This was a very fantastic immortal herb, below the stalk and leaves were all wisteria drapes, finely combed. But at the top was a golden dazzling tulip, and a heavy tulip fragrance immediately replaced Oscar’s previous Eight Petal Immortal Orchid, the rich fragrance giving a splendorous and majestic feeling.
“Your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda spirit is extremely special. I thought it over carefully, and selected this immortal herb for you. This thing is known as a Beautiful Silk Tulip, it’s graceful and luxurious. By taking it you can breathe in the quintessence of heaven and earth. The radiance of the sun and the moon. Your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is on its own classified as a treasure type spirit. With the help of this Beautiful Silk Tulip, the effect should be very complementing. This flower can’t be devoured. You have to breathe in the stamen, slowly absorbing the best features within, afterwards cultivate your spirit power and slowly circulate it, letting the medicinal effects find its way to the hundred bones of all four limbs.”
Ning Rongrong took the Beautiful Silk Tulip, and giggling said:
“Third brother, I really want to kiss you, only in order to keep Xiao Wu from upending the vinegar jar[ “Vinegar jar” is an idiomatic expression for a jealous person.], I’ll let it be. But I really can’t accept this flower from you free of charge, later little sister will definitely do something in return.”
Four of the Shrek Seven Devils had already obtained immortal herbs, finally remaining was only Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing.
Xiao Wu stood there calm and composed without the slightest bit of anxiety. Tang San gave the others such good immortal herbs, how could he treat her unfairly?
Zhu Zhuqing’s natural disposition was reclusive, and extremely shy. Even though she was inwardly equally brimming with expectation, she found it embarrassing to be as forward as Ning Rongrong.
Tang San walked over to Zhu Zhuqing,
“Zhuqing, this immortal herb I’ve chosen for you is the easiest to absorb and transform. Moreover the efficacy is even better than the others’, considered an all-round boost. However, to eat this immortal herb you must pay a certain price. I hope you have the mental preparation.”
If someone else had said this, Zhi Zhuqing would certainly have believed they had ulterior motives, but when it came from Tang San she didn’t have the slightest uncomfortable feeling. Everyone had been together for so long, even if Zhu Zhuqing very rarely spoke, how couldn’t she know Tang San’s character?
Immediately nodding, she quietly said:
“Thank you third brother.”
This was the first time Zhu Zhuqing had called Tang San ‘third brother’, and Tang San couldn’t help smiling slightly, once again pulling out a herb from the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse.
It was a seemingly common white flower, palm sized, a bit like a tree peony, without leaves, the stalk connecting to a big rock. That stone was completely pitch black, and from how Tang San carried it could be seen that its weight was astonishing.
On that white flower were a few flecks of red, scarlet red like blood giving people a hair-raising feeling.
Tang San grimly said:
“This herb is called Yearning Heartbroken Red. Among immortal treasure herbs it’s a divine treasure. It also has a legend. A very long time ago, a youth, quiet and contented, most liked gardening and planting trees, filling his garden with green and blue lotuses and bulbs, thousands of purples and reds. Ordinarily singing to flowers, toasting to the moon, when a flower fell, he would be boundlessly grieved, sweeping up the flower, burying it in the ground, shedding tears again and again. It’s said his feelings moved Heaven, and his great love for flowers moved the Heavenly Flower Immortal, who personally descended to the world to marry him, happiness like fish in water need not be mentioned. But unexpectedly the good times didn’t last, god learned about their matters, and was furious, saying immortals and the mundane didn’t match, ordering Flower Immortal to return to the divine realm. That youth having lost his lover, moaned and groaned in pain all day, depressed, discarding matters of flowers, consequently the walls fell and fences collapsed, flowers and trees withered, the land growing desolate. One day a white haired old man arrived, telling him that the white tree peony flower in his garden, was his wife’s reincarnation, as long as he destroyed the flower, the Flower Immortal would lose her immortality, banishing her to the mundane world to be his wife again, but he couldn’t by any means destroy a flower. The words turned into a pure wind and disappeared, and the youth suddenly came to himself, deeply regretting his mean treatment of the blossoms, he again carefully tended to the flowers and plants, even though he deeply loved his wife, he couldn’t bear to burn down the tree peony, it was even more cherished than himself, day and night watering the flowers with his tears, the tears stemmed from deep sorrow, and yearning and heartbroken he died, in his final moments, he dripped some blood on the petals, and you see those dark red stains, that is the heart’s blood of that youth.”
Quietly listening to Tang San’s story, whether it was Zhu Zhuqing or Xiao Wu to the side, both were somewhat sentimental. Even Grandmaster felt his heart sway, unable to help himself.
Tang San solemnly said:
“The flower is an exceptional treasure that chooses its master. When picking it you must keep your beloved in your heart, with absolute sincerity, spitting out blood on the petals. If you are at all half-hearted, even if you spit blood until you die, don’t think about removing the flower. After picking the flower, as long as it is by your side it will never wither. The rock it grows from is called crow break, if it’s forcefully broken, this Yearning Heartbroken Red will equally lose its medicinal strength. Using this herb has the immortal results of heaven and earth, by my conservative estimate, it can at least increase spirit power by ten ranks, and it will still substantially remould the body. Zhuqing, even if I’m not entirely sure what’s between you and Mubai, of us seven, you are the only ones who are certainly sweethearts, therefore I’ve brought this to you, hoping you can become that destined person.”
Zhu Zhuqing looked blankly at this touching bloody tree peony Yearning Heartbroken Red in front of her, softly nodding, her gaze floating over to Dai Mubai cultivating not far away,
“I’ll try.”
Urging the spirit power within, prompting the movement of qi and blood, Zhu Zhuqing’s cherry lips parted, spitting a drop of blood on the petals.
The moment she spit out blood, in her mind was fixed the figure of Dai Mubai. But for some reason she recalled Dai Mubai’s dissolute past, and her attention shifted slightly, unable to keep her state of mind from swaying.
When the blood fell on the petals, the Yearning Heartbroken Red trembled slightly. Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing and Grandmaster’s gazes were all fixed on this flower, quietly waiting.
However, Tang San quickly lost hope. That Yearning Heartbroken Red’s swaying gradually stopped, without falling off.
Zhu Zhuqing sadly said:
“I’m sorry, third brother, my heart is too greedy, I can’t take this flower.”
Tang San sighed, helplessly shaking his head,
“Zhuqing, don’t be like that. When I returned I prepared you another herb as backup. Wait a moment.”
While speaking, Tang San held up the Yearning Heartbroken Red to Grandmaster,
“Teacher, you and aunt Erlong’s feelings are deep and heavy, it would be better for you to try. Perhaps, this Yearning Heartbroken Red might be able to change your spirit variation.”
Grandmaster sighed, saying:
“Such a divine treasure, how could I eat it? By now I have long ago passed the age for cultivating. If it is destined for me, I will keep it at my side forever.”
Looking at the bloodstains on the Yearning Heartbroken Red, Grandmaster couldn’t help recalling all that had happened between him and Liu Erlong, a burst of pain in his heart, he didn’t use his spirit power, but directly raised his hand to hit his chest. As Tang San cried out in alarm, blood forced its way out of his mouth,
just right to spurt onto the flower.
Part 2 (TL by Bagelson)
The moment he spit out the blood, Grandmaster’s spirit was equally shocked, in his mind appeared the two most painful words of his life, ‘little sister’.
This time the Yearning Heartbroken Red swayed even more fiercely, in a moment about to fall from the black breaking rock, but in the end lacking that last trace of strength, the swaying returned to its original position, whether it was the blood Grandmaster or Zhu Zhuqing had spit out, both gradually disappeared.
Grandmaster said in a rough voice:
“I’m always unable to put down the burden in my heart, I’m not qualified to take this herb.”
With a dispirited expression he turned to look out the window, apparently again recalling those sad forgotten events.
As Tang San prepared to put away the Yearning Heartbroken Red, taking out the backup he had prepared for Zhu Zhuqing, suddenly, a small pu sound echoed. When Tang San turned his head to look, he saw a drop of blood had already fallen on that Yearning Heartbroken Red, and before he could react, the Yearning Heartbroken red, this time without the slightest swaying, already quietly fell from the black breaking rock, falling into slender jade-white hands.
Xiao Wu wiped a bloodstain from the corner of her mouth, her charming face revealing a smiling expression, looking at that touching flower in her hand with blurred emotions in her eyes,
“I didn’t expect that I would be this destined person.”
Tang San’s heart shook, and Zhu Zhuqing to the side was equally shaken. None of them had expected that this Yearning Heartbroken Red’s final owner would actually be Xiao Wu.
In that previous moment, Tang San’s gaze had been fixed on Grandmaster and hadn’t seen it, but Zhu Zhuqing clearly saw, when Xiao Wu spit out blood, her gaze didn’t leave Tang San for a moment. That single-mindedly devoted expression was something Zhu Zhuqing would never forget.
Until now she had always seen how good Tang San was to Xiao Wu, but now she truly understood what position Tang San held in Xiao Wu’s heart.
Zhu Zhuqing saw very clearly how pure Xiao Wu’s gaze at Tang San had been, perhaps even they didn’t know whether the feelings between them were that of man and woman, but their feelings were absolutely the purest sincerity, without any flaw.
And that Yearning Heartbroken Red became the best proof.
Tang San looked stupidly at Xiao Wu, for a long while speechless. Xiao Wu lowered her head, her fingertips caressing the flower petals,
“Little San, that story was definitely true, right?”
Tang San said:
“I don’t know. Eat it, it will give you the best help.”
Xiao Wu shook her head,
“No, Grandmaster was right, an immortal herb like this, how can people part with it by eating it? Didn’t you say that, as long as it recognized its owner, it will never wither? I want to keep it with me. Loving it and cherishing it.”
“But……”
Tang San somewhat hesitantly thought to say something, but was interrupted by Xiao Wu.
“Don’t worry, Ge, I won’t fall behind everyone. I will make great effort to cultivate.”
Xiao Wu naturally understood what Tang San was worried about.
Even though she didn’t advance to the next step in strength because she didn’t eat this Yearning Heartbroken Red, at this moment her heart was already content. Just like Zhu Zhuqing thought, she hadn’t known what her feelings towards Tang San actually were, but at this moment, this Yearning Heartbroken Red had already told her.
To her, there was nothing more important than this.
Tang San would never force Xiao Wu to do anything. Raising his hand to gently caress her head, he said with a smile:
“Then protect it properly, and it will also always protect you.”
Stretching his hand into the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse, Tang San pulled out the sixth immortal herb.
That was a white flower with a gem-like luster, appearing spotless as a blue lotus white root. Tang San handed over it to Zhu Zhuqing, saying with a smile:
“This thing is called Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone. Its function is to soften muscle and mend bone, the clearing the eight extraordinary meridians. Originally I was going to give it to Xiao Wu, but she already has the Yearning Heartbroken Red, and this immortal herb suits you just as well, take it at once.”
Perhaps it was because she couldn’t obtain the Yearning Heartbroken Red’s approval, but Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat depressed, sadly shaking her head:
“Since you were going to give it to Xiao Wu, you should still give it to her.”
Tang San shook his head:
“No, a person of integrity can’t be too greedy, each of these immortal treasure herbs are precious treasures that Heaven yearns for, taking several is no good, it will instead be harmful. Even if Xiao Wu doesn’t eat the Yearning Heartbroken Red, the Yearning Heartbroken Red’s energy still exists. If she takes yet another immortal treasure herb, she will be unable to completely absorb it, so this Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone should go to you. Its effect will lead to the same result by different means as Mubai’s Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Your spirit is similar to Mubai’s, and using it won’t be a problem. When eating it only eat the petals, then finally suck on the stamen, that will absorb its efficacy. At the same time you have to urge your spirit power. Zhuqing, remember, you have to stay calm to absorb its best properties.”
“Thank you, third brother.”
Zhu Zhuqing tightly gripped the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone and walked over to sit by herself in a corner.
Xiao Wu was still playing with the Yearning Heartbroken Red in her hands, and Tang San couldn’t help ask once again:
“Xiao Wu, are you really not prepared to take it? With it your strength would increase greatly.”
Xiao Wu lightly shook her head,
“Ge, I won’t eat it, unless one day……”
She didn’t continue, but her gaze floated to Tang San’s face.
From within Xiao Wu’s big eyes, Tang San saw a somewhat different spirit. He didn’t know why, but Tang San didn’t dare look directly at this light.
Tang San felt about in the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse, and after hesitating a moment pulled out a mildly purple medicinal herb. The top of the herb was like a cap, precisely a lingzhi mushroom[ Mentioned this one in an earlier footnote. A kind of fungus with purported medicinal properties. Ganoderma lucidum. Why does it have leaves? Who knows.]. The lingzhi mushrooms cap was purple, with a jade green stalk below, growing nine leaves.
Tang San walked over in front of Grandmaster,
“Teacher, Even though this Nine Treasure Purple Zoysia doesn’t count as an immortal treasure, it still strengthens foundations, its effect promoting energy. It will have a considerable beneficial effect to your body. Please take it.”
Without waiting for Grandmaster to decline, Tang San pulled off the lingzhi cap from the stem, presenting it to Grandmaster.
Seeing the earnest light in Tang San’s eyes, Grandmaster secretly sighed, but still accepted it and put it in his mouth, chewing it a few times and swallowing.
“The lingzhi’s nature is mild, but this Nine Treasure Purple Zoysia is a top quality lingzhi. Teacher, since Xiao Wu doesn’t want to eat the Yearning Heartbroken Red, let her keep watch over us and cultivate a moment to dissolve its medicinal effects.”
Grandmaster nodded, reining in his mind, as much as possible keeping himself from thinking about Liu Erlong. Sitting down in the light from the window, he started to quietly cultivate.
“Ge, don’t you have anything for yourself?”
Xiao Wu asked.
Tang San said:
“I do.”
While speaking, he pulled out a seemingly unremarkable herb from the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse. Its body was jade green, but bizarrely at the center of the plant were three snow white leaves, and at the center of the leaves were a few water droplets, as if dew left behind in the
morning.
“This herb is called Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, eating it will train piercing eyes, passing through ten thousand strange things. Even though the description is a bit exaggerated, it will be of considerable benefit to my Purple Demon Eye cultivation. That can also be considered an immortal treasure.”
Xiao Wu frowned, saying:
“Ge, why did you give everyone herbs to promote their strength, but only this for yourself? Even if I don’t understand these immortal treasures, shouldn’t yours be the best?”
Tang San smiled faintly, saying:
“Even though the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew isn’t considered the best immortal treasure, it’s effect is still better than you imagine. Besides, I’ve already taken two kinds of immortal treasure herbs before, I can’t be greedy. Just those two herbs are enough to benefit me all my life. I even hesitated over this Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew again and again before deciding to take it. Its medicinal effect is very mild, and doesn’t conflict with the two immortal treasures I used before.”
Even though Tang San still hadn’t completely absorbed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Precious Apricot he used half a year ago, his originally gentle Mysterious Heaven Skill had already changed significantly.
Since it was these two kinds of extreme herbs he used simultaneously, these two kinds of herbs within his body neutralized anything absorbed later.
There wouldn’t be any destructive effects to Tang San’s body, but the two herbs efficacy could arbitrarily change under Tang San’s control, in other words, within his spirit power the extreme cold and extreme hot energies had already mixed.
These two energies didn’t belong to the Blue Silver Grass spirit, but rather to Tang San’s internal strength. Only when his spirit power was infused into Blue Silver Grass would there be any effect to the spirit.
“Then hurry up and eat it.”
Xiao Wu urged.
Tang San nodded, raising the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew in front of him, tilting it slightly, letting the transparent drops of liquid drop into his mouth. The moment those drops of liquid left the leaves of the plant, the whole Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew completely withered in Tang San’s hand, in the blink of an eye becoming dust wafting through the air.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 126