Winning Over Master Gu Ni

"Where is my master now?"

Hearing Master Gu Ni's question, Flowing Cloud's heart stirred. A bitter smile appeared on his lips before he recited the explanation he had prepared long ago.

"Actually, I don't know either..."

"Ah!..."

Upon hearing this, Master Gu Ni was somewhat dumbfounded. Then, as though he had thought of something, a lonely look appeared on his face.

"Since the Young Master has something difficult to say, this old man will not force you..."

With that, Master Gu Ni prepared to leave the courtyard.

In his view, Flowing Cloud's words were entirely an excuse.

As a disciple, how could he possibly not know where his own master was?

He only believed that Flowing Cloud's master had given prior instructions not to reveal any information about him.

"Wait!"

Flowing Cloud hurriedly called out to stop Master Gu Ni, explaining, "Master Gu Ni, not a single word I said was false."

"Before my master left, he only gave me an Alchemist's Handbook and a treasure. He did not tell me where he was going."

"This Qi Gathering Pill is one of the treasures he left behind." Flowing Cloud wore a sincere expression as he spoke with utter seriousness.

"An Alchemist's Handbook!"

The moment Flowing Cloud mentioned an "Alchemist's Handbook," Master Gu Ni immediately stopped.

"Young Master..."

After hesitating for a moment, Master Gu Ni finally swallowed his pride and asked.

"Could you lend this old man the Alchemist's Handbook your master left behind, so that I may have a look?"

After saying this, even Master Gu Ni could not help but blush with embarrassment.

An Alchemist's Handbook embodied an alchemist's lifelong efforts. Other than their final disciple, how could they possibly lend it to others for viewing?

At the side, Ya Fei could not help but furrow her delicate brows when she heard Master Gu Ni's words.

In her opinion, Master Gu Ni's request was truly unreasonable.

It could even be called shameless.

And at this moment, Master Gu Ni truly had thrown away his pride.

He knew that after speaking those words, Flowing Cloud might reject him on the spot, perhaps even insult and mock him.

Yet even so, Master Gu Ni had still spoken.

It truly took immense courage to do so.

Hearing Master Gu Ni's request, Flowing Cloud was also slightly stunned.

This was clearly not something he had expected.

His original plan had been to use this Alchemist's Handbook to win over Master Gu Ni and make him submit to him.

When Master Gu Ni had been preparing to leave, Flowing Cloud had still been considering how to phrase things so that he could persuade Master Gu Ni naturally.

But Master Gu Ni's sudden request to view the Alchemist's Handbook in his possession, this shameless act, left Flowing Cloud dumbfounded.

"Still, this works out well. It saves me the trouble of thinking."

After coming back to his senses, Flowing Cloud secretly thought to himself.

Seeing Flowing Cloud's "blank" expression, Master Gu Ni assumed that he had been shocked by his shameless request. His old face immediately reddened, and with nothing more to say, he prepared to leave.

"Ah, it seems that I, Gu Ni, have no hope of advancing to a Third-grade Alchemist in this life."

He had arrived brimming with hope, only to leave with bitter disappointment. One could easily imagine the loneliness in Master Gu Ni's heart.

"Of course you may..."

"Young Master, there is no need to trouble yourself. This old man's request was too excessive. I hope the Young Master..." As soon as Flowing Cloud spoke, Master Gu Ni instinctively began apologizing.

But halfway through his words, Master Gu Ni suddenly realized what had been said and looked at Flowing Cloud in disbelief.

"Young Master, what did you just say?" Master Gu Ni's old face flushed red with excitement.

"When my master left, he never said that the Alchemist's Handbook he left behind could not be lent to others for viewing." Looking at the excited Master Gu Ni, Flowing Cloud spoke calmly.

"So, if Master Gu Ni wishes to read it, it is not impossible."

Flowing Cloud looked warmly at Master Gu Ni, a faint, inscrutable smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

"However, this Alchemist's Handbook is ultimately my master's life's work. I can only rest assured if I let one of our own read it."

"Otherwise, I would have no way to answer to my master."

When he said the words "one of our own," Flowing Cloud deliberately paused before looking again at the excited Master Gu Ni.

"Master Gu Ni, don't you think I'm right?"

The meaning behind his words was already very clear.

If Master Gu Ni wanted to read the Alchemist's Handbook in Flowing Cloud's possession, it would depend on how he conducted himself next.

Although Flowing Cloud did not care much about the Alchemist's Handbook, it was not something just anyone could view.

As Flowing Cloud finished speaking, Master Gu Ni was slightly stunned before falling silent.

At the side, Ya Fei naturally understood the hidden meaning in Flowing Cloud's words as well.

Casting Flowing Cloud a deep look with her beautiful eyes, Ya Fei's heart inexplicably tightened.

Having had quite a few dealings with Flowing Cloud during this period, Ya Fei had believed that she had already seen through his character.

Although he had never interfered with or meddled in her arrangements at the Mittel Auction House, which made Ya Fei deeply grateful.

But judging from Flowing Cloud's actions during this time, including his suggestion to shorten the interval between auctions to once every half month,

Ya Fei had thought that Flowing Cloud was merely an ordinary young nobleman, without any remarkable qualities.

Yet after witnessing what had just happened, Flowing Cloud's image in Ya Fei's heart had already undergone an earth-shattering change.

An alchemist master behind him.

Using an Alchemist's Handbook to win over Master Gu Ni.

Whether it was his status and background or his schemes and planning, Flowing Cloud was far from as simple as he appeared.

"Young Master, I never expected you to have hidden yourself so deeply." Looking at the refined and gentle Flowing Cloud before her, Ya Fei murmured inwardly.

Bang!

While Ya Fei was still immersed in her shock, Master Gu Ni, who had been silent all this time, suddenly dropped to both knees and knelt before Flowing Cloud.

"Gu Ni greets the Young Master. From this day onward, I am willing to brave fire and water for the Young Master, and I will not refuse any task."

At that moment, Master Gu Ni seemed to have cast aside everything. His expression was incomparably resolute.

"Master, please rise quickly!"

A faint, imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of Flowing Cloud's lips. He immediately stepped forward to help Master Gu Ni up, his face carrying a sincere smile.

"Master, you flatter me. You are a noble alchemist. You will still need to help me refine pills in the future, so how can you speak so lightly of life and death?" Flowing Cloud said in a slightly relaxed tone.

"Refining pills for the Young Master is what this old man ought to do!"

"If the Young Master has any orders in the future, this old man will naturally support them unconditionally!" Master Gu Ni solemnly promised.

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Flowing Cloud's face. He knew what Master Gu Ni wanted, so he did not waste any words and directly took out the Alchemist's Handbook from his Space Ring.

"Master, this is the Alchemist's Handbook my master left for me."

Handing the scroll to Master Gu Ni, Flowing Cloud casually "revealed," "My master once said that this handbook could only help me become a Fifth-grade Alchemist."

"And he also said that only after I become a Fifth-grade Alchemist will I be able to see him again."