Page 50: Worries

"Brother Bai! Come and meet your pretty sister!" Yue stormed Zhang Li's residence expecting his brother to welcome her with open arms. Just before she can touch the door, it open from the inside causing her to fall forward from her momentum.

"Kyaa! Ouch, brother Bai, shouldn't you have save me from falling?" Yue immediately stood up and was supposed to hug the person in front of her but then, an unfamiliar face surprised her instead. Yue was stupefied and rooted steady on her feet but inside her head, she was practically screaming. With both hands, she covers her face. 'Ahh! So embarrassing! But who is this girl?'

"Uhm, lady Yue, Are you fine?"

Yue moved her fingers and peeked at the space between her index and middle finger. 'Ah, she even knows me.'

"You know me?" Yue asked curiously.

"This servant has heard your feats from other fellow workers. You have become the commoner's inspiration and goal since your astounding display during the awakening ceremony. Actually.. I'm also a fan of yours."

"Ahh.." Yue was lost for words for a while before she went regained her purpose.

"Thank you. I'm looking for Long Bai. Is he here?" Yue tried to look around the area and when her sight noticed some movements coming from the inside. She came out from the room and called out.

"Yisha, who is it? Why are you..." Zhang Li recognized the pretty young lady by the door, before she can finish her sentence.

"Oh.. If its not Little Yue, are you perhaps looking for junior Bai?"

Zhang Li investigated some of Long Bai's connections since he started working for her so its not a surprise she knows one of his friends. Although it was a short time, it was enough for her to know most of his previous endeavors in the city.

"Senior Sister Li, why are you here? I thought you're the one who joined the raid. How come?"

"I did not enlist to any quests for a long time. Where did you hear such news? By the way, if you want to visit junior Bai, you need to trek this mountain a few more meters. He already have his own place. It's on the other residence 900 meters from here."

Yue had a bad feeling. If the information she thought was right, then the alchemist who joined should be..

"Senior sister Li, I'm in a hurry. I'll come by some other time." Yue dashed towards the direction Zhang Li pointed out.

Along the way, Yue has thought of many possibilities that Long Bai wasn't the alchemist who joined the quest. She was worried for him. Last time she heard, he was just on the early levels of the flesh tempering. Even if he was just an alchemist who usually don't join the fight, there's still the possibility.

'I need to hurry.'

At Long Bai's residence, alchemist Mo was currently on steady focus as he tries to create the pill his master provided for him. It was already his third try and all was a failure. This next try, he was hoping he can finally succeed. He has watched how his young master Bai create these pills so he should at least try out on his own. Now he is on the condensation process, the last stretch of the process when..

Bang!

"Brother Bai! Where are you?"

Before alchemist Mo can put the proper amount of pressure, he lost his focus and caused a huge explosion inside his alchemy room.

BOOM!

"Ahh No!! Who was it that disturbed my peace?"

Out of his rage, alchemist Mo stormed out of his room and rushed outside to see who was the uncivilized person who entered the premises. That was his last batch of herbs he has. He was even able to procure those with high price.

On the entrance, alchemist Mo was greeted by a young lady with red dress, a bit ruffled black hair from running, tired look, and teary eyes. Greeted by such scene, alchemist Mo's heart immediately gave out. With his almost withered heart, he felt that his heart has again felt the ache he has forgotten for a long time. And then, he thought of his young master and what he has done. 'Oh my young master, what a young love. You must return quickly. I never knew even such age, young master has already someone.' Looking again at the pitiful appearance of the young lady by the door, he can't help but to pray for his early return.

"Young miss, why are you looking for young master Bai? How are you related?"

Yue was still breathing fast from the non-stop running she did while traversing the mountain side. As she calms down, she just realized how rude she was on someone's place. What if she entered a wrong place? Who is this old man? Those were the questions she was running through her mind.

"I'm sorry, I was in a hurry. I'm looking for Long Bai. I'm..I'm his friend."

Yue tried to fix her unpresentable appearance. Hoping she won't give any bad impression.

"I see, well, he is supposed to return today. Did he not inform young miss?"

"He really did venture out? Do you have news from him old senior? I'm worried he might be in trouble."

Alchemist Mo, paused for a moment and then asked Yue to have some tea. He thought that this young lady might be worried over nothing so he should investigate how well she knows Long Bai.

"Young miss, have you calmed down? How's the tea?"

Alchemist Mo was trying to make her uncomfortable from her worries.

'Ahh, young master. You should come back soon. This young miss of yours is worriedly sick of your safety. You shouldn't make a pretty young miss like her worry.'

Alchemist Mo's mind was restless of the thoughts that just continuously flow while trying to take care of his young master's lady.

"Thank you senior. May I ask what's senior's relationship with brother Bai?"

Yue looked with curious eyes. Before she could make some eye contact, she picked the tea cup and took a shy sip.

"I serve young master Bai."

Pfft!

Yue just spilled some tea from her mouth. What did she just hear?

"Haha. It must be surprising however that is the case. I just hope you won't ask how it happened. May I ask how well you know young master Bai's strength?"

Yue wiped her mouth with the cloth the servant girl provided.

"Uhm, last time we dueled, the three of us was not even able to give him a scratch. Brother Bai was too fast for us. Maybe even if we try today, we won't still be able to match his speed. I just don't know how strong he is right now. Senior, can you please tell me?"

"Hmm. You're at the the 9th level of the flesh tempering. If you fight him now, you might not be able to hurt him even if he'll just let you punch him. That's how much strength I think he has. Do you know that he's registered as a grade 2 alchemist?"

"Yes I heard. Don't tell me.."

"He is actually capable of creating grade 3 and 4 pills. That's how awesome he is. That's why I'm lucky to be working under him. I see unbelievable things from him. That's why you should not worry to much."

After hearing senior Mo's words, Yue became silent for a moment. After she drank all the contents of her cup, the usual brightness that's she always had on her returned. With a warm smile, Yue asked her last question.

"Senior, brother Bai will surely join our sect's qualifiers, right?"

"Yes. There's no doubt about that."

Yue stood and gave her respect greeting.

"Then I thank you senior for giving your time."

"It's my pleasure to serve young master's wi... ahem, friend. It is no big deal."

Yue's face slightly showed a blushed face upon hearing the unfinished word. Since she was put in a good mood, she offered something an alchemist will always need.

Please take these. I'm sure senior will need them."

Yue brought out some spiritual herbs from her cosmic pouch and handed it directly to alchemist Mo. Because Yue was determined, he wasn't able to reject the kind gesture. After taking the offer, Yue was accompanied until the entrance of the residence. While alchemist Mo can just see Yue's fading silhouette, he is sure that the young lady was returning relieved and motivated. Since she learned that the gap is growing bigger, it will be her motivation to be more closer to the person she holds the most dear in her heart.

"Ahh, youth. It was such a long time since I remember that feeling. Haa."

While Yue have her blooming feelings, alchemist Mo had only the remnants of his past romantic endeavors. Although he can remember the brightest days, he can only sigh with the consequences of his past decisions.

"Haa.. If only.. well.. there's nothing I can do about it now. I better return and practice."