White-Robed Chief

“Let’s go!” Chu Li turned around to look at Ji Xin and Zhou Jinchun. “Can you walk?”

“Junior Brother Zhao, please lend us a hand,” Zhou Jinchun said while grimacing in pain.

Chu Li reached his arms out to help both of them.

Ji Xin turned his head and angrily glared at Wen Tingdao while he leaned on Chu Li, walking away with much difficulty.

Chu Li said, “Do you want to kill Wen Tingdao, or do you want the Common Knotgrass?”

“Hmph…” Ji Xin shook his head and said, “It’s such a waste. This was a really good opportunity!”

Chu Li replied, “You’ll get another chance.”

Ji Xin hurriedly asked, “Why don’t we hide here and wait to ambush Wen Tingdao when he comes with the Common Knotgrass?”

Chu Li strangely glanced at Ji Xin.

Ji Xin said, “Isn’t this a good idea? Why do we have to keep our promise to the enemy when he’s already taken the Common Knotgrass?”

“Ahh…” Chu Li shook his head and remained silent.

Zhou Jinchun impatiently responded, “Junior Brother Ji, I can’t believe that even an intelligent person like you would come up with such a stupid idea.”

“How is that a stupid idea?”

“Do you think that a cunning person like Wen Tingdao would let his guard down?”

“You have a point…” Ji Xin bashfully smiled upon realizing that he was being shortsighted. When Ji Xin noticed that he had embarrassed himself in front of the other two men, Ji Xin frantically said, “That man is terribly sly. If we let him escape this time, we won’t be able to capture him next time!”

“Senior Brother Ji, as long as he wants to kill you, we’ll have an opportunity to capture him,” Chu Li said.

Ji Xin could not fully comprehend the things that Chu Li said.

Zhou Jinchun smiled and explained, “A fish will definitely take the bait as long as it’s there.”

Ji Xin shook his head.

When the trio returned to the Town Defense Prefecture, Li Ruolan was already waiting for them in the backyard.

Li Ruolan’s expression changed greatly when she noticed that Ji Xin and Zhou Jinchun had returned in a battered and bloodied state. Li Ruolan hurriedly came forward and asked, “What happened?”

“Get the spirit pill for Senior Sister Lu,” Chu Li said.

Ji Xin waved his hand and said, “I’m fine. These are all external injuries that will heal in a few days. There’s some good news for Junior Sister Lu. Junior Brother Zhao can refine a type of spirit pill called the Detachment Pill. He’s missing a particular spirit herb, so we went to find it for him.”

“Does that spirit pill still exist?” Li Ruolan was shocked.

“It can be refined,” Chu Li said. “As long as we have the Common Knotgrass.”

“We’ll get the Common Knotgrass soon.” Ji Xin smiled and said, “We went to great lengths to get it from the Sword Moon Sect’s Wen Tingdao this time.”

“Him?” Li Ruolan said, “Senior Brother Ji, why did you provoke him? You shouldn’t pick a fight with someone from the Sword Moon Sect!”

Chu Li said, “Senior Sister Li, your wounds haven’t healed yet. You should get them treated immediately!”

“I’m fine.” Li Ruolan shook her head.

Ji Xin sounded deeply concerned when he said, “You should care about your wounds. Hurry up and get them treated. We can’t leave even if we wanted to because our own wounds need some time to heal themselves.”

Ji Xin bitterly smiled when he said that.

It felt terribly unbearable when he could not do as he pleased for one and a half years.

…

Three days later, Chu Li was leisurely cultivating the thirty-six energy-nurturing forms in the backyard at dawn.

Li Ruolan rushed into the backyard, holding a box. She entered the gazebo and said, “I’ve managed to retrieve the Common Knotgrass. Why don’t you take a look and see if this is it?”

Chu Li walked to the side of the stone table before he pried the box open with his sword. There were ten stalks of herbs that were as thick as his thumb and shaped like bamboo inside the box. It was the Common Knotgrass indeed. The stalks looked rather strange because they resembled numerous fingers.

“Is this it?” Li Ruolan asked.

“Yes, this is it!” Chu Li happily nodded. “Have the remaining spirit herbs been sent over?”

“They’ve already been sent over from Great Light Peak.” Li Ruolan nodded. “Are you sure that you can do it? It seems like nobody from the herbalist hall has managed to refine it.”

“That’s because this spirit pill is difficult to refine.” Chu Li explained. “They were unsuccessful, but I won’t fail.”

Li Ruolan said, “Senior Sister Lu will be disappointed if you fail to refine the spirit pill. We’ll see how she punishes you when that happens!”

Chu Li asked, “Did you tell Senior Sister Lu about this?”

“Do you think that Senior Brother Zhou could keep it a secret from her?” Li Ruolan scoffed.

Chu Li shook his head.

Zhou Jinchun would have excitedly presented this treasure to Lu Zhen. He could not bear seeing Lu Zhen being depressed.

Li Ruolan said, “Senior Sister Lu will definitely be extremely grateful to you if you manage to refine that pill for her.”

“It doesn’t matter whether she’s grateful or not.” Chu Li said, “I’m trying to help Senior Sister Lu because I pity her.”

“Senior Sister Lu really likes you.” Li Ruolan pursed her lips and quietly giggled.

Chu Li cast a sidelong glance at Li Ruolan. “Is that very funny?”

“I just found it amusing.” Li Ruolan’s lips were curled into a faint smile.

Li Ruolan was not wearing her white veil. Her charming and gorgeous face was extremely alluring when she smiled.

Chu Li scoffed. “Why is it so hard to believe that someone likes me when there are people who are attracted to Senior Brother Ji?”

“Alright, I won’t mention it anymore.” Li Ruolan’s smile disappeared. “When are you planning to refine the pills?”

“I’m going to start immediately.” Chu Li said, “Have you found an alchemy furnace?”

“Yes, I’ve found the best one.” Li Ruolan nodded and said, “The mayor ordered it immediately. This alchemy furnace is rather useful too. It has already been placed in the front courtyard.”

“I’ll go and have a look.” Chu Li picked up the box and walked outside.

Li Ruolan took Chu Li to the first entrance of the courtyard at the front. The dark alchemy furnace in the center of the courtyard was almost as tall as two people. The furnace resembled an ancient bronze pot. Chu Li could tell that the furnace had existed for a long period because it produced an aura which showed that it had undergone numerous changes throughout time.

“A Taoist temple made this,” Li Ruolan explained. “That particular Taoist temple was destroyed a long time ago, but this alchemy furnace is very durable because it can still be used.”

The pitch-black alchemy furnace made a crisp clanging noise when Chu Li hit it.

Chu Li was very pleased. “Not bad! Bring me the remaining spirit herbs and another bucket of water. I’m going to refine the pill now.”

“Alright.” Li Ruolan left the courtyard. The sound of hurried footsteps could be heard immediately as Zhou Jinchun and Ji Xin rushed over.

Li Ruolan returned with Lu Zhen after a short while.

Lu Zhen was dressed in a white robe while her left sleeve flapped in the wind. Lu Zhen’s complexion was still terribly pale. Her delicate and lovely little face looked utterly pitiful.

“Junior Brother Zhao, can you really make my arm grow back?”

“Yes, as long as I manage to refine the Detachment Pill.”

“Alright.” Lu Zhen pursed her little pink lips. “If you can make my left arm grow back, I’ll marry you!”

Chu Li was stunned.

“Junior Sister Lu!” Zhou Jinchun exclaimed.

Lu Zhen ignored him. She stared at Chu Li and said, “I meant what I said.”

Li Ruolan hurriedly grabbed Lu Zhen. “Senior Sister Lu!”

Ji Xin’s eyes were also widened in disbelief.

Ji Xin was not attracted to Junior Sister Lu, but there were many other disciples in the Holy Church of Light who were in love with her. Junior Sister Lu had rejected numerous handsome individuals, but she wanted to marry Zhao Dahe despite his ugliness. She was definitely crazy!

Chu Li looked at Lu Zhen.

Lu Zhen said, “Zhao Dahe, are you too afraid to marry me?”

Li Ruolan angrily said, “Senior Sister Lu, please think about this carefully. This isn’t a trifling matter!”

“I’ve already thought about it carefully.” Lu Zhen said, “Junior Brother Zhao is a really good person. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to marry him. I’d happily marry Junior Brother Zhao because he’s so manly. Wouldn’t you do the same?”

“You’re not compatible with him!” Li Ruolan retorted.

Chu Li was rendered speechless.

Li Ruolan furiously glared at Chu Li. “Don’t you dare get any crazy ideas like marrying Senior Sister Lu!”

Chu Li did not look at Li Ruolan. Instead, Chu Li stared at Lu Zhen and said, “Senior Sister Lu, we’re definitely incompatible… Let’s start refining these pills.”

Chu Li opened the box just as he finished speaking. He took four stalks of Common Knotgrass from the box and threw it into the alchemy furnace.

Lu Zhen’s bright eyes did not blink when she glared intently at Chu Li.

Zhou Jinchun secretly sighed in relief.

Chu Li threw the remaining spirit herbs into the furnace before he added several ladles of water. He started igniting the fire after that.

The courtyard was suddenly filled with smoke. Everyone held their breath and remained focused.

Chu Li sat on the cattail hassock in front of the alchemy furnace. “All of you should return to your own tasks. The pill requires an entire day to be refined.”

Everyone left when they heard that it would take such a long time, all except Lu Zhen who was forcibly dragged out of the courtyard by Li Ruolan.