Chapter Eleven.

When Duan Xinyue ,Lei Qiang and Hong Yi reach Ziran Sect,they find the disciples seated under a tree keenly listening to a man telling stories. The man seems to be in his mid twenties and looks slightly older than Lei Qiang. Those around him can feel his gentle aura apart from his handsome face and decent clothes. When he sees Lei Qiang,he stands up and his face brightens with excitement.

"Wei Er,"the man calls out in an endearing voice.

"Shi Xiong!"Lei Qiang exclaims excitedly.

Wei Er is Lei Qiang's name when he was a disciple at Yanshi Sect. This man here is his elder martial brother Wei Yi.

"It's been a while. How have you been?"Wei Yi asks grinning. He rushes towards Lei Qiang and pulls him into a hug . Lei Qiang hasn't hugged someone in a long time so his arms are sticking out but he later embraces Wei Yi to get rid of the surrounding awkward atmosphere. Duan Xinyue's expression changes into that of someone facing an old rival. He never gets the chance to even smell Lei Qiang's scent but this Wei Yi is sniffing the scent greedily by himself.

In the evening,Wei Yi is having a drink with Lei Qiang at Qingfeng Pavilion.

"Wei Er,you've changed a lot. You can now drink wine."

Lei Qiang chuckles a bit and begins looking around as if he's looking for someone.

"I heard you rarely come here. Forgive my ignorance. I only thought it's convenient since I've rented a private room here,"Wei Yi speaks sincerely.

"It doesn't matter,"Lei Qiang replies his attention shifting towards the girls dancing beautifully on stage. Wei Yi follows Lei Qiang's gaze and when sees Lei Qiang's concentration is towards the girls,he can't help but smile bluntly.

"The head showgirl is beautiful,"Wei Yi says referring to Su Jiali. Qin Lanhua is the one playing the zither since Duan Xinyue is nowhere to be seen.

In Redemption Temple's private chambers Guo Mulang is playing a melancholic tune with his flute. The window is slightly open to allow the night breeze to bring a cooling sensation to the room and his thoughts. An arrow with a letter attached on it flies across the room from outside. The arrow accelerates its way to the wall. Guo Mulang doesn't bother to find out who shot the arrow .He walks towards the arrow and takes the letter. He unfolds it and reads it with a startled expression on his face. It's a letter informing him about Wei Yi's arrival in Meanders City.

The next day during the alchemy lecture,Du Bai Xin brings the other senior disciples to help the juniors refine medicinal pills. She loves using peer to peer teaching method during alchemy practicals. All the other junior disciples run towards the experienced seniors leaving Duan Xinyue to pair up with Mu Zixin. As they carry out the practicals,Lei Qiang and Wei Yi survey around the room. Mu Zixin approaches Duan Xinyue.

"Shi..,"Mu Zixin hesitates not sure whether to address him as junior brother or senior brother. Duan Xinyue notices it and quickly tells him to call him Xinyue.

Mu Zixin chuckles nervously before replying,"That's a little disrespectful. I will call you Young Master Duan."

"That's too formal. Call me Duan-ge or Xinyue-ge . Little brother, how may I address you?"

"I'm Mu Zixin."

"I'll call you Zixin."

Mu Zixin is the one that goes through a hard time. Duan Xinyue is a thick head; that's what he concludes after Duan Xinyue makes several dead pills even after Mu Zixin helping him during the process. Lei Qiang's gaze has been on Duan Xinyue the whole time. Du Bai Xin concludes the lecture but instructs Mu Zixin to stay behind and practice with Duan Xinyue. Everyone including Wei Yi can't stop talking about how dumb Duan Xinyue is.

After ensuring the coast is clear,Duan Xinyue sighs with relief.

"Duan-ge,I've never seen someone with mediocre alchemy skills like you,"Mu Zixin comments after giving him a pill he has refined. Duan Xinyue looks at it in scrutiny and smells it.

"Little brother, your alchemy skills aren't that better either. It's a middle grade medicinal pill."

Mu Zixin's facial expression changes revealing disappointment.

"Why are you upset?"

"Senior sister Ruolan told me she would allow me to kiss her cheek if I refine a top grade medicinal pill."

Duan Xinyue smiles knowing Ruolan is playing hard to get and tells Mu Zixin to put the medicinal herbs in the cauldron. He stands in front of the cauldron and starts refining. After a while he refines top grade medicinal pills with strong medicinal fragrance. His success rate in refining is a hundred percent. Mu Zixin can't stop praising him.

"Why don't you make more of those so I can take them to my Shi Jie?"

"That's what we call cheating. I can teach you on one condition."

Mu Zixin looks up at him anxiously waiting for him to state the condition.

"Do not tell anyone about my alchemy skills."

Mu Zixin swears before him with assurance.

"There are many ways to please a lady. You can buy her some beauty products,"Duan Xinyue says smiling at how Mu Zixin is listening to him attentively. He snaps his finger against Mu Zixin's forehead to prevent him from having any weird thoughts.

"How can you have such a weird taste in girls. You like older girls?"Duan Xinyue teases him. He clicks his tongue continuously with a look of 'what a shame' written across his face.

"Duan-ge,is it really true that you don't know martial arts?"Mu Zixin asks curiously.

"Why do you ask?"

"I can tell from your posture that you know martial arts. Shifu says posture is the key to learning Martial Arts."

Duan Xinyue ignores his question and changes the subject.

"If you want I can help you buy pleasant things for your Shi Jie,"Duan Xinyue says introducing his matchmaking skills.

"Then I'll meet you tomorrow at Meanders City."

"It's a deal then ,"Duan Xinyue says waving him goodbye and leaves.