Chapter 202: Covered in Tears

With Su Han's identity as an Inspector, they returned without incident.

When they arrived at East Ocean City, there was still four hours left before the deadline. Su Han took Hao Ren directly to the bottom of the ocean. Sensing their arrival, the array formation of the Dragon Palace immediately opened.

When they landed on the square in the Dragon Palace, Lu Qing and Elder Sun hurried to them and asked, "How was it?"

"We got them," Hao Ren told them.

They both heaved a sigh of relief before taking Hao Ren's arm, saying, "Let's bring in the herbs immediately. little Daoist Zhen has been impatient."

They took several steps forward before looking back at Su Han. "Ms. Su..."

"Well, I have to go now." Su Han handed the six 1,000-year snow lotuses to Hao Ren before walking out of the main gate of the Dragon Palace.

"Ms. Su, Thank you for your understanding." Lu Qing and Elder Sun cupped their hands to Su Han. After all, she was not a member of the East Ocean, and it was not appropriate for her to show up on some occasions.

In her fluttering trench coat, Su Han walked away. This time by putting in her time, energy, and six elixir pills, she had returned a big favor to the East Ocean.

Glancing at Su Han who was leaving, Lu Qing dragged Hao Ren along with him. "We must hurry up. Gongzi Hao, please come with me!"

Zhao Kuo was resting in a small palace. Beside his bed were Zhao Guang, Zhao Hongyu, Zhao Yanzi, and Xingyue. Zhao Kuo had changed into clean clothes, but he looked listless.

Seeing Hao Ren come in with Lu Qing and Elder Sun, Zhao Guang walked up immediately. "How did it go?"

"I didn't let you down. We got them." Hao Ren opened the box and revealed the neatly arranged six snow lotuses inside.

"Great!" Zhao Guang's face turned from anxious to pleasantly surprised. He said to Elder Sun, "Hurry up and ask little Daoist Zhen to come here!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Elder Sun turned and walked out of the room. Red-eyed from crying, Zhao Yanzi looked at Hao Ren incredulously, now expecting he would get six 1,000-year snow lotuses so successfully.

Seeing her tear-reddened eyes and the tired look on her face, Hao Ren knew she had not slept a bit in more than ten hours. His heart ached for her.

In a grey silk Taoist robe, little Daoist Zhen walked into the room with Elder Sun.

Seeing the box in Hao Ren's hands, his eyes lit up. Without further ado, he turned to Elder Sun and said, "Open the furnace! I'll begin making the elixir!"

"Ok!" Elder Sun strode out of the room into the yard.

Little Daoist Zhen grabbed the box from Hao Ren's hands. He picked up three snow lotuses and stuffed them into his sleeves before walking out into the yard with the remaining three snow lotuses in his hands.

All the people in the small palace had been turned away as a measure to keep the secret of Zhao Kuo's failure at the Heavenly Tribulation. Those people at the altar during the Heavenly Tribulation were elites of the East Ocean, and they wouldn't leak the news.

Half-squatting-half-sitting before Zhao Kuo's bed, Zhao Yanzi held her Third Uncle's hand and kept him company. Zhao Kuo was breathing shallowly, half awake and half asleep.

The road of cultivation was full of dangers. Even the highest-leveled cultivators could be struck down by the Heavenly Tribulation as Zhao Kuo was.

Concerned about the process of elixir making, Zhao Guang followed little Daoist Zhen into the yard. Zhao Hongyu hesitated and decided to stay in the room to keep Zhao Yanzi company.

In the yard, with the primary materials in hand, little Daoist Zhen began to make the elixir.

The process was not complicated. He opened the black elixir furnace's door and put in the materials he had prepared one by one.

The three 1,000-year snow lotuses were the last to be placed into the furnace. After all the materials were in the furnace, little Daoist Zhen sat down cross-legged.

There was no fire under the furnace, yet he just sat down.

Hao Ren was puzzled at the sight when little Daoist Zhen, who was only about eight years old, suddenly spat out a burning flame!

The flame was so hot that it forced Zhao Guang and Elder Sun to step back a little.

With the lowest cultivation realm and totally unprepared, Hao Ren almost backed into a room.

The burning fire shrunk into needle-thin threads and began to roast the black iron furnace.

"Is this... the Samadhi Fire?" Hao Ren asked Lu Qing who stood beside him.

Lu Qing shook his head. "Samadhi Fire? That's the lowest grade fire in the cultivation world. little Daoist Zhen is the fire disciple of Qiu Niu, who is the Great Master of Elixirs in the Dragon Tribe. His fire is called the Evil Eradicating Fire which ranks sixth on the list of natural fires. Samadhi Fire is not even in the top 100 on the list of natural fires and any demon beast turned human can spit it!"

"Isn't little Daoist Zhen a dragon?" Hao Ren heard the hidden information in his words and asked.

"Hehe, little Daoist Zhen's original form is a demon beast. He was tamed by Master Qiu one hundred years ago when he was traveling in the Ocean of Demon Beasts. However, he has activated his intelligence and successfully turned him into a human form about eight years ago," Lu Qing told him in a low voice.

Looking at the handsome boy in the yard, Hao Ren was surprised to learn he was, in fact, a demon beast under the sea!

The flames circled the furnace thread by thread. The weird blue flame was no longer hot; instead, it gave off a cool sensation.

Time ticked away, and little Daoist Zhen seemed to be dozing off while he spat flames. However, no one in the yard dared to disturb him.

Red-eyed, Zhao Yanzi also came out of the room. Seeing little Daoist Zhen was dozing off while making the elixir, and the flames he spat out had turned intermittent. She wanted to remind him of his job, but Zhao Guang stopped her with his eyes.

Zhao Kuo's life was now in little Daoist Zhen's hand. The boy was as every bit as eccentric as his master, and it was very likely that he would take his hands off of the matter if he were displeased.

From sitting to leaning to lying down on the ground, little Daoist Zhen yawned. After spitting out two more flames, he finally fell asleep.

Zhao Guang, Lu Qing and others looked at each other, not certain if the elixir was ready or not.

Two hours later, little Daoist Zhen stretched and stood up from the ground. Brushing the dust off his robe, he walked to the furnace before lifting the lid.

In the elixir furnace, a golden elixir pill was spinning. little Daoist Zhen reached in and took it out. Feeling the burn of it, he blew at it before tossing it at Hao Ren.

Hao Ren reached out and caught the pill, feeling the scalding heat in his palm. Immediately, he activated Nature Essence to protect his palm.

"The elixir is made. I'll go back to sleep." With that, little Daoist Zhen walked out of the small palace arrogantly.

With the elixir pill in hand, Hao Ren immediately turned and walked into the room.

The golden pill was still hot, but it was cool enough for Zhao Kuo to take. Frowning, Elder Xingyue took the pill from Hao Ren and helped Zhao Kuo take the pill with a bowl of water.

Even an ordinary snow lotus could turn a dying man back to life, not to mention the seven-colored snow lotus which had grown for one thousand years. Besides, the elixir had an additional effect since it was made personally by little Daoist Zhen who had vast experience with elixirs. In the past, he had ignored the people whom Zhao Guang sent to ask for dharma treasures, but this time, he did the East Ocean a big favor by making the elixir for Zhao Kuo.

Red-eyed, Zhao Yanzi looked at Zhao Kuo hopefully. She sniffed, after another bout of crying.

"We can't underestimate the power of the Heavenly Tribulation. Besides, little Daoist Zhen didn't promise that his elixir would save Zhao Kuo with 100% certainty," Zhao Hongyu stood beside Zhao Guang and said to him gently.

"I know. But I am still hopeful." Zhao Guang nodded. After a moment of consideration, he turned to Hao Ren. "We must thank you for your effort."

"No problem." Hao Ren waved his hand, grateful for the opportunity to serve the East Ocean to repay the kindness Zhao Guang and Zhao Hongyu had shown him. However, he didn't want to tell them the dangers he encountered in the karst cave.

Thinking Hao Ren just went on an errand, tiresome but not life-threatening, Zhao Yanzi pouted while she looked at him, not able to bring herself to thank him.

Zhao Kuo was still sleeping. Elder Xingyue sat by the bed and took care of him. Lu Qing and Elder Sun sighed slightly at the scene

"Zi, take a walk outside. You've been here for one day and one night. When your Third Uncle wakes up, I'll send for you," Glancing at Hao Ren and Zhao Yanzi, Zhao Guang said.

"Ok..." Nodding, Zhao Yanzi walked out of the room. At a glance from Zhao Guang, Hao Ren took his silent instruction and walked out with her.

They crossed the yard and walked out of the small palace. Everywhere they saw were celebratory decorations. Red lanterns were hung everywhere; glittering dharma treasures were attached on the columns. The whole Dragon Palace looked like a celestial garden.

Dressed in a traditional Chinese robe, Zhao Yanzi's small face looked exquisite with tear stains on it. Her white and delicate hands were a sharp contrast with her red robe.

The people coming and going in the Dragon Palace all looked joyous since Zhao Guang had announced that the Dragon Palace would celebrate Zhao Kuo's success with the Heavenly Tribulation for three days.

The celebratory atmosphere made Zhao Yanzi even more upset. While she walked, she sniffed abruptly and was on the verge of tears again.

Hurriedly, Hao Ren pulled her to sit down on a nearby stone step.

Looking at the swaying red lanterns by her side, Zhao Yanzi couldn't bear it anymore. She threw herself into Hao Ren's arms and burst into tears.

She was so fond of her Third Uncle that she just couldn't accept the fact that Zhao Kuo had failed to pass the Heavenly Tribulation. If Zhao Kuo had not come out earlier from his seclusion to celebrate her birthday, maybe he would have passed the tribulation!

Putting his arms around her, Hao Ren didn't know how to comfort her. At a moment like this, being with her was what she needed.

Seeing her tears had dampened Hao Ren's clothes, Zhao Yanzi took several deep breaths and finally sat up. Her red face and tear-dampened eyelashes caused Hao Ren to hurt inside.

"What should I do if Third Uncle can't make it?" Leaning against Hao Ren's shoulder, she asked in a low voice.

Hao Ren was silent, knowing it was a real possibility. Even a great master as powerful as Zhao Kuo was insignificant in the face of the Heaven.

If Zhao Kuo died, Zhao Yanzi would be sad for a very long time.

After a moment of consideration, he took out from the hidden space the snow lion he got in the Sky Mountain.

Looking at the unfamiliar place and sensing Zhao Yanzi's dragon essence, the snow lion was instantly alarmed. It showed its claws and fangs at her.

"Behave!" Hao Ren said one word.

Immediately, the snow lion lowered its head and dropped to the ground, looking up at Zhao Yanzi with its bell-sized black eyes.

"What is it?" blinking her tearful eyes, Zhao Yanzi sniffed and asked Hao Ren morosely.