I Haven't Even Fired Yet. How Did You Fall Already?
[Twenty-five years old, seven years of work experience. Trait generating...]
[Congratulations on obtaining the Trait: Reimbursement Failure (Level D) -- Your reimbursement process always gets stuck at some inexplicable stage. You think it's because your invoices aren't pasted neatly enough, but actually, the finance department never intended to pay you. Knowledge is power, reimbursement is despair.]
Lu Ping chose not to switch.
For five years, it has consistently produced low-quality, D-level Trait.
This lousy system hasn't even produced any good Trait in this simulation yet.
At least give me a Grade A one.
System Master, how about I kowtow to you?
[Over the past five years, Zhao Li has increasingly targeted you. However, you've always managed to deftly deflect his attacks.]
[When the pot comes, they just Passing the Buck.]
[Daily squeezing out, melted away by Workplace People-Pleaser and Workwear Thugs.]
[Gradually, when people in the sect mention you, they mostly just say one thing: "Deacon Lu is reliable in his work."]
[However, Zhao Li, who was also Deacon of the Alchemy Hall, was now being given the option of being bypassed.]
On this day, the Alchemy Hall held a public audit.
[The side hall was filled with alchemy disciples, Internal Affairs Office disciples, and several Deacon from various halls who had come to check accounts.]
[Elder Qi Cangshu of the Alchemy Hall sat at the head of the table.]
[Zhao Li gave you a provocative look, appearing confident of victory.]
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Zhao Li took the initiative.
"Elder Qi, this disciple wishes to report Deacon embezzling medicinal herbs."
The previously noisy side hall instantly fell silent.
[The Deacons of each hall and the disciples of the Alchemy Hall all looked at Zhao Li, and then at you.]
[Qian Dafu and Xu Qingshi, two people close to you, immediately stopped what they were doing and began to walk behind you.]
[You didn't seem to hear Zhao Li's words; your hands didn't stop.]
[Zhao Li glanced at you sideways, then stared intently at Qi Cangshu and said,]
"Over the past three years, Deacon Lu has received far more medicinal herbs from the Alchemy Hall than any other Alchemist of his rank."
"Among them, the medicinal materials for Qi-Gathering Pills, Qi-Congealing Pills, and Spirit-Eroding Powder were used in several times the normal dosage."
"If it's just about diligent practice, the number of Pills submitted should match the required amount."
"However, according to the records of the Internal Affairs Office, Deacon rate in achieving the Dan realm is only 40% to 50%."
"The deficit incurred is not a small amount."
[After Zhao Li finished speaking, he raised his hand and waved.]
[Several alchemy disciples stepped out from the crowd.]
Their faces were pale, but they still knelt down.
"This disciple can bear witness."
"This disciple has also witnessed Deacon Lu secretly obtaining medicine."
"Deacon Lu also frequently had Qian Dafu deliver medicinal herbs to his cave abode alone."
"There are still some medicinal herbs that haven't been entered into the Alchemy Chamber's general ledger."
[Zhao Li said with certainty,]
"Elder Qi, the evidence and witnesses are overwhelmingly present regarding Lu Ping's embezzlement of medicinal herbs."
"If this matter is not thoroughly investigated, what will become of the rules of the Alchemy Hall, and what will become of the rules of my Greenwood Sect?"
[As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the side hall changed.]
[Zhao Li wants to crush you in front of everyone in the Alchemy Hall.]
[Behind you, Qian Dafu's forehead is beaded with cold sweat; Xu Qingshi's hand grips the ledger tightly.]
However, the two of them remained completely still.
[You look up at the alchemy disciples kneeling on the ground.]
[Bully at Home, effective.]
[Within the Greenwood Sect, your aura is almost irresistible when facing disciples of the same or lower rank.]
[Those disciples suddenly felt themselves being watched by some terrifying being.]
[One of them buckled at the knees and knocked his head to the ground. After the first one, several others immediately knelt down.]
"Elder, please forgive me!"
Zhao Li's expression changed.
[The disciple said in a trembling voice,]
"It was Deacon Zhao who instructed me to say that."
[The second disciple immediately followed suit.]
"Deacon said that as long as he could prove that Deacon Lu had embezzled medicinal herbs, he would give his disciple a good job."
The third disciple was even more panicked.
"This disciple has never witnessed Steward Lu embezzling Deacon. This disciple was merely following Deacon Zhao's orders. This disciple knows nothing!"
[Zhao Li's previously confident expression instantly cracked. He whirled around and roared at his disciples.]
"You're talking nonsense!"
The disciple kneeling on the ground ignored Zhao Li's roar, remaining motionless and begging Elder Qi for mercy.
[You ignored them and instead took out a stack of ledgers from your Storage Ring.]
"Elder, this disciple has indeed received many medicinal herbs for missions within the hall over the past three years."
[Zhao Li, as if grasping at a last straw, pointed at you and roared,]
"You admitted it yourself!"
[You didn't look at Zhao Li, and continued,]
"My talent is limited, so I can only make up for it with diligence. That's why I receive more, buy more, and practice more."
[You step forward a few paces, lay out the account books one by one on Qi Cangshu's table, and then point to each account book and speak,]
"These are the medicinal herbs that this disciple purchased and received from the Alchemy Hall. These are the Pills that this disciple is handing over."
"The total value roughly matches."
Qi Cangshu reached for the ledger and flipped through it page by page.
[Zhao Li seemed to have seized upon your words and continued shouting,]
"It roughly matches up? Deacon Lu, isn't your statement somewhat inaccurate?"
"Your success rate in obtaining the pill is only 40-50%."
"With so many Alchemists in the Alchemy Hall, who doesn't know what this success rate means?"
"Either your Alchemy Technique are inadequate, or the medicinal herbs have gone elsewhere."
You finally turned your head and glanced at Zhao Li.
[Zhao Li saw you turn around and gave a cold smile; he thought he had finally hit your weak spot.]
[You merely glanced at him indifferently, and then said,]
"Elder Qi, my success rate in obtaining pills is indeed only 40% to 50%."
"Because when disciples refine elixirs, there are often errors in testing the furnace, changing the formula, and controlling the fire."
"This disciple dares not hand over these unstable Pills to the sect."
Therefore, the ledger only records stable pill formation.
"Furthermore, this disciple submits a report on his alchemy insights every year."
Your words sound unremarkable, yet there isn't a single flaw.
[Especially regarding your insights into alchemy, everyone in the Alchemy Hall knows about it. Moreover, almost every ordinary disciple in the Alchemy Hall has received your guidance.]
[Lu Ping, the number one good person in the Alchemy Hall, is not just a figure of speech.]
[As for the success rate of pill production, most Pills have already achieved a 100% success rate. It's just that you consumed 80% of the Pills yourself.]
[The Qi-Gathering Pill is used to enhance Spiritual Power, Spirit-Eroding Powder is used in the Hundred-Forged Medicine Body Formula.]
[By combining Artisan Spirit and Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvements, you only actually hand over 10% of the revenue, but that's enough to break even.]
[The evidence you presented, from an outsider's perspective, clearly indicates a diligent, cautious, stable, even overly conservative Alchemist.]
[He's also an outstanding Alchemist who dedicates himself wholeheartedly to the sect!]
[The Workplace People-Pleaser, effective.]
[Workwear Thugs, in effect.]
[Even though you're just wearing the robes of Deacon from the Alchemy Hall, you look exceptionally handsome and refined.]
[This is what they mean by "handsome and talented."]
Everyone looking at you subconsciously believes what you're saying.
[Qian Dafu immediately stepped forward, took out a stack of receipts, and said,]
"Elder, this is a record of the medicinal herbs I collected for Deacon Lu."
"Deacon Lu was worried about the inconsistent quality of medicinal materials from relying on a single source, so he also purchased from the Alchemy Hall and the market."
"Receipts were kept for each batch."
[The Mining Hall Deacon also stepped forward and said,]
"Those Hemostatic Powders and Bone-Mending Paste were indeed taken by the Mining Hall."
"Last time the mine collapsed, more than twenty people were injured. It was Deacon Lu Deacon through the night to replenish the medicine."
[He looked at Zhao Li as he finished speaking.]
"The Internal Affairs Office was also short of medicinal herbs for two days."
The color drained completely from Zhao Li's face.
[From beginning to end, you never said a bad word about Zhao Li; you didn't even glance at Zhao Li.]
And everyone is on your side.
[You bowed to Qi Cangshu one last time.]
"Elder, the time I spent refining pills, the receipt of medicinal herbs, and the storage of the Pills are all recorded in these ledgers."
"If there are any errors or omissions, I am willing to accept punishment according to the palace rules."