Chapter 58: Herb Preparation - Day Fourteen
Tian Long and Jian were running at the fastest speed they could with the Da Xin with them. Although they were both feeling a bit vexed at the fact they couldn't rush at their fastest speed however they couldn't exactly blame a baby for not being able to handle the speed at which they run at.
To the other students that were around they were still around at this time they were nothing but a shadow-like blur that made them question whether or not they had actually seen anything.
Eventually making it to the Non-Rankers area within half an hour they quickly barged into the mansions doors and made their way to Sarah's room.
Huo and Ming'er were still at Sarah's bed side making sure that she was fine as they knew that her situation could change at a moments notice. Ming'er and Huo at this moment were talking about how optimistic they were about Tian Long and Jian coming back with the soul cleansing lotus.
"Big sis Huo, do you think they'll make it back in time tomorrow?" Ming'er asked as she knew that the deadline for them to bring it back was closing in.
"Ming'er, I genuinely don't know. However I have heard, by asking around, that the northern forbidden region is very far away and would take at least a month or two in a carriage to get there not to mention the fact that the both of them set off on foot which is said to take even longer." Huo lightly explained as her expectation of them coming back with the flower decreased with the passing of time.
"If it takes that long Big sis, then why set off at all?" Ming'er innocently asked as she couldn't wrap her head around the fact that although it wasn't likely that they would make it their and back within the stipulated time they still set off.
"That fool, Tian Long, loves my mistress. Although my mistress doesn't seem to reciprocate at the moment, his love for her has never wavered in all the time that I have been with the mistress. I believe that even if he had to wash the heavens in blood he would still risk it all; all just to see her up and alive again." Huo explained in the best way as she could to Ming'er not expecting her to know the depths that love can make you fall to.
Who so loves believes the impossible. (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)
True love can not be found where it truly does not exist;
Nor can it be hidden were it truly does. (Anonymous)
"Big sis, is love truly that powerful?" Ming'er asked as she didn't understand the concept of love and what it truly meant, maybe one day, however until that day she will forever search for the one that would truly love her.
"Powerful? Yes... and no. Love can make even a devil become an angel yet at the same time it can drag even the most saintly man down into madness." Huo explained yet again the best she could as she herself didn't know what true love felt like.
Before Ming'er could ask another question the door suddenly barged open creating a massive bang.
"WE GOT THE LOTUS!!" Tian Long and Jian both rushed in and exclaimed at the same time. The ruckus they caused surprised Huo and scared MIng'er as she thought that another assassin had come for her.
A vein bulged on Huo's forehead as she contained her anger at them barging in and creating such a scene which the whole mansion had undoubtedly heard. Smiling at them she calmly spoke, "What do you two fools think that you are do...". Huo had yet to finish her sentence when she saw Jian's missing arm and the baby within Tian Long's. Even more questions surfaced in Huo's mind however she quickly contained them as she gave Jian a pitying look however as she got to Tian Long her gaze became fierce as she looked at him with a questioning gaze.
Once again passing Da Xin to Jian who quickly assumed the correct position to carry her. Bringing out the jade box Tian Long solemnly told her that inside the box was the soul cleansing lotus.
Excited that they had actually managed to bring back the lotus she then took the box and then began to proceed to Sarah's side.
"What are you doing? Shouldn't we go and get Elder Sui?" Tian confusedly asked with a slight tinge of worry as he didn't know if Huo knew how to prepare the lotus as herbs such as this need special preperations to be able to be used with the maximum effect and he does not want to risk all the work done to be done for naught. Jian especially did not want to risk failure as he had sacrificed his arm during this venture, though his own fault, still happened because of the venture he had to go on.
"Don't worry, while you guys were away I was learning about spirit herbs and poisons from Elder Sui. I guess you could say that I became her disciple, so, again don't worry. Elder Sui has taught me all the steps in preparing the lotus which aren't actually all that comlicated once you know what to do." Huo replied as she knew that thier worry was not unfounded as they knew nothing of what she had done during the time that they were gone.
"Bu..." Tian Long was about to ask another question when he was ruthlessly put down by Huo.
"No but's. I know what I am doing, so shut up and watch from the side unless you want me to kick you out." Huo said as she put him down so that she could do the procedures without being constantly interupted by him which would most likely mean that she would make a mistake ruining the lotus.
Huo started the procedures with the equipment that Elder Sui had gifted her:
First she grabbed her jade mortar and pestle.
Second, she took the lotus out from the jade box and then used her jade tweezers to take off the petals from the stem.
Third, she then placed the leaves into the mortar and then grabbed yet another mortar that was lying at the side and placed the stem into it.
Fourth, she began to crush the leaves into fine powder with the pestle while also setting a kettle of water to boil on a miniature stove, which only takes a minute or two to do.
Fifth, she then moved the powder to the side and began to crush the stem with a spare pestle which was also lying at the side. The stem however was to be made into a thick paste. This would only take another minute or two.
Sixth, she would then place the powder into a jade tea cup. Huo would then wait for the water to fully boil and then pour the water into the jade tea cup filling about 3/4 of the cup. She would then use a jade stirring rod and proceed to mix the powder into the water and would continue to mix until she could no longer see any remaining powder.
Seventh, she would then ask both Tian Long and Jian to leave as this step needed Sarah's clothes to come off. Huo would the proceed to strip Sarah as delicately as she can so as not to disturb her injury which was healing at an abnormally slow rate for someone who was (Supposed to be) Level 9. She would then proceed to put a drop of the paste on each of Sarah's meridians, main and minor. Every single meridian needed a drop of paste otherwise the efficacy of the herb would fall. This would take around an hour to two hours.
Eight, she would then have Sarah drink the tea by bringing Sarah's head up and then tilting it back and then pour the cooled down yet still warm tea into her mouth slowly. This would take around five to ten minutes due to how slow Huo would have to make Sarah drink the tea to avoid choking her.
Ninth, she would then clean up her equipment and then wait to see if fate favours her mistress.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone