Old Qin was taken aback for a moment before finally recognizing Duan Rong. "Duan, who abused you? Look at your hair and beard, can’t you tidy up a bit?"
Duan Rong replied honestly, "I don’t have time. What brings you here so early in the morning?"
Old Qin glanced at Duan Rong before saying, "I’m here to pick up a bottle of Moon in the Water and bring it back."
Old Qin had a tuberculosis condition, often coughing up blood, and he had accidentally met Shang Xiangyu. Shang Xiangyu gave him a bottle of Moon in the Water potion.
The potion was milky white, resembling the moonlight reflected in the water, leading to its rather beautiful name.
He would dissolve a spoonful in a bowl of clear water and drink it, which could stop his coughing for two or three days.
Thus, he relied on this medicine to keep him alive, and he would often bring people from the Lower Courtyard to Shang Xiangyu.
However, despite its beautiful name, the potion was toxic, accumulating toxins in the body slowly, eventually causing the internal organs to rot.
But if Old Qin didn’t take the medicine, he probably couldn’t last even a month, so he didn’t care about such concerns.
The last time he picked up the medicine was the day he brought Duan Rong. Now, nearly a month had passed since then, so he planned to come and get another bottle.
Old Qin said, "I see that Master Shang is not here..."
Old Qin managed the Lower Courtyard, and a Registered Disciple going out required a permit from the Lower Courtyard, so he was very aware of which Registered Disciples were here and who were absent.
But Shang Xiangyu was an Inner Sect Disciple, completely beyond his management. He had no way of knowing Shang Xiangyu’s whereabouts.
Duan Rong said, "Yes. Master Shang has left the mountain. He’s said to be gone for more than half a year."
On hearing that Shang Xiangyu would be away for over half a year, Old Qin’s expression immediately changed.
Seeing Old Qin’s worried expression, Duan Rong said, "Don’t worry. I think Master Shang kept the Moon in the Water potion in his cabinet. Pan Yong has the key, I’ll take you to find him."
Saying so, Duan Rong led Old Qin to Pan Yong’s cave entrance.
Pan Yong was completing a task in the Guanglu Institute to earn Contribution Points for a total of five days.
And today, the five days had already passed; it was morning again, so Duan Rong expected Pan Yong to be inside the cave.
"Senior Brother Pan Yong!"
Duan Rong called out from the mouth of the cave.
In the deep, pitch-black cave, there was not a glimmer of light nor a sound to be heard. But after a few moments, a face appeared from the shadows— it was Pan Yong.
Pan Yong stepped out of the cave, glanced at Duan Rong, then shifted his gaze to Old Qin beside Duan Rong.
Duan Rong said, "Old Qin is here to get Moon in the Water."
Pan Yong nodded, saying, "Let’s go, I’ll get it for you from Master Shang’s place."
Old Qin’s face lit up with joy upon hearing this, and he repeatedly thanked both Pan Yong and Duan Rong.
Seeing Pan Yong and Old Qin heading toward Shang Xiangyu’s place, Duan Rong took his black pottery jar and headed back to his own cave.
As Old Qin and Pan Yong walked a distance away, Old Qin turned back to look at Duan Rong’s figure not far off; even from afar, Duan Rong’s messy, bird’s nest-like hair was quite striking.
Old Qin said, "What’s with Duan Rong turning himself into such a state? I was startled when I saw him today."
Pan Yong laughed, "When I first saw him like that, I thought he was possessed. But seeing how he talks and acts, there’s no issue; I realized Junior Brother Duan is obsessed with Martial Dao. He doesn’t wash or comb, and he diligently cultivates in the cave every day."
"I may not be a Martial Artist, but I’ve heard about haste leading to failure, and rigidity not lasting," Old Qin muttered to himself, "Not washing or combing, cultivating in the cave every day? Is that really necessary?"
When Pan Yong first heard this, he was unconcerned; an old man with no Martial Arts skills discussing a Martial Artist’s cultivation seemed amusing.
But after a few steps, his heart suddenly jumped, and he became very alert.
Old Qin was right.
Is that really necessary?
Not washing or combing, cultivating in the cave every day. What exactly is he trying to achieve?