A month passed in a tense, yet strangely peaceful, new routine.
Yue Qingqian, now clad in the inescapable purple robes of a Quasi-Saintess, made her periodic trips to Bai Cao Peak. Her arrival was no longer an unnoticed event. Disciples would stop and whisper, their gazes a mixture of awe, jealousy, and curiosity. Wang Teng and his cronies would sneer from a distance but dared not approach her. Even Li Haoran, the golden child of the alchemy division, would offer a polite, yet visibly strained, smile whenever their paths crossed.
The gilded cage was real, and Yue Qingqian was its main exhibit.
Today, she was once again in Liu Changqing's private chambers. Her "Master," now more of a devout follower than a teacher, had given up on trying to teach her any practical alchemy. Instead, their sessions had turned into bizarre "Dao discussions," where Liu Changqing would present a rare herb, and Yue Qingqian would, after a long period of silent "communing," offer a completely abstract and poetic description of its "sound" and "color" within her Dao of Harmony.
"Master," Yue Qingqian said, her expression perfectly capturing the innocence of a child discovering a new puzzle. She was pointing at a single, withered leaf that had fallen onto the stone floor of the courtyard. She had been staring at it, unblinking, for the past hour.
Liu Changqing, who had been waiting with bated breath, immediately rushed to her side. "Yes, my disciple! What is it? Have you received another enlightenment?"
"The song of this leaf," Yue Qingqian began, her voice soft and distant, as if channeling a message from another world. "It is a sad song. It sings of its departure from the branch, of its brief dance in the wind. The melody is... incomplete. It is a lonely note."
She paused, tilting her head. "In my mind, I see... I see a symphony. A symphony of scents. The deep, earthy scent of the soil is the bass. The crisp, clean scent of the wind is the flute. But it's missing something... a high note. A note that is both real and unreal, a scent that smells of dreams..."
Her performance was flawless. It was exactly as Lin Fan had scripted. She was no longer asking for an ingredient; she was describing an artistic necessity, a spiritual craving.
Liu Changqing's eyes widened, his face flushing with excitement. He didn't hear a nonsensical ramble; he heard the profound musings of a true Dao-seeker! This was it! This was the key to understanding her unique path!
"A scent of dreams!" he repeated, his voice trembling. "Both real and unreal... My disciple, describe this scent! What form does it take in your vision?"
Yue Qingqian closed her eyes, her brow furrowed in deep concentration. "It is a flower... a beautiful, ethereal flower. It's called... the Thousand Illusion Orchid (Qiānhuàn Lán). Its fragrance... is the final note needed to complete the symphony of this fallen leaf, to turn its sad song into a song of peaceful return to the earth."
The moment the words "Thousand Illusion Orchid" left her lips, Liu Changqing gasped.
That was one of the rarest and most precious herbs in the entire sect! It was primarily used to create high-level illusion pills and was kept under strict lock and key. A single petal was worth a fortune!
But in his mind, the logic was crystal clear. His disciple was not asking for a material for personal gain. She was seeking an artistic component, a spiritual catalyst to complete her unique Dao! This was not a request; it was a plea for enlightenment! How could he, as her master, possibly stand in the way of such a profound moment of inspiration?
"Say no more!" Liu Changqing declared, his face radiating the zeal of a true believer. "A master's duty is to pave the way for his disciple's enlightenment! To deny you this inspiration would be a crime against the Dao itself!"
He turned and strode purposefully toward the entrance of the core ingredient storage, his robes billowing behind him. "Stay here! I will fetch it for you myself! We must complete this 'symphony of scents'!"
A short while later, he returned, holding a jade box with the utmost reverence. Inside, nestled on a bed of silk, lay a single, breathtakingly beautiful orchid. Its petals shifted in color with every slight movement, releasing a fragrance that seemed to pull at the very fabric of one's consciousness.
He presented the box to Yue Qingqian. "Here! Take it! Do not use it to concoct pills! Use it to... listen. Use it to complete your Dao!"
Yue Qingqian accepted the box, her hands steady but her heart pounding in her chest. She bowed deeply, her face a perfect mask of humble gratitude.
"Thank you, Master," she whispered. "For understanding my song."
As she flew back to Xiao Xiao Peak, clutching the priceless Thousand Illusion Orchid, a thought crossed her mind.
Her Senior Brother was a genius, a master strategist.
But her new Master, Liu Changqing, with his boundless capacity for self-deception and creative interpretation, was perhaps the greatest ally they could have ever wished for.