Chapter 115: True Progress! (1/2)

Wang Chong thought the matter with Six-fingered Zhang would take at least a few more days before there would be any progress. However, Wang Chong underestimated the other party’s audacity on the gambling table, as well as his confidence in his identity as an alchemist.

That very night, Six-fingered Zhang was attacked.

His talent in pill forging was extraordinary, but the higher one’s mastery in pill forging, the more boring one’s life was. Six-fingered Zhang seemed to be venting all his boredom on the gambling table, making him much more daring than ever, losing himself.

That very night, Six-fingered Zhang was attacked by the Goguryeons. They used extreme means, brute force, sleeping powder, sleeping pellets, and even slaked lime…

If not for Shen Hai and Meng Long appearing with Arloja and Ablonodan in time, Six-fingered Zhang would have suffered several slashes and a hand of his would have been gone.

The Goguryeons were known for their savagery and brutality in the capital.

But in a sense, Six-fingered Zhang reaped what he sow.

Despite having only two to three thousand gold taels on him, he dared to borrow fifty thousand more gold taels from the loan sharks in Great Golden Sky Gambling Den!

——Wasn’t he being too brazen!

The twenty thousand gold taels he borrowed was supposed to be returned by the third ke of the shen hour. However, Six-fingered Zhang had drunk too much in the gambling den, causing him to forget about this matter. As such, the Goguryeons started to panic.

(1545|shen hour -> 1500-1700|ke refers to 15 minutes)

“Have you paid his gambling debt yet?”

Behind the study table, Wang Chong asked.

“Reporting to young master, following your orders, we paid his debt and left immediately afterward. We minimized contact with him as much as possible.”

Shen Hai and Meng Long answered.

After helping the other party on such a huge matter, even giving out fifty thousand gold taels for free, they were told not to say or demand anything at all. This was something they couldn’t understand.

Even so, this was an order from their young master, so they weren’t in a position to say anything about it.

“Very well. From tomorrow onward, send him two thousand gold taels every day. Other than that, don’t say anything.”

Wang Chong said.

“Alright, young master!”

Shen Hai and Meng Long replied.

If it was anyone else, they would have definitely given up after throwing away fifty thousand gold taels for nothing. However, Wang Chong seemed unbothered by the matter.

The secret alchemist organization held great profits, but the doorway to trade was exceptionally high. Their clients were mainly established figures who had conducted trade with them for dozens of years or even longer.

These clients had undergone the test of time and they could be trusted. However, toward new clients, they were exceptionally careful and wary.

Even in the span of dozens of years, they might not even accept a single new client.

It was precisely because of this wariness and strict selection that the secret alchemist organization was able to remain hidden from the eyes of the royal palace and the kings.

Wang Chong’s greatest priority at this moment was to squeeze into their group and secure himself a steady source of valuable pills. Giving away fifty thousand gold taels and whatever wasn’t important for him.

Six-fingered Zhang was still guarded against him, so it was too early to bring up the matter of joining the secret alchemist organization yet. What Wang Chong needed to do now was to send him a steady supply of gold.

Through this method, he could raise the other party’s impression of him.

One day, when Six-fingered Zhang was no longer guarded toward him, Wang Chong believed that he would come knocking on his own accord.

After settling this matter, Wang Chong continued to practice the Dragon Bone Art.

Days passed and Wang Chong’s martial arts progressed. Even though his root bone didn’t seem to be nearing a breakthrough yet, he could feel it getting more and more compact.

Before long, three days had already flown by.

Wang Chong’s Dragon Bone Art still didn’t meet with much progress, but there seemed to be an unexpected development on Shen Hai and Meng Long’s side.

“Young master, Six-fingered Zhang requests for an audience! This time, he came to us straight and explicitly requested to meet with you!”

Just as Wang Chong was cultivating in the courtyard, Shen Hai and Meng Long suddenly walked over.

“Oh?”

Wang Chong’s eyes lit up. This matter came as a huge surprise to him. Six-fingered Zhang seemed to be more anxious than he thought.

“Invite him in!”

…

Wang Chong met Six-fingered Zhang in the study. Compared to how he was a few days ago, Six-fingered Zhang didn’t seem as distant, arrogant, and unapproachable.

However, Wang Chong sensed bewilderment and unease from him.

“Zhang Zhongshu pays respect to gongzi.”

Six-fingered Zhang bowed stiffly.

Alchemists were respected regardless of where they went, resulting in most of the alchemists acting arrogantly.

However, Zhang Zhongshu couldn’t have expected that the person who ‘harassed’ him at Falling Jade Pavilion would have such a huge background.

Alchemists possessed high standing in society, but they weren’t comparable to the Wang Clan.

“Hehe, master, we meet again.”