Chapter 84: The Trail

The bronze mirror on the sandalwood table reflected the moonlight, illuminating the profiles of the two men.

Senior Brother Wei Yu's figure stiffened, his gaze shifting, "Why would you have such a thought?"

"Isn't it so? I smelled a faint, refreshing fragrance in your room, Senior Brother." Junior Brother Bai Ming was slightly stunned.

"Oh… you mean… this?" Senior Brother Wei Yu calmed his flustered expression.

"It's not unpleasant, is it?"

"That's good. How about I find some time to make a sachet for you, Senior Brother?" Junior Brother Bai Ming put on his clothes. "It will be a small token of gratitude for disturbing you."

"Very well." Senior Brother Wei Yu watched Junior Brother Bai Ming's retreating back, deep in thought.

"Oh, right, Senior Brother." Junior Brother Bai Ming turned his head, his expression serious. "Have you ever thought about leaving this place?"

Senior Brother Wei Yu feigned a sigh. "What would be the use? Without a map, it's impossible to get out of here."

"This place cuts off spiritual sense and is teeming with spirit beasts. I arrived at Medicine Peak while unconscious; I have no way of finding the path back."

"Even now, I only know a few general herb-gathering locations, just enough so I don't get lost the moment I step outside."

"Senior Brother, let's escape together." Junior Brother Bai Ming's eyes were pleading. "I really don't want to stay in this wretched place anymore. Besides, my injuries have healed."

Senior Brother Wei Yu's eyes flickered. He hesitated for a long while. "As long as you can obtain a map, I will go with you."

"You don't need to do anything, Senior Brother. Leave this entirely to me." Junior Brother Bai Ming's tone was firm.

Having received his answer, Junior Brother Bai Ming straightened his clothes, opened the door, and left.

Watching the youth's retreating back, Senior Brother Wei Yu's expression was unreadable. He raised his sleeve and took a few soft sniffs.

"A refreshing fragrance?"

He flicked his sleeve. "Thank goodness, I was almost discovered."

…

The moonlight dimmed and retreated into the background.

Arriving at his small wooden hut, Junior Brother Bai Ming pushed the door open and immediately sat down cross-legged.

So, even Senior Brother didn't know the specific location.

With furrowed brows, Junior Brother Bai Ming began to think about his subsequent plans.

First of all, he absolutely had to leave.

Not to mention the Senior Sister's eccentricities, this old man was also a complete scumbag.

Throughout the entire Medicine Peak, only Senior Brother Wei was kind-hearted.

Originally, he had intended to appeal to Senior Brother Wei's emotions and reason to get him to bring him along.

At the very least, pointing out a path would have sufficed.

But now, even Senior Brother Wei Yu didn't know the way out.

Matters had become somewhat troublesome, but Junior Brother Bai Ming was not without options.

Without a map, he would measure the land step by step with his own feet and slowly carve out a path to leave.

Grasping the cyan-green scale in his palm, Junior Brother Bai Ming had a rough plan in mind.

With this scale, no one below the Golden Core stage would dare to provoke him.

Furthermore, the spiritual energy around Medicine Peak was not evenly distributed; some areas were dense, while others were sparse.

When gathering herbs, he had asked Senior Brother before; areas with dense spiritual energy were generally inhabited by Golden Core spirit beasts.

Therefore, as long as he traveled along areas with sparse spiritual energy, regardless of whether he could escape, at the very least, his life would be safe.

Logically speaking, the fringe areas of this region should be places of sparse spiritual energy. As long as he followed the sparse energy and searched through the gaps, he should be able to find a path.

With a rough plan in place, Junior Brother Bai Ming clenched his fingers into fists.

There were only two problems: first, he had to keep the Giant Lizard stable, and second, the issue of travel time.

The time he had to implement his plan was very short, only the afternoons and evenings after taking his medicine.

This meant that unless the fringe area of this region was not far away, just enough to accommodate a round trip for him.

Otherwise, there would sooner or later be a limit to the distance, preventing him from going any deeper.

Pacing back and forth, Junior Brother Bai Ming thought constantly, trying to see if there were any points he could improve or supplement.

"I can only try it first." Junior Brother Bai Ming sighed, feeling a bit emotional.

This plan, unexpectedly, was just like the last one; both required a bit of luck.

This uncertainty worried him. Once or twice was fine, but how could things go smoothly every single time?

Under the cover of night, there were still a few hours until dawn.

Junior Brother Bai Ming simply went out for a stroll to observe the surrounding environment, wanting to determine a starting point and a suitable direction for this plan.

There were three paths with sparse spiritual energy. One was very close to where he usually gathered spirit plants, and another was right next to the Giant Lizard's lake.

The risk of exposure on these two paths was too high, so he wouldn't choose them.

Draped in the pitch-black fur of the Dark Wolf, Junior Brother Bai Ming cast his gaze toward the final path.

Spirit trees stood tall and erect, row upon row overlapping and crisscrossing, blocking the view of the path behind and making it impossible to see the depth.

After scouting the route, Junior Brother Bai Ming returned to the small wooden hut and took off the Dark Wolf fur.

After resting slightly, he did not let a single moment go to waste and immediately began to cultivate.

…

The next day, in the morning, inside the alchemy cave.

The depths of the cave were pitch black, like a giant abyssal mouth devouring the light.

A dense fragrance of medicine surged out from the cave entrance; the scent of pills mixed with the smell of various herbs was somewhat pungent.

With a look of disgust, Junior Brother Bai Ming waved his sleeves several times, attempting to disperse the medicinal aura around him.

His footsteps sluggish, he walked step by step toward the depths of the cave.

The familiar, enormous pill furnace came into view, and Junior Brother Bai Ming suppressed the disgust in his heart.

Elder Xuancao waved his withered arm, and the square furnace lid floated in mid-air.

He flicked his right hand, and the medicinal pill immediately flew toward Junior Brother Bai Ming.

"Consume it."

Holding the scorching hot medicinal pill, Junior Brother Bai Ming hesitated, but under those sharp, eagle-like eyes, he had no choice but to consume it.

"Absorb it with all your might." Elder Xuancao's voice was calm, but it contained an undeniable pressure that brooked no refusal.

Closing his eyes and focusing his mind, Junior Brother Bai Ming sat cross-legged and absorbed the medicinal pill bit by bit.

Facing Elder Xuancao's might, with his Foundation Establishment cultivation, he was completely unable to resist.

It was better to absorb it as soon as possible and save more time to explore a way out.

The spirit pill slowly melted, turning into a stream of pure medicinal power that coursed through Junior Brother Bai Ming's spiritual meridians.

Gradually, he discovered that this medicinal power was actually very gentle, slowly repairing the wounds inside his body.

Realizing this, Junior Brother Bai Ming let go of his last shred of worry and absorbed the medicinal power with all his might.

Half an hour passed.

Junior Brother Bai Ming opened his eyes, his aura having solidified a bit.

Elder Xuancao stroked his white beard and observed Junior Brother Bai Ming carefully for a while.

"Interesting. Not only does it suppress pill toxins, but it actually has an enhancing effect on the spirit pill."

"You may leave." Elder Xuancao walked over to the side of the furnace without looking back. "Come earlier next time."

Junior Brother Bai Ming cupped his hands in a salute, left the cave directly, and returned to his small wooden hut.

He wasn't injured today, and it was still early, so he sat cross-legged to stabilize his own cultivation.

Until the sky grew dark, the Senior Brother and Senior Sister returned to the peak after gathering herbs.

When the time was right, Junior Brother Bai Ming suddenly opened his eyes, grabbed the Dark Wolf fur, and draped it over himself.

Pushing open the door, the faint moonlight spilled onto his face, illuminating his clear contours.

He wasn't injured today, so he didn't want to trouble Senior Brother Wei, and prepared to head directly to that trail.

Turning his head left and right, Junior Brother Bai Ming carefully observed the scenery on both sides. Finding everything in order, he formed hand seals and departed on the wind.

Medicine Peak blocked spiritual sense; as long as he wasn't seen by the naked eye, it was almost impossible for him to be discovered.