"Fine," Li Mei said after a while. "I'll help you."
He looked up, surprised.
"But on one condition."
"…Anything."
"You come back alive," she said quietly. "No matter what happens, no matter how bad it gets—you return. Even if you have to crawl back missing an arm and smelling like burnt goat spleen, you return."
Han Yu smiled faintly.
"I promise."
Li Mei reached for a drawer and pulled out a black lacquered box covered in talismans.
"Then let's get to work. I've got three pill prototypes that haven't exploded anyone yet, and one forbidden cultivation booster that might make your veins and meridians tingle for a week."
Han Yu swallowed nervously.
"Why does that sound like a threat?"
Li Mei grinned.
"Because it is."
"..." Han Yu.
As the boy contemplated his life choices, Li Mei prepared the pills.
"Alright, Han Yu, swallow it."
"Hey! Choice of words!" Han Yu almost screamed.
"What? Just eat it." Li Mei chuckled.
