Chapter 114: Six-fingered Zhang! (1/2)

Back then, that alchemist brought up many interesting affairs in his trade. The reason why Wang Chong paid particular attention to this ‘Six-fingered Zhang’ was because of the matter that he was about to do several years later.

As life in the royal palace was boring, and forging pills only contributed to one’s boredom, Six-fingered Zhang’s gambling addiction worsened after he became an alchemist. In just the short span of a few years, he had already owed an astronomical debt to the loan sharks.

In order to repay the debt, Six-fingered Zhang actually lowered his standards and introduced a wealthy merchant into the secret alchemist organization.

Smuggling pills from the royal palace and kings’ residences was a huge secret, and no outsiders should find out about it. Unfortunately for Six-fingered Zhang, this wealthy merchant wasn’t a person with tight lips.

Eventually, due to this wealthy merchant, the smuggling conducted by the secret organization was exposed, and Six-fingered Zhang died as a result.

Wang Chong felt pity for Six-fingered Zhang in the sense that his destiny was already fixed. That was, if Wang Chong didn’t intervene.

“However, it’s a pity that there’s still a few years before that matter. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have to go through so much trouble to enter the secret alchemist organization.”

Looking through the windows of the carriage, Wang Chong thought as he looked at the leisurely strolling Six-fingered Zhang.

The secret alchemist organization was extremely wary of outsiders, and the immense difficulty of joining the organization was a renowned fact among insiders. If it was a few years later, all Wang Chong needed was to fork out a huge sum in that wealthy merchant’s place to join the organization and obtain a steady source of pills.

But at this moment, nothing had happened yet so Six-fingered Zhang wouldn’t be as easy as he was in his previous life. He might not necessarily give this opportunity to Wang Chong.

But Wang Chong had no other choice.

Without a doubt, of all alchemists, Six-fingered Zhang was the easiest target, as well as the one he was the most likely to succeed with. If Wang Chong wanted to reach Tiger Bone within the shortest period of time, this was his only way.

The earlier he got himself into the secret alchemist organization, the sooner he would get himself a steady supply of pills. Even if not for the ‘Ire of the Barbaric God’, he had to get into this secret alchemist organization.

Entering a few years earlier meant benefiting for an additional few more years!

“This will determine whether I’ll able to get into the secret alchemist organization or not.”

Wang Chong thought. He opened the carriage door and walked out. In a moment, Wang Chong caught up with Six-fingered Zhang.

“Master, nice to meet you!”

Walking up to Six-fingered Zhang, Wang Chong smiled and bowed politely.

Weng!

Six-fingered Zhang slackened aura abruptly vanished upon hearing the word ‘master’, as though a cat who had its fur ruffled. In a split moment, his face darkened.

“Who are you and what do you want?”

Suddenly, Six-fingered Zhang seemed to have become an entirely different person. Narrowing his eyes, his body tightened as though a bow pulled to the brim, prepared to strike out at any moment. His eyes were filled with deep wariness and hostility, and it seemed as though he would attack Wang Chong the moment he spoke a single wrong word.

‘Master’ was a common term used in the Central Plains to address an alchemist respectfully. That single word Wang Chong greeted him with revealed much about their asymmetrical intelligence.

Six-fingered Zhang’s instinctive reaction was to suspect if he had been caught smuggling pills!

“It is truly hard to approach the alchemist organization!”

Wang Chong’s heart sunk.

Of all of the alchemists, Six-fingered Zhang could already be considered as the easiest target. However, upon hearing the word ‘master’, his face immediately changed. Just like any other alchemist, his guard was up in an instant, making it difficult for anyone to approach him.

“Master, please do not misunderstand. I am Wang Chong, and I don’t have any other intentions. I just hope to obtain a pill from you.”

Wang Chong smiled.

“How do you know that I am an alchemist?”

Ignoring Wang Chong’s words, Six-fingered Zhang was still fixated on the word ‘master’. He was dying of curiosity to know how Wang Chong knew his identity.

“Hehe, my nose is still functioning well, so how can I possibly not identify master?”

Wang Chong smiled gently as he did a slight breathing gesture.

Six-fingered Zhang hurriedly grabbed his sleeves and smelled it forcefully. Naturally, he caught the scent of the concentrated fragrance of herbs. Alchemists often came into contact with cauldrons and pills, so it was impossible for him to avoid this scent.

“I see.”

Relieved, Six-fingered Zhang’s face lightened.

“You don’t have to say anymore, I won’t forge a pill for you.”

With a cold face, Six-fingered Zhang rejected Wang Chong without any hesitation. His wariness laxed upon realizing that Wang Chong didn’t know about his smuggling of pills.

After saying those words, Six-fingered Zhang ignored Wang Chong and walked away.

“Master, please wait a moment. Regardless of whether you are willing to take it or not, I have a present which I would like to gift master.”

“A present? Hmph, what kind of present can a kid like you give me?”

Six-fingered Zhang harrumphed contemptuously.

“Master, you will know once you take a look.”

With a smile, Wang Chong gestured. Shen Hai carried a fine box that was prepared beforehand over.

“Hmph, what an elaborate act…”

Criticizing disdainfully, Six-fingered Zhang opened the box. A bright yellow glow blinded his eyes, and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. He fell into a stupor, unable to utter a single word.

Gold! Furthermore, it was at least two to three thousand taels!

Six-fingered Zhang stared at Wang Chong in shock, as though reevaluating him. This sum wasn’t something that a child could produce casually.

“Master, this is a token of my sincerity. Please accept it.”

Wang Chong smiled. Before Six-fingered Zhang could react, he returned to the carriage with Shen Hai and Meng Long, and before long, they disappeared from the streets.

Six-fingered Zhang was left standing blankly on the street, carrying a box of two to three thousand gold taels.

“What in the world is going on?”

Six-fingered Zhang stared at the back of Wang Chong’s departing carriage. At this moment, his mind was in turmoil. He had never experienced such a situation. Without saying anything or achieving anything, the other party left behind a box of two to three thousand gold taels and left without any hesitation.

“Heh, even though bizarre matters occur every year, it seems to occur exceptionally frequent this year. Since someone is willing to give me gold, there’s no reason for me to not accept it!”

Greed flashed across Six-fingered Zhang’s eyes as he swiftly kept the box Wang Chong gave him. In the end, the reason why he risked his life to smuggle pills was for profits as well.