Looks Older Than His Age

The Qingyuan Sect's recruitment of steward disciples came at a rather unusual time, yet countless people still rushed to take part. This was not only because of the Qingyuan Sect's reputation, but also because of the previous great drought. By remaining within the Qingyuan Sect, they could at least stay alive.

For most commoners, this was also an opportunity to rise.

When the Qingyuan Sect recruited steward disciples in Taiyu City, many people volunteered to sign up. Those who could stand out among them were at least exceptional in certain respects.

Some were strong, some had worked as blacksmiths, and some had worked in medicine shops. Such abilities also made it easier for them to take up steward duties.

At the same time, steward disciples in Taiyu City had to face dangerous assignments, such as gathering herbs near the Three Great Sects, patrol duties, intelligence-gathering missions, and so on.

Since the assignments carried danger, their rewards were naturally quite good. For example, steward disciples in the Qingyuan Sect on the mountain could basically never receive Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup as a reward, while in Taiyu City, they could receive a portion every half month.

Through this, these steward disciples also had a chance to comprehend Raging Bull Strength and become Formal Disciples of the Qingyuan Sect. This too was an opportunity to change their fate.

Under ordinary circumstances, they would never receive such an opportunity.

At this time, Yang Chan was leading Sun Qi Wu and several other pharmacist apprentices in brewing Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup in the spacious herb-drying yard. They brewed many pots, enough for at least a thousand bowls, all of them rewards for the steward disciples.

This was also what many steward disciples had been waiting for, so they had all come to collect it.

Yang Chan watched the heat from the side. Whenever it was too high or too low, he would offer a few reminders and have Sun Qi Wu and the other pharmacist apprentices control the fire.

While Yang Chan and the others brewed the soup, steward disciples gradually arrived at the herb-drying yard and waited in orderly lines, their gazes never leaving the medicinal fragrance drifting through the air.

Naturally, these people knew the benefits of Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup. Especially when it was prepared by a pharmacist, its effects were much better than anything they could mix themselves with their own money.

Thus, they all watched eagerly.

Once the Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup was ready, Yang Chan had Sun Qi Wu call the names. He himself sat to one side, reading the Medicine Scripture that had been brought over, looking utterly unconcerned.

"Li Erniu of Xihong Village!"

Sun Qi Wu began calling names. He held a roster in his hand and called them according to the list.

"I'm here, hehehe! Many thanks, Pharmacist!"

A dark-skinned man ran over and replied with a foolish grin.

"This is your Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup."

Sun Qi Wu took out a ladled bowl of Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup and handed it to Li Erniu.

"Haha, thank you, thank you!"

Li Erniu took it and hurriedly thanked him before drinking it all at once.

"Mm!!"

He drank too quickly and even let out a burp, then left with a silly grin.

"Song Jiang of Dagou Town!"

Sun Qi Wu was no longer surprised and continued calling the next person to receive Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup.

Yang Chan sat to one side. Whenever he grew bored, he would raise his head and glance at the steward disciples before returning to the Medicine Scripture in his hands.

One steward disciple after another stepped forward, and the process was quite fast. After several hundred people, Yang Chan had yet to hear a familiar voice.

A few figures did look somewhat similar, but their voices did not match. Even so, Yang Chan remembered their names.

Perhaps that Steward Qian had deliberately altered his voice when he spoke. That was not impossible.

For someone acting as a mole, it was only reasonable to estimate a few more of the methods their opponent might possess.

It was not until this person that Yang Chan's hand holding the Medicine Scripture moved slightly, and he casually turned the page.

"Qian Tu of Xibei Village!"

Sun Qi Wu continued calling out.

"I'm here, I'm here."

A man who appeared middle-aged answered honestly, extremely eager.

Yang Chan seemingly raised his head without thinking. When he saw the middle-aged man, his brows furrowed slightly.

"The sect even recruits steward disciples this old?"

Yang Chan asked doubtfully.

This man's appearance did not quite fit the identity of someone the Qingyuan Sect would recruit as a steward disciple. Judging by his looks, it would not be a problem to say he was thirty or forty.

"Pharmacist, you jest. This disciple is only eighteen this year. I just grew up a little too fast, so I look older."

Qian Tu replied with an awkward expression.

That honest look of his made him even more likable.

After glancing at him, Yang Chan did not continue paying attention. Instead, he looked back at the Medicine Scripture in his hands, as if his question had merely been casual.

"This is your Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup!"

Seeing that Yang Chan was no longer watching, Sun Qi Wu handed the ladled bowl of Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup to Qian Tu.

"Many thanks, Pharmacist!"

After hurriedly thanking him, Qian Tu drank it all in one go, then returned to the steward disciples with a satisfied expression.

Yang Chan continued reading the Medicine Scripture until the final steward disciple finished drinking the Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup.

"Senior Brother Yang, all the steward disciples have finished drinking."

After calling every steward disciple on the roster, Sun Qi Wu spoke.

"Mm. Everyone gets one bowl. Send the rest back."

Yang Chan nodded and replied.

As an Alchemist Assistant, these were all potential benefits. Steward disciples could drink one bowl every fifteen days, Formal Disciples one bowl every three days, while Alchemist Assistants could basically drink it every day, even two bowls a day.

After saying that, Yang Chan left directly.

He had already found the person he wanted to find, so there was naturally no need to waste any more time. Even after achieving his goal, there was no change in Yang Chan's expression. He returned to the Ding-character room as usual.

As usual, he examined the injured disciples who had been sent over, treated them, and prepared medicine. Only then did Yang Chan seek out Lu Zhenghai again.

"Elder Lu, this disciple has found the person meeting with Zhao Qiyang. It is Qian Tu of Xibei Village, a steward disciple who looks quite old."

Yang Chan did not know how this person had infiltrated the Qingyuan Sect's steward disciples, but as a steward of Lingyu Palace, having such ability was actually quite normal.

"Good. Understood."

Lu Zhenghai nodded. Then, noticing the confusion in Yang Chan's eyes, he continued, "The recruitment of steward disciples in Taiyu City uses bone-touch tests. Once external refinement reaches the Iron Bones realm, one can temper the bones and reduce one's bone age, making it impossible to discern one's true age from appearance."

"If Qian Tu has a problem, then he is certainly an External Refinement: Iron Bones expert. Such people possess sharper spiritual senses. If you stare at them for too long, you will definitely be discovered."

As Lu Zhenghai explained, he was also reminding Yang Chan that he needed to be even more careful around experts of this realm. Otherwise, he would not even know how he died.

"You need not concern yourself with this matter, nor should you tell anyone about it. Stay in Qinghan Prefecture and focus on treating the injured disciples and preparing medicine packets."

"I will handle it personally."

Lu Zhenghai continued, offering another reminder.

Because there would be major action on his side.

"This disciple understands. During this time, I will remain in the medicine shop and work in peace."

Yang Chan nodded. This was exactly what he wanted. He had never wished to remain involved; he only wanted to wait for the result.

Fighting and killing were far too dangerous. It was better to wait until everything had come to an end.