Chapter 268: Speed, With a Premonition

"Master," said Da Zhu Di, his usually dull expression tinged with confusion, "that strange celestial phenomenon from last night—this Lu Xiao Langjun must know what caused it. Why didn’t you ask him?"

Zhao Da Fu sighed. "I already did. Unfortunately, this Lu Xiao Langjun refused to speak."

"Master, when did you ask?" Da Zhu Di blinked, puzzled. He had been inside the room the entire time and hadn’t heard the master ask anything about last night.

"I asked him how he slept last night. He said it was excellent. That was answer enough."

Seeing Da Zhu Di still staring blankly, Zhao Da Fu sighed again. Why must my disciple be so dense? He sighed inwardly. Compared to other masters’ disciples, why is mine so slow to grasp things?

He reluctantly explained: "Some things don’t need to be said outright. We all saw with our own eyes—last night, this Lu Xiao Langjun performed a miraculous feat atop the inn’s roof. But when I asked him about his sleep, he didn’t mention it at all. Clearly, he doesn’t wish to talk about it. This Lu Xiao Langjun is clearly no ordinary man. If he chooses not to speak, why should we pry? It would only bring us embarrassment."

Da Zhu Di finally looked thoughtful.

Beside him, Xiao Shitu was utterly lost. "Master, Senior Brother… what are you talking about? I don’t understand a word."

Zhao Da Fu stared at the younger apprentice, feeling even more weary. His face remained expressionless. "Nothing. Just remember to stay alert when you sleep. Don’t sleep like a pig—otherwise, you’ll miss everything happening outside."

"Oh…" Xiao Shitu mumbled.

---

"Zhao Da Fu… he’s not as simple as he looks," Lu Qing murmured, stepping out of Renxin Yiguan. A faint smile played on his lips.

He had clearly heard the hidden probing in Zhao Da Fu’s words. But since he had no real connection with the man, there was no reason to reveal such celestial secrets. Besides, Zhao Da Fu hadn’t even sensed the Heavenly and Earthly Dao Yin—obviously not someone destined to understand such mysteries. If he knew, it would only cause unnecessary worry.

Returning to the inn with the herbs, Lu Qing found everyone already awake. After breakfast, they prepared to depart.

"A Qing, are those two horses?" The group gasped as they saw the two Dragon Blood Stallions—transformed beyond recognition.

Even Old Doctor was momentarily stunned. The inn’s Zhang Gui and the waiters stood frozen, mouths agape.

There was no denying it—the horses had changed drastically overnight. They were now impossibly majestic, their forms radiant and powerful, resembling mythical celestial steeds. Anyone who saw them would be overwhelmed by their sheer beauty and presence.

"I gave them a little Moon Essence last night," Lu Qing said, placing his luggage into the carriage.

"All aboard. These horses have undergone a bloodline transformation. Their speed should be much greater. We might even reach Sheng Shan earlier than expected."

The others exchanged stunned glances. Their carriage was already fast, but this? If it could go even faster, it would truly be flying.

With eager anticipation, they climbed into the carriage.

"Ma Ye, we’re ready."

Once everyone was seated, Ma Gu gave a tug on the reins. The two Dragon Blood Stallions stepped forward, pulling the carriage gently down the quiet street.

The rhythmic tap-tap of hooves echoed through the town. The horses walked proudly, heads high, drawing awestruck stares from passersby. It was still early, so the streets were nearly empty—but even so, as Lu Qing’s group neared the outskirts, more and more people had gathered to gawk.

"Looks like we won’t be able to stay in any city tonight," Old Doctor sighed, hearing the commotion outside.

"No problem, Master," Lu Qing replied. "We’ll camp out like before—somewhere in the wilderness or a small village."

He understood his master’s concern. The two Dragon Blood Stallions were too magnificent to go unnoticed. In a small town like Yunlai, it might be manageable. But in a major city, such a sight would attract unwanted attention—possibly even thieves or ambitious officials. They’d end up with more trouble than they needed.

"Master, you’re right," Zhao Da Fu said, standing at a crossroads. "That Lu Xiao Langjun truly is no ordinary man."

Da Zhu Di stared at the two magnificent horses, wide-eyed. He had never seen such rare, extraordinary beasts—so powerful, so strange in appearance.

"Too bad we couldn’t meet his master," Zhao Da Fu lamented. "To learn from such a man, even just a little of his medical skills…"

Lu Qing’s medical prowess was already astonishing. The master who trained him must be even more legendary.

Zhao Da Fu felt deep regret. He’d missed a chance to learn from someone so extraordinary.

---

"Lu Qing, brother," Ma Gu called out, "I’m about to increase speed."

As they left the town, Ma Gu cracked his whip. The sound snapped through the air.

The two Dragon Blood Stallions, thrilled by the command, erupted into motion. Their bloodline transformation had filled them with boundless energy—now, finally, they could run freely. With a powerful thrust of their hooves, they launched forward.

A sudden whirlwind rose. A stream of emerald energy wrapped around the carriage and horses, as if the very air itself had been summoned.

Whoosh!

With the Array’s power amplifying their strength, the carriage shot forward at an extreme speed—far surpassing even its previous maximum.

"Damn!" Ma Gu, though prepared, still flinched. The sudden acceleration nearly ripped the reins from his hands. He barely caught himself in time.

But inside the carriage, Lu Qing and the others remained unshaken, protected by the Array.

"Speed like this…!" Old Doctor stared in awe as the carriage streaked across the road like a bolt of green lightning.

"Master, we might reach Sheng Shan sooner than planned," Lu Qing said with a smile.

Wei Zian and Hu Ze Zhi, their eyes wide, stared out the window, utterly amazed as the landscape blurred past at impossible speed.

The horses grew more excited with every stride. Their pace kept increasing—so fast, they seemed on the verge of flying.

Ma Gu finally had to rein them in. "Ease up! You’ll throw off the balance if you keep going like this!"

Despite the restraint, the carriage continued racing forward at breakneck speed, carving through the countryside.

By evening, when they stopped to rest, Lu Qing consulted the map. They had traveled five thousand li from Yunlai Town.

And that was with Ma Gu deliberately holding back. If they’d pushed to their absolute limit, they could’ve covered ten thousand li in a single day.

"Excellent," Lu Qing said, pleased. "At this pace, we should reach Sheng Shan within three days at most."

Even more satisfying was the condition of the two Dragon Blood Stallions. Despite a full day of nonstop galloping, they showed no signs of fatigue—still full of energy.

It was worth every drop of Moon Essence.

"We’ll stay here tonight," Lu Qing announced. "I’ll go gather some food."

They had stopped in a small forest. A few tents would be enough for the night.

While Ma Gu and the others set up camp, Lu Qing took Xiao Li and wandered nearby. Soon, they returned with a few fat rabbits.

"Rabbits!" Xiao Yan’s eyes sparkled. "Brother, can we have roast rabbit tonight?"

"Sure. It’s been a while since I made grilled meat for you. Lucky we caught these. A little treat."

"Roast rabbit tonight…" Ma Gu and Wei Zian both swallowed hard, their mouths watering.

Even Old Doctor looked slightly stirred.

Hu Ze Zhi, still reeling from the shock of covering five thousand li in one day, turned to Wei Zian. "Wei Gongzi, is Lu Gongzi’s roast rabbit really that good? You all look so excited."

"Of course!" Wei Zian replied without hesitation. "Lu Qing’s cooking is the best. No, wait—anything he makes is the best!"

"Really?" Hu Ze Zhi was even more curious now. She could hardly wait to taste it.

And soon, her curiosity was satisfied.

"Miss Hu, Brother asked me to bring this to you," Xiao Yan said, placing a plate before her.

On it sat a thick, golden-brown piece of roasted rabbit leg—still steaming, its aroma filling the air.

Hu Ze Zhi couldn’t help but swallow. The scent was overwhelming—rich, savory, intoxicating.

"Thank you, Xiao Yan."

She looked around. Ma Gu and the others had already begun eating. The smell was too much to resist. She picked up a small piece and took a bite.

Her eyes widened instantly.

The skin was crisp and fragrant. The meat inside was tender, juicy, bursting with flavor. It was unlike anything she’d ever tasted.

No wonder Wei Zian and the others had lit up at the mention of grilled meat.

She turned to look at Lu Qing, still tending the fire. He really is extraordinary.

That night, everyone ate heartily. The long journey, the miracle of the horses, and now this incredible meal—it was more than enough to warm their spirits.

After dinner, as the sky darkened, Lu Qing opened the large bundle of herbs he’d bought from Renxin Yiguan that morning and began preparing medicine.

"A Qing, what are you making?" Old Doctor asked.

"I’m making some Shengji Duanxu Gao," Lu Qing replied. "Hu Gu Niang’s leg injury is severe. Ordinary Golden Wound Medicine would take too long to heal."

He worked with precision, mixing the ingredients. Then, he placed the mixture into a cauldron and began simmering.

To maximize the potency, he added a few drops of a spirit elixir he’d once made with his master.

Hu Ze Zhi listened, touched. The gesture meant more than words. Her admiration for Lu Qing grew deeper—his medical skill, his mysterious cultivation, his uncanny cooking… He was like a true immortal.

What else could he possibly know?

After over an hour of careful brewing, the balm was ready. Lu Qing let it cool, then scooped it into a small clay jar and handed it to Hu Ze Zhi.

"Hu Gu Niang, apply this to your wound every night before bed. By the time this jar is empty, your injury should be completely healed—without a scar."

"Thank you, Lu Gongzi!" Hu Ze Zhi took the jar, clutching it tightly. She had feared the scar would remain for life. Now, hope bloomed in her heart.

That night, she applied the ointment in her tent.

She’d expected pain—like the sharp sting of ordinary wound medicine. But the Shengji Duanxu Gao was different. The moment it touched her wound, there was no pain—only a cool, soothing sensation. The original ache vanished almost entirely.

For the first time in days, she slept deeply and peacefully.

The next morning, she inspected her leg.

The wound had healed almost completely. The bone had regrown to nearly half its original strength. Pain was barely noticeable.

If she hadn’t felt the subtle stiffness in her leg, she’d have doubted she’d ever been injured.

Hu Ze Zhi now knew—Lu Qing’s medicine was no ordinary remedy. Healing a shattered leg in a single night? That was nothing short of miraculous.

Even in Qinglong City, she’d never heard of a medicine with such power.

"Miss Hu, are you awake?" Xiao Yan’s voice came from outside the tent.

"Uh… yes."

"Come out quickly! Brother says we’ll leave right after breakfast."

"Okay, I’m coming!" Hu Ze Zhi hurried into her clothes and stepped out.

Everyone was already up. Even Xiao Li was perched on Lu Qing’s shoulder. She blushed.

"Sorry… I overslept."

"No problem," Lu Qing smiled. "How’s your leg? The ointment still working?"

"Amazingly well," she said. "My injury is almost gone. Lu Gongzi, this ointment is incredible. If you sold it in the city, people would fight over it."

"Good," Lu Qing said, studying her face. But then, his brow twitched slightly.

Old Doctor, too, seemed to sense something. He glanced at Lu Qing.

They exchanged a silent look—but said nothing.

Finally, Lu Qing said, "Alright, everyone. Let’s eat breakfast, then we’ll be on our way."

They finished quickly, packed up, and climbed back into the carriage.

As it shot forward once more, Old Doctor sent a quiet mental message to Lu Qing.

"A Qing… did you feel it?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end