Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Fang Lin turned around and took a glance to see a group of people walk out from the courtyard led by a youth dressed in a white robe. He had very short hair and a handsome, cheerful face.
As soon as he saw the crowd, Fang Lin figured that the youth in the white robe was Lu Jiuhe. The rest of the people were following behind him to express their respect for him.
Fang Li also noticed Kang Lu who was standing behind Lu Jiuhe without any expression on his face although ridicule gleamed in his eyes. Apart from that, he recognized the rest of the junior alchemy disciples that had been promoted to official disciples on the same day as him.
Fang Lin cupped his hands together before his chest to salute Lu Jiuhe. He spoke evenly, “You must be Senior Brother Disciple Lu. Pleased to meet you.”
Lu Jiuhe replied with a smile, “You’re too courteous, Junior Brother Disciple Fang. We’re all official disciples. There’s no need to be so formal.” Despite speaking in such a manner, Lu Jiuhe acknowledged Fang Lin’s salutation as if he deserved it.
From the side, Kang Lu suddenly spoke up, “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, everybody is here yet you are late. Could it be that you are treating Junior Brother Disciple Lu’s invitation lightly?”
Fang Lin smiled and said, “Senior Brother Disciple Kang, there’s something you don’t know. I was joyous and surprised when I received Senior Brother Disciple Lu’s invitation. I was thinking of getting a gift for him for our first meeting. I pondered about this over and over for a long time. As a result, I came late. I hope that Senior Brother Disciple Lu and the numerous Senior Brother Disciples can forgive me.”
Upon listening to Fang Lin’s apology, Kang Lu could not bring himself to speak based on the script that he had prepared originally. He could only glare at Fang Lin ferociously.
Lu Jiuhe looked at him in surprise. “You brought me a gift for our first meeting, Junior Brother Disciple Fang?”
Fang Lin nodded. He patted the Nine Palaces Pouch and retrieved a jade bottle. “This bottle contains three Health-nurturing Pills presented to me by Elder Zhou. While I’ve consumed a few, I’d like to present the remaining three pills as a gift to you, Senior Brother Disciple Lu. I hope you don’t mind the measly gift.”
A look of joy glistened in Lu Jiuhe’s eyes for a moment. He was about to stretch his hand out and receive the jade bottle when he felt that doing so directly would be inappropriate. He declined the offer at once, “That’s very nice of you, Junior Brother Disciple Fang, but the Health-nurturing Pill is a gift from Elder Zhou to you, so I can’t take it. Otherwise, I’m afraid that Elder Zhou will blame us both when he finds out.”
The group of people cursed Lu Jiuhe’s hypocrisy in their hearts upon hearing his reply, ‘The Health-nurturing Pill is a true Grade-1 elixir! How could Lu Jiuhe not want that?’
Fang Lin took the Health-nurturing Pill back at once and placed it into the Nine Palaces Pouch. He shook his head and heaved a sigh. “I think that it’s inappropriate too. After all, Elder Zhou did give the pills to me. It makes me seem like I’m offering you a gift someone else has given me. Since you don’t want it, then I shall prepare another gift for you which I’ll send over another day.”
Lu Jiuhe was stunned, and so were the rest of the people. They stared at Fang Lin with a strange gaze. Then, Lu Jiuhe’s expression turned unpleasant in an instant. Even if he wanted to feign that he did not mind at all, he found that he could not even fake it. The rage in his heart was completely expressed on his face.
He was so infuriated that he wished to smash his fist on Fang Lin’s face ferociously. ‘It’s obvious that I was declining out of politeness earlier. How can you say that I don’t want it? Is there anyone who presents a gift like you in this manner? Are you trying to play a fool?’ he vented inwardly.
Fang Lin sneered coldly in his heart when he noticed Lu Jiuhe’s forced expression. Nonetheless, he acted as if he was puzzled by Lu Jiuhe’s expression. “Senior Brother Disciple Lu, what’s going on with you? Do you feel unwell? Even though the physique of our alchemy sect disciples isn’t as strong as the martial arts sect disciples’, we still need to put in the effort to train. Senior Brother Disciple, you must be lacking training.”
Lu Jiuhe clenched his fists tightly after listening to Fang Lin’s remarks. He was afraid that he might lose control and pound his fist into the impudent kid’s nose in the next second.
“Thank you for your concern, Junior Brother Disciple. We should enter the residence to talk,” said Lu Jiuhe with a tight smile on his face.
As Fang Lin nodded, Lu Jiuhe flicked his sleeves and walked into the courtyard with swift steps. Kang Lu and the rest followed closely behind while Fang Lin lagged at the back. No one joined him to walk together, seeming to shun him altogether. Nevertheless, he did not mind at all and shuffled last into Lu Jiuhe’s courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard, Fang Lin looked around. It was a familiar scene for him. The treatment for high-grade disciples is quite different. My courtyard is considered huge amongst the low-grade disciples, yet it’s simply a latrine compared to this place!
Astonished, he envied Lu Jiuhe’s large courtyard very much.
The size of Lu Jiuhe’s courtyard was almost five times of Fang Lin’s. A large number of medicinal herbs were planted in the courtyard, so it resembled a small-scale medicinal herb institution.
Other than Fang Lin, Kang Lu and the rest were envious as well. However, they were only envious of Lu Jiuhe. The difference in their statuses would naturally affect the treatment they received. As mere low-grade disciples, they could not possibly expect to receive the treatment official disciples enjoyed.
A pavilion with a stone table and stone stools had been built in the middle of the courtyard, adding to the serenity and tranquility of the place.
The group of people followed Lu Jiuhe to the pavilion and took their seats in succession. Fang Lin found a seat last and noticed that he was sitting right opposite Lu Jiuhe.
Lu Jiuhe became provoked for no reason upon seeing Fang Lin’s face. When he heard Kang Lu mention Fang Lin earlier, he had not cared much because he assumed that Fang Lin was but a low-grade disciple. Therefore, he would not be so easily troubled given his status as a high-grade disciple.
However, Lu Jiuhe realized that Fang Lin was an exceedingly difficult person just as described by Kang Lu after meeting him. As soon as they met, Lu Jiuhe was at a disadvantage. Even though he had not lost anything, he found that he was incapable of maintaining his composure before the annoying brat anyhow.
The group of people began chatting leisurely after they sat, except for Fang Lin. It was as if everyone ignored his presence. No one took the initiative to speak to him as if he did not exist.
Nonetheless, Fang Lin did not mind either. After all, his main purpose of being there was the Century Lingzhi. He did not wish to be associated with these people that were close to Kang Lu.
After chatting for a while, they sized Fang Lin up. They realized that he did not mind being in this position at all. On the contrary, he was enjoying the view and admiring the medicinal herbs in the courtyard.
The smile on Lu Jiuhe’s face vanished before he spoke spontaneously, “I heard that you’re the unprecedented top scorer of the junior alchemy disciple examination, Junior Brother Disciple Fang. I believe that you have achieved great attainments with the medicinal herbs. Why don’t I give you a test, Junior Brother Disciple?”
As soon as those words were spoken, Kang Lu hastily chimed in, “Good idea, Senior Brother Disciple. In the past, Junior Brother Disciple Fang’s knowledge surpassed me and everyone else, and he was the champion. Senior Brother Disciple, you mustn’t ask simple questions because those are nothing to Junior Brother Disciple Fang.”
Everyone began to speak one by one as well. They sounded as if they were praising Fang Lin in their own words, but in reality, their words were akin to hidden weapons in preparation to kill him.
Fang Lin did not speak as he watched their performance quietly.
With an encouraging nod, Lu Jiuhe said, “Since that’s the case, I shall think about it properly first. Otherwise, where would I hide my reputation as a Senior Brother Disciple if Junior Brother Disciple Fang can answer my questions so easily?”
Fang Lin finally spoke, “Please feel free to ask away. I’m bad at everything. The only thing that I know slightly more about than the rest is herbology.”
Upon listening to his words, Lu Jiuhe felt even more displeased with him. How dare you be so arrogant before me?! I’m the high-grade official disciple here. I shall let you have a taste of my power in a while.