Speaking Frankly

[Xie Huide wasn't surprised by your question.]

[His expression became quite proud.]

[Then Xie Huide slowly said, "Because the key ingredient for Returning Yang Paste is Earth Source, but only an Apex Grandmaster can see Earth Source. Sect Leader is only a Grandmaster and can't directly integrate Earth Source into the Returning Yang Paste. This crucial step requires me to complete!"]

[You sized Xie Huide up and down.]

[You remembered that Xie Huide was only at the peak of Essence Refining, and even you could beat him in a fight.]

[You didn't understand why Xie Huide was starting to take credit for the work of an Apex Grandmaster.]

[There should be a limit to boasting, right?]

[Xie Huide saw your confusion.]

[He didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Tiezhu, you don't need to be confused. The reason I can see Earth Source is because I was born with the talent of Insightful Observation."]

["Insightful Observation? What is that, is it tasty?"]

[Xie Huide raised his head slightly, his expression becoming even more proud.]

[Deng Rusong, who was beside him, deliberately snorted dismissively, acting like he didn't care.]

[But in the depths of Deng Rusong's eyes, there was a hint of jealousy that was difficult to detect.]

[Xie Huide deliberately glanced at Deng Rusong's jealous look, then smiled with satisfaction and ease.]

[Then he said to you, "Insightful Observation is a mysterious state. When you enter this state, you'll feel divinely aided when refining paste, and the success rate will become extremely high!"]

["Mysterious state?"]

[You remembered that when you successfully refined Inner Divinity Paste for the first time at Yajiang Pass, you entered a mysterious state.]

["Could that be the so-called Insightful Observation?" you thought to yourself.]

[You remained calm and continued to ask, "What does this have to do with Earth Source?"]

[Xie Huide continued, "Insightful Observation also has two more important functions. One of them is the ability to perceive Earth Source, which is why my participation is needed in the refining of Returning Yang Paste!"]

[You were secretly shocked. If that state of yours was the so-called Insightful Observation,]

[Then you could try to comprehend Earth Source!]

[Your heart started to race.]

[You tried your best to suppress the excitement in your heart and continued to ask tirelessly, "Isn't it possible to just find an Apex Grandmaster to complete this step?"]

[Xie Huide was also very patient: "Great Qian doesn't have Apex Grandmaster Alchemists. A pure Apex Grandmaster can't complete the auxiliary refining of Returning Yang Paste."]

[You nodded. This series of logic was truly seamless.]

["Master, you just said that Insightful Observation has two important functions, what about the other one?"]

[Xie Huide smiled wickedly, as if he was waiting for you to ask this question.]

[He completely dropped the act, and his whole person became confident. His chest was raised so high that it could be placed directly on the table.]

[In Deng Rusong's eyes beside him, unconcealed jealousy was revealed.]

[Xie Huide proudly said, "Only an alchemist with the talent of Insightful Observation can become a Ninth-Rank Alchemist!"]

[Xie Huide instantly became confident and domineering, and an aura of 'who else but me' swept out.]

[Deng Rusong curled his lips, but couldn't say anything to refute.]

[You scratched your head and asked sincerely, "Then how are you only a Seventh-Rank?"]

["Ah, this..."]

[Xie Huide was like a balloon punctured by a needle, and he immediately deflated.]

[His lips opened and closed, looking like he wanted to say something but stopped, his expression a little embarrassed.]

[Deng Rusong, who was beside him, rarely didn't kick him when he was down.]

[Instead, he stood up and spoke for Xie Huide, "Tiezhu, your master's talent has the potential to become a Ninth-Rank Alchemist, but..."]

[Deng Rusong said halfway, then turned to look at Deng Wanshu lying on the cold jade bed.]

[Deng Rusong sighed deeply, his face a little guilty.]

[He walked over and patted Xie Huide's shoulder, his voice low, "Ah! Wanshu has delayed you..."]

[Xie Huide shook his head, "I haven't been able to cure Wanshu after all these years, I'm the one who has delayed her."]

[Your eyes widened. It had been a long time since you had heard such pure simp talk.]

[You could only sigh that the lethality of a white moonlight was too great.]

[Not to mention a white moonlight who is forever stuck at eighteen years old and doesn't like to talk.]

[No one can withstand it.]

[Deng Wanshu had already become an obsession for Xie Huide and Hu Zhongxuan.]

[Deng Rusong slowly said, "Your master has been looking for ways to cure Wanshu for the past few decades, which has delayed too much energy and time. Otherwise, it wouldn't be my turn to be the sect leader."]

[You didn't know what to say.]

[You were born in a gentle breeze and raised under a red flag; your heart tells you that simp behavior leads to a miserable end.]

[But does someone like Xie Huide really deserve a miserable end?]

[You don't know.]

[Xie Huide calmly said, "Tiezhu, actually, the Returning Yang Pill is just an attempt. We can't guarantee that Wanshu will definitely wake up."]

["Then what if it really fails?" you ask.]

[Xie Huide's eyes flickered, and after a long silence, he said, "Then I won't be able to stay with her for much longer."]

[You remember that Xie Huide is seventy-eight years old this year, and should have another twenty years or so.]

["Why?"]

[Xie Huide said slowly, "I've been working my fingers to the bone these past few years, expending a lot of extra energy. I only have a few years left."]

[You fall silent.]

["Most importantly..." There was a deep sadness in Xie Huide's eyes, "Wanshu can still live for a long time. Her bodily functions are only at about fifty years old."]

[You count on your fingers and say, "Then, assuming that your wife lives to be ninety, she can live for another eighty years or so?"]

[Adding up to about one hundred and fifty years.]

[Xie Huide nods.]

[You are shocked. That's too damn long to live.]

[You might not even outlive Deng Wanshu in the end.]

["That's not right. If your wife can live that long, who will take care of her for the remaining time?"]

[By then, Xie Huide, Hu Zhongxuan, and Deng Rusong will definitely have kicked the bucket.]

[Are you going to pass Deng Wanshu down as a family heirloom?]

[But none of the three have any children.]

["If the Returning Yang Pill can't awaken Wanshu either, then let someone who can live especially long take care of her," Xie Huide said with a sorrowful expression.]

["Who can live especially long?" you ask.]

[Xie Huide: "Apex Grandmasters can live especially long."]

[You: "Which Apex Grandmaster would be willing to take care of your wife?"]

[Xie Huide: "No Apex Grandmaster is willing to take care of Wanshu."]

[You: "Then why did you even mention it..."]

["However, I know that Hu Zhongxuan obtained an Earth Source this time and is trying to break through to Apex Grandmaster. If he can break through... alas..."]

[Xie Huide couldn't continue.]

[His white moonlight, whom he had guarded for decades, might be handed over to his rival after his death. The feeling is really unpleasant.]

[You really don't want to ruin the atmosphere, but you still curiously ask, "What if Uncle-Master can't break through to Apex Grandmaster either?"]

[Xie Huide and Deng Rusong suddenly look up and look at you at the same time.]

["Uh... did I say something wrong?"]

[The gentleness in their eyes turned into calm determination.]

[Xie Huide's tone had no emotional fluctuations: "If both the Returning Yang Pill and Hu Zhongxuan fail, there is only one last way."]

[Xie Huide looked at you with a calm expression: "Tiezhu, are you willing to take care of your wife?"]

[You are stunned.]

[You feel that Xie Huide's words could write an entire family ethics romance novel.]

[Of course, you don't want to take on such a big job.]

[Xie Huide sees your hesitation and says, "The conditions are negotiable."]

[You still don't respond.]

[Xie Huide pondered for a long time and said, "Let's talk frankly and openly. You will feel our sincerity, Tiezhu, or should I call you... He Yu!"]