Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Chapter 39

The days following Liang Feng’s discovery were tense. The pills Feng Jiao Xue sent had proven effective, but a shadow of doubt lingered over the prince’s closest advisors. Han Qing and Xu Bo weren’t wrong in their concerns, Feng Jiao Xue was a mystery. Her talents seemingly too good to be true.

Liang Feng sat in his study, rereading her letter for the third time that day.

Don’t die before we meet again.

He couldn’t help but smile at that. It’s just so like her. It was cold but at the same time, he could somehow feel the care in it. He couldn’t help but wonder if her message carried a double meaning, something deeper than her brusque tone suggested.

"Your Highness," Zang Shi’s voice broke through his thoughts. "The prisoner has survived the second round of tests. The detoxification process is effective."

Liang Feng’s gaze snapped to Zang Shi. "And the long-term effects?"

"We’ll need more time to determine that," Zang Shi admitted, "but so far, the results are promising."

Han Qing stepped forward from his usual corner, his expression dark. "Your Highness, even if the pills work, we cannot ignore the possibility of ulterior motives. She may be planning to use this favor as leverage."

Liang Feng sighed, his patience thinning. "Han Qing, I understand your caution, but we’ve tested her work. If she intended harm, wouldn’t the prisoner be dead by now?"

Han Qing opened his mouth to retort but closed it again, clearly unsatisfied.

Xu Bo stepped in. "Your Highness, forgive my boldness, but caution is not just about testing the pills. It’s about her intentions. We still don’t know why she’s helping you. Is it really altruism? There has to be an ulterior motive"

"Nothing is more important than the prince’s health" Zang Shi rebuted the two with a stern glare. "No matter what the lady wants, as long as she can heal the crown prince, we will meet her demands"

Liang Feng stood, his movements sharp with frustration. "Enough. I’ve made my decision. We will cooperate with her, and I will meet her personally for the check up. Have the herb been sent?"

Zang Shi nodded. "Replying to his highness. For precaution we have sent her a stalk of the herb first just to be careful. It is a precious medicinal ingredient after all."

The room fell silent before Liang Feng nodded in understanding while Han Qing and Xu Bo exchanged wary glances but said nothing further.

Meanwhile, in Feng Jiao Xue’s little realm.

Feng Jiao Xue leaned over her cluttered table, carefully arranging the herbs and materials she’d acquired. She frowned as she examined the herbs she bought for her alchemy practice. Of course, half where re-planted in the small realm. Its potency was satisfactory, but it lacked the vibrant energy she’d hoped for.

"These merchants really do sell the best stock to the highest bidder," she muttered.

Huang Jin De watched her with a raised brow. "If you wanted the top-tier herbs, you should’ve bid for them yourself."

"And let the Feng Clan sniff out my activities? No, thank you." She rolled her eyes, her fingers deftly cutting the herb into thin slices.

"Besides," she added, "the quality is enough for my purposes. It’s not like I’m making a miracle elixir."

Huang Jin De smirked. "But isn’t that exactly what you’re doing? every pill is a miracle. Plus the quality may not be as good as the once here because of the scarcity of qi outside but they’re more than enough to help you pass through the entrance gate of Alchemy"

"Spoken like a true alchemist" She paused, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "And, I suppose."

Her hands moved to the array of senbon needles lying on a tray nearby. Their sharp, gleaming tips reflected the dim light of the room. She picked one up, her fingers tracing the delicate engravings on its surface.

"These needles will make the detoxification process easier," she mused. "Once the prince takes the modified pill, the remaining traces of poison can be forced out through his meridians."

"And you’re sure the senbon technique won’t harm him?" Huang Jin De asked, folding his arms.

"If done correctly, it will relieve him of pain. If done poorly..." She let the sentence hang, her tone matter-of-fact.

Huang Jin De whistled low. "Good thing you’re a perfectionist."

Ignoring his comment, Feng Jiao Xue began grinding the Moonshade herb into a fine paste. The scent was sharp and earthy, filling the room with a calming aroma. She mixed the paste with powdered dragon tooth root and a drop of silver ant venom, her movements precise and calculated.

The cauldron hummed faintly as she activated the fire beneath it, channeling her qi to stabilize the brewing process.

"Careful," Huang Jin De warned.

"I know."

Sweat beaded on her forehead as the mixture inside the cauldron bubbled and churned. The golden smoke from earlier experiments returned, but this time, Feng Jiao Xue infused it with her own qi, ensuring the energies merged harmoniously.

The process was tedious at best grueling at worst, but when the smoke cleared, two golden pills rested at the bottom of the cauldron.

"It’s done," she whispered, her voice tinged with exhaustion and pride.

Huang Jin De took one of the pils before nodding. "Pass. Congratulations on making your first level four, low grade pill"

Feng Jiao Xue wrapped the pills in a silk pouch, her movements slow but steady. She attached a short note to the package:

Liang Feng,

These pills are the final cure. Take one immediately to neutralize the poison. The detoxification process will require my presence. Inform me when you’re ready. By this point, I hope you’ve already long found out the source of the poison, don’t come into contact with it. If your trying to lay low, find a way to not make the perpetrator suspect. Though I know you don’t need the reminder.

Jiao Xue

She handed the package to Hei Feng, who chirped softly. "Take this to him," she said, stroking the bird’s head.

The messenger bird flew into the night, its silhouette disappearing into the darkness.

Huang Jin De observed her with a rare seriousness. "Are you sure about this? If he doesn’t trust you, this could backfire."

Feng Jiao Xue met his gaze, her eyes unwavering. "Trust is earned, not given. If he doubts me now, he won’t have a choice but to do so later on."

At the Imperial Palace, Silver Dragon Courtyard.

The next morning, Liang Feng sat in his study, the silk pouch resting on the table before him. He held one of the pills between his fingers, marveling at its craftsmanship.

"Your Highness," Zang Shi said cautiously, "shall we proceed?"

Liang Feng nodded. "Prepare the detoxification chamber. Reply to Jiao Xue that we will do it at her earliest convenience. Promise her a reward."

Zang Shi bowed and left to carry out his orders. "Wait, send someone to Xiao Xue first. We don’t know how long the process can take. Tell her, big brother won’t be available for a while again and remember to send her that cake she likes. Make sure it’s extra sweet and a little cold when it reach her. She likes to eat it when it still feels cool and the icing have to be precisely seven and not too soft and at the same size, she likes it that way" Liang Feng ordered. "Or maybe I should do-"

"Your highness, you already visited her. You can’t make your visits to frequent or close in time. She is unable to cultivate and if the other princes or their supporters realize how close you too really are, they will target her" Han Qing reminded him with a look of disaproval as the times he had accompanied the prince to visit Feng Jiao Xue have made him fond of her. Unfortunately, he had to take care of things when he went to visit.

"Right. Everyone needs to assume I’m just seeing her to entertain myself..." He sighed fiddling with a bead bracelet Feng Jiao Xue made him when they where little. It was crude and childish but he never takes it off or allow anybody to see it less they start to question.

"I’ll personaly send the cake to her" Han Qing assures him making Liang Feng nod and smile.

As Liang Feng swallowed the pill, a warmth spread through his body. It was as though a light had been reignited within him, banishing the cold, oppressive shadow that had lingered for so long.

"Your Highness!" Zang Shi returned, his expression urgent. Hei Feng happily tweeting on his shoulder. "Jiao Xue has responded. She’ll be here tonight."

Liang Feng smiled faintly. "Good. Make sure everything is prepared for her arrival"

"The chamber is prepared but..." Zang Shi trailed off.

"But?" Liang Feng asks raising a brow.

"His majesty caught wind and wants to meet Jiao Xue first" Zang Shi reported.

"And what does imperial father intend to do?" He asked defensively as even if they haven’t gotten to know each other for long and there are still some doubts, he does consider Jiao Xue as a friend.

"Nothing, your highness. His majesty just wants to talk to Lady Jiao Xue" Zang Shi replied.

Liang Feng hesitated before nodding. "I’ll make sure Jiao Xue is informed of it so that she doesn’t get surprised." he consluded going over to his desk to write a letter since Hei Feng was already here to deliver it anyway.