Chapter 011: The Recipe as a Betrothal Gift

"Ahem, I was simply inspired after witnessing your remarkable swordsmanship. I scribbled those words without much thought," Fang Xian said, a little embarrassed, yet his sincerity was unmistakable.

"Uncle Ye, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you both," Fang Xian then said to Ye Qingyun, giving him a respectful salute. Ye Qingyun had invited him over several times in the past days, and now Fang Xian had grown accustomed to addressing him more familiarly.

"Come in, nephew Fang," Ye Qingyun replied with a smile. The three of them entered the main hall, while Ye Hongxiu went to prepare tea and soon joined them, eager to listen in.

"Uncle Ye, Hongxiu, I managed to visualize the Diagram of Myriad Stars," Fang Xian whispered after glancing around to make sure no one else was listening.

"What?" Ye Qingyun sprang to his feet, thunderstruck.

"Brother Fang, was the strange phenomenon in last night’s sky because of you?" Ye Hongxiu asked, her voice tinged with both astonishment and delight.

"What phenomenon?" Fang Xian asked, perplexed, for he had been entirely absorbed in his meditative state and had not noticed the dazzling spectacle of sun and moon shining together, the stars ablaze.

"Yesterday evening, both the setting sun and the moon hung in the sky, and the stars also appeared. Then, suddenly, sun, moon, and stars all shone brilliantly, and a cascade of starlight seemed to pour down upon the Daba Mountains. Didn’t you see it?" Ye Hongxiu recounted, her eyes wide with wonder.

"I’m afraid I wasn’t aware of it," Fang Xian admitted, shaking his head.

"Could you tell us how you succeeded in your visualization, nephew Fang? Perhaps it really was connected to the celestial phenomenon," Ye Qingyun said thoughtfully.

"I was simply lying in my hammock, gazing at the sky where the sun and moon shone together amid a sea of stars. Suddenly, the imagery from the Diagram of Myriad Stars came to mind. I felt as if I had become a star myself, drifting through the cosmos, circling the sun and moon. When I came to, it was already midnight," Fang Xian recounted simply.

"It seems that your sentiments were stirred by the scene, and by chance you harmonized with the essence of the Diagram of Myriad Stars. Such a stroke of fortune is rare. Nephew Fang, you must not speak of this to anyone for the time being. In the past thousand years, very few have mastered this technique. If word gets out, trouble may follow," Ye Qingyun cautioned, nodding gravely.

"At present, only Erniu and you two know of this. I’ve already reminded Erniu to keep it secret," Fang Xian said.

"I shall tell others that you’re practicing Zhao Baiming’s ‘Sunset on Green Hills’ technique. And you two must remember not to let anything slip," Ye Qingyun said. Now that Fang Xian was soon to become his son-in-law, he naturally valued him all the more.

"Uncle Ye, there’s something odd about my condition. By rights, having just succeeded in visualization, I should be considered only a novice martial artist. Yet my strength has reached the level of a second-tier expert. I can already run while holding Erniu’s pair of stone locks, each weighing a hundred pounds. Moreover, I sense a mysterious energy flowing through my meridians, and I’m not sure how it differs from internal energy. Could you take a look, Uncle Ye?" Fang Xian asked.

"What? Could it be that you’ve already cultivated internal energy?" Ye Hongxiu exclaimed, rushing over to grasp Fang Xian’s wrist and probe his meridians.

But as Fang Xian activated his technique and the mysterious energy coursed through his meridians, Ye Hongxiu’s hand was instantly repelled, leaving her palm numb and her expression bewildered.

"I didn’t mean to. It was just a natural reaction from that mysterious energy," Fang Xian hurried to explain.

"Let me see," Ye Qingyun said, his curiosity piqued. He personally examined Fang Xian, letting his own vast internal energy—befitting a master at the peak of the discipline—flow into Fang Xian’s body. Almost immediately, the mysterious energy within Fang Xian pushed back, though it was quickly subdued due to its limited amount.

"What do you think, Uncle Ye?" Fang Xian asked anxiously, worried that something might have gone wrong in his cultivation, which might lead to disastrous consequences.

"It’s not internal energy, but its function is much the same. Perhaps, nephew Fang, you’ll encounter no bottlenecks on your way to the rank of a first-tier master. And your physical strength is indeed that of a second-tier expert," Ye Qingyun said after withdrawing his energy.

"Then doesn’t that mean Brother Fang has become a second-tier expert already?" Ye Hongxiu said, elated.

"Not quite. I may possess the physique of a second-tier expert, but I lack any mastery of martial skills or weaponry. I can’t be considered a true second-tier expert," Fang Xian replied, shaking his head.

"Martial skills and weaponry can be learned. With diligence, you could become a first-tier master within a year. For now, only the three of us should know about this. Nephew Fang, you’ll be the future pillar and hidden ace of our Greencloud Stronghold," Ye Qingyun said with a smile.

"Then I’ll take care to keep a low profile and train away from prying eyes," Fang Xian agreed.

"How about this: the east wing has long been vacant. Move in there, and let Erniu stay with you. He can be trusted," Ye Qingyun suggested after a moment’s thought.

"Father, after I marry Brother Fang, we’ll live in the east wing. It’ll be more convenient for me to visit you morning and evening," Ye Hongxiu said straightforwardly, showing no sign of shyness, as their marriage was already imminent.

"By the way, Uncle Ye, Hongxiu, I’ve derived a formula from the medical texts that may help in strengthening the body. It’s of greater use to ordinary martial artists, though I’m not sure if it will benefit masters at your level. Erniu and I have tested it these past few days, soaking in a decoction made from the formula, and the effects are quite promising. I’d like to offer this formula to the stronghold as my betrothal gift for marrying Hongxiu. I hope you won’t find it lacking," Fang Xian said, bowing respectfully.

"What? You’ve devised a formula to aid martial artists in tempering their bodies?" Ye Qingyun was astonished, rising to his feet.

"Yes, Erniu and even Daniu have tried it. It does enhance the physique and increase strength. If you and Hongxiu are willing, I can prepare the herbs for you to try tonight. Soak in the decoction, and you’ll see the effect for yourselves," Fang Xian replied.

"Brother Fang, you’re incredible! Father, if Brother Fang’s formula works, it will be of great benefit," Ye Hongxiu declared joyfully. If so, Fang Xian’s contribution to the stronghold would be immense, and his status would be unshakable.

"In that case, the formula need not be handed over. Let nephew Fang keep it and distribute it as needed, so it doesn’t fall into the hands of other strongholds," Ye Qingyun decided after a moment’s thought. In any case, once Fang Xian became his son-in-law, they would be family, and it was better for such a treasure to remain among their own.

"Actually, that’s not much of a safeguard. If someone with ties to another stronghold shows the prepared herbs to someone versed in pharmacology, they could deduce the formula," Fang Xian said, shaking his head.

"Then have you prepare the medicine, and the infirmary will handle the decoction. Everyone should soak there and not take the medicine home. We must take what precautions we can, even if the secret eventually leaks, better later than sooner," Ye Qingyun replied.

"I suggest we first promote it among the stronghold’s upper ranks, while quietly buying up large quantities of herbs from the other strongholds. By the time we extend its use to the regular soldiers, herbs in other strongholds will be scarce, and perhaps by then I’ll have worked out an even better formula," Fang Xian proposed.

"Good. Hongxiu and I will test it first. If it works, we’ll introduce it to all second-tier and higher experts. However, acquiring herbs from the other strongholds will be difficult; our own supplies, especially grain, are limited. Some years, we barely scrape by and have little to barter," Ye Qingyun said with a sigh.

"I’ll take some time to prepare common remedies and healing pills for trade. I’m sure the other strongholds are always in need. We can announce that we have a skilled physician, so trading for their herbs won’t arouse suspicion. We can also let them trade for other essentials—grain, weapons, horses—putting herbs at the end of the list. I suspect they’ll offer herbs in exchange," Fang Xian suggested.

"Father, that’s a brilliant idea! We should make Brother Fang the stronghold’s strategist—scholars are best at cunning plans," Ye Hongxiu said gleefully, while Fang Xian could only smile wryly.

"Hongxiu, are you praising me or poking fun?" Fang Xian asked, rubbing his nose.

"Of course I’m praising you. But I haven’t read many books—if I’ve misspoken, please forgive me, Brother Fang," Ye Hongxiu said with a playful bow.

"Then let’s proceed as nephew Fang suggests. I’ll have your second uncle handle the arrangements—he knows the other strongholds well and is experienced. There shouldn’t be any issues," Ye Qingyun said, nodding. He trusted his two sworn brothers implicitly, as they had fought their way out of the government troops’ encirclement together to establish the stronghold.

That evening, Ye Qingyun and Ye Hongxiu each used the strengthening formula for a medicinal bath. Ye Qingyun realized it was the same decoction he had soaked in when he was detoxified days before, and it still had an effect: after absorbing the medicine, his physical constitution improved slightly.

Keep in mind, he was now a master at the peak of his discipline—any improvement in his physique was extremely rare. Normally, such progress might take years of cultivation, and some older masters might not advance at all in a year or more.

Ye Qingyun immediately understood that this formula would be of immense benefit to ordinary martial artists—even first-tier experts could see notable improvement through long-term use, while the effects on second- and third-tier fighters would be even greater.

"Brother Fang, I feel a marked improvement!" Ye Hongxiu came running to Fang Xian early the next morning, brimming with excitement.

"I’m glad it works. I hope it will help you reach the rank of first-tier master soon," Fang Xian replied, jogging around the courtyard with two stone locks in hand.

"My father says it’s effective for him as well—it could save him years of arduous training. Next, all the second-tier and higher experts in the stronghold will use the formula. He’s calling a meeting this morning and wants you to attend," Ye Hongxiu explained.

"Alright, I’ll train a bit longer and come after breakfast," Fang Xian agreed.

"I’ll prepare breakfast for us, then we can eat together," Ye Hongxiu said cheerfully, running off to the kitchen.

After breakfast, Fang Xian followed Ye Hongxiu to the stronghold’s main hall, where five or six people had already gathered. Among them were Zhou Boxiong and his son Zhou Tianming, as well as Daniu and several others whose faces Fang Xian recognized but whose names he did not know.

"Master Fang, please have a seat!"

"Master Fang!"

"Greetings, Master Fang!"

As Fang Xian and Ye Hongxiu entered, chatting and laughing, everyone stood to greet them. Daniu even wiped down a chair repeatedly and urged Fang Xian to sit, while Zhou Boxiong and the others showed him the utmost respect.

"Greetings, Second Chief, Brother Zhou, brothers all," Fang Xian said with a smile and a bow, then allowed Ye Hongxiu to seat him beside Zhou Tianming.