Qingyu gave a quick nod, and the two of them moved across the courtyard. Along the way, Shen Yuan picked up the leftover tea things, noticing a second pot still half-full. “You up for some tea first?” he offered.
Qingyu smiled lightly, eyes flicking between him and the half-full pot. “Sure. A little tea after such a long time will be nice.”
They sat down at the small table beneath the softly glowing branches of the cherry tree.
Shen Yuan re-lit the kettle to keep the tea warm, then poured out two cups. The mild, aromatic steam mingled with the courtyard’s fresh air.
For a moment, neither spoke, simply enjoying a moment of peace.
Eventually, Qingyu placed her cup down, looking quietly at Shen Yuan for a second before speaking. “It’s been over a month since we last saw each other, huh.”
Shen Yuan sipped his tea and gently said, “Time is fleeting; it won’t wait for anyone. And I have been busy during this month as well.”
She looked down at her teacup, seeing the faint ripples in the tea. “Fleeting, huh…”
A silence fell around them, the serene atmosphere adding a peaceful tone to their mood.
“Can I keep up with you if I continue practicing?” Han Qingyu raised her head and seriously asked.
Shen Yuan chuckled. “Of course, you can kee—”
“I want to know the truth, no need to sugarcoat it,” she said with a heavy voice.
Shen Yuan got silent while looking at her. He seriously considered his words and then said, “It’s nearly impossible. Not only because of my talent but also due to my treasures.”
Her expression turned disappointed, yet her face formed a relieved smile as she had expected this outcome. “I see. Thanks for telling me the truth. Now I can completely turn my focus on the alchemy path.”
Shen Yuan secretly exhaled a sigh of relief. “But you don’t have to worry about keeping up with me. I have lots of ways to make sure that your cultivation isn’t too far behind mine.”
Han Qingyu’s eyes lit up. She quickly asked, “How??”
He smiled and said, “Of course, with my absurd amount of resources, as well as my Dual Cultivation Chambers, I can speed up the time inside.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea. I practiced there last time. The environment is miles better than this place.” Her face formed an excited smile.
“See? You don’t have to worry about catching up with me. Anyways, let’s talk about what my mom sent you here for,” he said with a smile.
She took a deep breath and said, “So… Senior Yuxin told me you’re, well… extremely advanced in alchemy. More than I knew about it. She said you could teach me far more than the basics if I can keep up.”
Shen Yuan sipped his tea, nodding thoughtfully. “She was correct. I learned alchemy for some use, and I can share what I know with you. But everyone starts somewhere—I’d like to see how comfortable you are with handling herbs, controlling flame temperatures, that sort of thing.”
She brightened at the mention of practical steps. “Oh, I’ve been studying flame control under Senior Yuxin. But, you know, my technique is still only at the Mortal Grade. So I don’t know if I will be able to reach your expectations.”
Shen Yuan laughed. “Trust me, I’m not that cruel. We’ll do it step by step, make sure your fundamentals are solid. After all,”—he took out a lower-grade pill furnace and placed it some distance away from the cherry tree—”if you jump into higher-grade pills unprepared, the furnace might explode in your face.”
Qingyu giggled. “Don’t I have my dear husband to keep me safe from such a fate?”
Shen Yuan wryly shook his head. “You really are something else.” He then motioned for her to join him a few paces away from the cherry tree.
“Come on,” he said, tapping the furnace’s smooth metal surface. “Let me see how you handle the basics. I’ll start by watching you prep a simple concoction. Don’t worry about making anything advanced—just show me your routine.”
Your adventure continues at empire
Qingyu nodded, stepping up to the small pill furnace. She placed a hand on its side to sense the residual Qi lines.
Taking a breath, she flicked her wrist, conjuring a small flame at her fingertips. It danced with a pale orange glow—stable, but with none of the mythical feel Shen Yuan’s own flames carried.
He watched patiently, hands behind his back, as she eased the flame beneath the furnace. Her posture and movements were careful, though occasionally hesitant.
After adjusting the heat, she pulled out a handful of Mortal-grade herbs from her storage ring. The entire process proceeded methodically—but not without a few signs of inexperience.
A few minutes later, she grimaced as the flame temperature dipped unexpectedly, nearly disrupting the infusion stage.
Shen Yuan stepped forward, pressing a gentle hand to her shoulder. “Try feeding it a steadier Qi flow. Keep your breathing measured; if your flow fluctuates, so does the flame.”
Qingyu nodded, taking another moment to calm down. This time, the furnace’s glow evened out.
“Better,” Shen Yuan commended. “Your foundation is fine, but your control wavers under pressure. We’ll refine that.”
She let out a breath, half-disappointed in herself. “I see. I guess I need more consistent Qi flow, right?”
He offered an encouraging nod. “Precisely. And we have the perfect solution: the Crimson Lotus Flame Art from the Verdant Legacy. I’ve been using it myself. It has multiple levels, each granting finer control over flame intensity and precision. It’ll help you avoid these little hiccups.”
Qingyu’s eyes flashed with interest. “The one you gave me in that jade slip? I remember glimpsing it but never started practicing since Senior Yuxin had me focus on basic flame arts first.”
Shen Yuan crouched near the furnace, rummaging in his storage ring until he withdrew the jade slip in which he’d engraved the Crimson Lotus Flame Art before.
He handed it to her, tapping the carved symbol on its surface. “Give it a proper look now. Memorize the first level, at least. It’ll help you unify your flame source with your Qi.”
Qingyu accepted it gratefully, then took a seat on a spare cushion. Closing her eyes, she pressed the jade slip to her forehead.
With a soft pulse of spiritual sense, she delved into the slip’s contents. Meanwhile, Shen Yuan settled cross-legged just a few feet away, arms relaxed in his lap, keeping a calm gaze on her.
For a few moments, the courtyard fell still. The cherry tree’s gentle luminescence cast faint patterns of light across the ground.
Shen Yuan could sense Qingyu’s breathing slowing, her aura turning inward as she absorbed the technique’s principles. In his mind, he noted how her spiritual presence occasionally flickered—suggesting a deep dive into comprehension.
Time seemed to slow down inside the courtyard. After quite a while passed, Qingyu exhaled a slow breath, returning from the slip’s legacy. Her eyes blinked open, bright with newfound purpose.
She lowered the jade slip and met Shen Yuan’s gaze. “I’ve learned the first level,” she said, voice brimming with both excitement and a hint of wonder. “The Lotus Spark—it focuses on refining the flame’s essence for stable, precise temperature control, right?”