Chapter Twenty-Six: A Chance Encounter at the Library

Early the next morning, Mingyue was awakened by the excited stirrings of Nangong Yurou and her two companions. Nangong Yurou was dressed in a peach-pink gown, while Mo Yao wore a water-blue dress; both looked striking and beautiful. Even Dou Ruhua, usually quite tomboyish, had tidied herself up and was wearing the casual clothes reserved for rest days. At the Shushan Immortal Cultivation Academy, students were required to wear uniforms at all times, except on the monthly rest day when they were permitted to wear their own attire. On these days, the students loved to dress up—especially the female disciples, who vied to look as stunning as if they were attending a matchmaking gala.

"Mingyue, hurry and look at us—do we look beautiful?" Nangong Yurou pulled Mingyue from her bed and insisted, "You have the best eye for fashion; take a look for me."

Mingyue yawned, her eyes still hazy with sleep. "Too beautiful, simply breathtaking. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were all heading to a matchmaking event today."

Mo Yao smiled brightly like a morning glory. "Little Mingyue, you still don't understand that a woman grooms herself for the one who appreciates her."

Of the four in their dormitory, Mo Yao was seventeen and a half, Dou Ruhua was seventeen, Nangong Yurou was sixteen, and Mingyue was the youngest at thirteen and a half. They all treated her with the affection one would show a little sister.

Mingyue teased Mo Yao, "Tell me, Master Mo, who are you grooming yourself for?"

Dou Ruhua urged them impatiently, "Let’s go, let’s go! If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late."

Mingyue didn’t forget to remind them, "My fairy sisters, don't just focus on buying things and looking at handsome men—remember to bring me back some osmanthus cakes!"

Nangong Yurou patted Mingyue’s head with a laugh. "You little foodie, all you think about is eating. Study hard, and strive to become Brother Feng's soulmate soon, ha-ha!"

Mingyue rolled her eyes and watched as the three of them departed, fluttering and cheering like flowers in the wind. Sighing with a yawn, she pulled the quilt over herself to enjoy a bit more rest before reluctantly climbing out of bed.

After eating breakfast at the canteen, Mingyue headed toward the Library Pavilion. Most of the disciples had gone to the markets of Jinlu City, leaving the cafeteria quiet and the path to the library completely deserted.

In the distance, Mingyue spotted the old man who guarded the entrance to the first floor. His hair and beard were stark white, his face etched with the traces of time, yet his spirit remained incredibly sharp. No one knew his exact age; they only knew his surname was Gu. It was said that Elder Gu had guarded the library for many years, primarily responsible for registering those who entered and managing the lending of books.

The library consisted of six floors. Disciples of the Shushan Immortal Cultivation Academy were only permitted to access the first three; the fourth through sixth floors were allegedly accessible only to inner-sect disciples, with a barrier set at the entrance to the fourth floor to prevent unauthorized entry.

Even though Elder Gu appeared to be dozing as usual, Mingyue bowed respectfully and called out sweetly, "Good morning, Elder Gu." She then conscientiously registered her name on the paper spread out before him.

Just as Mingyue turned to enter the stairwell, Elder Gu suddenly opened eyes that flashed with a piercing, brilliant light, fixing them on the slender, frail girl in simple clothing, before he immediately returned to his dozing state.

Without the usual crowds, the library felt exceptionally vast. The first floor was lined with rows of bookshelves, surrounded by neatly arranged desks and chairs for reading. The seats, usually packed, were now completely empty. Various books were classified and organized on the shelves, emitting the unique, faint scent of ink.

Mingyue greedily inhaled the air and followed the signs to the section on alchemy. She found several books addressing the questions posed by Wu Buhei, brought them to a table, and sat down to study them carefully.

Compared to the obscure and difficult alchemy lessons, Mingyue actually preferred herbalism. Having learned medicine from her mother since childhood, she possessed a solid foundation in practice; focusing on herbal theory now helped fill the gaps in her early medical education.

Many women studied medicine, but almost no women studied alchemy. This was primarily because refining pills was an extremely draining task that consumed one's internal energy. A single mistake could result in the destruction of the pills or even the death of the practitioner. Due to the physical limitations of women, few pursued alchemy. Anciently, alchemy and medicine were considered one and the same, so this did not hinder Mingyue’s curiosity and love for the craft.

After reading several books, Mingyue learned that one must first master the classification of herbs; if one could not distinguish the ingredients, one could not hope to refine pills. Alchemy involved a vast array of substances, ranging from those that refreshed the mind or boosted internal energy to those that strengthened bones, extended longevity, or maintained youthful beauty.

The levels of alchemy were clearly defined. The first level was the beginner stage, used for basic functions like refreshing the mind or skin care. Beyond that were the second through sixth levels. The highest level currently in existence was the sixth, as there were only sixth-level alchemists alive. It was said that during ancient times, there had been eighth-level alchemists capable of refining pills that could defy the heavens, but none had appeared since.

Advancing each level was as difficult as reaching the heavens. Many alchemists spent their entire lives stuck at a single level. The oldest known sixth-level alchemist was over five hundred years old.

Mingyue had heard other disciples say that Feng Qingcheng was currently a fifth-level alchemist, already on the threshold of the sixth. Once he achieved that level, the Shushan Immortal Sect would appoint him as an Elder of the Alchemy Gate, granting him all the privileges of that rank. If Feng Qingcheng could become a sixth-level alchemist at his age, he would be a monstrous talent—unprecedented and likely unmatched.

Mingyue recalled the recent rumors about Feng Qingcheng and her own comment to Yurou the previous day about becoming his close friend if she couldn't be his wife. Her face flushed. A person as outstanding as him—what kind of woman in this world could possibly be worthy of him?

She couldn't help but remember the evening at the beginning of the semester when she accidentally stumbled upon Feng Qingcheng and Nalan Meidai having a secret meeting. *Why do you care who he likes or doesn't like?* she chided herself. *Focus on the task Teacher Wu gave you.*

Mingyue immersed herself in the alchemy problems. Time slipped away as she spent the better part of the day on the third floor, lost in a sea of knowledge. Perhaps it was her passion for medicine, her curiosity about alchemy, or a deeply hidden admiration for Feng Qingcheng—the number one inner-sect disciple and alchemy prodigy—that made her fall in love with this unique field.

Past the hour of You (7 PM), Mingyue sat buried behind thick stacks of books. The setting sun shone through the carved wooden windows, illuminating her delicate, crystal-clear face. Her dark, gem-like eyes were focused intently on the open pages, a notebook resting nearby. With her slender figure and graceful, elegant features, she looked like a painting filled with spiritual vitality.

When Feng Qingcheng descended the stairs from the fourth floor, he caught sight of this image. The girl sat quietly and intently amidst the tall piles of books, her gentle, focused expression making time seem to stand still. In the evening glow, she appeared to be a glowing entity that captured his gaze involuntarily.

He stood there silently, watching the petite girl. He had been traveling for over half a year and had even visited Hundred Flower Village, yet he had found no trace of the villagers. Had it been over half a year since he last saw her? She seemed to have grown taller and thinner, her features even more refined and lovely. Watching her, he felt as if he could hear the sound of flowers blooming in the bright sunlight.

He stood there for so long that he forgot he was even there. When the girl finally looked up and saw him, her bright eyes flashed with surprise, joy, and shyness. "Brother Feng? Why are you here?"

He felt an inexplicable sense of pleasure. "Am I not allowed to be here?"

Mingyue awkwardly scratched her head, wishing she could bite her tongue. "Ah, no... I meant... why would Brother Feng be reading? I mean... you are already so brilliant, do you still need to read? Uh..." She gave an embarrassed smile. She was usually quite quick-witted, so why did she become so tongue-tied in front of him?

Feng Qingcheng walked over with a smile and looked at the books she had been reading. "Junior Sister Mingyue, are you also interested in alchemy?" The little one had read quite a lot: *Introduction to Alchemy*, *Complete Guide to Alchemy Types*, *Alchemy Levels*, *Alchemy Efficacy and Categories*—there were over a dozen in total.

Mingyue smiled self-consciously. "I’m just looking through them casually. Please don't laugh at me, Senior Brother." She knew he was a master; the beginner knowledge she was studying was nothing compared to his expertise.

Feng Qingcheng praised, "I heard that every time you go to the Demon Beast Forest for training, you voluntarily treat the injured disciples. They call you the 'Little Medical Immortal.' Alchemy and medicine are one; having a broad range of knowledge is never a bad thing."

Being complimented by him made her incredibly happy. "Thank you for the guidance, Brother Feng." She wondered why he knew so much about these minor details when he had been traveling. She felt both happy and shy.

Then, a sound rang out at an inopportune moment: "Gurgle, gurgle..."

Feng Qingcheng looked toward the source of the strange noise. Mingyue realized what it was. She had only had porridge and a steamed bun for breakfast, and she had been so engrossed in her studies that she had forgotten dinner. Since today was the fifteenth, a rest day, the canteen provided no dinner. *I'll just have to wait for Yurou and the others to bring back some cakes,* she thought.

Covering her stomach, her face flushed red with extreme embarrassment. "Brother Feng... it... it's me... I'm hungry..."

Cultivators who reached the Immortal realm could absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to nourish their bodies, bypassing the need for food. However, those who had not yet reached that stage still required sustenance. Though Mingyue had been at the academy for over half a year, her spiritual power was still far from the Immortal realm.

She looked at him in mortification. *I finally ran into my idol, and I have to make a fool of myself like this.*

"Brother Feng, goodbye. I'm going back to the dormitory," she said, hurriedly putting the books back on the shelves before attempting to slip away.

Seeing her blushing face, Feng Qingcheng understood immediately. He coughed slightly and said, "I just returned from traveling the mortal realm and haven't had their food in a while. Would you care to join me for a meal?"

"This..." Mingyue paused, looking hesitant. Going out to eat would mean going to Luding City, and with it being nearly the hour of Xu (9 PM), she wasn't sure if she could make it back before the teleportation array closed.

As if reading her thoughts, Feng Qingcheng smiled. "Don't worry, I can bring you back."

Mingyue thought about how long it had been since she had gone out to eat. Although the canteen was fine, it was limited to ordinary fare. Since it was a holiday and she had no classes, her heart skipped a beat.

Feng Qingcheng turned and started walking. "Let's go. I know a place where the food is excellent."

Mingyue bit her lip, telling herself, *It's just dinner, what are you afraid of?* She nodded happily and followed him out, skipping with joy.

Elder Gu, who had been dozing, opened his eyes wide when he saw the two jade-like figures walking out together. His old face was filled with surprise and gossipy curiosity.

"This boy has finally opened his eyes? He actually has good taste," Elder Gu chuckled suggestively, watching them until they disappeared from view before reluctantly leaning back in his chair and falling asleep once more.