did you refine this pill yourself?"
Tang Tianjie asked seriously. He stared at the young woman as if praying what he was thinking was true.
"...Mm."
Upon hearing the young woman's answer, Tang Tianjie not only trembled all over, he stepped forward until he stopped in front of Bai Fanxian and did the unthinkable!
The old man who held the position of Tang clan head was kneeling!
And kneeling until his forehead touched the floor!
"Grandmaster Bai, please accept me as your disciple!"