Chapter 4845 — The Deaf Old Maid
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
"And so I stayed on the Middle Island for three full years without catching so much as a glimpse of Master Zhang. In the end I simply could not afford to wait any longer and had to come back here to the academy, or I would likely have lost even my seat as a pill refiner." Qing Xuanzi sighed, his face steeped in gloom.
"Heh. Men of such stature go about things in ways that leave no trace—like a divine dragon that shows neither head nor tail." Wei Zhao smiled in full sympathy. He recalled how he too had lingered on the Middle Island solely for the chance to meet Zhang Lifeng, and had likewise come away empty-handed—only his wait had not stretched to the absurd length of three years as Qing Xuanzi's had.
"To have missed the chance of seeing Grandmaster Zhang Lifeng is my lifelong regret. But it is better now—with you here, Master, I need only consult you, and it comes to the same thing," Qing Xuanzi said eagerly.
Wei Zhao smiled a touch awkwardly. How could he possibly compare himself to Zhang Lifeng, that master he had acquired at such a bargain? The childish problems Zhang Lifeng could spot at a glance, Wei Zhao might well fail to trace to their root—for when it came to experience in pill refining, to say nothing of Zhang Lifeng, the Pill God himself, even Qing Xuanzi had far more of it than he did.
"How about this—tell me the problem you have run into once more, carefully, and I will go back and think it over for you," Wei Zhao had no choice but to say.
"Yes, yes—thank you, Master." Qing Xuanzi was overjoyed at once and immediately recounted his problem to Wei Zhao from beginning to end in careful detail. When he had finished, afraid that Wei Zhao might not remember it all at once, he wrote it out again on paper and handed it to Wei Zhao for safekeeping. Only then did the stone in his heart finally settle.
"Mm. I will head back first, then. The moment I work out a solution I will let you know at once. In the way of pill refining there is no room for haste—take it slowly," Wei Zhao said with a nod.
"Yes. Your disciple will keep your teachings firmly in mind." Before Wei Zhao, Qing Xuanzi showed not the slightest air of a pill refiner; he was even more respectful than a raw novice disciple—after all, in his heart Wei Zhao was the legendary first-grade Mystic Rank.
As the saying goes, the one who has mastered the way comes first. The craft of pill refining pays no heed to seniority; age, more often than not, is no advantage at all but rather a disadvantage that cannot be made up for.
For pill refiners who have reached a certain age tend to have grown rigid in their thinking and seldom achieve any great breakthrough again. Those truly capable of contending for the rank of Mystic Rank pill refiner are without exception heaven-sent geniuses who burst upon the scene—just like the Pill God Zhang Lifeng. As for the so-called late bloomers, in this craft one cannot say there are none, but there are assuredly very few.
After a few words of encouragement, Wei Zhao took his leave of Qing Xuanzi's dwelling under a stream of grateful farewells. By now the sky was gradually darkening, yet Morning Star Academy was still brightly lit; precious glowstones abounded, scattered along both sides of the paths—truly streetlamps, Cloud Rank Island style!
Qing Xuanzi's residence was called the Qing Dan Pavilion, while the East Sea Divine Nun's was called the East Sea Pavilion. Since the two were academy grandees of comparable standing, their dwellings were not far apart. Cutting through a small grove-side path, Wei Zhao reached the gates of the East Sea Pavilion in less than the time it took to burn half an incense stick.
Under ordinary circumstances, masters and disciples in the academy did not live together; each had their own dwelling, and even personal disciples seldom enjoyed the privilege of entering the master's inner chambers.