Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Fang Lin lay on the bamboo chair lazily as he watched Xu Shangao working by the side of the athanor with sweat streaming down his face. Occasionally, he spoke to guide him.
Ever since Xu Shangao received Fang Lin’s guidance, his alchemy standards had elevated greatly. The commission from the disciples of the martial art sect was mostly refined by Xu Shangao other than a small portion that was refined by Fang Lin.
Poof.
A muffled sound was heard while a puff of black smoke floated before Xu Shangao’s face. Fang Lin darted a glance and realized that Xu Shangao had failed.
Xu Shangao refused to be discouraged by the experience, but he began to refine elixirs once again after cleaning up the black residue in the athanor.
“Stay focused. Don’t let other matters distract you. Pay attention in refining the elixir, and stop thinking about other matters,” reminded Fang Lin.
Xu Shangao nodded. He became especially focused on the task on hand without being distracted even for the slightest bit. This time, he managed to refine the pills successfully just as expected. He was overjoyed. His success rate in the past could be described as being piteously low such that many newly-initiated official disciples had already surpassed him.
Now, Xu Shangao was already no longer the man he used to be. At least, he was no longer the weakest disciple amongst the low-grade official disciples.
He had already come up with a plan. He would like to try to strive for the opportunity to become a medium-grade official disciple during the official disciples’ end-year examination.
Even though he may not necessarily succeed, Xu Shangao still wanted to give it the best of his abilities. He would be able to make a brand new start as an official disciple if he succeeded.
Had this been in the past, Xu Shangao would not even have found the courage to think about this. After all, he had been way too far from being able to become a medium-grade disciple.
“Junior Brother Disciple Fang, what are your plans this year? I think that you should be able to pass the examination and become an official disciple in two attempts, just like the prodigy of the alchemy sect back in those years.” Xu Shangao began chatting leisurely after he was done refining the elixir.
Fang Lin looked at Xu Shangao through squinted eyes. He said, “hy can’t I pass the examination and become an official disciple in one attempt?”
Xu Shangao shook his head and said in all apparent seriousness, “Even though you’re a remarkable prodigy, Junior Brother Disciple Fang, the junior alchemy disciples’ examination is extremely difficult. The most outstanding disciple in the history of the alchemy sect only managed to become an official disciple after taking the examination twice. I can’t tell you the exact details of the examination though. After all, it’s quite different every year.”
Fang Lin’s interest was piqued upon hearing that. He asked, “How many people were promoted to official disciples last year?”
Xu Shangao replied, “Only seven.”
“How about the year before that?”
“There were five in the year before the last.”
“When did you become an official disciple, Senior Brother Disciple Xu?” asked Fang Lin out of curiosity.
Xu Shangao had a slightly embarrassed expression on his face as he said, “I became an official disciple three years ago. There were a total of nine people including me at the time. The examination that year was universally acknowledged to be easier than the rest.”
Fang Lin looked at Xu Shangao with a deep, meaningful gaze while his features cracked into a playful smile.
Xu Shangao was feeling shy under Fang Lin’s gaze, so he shifted the topic of conversation quickly. “It’s wishful thinking for you to become an official disciple by passing the examination in a single attempt, Junior Brother Disciple Fang. That’s impossible.”
Fang Lin sniggered and said, “Nothing is impossible under the heavens. Didn’t you use to think that a junior alchemy disciple can’t refine elixirs?”
Upon listening to his remark, Xu Shangao smiled reluctantly. From his point of view, a weirdo like Fang Lin was truly rare. Fang Lin could never play by the conventional rules.
“Senior Brother Disciple Xu, it has already been three years since you’ve become an official disciple, yet it doesn’t make sense that you are still idling around like this,” said Fang Lin while shaking his head.
Xu Shangao had a shameful and embarrassed expression on his face. Frankly speaking, it was genuinely quite embarrassing. Three years had passed and he was still a low-grade disciple. Almost all the rest of the disciples that were initiated as official disciples at the same time had already become medium-grade disciples. Only Xu Shangao still remained as a low-grade disciple.
“Sigh. I idled away for five years as a junior alchemy disciple before I managed to become an official disciple during the final examination. It was also due to my fortune. If I were to fail that examination, I could’ve only be transferred to the Purple Glow Sect estates around the country,” said Xu Shangao rather emotionally.
Fang Lin took a piteous glance at Fang Lin. So, it turned out that Xu Shangao only managed to become an official disciple by luck.
Just as both of them were engaged in their casual conversation, a loud and powerful voice was heard. “May I inquire if Junior Brother Disciple Xu is here?”
Xu Shangao and Fang Lin could tell that it must be some disciple from the martial art sect here to seek help from Xu Shangao to refine elixirs.
At once, Xu Shangao answered. He walked out of the alchemy room. Since Fang Lin was bored, he followed him outside.
There were two youths standing in the courtyard. One of them wore red robes and stood in front while the other wore blue robes and was standing behind. The youth in blue robes appeared to be slightly younger and he had a reverent expression on his face.
The red robe was the symbol of the official disciples of the martial art sect while the blue robe was the symbol of martial art sect’s sword-yielding disciples.
The martial art sect’s sword-yielding disciples were akin to the alchemy sect’s junior disciples. They wore blue robes and had yet to be confirmed as official disciples of the martial art sect.
Fang Lin was stunned for a moment when he saw the youth in blue robes. Soon, he cracked into a faint smile because he recognized the man.
The youth in blue robes was also stunned for a moment when he saw Fang Lin. Afterward, his expression turned complicated and there was even vague hostility on his face.
Nonetheless, the youth in red robes cracked into a friendly smile as soon as he saw Xu Shangao. He clasped his hands before his chest to greet Xu Shangao, “Junior Brother Disciple Xu, I’m Ouyang Cheng. I wish to seek your assistance to refine a cauldron of pills for me.”
Xu Shangao dared not procrastinate at all, but he clasped his hands before his chest to return the greeting. He said light-heartedly, “Which kind of pills are you looking for? I won’t decline your request if it is within my capabilities.”
The youth in red robes smiled and said, “I’m looking for Autumn Dew Pills. I came to you out of admiration for your work. If it troubles you, then it’s fine to decline my request.”
“Autumn Dew Pills? Are you injured, Senior Brother Disciple Ouyang?” asked Xu Shangao with a frown upon hearing that.
The Autumn Dew Pill was used to treat injuries. Moreover, it was claimed to be rather effective at healing meridian-related injuries. Xu Shangao predicted that Ouyang Cheng could possibly be suffering from a meridian injury as soon as he heard his request for Mountain Dew Pills.
Ouyang Cheng shook his head. “It’s not for me but for a good friend of mine.”
Xu Shangao considered it for a moment. He was about to speak when Fang Lin suddenly chimed in from the side, “Senior Brother Disciple Xu, the Autumn Dew Pill is considered a high-grade elixir. I don’t think that you’re capable of refining that, are you?”
Xu Shangao paused for a moment the second Fang Lin spoke. Since the latter reacted to the situation, he hastily said, “That’s right. There’s a limit to my capabilities. I’m afraid that I can’t refine the Autumn Dew Pill.”
Ouyang Cheng immediately frowned and took a glance at Fang Lin. He felt annoyed ever so slightly when he noticed that Fang Lin was dressed in a junior alchemy disciple’s attire.
“What do you mean, Junior Brother Disciple Xu?” Ouyang Cheng asked in a displeased manner. They had still been discussing properly earlier, but Xu Shangao immediately changed his attitude as soon as the junior alchemy disciple by his side spoke.
Even though Xu Shangao had no idea about Fang Lin’s intention, he still trusted Fang Lin fully in every way.
“Senior Brother Disciple Ouyang, I have a personal vendetta against the person behind you,” said Fang Lin.
Ouyang Cheng frowned even deeper now. He turned his head to the side and took a glance at the youth in blue robes behind him. “Junior Brother Disciple Fang Yang, are you acquainted with him?” asked Ouyang Cheng.
The youth in blue robes was the genius, Fang Yang, that came from the same clan as Fang Lin. He was enlisted as a martial art sect disciple because his root bone was accepted.
Fang Yang’s expression was rather unpleasant. However, he dared not hold back when he was confronted by Ouyang Cheng’s query. He answered at once, “Senior Brother Disciple, this person is Fang Lin. He comes from the same clan as I do.”
Ouyang Cheng was even more confused upon hearing that. Since they were both from the same clan and shared the same surname, Fang, why did Fang Lin say that he had a personal vendetta against Fang Yang?
Xu Shangao was unaware of the relationship between them as well. Instantly, he looked at Fang Lin and Fang Yang with a curious gaze.
Fang Yang did not speak but Fang Lin expressed, “Even though we are from the same clan, he bullied me in the past before we joined the Purple Glow Sect.”
Xu Shangao and Ouyang Cheng were speechless. On the other hand, Fang Yang was staring ferociously at Fang Lin because he never expected that the man would make such an accusation.
“Fang Lin, how dare you spout nonsense before the witness of our two Senior Brother Disciples!?” Fang Yang demanded as he was instantly infuriated.
Fang Lin pursed his lips and said, “You used to bully me frequently in the past and you’re trying to bully me again now? I have Senior Brother Disciple Xu standing behind me now. You can’t bully me anymore.”
Exasperated, Fang Yang was about to throw a fit but was shocked by Ouyang Cheng’s rather unpleasant expression at once.
Xu Shangao understood the situation now. He learned that something was wrong between Fang Lin and Fang Yang’s relationship. Fang Lin was assuming Xu Shangao’s authority as an official disciple as his own now.
Even though it did not feel nice to be used as a shield, Xu Shangao had no other choice but to let it be.
“Senior Brother Disciple Ouyang, Junior Brother Disciple Fang is like my blood brother. Since Fang Yang is bullying him, then it’s not okay for me to help Senior Brother Disciple refine the pills either,” said Xu Shangao.
Ouyang Cheng was furious. He took a glance at Fang Lin, then looked toward Fang Yang once again.
Piak!
Ouyang Cheng gave Fang Yang a tight slap ferociously. The slap was so loud that it stunned him instantaneously, causing him to stumble and sit onto the ground. Fang Yang was in a daze. His right cheek was badly swollen with fresh blood seeping out from the corner of his mouth.
“Apologize to Junior Brother Disciple Fang,” instructed Ouyang Cheng coldly.
Fang Yang clenched his fists tightly. Hatred swarmed his heart, but there was no way he could object to Ouyang Cheng’s order. At once, he lowered his head and said to Fang Lin through clenched teeth, “Fang Lin, I admit I was wrong.”
Fang Lin smiled and nodded. He patted Fang Yang’s shoulder and said, “It’s great that you’re owning up to your mistake. Don’t be so self-conceited anymore.”
Had it not been for Xu Shangao and Ouyang Cheng’s presence, Fang Yang would have absolutely leaped up and stabbed Fang Lin to vent the hatred in his heart.
Ouyang Cheng had an icy cold expression as he said, “Junior Brother Disciple Xu, will you help me to refine the pills now then?”
Xu Shangao looked at Fang Lin who replied with a slight nod. Then, Xu Shangao replied with a smile, “Of course. However, I don’t refine Autumn Dew Pills that often. I hope that you can wait for a few more days. What do you think about coming to take the pills in seven days?”
“Sure. I’ll be here to pick up the pills then.” Ouyang Cheng did not waste time on small talk. He turned around and left after the discussion without paying any attention to Fang Yang.
Fang Yang did not utter a word as he followed Ouyang Cheng and left. He shot Fang Lin a look of utter contempt and enmity before leaving.
After their departure, Xu Shangao chuckled bitterly. “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, don’t use me as your shield anymore in the future. I can’t afford to provoke the people from the martial art sect.”
Fang Lin waved him off. “I’m only utilizing your role for a moment occasionally. In addition, this is our alchemy sect’s territory. The disciples of the martial art sect are here in our territory, so they have to follow our rules regardless.”