He would have to concoct several pills first, the 9 types of herbs he got from Assistant Physician Lu for body refining were extremely Yang-rich, so he planned to refine a Yang Essence Pill to strengthen his body, replenish blood, immunity to poisons, and igniting the inner fire. Along with that, he would refine a Soul-Lustre Pill and finally a Foundation Establishment Pill for his spiritual cultivation.
He estimated he could finish refining all of them by tomorrow morning.
"So my first goal tomorrow," Su Wen muttered to himself, "is to calm my mind and finally break through."
And as for Du Yue… he would be able to start her treatment by tomorrow afternoon.
As the cold breeze brushed past him, Su Wen thought back to the chain of events from the last few days:
The Spiritvine Spirit Herb, he had bought from the Treasure Tower, a Peak Grade 3 meridian-healing herb.
Du Yue's one-time escape sword crashing straight onto their mountain like fate itself pushed her toward him.
And him, someone who just so happened to be both a physician and an expert in treating meridians, being here at exactly the right moment.
Su Wen narrowed his eyes, a faint wry smile forming at the corner of his lips.
"Is all this a coincidence?"
"Or… is this what people call being Heaven-favoured?"
They still had four hours until sunset… and Su Wen hadn't practiced properly in days, first the exams, then yesterday's long trip home, and today's chaos.
He exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
"A little loosening up won't hurt," he murmured.
He stood up and walked toward the west side of the lake. Beyond the Lakeside Lodge was his personal practice ground, a quiet place surrounded by the rustling bamboo and the clear reflection of the sky on the lake's surface.
As he approached the lodge's gate, his steps subtly slowed.
Someone was already there.
A slender figure, around 5.8 feet tall, stood by the lakeside. She wore simple blue robes, the fabric fluttering gently in the afternoon breeze. Her posture was elegant, calm, almost serene, as if she belonged to the scenery itself.
Even with half her face bandaged, the other half revealed a gentle, natural beauty that no injury could conceal. Smooth skin, a soft jawline, and an expression that carried both fragility and quiet strength.
Du Yue.
She stood quietly, eyes lowered to the shimmering lake, as if lost in thoughts too heavy for words.
Su Wen blinked once.
He hadn't expected her to wander so far. And certainly not to stand there looking like a solitary painting come alive.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Why is she everywhere I go today?" he muttered under his breath.
But he didn't leave. Su Wen entered the lakeside lodge and coughed twice to gain the attention of the blue-robed figure.
Du Yue looked back, startled, her eyes widening. She stammered, "Y-You… what are you doing here?"
Su Wen regarded her with a slightly raised brow, then replied proudly, "This lodge was built by me, and I am the Young Master of the Mountain. Of course, I will be here. I have to practice my swordsmanship."
He gestured slowly toward the practice ground. "But… it should be me asking you this question. What are you doing here? You're still injured. You shouldn't be walking or standing for too long."
Du Yue's ears flushed red, and a wave of embarrassment swept over her. As he spoke, exaggerating his "young master" status, she thought to herself, 'Why is he so childish? I just asked instinctively why he is here, what's there to be proud of? There's only one house and three people and a little cute bird.'
She composed herself and spoke softly, "Apologies, the young master of the mountain. I just wanted to get some air." She paused, glancing at the lake. "I… I also wanted some quiet time. The view here is peaceful."
Su Wen nodded once, and said, "Cool. Enjoy. I'll go for my practice, then." Without waiting for her reply, he strode toward the practice ground.
Du Yue watched his wide back and scholarly posture as he walked away. Her heart wouldn't settle; she instinctively moved closer to a bench near the practice area and sat down, curious to see what he would do next.
Unaware of her presence, Su Wen went to the centre of the ground. He took out a Grade 2 sword from his storage ring and placed it vertically on the ground. Then, in one fluid motion, he removed his upper robe, revealing a lean, sculpted body, defined abs, stone-like muscles, and a pale but toned torso.
Before he could continue, a sudden sound broke the quiet.
Du Yue, who had been watching attentively, froze mid-breath. Her eyes widened uncontrollably as she stared at his toned, perfectly proportioned body. The pale skin and sharp definition of his muscles left her flushed, and her heartbeat surged. She couldn't stop herself from letting out an embarrassed gasp.
Su Wen froze, puzzled. 'Why is she here? And why is her face so red?' he wondered.
Before he could speak, a familiar voice chirped from the nearby tree:
"-Chirp! I didn't know getting undressed and showing off in front of the girl was part of your treatment plan, huh? -Chirp! Hehe, I'll go tell Grandma about this! -Chirp!"
The little sparrow flitted away, hopping and chirping with delight, leaving Su Wen standing in the centre of the practice ground, his face burning red.
He pressed a hand to his forehead and looked at the little sparrow flying away, "…that little bird"
Du Yue, meanwhile, buried her face in her hands on the bench, heart racing, feeling her cheeks burn hotter with each passing second.
Su Wen's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why are you hiding your face behind your hands?" he asked, his tone calm but carrying an edge of curiosity.
Du Yue took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. After a brief pause, she composed her expression into one of seriousness. "No… something got in my eyes," she said quickly, waving a hand as if brushing away the imaginary irritation.
She straightened her posture and continued, her voice firm and righteous, "I was just bored, so I sat here to watch you practice… and provide some guidance. After all, I was a Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator."
Su Wen raised an eyebrow at her, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. 'Peak Foundation Establishment, huh?' he thought. He didn't respond immediately, letting her words hang in the air as he assessed her carefully.
Du Yue, noticing his silence, shifted slightly in her seat, trying to maintain her composure despite the lingering flutter in her chest.