My low-key cultivation of immortality was discovered by the emperor in my diary.

Chapter 92 Master Lu Enters the Pine Forest Cottage

The moment Lu Danshi stepped into the Pine Forest Cottage, an undisguised look of shock appeared on his face.

This is not a surprise at the simplicity or luxury of the environment, but rather a profound sense of awe and admiration for the beauty of nature that transcends words, originating from within.

He felt as if he were in a secluded paradise forgotten by time.

In the courtyard, ancient trees reach for the sky, their pine needles a vibrant, lush green.

Sunlight filters through the tree canopy, casting dappled shadows.

The light and shadow swayed in the wind, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, as if someone were holding the most agile brushstrokes, sketching vivid silhouettes.

The rustling of leaves rose and fell, as if they were whispering and telling a story, inviting every traveler from afar to stop and rest for a moment.

Master Lu closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The fresh air, mixed with the fragrance of pine, penetrated his heart and made him feel more comfortable and relaxed than ever before.

Simply standing here, he felt a resonance with heaven and earth. Everything in nature was displayed in perfect harmony before his eyes, allowing him to empty his mind and let the gentle breeze caress his face, washing away all his worries.

A gentle breeze stirs, and green ribbons dot the landscape.

When faced with beautiful scenery, why not enjoy it?

I take a cup from the flowers and drink alone. (Note)

Taking a deep breath, Master Lu became even more convinced that there must be a hidden powerful family supporting Chu Lengyu, otherwise how could she have such a wonderful place to cultivate?

He had only experienced this sense of balance and harmony once before, with a certain master, and it was a truly rare and wonderful experience.

And this place covers an entire manor!

It's even so extravagant that the very essence of heaven and earth is bestowed upon these ordinary pine trees, giving them a touch of the extraordinary. If one were to immerse oneself in this environment for a long time, these trees might undergo some subtle changes.

Thinking of this, Master Lu felt heartbroken and cried out in his heart: What a waste! What a waste!

Lin Li's feelings were far less complicated than those of Master Lu.

He looked around the vibrant courtyard and exclaimed sincerely, "What a comfortable courtyard!"

For someone born into a wealthy merchant family, gold, silver, treasures, and rare antiques are far too numerous to count; the word "comfortable" is the most precious compliment he could receive.

This courtyard seems to possess a kind of magic, capable of instantly sweeping away the dust from people's hearts and making them forget the troubles of the world.

Standing there, Lin Li was not foolish enough to think that such scenery and atmosphere could be created by the Xie family simply by relying on their wealth. All these extraordinary features must have come from Chu Lengyu.

Thinking of this, Lin Li became even more curious about Chu Lengyu.

At this moment, Master Lu's nostrils twitched slightly, and a faint and refreshing medicinal fragrance quietly entered his nose, causing him to frown slightly and involuntarily follow the scent.

Seeing that Huang Yi did not stop him, Lin Li followed closely behind.

Soon, they arrived at a quaint old house.

The aroma of medicine grew stronger and stronger, as if drawn by an invisible force, drawing them closer step by step.

Seeing that the doors and windows were open, Master Lu Dan did not hesitate to step over the threshold and enter.

The scene before him made his eyes widen in surprise.

In the very center of the room stood an ancient-looking alchemy furnace with a bronze hue.

The fire in the furnace was blazing, and the light shining through illuminated the surroundings, yet there was no trace of black smoke or heat. Instead, it emitted a faint bluish glow, gentle and bright.

It turned out that a pale blue flame was burning beneath the alchemy furnace!

The flames were strangely shaped and pure in color, as if they were the purest spiritual essence in the world.

It leaped silently, tinging the surrounding air with a faint blue glow, like the vibrant revival of all things in spring.

On a futon by the hearth sat a young girl in a green dress, none other than Lü Yun.

Holding a herb in her left hand and a book in her right, she muttered to herself, "White magnolia fruit... Cloud flower... Hmm, this herb looks quite similar to it, let's try putting it in!"

When she discovered a herb that resembled the illustration in the book, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she threw it into the alchemy furnace without hesitation.

At that moment, the light blue fire in the stove seemed to burn even brighter, and the whole room was filled with an even stronger aroma of medicine.

Then, she took out a medicinal herb from the bamboo basket beside her.

Master Lu's gaze suddenly froze, as if gripped tightly by an invisible force, and he stood there stunned, time seemingly standing still at that moment.

His expression shifted between anger and confusion, his eyes a mixture of shock, rage, and bewilderment, finally culminating in a furious shout that shattered the silence of the room: "What are you doing?!"

The sound was like thunder, booming and echoing throughout the room.

Master Lu rushed forward with great strides, his speed so fast that even the wind seemed to make way for him.

His movements were swift and precise. He snatched the herbs from Lüyun's hand, which she was about to throw into the furnace. The force was so great that Lüyun staggered and almost fell off the prayer mat.

But Master Lu paid no attention to any of that; all his attention was focused on the herbs in his hands.

He carefully unfolded the herb, examining its shape, color, and texture as if it were a rare treasure.

His eyes held both heart-wrenching regret and furious disappointment. He knew the value and preciousness of this herb, and understood its importance in alchemy. And now, it had been treated so carelessly—how could he not be enraged?!

"Do you know how precious these herbs are? How could you just throw them into the furnace so casually? The art of alchemy demands precision and meticulousness; every step must be taken with utmost care, or all your previous efforts will be wasted!"

Lu Danshi's voice trembled, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with uncontrollable anger and disappointment.

Green Bamboo was startled by his sudden outburst and turned pale. She twisted the hem of her clothes tightly with her hands, her eyes filled with grievance and confusion.

She wanted to say something, but faced with the furious Master Lu, she felt inexplicably guilty, as if her throat was blocked, and could only stammer softly, "This... this is something Miss gave me to play with, it's nothing valuable."

Having said that, she seemed to have regained some confidence and pointed at the two of them, asking, "Who...who are you two?"

Seeing this, Lin Li stepped forward and explained, "You must be Miss Lvyun, right? My name is Lin Li, and this is Alchemist Lu."

He bowed slightly to express his apology, and then continued, "As for these herbs, they may be just ordinary things in Miss Lvyun's eyes, but in the eyes of an alchemist, every herb is extremely precious. Alchemist Lu was a little excited just now, please forgive him."

In a few words, the tense atmosphere in the room eased, and Lüyun couldn't help but glance at him a few more times.

She knew her mistress had sent someone to find the alchemist, but she hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly. Her initial resentment and confusion gradually dissipated, replaced by curiosity about these two strangers.

She gently bit her lower lip, mustered her courage, and asked, "Is this herb really that precious? I... I really don't know..."

Upon hearing this, Master Lu's anger had not completely dissipated, but his expression had softened considerably.

He sighed deeply and said slowly, "I lost my composure just now."

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Note: Slightly modified from "Moonlight and Pear Blossoms" by Zhu Shuzhen (Song Dynasty).

It's a very beautiful poem.