C20 Pill Refining

Madame Yurou was taken aback. Though she wasn't a practitioner of martial arts herself, she had some understanding of it.

Her heart clenched with worry. "What are we to do? Your father isn't home, and we only have a few guards skilled in external martial arts."

Butler Zhong Bo interjected, "Madam, the court's masters have all gone north to wage war. The only experts left in Longjing are likely in the Hall of Worship now!"

The Hall of Worship!

With resolve, Madame Yurou bit her lip and decided, "Then I shall go to the palace and seek an audience with the Empress to request a worshipper's assistance!"

The Hall of Worship pledged allegiance to the royal family, and only the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince could command their service.

Yet, Lu Yu had just escorted Lu Lengshuang out of King Wei's estate.

Madame Yurou didn't know how he managed it, but she could foresee that her son had likely made an enemy of King Wei.

And the Empress of Daliang was none other than King Wei's own mother.

Asking for her help would be an uphill battle!

"Mother, there's no need to seek out a palace worshipper. I can handle this seal," Lu Yu assured her with a confident smile.

Surprise flickered in Madame Yurou's eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by her anxiety. "At a time like this, you choose to jest?"

"Mother, have faith in me just this once. I know how to break the seal on Sister," Lu Yu reassured her gently.

Lu Lengshuang added her voice to the conversation, "Mother, not one of the imperial worshippers from King Wei's Prefecture could stand against Little Yu. I trust he will find a way."

Not a single palace worshipper could stand against Lu Yu!

Madame Yurou was taken aback. For a lady of her standing, a palace worshipper was an esteemed master.

Her son was still so young; despite his recent awakening, he had only a few years of training in the external martial arts. How could he possibly compete with a palace worshipper?

"Sister, rest here for a bit. I'll go prepare the medicine to break the seal," Lu Yu said, gently laying Lu Lengshuang on the bed.

"Little Yu, are you talking about concocting elixirs?" Lu Lengshuang's eyes widened in disbelief as she gazed at Lu Yu.

Madame Yurou, the butler, and their entourage were equally incredulous.

In the Pugilistic World, some doctors were adept at making medicines, but concocting elixirs was a skill beyond the reach of many, demanding exceptional talent.

While Longjing did have its share of alchemists, they were exceedingly rare. The handful that existed were all inducted into the royal Consecration Hall.

Elixirs available on the open market were often not crafted by true alchemists and were considered inferior, not even qualifying as common-grade.

In contrast, elixirs from a genuine alchemist would incite fierce competition if they ever appeared on the market. Some large auctions even featured these elixirs as their marquee lots.

Lu Yu, perceiving his family's astonishment, offered no further explanation. "Zhong Bo, procure an alchemy cauldron from the market for me," he instructed. "I'll list the required herbs on paper; have someone purchase them."

The alchemy cauldron was quickly located.

It was an existing piece within the estate, a relic from the days when Lu Yu's father, Lu Kaishan, had captured an alchemist during his military campaigns.

This very cauldron was a trophy from that alchemist.

"The ink is ready, young master," whispered the maid as she laid out the xuan paper.

All eyes were on Lu Yu, their skepticism palpable. Could he truly master the art of elixir concoction?

Lu Yu took up the brush, his hand poised in ink, and paused in contemplation.

He knew he could forcefully break the seal Wang Ming had placed on his sister using his true qi.

Yet, such a brute force approach could harm Lu Lengshuang's meridians, an outcome Lu Yu found unacceptable.

Instead, he intended to use the potent effects of an elixir to gently dissolve the seal.

After a moment's thought, Lu Yu began to write on the xuan paper.