Yunxi sipped the spirit tea Han Lian had brewed, face unreadable, then said, "Han Lian, if it is urgent, see to it first. I will wait."
Han Lian crushed the transmission talisman and sighed. Her bold brows almost knotted. She said with a shrug, "Ran Xi, you are a friend I would trust with my life, so I will not hide it. That talisman was from my Master. She knows you came to Jihan Gate and wants me to ask you for a breakthrough agent."
Yunxi set down her cup, unconcerned. "Have your Master send the spirit herbs she collected. I will refine for her now. Haoran Sect already spread the word for me: as long as the full set of herbs for the agent is gathered and sent to Haoran Sect, I will refine. Missing one or two is not a dealbreaker. The more cultivators who can push for Out-of-Body, the better."
She understood clearly that in a matter like this she couldn't be too fussy about it. If all cultivators of the Weiyu Realm did not stand on the same deck, the crisis brought by the evil god's sealed body could not be truly eased. Without giving more people hope, evil cultivators might slip in and entice those with no hope of ascension, or large clans with many dependents. That would be disastrous. After Haoran Sect spread the message, many high-level cultivators were soothed, and Yunxi's name rose higher.
Han Lian gave a sheepish smile, drew out over a hundred jade boxes from her wrist ring, and pushed them to Yunxi. "These are the herbs I gathered. For what is lacking, please cover it first, Ran Xi. I will pay you in spirit stones."
One look and Yunxi understood. Han Xiao had grabbed hold of her own disciple to fleece, and had even calculated Yunxi into it. If Han Lian thickened her skin and asked, Yunxi, as a friend, would find it hard to refuse. An empty-handed wolf taking a lamb.
"Ran Xi, I know this puts you in a spot. But she is still my Master. With my realm fallen back to Divine Transformation, she has been…" She shook her head and let the words trail off. Friction had grown between master and disciple.
Yunxi could sympathize. In the cultivation world, the bond between master and disciple could be stronger than kinship and more binding. But clearly Han Xiao was nowhere near Yu Ling. Her own Master truly raised her like a daughter and never sought benefits from her. Even the gene enhancement agent had been something she forced into Yu Ling's hands.
Seeing Han Lian and Han Xiao's situation, Yunxi only shook her head, then swept the herbs into her sleeve. She set a bottle of ordinary gene enhancement agent before Han Lian. "This is an earlier practice batch of breakthrough agent. It has an obvious side effect. It can force a one-stage advance, but afterward, any further realm break will take many times longer than before.
If your Master can wait, tell her you did not gather a complete set of herbs and that you must spend personal favor to purchase the remainder from me. When I have a full set, I will refine a new batch for her. I cannot promise when, but I can promise the fresh refinement will have no side effects."
Han Lian's mouth fell open, as if a new door had swung wide.
Yunxi only smiled faintly and sipped her tea, calm as still water.
If you want others to treat you well, you must treat others well. Even if you stand above someone in a relationship, there must be basic respect. Relationships are mutual. No one stays above forever, and latecomers can surpass those who came first.
Han Lian's temperament meant she would not accept exploitation forever. This was a good chance. It depended on her choice.
After a long moment of thought, Han Lian raised her head and gripped the vial tightly. "Since Master is eager to break through, as her disciple I will try to fulfill her wish. For what herbs are lacking, I will make up with spirit stones. I have troubled you. And thank you."
This time she was very serious, as if a decision had been made.
"There is no need for thanks between us. Whether it is you, Xun Kun, or Yun Chen, as long as you ask, I will help with all I have.
The cultivation path is lonely and thorny. To have two or three friends along the way is my good fortune. I hope one day we stand together atop this world and, looking back, have no regrets."
Han Lian's eyes shone. "We will. That day will come."
The next day Yunxi left the Northern Region. Han Lian delivered the breakthrough agent to Han Xiao, then hung her seclusion plaque again to resume restoring her realm.
Han Yan lounged in a chair, took a pull from his gourd of spirit wine, and said to Han Ying, "Tsk tsk. Han Xiao is squeezing Han Lian dry. I do not know if being her disciple is a blessing or a curse. If I had a disciple like that, I would treat her like a treasure."
Even the mild-tempered Han Ying frowned. She did not approve either. Master and disciple or not, one could not drain a student like that. "Enough. When she leaves seclusion, I will talk to her. Some things should not be overdone."
"Heh. Only if Han Xiao will listen. Do not waste your breath. Better to push your own cultivation. Ran Xi has left seclusion, and the ascension plan should not be far off. Let us press forward."
"You have more drive than I. You go into seclusion. I will follow the natural course. If I cannot break into Out-of-Body, I will remain to guard the sect so you have no burdens."
Han Ying's mindset was steady. Knowing she might not break through, she cultivated at her own pace. With a firm dao heart, there would come a day.
Eastern Region, Yunmen Temple
As Yunxi arrived before Yunmen Temple, she caught the scent of sandalwood. The monastery climbed the mountain, from foot to heights hidden in cloud. Red walls, gray tiles, and solemn air made a majestic sight.
It was her first time on the grounds of Buddhist cultivators, so she paused to take it in. Then a short, round-headed little monk emerged from the vermilion gate. Judging bone age, he was six.
"Amitabha. Lady donor, have you come to visit an old friend?"
"Yes. This Lord has come to see Yun Chen Fózǐ."
The little monk had only just guided qi into his body and naturally could not gauge Yunxi's realm. But anyone who called herself "this Lord" had to be at least Divine Transformation. He kept his face taut. "Senior, Yun Chen Shizu is in seclusion and cannot receive guests. But Yun Yi Shizu can host Senior. Please, this way."
He folded his hands and gestured politely.
Yunxi did not refuse and followed the little one into Yunmen Temple.
"Amitabha. Ran Xi Daoyou, have you been well?"
Yun Yi greeted her with a warm smile. "By the master's grace, I came out not long ago. I am here to see old friends and clear my mind, then I will return to the sect. A pity Yun Chen is in seclusion."
"Amitabha. You are an honored guest of Yunmen Temple. This poor monk will host for Yun Chen. If Ran Xi Daoyou does not mind, you may linger here a few days. A pure Buddhist ground can help quiet stray thoughts and steady the dao heart."