After Another Night

The Cat Loi side held its position.

Cat Thanh remained in front of the gate, the lightning around both arms already fading but not yet fully withdrawn. Hoa Duong kept the Hoa Van force stationed to the southeast, while Luu Thanh remained on the wall with his longbow still in hand.

Hao Nhien had not turned his back either.

The Fire Spirit Sword had already returned to its sheath, but he continued standing on the Tieu Dao Sword, watching the Foundation Establishment auras recede farther and farther into the distance. Only when the last of them had moved beyond the range from which they could suddenly turn back and launch an attack did he slowly exhale.

The battle was truly over.

The battlefield before the city remained quiet for a long time before Cat Thanh finally stepped out from the gate.

“Back inside.”

Hao Nhien looked at him for a moment, then nodded.

This time, the southeastern gate opened fully to receive those who had survived.

Hoa Duong immediately turned back to reorganize the formation.

“The wounded go in first. Those who still have strength, hold both sides. Withdraw in order.”

The Hoa Van force quickly began moving. Those with serious injuries were placed on Sa Ma or stretchers, while those still able to walk held the flanks in case anything unexpected happened.

Just then, a Hoa Van warrior came running from the rear.

“Clan Chief, more supplies have arrived from the rear.”

“Hoa Van Town?”

“Yes.”

A wooden chest was carried over.

Hao Nhien opened it.

Inside, rows of medicine bottles had been tied neatly in place. There were Life-Vitality Pills, Qi-Vitality Pills, hemostatic powders, medicinal liquids for damaged meridians, clean bandages, wooden splints, spirit stones, and several kinds of unprocessed medicinal herbs.

The quantity was not large, but the timing could hardly have been better.

Hao Nhien looked at the chest for a while and felt some of the tension in his chest ease.

This was what he had wanted to build all along.

When one place was in danger, people, soldiers, medicine, and supplies should all be able to move toward it at the same time, rather than everyone simply waiting for the strongest person to arrive and change the situation alone.

Hoa Duong walked over.

“The medicine we brought from Hoa Van is enough for the most critical cases for now, but there are still many people who need treatment.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“Take everything inside. Distribute it according to need. Don’t separate Hoa Van from Cat Loi.”

Hoa Duong looked at him, then nodded firmly.

“Understood.”

When Hao Nhien entered through the gate with the Hoa Van force, everyone inside the city was still occupied with their own work. Some remained on the walls, others moved supplies, while still others assisted with treatment farther inside.

A few gazes lingered on him longer than usual.

One Cat Loi warrior was using his spear to support himself when he saw Hao Nhien passing. He immediately placed a fist against his chest.

“Clan Chief Hao.”

The man beside him bowed as well.

Hao Nhien merely returned a slight nod and kept walking.

He did not stop for those gazes. His attention went directly toward the treatment area.

The carts of medicine that had just arrived from Hoa Van were immediately pushed over.

An elderly man overseeing treatment saw the jade bottles in the chests and hurried forward.

“Medicine from Hoa Van?”

Hoa Duong answered:

“Yes.”

The old man looked toward Hao Nhien.

Hao Nhien only said:

“Give it to those who need it most.”

The old man understood immediately and asked nothing further.

Before long, the treatment area, which had already been operating without pause, began moving even faster. Medicinal powder was divided out, Life-Vitality Pills were delivered to the most critical patients, while Qi-Vitality Pills were prioritized for cultivators who were continuously spending spiritual energy to assist others.

Hao Nhien watched for a while and soon realized the medicine was being consumed much faster than expected.

Less than half an hour later, one of the people overseeing supplies hurried over.

“Clan Chief Hao, there are very few Life-Vitality Pills left. The Qi-Vitality Pills are almost gone as well.”

Hao Nhien looked toward Cat Thanh.

“Are there still medicinal ingredients in the storehouses?”

“A little. Almost all finished pills were used earlier.”

“Alchemists?”

“We have two. They mainly prepare medicinal powders, medicinal liquids, and a few simple pills.”

Hao Nhien was silent for several breaths before looking toward the medicinal storehouse.

The moment Hoa Duong saw that look, he knew what Hao Nhien was thinking.

“Clan Chief, you fought through the entire night. You should rest first.”

Hao Nhien did not answer immediately. He looked at the carts that were already nearly empty.

“The medicine we brought can only cover part of what is needed.”

Cat Thanh stepped closer.

“You’ve already consumed a great deal of spiritual energy. Your spiritual sense can’t be in good condition either.”

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“I know.”

“Then what are you planning to do?”

“Refine pills.”

Cat Thanh looked at him for a moment.

“How many?”

“As many as I can. I won’t chase quality. For now, I only need usable pills.”

Cat Thanh still did not agree immediately.

Hao Nhien understood his hesitation and added:

“The Qi-Vitality Pill I used earlier restored several portions of my condition. I still have enough strength to open the furnace. My spiritual sense has indeed been heavily consumed, so I’ll keep the process as simple as possible.”

Cat Thanh looked at him, then turned toward the person beside him.

“Open the medicinal storehouse. Bring every usable ingredient to the alchemy room.”

The man hesitated.

“City Lord, that is the last reserve.”

“Bring it anyway.”

“Understood.”

Cat Thanh then added:

“Call Tieu Nhan.”

Tieu Nhan arrived very quickly.

Her sand-yellow clothes were torn in several places, her hair had been tied back in a hurry, and dried blood still marked both hands. The moment she stepped inside, her gaze ran from Hao Nhien’s shoulder down his arm before finally stopping on his face.

“Hao Nhien, what are you planning to do now?”

“Refine pills.”

Tieu Nhan frowned, the corner of her mouth already twitching as if she were about to say something.

Hao Nhien laughed and spoke first.

“I can still sit.”

Tieu Nhan stared at him for several breaths, then stepped closer and lightly touched the tear in the cloth over his shoulder.

“I’m not going to stop you from saving people. But if you collapse later, I’m dragging you out of the alchemy room myself.”

“Fine.”

Tieu Nhan gave a quiet snort, though the corner of her mouth curved upward again, this time into a small smile.

Two large chests of medicinal ingredients were soon brought over.

Hao Nhien opened them layer by layer, checked everything once, then began sorting the contents.

“For Bloodleaf Grass, take the middle three leaves. Cut away the blackened roots from Yellow Qi Sand. Slice the Drywood Root evenly, and separate the Desert Ginseng by age. Anything showing signs of rot gets discarded.”

Tieu Nhan immediately sat down.

“You once said you wanted to learn alchemy.”

She looked up.

“I still do.”

“Then start by learning how to process medicinal ingredients.”

Tieu Nhan glanced at the alchemy furnace, then back at him.

“Only ingredients?”

“If you ruin what goes into the furnace, watching the fire won’t help you.”

Tieu Nhan laughed.

“Fine. Today I’ll be your leaf picker.”

She began working immediately.

Tieu Nhan was already accustomed to processing medicinal herbs for treatment. Hao Nhien only needed to correct her a few times regarding thickness, freshness, and which portions had to be discarded before she began remembering everything quickly.

“This piece is too thick.”

Tieu Nhan immediately cut it again.

“Discard that leaf.”

She tossed it aside without hesitation.

“The soaking water can’t be too hot.”

“Got it.”

Hao Nhien watched her work for a while longer before taking out an alchemy furnace.

A small stone room near the main hall was quickly turned into a temporary alchemy room.

The first batch was Life-Vitality Pills.

Hao Nhien kept the flame steady and avoided complicated variations. He maintained his spiritual sense only at the level necessary to keep the medicinal essence from dispersing and the temperature from shifting too far.

Nearly an hour later, the lid opened.

A batch of pills rolled onto the tray.

Most were middle-grade, mixed with several low-grade pills, and only two reached high-grade.

Hao Nhien looked them over and nodded.

“Good enough. Take them.”

Tieu Nhan picked up the bottle but did not leave immediately.

“Who gets priority?”

“Use Life-Vitality Pills only on those whose life force is weakening or whose injuries are severe. If sword qi or some other foreign force is still lodged in the meridians, someone has to deal with that alongside the pill. Don’t assume swallowing one is enough.”

Tieu Nhan nodded.

“I’ll remember.”

She immediately carried the medicine out.

The next batch was Qi-Vitality Pills.

These were given to the cultivators who were continuously spending spiritual energy to assist with treatment. Hao Nhien understood very clearly that keeping one capable healer on his feet could sometimes matter more than giving a pill to someone with only minor injuries.

After that, he alternated between refining Life-Vitality Pills and Qi-Vitality Pills.

The later batches were no longer counted pill by pill.

As soon as a batch left the furnace, Tieu Nhan or one of the attendants carried it away. More medicinal ingredients were prepared and brought in, while Hao Nhien simply changed which pill he refined according to what was running short outside.

The hours passed.

The ingredients in the chests gradually disappeared.

Hao Nhien’s face grew paler with them.

The high-grade Qi-Vitality Pill he had used earlier had restored part of his spiritual energy, but it could not replenish the spiritual sense he had exhausted through battle and continuous alchemy.

Each time he controlled the flames, the heaviness inside his sea of consciousness grew more obvious.

Tieu Nhan noticed everything.

She did not say anything immediately.

She simply kept water beside him, changed out the cloths from time to time, and continued preparing medicinal ingredients.

Near noon, Hao Nhien had just finished another batch when the hand resting against the furnace trembled slightly.

Tieu Nhan immediately caught his wrist.

“Stop.”

Hao Nhien looked at her.

“There are still some ingredients left.”

“I can see that.”

“Then—”

“I can also see your hand shaking.”

Tieu Nhan spoke directly, without softening her words.

“You’ve done enough to save people today. If you keep forcing yourself, you’ll be the next one who needs medicine.”

Hao Nhien fell silent for a moment.

“One last batch.”

Tieu Nhan gave him a suspicious look.

“You mean it?”

“I do.”

She held out her little finger.

“Then pinky promise.”

Hao Nhien looked at her hand and laughed.

“You still use that?”

“With someone who promises things and then forgets, I’ll use whatever works.”

Hao Nhien had no choice but to hold out his hand.

Their little fingers hooked together.

“One last batch.”

Only then did Tieu Nhan let him go.

The final batch was still Life-Vitality Pills.

There were not many ingredients left, and Hao Nhien had even less intention of forcing the quality upward. He kept the temperature slightly lower and used only enough spiritual sense to gather the medicinal essence, completing each stage in the most stable way possible.

Near the final stage, pain began to pulse through his sea of consciousness.

Hao Nhien drew in a deep breath and slowly lowered the flame.

Wind spiritual power circled lightly around the furnace once, helping the medicinal essence gather together.

A clear metallic hum sounded.

Hao Nhien struck the side of the furnace with his palm.

The lid opened.

Ten pills fell onto the tray.

Seven middle-grade.

Three high-grade.

Tieu Nhan smiled immediately.

“It worked.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“Take them.”

Tieu Nhan had just reached for the bottle when Hao Nhien braced one hand against his knee and stood.

He had only managed to straighten halfway when his vision suddenly went dark.

Strength left his body.

Tieu Nhan reacted instantly, stepping forward and catching him before his knees struck the floor.

“Hao Nhien!”

He was still conscious, but his gaze had already gone unfocused.

“Distribute…”

“I know.”

Tieu Nhan almost laughed from sheer frustration.

Hao Nhien let out a faint breath.

“Good.”

His eyes closed.

Tieu Nhan immediately checked his pulse.

It was steady, and his breathing remained even. His body had simply reached its limit after fighting through the night and then refining pills continuously until nearly noon.

She sat down and let his head rest against her arm.

Looking at the dust and dried blood still covering his face, Tieu Nhan remained silent for several breaths before gently wiping away a smear near his temple.

“You really are good at making people worry.”

Hao Nhien was already asleep and could not answer.

Tieu Nhan looked at him, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly.

“You can think of me as a little sister if you want, but whether I like you is my business. I already said it, so I’m not going to pretend I never did.”

She leaned a little closer, her voice soft but clear.

“So the next time you decide to risk your life, remember that someone is going to be angry if you collapse.”

After saying it, Tieu Nhan laughed quietly to herself.

“Never mind. You can’t hear me now anyway.”

She took a clean outer robe and covered him with it, then stood while holding the final bottle of Life-Vitality Pills.

Before opening the door, she looked back once more.

“This time, you’ve really done enough.”

Several people were waiting outside.

Cat Thanh stood at the front, with Hoa Duong beside him. An elderly man responsible for treatment and two Hoa Van warriors were also there.

Tieu Nhan closed the door behind her.

“He’s exhausted. His pulse and breathing are stable. Let him sleep.”

Cat Thanh looked at the closed door for a moment, then nodded.

“Don’t let anyone disturb him.”

Hoa Duong replied:

“I’ll arrange guards.”

Tieu Nhan raised the jade bottle in her hand.

“The final batch is finished.”

Cat Thanh looked at the bottle.

“Take it over first.”

Tieu Nhan nodded.

No one remained there any longer.

Outside the stone room, Cat Loi had already shifted into a different rhythm.

Those still able to work continued repairing damaged sections of the city walls. Patrol teams rotated through the outer perimeter. Supplies were counted again, while those overseeing treatment continued working with the newly replenished medicine.

Two banners still flew above the wall.

One bore the symbol of Cat Loi.

The other carried Hoa Van’s cloud-and-flame emblem.

What had happened through the night would eventually leave Cat Loi with those who had survived it. The story would be told at rest stops, among traveling caravans, and between the tribes of the Western Wastes.

The details might change slightly each time.

But at the very least, people would remember that when Cat Loi was in danger, Hoa Van sent soldiers, medicine, and supplies.

And they would remember that after Hao Nhien lowered his sword, he sat before an alchemy furnace until he could no longer remain standing.

Inside the small stone room, Hao Nhien knew nothing of any of that.

After a night spent racing across the battlefield, fighting, and then sitting before the alchemy furnace to save whoever could still be saved, he finally sank into deep sleep.

Outside, a new day had begun in Cat Loi.