1314: A Thousand Peonies Bloom
The Legendary Alchemist

“Is that the home of the alchemist in question?” jiao shouted after finding a house that was separated from the crowd and covered in fog.

“It looks like so. Hyaa!” Zhang increased the speed of the horse he rode.

After traveling for about 3 hours, they got there. Zhang got off the horse, and carried Shuwan on his back. 

The time is almost up. Shuwan, hang! Inner Zhang while dizzy pay attention to the condition of the house that is now in front of him.

Yu Hao knocked on the door of the house. “Excuse me!”

“Is this house no occupants?” ask Jiao.

“Stop, we can only wait until the door opens,” Zhang added.

It had been about 10 minutes they waited, but there was still no reply from inside the house. 

“How is it, Zhang?” Yu Hao started to worry.

Zhang quiet. He then walked closer to the gate, and peeked out of the gap that was there. After exploring, he found something there. “So apparently?”

“You found what Zhang?”

“We just broke down this door,” Zhang said with a forced smile. He gave Yu Hao an eye gesture that the person they were looking for was behind this door.

Looking behind the door, an old man with long white hair and beard was putting on an anxious face. What's... Did they say they were gonna break my door? 

“Are you sure, Zhang? I'm very good at destroying things. Even if it's just old wood like this, I can make it into dust particles, you know?” Yu Hao attempted to fish with his words.

“No problem. This door I'm gonna leave to you. Since there is no one inside, we can forcibly snatch the medicines inside. Quickly do!” 

“Good. Get ready!”

Just as Yu Hao was about to hit that door, it suddenly opened. The man who had been behind the door came out with a flat expression. I want to destroy my door. I won't let it go so easily.

“Say, what do you want?” ask the old man.

“I need your help to treat my friend,” Zhang replied quickly.

“Heh, why should I care about you?”

“You are an alchemist. Of course saving a life is important to you. If you fail, won't it tarnish the name you've built up until now?”

“You're very forthright huh?”

Unexpectedly the old man tried to attack Zhang with a dagger. Zhang however did not budge in the slightest. His expression was ordinary, even when the dagger was right before him.

After learning of Zhang's character through the sudden attack, the man lowered his dagger and smiled in satisfaction. “You have incredible calm. Since you guys made it through my exam, then please bring your friend in.”

“Test? Since when did you give us the exam?” asked Yu Hao curiously.

The old man turned his back, trying to be a guide for them at his residence. “I won't tell you when I give you the exam. Only you understand.”

“Hah?” Yu Hao was still confused. 

While the old man only smiled because it managed to make the people before him confused. “Then let's go in. I'm afraid that your friend doesn't have much time.”

Zhang flinched, and he followed the old man. His eyes did not stop looking at Luo Shu's residence. For the first time, he was astonished to see such a rare variety of medicinal plants.

Arriving inside the house, “Put the woman onto the bed. And you, help me change her clothes,” she said pointing at Jiao.

“A-ah well,” Jiao came in and changed her clothes. 

While the old man of the legendary alchemist was preparing his equipment outside. Zhang and Yu Hao simply waited expectantly and anxiously.

“I will do a small operation to remove the poison.” The alchemist also took out his scalpel.

Zhang became increasingly anxious at the sight of the little knife. “Will he be okay?”

The alchemist smiled, “Everything also depends on him. I'll start my operation. And, this one lady will help me. You also have medical skills, don't you?”

“I-iya.” Jiao was a little nervous after hearing that remark. How does this guy know?

Jiao accompanied the alchemist to operate on Shuwan. Zhang and Yu Hao waited anxiously.

“The poison has spread. I need to do a cleanup as soon as possible. You, watch me carefully how I do it. Who knows this could help you later on.”

“B-good, Mr.”

The alchemist Luo Shu began to slash the skin over Shuwan's heart. Jiao slightly grimaced watching him. Although it was only a small incision, but if he felt it would have been very painful.

When the liquid was inserted into Shuwan's body, Shuwan who had been unconscious showed his reaction.

“Ah!”

He groans in pain. His face was pale and getting pale. He groaned in incredible pain.

Jiao who was there held onto Shuwan's body which started to rebel uncontrollably. Occasionally, he wipes the cold sweat that comes out of Shuwan's body. Hang Shuwan! Soon you'll be fine.

After the potion is inserted successfully absorbs the poison in Shuwan's heart, the alchemist pulls out the liquid from Shuwan's heart which is now murky.

“You see? It's a poison that paralyzes your friend. Even though he was only exposed to the tip of the needle, but the poison was very aggressive and quickly spread.”

Jiao was stunned at the alchemist's ability. Not only is it fast, but it is also neat and clean. Really someone very expert.

The alchemist then put the turbid liquid into the container, and asked his servant to bring the still-clear and new potion.

The same thing he did back. Until a few times, it was felt that the poison in Shuwan's heart was completely clean.

It didn't feel like it had been nearly 2 hours of the operation. Zhang was just pacing around the door of that operating room. Sometimes he tried to peek out from behind the gap. But it didn't produce any results.

“Hufft.” The alchemist exhaled his heavy breath. His face looks tired. But he still did not complain. When finished, he re-stitched the incision he made on Shuwan's body and covered it with a bandage. He then administered medicine to restore Shuwan's condition.

“I've given her medicine. I also know that he has broken bones in some parts of the body. This medicine will help to restore it. Help remind him to drink it regularly.”

“Good.” Brief Jiao.

“Then I will rest. Your two male friends must have been very anxious out there. I'll let you know your friend is fine.”

The alchemist walked towards the door. Suddenly, Jiao stopped him.

“Wait!”

The alchemist stopped his steps.

“Can I be your student?” jiao said.

“Why do you want to be my student?”

“That's because, I want to save more lives out there. All this time, I've only been troubling Shuwan. When I saw her dying, I wanted so much to help her deal with the pain. But I can't. For that reason, I want to become an alchemist. I also want to save the lives of others out there."

Luo Shu just stood still. He was just waiting for Jiao to finish speaking.

"In addition, I admire you. Not only are you proficient at concocting medicine, but you are also a skilled healer. I want to be like you. For that, accept me as your disciple.I promise I won't let you down!" pinta Jiao lowered her head expectantly.

The alchemist laughed. “Your resolve is so round. In that case, tomorrow morning blind come to the backyard to see me.”

Jiao's eyes were perfectly rounded, with a full twinkle there. Does that mean I'm accepted? Inner Jiao was excited. “Good. Thank you, Shifu.” Jiao lowered her back to pay a tribute to the person who was now her teacher.

The alchemist left Jiao and Shuwan. When the door opened, it looked as if Zhang and Yu Hao were tired of waiting in dismay.

“Ba-how is Shuwan, Mister?” asked Zhang in a stern manner.

“He is fine. You can meet- “

Not finished the alchemist said, Zhang and Yu Hao have already walked in just like that. 

“Aiya! Young people have always been like this, huh?” said the alchemist while patting his eel.

As soon as he got inside, Zhang immediately approached Shuwan's body lying down. He then turned his gaze to Jiao who was sitting on the edge of the bed. “Jiao, how is Shuwan doing?”

“Calm down, Zhang. Shuwan is fine. But he still could not be conscious. Possibly midnight or tomorrow morning he just realized,” explained Jiao.

“So apparently.” Zhang focused on Shuwan.

“Alchemists have also given Shuwan a cure. Including for his broken bones. He will soon recover”

“Thank God,” Zhang felt so relieved after hearing Jiao's words. He grabbed Shuwan's hand and looked at his face fixedly.

Meanwhile, Yu Hao gave Jiao the code to leave Zhang and Shuwan behind. The two of them left Shuwan and Zhang alone in the room.

“Shuwan, you're finally fine. Do you know that you almost made me die standing up? You could have been hurt like this. But now everything's fine. We've arrived, and..” suddenly Zhang stopped his speech. It recalls Shuwan's words about ‘Fading Moonlight.’ “Dan... The moonlight was fading.” Zhang continued in a raucous voice. 

He could not accept the fact that his separation from Shuwan was approaching. Zhang leaned his head on the mosquito netting pole. His hand was still tightly clasping Shuwan's hand. 

“After you're aware, I'll propose to you, Shuwan.” Chirp Zhang with great steadiness. He becomes increasingly eager to have Shuwan in the moments leading up to his breakup. No matter how Shuwan reacts, he will still do what he believes.