Chapter 28: News of Mother
By Gu Zhenren
June 18, 2014
Yun Xiaoai’s appearance was an unexpected surprise for Chu Yun, and even more so for everyone else in the hall. In all the previous blind date gatherings, it was always the man who approached the woman, and never had a woman left her seat to approach the man.
Yun Xiaoai undeniably broke tradition and set a small record. For a moment, countless eyes turned toward Chu Yun. There was jealousy, envy, curiosity, and confusion – a myriad of emotions.
Feeling the gazes, Yun Xiaoai chuckled, quite pleased, “Who says women have to sit and wait for men to approach? That’s unfair! I, Yun Xiaoai, will take control. Hehehe, you’re all stumped!”
She laughed, her eyes curving like the moon, possessing a sly and endearing charm. Chu Yun’s expression remained calm as he quietly sipped his tea, only his gaze toward Yun Xiaoai held a hint of warmth. Among his acquaintances in the Yun Family, Yun Baishen and Yun Xiaoai ranked high. This was mainly because Yun Baishen was also from the research institute, and Chu Yun often sparred with him in pill refining during their free time. Over time, he naturally became familiar with Yun Baishen’s precious sister.
Chu Yun found the eccentric Yun Xiaoai likable. Of course, this affection was devoid of desire; he simply saw her as a younger sister. Yun Xiaoai felt the same, regarding Chu Yun as an older brother figure. As soon as she sat down, she reached out her delicate hand and began popping the crystal grapes from Chu Yun’s table into her mouth. Her actions were casual and uninhibited, the kind only seen between close acquaintances.
While eating, she complained, “Ugh, it’s so annoying. Always a crowd of people surrounding me, it makes my head pound. It’s much better here, so quiet!” Yun Xiaoai’s mouth was full, yet she spoke clearly. The ability to talk with her mouth full was quite unique.
Chu Yun smiled, remaining silent, and continued to sip his tea. Yun Xiaoai was accustomed to Chu Yun’s reticence. She knew he didn’t talk much, much like her own brother. However, when he did speak, his words invariably became the focal point, carrying weight as if spoken from a mountain, profound, penetrating, and captivating.
She didn’t ask Chu Yun why he was still sitting there and not in the main hall to the right. She knew the reason; her brother, Yun Baishen, was still unmarried. Geniuses always had high standards, leading to frequent solitude.
Thus, in the eyes of the onlookers, a peculiar scene unfolded. Yun Xiaoai was tossing fruit into her mouth, mumbling indistinctly, not the picture of ladylike behavior, yet undeniably cute. Chu Yun, on the other hand, calmly sipped his tea, uttering not a word. This was in stark contrast to the other men desperately trying to impress.
After a lengthy complaint, thoroughly criticizing and devaluing the tradition of the dreaded blind date gathering, Yun Xiaoai finally felt a bit relieved and transitioned to the main point: “Hey, I need your help with something.”
Chu Yun, unperturbed, casually replied, “Mhmm, go ahead.”
Yun Xiaoai’s mouth was stuffed with fruit, juice trickling down the corners, yet her voice remained exceptionally clear: “It’s about refining a medicinal pill, one that can cure a heart ailment, to treat an elder relative of mine.”
“A heart ailment?” Chu Yun raised an eyebrow slightly. “What kind of heart ailment? Lovesickness can be treated with a Heart-Severing Pill or a Dream-Lingering Pill. Excessive worry can be addressed with a Worry-Dispelling Pill. Madness from joy can be soothed by a Heart-Calming Pill. However, you’re asking me to develop a pill, not just refine one, which implies ordinary pills are no longer effective. I need to know the detailed condition to refine the appropriate pill.”
“It’s my aunt. She’s always doted on me. Sadly, she’s deeply unhappy. Her husband was an mortal enemy of our Yun Family and was poisoned with the incurable Scale-Breaking Poison, dying right before her eyes. She once had a child, but they disappeared over forty years ago, with no news since. Sigh, every day at a specific time, my aunt spits out vital blood from her heart. Even with her King level cultivation, she can’t suppress it; her condition is very severe.”
“Our Yun Family has been trying our best to treat her, but the results haven’t been good. Heart ailments, unlike other injuries or illnesses, are unpredictable. Find the key, and perhaps a lower grade pill can cure it. Fail to find it, and even a supreme grade pill will be useless. Heart ailments are the most erratic. Brother Wuming, you’re so young yet you’ve entered the research institute; perhaps you could try and help me? Regardless, my brother and I will be grateful.”
Yun Xiaoai finished speaking and looked at Chu Yun with hopeful eyes.
Chu Yun’s expression remained unchanged, but his heart churned. His spiritual intuition told him that Yun Xiaoai’s aunt was likely his mother. He lowered his gaze, concealing the flickering divine light in his eyes. Lowering his voice, he feigned calmness and asked, “Oh? A King level cultivator can’t suppress the damage from a heart ailment and has to spit out vital blood daily? To this extent, it’s truly rare. I can try my best, but to refine a targeted pill, it would be best if I could personally examine the patient.”
Yun Xiaoai was overjoyed. “So, Brother Wuming, you agree? That’s wonderful. But…” A troubled expression crossed her face, and she sighed, shaking her head, “But it’s very difficult to see my aunt. She’s quite unwelcoming to the Yun Family members and usually lives alone in the Abyss Blue Marsh, reclusive. The Abyss Blue Marsh is an upper grade Immortal Pouch World, a pocket dimension formed after fully merging with Danzhou. You can only enter there with her token. However, even though I have a token, I can only use it myself. The creation of this token requires the user’s vital blood from the heart. Not even the Yun Family Patriarch has one.”
“Abyss Blue Marsh!” Chu Yun’s heart trembled, almost losing control. Yes, it was his mother! The opportunity he had been waiting for so desperately had suddenly arrived here and now. Chu Yun felt both exhilarated and saddened. Exhilarated because he had finally found a good opportunity, making his arduous wait worthwhile. Saddened because his mother suffered from a heart ailment, spitting out vital blood at specific times daily. This was a symptom of “grief greater than death.”
The thought ignited an intense urge within Chu Yun, a desperate need to see his mother immediately and rescue her. However, he ultimately suppressed the impulse. He couldn’t be reckless. Although he was an Emperor level cultivator, he was only a beginner. Within the Yun Family, with the Yun Emperor guarding behind the scenes, his strength was sufficient for self-preservation, but if the Yun Emperor were to target him, he would be unable to escape. Strife between Immortal Pouch Worlds was difficult to extricate oneself from. Forcing an escape would be like abandoning a chariot to save a general, a drastic measure with severe consequences. The White Emperor had done the same back then, being entangled by the Iron Emperor and Azure Emperor; he chose not to force an escape but instead requested aid via a Xingzhou Token.
More importantly, the Yun Emperor was not the primary obstacle. The true mastermind was the Saint of Danzhou, the Dan Saint. Years ago, he, along with the Star Saint, Ghost Saint, and others, competed for the Old Dan King and Moon Frost King. In the end, the Dan Saint retrieved the Moon Frost King. The Ghost Saint obtained the soul of the Old Dan King, while the Star Saint seized Chu Yun. Now, Chu Yun wanted to rescue the Moon Frost King; would the Dan Saint agree? Clearly not. Perhaps he already knew Chu Yun’s plan and was making arrangements behind the scenes. However, a Saint would not personally act against Chu Yun directly. The most likely course of action would be the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of Danzhou. If he acted rashly and attacked directly, Chu Yun would likely face more than just the Yun Emperor. Therefore, Chu Yun had infiltrated, hoping for a swift victory, a lightning operation, and to successfully escape before the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of Danzhou could react.
The surging emotions in his heart gradually calmed. A new problem now lay before Chu Yun. As a disciple of the Yun Family, he had located his mother, the Moon Frost King. However, due to this very identity, he could not personally meet his mother. To enter the Abyss Blue Marsh, a special access token was required. This token could only be crafted using the user’s vital blood from the heart. In Chu Yun’s current capacity, the Moon Frost King would naturally not go to great lengths for a Yun Family disciple she had never met.
Should he reveal his identity in a subtle way? Chu Yun shook his head. That method would be like a riddle. Perhaps before the Moon Frost King could guess his identity, others would discover it. This method was very risky. Chu Yun was accustomed to danger and enjoyed adventure – how could one catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger’s lair? However, his mother was now involved, and Chu Yun did not want to take unnecessary risks. He desired a stable, more stable, and even more stable approach.
“If I don’t reveal my identity, then only one method remains: to display astonishing talent. To pique my mother’s interest and make her want to meet me personally.” A sharp glint flashed in Chu Yun’s eyes. In Danzhou, what kind of talent garnered the most attention? Pill refining. Coincidentally, Yun Xiaoai needed Chu Yun’s help with refining pills right now. A pill to cure a heart ailment!
“I must develop a successful pill!” Chu Yun pursed his lips, making an unwavering resolution. “I need to know the pills you’ve previously refined, and all the prescriptions.” Organizing his thoughts, he made a request to Yun Xiaoai.
“There are over three thousand prescriptions,” Yun Xiaoai exclaimed, raising her eyebrows, truly surprised. Chu Yun shook his head. “Failure is the mother of success. Knowing which methods failed will help me avoid repeating the same mistakes. This will be very helpful in developing an effective pill.”
“Well said, ‘Failure is the mother of success’!” Yun Xiaoai clapped her hands and stared at Chu Yun with sparkling eyes, finding him increasingly agreeable. She had only consulted Yun Baishen about seeking Chu Yun’s help, believing there was a slim chance. After all, so many people in the Yun Family had already failed. Chu Yun’s chances of success were very low. However, a low probability did not mean impossibility. It was for this minuscule possibility that Yun Xiaoai had come to Chu Yun. Chu Yun agreed immediately and asked for the past prescriptions. One had to understand that researching a single prescription required immense effort and hands-on refining to truly grasp the intricacies. A single prescription was enough to overwhelm someone, yet Chu Yun unhesitatingly asked for all of them. Over three thousand prescriptions! Little did Yun Xiaoai know, it was about his mother. If it were three thousand prescriptions, or even thirty thousand, three hundred thousand, Chu Yun would study them all thoroughly.
(To be continued)
