"You two have such great energy," he said dryly. "Four hours of… exercise. While the rest of us aged a decade waiting."

A collective cough rippled through the group.

Even Goldie looked away, his ears suspiciously red.

Mushu adjusted his glasses, muttering, "I need to recalibrate my internal clock. I thought we were on a mission, not a honeymoon."

Ling Li, already flushed, turned redder than a cooked shrimp. She opened her mouth to retort, then closed it again, utterly betrayed by her own complexion.

Four Eyes, meanwhile, looked like a man who had just won the lottery and then been handed the deed to the moon. He adjusted his collar, his smirk now a full grin.

El Padre rolled his eyes. "Brat. You even look proud of making us wait. Worse than a proud peacock!"

"I am," Four Eyes said, utterly unapologetic.

"Dammit," El Padre growled, turning on his heel. "Let's go. Before I lose my appetite for vengeance."

The group, still blushing and muttering, fell into step behind him.

Ling Li lingered for a moment, shooting one last glare at her husband. "You're truly impossible."

Four Eyes leaned in, whispering, "But you love me." Giving Ling Li a quick kiss on her lips.

She shoved him lightly, but her lips twitched.

And with that, the hunt for Solaris began.

The laughter faded.

The smiles dimmed.

And the warriors of Peonies Castle stepped into the shadows — ready to finish what had begun.

Gathering the Essentials

Inside Ling Li's private chamber, the atmosphere shimmered with an almost palpable weight — rich with the intoxicating aroma of sandalwood incense, the earthy scent of aged parchment, and a faint metallic tang that hinted at the potency of sealed qi. The chamber exuded an aura of sacred purpose, serene yet vibrating with hidden energy. Silence enveloped the space, broken only by the soft whisper of silk as she glided across the polished wooden floor, each step deliberate, echoing the disciplined mastery that had been honed over centuries of practice.

She approached the secret alcoves, each one a sanctuary of treasures, her fingers brushing against the ancient runes etched into intricately carved drawers. A breathless anticipation coursed through her as she unlocked protective seals — each one dissolving with a soft, ethereal shimmer that mingled with the ambient air, casting fleeting sparks of light in graceful arcs.

What lay within these sanctums would leave even the most seasoned cultivator in breathless awe or perhaps even bring them to their knees, overcome by the sheer ethereal beauty, or die willingly, believing they had seen what seemed to be heaven's own pantry.

With reverence befitting a sacred ritual, Ling Li began to retrieve each precious item:

Panax Ginseng, its roots coiled like slumbering dragons, radiated a restorative warmth that seemed to pulse with the heartbeat of the earth itself.

Lingzi, fragile and translucent, resonated with a celestial hum, embodying clarity of spirit and thought.

Red Spider Lily, fierce and vibrant, wore its deadly petals like a crown, laced with a potent poison and whispering echoes of forgotten memories.

Thousand-Year-Old Black Jade, calm against her fingertips, seemed to carry the weight of millennia, whispering secrets of the underworld to those attentive enough to listen.

Ice Soul, a crystalline shard exhaling a delicate frost with every breath, promised an otherworldly chill that could freeze time itself.

Xirang, sacred soil imbued with life, whispered tales of immortals born from its nurturing depths.

Dragon Morrow, its golden density glinting with the light of a thousand suns, was harvested from the heart of a beast felled under the mystical shadow of an eclipse.

Gold Essence, a substantive liquid light, resonated with the warmth of the sun, carefully sealed within a vial that preserved its ethereal glow.

Millennium Ginseng, its qi so potent it shimmered like a starlit sky, was a testament to untold ages.

Millennium Ganoderma, a legendary fungus pulsating with the duality of life and death, exuded an enigmatic allure.

Ice Soul Dragon, a scale imbued with an anger as cold as the depths of winter, crackled softly in the stillness.

Marrow Soul, an extraordinarily rare compound, coursed with the essence of enlightened cultivators, offering the wisdom of ages past.

With meticulous care, she did not dare allow these extraordinary items to mingle. Each was cradled gently in her palm, examined under the watchful gaze of her intent, and carefully placed within her space ring — an intricate artifact layered with protective enchantments, spatial buffers, and qi stabilizers, ensuring their safety.

All these materials were gathered through time, effort, money, blood, and connections. Ling Li has a group dedicated to picking herbs. Additionally, there is the auction house owned by Ling Li's group and medical halls where small farmers send their medical herbs, whether rare or common.

These were not mere ingredients; they were sacred promises, treacherous risks, lifelines woven from the fabric of destiny. Soon, they would be transformed into elixirs capable of saving her family — or unleashing unimagined destruction upon her enemies.

The Twins

As Ling Li descended the staircase, a colorful commotion drew her toward the playroom. Inside, she found Kim Kim and Chin Chin immersed in their own fantastical world, a chaotic construction of plush pillows and shimmering enchanted scrolls spilling around them. The vibrant hues of the fabrics contrasted beautifully with the soft glow of afternoon light filtering through the window.

"Mom!" Kim Kim squealed, her tiny body launching into Ling Li's arms, warmth radiating from her cherubic form.

"Are you going to battle bad guys again?" Chin Chin forayed, wide-eyed and brimming with excitement.

Ling Li knelt, her fingers gently brushing their tousled hair as she wore a teasing smile. "Not this time, my little warriors. We're just going to… make medicine."

Kim Kim's face scrunched adorably in protest. "Will it taste bad?"

"Only if you misbehave," Ling Li playfully countered, her voice a melodic whisper.

Both twins gasped dramatically, eyes sparkling with mischief. "We'll be good!" they vowed in unison, raising their small hands in mock salute.

Ling Li planted affectionate kisses on their foreheads, feeling her heart swell with love. "I'll be watching you. Don't make me come out early."

With exaggerated gestures, they performed a theatrical salute, and she stepped away with a smile dancing on her lips, lightness in her heart.

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