From the book: Yu Wu Xiang

The small, exquisite glass vial—as it turned, the powdered liquid inside flowed slowly, possessing a dreamlike beauty.

“This is—” Du Qing looked again and again, boldly guessing, “Poison?”

Lin Hao’s tone was flat: “Fragrant essence.”

Du Qing’s hand holding the glass vial trembled.

Why would Second Miss Lin think the Master would want to meet her upon seeing this vial of fragrant essence?

He pushed the fragrant essence back: “I don’t know how to contact him.”

Lin Hao shook her head.

“What do you mean?” In Du Qing’s eyes, the young lady before him was a mystery—every move required attention.

Lin Hao pushed the glass vial forward again, speaking unhurriedly: “Having spoken to this point, your attitude is pointless. If I had any intention to harm the Master, I would have reported him a year ago, not be sitting here discussing with you now. Moreover—”

She paused, her expression half-smiling: “Even reporting him now would be in time.”

This was blatant threat.

Anger and killing intent intertwined in his eyes, yet Du Qing didn’t return the fragrant essence again.

Even if it was a threat, what could he do?

Kill Second Miss Lin and there was still Prince Jing’s heir, who was far away in the northern lands.

He silently put away the fragrant essence and rose to leave without a word.

Only then did Lin Hao breathe a sigh of relief, smiling bitterly as she took a sip of tea.

Of course she wasn’t as relaxed as she appeared on the surface. Even though rational analysis indicated this was feasible, her heart had been in her throat until this moment.

As for how Du Qing would contact Sage Mingxin in the palace, Lin Hao didn’t know, but she could be certain that Sage Mingxin who had entered the palace had means of communicating with the outside world.

Two days later, on Sage Mingxin’s way back from the Hall of Mental Cultivation to his residence, an inner attendant bumped into him. As the attendant helped him up with a panicked expression, a tiny glass vial wrapped with a paper slip fell into his sleeve.

Without heaven knowing or earth perceiving.

Sage Mingxin returned to his quarters with an unchanged expression. Walking into the inner chamber and sitting on the bed, only then did he take the item from his sleeve.

The paper slip bore familiar handwriting, briefly explaining the situation.

Sage Mingxin carefully read it three times, then tossed the paper slip into the charcoal brazier. The paper slip was quickly licked by flames and turned to fine ash.

Only then did he pick up the glass vial to examine it.

The paper slip had limited space for words, only saying the vial’s owner was confident he would be interested in meeting after seeing this item.

What was special about this vial of fragrant essence?

Sage Mingxin gently shook the glass vial and opened the stopper. A subtle fragrance wafted to his nose.

He brought the fragrant essence to his nose for a light sniff, then poured a bit into his palm and rubbed it between his fingertips. Then his expression changed.

This fragrant essence had an issue with its purity.

Not that it wasn’t good—it was too good.

Floral essences on the market came in numerous varieties. With slight changes in fragrance they could claim to be new products, but the methods of making fragrances were largely similar—there was absolutely no way to achieve this level of purity. If anything, it resembled the special method he used to refine medicinal extracts.

But that method came from his countless attempts and explorations. There were many capable people in the world—it was possible someone had coincidentally discovered the same method through trial and error. But combined with what was written on the paper slip, this clearly wasn’t the case.

This was plainly telling him that this vial of fragrant essence was made using the purification method he possessed.

Why did the other party know this method he had never told anyone about?

This person—he needed to meet them.

Sage Mingxin was not someone who cowered or hesitated. Since he’d decided on the meeting, he quickly made arrangements.

Lin Hao met Sage Mingxin at a Taoist temple in the city.

“It’s you.” Sage Mingxin looked at the young lady gracefully curtsying, ripples appearing in his eyes.

Lin Hao curved her lips: “Master, we meet again.”

Sage Mingxin’s eyes darkened, rarely falling silent.

“Master, please sit quickly.” Lin Hao waved her handkerchief and swept the already clean chair, warmly ushering him. Those unaware might think she was the host here, not the one who had been brought.

Sage Mingxin’s expression remained normal, but inwardly he was puzzled.

Where did this little girl’s undisguised familiarity come from?

At his age, he could perceive worldly matters, but it was impossible to perceive the human heart.

Beneath Sage Mingxin’s calm gaze hid scrutiny.

“Does Master still remember me? I’m Second Miss Lin Hao of the General’s Mansion Lin family. I had my fortune told by you…” Lin Hao used excessive talk to conceal her inner excitement.

Three years of interaction, like teacher, like father—he was the person she owed the greatest debt to in her previous life.

Unfortunately, at that time she couldn’t speak, never even managing to say a word of thanks.

“Second Miss Lin, sit down and speak.” Sage Mingxin’s tone was mild as he indicated she should sit.

Lin Hao sat down across from him.

“Why does Second Miss Lin wish to see this old man?” Actually, what Sage Mingxin wanted to ask was how she knew his identity.

Lin Hao gently pressed her lips together, her expression sincere: “Does Master believe in fate?”

Sage Mingxin: ?

Was this little girl mocking his identity as a fortune teller?

Looking again at the young lady’s expression across from him, it was extremely earnest.

In an instant, Sage Mingxin felt emotional: This little girl was talented.

Seeing Sage Mingxin silent, Lin Hao also felt a bit foolish.

Teacher could read the stars, was skilled at divination, and had spent years walking the world as a fortune teller—surely he believed in this?

If not, the nonsense she’d concocted wouldn’t work well.

Seeing that Sage Mingxin truly seemed unwilling to humor her, Lin Hao could only ask again: “Does Master not believe?”

“Believe…” The steady, wise old National Preceptor who knew astronomy above and geography below almost squeezed this word out through clenched teeth.

Lin Hao breathed a huge sigh of relief.

As long as he believed…

“Master, when you received the fragrant essence, you should have noticed it was made using your method of purifying medicinal extracts.”

Sage Mingxin nodded slightly.

“This method—” Lin Hao hesitated slightly, looking into Sage Mingxin’s eyes. “You taught it to me.”

These words were too bizarre, causing Sage Mingxin’s expression to suddenly darken: “Little girl, do you think this old man is senile?”

“Of course not.”

Sage Mingxin examined her carefully, seeing only sincerity in every trace of her expression.

“Then tell me, when did this old man teach you?”

“In a dream.”

Sage Mingxin’s neatly trimmed, handsome beard trembled. He picked up his teacup and drank a mouthful of hot tea, suppressing his agitated emotions.

It must be said, when it came to making his emotions fluctuate this much, the young lady before him was the first.

“Little girl, tell me about your dream.” Sage Mingxin quickly regained his calm, no longer letting the other party control the initiative.

“In the dream, Master was my teacher. Not only did you teach me the method of purifying medicinal liquids, you also imparted simple mechanism techniques…” Lin Hao’s tone was steady as she spoke at length.

Of course she wouldn’t reveal everything, emphasizing the teacher-student relationship.

Sage Mingxin’s first reaction was disbelief.

Given his circumstances, where would he have the energy or inclination to take on disciples, especially a young girl?

What he thought, he asked.

Lin Hao blinked: “Wasn’t this a dream?”

Sage Mingxin: “…”

Lin Hao had said everything she needed to say and held her breath watching the old man across from her.

Sage Mingxin didn’t say he believed, nor did he say he didn’t believe. He calmly asked: “Little girl, you went through so much trouble to meet this old man and say all this—what is your purpose?”

He stared intently at the serious-looking young lady, his expression somewhat subtle: “Don’t tell me you came for that wanted poster reward?”