C5 Medicine King Valley(1)

The sun had reached its zenith and was now on a gentle descent.

Led by the young girl, Zhong Wen made his way back to his room. In the western corner of the courtyard, wisps of smoke curled up from the kitchen where Mrs. Wang busied herself with dinner preparations.

The vegetables served at the Floating Flower Palace were cultivated by farmers nestled at the base of the mountain—untouched by pollution, their flavor was exceptional. Yet, as Zhong Wen gazed at the distant smoke, his appetite was notably absent.

In this world, salt was nowhere to be found.

The locals favored a seasoning derived from a plant known as "vanilla," squeezing out its juices to flavor their dishes.

Though the resulting cuisine was aromatic, it was also notably bland. Without close attention, Zhong Wen could barely detect the faintest hint of saltiness in the food.

Initially, Zhong Wen managed to accept the unsalted fare. But two days later, the self-proclaimed food connoisseur from a past life found Mrs. Wang's meals so uninspiring that he questioned his will to go on.

Clearly, his claim to culinary expertise was somewhat exaggerated.

Had he been by the sea, he would've undoubtedly boiled some crude salt to satisfy his cravings. But the Floating Flower Palace stood atop a mountain, leaving him at a loss for a solution.

"Lau Qiqi, come out and face me in a challenge!"

Zhong Wen's attention snapped to the courtyard entrance, where a slender silhouette materialized.

A girl, roughly Lau Qiqi's age, stepped in. She was clad in emerald green with a red cape draped over her shoulders, her beauty marred only by a furrowed brow and a stern demeanor.

"You've already been defeated by me. Why subject yourself to further humiliation?"

At the sound of the challenge, Lau Qiqi swiftly emerged into the courtyard.

"Last time, my saber technique was unrefined, but I've since honed my skills. Let's see how it fares against your Light Dividing Sword!" declared the girl in green, her voice ringing clear.

"If you're intent on losing, then I shall oblige and best you once more!"

One wielded a long sword, the other a Lancet, and the two girls clashed in combat.

Zhong Wen found their exchange peculiar, yet he couldn't help but be captivated by the martial duel unfolding before him.

Nearly everyone harbors a dream of martial arts mastery.

Lau Qiqi's swordsmanship was graceful and swift, her attacks striking with remarkable speed. Twin shadows of her blade would flicker into view—a testament to why her technique was aptly named "Light Dividing Sword."

The girl clad in green wielded a Lancet with poised defense, her calm demeanor unshaken. On occasion, she would exploit an opening with a decisive slash, often driving Lau Qiqi back a good two meters.

Each movement they made was accompanied by a whooshing sound, and a single stomp could launch them three or four meters into the air. Both in strength and speed, they left Zhong Wen in awe.

Yet, to Zhong Wen, their displays of skill and technique seemed less than extraordinary.

Having mastered the entire "One Solar Finger" tome, Zhong Wen found Lau Qiqi's swordplay and the green-garbed girl's saber work to be unremarkable. The voluminous text of "One Solar Finger" detailed not just the application of this spirit skill but also an array of maneuvers and practical combat techniques—all of which he considered far superior to the girls' current repertoire.

Of course, Zhong Wen hadn't yet practiced any spiritual energy techniques, so despite the wealth of knowledge in his head, he lacked the power to execute it.

Nonetheless, watching two stunning women in combat was a delight.

As the battle unfolded, Lau Qiqi slowly but surely took the lead. The girl in green found herself retreating, her strength waning.

In a sudden misstep, the girl in green faltered. Lau Qiqi, quick to capitalize on the slip, flicked her wrist, and three gleaming sword lights burst from her blade. By the time her opponent regained composure, Lau Qiqi's sword hovered a mere inch from her throat.

"You've lost," Lau Qiqi declared, her voice as cold as the steel she brandished.

"Have you advanced?" The girl in green gasped for breath, her chest heaving with a mix of exertion and frustration.

"Indeed, I breached the eighth Human Wheel last month," Lau Qiqi responded nonchalantly, barely concealing her triumph.

"So that's why your spiritual energy outlasts mine," the girl in green acknowledged, a look of realization dawning on her. "Today is my defeat. Once I break through the eighth level of the Human Wheel, I'll challenge you again."

After she finished speaking, she turned to leave.

"Miss Zheng, it's almost nightfall, and it's far too risky for a young lady to descend the mountain alone. Why don't you stay the night and leave in the morning?" Mrs. Wang called out, urging her to reconsider.

The girl in green raised her eyes to the setting sun, then glanced at Lau Qiqi, wavering.

"Stay tonight. We can have another round of competition," Lau Qiqi suggested.

The girl in green gave a nod of agreement.

"Now that we have company, let's dine in the great hall. Fetch the Third Miss and Xiaodie; it's been ages since we've all shared a meal," Mrs. Wang said, her voice tinged with excitement. Living alone for so long had made her crave lively company.

"Mrs. Wang, we should invite Zhong Wen too," Lin Xiaodie piped up.

At this, Mrs. Wang hesitated, sharing a glance with Lau Qiqi. Xiaodie had been delivering meals to Zhong Wen for the last couple of days. Mrs. Wang had no personal qualms with him, as this was her first encounter. However, the Floating Flower Palace had always been a sanctuary for women, and Lin Xiaodie's suggestion to include a man at the dinner table with the ladies left her uncertain.

Zhong Wen, harboring an old soul within, perceived Mrs. Wang's dilemma instantly. He was about to politely decline when Lau Qiqi surprisingly agreed.

"Young Master Zhong, would you join us for dinner?" Mrs. Wang asked, her demeanor shifting to one of warm invitation.

Zhong Wen nodded with a gracious smile, harboring no ill feelings toward Mrs. Wang's initial hesitation.

After all, they weren't related. The Floating Flower Palace had saved his life and provided him with shelter and sustenance these past few days. They had been more than kind.

Just then, the girl in green caught sight of Zhong Wen, her face registering shock. She hurried over to Lau Qiqi and whispered urgently, seemingly inquiring why a man was present within the Floating Flower Palace.

Following their brief exchange, the girl in green's gaze softened with sympathy as she looked at Zhong Wen.

"I don't need your pity," Zhong Wen brooded silently, the situation making him feel exceedingly uncomfortable.

Dinner was its usual bland affair. Zhong Wen could do nothing but glance at the beauty across from him, take a bite of his meal, and rely on the visual feast to compensate for the lack of flavor.

At the table, Lau Qiqi and the girl in green were engrossed in conversation, laughing and chatting away. Even the usually reserved Yin Ninger chimed in now and then. Lin Xiaodie was a chatterbox, hardly pausing for breath.

Despite the girl in green's frequent challenges to Lau Qiqi, it was clear they were close and considered each other best friends.

Zhong Wen, the sole man at the table, was at a loss for words. He resigned himself to eating the unappetizing food and quietly appreciating the company of the beautiful women. He listened intently to their conversation, eager to enhance his understanding of this world.

The girl in green was Zheng Yueting, daughter of Zheng Gongming, the Sect Master of the Golden Blade Sect in Fufeng City.

If he were to ride a unicorn horse at full speed from the village below the mountain, it would take roughly two hours to reach Fufeng City. The Golden Blade Sect was the nearest sect to the Floating Flower Palace, and given the limited transportation options of this world, they likely interacted frequently.

Following a chance sparring session, Zheng Yueting considered Lau Qiqi her lifelong rival. Whenever she advanced in her training, she sought out Lau Qiqi for a match. Over time, their rivalry blossomed into friendship, and they came to see each other as confidants.

"Young Master Zhong, you're hardly eating. Is there something wrong with the dishes?" Mrs. Wang, noticing Zhong Wen's lack of engagement, kindly struck up a conversation with him.

"The food is quite nice, actually. It's just that I'm still recovering from a serious injury and my appetite hasn't fully returned," Zhong Wen replied. "Mrs. Wang, how far is the nearest sea from the Floating Flower Palace?"

"Young Master Zhong, we are up in the mountains," Mrs. Wang said, giving him a look that suggested he was asking the obvious. "Moreover, Nanjiang Province is inland. We're at least a thousand miles from the sea."

Zhong Wen nibbled on a radish, his mood souring.

"Zhong Wen, is there really a Ruyi Stick in the sea?" piped up the little loli, her curiosity piqued by the mention of the sea. She had been reminded of the tale from 'Journey to the West' and, excited, she tugged at Zhong Wen's sleeve to get his attention.

"I'm not sure if a Dragon Palace exists there, but I've been told the ocean is home to many wondrous creatures." Zhong Wen lifted the little girl onto his lap and tenderly stroked her hair. "In the depths, there's a fierce shark with an incredibly sharp sense of smell, able to detect injured people and animals from miles away. Its teeth are so sharp that they can crush anything. And there's a whale, enormous at nine meters long, with an eye bigger than your whole body, and it can spout a jet of water over ten meters high from its head."

The little girl gasped, her mind awash with vivid images.