Chapter 64: The Medicine Cocoon, the Fruit of the Tianling Flower

Amidst the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

The girl, dressed in a strikingly bright red and green outfit, suddenly blushed and smiled shyly after the elder Wang Yi spoke. This was a stark contrast to her playful and mischievous demeanor in front of the chubby young master.

In this state, she seemed to exude a charm reminiscent of a girl-next-door, like Jiang Yuan.

Then, the girl's cheeks turned slightly red, and she lowered her head, making a deep bow to Xiao Bei.

"Senior, hello."

Her voice was clear and gentle.

However, for some reason, when Xiao Bei heard her voice, he felt something was off. There was something in her tone that made him uncomfortable.

This discomfort was something Xiao Bei was sure he had felt before.

Seduction... Yes, seduction!

Her voice contained a hint of allure that only those who practiced certain seductive arts could produce.

This girl had practiced some form of seductive art!

Xiao Bei came to this conclusion!

"Yueyue..."

Before Xiao Bei could react, Wang Yi hurriedly called out the girl's name, "Don't be naughty."

As he spoke, Wang Yi nervously glanced at Xiao Bei, and only when he saw that Xiao Bei did not look annoyed did he feel a bit relieved.

However, he also realized that his young lady was indeed a bit spoiled, daring to act this way even in front of a powerful individual. But upon further reflection, given her status and the presence of an Imperial-level martial artist in her family, as well as her encounters with other Imperial-level martial artists, and her naturally domineering personality, such behavior was not entirely out of place.

In the end, all these actions stemmed from excessive indulgence. If not for her kind nature, I, Wang Yi, would not still be by her side, protecting her.

Shaking off these thoughts, Wang Yi said to Xiao Bei, "Senior, please don't be offended. My young lady is still very young and a bit mischievous."

Xiao Bei waved his hand, "It's fine."

In fact, Xiao Bei's change in expression and raised eyebrow were only due to the seductive arts practiced by the girl, which reminded him of some past events. He did not particularly dislike her.

There are countless paths in the world of martial arts, and choosing one is a personal decision, unrelated to him.

"Wang Yi, I have a question for you. I need you to answer truthfully, alright?" Xiao Bei did not move, but his martial aura surged, enveloping himself and the nearest Wang Yi, isolating them from the girl and the others present.

The martial aura revealed Xiao Bei's strength as a peak Imperial-level martial artist!

As soon as the martial aura appeared, Wang Yi's face changed, and cold sweat broke out on his back. He was even more worried about his young lady's unintentional mistake, for the strength of this martial aura was something he had never felt from the Imperial-level martial artist in the Zhou family. This person was even stronger!

Wang Yi now confirmed that the black-robed figure before him, with the face covered by a veil, was an absolute super-strong individual, a peak figure among Imperial-level martial artists!

Any thoughts of trying to recruit this person to their side during the Zhou family's troubled times and their conflict with the Xiao family immediately vanished!

On the other side, the previously playful girl also felt a change in her expression when she sensed her body and the chubby young master being pushed away by the martial aura, as if by a hand.

She knew that the strength of this person's martial aura far exceeded that of her Imperial-level martial artist relative.

Her playful actions just now were foolish. If...

The girl glanced at the chubby young master, who was staring in shock, and then, with a few turns of her large eyes, spoke to him in a gentle and honest manner.

"Now, only the two of us can hear what is being said. Wang Yi, how much do you know about medicinal herbs?" After a moment's thought, Xiao Bei got straight to the point.

At this point, there was no need for pretense about things like demon beast cores. It was better to ask directly.

"Senior, I dare not be modest, but I do have some knowledge of common herbs. After all, this is my interest and my claim to fame, so I cannot be vague about it," Wang Yi said humbly.

Xiao Bei nodded, "That's good. Excessive modesty is something I dislike. Speak the truth, and I will appreciate it. Let's do this: I came here not to provoke but to ask about a specific herb. If you answer truthfully, I will leave immediately."

Then, Xiao Bei described in detail the shape and scent of the herb he had seen near the tiger-like demon beast that day.

He also mentioned the medicine cocoon that now contained the black seed.

Throughout this, Xiao Bei used his martial aura to sense Wang Yi's expressions and reactions.

Wang Yi remained deep in thought, frowning.

After Xiao Bei described the scene, Wang Yi pondered for about a minute before nodding and saying to Xiao Bei, "Senior, based on your description, I am ninety percent certain that the herb is the 'Tianling Flower.'"

"'Tianling Flower'?"

Xiao Bei asked, "I am a practical person. Tell me, what is the basis for your conclusion?"

"Um, Senior," Wang Yi responded, meeting Xiao Bei's gaze without flinching, "You didn't mention the process of the flower withering and turning into a medicine cocoon, right?"

"Yes. That's the part I want you to describe and see if it matches what I saw," Xiao Bei nodded in agreement.

"Senior, the 'Tianling Flower' matures after three hundred years. When it blooms, it withers, making it a premium herb. Its stem is a vibrant green, and its flower is a bright red. When the herb matures, it also withers. When the entire plant withers, the flower becomes the focal point of the herb's energy. Then, the essence of the 'Tianling Flower' reacts, transferring all its energy into the black seed at the center of the flower. To protect the black seed, the flower's stamens form a cocoon-like structure around it, roughly this size."

Wang Yi extended his hand to demonstrate the size.

It matched the size of the medicine cocoon in Xiao Bei's possession.

Xiao Bei nodded, "What you say is correct. Now, tell me, what is the effect of the black seed inside the 'Tianling Flower' cocoon?"

"Senior, the 'Tianling Flower' has many effects. To be honest, I once saw an ancient prescription that stated the 'Tianling Flower' is yin in nature and cool in temperature. For yin and yang to balance, but since yin alone is insufficient, it needs to be complemented with yang elements..."

Wang Yi began to explain the principles of medicine, but when he noticed Xiao Bei's frown, he quickly stopped and said, "Senior, this means that if you want to use the 'Tianling Flower' fruit, you will need to combine it with other yang herbs or a demon beast core. Of course, the classification of yin and yang in herbs is not strictly defined."

"Do you see the difference between saying and not saying? I need a method, do you understand?" Xiao Bei shook his head.

These words frightened Wang Yi, making his face turn ashen!

"Senior, that's not the case. I have already thought of a solution. Our 'Wanxiang Hall' has a demon core from an Imperial-level martial artist-level dragon. I believe it will complement your 'Tianling Flower' perfectly."

Although he did not sense any murderous intent from Xiao Bei, Wang Yi knew that powerful individuals had their reasons for their actions. If this strong person had an odd temper and found him too talkative, it could be disastrous. Thus, he quickly said, and he had even more ways to please him in reserve.