Clearing His Name

Yang Chan's words rang out forcefully. Not only did Xu Gaocen beside him hear them clearly, everyone else in the pharmacy heard them as well.

Zhao Qiyang's brows furrowed slightly, and a flicker of panic flashed through his eyes. But he quickly returned to normal. Still, that change in expression did not escape Yang Chan's notice, because he had been watching Zhao Qiyang all along.

Every shift in his emotions and every change in his aura had been seen clearly by him.

This made Yang Chan suspect that there might be something wrong with Zhao Qiyang.

He simply did not know why this man wanted to deal with him. If it had been any other Alchemist Assistant, the scheme might very well have succeeded, because most Alchemist Assistants did not dare go against a Pharmacist. He was the exception.

He had confidence in himself and was not afraid of being investigated. Moreover, he was already a Pharmacist now; compared to these Junior Alchemists, he was only short of a Pharmacist assessment.

With his current abilities, passing that assessment would be as easy as turning over his hand. At the same time, he planned to take the Pharmacist assessment, because he had discovered that Taiyu City had quite a few kinds of medicinal ingredients. These could be used to prepare many medicines that increased Potential Points.

Most importantly, Pharmacists in Taiyu City not only had far greater authority, but could also take away some medicinal ingredients for their own use. This was one of the benefits granted to Pharmacists here in Taiyu City.

These benefits were vastly better than those of an Alchemist Assistant; they could even be called worlds apart. Compared with when he had been in the sect, they were simply beyond comparison.

Yang Chan suspected that Xu Gaocen had voluntarily proposed going down the mountain because he had likely set his sights on these benefits. Of course, he might also have been serving the sect—or perhaps both, or something else entirely.

If Junior Alchemists enjoyed so many benefits, then an Intermediate Alchemist like Xu Gaocen surely had even more.

Yang Chan no longer bothered pretending. He had indeed set his sights on those benefits. Besides, after becoming a Pharmacist, his daily tasks would become easier as well.

He did not want to keep staying up late here to finish his tasks. That was no good. If he suddenly died from overwork again one day, that would be an even greater loss.

Having died once, Yang Chan had no desire to go through it a second time.

There was also the matter of Potential Points. Now that his daily gain of Potential Points had exceeded 1, his next goal was to make his daily Potential Point gain start with a 2.

As for Potential Points that could improve both his cultivation and profession, naturally, the more the better. The more he gained each day, the better.

The benefit of taking away some medicinal ingredients for his own use was impossible within Qingyuan Sect. Naturally, Yang Chan did not want to miss it.

Taiyu City had many unique medicinal herbs that Qingyuan Sect did not possess. As it happened, after his Alchemist profession had advanced to the second rank, several additional prescriptions had appeared in his mind. Once prepared, they would naturally bring him many benefits.

Potential Points were one aspect; they would also benefit his martial cultivation.

Although he had now reached External Refinement: Bronze Skin Second Layer: Brass, Yang Chan still felt that this bit of strength was not enough. He had to continue improving his cultivation.

His first small goal was External Refinement: Bronze Skin Third Layer: Ancient Bronze, followed by External Refinement: Tendons and Membranes.

Yang Chan's goal was very clear.

With the identity of a Pharmacist, revealing his External Refinement cultivation in the future would also cause far less trouble.

As for becoming a Pharmacist being rather high-profile, now that things had reached this point, he did not care about that anymore. Besides, this sort of high profile was only relative. So long as he did not leave Qinghan Prefecture in Taiyu City and remained in the pharmacy, he would still be relatively safe.

After all, many Qingyuan Sect experts were stationed here. Even if he drew some attention, it would only affect the Medicine Hall within Qinghan Prefecture; the scope would not be broad.

On the contrary, becoming a Pharmacist offered many benefits and removed many restrictions from him.

This was also the thought that had surfaced in Yang Chan's mind after he realized he had been framed.

The status of an Alchemist Assistant was still not enough. Becoming an Elite Disciple would mean directly participating in the sect war, while becoming a Pharmacist would allow him to work in the rear, where the danger was comparatively lower.

"This matter must naturally be investigated thoroughly. I will arrange for someone to investigate everything you have said."

Xu Gaocen spoke.

As the person in charge of the pharmacy in Qinghan Prefecture, he naturally knew more information. During the several times the sect had sent experts on surprise attacks, the Three Great Sects had all been prepared. This clearly meant that moles had been passing along information. There was more than one of them; even after several had been captured, such incidents continued to happen.

Therefore, the mole was certainly still there, hidden rather deeply, and was among those who had come down the mountain with Liu Xuan.

During this time, they had also been observing everyone, searching for suspicious individuals.

When he came to the pharmacy to take charge, this had been one of his tasks as well.

Now that a problem had arisen in the pharmacy, it suited his wishes perfectly. He could investigate it properly.

If he caught the mole, it would also be a great merit, and he could receive many sect rewards.

Xu Gaocen arranged for people to bring out the medicine packets prepared by Yang Chan and the others, as well as Lü Le, who had sorted out the February Red, and the inspectors.

Following this process, they soon confirmed that there were no problems with the medicine packets prepared by the others. Xu Gaocen personally inspected them. Then he had Lü Le and the medicine inspectors report back, confirming whether any problems had occurred with the medicinal ingredients along the way.

Finally, he questioned the people nearby as well.

The investigation process was not complicated, and it was highly efficient, because all these people were in the Qinghan Prefecture pharmacy and did not require much time.

Yang Chan was soon cleared of suspicion. February Red and dianthus were both commonly used medicinal herbs. To ordinary people, there was not much difference between them, but Alchemist Assistants could easily distinguish them, because their scents were very different.

Therefore, once all three parties confirmed that there had been no problem, the suspicion on Yang Chan was cleared. Then the issue with the medicine packet had not occurred before the medicine was prepared, but after it had been prepared.

Someone had switched the medicinal ingredients after the medicine packet was completed, intending to have Xu Yuan die.

Trying to murder a wounded Qingyuan Sect member at a time like this meant the culprit was undoubtedly a mole. They might even commit further acts.

Such a person had to be found.

"Yang Chan, there is no problem with you, but this matter is not over. I will report it to the Sect Master, and the investigation will continue."

"Everyone in the pharmacy, listen carefully. From now on, whenever medicines are prepared, supervise one another. When preparing medicine for the wounded or decocting medicine, keep an extra eye out. If there is a problem on anyone's side, we will investigate it to the very end."

"This is my requirement of you as the person in charge of this pharmacy."

Xu Gaocen's expression turned stern. This was also one of the three fires a new official had to set upon taking office. There had been no problems before, so he had not cared much. But now that there were signs of trouble, it was the perfect time to stoke the flames.

At the same time, he was warning everyone, Zhao Qiyang included, so that they knew he was the one in charge of the pharmacy.

"Thank you, Pharmacist Xu."

Yang Chan clasped his fists in thanks. The suspicion on him had basically been cleared, and the investigation would continue to uncover the true culprit. It would also let Yang Chan see just who wanted to harm him.

He did have someone in mind, but there was no need for him to say anything. What Zhao Qiyang had done today would certainly arouse the suspicions of Xu Gaocen and the others, and they would definitely investigate him.

That was far better and more effective than investigating on his own.