As soon as Pan Yong left, Yang Yi immediately put away his stern expression and said with a smile, "Young Duan, after questioning all morning, I'm feeling a bit thirsty. Would it be possible to ask you for a cup of water?"
Duan Rong replied with a smile, "Steward Yang, please help yourself."
His gaze swept across Yang Yi's face; he knew Yang Yi's intentions, likely seeing him as the key to uncover the truth about the explosion at the pill furnace.
With Pan Yong, Yang Yi was all business, but as soon as Pan Yong left, he became amicable.
The two walked slowly into the cave.
Duan Rong lit a candle.
From a black pottery jar, he poured water into two bamboo tubes, giving one to Yang Yi and keeping the other for himself.
Yang Yi drank half of the clear water from the bamboo tube in one gulp, then looked at the candlelight and said with a smile, "Young Duan, even in the cave, do you not like to have a light on?"
Duan Rong replied, "I prefer to cultivate in the dark."
