The first thing Lin Yun became aware of was pain.
A deep, bone-aching, soul-crushing pain that permeated every inch of his body. It felt like he had been run over by a truck, then picked up and run over again for good measure.
He groaned, a low, pathetic sound. He tried to open his eyes, but the daylight streaming through his window felt like needles stabbing into his brain. He squeezed them shut again.
Every muscle protested as he tried to shift position. His head pounded with a rhythmic, punishing throb. His dantian felt completely barren, a desolate wasteland where his spiritual energy should be.
Memories of the previous night flooded back—the intense focus, the agonizing purification, the final, satisfying chime of the completed quest.
The skill!
With great effort, he pushed past the pain and focused inward, pulling up his system interface.
There, in his status screen, nestled among his other skills, was a new icon: a gentle, swirling vortex of light.
[Enhanced Ingredient Purifier - Level 1 (Passive)]
A wave of satisfaction, potent enough to momentarily eclipse the pain, washed through him. He had done it. He had gained a foundational skill that would serve him for his entire alchemy career. The agony had been worth it.
He tried to sit up, and a fresh wave of dizziness and muscle soreness forced him back down onto the pillow with another groan. He was completely and utterly wrecked.
Outside his door, he heard the familiar, light footsteps of Yu Tao'er. The door slid open carefully, and she peeked in. Seeing him awake, her face lit up with relief before immediately clouding over with a mix of anger and concern.
"Young Master! You're awake!" she exclaimed, hurrying to his bedside. She placed a cool hand on his forehead. "How do you feel? Don't try to move! You completely exhausted yourself last night! I was so worried!"
Lin Yun managed a weak smile. "I feel... like I tried to fight a mountain... and the mountain won," he croaked, his throat dry.
Tao'er huffed, her hands on her hips. "Serves you right! I told you to stop! Pushing yourself like that so soon after an injury is reckless!"
Her scolding was undercut by the way she immediately fetched a cup of water and helped him take a few sips.
The water was cool and soothing. "Thank you, Tao'er," he said sincerely. "And... I'm sorry for worrying you."
His apology seemed to mollify her slightly. The anger faded from her expression, leaving only deep concern. "Just... please don't do that again, Young Master. Your health is the most important thing."
Lin Yun nodded weakly.
"Tao'er," he asked, his voice still rough. "How long was I out?"
Yu Tao'er, who was fussing with the blanket, looked up. "You've been asleep for an entire day, Young Master. This is the morning of the second day since you... since you overdid it."
Lin Yun's eyes widened. An entire day? He'd lost a full day of grinding! His daily missions had already been refreshed!
Growl…
Suddenly, his stomach chose that moment to voice its own loud protest, growling with a ferocity that echoed in the quiet room.
The sound broke the tension. Yu Tao'er couldn't help but chuckle, a sweet, tinkling sound. "It seems your body is demanding payment for its hard work. I'll go prepare some food for you right away. Some nourishing spirit porridge to help you recover."
She turned to leave but paused at the doorway, a thoughtful look on her face. "Oh, and Young Master, you should prepare yourself. Second Young Miss will probably arrive soon. The message I sent would have reached her yesterday. Given how she dotes on you, she'll—"
Boom!
Before Tao'er could even finish her sentence, the front door of the courtyard residence flew open with a sound like a thunderclap. It wasn't forced; it was simply opened with such impatient, overwhelming energy that it might as well have been kicked down.
A whirlwind of motion and spiritual pressure burst into the house. Lin Yun barely had time to blink before the door to his bedroom was slid open with enough force to rattle the frame.
Standing there, silhouetted by the morning light, was a woman.
She was tall and willowy, dressed in robes of pristine white embroidered with subtle silver patterns that resembled frost on a winter pane.
Her hair was tied up in a practical yet elegant high ponytail that cascaded down her back like a waterfall of ink. Her features were breathtakingly beautiful—sharp, intelligent eyes, a straight nose, and lips set in a firm line of worry and anger.
However, her beauty was secondary to the aura she emitted—one of heroic spirit, fierce determination, and potent, restrained power. This was a woman who commanded attention simply by existing.
This was Lin Wanrou. His Second Sister.
Before Lin Yun's brain could even fully register her presence, she was at his bedside in a blur of motion. Her speed was terrifying.
"Yun'er!" Her voice was a mixture of deep concern and sharp reprimand. She didn't ask how he was; she simply grabbed his wrist, her fingers cool and firm against his pulse point.
A powerful, yet incredibly gentle, spiritual energy flowed from her fingers into his meridians. It was a warm, soothing energy, far purer and more potent than anything he had ever felt.
It felt like sunlight flowing into his parched dantian and aching muscles, washing away the fatigue and pain in its wake. The throbbing in his head receded almost instantly.
Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she scanned his body.
"A cauldron explosion? Internal energy disruption? And severe spiritual energy exhaustion on top of it! Yun'er! How could you be so careless!" she scolded, her words coming out in a rapid, worried torrent.
"I told you to focus on your foundation, to take things slowly! Alchemy is dangerous! What if something serious had happened? What would I tell Father and Mother? What would Big Brother say?"
Her spiritual energy continued to circulate within him, expertly mending minor tears in his meridians and replenishing his depleted reserves at an astonishing rate. The difference was palpable. The crippling weakness began to fade, replaced by a comfortable warmth.
Her sharp eyes then flicked to Yu Tao'er, who had immediately dropped into a deep bow the moment the Second Young Miss had entered.
"And you, Little Tao'er!" Lin Wanrou's tone was stern, but Lin Yun, watching closely, could see there was no real malice in it. "I entrusted Yun'er to your care! How could you let him push himself to the point of collapse? You should have stopped him! You should have sent for me immediately!"
Yu Tao'er kept her head bowed, but a small, knowing smile touched her lips. She had served the Lin family for years; she could tell the difference between genuine anger and worried bluster. "This humble servant deserves punishment, Second Young Miss. I failed in my duty."