Chapter 15 (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“Senior Brother Disciple Hao, I truly don’t have the confidence to refine the Energizing Pills. Why don’t you ask for someone to do for you?” said Xu Shangao with a bitter expression.

The red-robed youth named Hou Rulong grunted once. He spoke with an icy cold tone, “I’m asking you to do it today. I’m just going to leave it here. I’ll come and collect it in three days. Don’t blame me for being uncourteous if you fail to refine the pills.” Upon saying that, he turned around and left without even taking a glance at Fang Lin.

Xu Shangao’s expression grew glummer and glummer. He squeezed out a forced smile upon seeing Fang Lin.

“What happened? Who was that?” Fang Lin asked.

Xu Shangao said, “It’s the official disciple, Hou Rulong, from the martial arts sect. He’s here to ask me to refine a cauldron of Energizing Pills for him, but how would I know how to refine it? He is obviously trying to make things difficult for me.”

Fang Lin appeared to be deep in thought. He nodded and said, “So, it turns out to be an official disciple from the martial arts sect. No wonder he has that self-conceited look.”

“The official disciples from the martial arts sect frequently seek our official disciples’ help to refine elixirs for them. This is supposed to be a good thing, yet I’ve only managed to refine elixirs for these martial arts disciples twice since I became an official disciple in the recent few years. Moreover, those were lower grade pills and those weren’t difficult to refine. However, Hou Rulong is requesting for Energizingg Pills. He’s obviously making life difficult for me deliberately,” Xu Shangao said with a sigh to punctuate his explanation.

After listening to his explanation, Fang Lin learned that the martial arts official disciples would frequently seek help from the official disciples of the alchemy sect to refine elixirs for them. Of course, they would compensate for the assistance of the alchemy sect disciples. On the other hand, such a transaction was already considered a tradition between the alchemy sect and the martial arts sect.

The fame of the person that received more requests to refine elixirs would grow higher and higher in the alchemy sect. However, the person would need to have solid alchemy skills in order to refine elixirs for the official disciples of the martial arts sect. A low-grade disciple like Xu Shangao was still capable of refining some simple elixirs, but it was impossible for him to refine the best quality Energizing Pill that was almost close to being a grade-1 pill.

Hou Rulong wanted Xu Shangao to refine the Energizing Pills for him. His intention to make things difficult for Xu Shangao was apparent. When Xu Shangao failed to refine the Energizing Pills in three days, Hou Rulong could seize the opportunity to propagate Xu Shangao’s weakness vigorously. By then, Xu Shangao would not only be despised by the official disciples of the alchemy sect, but he would also be looked down upon by the martial arts official disciples. Even if Xu Shangao did manage to improve himself in the future, no one would seek his help to refine elixirs anymore.

Fang Lin looked at Xu Shangao strangely and said, “Senior Brother Disciple, have you offended someone recently?”

Xu Shangao was stunned for a moment and he soon remembered someone. He immediately said with a furious look on his face, “that must be Lin Xu! He lost a bet to me the other day. He must be harboring hatred in his heart. It must be him that sent Hou Rulong to make things difficult for me. He wants me to embarrass myself for sure!”

Fang Lin nodded. Soon afterward, he smiled and said, “so, how are you going to deal with this situation, Senior Brother Disciple Xu?”

Xu Shangao lowered his head in dejection upon hearing the question. He said, “What else can I do? I’m utterly incapable of refining the Energizing Pills now, so I can only brace the humiliation later.”

Fang Lin pursed his lips and said, “Why haven’t you thought of my identity, Senior Brother Disciple Xu? Would I allow you to humiliate yourself?”

Xu Shangao’s eyes glowed brightly upon hearing Fang Lin’s remarks. He grasped Fang Lin’s shoulders with his hands akin to a drowning man holding on to a life-saving straw. “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, you’re capable of refining the Energizing Pills. You must help me as your Senior Brother Disciple,” he pleaded.

Fang Lin sniggered and said, “I thought I’ve given you three Energizing Pills, Senior Brother Disciple Xu. Why don’t you just give them to Hou Rulong then?”

“I’ve taken one of the three pills. It’s not enough to just present two pills for him, is it?” Xu Shangao explained with a rather embarrassed expression.

Upon saying that, Xu Shangao looked at Fang Lin piteously. He begged, “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, you’re the best Junior Brother Disciple ever. Will you pity me and help me to refine a cauldron of Energizing Pills? I will take good care of you if you help me.”

Fang Lin pushed Xu Shangao’s hand away in an unkind manner. He pursed his lips and said, “No one is asking for my help to refine elixirs. The person they seek after is you. It’s best that you refine it yourself.”

“However, I’m incapable of doing that. Junior Brother Disciple, please, please help me. Do it for the sake of us being a well-matched pair of brothers. Please help your Senior Brother Disciple this once,” Xu Shangao said, almost crying.

Upon seeing Xu Shangao’s piteous look, Fang Lin stopped taunting him. “Of course, I can help you, but I’ll be leaving in six months. What if someone comes and tries to make things difficult for you by then? What will you do? I can help you this time, but you must put some effort into studying alchemy skills too. I’m going to strive to elevate your standard in the next six months.”

Upon listening to his words, Xu Shangao was overjoyed. He expressed his gratitude toward Fang Lin repeatedly.

“There’s no need to waste time talking nonsense. It’s time for you to formally acknowledge me as your teacher, my apprentice,” Fang Lin said, waving him off.

Xu Shangao was stunned for a moment. He raised his head to look up just in time to reveal his interesting expression. “Junior Brother Disciple Fang, what were you saying again?” Xu Shangao thought he had misheard Fang Lin, so he asked cautiously.

“Formally acknowledge me as your teacher, my apprentice,” said Fang Lin in a short and powerful voice.

Xu Shangao had a strange expression when he said, “Junior Brother Disciple, there’s no need for me to formally acknowledge you as my teacher, is there? I’m your Senior Brother Disciple at the very least.”

Fang Lin took a glance at him. He did not speak and walked straight into the alchemy room and closed the door behind him, leaving Xu Shangao outside.

Xu Shangao waited for two hours anxiously outside. He watched as Fang Lin pushed open the door and exited the room with a jade bottle in his hand. He then tossed it over to Xu Shangao.

“I’ve already refined the pills for you. Think wisely. I’ll be leaving in six months. You’ll have to think for yourself,” Fang Lin drawled lazily. Then, he returned to his room.