The ceiling of the medical pavilion came into focus slowly, accompanied by the heavy, sweet scent of crushed medicinal petals and the sharp tang of antiseptic spirits. Hanyuan's head felt as if it were being squeezed by an iron band, and every breath reminded him of the impact of Feng Yue's final sword strike.
He had been unconscious for three hours. All around him, the groans of battered disciples echoed through the large hall, which was crowded with white robed youths in various stages of healing.
"You're finally awake?"
Hanyuan turned his head gingerly toward the voice. Standing by the side of his cot was Feng Yue. Her long blue hair was slightly disheveled, and her face remained deathly pale, her movements stiff from the deep chest wound Hanyuan's lightning had carved into her.
"Uh... why are you here?" Hanyuan asked, his voice sounding like dry gravel. He was genuinely surprised to see his Oponent standing watch.
Feng Yue's cerulean eyes flickered, and a faint, uncharacteristic dust of red touched her pale cheeks. She looked away, coughing softly into her hand. "You are in this state because of me," she said, her voice regaining its cold, clinical edge. "It is only natural that I come to see if you are still among the living."
She reached into her sleeve and produced a jade green pill that radiated a potent, revitalizing aura. "Take this. It will stabilize your meridians and mend the fractures."
"Hey! Are you serious right now?"
The shrill shout came from the cot directly opposite Hanyuan. Zhao Yao was sitting up, her arm in a sling and her chest heavily bandaged. She was glaring at Feng Yue with enough heat to boil water. "You also injured me! You never even looked my way after our match, and you certainly didn't offer me any pills! You ignored me completely!"
Feng Yue didn't even turn her head. She treated Zhao Yao's outburst like the buzzing of a fly, maintaining her focus solely on Hanyuan. She waved a hand dismissively as she began to walk toward the exit. "I will go and attend to my own wounds now. Do not waste the pill."
"This bitch!" Zhao Yao shrieked, clutching her sheets in fury as the blue haired girl walked out of the room without a second glance.
Hanyuan looked at the pill in his hand, then at the fuming Zhao Yao. "Oh right... who actually won the tournament? It was Feng Yue, wasn't it?"
Zhao Yao let out a sharp, jagged laugh. "Actually, no. Because you injured her heavily in your fight, Feng Yue was far too injured to fight at her full potential in the finals. She had to concede early or risk permanent damage. So, Qin Yu won by default. He took the first place rank and the Core Building Pill."
Hanyuan's eyebrows shot up, a genuine smile breaking through the pain on his face. "Qin Yu? He actually did it? He'll be moving to the Inner Sect soon, then."
Zhao Yao's knuckles turned white as she clenched them. Her fiery eyes turned toward the ceiling. "He got lucky because you two beat each other senseless. But mark my words, Hanyuan,I will be following him into the Inner Sect soon. I won't let him leave me in the dirt."
Hanyuan nodded, closing his eyes. He swallowed the pill Feng Yue had given him and began to circulate the Qi he had just attained. The medicinal energy was efficient; it surged through his body like a warm river, sealing the cracks in his ribs and soothing his inflamed meridians.
Thirty minutes later, Hanyuan felt the strength return to his limbs. He sat up, swung his legs over the side of the bed, and tested his balance. The Cold Cloud Spear was leaning against the wall by his head, brought to him by the medical disciples.
He left the pavilion, stepping out into the late afternoon sun. To his surprise, a familiar figure in azure robes was leaning against a stone pillar near the entrance.
"Congrats, Qin Yu," Hanyuan said, approaching with a smirk. "Or should I call you 'Senior Brother' now? I heard you'll be a Mortal Core expert soon."
Qin Yu turned, looking far more rested than he had three days ago. He chuckled, though there was a hint of pride in his eyes. "To reach the Mortal Core stage at fourteen... I'm finally catching up to the family legacy. My second brother achieved it at thirteen, so I'm only a year behind his pace. It's better than I ever dreamed."
Qin Yu then looked at Hanyuan with a look of deep respect. "But you were the talk of the Elders' Platform, Hanyuan. You ended up in 3rd Place overall, right behind Feng Yue.
They chatted for a few more minutes about the finals and the intensity of the lightning strikes, until the bells of the evening signaled the closing of the day's events.
"I need to prepare for my breakthrough," Qin Yu said, patting Hanyuan's shoulder. "Go get your rewards, Hanyuan. You earned them."
"I intend to," Hanyuan replied.
They parted ways, Qin Yu heading toward the high altitude meditation chambers and Hanyuan turning toward the heavy stone gates of the Treasury.
Hanyuan stepped into the cool, shadowed interior of the Treasury, his boots clicking softly on the polished stone floor. The fat, middle aged man was exactly where Hanyuan had seen him a year ago, hunched over his counter and squinting at a stack of ancient scrolls.
The moment Hanyuan approached, the man didn't even wait for a greeting. He looked up, his sharp eyes instantly identifying the youth who had just shaken up the rankings. Without a word, he reached beneath the counter and threw a heavily weighted silk pouch onto the wood.
"You've been busy, brat," the man grunted, his mustache twitching. "These are 250 spirit stones as your reward for taking 3rd place. I've also included an additional 30 spirit stones for your new monthly allowance. From now on, the Sect considers you a top tier asset of the Outer Peaks."
Hanyuan bowed respectfully, feeling the incredible weight of the pouch as he tucked it into his robes. "Thank you, Elder."
"280 spirit stones..." Hanyuan murmured as he stepped back into the sunlight, a wide smile spreading across his face. "I can buy a lot of things with this. It's time to settle some debts and prepare some gifts."
He headed straight for the Sect Shop. Inside, the air smelled of cold oil and sharp metal. The old woman was hunched over a counter, meticulously polishing the edge of a high grade steel sword. She looked up as the bell chimed.
"What is it today? New beast blood to burn your marrow? Or did you finally manage to break that blue spear of yours?"
Hanyuan chuckled and shook his head. "None of those today, Senior. I wish to purchase a Storage Ring, a bottle of Snow Dew Spirit Wine, a Qi Paving Pill, and a Skin Rejuvenation Pill." He continued listing several high quality herbs and smaller recovery items.
The old woman raised her eyebrows, clearly surprised by the shopping list. These weren't the items of someone looking to power up themselves, but someone looking to provide for others. Nevertheless, she moved with practiced efficiency, gathering the items from various locked cabinets.
"That will be 150 spirit stones," she stated.
Hanyuan didn't flinch. He handed over the pouch, and in return, he received a simple silver banded ring. He slid the Storage Ring onto his finger and felt a faint prick as his Qi bonded with the artifact. With a single thought, a small mental space opened up.
One by one, the expensive bottles, the herbs, and the remaining 130 spirit stones from the Treasury vanished into the air, safely tucked into the ring's pocket dimension. Hanyuan flexed his hand, marveling at the convenience.
No more heavy packs or carrying carcasses on my back, he mused. These will be excellent presents for the people waiting for me.
His final stop was the administrative pavilion. He entered Elder Su's office, where the blue haired Elder was already busy drafting the promotion list for the Inner Sect.
"Looking for a leave of absence, Hanyuan?" Elder Su asked without looking up.
"Yes, Elder. I wish to visit my family in Spirit Springs City."
Elder Su stamped a small wooden plaque and slid it across the desk. "One week. No more. The Myriad Herb Forest is still being cleared of stragglers from the tide, so stay to the merchant paths. And Hanyuan..." The Elder looked up, his blue eyes sharp. "Try not to break through to the Mortal Core realm while you're at home. I'd like to be the one to witness that."
Hanyuan laughed. "I make no promises, Elder, but i think i am still far away from it."
With the permit in hand, Hanyuan didn't waste another minute. He sprinted toward the light bridge, his Azure Cloud Footwork more fluid than ever before. He descended the mountain stairs with a speed that made the younger disciples look like they were standing still.
As he reached the base of the mountain and breathed in the fresh, humid air of the lower valleys, a surge of emotion hit him.He was looking toward the southern horizon. "I'm going home. I wonder what's changed in Spirit Springs City."