Only Practice Makes Perfect

"Do you want to learn alchemy?"

After leaving the study, Lu Bei told Bai Jin about his plan to further his studies. She was deeply puzzled upon hearing it, thinking he was acting on a sudden whim.

"It's not a spur-of-the-moment idea, Senior Sister. I'm serious."

Lu Bei put on a solemn face. "I want to learn a trade. Leaving aside the fact that having many skills is never a burden, and that an extra path means an extra way to survive, alchemy is an essential skill for people like us. Getting acquainted with it early is a good thing."

"Junior Disciple Brother, your cultivation has only just entered the doorway. Getting involved in Alchemy Studies now is a little too hasty. You should cultivate more and strengthen your foundation—that is the correct order."

Bai Jin shook her head. "If you lack medicinal pills during cultivation, just say so. When I'm not around, you can go to Senior Sister Zhu. She'll meet your needs."

Bai Jin suspected that Lu Bei lacked a sense of security. Sanqing Peak was too poor and had few cultivation resources. Added to that was his youthful pride and reluctance to ask others for help. That was why he had come up with the idea of learning alchemy.

If I don't learn alchemy, I won't gain experience. If I don't gain experience, I'll have to cultivate honestly. And if I cultivate honestly, then I won't be a genius.

Lu Bei muttered inwardly, then straightened his expression. "Senior Sister, to tell you the truth, every day I'm either cultivating or cultivating. And you won't let me leave the house. I'm bored out of my mind and want to find a hobby to pass the time."

"Junior Disciple Brother, you have a point. I hadn't considered things thoroughly."

Bai Jin nodded. She could accept that reason.

Throwing Lu Bei into Dasheng Pass's Alchemy Room meant he could learn alchemy without stepping outside. She would not have to worry about this world, rife with peril at every turn, hurting him, and Zhu Yan would be there to watch over him. It truly was a good way to pass the time.

This way, she would also eliminate the possibility of Lu Bei sneaking out during the day while she was away and no one was watching him.

"I'll speak to Senior Sister Zhu for you. It shouldn't be difficult."

"Then I'll trouble you, Senior Sister."

Lu Bei nodded. Just as he turned to leave, he suddenly thought of something. With an odd expression, he said, "Senior Sister, weren't you in a hurry to return to the Lingxiao Sword Sect? Why aren't you in a hurry anymore?"

"..."

Bai Jin's face immediately flushed scarlet. She only said that she still needed to buy some things in Dasheng Pass—things for girls—and told Lu Bei not to ask too much.

You count as a girl?

Present facts and reason it out: only your Junior Disciple Sister's daughter could be called a girl!

Lu Bei's mouth twitched. Sensibly, he did not say it out loud. His purpose had already been achieved; it was time to retire after accomplishing his mission.

The next morning, Bai Jin left early. She planted three sword talismans on the back of Lu Bei's hand, saying only that they could keep him safe in a critical moment.

Zhu Yan bade Bai Jin farewell in low spirits, then took Lu Bei by carriage to the Huangji Sect's garrison in Dasheng Pass.

As the administrative seat and foremost county of Dongqi Commandery, Dasheng Pass ranked first in both population and economy. With the Huangji Sect stationed there, the county's prosperity rose another level.

To say nothing else, wealthy imperial youths like Zhu Yan alone brought considerable economic benefits.

First, land prices had soared.

Second, the Huangji Sect's Dasheng Pass garrison replenished and consumed medicinal pills and array diagrams every day. Partnering merchants and immortal gates came and went, bringing in another sizable amount of tax revenue.

That was not the important part. The important part was that the Huangji Sect's garrison in Dasheng Pass lay in a valley west of the county. Though clearly far from the county center, the number of merchant stalls lining the roads had not decreased in the slightest.

That valley had been entirely bought up by the Huangji Sect and divided into several areas for use by different departments.

The Alchemy Room district was filled with pavilions and towers, shaded by verdant trees.

No stern defenses could be seen with the naked eye, but in truth, formations interlocked layer upon layer. Without Zhu Yan's guarantee and proof issued at the entrance, Lu Bei would not make it two steps before burly men leaped from the grass and dragged him into Solitary Confinement.

Zhu Yan was an Alchemy Room bookkeeper. She had a Chief Clerk as her superior and two colleagues who were also bookkeepers. Those three handled the bulk of the daily work, while she was mainly responsible for muddling through her days.

As long as she clocked in and out on time, she could basically manage fifteen days of attendance a month, making her the outstanding subordinate most highly praised by the Chief Clerk.

Don't ask. If you asked, it was because her surname was Zhu.

Zhu Yan knew herself well. Others showed her respect not because of her personally, but because they did not wish to invite trouble upon themselves. Therefore, she never put on airs when dealing with people. With a smiling face wherever she went, she had friends everywhere.

With her help, Lu Bei quickly found himself a position in the Alchemy Room.

Apprentice Alchemist.

The master responsible for guiding him into the field was Lin Bohai, an experienced veteran and twenty-year employee of the Alchemy Room. Born into the Huangji Sect, he had undergone systematic training in alchemy.

Lin Bohai looked at Lu Bei with a helpless expression. Seeing the eagerness on Lu Bei's face only made him feel even more helpless.

As an old hand, what he dreaded most were newcomers who got in through connections. If he ignored them, he could not explain himself to the people behind them. But if he managed them and taught them...

That's a nice thing to say. He would be damned if he could control them!

Fortunately, life in the Alchemy Room was dull and tedious. Lin Bohai was highly experienced in dealing with newcomers and was confident that within three months, he could make Zhu Yan's distant relative retreat in the face of difficulty.

He composed himself and said pleasantly, "Lu Bei, have you refined pills before?"

"No."

"No matter."

Lin Bohai nodded. The answer was within his expectations. Stroking his beard, he smiled. "It's fine if you haven't. As long as you've watched someone refine pills before, that will do. It's easy to get started."

"I haven't watched it before either."

"..."

Lin Bohai fell silent for a moment. So he was not a newcomer—he was a young master looking for trouble.

Considering Zhu Yan's status, this young master's family certainly would not be lacking either. If he dared to think bigger, perhaps Lu Bei was even another Zhu, concealing his name and coming down here for amusement.

That made things even simpler.

Lin Bohai led Lu Bei to an Alchemy Room. It was a single-person room on the second floor, furnished with a desk, tea, landscape paintings, and a window that offered a distant view of the valley's beautiful scenery.

Refining pills here for a long time would not only greatly improve one's tea-making skills, but also strengthen one's yearning for freedom.

Whenever young masters and young ladies came by in the past, Lin Bohai always dealt with them this way.

"Lu Bei, the path of alchemy is profound and broad. Its complexities cannot be explained clearly with words. After studying this path for many years, this old man has figured out four characters."

Lin Bohai held up four fingers and declared with certainty, "Nothing in the world is difficult; only practice makes perfect!"

"Master Lin is absolutely right."

Lu Bei nodded repeatedly. He thought so as well. There was no need to overcomplicate it—the Personal Panel would handle everything.

After saying that, Lin Bohai brought over several introductory alchemy books covering an extremely broad range, along with some cheap herbs and tools. He told Lu Bei to refine while reading. If there was anything he did not understand, he should write it down first, and Lin Bohai would answer every question the next morning.

"The pill furnace is here. Try your hand at it first. This old man's batch is ready to be drawn, and the fire is a little too fierce, so I won't accompany you." Seeing Lu Bei eagerly begin weighing the medicinal ingredients, Lin Bohai slipped away like grease on the soles of his feet.

From a personal standpoint, Lin Bohai did not like Lu Bei. The reason was very practical: taking on an apprentice meant losses. It wasted time and cost money.

Alchemists' stipends and monthly salaries were pitifully low. In this respect, official and private alchemists were all the same.

The reasons on the official side were too complicated. Speaking only of private alchemists, they had an Output Rate. Every batch of pills had Premium Quality, Finished Product, and Waste Pills.

When luck was good, an entire furnace could be Premium Quality. When luck was bad, if one's hand trembled ever so slightly, that entire batch would be ruined.

Therefore, whenever a batch of pills was started, the Raw Materials were always provided in excess, allowing alchemists a certain amount of loss.

And an alchemist's main income had never been their salary. Skilled alchemists made money from Raw Materials. Once a furnace of Premium Quality and Finished Product pills was complete, they would pocket the leftover Raw Materials and sell them for profit.

Because of this uncontrollable Unspoken Rule, alchemists' stipends and monthly salaries had fallen lower and lower. It was considered a tacit allowance for alchemists to use their experience and skill to earn extra money, so long as they completed their assigned tasks.

As a newcomer among newcomers, Lu Bei would certainly cause no small amount of loss. Part of it would be charged to Lin Bohai. Although Zhu Yan had guaranteed that he need not worry about losses, one could never be too careful. What if there were too many losses and the other side turned hostile and denied everything? Could he really go head-to-head with imperial relatives?

"Forget it. Who told this old man to be broad-minded? The Alchemy Room is dull, with no amusement to speak of. A young master like him surely won't last long."

Lin Bohai stroked his beard. Ten days. At most ten days. If Lu Bei could hold on for ten days, I'd refine a batch of pills standing on my head.

Thanks to 'Still Came Back to Read the Official Version,' 'Collecting Beautiful Girls Aged 16 to 25,' and 'P0cKy' for their Alliance Leader donations. They were all familiar faces—thank you for continuing to support me.

Come to think of it, wasn't that Collecting Beautiful Girls ID banned?

Ridiculous. It had actually been released.