Han Li grabbed the rope attached to the wooden bucket, flung it into the pool, then pulled it back and hoisted it up.
A full bucket of spring water rose to the surface.
Without the slightest effort, Han Li lifted the bucket above his head, and with a flick of his wrist, poured the entire load of clear water over himself from scalp to sole.
"So refreshing!"
"How comfortable!"
Han Li and the other young man both cried out in delight at the same time.
It was no wonder. The height of summer had arrived, and the heat was unbearable. Both of them were bare-chested, so having icy mountain spring water cascade over their heads was an indescribable pleasure from head to toe.
"Heh heh! Junior Brother Han, you really know how to find good spots. A hidden little pool like this — and you actually managed to find it." The young man with the cold demeanor suddenly spoke up.
"That's nothing. I've found plenty of places even harder to track down than this one. It's just that none of them have water as refreshingly cool as here." The other young man accepted the compliment without a shred of modesty.
This young man was none other than Han Li, and the one who had come to collect medicine was Li Feiyu.
Ever since Li Feiyu had first obtained pain relief powder from Han Li and tried it back home, it had proven remarkably effective — the agony of the Marrow Extraction Pill was considerably eased.
From that point on, Li Feiyu was hooked. Whenever he went without Han Li's medicine, he could no longer endure the Marrow Extraction Pill's torment. As a result, what should have lasted him a full year was completely consumed in just a few short months.
Tortured to the brink by inhuman pain, Li Feiyu had no choice but to swallow his pride and proactively seek out Han Li for more medicine.
At the time, Han Li was looking to strengthen his own abilities. Upon learning that Li Feiyu had already entered Seven Absolute Hall for advanced training, he made a direct proposal: he would provide the medicine in exchange for being taught the techniques of Seven Absolute Hall.
Li Feiyu, who already had only a handful of years left to live, agreed readily without the slightest hesitation.
To keep outsiders from discovering their secret, Han Li scouted out several highly concealed locations throughout the dozen-li-long Cai Xia Mountain range to carry out their exchanges.
The two would meet in secret at regular intervals. Han Li would hand over the medicine, and in return, Li Feiyu would teach him some of the martial arts he had learned in Seven Absolute Hall.
And so, both parties found this arrangement quite satisfactory. The arrangement had continued for over half a year now.
During those months of contact, Li Feiyu and Han Li had each come to find the other quite agreeable. Without even realizing it, they had truly become close friends who could talk about anything.
Li Feiyu was extremely pleased with the locations Han Li had chosen — especially this one with the little pool. Sheer cliffs and precipitous walls surrounded the area on all sides, enclosing a small basin. The only passage leading in was a concealed, narrow cave that required crawling through on one's belly. Even more remarkably, the cave's exit opened inside the hollow of an ancient locust tree that grew tight against the cliff face.
Most importantly, on these stiflingly hot days, there was a wonderfully cool little pool right here.
After loosening up the body and limbs, pouring a few buckets of cold water over oneself — it was simply the most blissful feeling imaginable.