"A misunderstanding. This is all a misunderstanding..."
Li Hong stamred, his words rushed and faltering.
If he admitted it, it would an all his earlier flattery was a lie. But if he didn’t admit it, how could he explain what Chen Che had just said?
This was the ’self-incrimination’ trap.
No matter how he answered, he would be led by the nose.
"If it’s a misunderstanding, then why hasn’t Steward Li returned my Spirit Stones?"
After telling Ding Fei to serve the tea, Chen Che turned back and sneered.
He wouldn’t be polite when soone gave him an opening.
The man had extorted his Spirit Stones—that was a fact. He hadn’t had a chance to deal with him before, but now that Li Hong had delivered himself to his doorstep, he would take back double.
"I’ve been aning to return them for a while, but I’ve been too busy managing the Market to find the ti. In front of Miss ng, I’ll return the Spirit Stones to you now..."
Li Hong didn’t argue, clearly not wanting to ruin his impression in front of ng Qingxuan. Forcing a smile, he took out a bag of Spirit Stones.
"After today, we’ll be even!"
’Even? In your dreams!’
’Our feud has only just begun.’
Just as Li Hong was about to count them, Chen Che reached out, snatched the bag, and glanced inside.
"There are one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones in total here. The extra twenty can be the interest for delaying this long. Li Hong, as a Steward of Jinyun Valley, you shouldn’t care about a few Spirit Stones, right?"
"Er..."
Li Hong was stunned. He had only extorted fifty Spirit Stones from Chen Che, but he never expected the man to turn around and extort more than double that from him.
"Tributor Chen is right. Our trivial matters aren’t worth ntioning. Miss ng’s business is the top priority; we can’t delay her!"
Feeling ng Qingxuan’s gaze on him, he could only suppress his anger and change the subject.
He even managed to slip in a bit of flattery.
anwhile, ng Qingxuan, who had been sitting and drinking her tea, casually took out a Pill Formula upon hearing this. Seeing it, Ding Fei quickly took it and handed it to Chen Che.
Just as Chen Che was about to look at it, he saw Li Hong leaning in and imdiately put the Pill Formula away.
"Why are you still here?"
"Why can’t I be here?"
Again and again... Li Hong could barely contain the rage in his heart.
"First, you’re not a custor. Second, your brother is a Pill Master. Don’t you know that every Pill Master’s techniques are secret? Or are you planning to steal my thods? I’ll look at Miss ng’s Pill Formula when you leave!"
Chen Che slapped a heavy accusation on him.
Li Hong froze at his words.
He had his own plans for bringing ng Qingxuan here.
If Chen Che could handle the job, he’d get credit for the introduction. If he couldn’t and ended up on bad terms with ng Qingxuan, Li Hong could kick him while he was down.
But who would have thought...
Chen Che wasn’t giving him the chance, trying to drive him away now.
At that mont, ng Qingxuan also put down her Fragrant Tea and said casually,
"Steward Li, you may leave first. If I need anything, I will find you at Jinyun Valley!"
"Miss ng, I will take my leave."
Li Hong cupped his hands, turned, and walked out the door. As he left, he shot Chen Che a look filled with hatred.
...
’A sycophant like him actually thought he could sche against ?’
Tucking the Spirit Stones into his robes, Chen Che snorted inwardly. Li Hong had tried to kill him with praise, preying on the supposed hot-headedness of youth. But Chen Che had correctly guessed that Li Hong wouldn’t dare lose face by arguing in front of a ’big shot’.
’Are big shots really that easy to butter up?’
’All the sycophants are lining up to kiss her boots. Didn’t he notice that no matter how hard he licked, ng Qingxuan remained completely unmoved?’
In fact, she even seed a little disgusted!
"Cold Pill?"
As these thoughts crossed his mind, he looked at the Pill Formula and imdiately frowned.
It was an advanced version of the Cold Frost Pill.
Its refining difficulty was even greater than the Cold Frost Pill’s. Although it was still a Tier One High Grade Elixir, its refining difficulty was comparable to that of a Tier Two Elixir.
Chen Che didn’t want to refine it.
"Miss ng, could a Cold Frost Pill be used instead?"
"No. The Cold Frost Pill won’t et my needs."
ng Qingxuan slowly shook her head, her expression leaving no room for negotiation.
"What needs?"
"A few days ago, I tracked a Fiery Flying Crane here, hoping to take it as a mount. The Cold Frost Pill’s effects don’t last long enough to support in a prolonged battle with it. Only the ’Cold Pill’ is a suitable choice."
"The Fiery Flying Crane!"
Chen Che nodded slightly.
It was a Wading Bird Type Demon Beast, with a power ceiling at the Late-stage Qi Refining realm. Its body was wreathed in flas, and it excelled at fire-based attacks. Among Demon Beasts of the sa tier, its combat power was above average. Its endurance was also extrely high, on par with raptors.
It was a top choice for a mount.
"Alchemist Chen, since you can skillfully refine the Cold Frost Pill, you can surely refine the Cold Pill as well. Refine three for !"
Seeing Chen Che lost in thought, ng Qingxuan watched him quietly and said,
"I will cover all the materials for the alchemy, and I will purchase each pill at three tis the market price!"
Chen Che did a quick calculation. If he took this job, he would net at least twenty-five Spirit Stones.
He didn’t want to refine it, but that didn’t an he couldn’t.
’Not unless the price is right.’
"In that case, I’ll give it a try!"
...
「Jinyun Valley.」
Li Hong’s face was dark as he strode back to his small courtyard.
Tributor Li was hunched over a desk, a mountain of Pill Books piled before him. Hearing the commotion, he looked up.
"Why are you back? Didn’t I tell you to stay by ng Qingxuan’s side and not leave her for a mont?"
"ng Qingxuan sent away!"
Li Hong angrily chugged a glass of water, but he couldn’t suppress his rage. He clenched his right fist, and the cup instantly shattered, splashing water everywhere.
"What happened?"
Tributor Li was taken aback.
His younger brother wasn’t an idiot. He knew who he could afford to offend and who he had to flatter. How could he have been driven away?
"It was Chen Che, of course!"
Li Hong gritted his teeth and recounted what had just happened at the Pill Shop.
"Such a sharp tongue..."
After listening, Tributor Li fell silent for a mont, then suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"Forget it. If we can’t get into her good graces, he probably can’t either!"
"Why?"
Li Hong was confused.
"ng Qingxuan ca in pursuit of the Fiery Flying Crane, but do you know why the Fiery Flying Crane is here?"
Tributor Li chuckled softly.
"Chen Che can’t help her with this! No matter what he does, it’ll just be a waste of effort."
This area isn’t the Fiery Flying Crane’s natural habitat, so there’s only one possibility: it was passing through and laid its eggs here to nest.
This ans there are two Fiery Flying Cranes in the nest.
"I understand now! In that case, this is a blessing in disguise for . I’ve gotten myself out of a ssy situation!"
Li Hong couldn’t help but chuckle.
He glanced at his brother, who had returned to his desk, a new doubt rising in his mind.
"Brother, what’s the Pill Formula the Valley Master asked you to complete?"
WHOOSH!
Before his words had even faded, Tributor Li’s head snapped up, his gaze icy.
"Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t be asking."
"...Alright!"
Li Hong was stunned, his thoughts in turmoil. He had never seen his brother with such an expression before.
...
anwhile, after returning to his Cave Mansion, Chen Che fired up the Chixia Tripod. He refined seven pills in a single batch, and the extra materials and pills were naturally his to keep.
He delayed for three days before finally handing over the Cold Pills. After receiving the pills, ng Qingxuan left in a hurry.
He thought that would be the end of the matter.
Unexpectedly, she returned that very afternoon. Her clothes were scorched in many places, and there were even a few burn marks on her face. She looked utterly disheveled.
"Chen Che, get out here!"
ng Qingxuan shouted as soon as she entered the Pill Shop.
"What can I do for you, Miss ng?"
Seeing her like this, it looked like she was here to cause trouble, which gave Chen Che a headache. "Could it be that there was a problem with the pills I refined?"
"No, your pills are great!"
But ng Qingxuan shook her head, her eyes burning with anticipation.
"I miscalculated before. There are two Fiery Flying Cranes, and they’ve made a nest in the mountains and laid a few eggs. The effects of the Cold Pill aren’t enough for to handle two of them, so I need a higher-grade pill!"
"I need you to refine three Linghan Pills for within three days!"
Chen Che frowned. Li Hong really had brought him a major headache.
’Linghan Pill!’
’That’s a genuine Tier Two Low-grade Elixir.’
"Miss ng, you should know better than I do how difficult a Tier Two Elixir is to refine. I’m not yet a Tier Two Alchemist. How could I possibly refine them in three days?"
But ng Qingxuan didn’t care at all. Instead, she slamd her hand on the table.
"I don’t care! You have to refine them for !"
Hearing this, Chen Che’s expression darkened.
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