Chapter 163: Burden of the Black Tortoise
I rubbed my temples, sitting cross-legged by the furnace, the faint hum of the Vermilion Lotus Refinement technique threading through my meridians like a calming melody. It had been a week since I upgraded the technique, and though it hadn’t magically solved my problems, it had given me something invaluable.
Breathing room.
My qi reserves were still in a state of being perpetually drained, but at least now I didn’t feel like I was drowning every moment of the day. With the Vermilion Lotus Refinement, my energy cycled more efficiently, letting me reclaim enough qi daily to function somewhat normally without burning through my stash of pills. Even the crushing weight of the Black Tortoise shell felt less oppressive, although perhaps I was just hallucinating.
The door creaked open, and Lan-Yin peeked her head inside. “Morning, Kai! Brought you breakfast!” she chimed, holding up a basket of steamed buns.
Behind her, Wang Jun trudged in, carrying a crate of supplies for the shop. “And here's the shipment from Azure Silk. You’re welcome.”
I gave them a tired smile, before slipping into a bow with clasped hands. “This young master promises to repay this debt.”
Lan-Yin set the basket on the counter and waved dismissively. “Don’t mention it. You’d do the same for us. Besides, it’s not every day we get to see you being so... slow and clunky.”
“Wow, thanks for the reminder,” I said dryly, taking a bun and biting into it. The warm, fluffy dough melted in my mouth, and for a moment, I forgot about the tribulation entirely.
Wang Jun dropped the crate with a thud, stretching his arms. “This is the last one, according to Huan.” He eyed me critically. “You look a bit less like death today.”