Chapter 8: The White Stone Immortal

The next morning, footsteps sounded outside the western side chamber of the Yu residence.

In the vermilion corridor leading to the separate courtyard, three people were walking slowly in this direction.

The two in front walked side by side. One was an elderly Daoist wearing a lotus crown and a gray-white Daoist robe; the other was a spirited young woman in a light yellow palace dress.

Behind them followed a maid, carrying a three-tiered lacquered food box of fragrant wood.

The old Daoist walked with his hands behind his back, his white brows slightly furrowed, his expression somewhat displeased. His eyes stared straight ahead, but his mind was clearly elsewhere.

The woman in palace dress was not old, about seventeen or eighteen. Though her figure was not yet fully developed, it appeared very well-proportioned. Her black hair was swept up high, her features were clear and beautiful, her brows exuded spiritedness, and her eyes were bright as stars, making one forget the mundane at first sight.

Moreover, the woman had applied a little makeup, adding a touch of appropriate blush to her already fair and flawless cheeks, making her particularly charming.

"White Stone Immortal, I'm really sorry to disturb your alchemy," the woman said as she walked, her eyes slightly downcast.

"Taking a look is fine, but I am puzzled: why does the Seventh Miss want me to examine a simpleton mortal?" The old Daoist withdrew his thoughts upon hearing this, his face still expressionless.

"Immortal, you may not know, but this man yesterday..."

The woman in palace dress gave a faint smile and briefly recounted how Liu Shi had stopped her horse to save someone the day before.

As the old Daoist listened, he gently rubbed his fingers together. When he heard that Liu Shi had single-handedly stopped a frenzied Green Wind Horse, his white brows lifted slightly.

"Since he has done you a favor, Seventh Miss, this person is worth my taking a look at," the old Daoist said, releasing his thumb and forefinger and speaking calmly.

The woman in palace dress smiled upon hearing this and slightly bowed in salute.

The maid, holding the food box nervously, followed properly behind the two without making a sound.

Inside the western side chamber, Liu Le'er, already dressed and washed, was chattering away to Liu Shi, who sat on the edge of the bed, when suddenly they heard a 'thump thump thump' knock at the door.

"Sister Le'er, my mistress has brought the Immortal Master to see you," the maid said, stepping forward without waiting for her mistress's signal, gently knocking on the door and calling softly.

Liu Le'er stood up, not rushing to open the door, and asked doubtfully, "Your mistress is?"

"Sister Le'er, it's me."

Hearing a familiar voice outside, Liu Le'er blinked, looking somewhat puzzled.

After a moment's hesitation, she stepped forward and opened the door with a creak.

As the two door panels swung inward, she caught a faint medicinal scent and then saw the three people standing outside.

Her gaze first swept over the old Daoist, confirming the medicinal scent came from him, then looked at the maid beside him, recognizing her as Xiao Wu, the personal maid of Seventh Young Master Yu she had seen yesterday.

When Liu Le'er's eyes finally fell on the woman in yellow palace dress, who wore a faint smile, she was first startled, then opened her mouth in surprise.

"You are... Seventh Young Master!" Liu Le'er exclaimed, covering her mouth.

"It's me. Sister Le'er can call me Seventh Miss, or Seventh Sister," the woman in palace dress said, smiling at the girl's astonished expression.

"No wonder yesterday I felt that Seventh Young Master was a bit..." Liu Le'er also smiled upon hearing this.

"A bit what?" Yu Qi raised an eyebrow slightly.

"A bit... not like a man," Liu Le'er said after thinking for a while, finding such a euphemistic expression.

"Moving about in the world as a man can avoid many unnecessary troubles. In a few years, when you're older, Le'er, you'll understand," the woman in palace dress said, looking at Liu Le'er's pretty face and smiling.

Liu Le'er nodded, half understanding, and invited the three inside.

"Sister Le'er, this is the Immortal Master I mentioned, White Stone Immortal. Immortal, this is Liu Le'er, and the one sitting over there is her elder brother, Liu Shi," Seventh Miss said, stepping slightly aside to reveal the old Daoist, introducing them.

"Greetings, Immortal Master," Liu Le'er said, though she had guessed as much, her heart still skipped a beat. She quickly lowered her head and bowed, not daring to meet the old Daoist's eyes.

Liu Shi sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the newcomers, not moving.

White Stone Immortal glanced lightly at Liu Le'er, then shifted his gaze to Liu Shi. He first paced closer, then circled to the other side, carefully examining him from top to bottom, and finally fixed his gaze on Liu Shi's brow.

After watching for a moment, the old Daoist closed his eyes, raised his hand, and suddenly pointed two fingers together at Liu Shi's brow.

"Ah..."

Le'er was startled by the sight and couldn't help but cry out.

The old Daoist's outstretched finger froze. He turned back and cast a displeased glance at her.

"Sister Le'er, the Immortal is examining your brother. No need to be alarmed." Seventh Miss quickly tugged at Liu Le'er and explained.

"Forgive me, Immortal Master, I didn't mean to..." Liu Le'er, knowing she was at fault, quickly apologized.

Hearing this, the old Daoist's expression softened slightly. He raised his hand again, closed his eyes, and pointed once more at Liu Shi's brow.

As his two fingers extended forward, a patch of cyan light lit up at Liu Shi's brow, and circular ripples spread outward from it, like the rings cast by a stone thrown into a lake.

After a moment, the old Daoist gave a soft exclamation of surprise, withdrew his fingers, and slowly opened his eyes.

"How is it? Can Brother Stone be cured?" Liu Le'er asked hastily.

White Stone Immortal glanced at her sideways but said nothing.

Yu Qi stepped forward, took Liu Le'er's hand, and gently patted the back of it, signaling her not to be anxious.

Liu Le'er closed her mouth and stopped pressing, but her eyes remained fixed on Liu Shi.

As if sensing Liu Le'er's gaze, Liu Shi shifted his eyes toward her, swallowed the pastry in his mouth, and stretched his lips into a faint smile.

After pondering for a moment, White Stone Immortal turned his palm over, and an ancient bronze round mirror materialized in his hand out of thin air.

"Go."

He uttered a soft command. The round mirror flashed with cyan light, then floated up leisurely, hovering above Liu Shi's head and stopping still.

White Stone Immortal began to chant softly under his breath, while his joined fingers traced and drew in the void, as if writing some secret runes.

After a moment, he suddenly stopped his fingers and pointed from afar at the round mirror.

The hovering mirror immediately shook violently. A layer of hazy cyan light lit up on its originally pitted and uneven surface, which became smooth and bright.

Liu Le'er watched the mirror surface nervously, feeling that some change was occurring within the cyan light, as if blurry images were about to appear.

But after waiting for a while, the mirror surface within the cyan light remained just as indistinct, with nothing clear to be seen.

At this point, Liu Shi seemed displeased with the mirror hanging over his head. He raised his hand and waved it as if shooing away a mosquito. Though he didn't hit the mirror, the cyan light on its surface wavered and became even more chaotic.

"Impossible, this is..."

Seeing this, White Stone Immortal's face suddenly changed drastically. He immediately shook his sleeve and swept it fiercely toward the ancient mirror. The round mirror instantly spun back like a returning swallow, disappeared into his hand, and vanished.

Liu Le'er watched this scene, a look of concern appearing on her small face.

"Immortal, have you identified the problem? Is there a way to cure him?" Seventh Miss couldn't help asking.

"Fifty-fifty, it's not impossible, but..." White Stone Immortal's face shifted between overcast and clear, appearing somewhat hesitant.

"I beg the Immortal Master to cure my brother." Liu Le'er was overjoyed and quickly pleaded.

"Immortal, if you have a good prescription, please do cure Liu Shi. Whatever costs are needed, I will cover them." Seventh Miss also spoke up.

Hearing this, Liu Le'er's eyes toward Yu Qi held an extra trace of gratitude.

"Since Seventh Miss has spoken, I, the old Daoist, will naturally do my utmost. But let me say in advance: his soul is in a sealed state for some unknown reason, and reopening it is extremely difficult. Only by setting up a Soul-Summoning Array can there be some hope of a cure. Moreover, I must be alone with him in a quiet room, exerting my full effort." White Stone Immortal looked at the tall young man for a long time before replying slowly, as if having made up his mind.

"When the Immortal Master treats him, could Le'er stay by his side?" Liu Le'er hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice.

"What would you be doing by his side? Getting in the way. What, little girl, you don't trust me?" White Stone Immortal's tone suddenly rose a few notches as he asked.

Liu Le'er's heart gave a jolt. She quickly waved her hands: "No, no. Le'er only wants to accompany my brother, just watching from the side. I promise I won't disturb the Immortal Master."

"As you wish. The Soul-Summoning Array is no ordinary matter; there are preparations to be made. I'll take my leave now." White Stone Immortal said flatly, then turned to Yu Qi and spoke seriously.

"Thank you for your trouble, Immortal." Seventh Miss bowed slightly in salute.

Liu Le'er also quickly bowed to White Stone Immortal. But before she could straighten up, the old Daoist had already left the room and gone on his way.

After White Stone Immortal left, the palace-robed woman did not linger long. She merely comforted Liu Le'er, telling her not to worry too much about Liu Shi's condition and to feel at ease staying here, then left with Xiao Wu.