Chapter 46: Moving Mountains with a Feather Touch

Upon hearing Fang Xu’s words, Qiu Chuji lifted his proud little head. In his mind, aside from the master of the Quanzhen Daoist Temple, there was hardly anyone he would concede to when it came to alchemy. After all, even the master himself agreed that Qiu Chuji’s approach was correct; otherwise, he wouldn’t have taught only Qiu Chuji the secrets of alchemy. The master recognized Qiu Chuji’s extraordinary talent in the art and considered him the most suitable heir to the temple. Before Qiu Chuji descended the mountain, the master surely understood the risks involved in this journey. Alchemy and the art of divination are branches of the same tradition; those skilled in alchemy are undoubtedly adept in divination as well. The master had once cast a divination for Qiu Chuji, which foretold that he would encounter a benefactor, someone who would lead alchemy to flourish. Though the master did not know who this benefactor would be, he trusted this final reading. Of course, he never revealed any of this to Qiu Chuji, for the secrets of fate must not be divulged.

“If you wish to witness my skills, then I will not hide my abilities,” Qiu Chuji said, wiping his nose as he smiled and walked to the enormous Bagua Alchemy Furnace before him. He gathered the dried herbs that had been prepared around him. Fang Xu did not recognize any of the names of these medicinal plants, but from the solemn expression on Qiu Chuji’s face, he sensed their importance.

“Rise!” Qiu Chuji shouted fiercely. With his cry, the ground beneath his feet trembled minutely. Fang Xu stared in disbelief; Qiu Chuji had lifted the lid of the furnace, which appeared to weigh at least a hundred pounds. Yet Qiu Chuji looked no older than seven or eight—how could someone so young possess such strength? Was he born with supernatural power? Fang Xu’s thoughts ran wild, but Qiu Chuji paid him no mind.

Now, Qiu Chuji was wholly focused on the task before him; he could not afford a single mistake, for he did not wish to tarnish the reputation of the Quanzhen Daoist Temple. By now, dusk had fully descended, and a chilly wind occasionally swept past outside. The cold breeze slipped through the broken wooden doors and windows, brushing against the thin bodies of Fang Xu and Qiu Chuji, causing Fang Xu to frown slightly. Yet when Qiu Chuji opened the furnace lid, Fang Xu felt a wave of heat, as if his cheeks were pressed close to blazing fire. His curiosity grew. Through the open lid, he could see the Bagua Furnace glowing with intense heat, a faint red light flickering within.

“Could there be firewood inside the furnace?” Fang Xu asked, puzzled, but Qiu Chuji seemed not to hear him at all. With solemn eyes fixed on the faint red glow, Qiu Chuji deftly placed the prepared herbs and materials inside, following a precise ratio and order. With another shout, he closed the lid once more.

After these actions, Qiu Chuji was drenched in sweat. Sparkling beads trickled down his delicate skin, dropping onto the floor and stirring the dust. Standing before the furnace with lips slightly parted, Qiu Chuji was so ethereal that, had Fang Xu not known he was a boy, he might have mistaken him for a young priestess. There was nothing he could do about it; at this moment, Qiu Chuji radiated an ambiguous aura, both masculine and feminine. Perhaps it was the effect of the furnace, but Fang Xu felt his mouth dry and parched.

“Benefactor, what did you just ask me?” Qiu Chuji wiped his face and finally recalled that Fang Xu had inquired about something earlier.

“Don’t call me ‘benefactor’—it sounds awkward. Just call me Fang… Brother Fang,” Fang Xu replied, scratching his head with embarrassment. He felt guilty for his earlier thoughts about Qiu Chuji; what was happening to him?

Even after crossing into this world, his resistance seemed diminished, but surely he wouldn’t react to men, would he? Was he turning? This was not a good sign.

“Well… If that’s so, Brother Fang, what was it you wanted to ask?” Qiu Chuji could not refuse; after all, Fang Xu was now his benefactor. In Qiu Chuji’s mind, if he offended Fang Xu and Fang Xu refused to help restore the temple, he would be left in utter misery.

“How heavy is that furnace? Are you naturally strong, Chuji?” Fang Xu asked, still astonished by the sight of the smoking alchemy furnace. The shock had been too much for him.

“Oh? Is that what you were wondering? Brother Fang, you misunderstand. I don’t possess supernatural strength; I merely know how to use technique,” Qiu Chuji replied, having assumed Fang Xu’s question would be more profound.

“Is there anything else you wish to ask?” Qiu Chuji inquired again, his eyes now fixed intently on the mist-shrouded furnace. Fang Xu shook his head, understanding that Qiu Chuji was fully absorbed in his work and that the pills were nearly ready. He did not wish to distract him.

Seeing this, Qiu Chuji nodded, stepped forward, and once more applied his technique—though his movements now differed from before. Standing before the furnace, Qiu Chuji began to strike it repeatedly, and from within came faint explosions, causing Fang Xu to hold his breath. He grew tense; this was his first time witnessing the art of alchemy, and his ears were keenly attuned to the firecracker-like pops from the furnace.

Qiu Chuji also heard these sounds, but while he frowned slightly, Fang Xu’s eyes widened in anticipation. He could not help it; he had been waiting for this moment. The explosions proved that alchemy truly involved the discovery of gunpowder elements.