Volume One: Beauty as Calamity — Chapter 45: Everlasting Spring Valley

"The concept of fate is truly wondrous; I never imagined I would leave this place in such a manner one day."

Outside the doors of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, Qin Yumei and Jiang Hao stood side by side, gazing at the signboard of the Yong'an City branch.

"Yumei..."

Jiang Hao stepped forward as if to comfort her, but hesitated for a moment, ultimately holding back and silently squeezing her hand.

For Qin Yumei, this branch of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion in Yong'an City was like another warm home. Through years of dedicated management, she had long since forged deep emotional ties with the place.

Had she not crossed paths with Jiang Hao, Qin Yumei would certainly have remained in Yong'an City to evade those aristocratic scions from the imperial capital.

"Mistress..."

Outside, Yantao stood quietly beside a carriage, gazing at Qin Yumei's retreating figure and whispering softly.

"Sister Yumei..."

Inside the carriage, Fan Caiyun poked her head out, her bright, sparkling eyes blinking as she looked at Qin Yumei and Jiang Hao. Though she did not approach to speak, she understood in her heart that this was a bond difficult to sever.

Qin Yumei gradually collected her thoughts, turned her head, and said softly to Jiang Hao, "Husband, let's go."

"Yumei, we will have a chance to return," Jiang Hao comforted her gently, his eyes filled with tenderness.

"Mn, Husband." Hearing this, Qin Yumei looked at Jiang Hao with deep affection, thinking quietly to herself, "You fool, as long as you are by my side, Yumei is completely content. No matter whether the future takes us to the ends of the earth or the edges of the sea, Yumei wishes to accompany you forever."

"Hyah!"

A short while later, a carriage rolled out through the northern gates of Yong'an City.

Inside the carriage, Qin Yumei looped her arm through Jiang Hao's, gazing at him tenderly. The two shared a tacit understanding, and in that moment, their silence surpassed a thousand words.

"This atmosphere is a bit too mushy," Fan Caiyun remarked upon seeing this, tactfully drawing the curtain aside and pretending to admire the scenery outside with feigned fascination.

"Hyah! Hyah!"

Outside the carriage, Yantao swung the reins with all her might, driving the vehicle at full speed toward the north.

For this trip to the imperial capital, Qin Yumei brought only Yantao as her personal maid. In her own words, the man by her side was already sufficient to ensure her complete safety.

To this, Yantao seemed to harbor unwavering belief!

Even though, at this very moment, the cultivation level Jiang Hao displayed was merely at the early stage of the Spirit Spring Realm!

***

Meanwhile, in another scenic sanctuary of the Southern Xia Kingdom—Spring Valley.

Outside the valley, a long line of carriages remained parked in silence, with soldiers standing at strict attention, seemingly waiting anxiously for the safe return of the master within the carriage.

Spring Valley was one of the six major immortal-cultivation sects of the Southern Xia Kingdom, nestled amidst the verdant mountain ranges of the west. With its babbling brooks and the sweet songs of birds, it was truly a paradise on earth.

Winding mountain paths led toward the valley entrance, flanked by towering ancient trees with lush foliage, as if silently guarding this spiritually endowed realm.

Stepping into the valley, one was greeted by a crystal-clear stream, its gentle current sparkling like a silver ribbon under the sunlight, bringing a refreshing coolness.

Along the banks, unadorned stone houses were scattered in an orderly fashion, their roofs covered in moss and their walls draped with emerald vines, as though seamlessly integrated into nature.

Every stone house emanated a faint medicinal fragrance, and in the small courtyards before the doors, various flowers bloomed in brilliant competition, creating a vibrant picture resembling a vivid scroll.

Disciples bustled about the courtyards, some watering flowers and plants, others perusing ancient texts, their focused expressions revealing the tranquility and detachment proper to cultivators.

Deep within the valley stood a magnificent apothecary, above whose entrance hung a plaque inscribed with four bold, vigorous characters: "Spring Apothecary," emanating an archaic aura.

Inside the apothecary, the air was thick with herbal scents, and all manner of rare medicinal ingredients were neatly arranged on shelves. Disciples meticulously concocted elixirs—some pounding herbs in stone mortars, others tending to the hearths—transforming the entire apothecary into a sacred hall of alchemy.

"Headmistress Huang, the Northern Suppression Prince's Mansion will forever remember your immense grace in healing the Prince."

Outside the apothecary, Han Yuancheng cupped his fists and bowed deeply to the middle-aged woman before him, his face filled with profound gratitude. Upon learning that Murong Hai's lower body could be saved, a great weight had finally lifted from his mind.

The middle-aged woman before him was none other than the Headmistress of Spring Valley—Huang Chunying. Though her temper was somewhat eccentric, she was a genuine fourth-tier alchemist of the Southern Xia Kingdom, and her cultivation had reached the Great Circle of the Spirit Pill Realm.

"Daoist Han, there is no need for such formalities!"

Huang Chunying waved a hand, a smile gracing her face as she said, "Healing the wounded and rescuing the dying is the foundational aspiration upon which Spring Valley was established. If this White Jade Shattered Bone Ointment can cure the Young Prince's injuries, then it is well worth it."

"Headmistress Huang is truly possessed of a benevolent medical heart."

Han Yuancheng nodded in agreement, then retrieved a money pouch from his storage ring and handed it to Huang Chunying. "Headmistress Huang, this contains eight hundred thousand silver coins. Please ensure you accept it."

"Daoist Han, what is the meaning of this?" Huang Chunying asked, feigning surprise as she looked at him.

Han Yuancheng narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled in explanation, "Headmistress Huang, I have long since heard tales of your esteemed sect's White Jade Shattered Bone Ointment.

This ointment takes white jade grass as its core ingredient, blending numerous precious herbs to grant exceptional bone-repairing and nourishing properties. Even if a cultivator's bones were shattered throughout their entire body, applying this ointment would restore vitality in less than ten days.

With an ointment of such supreme value, how could it be worth merely eight hundred thousand silver coins?

Had I not accompanied the Prince on this hasty journey, this mere sum of eighty thousand—ah, eighty-hundred thousand silver coins would certainly still fall short. Therefore, Headmistress Huang, please do not decline." Han Yuancheng smiled persuasively, knowing full well what thoughts occupied the headmistress's mind.

"Can this old hag stop dragging her feet and just be straightforward? This Young Prince is still standing here, and it hurts like hell!"

Behind Han Yuancheng, supported by two guards, Murong Hai could not help muttering to himself, his face twisting with utter impatience.

"Though, that young woman standing beside this old crone is rather pretty!"

"Ow! Ouch, ouch! It hurts!"

As a wave of intense pain surged through him, Murong Hai dared not look up at the young woman beside Huang Chunying ever again.

"Haha! Since you insist, Huang shall accept it with all due respect." Seeing this, Huang Chunying took the money pouch handed over by Han Yuancheng.

"Splendid!"

Seeing that the payment had been accepted, Han Yuancheng let out a breath of relief, cupping his fists once more. "Headmistress Huang, the hour is late, and I must escort the Prince back to the imperial capital.

Headmistress Huang, let us part ways here."

"Very well! Please convey my regards to the Prince of Northern Suppression." Huang Chunying nodded in response, then gestured to the young woman beside her. "Qingyao, escort Senior Han and the Young Prince out."

"Understood, Master!" the young woman replied respectfully.

"I shall certainly relay Headmistress Huang's words to the Prince!"

Shortly after, guided by the young woman, Han Yuancheng and his party walked slowly toward the exit of the valley.

***

Before long, the young woman escorted Han Yuancheng and the others out of the valley bounds before returning to Huang Chunying's side.

"Master, just now while seeing them down the mountain, that Young Prince kept staring at me with those lecherous eyes the entire way.

I feel he is nothing like a decent person! Is such a person truly worthy of our sect-protecting treasure, the White Jade Shattered Bone Ointment, to heal him?" The young woman looked at Huang Chunying with a face full of doubt and incomprehension.

"Qingyao, how could Master be unaware of this Young Prince's reputation? He is indeed an utter wastrel who frequently harasses maidens of good families."

Huang Chunying sighed softly and continued, "However, his father is the sole differently-surnamed Prince of the Southern Xia Kingdom, holding nearly half of the nation's military forces in his hands. Even the imperial family treats him with a measure of awe.

This Prince of Northern Suppression has always doted excessively on his son. If our Spring Valley had refused to treat him today, I fear it would have invited disaster upon us in the future.

Compared to the peril facing our sect, what does a mere tube of White Jade Shattered Bone Ointment matter?"

"Master, I understand now." The young woman nodded, half-comprehending.

Seeing this, Huang Chunying stepped forward, gently patted the young woman's shoulder, and smiled. "Twenty years have passed, and now you have grown up. It is time to step outside the valley and witness the broader world.

One month from now, the Southern Xia Kingdom's Azure Cloud Assembly will commence. These are a few Transformation Sea Pills I have refined for you, and in these coming days, I shall assist you in breaking through to the Spirit Sea Realm."

With that, Huang Chunying retrieved the elixirs from her storage ring and handed them to the young woman.

"Master, Qingyao knows not how to thank you..." Tears welled up in the young woman's eyes from sheer emotion.

"No need for words!" Huang Chunying waved her hand gently and said warmly, "Though we bear the titles of master and disciple, in Master's heart, I have long since regarded you as my own daughter."

The young woman was named Lin Qingyao. When Huang Chunying was traveling and training in the outside world, she had rescued her as an orphan from the hands of bandits.

Now, twenty years later, Lin Qingyao had blossomed into a graceful, gentle, and captivating young woman, becoming the crown jewel of Spring Valley's younger generation. At the age of twenty, she had already attained the cultivation level of the Great Circle of the Spirit Spring Realm.

Yet, throughout these twenty years, Lin Qingyao had never left the valley, always growing under the meticulous care of her master, Huang Chunying.