Chapter 33: The Magical Elixir

“Do you want to see her corpse?” Yi Chenlan glanced down at the platform and raised his hand, pointing. “It’s over on that side, but… perhaps it’s best not to look.”

Although Shu Wan felt uneasy about the corpse, the items could not be left behind. She gritted her teeth and turned around, quickly running down, circumventing the side of the high platform. There, she saw the person lying on the ground.

Shu Wan, who had never faced a corpse directly, immediately felt weak. She turned around to leave, but just as she did, she almost collided with Yi Chenlan’s chest.

“Senior Brother Ah Lan, could you please help me cover her face?” Shu Wan looked at Yi Chenlan pitifully, hesitating as she said: “I… I’m a little scared…”

Yi Chenlan glanced at Duan Yuexian’s corpse, then at Shu Wan, whose expression seemed determined to approach. Though there was some doubt in his heart, he did not ask and simply agreed: “Alright. I’ll take care of it. Don’t be afraid.”

Yi Chenlan tore a piece of his sleeve and covered Duan Yuexian’s grotesque appearance. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly walked to Shu Wan’s side and cautiously took her hand. Seeing that she did not object, he held her hand more firmly. “Wan Wan, go ahead.”

Senior Brother Ah Lan was so considerate… so warm and gentle. He must have noticed that she was scared. Shu Wan obediently allowed Yi Chenlan to lead her, glancing down at their hands joined together.

For some reason, even though they had held hands for so long in the darkness before, she hadn’t felt much. But now, with light, she couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous, and her palm became slightly sweaty.

“Don’t be nervous, it’s just a corpse.” Yi Chenlan said, seeming to notice that Shu Wan had stiffened. He stepped in front of the corpse, blocking her view. “Wan Wan, were you looking for something on her? If you tell me what it is, I’ll find it for you.”

“It’s fine, I can do it.” Searching through the belongings of a ragged woman somehow didn’t seem like something Senior Brother Ah Lan, someone as ethereal as a fallen immortal, should be doing.

It was better for the more durable person like herself to handle it.

Shu Wan crouched down and reached for Duan Yuexian’s waist. She was quite lucky, as after only two attempts, she touched something hard, which felt like a small porcelain bottle.

She turned it slightly, and sure enough, it was.

She had found it! Shu Wan was delighted and immediately opened the small bottle. Inside were three blood-red pills, quietly resting.

Shu Wan smiled more happily, her eyes sparkling with joy. She gleefully held the small porcelain bottle out to Yi Chenlan, saying: “Senior Brother Ah Lan, this is for you! Eat one, and your dantian and meridians will be repaired!”

Yi Chenlan took the bottle from her, but did not hurry to open it. He glanced at Duan Yuexian, then at the bottle in his hand, as if showing some disdain. “This is her possession. Even if it’s good, we shouldn’t take it.”

This was not her possession; it was his!

Shu Wan had read about this part in a book before, and it contained a line—before an unknown white skeleton lay a porcelain bottle, beside it was a crookedly scraped inscription: Jiang Xuanfeng’s possession, hope the future generations will return it.

So, even if others were envious of this treasure, when they saw it had an owner, they would hesitate to shamefully snatch it from Jiang Yang.

But now, they had arrived early, and the person had not yet written this. And Shu Wan could not say this—if she revealed her true identity to Senior Brother Ah Lan now, but was unable to help him seek justice, wouldn’t it only upset him? Shu Wan had already made up her mind that she would wait until she met the master of Luo Xian Mountain Villa and learned the whereabouts of his mother, Zhu Yao, before revealing the truth to him.

At this moment, she could only urgently persuade him: “Senior Brother Ah Lan, your injuries are so severe, this medicine can help save you. It… it’s truly a remarkable treasure. Many people in Jianghu have long desired it… please don’t turn it down.”

Yi Chenlan suddenly asked: “Wan Wan, how do you know this person had this bottle of medicine?”

Shu Wan froze, feeling as if her breath stopped for a moment. Once she regained her composure, she stammered, clearly displaying the word “guilty” on her face: “I… I just… I heard him mention it. He said he… he had imprisoned someone here, and that person had a very powerful treasure. But he didn’t say who it was, so I… I didn’t ask.”

Although Shu Wan used “he” to refer to the person, Yi Chenlan understood what she meant. He reached out and gently touched the top of Shu Wan’s head, his eyes softening with tenderness and pity. “You don’t need to take such good care of me. Just call him by his name, why are you so nervous? It’s my fault for suddenly asking you.”

Yi Chenlan sighed inwardly. He had originally thought that, at this moment, with no one else around, Wan Wan would open up to him, tell him about her origins, about her secrets.

But she still didn’t say anything, still looked so frightened.

He couldn’t help but feel regret.

“Senior Brother Ah Lan, just take the medicine…” Shu Wan raised her small face, looking at him with anticipation. “When we leave, no matter how great a doctor is, they will never be able to make a medicine better than this one. Your dantian is heavily injured, what will happen to your martial arts training? You’ve suffered so much because of me. If you don’t get better, I’ll be really upset…”

Yi Chenlan froze, his fingers trembling slightly as he held the porcelain bottle. He had never imagined that one day, someone would be so happy for his safety and health, and so sad for his suffering and pain.

He spoke in a hoarse voice: “What nonsense are you saying? How could my injuries be your fault?”

Shu Wan wasn’t sure whether Yi Chenlan had softened, but after thinking for a moment, she held Yi Chenlan’s hand and opened the porcelain bottle, pouring out a pill. “Senior Brother Ah Lan, please take one, don’t make me worry. Your complexion looks really bad…”

Yi Chenlan could not resist her soft and pleading request, and his heart had already yielded. He lowered his head to look at the pill in his hand, but upon seeing it, he froze.

The pill was entirely blood-red, its surface extremely smooth, with a faint metallic sheen. It had a slightly bitter scent.

Even though he had never studied pharmacology or poisonology, he could tell at a glance that this was a rare treasure in the martial world—the Casting Heaven Pill,

Taking just one could extend life, cleanse the meridians, repair the bones, heal internal and external wounds, and protect the body from poisons. It could even revive the dead, making the flesh and bones white again. It was an unparalleled elixir.

In his previous life, he had only heard rumors that Jiang Yang had found the long-lost Casting Heaven Pill of Jiang Xuanfeng, but he never imagined it would be found in this forbidden place.

Shu Wan saw Yi Chenlan frowning and remaining silent, thinking that he might be having second thoughts. She immediately looked disappointed, unsure of how to convince him, and gazed at him with pleading eyes.

Yi Chenlan’s heart softened when he saw her look, and he muttered: “Alright, I’ll take it…”

Before he could finish speaking, Shu Wan quickly pressed the Casting Heaven Pill to his lips, as if afraid he might change his mind. “Senior Brother Ah Lan, open your mouth, I’ll feed it to you!”

Shu Wan’s mind was filled with the thought of getting it into him quickly! She had finally convinced him, and she didn’t want him to back out. She didn’t notice Yi Chenlan’s slightly flushed ears or the tension in his stiffened body.

Just as Yi Chenlan was about to say “Wan Wan.” the Casting Heaven Pill was swiftly shoved into his mouth by Shu Wan, and he didn’t even have a chance to say “I’ll do it myself.”

Her delicate fingertips brushed over his lips, and Yi Chenlan’s breath caught for a moment. His mind went blank, and an uncontrollable, inexplicable joy surged within him, leaving him unsure of what to do with his hands. Anyone could see his current flustered state.

Shu Wan, of course, noticed it: “Senior Brother Ah Lan, why are you so nervous? Hmm… Don’t worry, this medicine won’t spoil. Even if we leave it for two more years, it will still be fine.”

In the book, Jiang Yang had been seriously injured twice, but after taking this medicine, he was completely revitalized, showing just how precious this treasure was—it had a long shelf life.

Yi Chenlan gently exhaled, feeling his heartbeat slow down. He then gave Shu Wan a helpless glance. Her clear eyes were full of concern and comfort.

He shook his head and sighed softly: “I really don’t know what to do with you. Here, take this back.” He handed the porcelain bottle back to Shu Wan.

Shu Wan was startled and immediately pushed it back to him. “Why are you giving it to me? I’m not injured.”

Yi Chenlan smiled faintly, his voice full of helplessness as he asked: “Wan Wan, you know how precious this treasure is, so why not keep it for yourself?”

Shu Wan beamed as she closed Yi Chenlan’s fingers, making him hold the porcelain bottle in his palm. “Senior Brother Ah Lan, this was meant to be for you. Not just this, I will give you all the best things.”

Yi Chenlan fell silent for a long while, finally asking with a hint of confusion: “Do I deserve it?”

Shu Wan’s eyes squinted with a smile, and she answered with firm certainty: “You deserve all the best things.”

Yi Chenlan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, his lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. Slowly, he curled his lips into a soft smile, and his gaze turned infinitely gentle, as though the stars were swirling in his eyes.

I already have the best, he thought.

Seeing Yi Chenlan smile, Shu Wan shyly touched her face and let out a small laugh. Her gaze then drifted to Duan Yuexian’s body on the ground. After thinking for a moment, she asked Yi Chenlan: “Senior Brother Ah Lan, should we just leave her like this? It seems a little disrespectful.” After all, they had taken something from her.

There were no tools around, so Shu Wan glanced at the high platform and suggested: “Why don’t we place her up there? It’s not exactly the proper burial, but it would be better than leaving her like this.”

Yi Chenlan had no objections. Once they had finished, Shu Wan gazed at the woman with the green scarf covering her face, her expression mixed as she sighed softly: “I wonder who she really was… it’s kind of tragic.”

When she set up the story, she had only written that it was a skeleton, without creating a detailed backstory for the character. After all, it was only meant to serve the plot, allowing the male lead to obtain the Metal Finger. Now, she found herself unaware of the woman’s identity.

Hearing a hint of regret in Shu Wan’s tone, Yi Chenlan assumed she was simply curious. “She claimed to be the master of Luo Xian Mountain Villa.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Shu Wan froze, her mind racing. After a long pause, she turned to Yi Chenlan with disbelief in her eyes and asked: “She said… she’s the master of Luo Xian Mountain Villa?”

It couldn’t be! The Luo Xian Mountain Villa always had a master, and it was written in her book. If this skeleton really was the master of Luo Xian Mountain Villa, then who was the current master of the villa in the Jianghu? Who had actually met Zhu Yao?

“Senior Brother Ah Lan, besides claiming to be the master of Luo Xian Mountain Villa, did she say anything else?”

Yi Chenlan paused in thought. He wasn’t sure how much Wan Wan knew about the secrets involved, whether she was aware of the matter of the swapped children. But one thing he was certain of was that, no matter what, she didn’t know about his rebirth.

This was the only thing Yi Chenlan wanted to keep hidden from her.

Given his age and mindset in his first life, had he known that he was Jiang Xuanfeng’s son, he likely wouldn’t have been so indifferent. If he told Wan Wan the truth, she might start questioning his unusual calmness.

Although the possibility was very slim, Yi Chenlan still didn’t want to take any risks.

He wanted to use the gentleness and kindness he had now to carefully hide away the violent, cold-blooded killer from his past life. He believed that Wan Wan would not like that version of him.

Yi Chenlan spoke softly: “She only said that, nothing else.”

Shu Wan nodded, feeling much more at ease. This person, seeing Yi Chenlan’s appearance, had said nothing further, so it seemed like an imposter. She still needed to find a chance to visit Luo Xian Mountain Villa and meet the true master. Once there was progress, she could tell Yi Chenlan about his origins.

At this moment, neither of them knew that an unclear statement would sow the seeds of countless misunderstandings and troubles in the future.

…

Shu Wan led Yi Chenlan out through the intricately carved wooden door on the southeast side, the same route Jiang Yang and the others had taken in the book. The moment the door closed, the passageway was once again engulfed in complete darkness.

“Senior Brother Ah Lan, don’t be afraid. This path isn’t long, it’s much closer than the previous one. Once we reach the end, we’ll be out.” Shu Wan reminded, still mindful of Yi Chenlan’s fear of the dark.

In the darkness, Yi Chenlan seemed to chuckle lightly. “That’s good.” He subtly moved his fingers, and Shu Wan immediately tightened her grip on his hand, as if reassuring him not to be afraid.

Soon, they reached the end, and Shu Wan smiled as she reached out to feel for the turning wheel ahead. “Senior Brother Ah Lan, we’ll be out soon, and this time the sound won’t be as loud.”

With that, Shu Wan confidently pressed the correct raised spot on the wheel and turned it forcefully. After a moment of waiting, the door did not open.

Shu Wan’s heart skipped a beat. She blinked and quickly recalled the method from the book: press the raised spots in the southwest and due east, then turn three and a half circles to the left… That’s right… so why wasn’t it moving?

Shu Wan wiped the sweat that had formed on her forehead and tried again, following her memory.

Still, there was no response.

She froze, her confusion growing, unsure of what had happened. It wasn’t until a gentle “Wan Wan” called her back to her senses that she snapped out of her daze.

“Wan Wan, what happened?”

“Senior Brother Ah Lan…” Shu Wan’s voice was soft and small, filled with confusion and helplessness. “The door won’t open…”

“I’ll take a look.” Yi Chenlan took Shu Wan’s hand, wrapping her cold fingers in his palm. With his other hand, he slowly felt around the wooden wheel, inspecting it carefully. After a long while, he whispered: “It’s alright. There are eight passages, right? Let’s go back to the central chamber and try another way out.”

“But…” But Shu Wan didn’t know how to open the other passages. She hadn’t read about them in the book.

Yi Chenlan immediately understood the issue. It seemed that Shu Wan was not as familiar with the place as she had appeared, and it must have scared her in the process. A wave of sympathy filled his heart, and he spoke softly: “It’s okay. I’m here.”

They turned and made their way back. Soon, they arrived at the original carved wooden door. Yi Chenlan reached out to push the door, but when he did, it didn’t budge at all.

“Senior Brother Ah Lan, what’s wrong?” Shu Wan heard the sound but didn’t see the door opening. An awful suspicion began to rise in her mind.

Yi Chenlan tried again, with no better result. He immediately tightened his grip on Shu Wan’s hand, his body subtly leaning closer in a protective manner, as if worried she would be frightened.

He spoke softly, his voice barely audible: “Wan Wan, the door won’t open.”