Old Fan

"Goodbye." Yue Wen turned and left after listening.

He almost forgot where he was, actually chatting with someone who wouldn't be breaking the law for killing for so long, it was completely unnecessary.

It's not like there aren't normal people in the world who can refine medicine.

"Stop!" Old Bai suddenly shouted from behind, "You think you can just come and go as you please, what do you think this place is!"

Yue Wen was startled by his sudden aura, paused for a moment, then said, "Isn't this a mental hospital? I'm not a patient, what can't I leave for?"

His steps to leave quickened, fearing he'd get infected if he stayed another second.

"Aren't you? Heh, neither am I!" Old Bai shook his head with emotion, "Back in the day, I was the most brilliant disciple of my generation at the Medicine King Academy. My master, Li Danyang, personally praised me, saying that the spiritual medicine refined by Little Bai absolutely cannot be eaten!"

"You call that praise?" Yue Wen was speechless, "And why are you telling me this?"

He naturally knew of the Medicine King Academy, one of the top Immortal Sects in the world, the strongest lineage of alchemists in the mortal realm. Any alchemist who came from the Medicine King Academy, even an outer disciple who had only audited for two or three years, could stand on their own after leaving.

Li Danyang was also a renowned master alchemist of the current era, having been famous for a hundred years.

So he was Old Bai's master?

"I was unconvinced. I studied medical texts diligently since childhood, risked my life venturing into desolate areas to find spiritual plants, and I believe my medical theories are flawless! The spiritual medicine I refine is definitely far superior to those mediocre individuals, so why can't it be eaten? To spite him, that very night, I personally... mixed the spiritual medicine I refined into my roommate's takeout."

"If you were a normal person, you should have eaten it yourself!" Yue Wen's forehead was covered in dark lines.

"After my roommate ate it, his body became lighter, his vital energy flowed smoothly, and his aptitude improved by several levels. From then on, his cultivation became twice as effective with half the effort!" Old Bai continued, "When I presented my results to the elders in the academy, they became jealous. I was sent back to my hometown and locked up in this mental hospital!"

"Jealous?" Yue Wen looked suspicious, unsure if his story was true. "The Medicine King Academy has always had a good reputation. Master Li Danyang often mentors newcomers, and I've never heard of any industry corruption. Do you have any evidence for what you're saying?"

"Of course, I do!" Old Bai pointed to his front left, in the direction his gaze was cast, "My roommate is right here, you can ask him yourself."

Yue Wen looked in that direction, but it was empty.

Actually, he didn't need to look. The room was small, and if there were a third person, he would have noticed long ago.

It was just that Old Bai's serious expression was too convincing.

"See," Old Bai nodded after a moment of silence, as if he had heard something. "Those mediocre alchemists can collude with them, but geniuses like me will only make them wary. Over the years, I've had my roommate try my new medicines. Look how well he is doing now."

Yue Wen looked again, still empty.

After a while, he turned back and said, "Brother, you're completely insane, not even a little bit."

"Although I was framed and admitted, I haven't given up here," Old Bai continued.

Yue Wen shook his head, "It wasn't framing."

"The dean and doctors here discovered my incredible alchemy skills, so they gave me a lot of authority, allowing me to refine and sell medicine in the infirmary. I shared a lot of the profits with them, and they provided me with convenience," Old Bai said with a sinister smile. "Taking advantage of this opportunity, I'm still researching my own unique spiritual medicines. And this ultimate Blazing Flame Powder is one of the secret formulas I've developed."

"As long as someone can successfully refine their Qi and Blood using my ultimate Blazing Flame Powder, it will prove my achievements. Those mediocre alchemists in the Medicine King Academy will also know how incompetent they are!"

As he spoke, he became impassioned, clenching his hand in the empty space in front of him.

"Our names will surely shake the entire alchemy world!"

"..." Yue Wen looked at him gazing affectionately at the air in front of him and gave an awkward smile, "Then I won't disturb you."

"If you're willing to use my Blazing Flame Powder to break through, I can give you a discount!" Old Bai quickly said, "Three taels of Blazing Flame Powder, only fifty-two thousand."

"So the non-discounted price is fifty thousand!" Yue Wen covered his forehead and shook his head, "I really don't have time to mess around with you."

He felt he had to leave. Talking to this person for too long seemed to be exhausting his brain.

"Fifty-two thousand, that includes the price of this!" Old Bai suddenly pulled out a plastic box containing five sandwich cookies, each with two layers of white outer pastry and a black filling in the middle.

"What's this?" Yue Wen asked curiously, "Rilakkuma?"

"Traditional Qi recovery pills and blood recovery pills are separate; one restores true qi, the other heals injuries, and taking them together can cause conflicts," Old Bai explained. "And this Qi and Blood Integrated Pill that I exclusively developed integrates recovery and healing. There is blood in the qi, and qi in the blood. Eating one during an intense battle will instantly restore you to full health and mana, allowing you to regain your vigor in an instant, your yang energy soaring, and making your enemies call you daddy on the spot!"

"This isn't a pill you're making," Yue Wen looked at it and said, "We usually call these cookies."

"You can dislike it, but please don't insult it!" Old Bai said sternly, "This box of Qi and Blood Pills is priced at twenty thousand, and now I'm going to give it to you for free."

"For free?" Yue Wen caught the keyword.

"That's right," Old Bai smiled confidently. "Just take it back and eat it, and experience its effects. When you realize how powerful the pills I refined are, you'll naturally change your mind. When you come back to buy the Blazing Flame Powder, you can pay me the fifty-two thousand then."

"Although, but..." Yue Wen accepted the box of "Qi and Blood Integrated Pills" and looked up, "This isn't a discount at all, not even a penny off, hey."

"Heh, old friend," Old Bai looked at the air in front of him. "I have a premonition that perhaps our hope of leaving here lies with this talented young man."

"You should stay here a while longer," Yue Wen waved his hand. "Remember to take your medicine on time."

"Hoo—"

Yue Wen only let out a long sigh of relief when he got into the car back home.

Talking to this Old Bai was truly exhausting; he felt like his cerebral cortex was being stepped on and pulled.

However, thinking about it carefully, although he didn't get the satisfactory Blazing Flame Powder this trip, he got a box of Qi and Blood Cookies without spending a penny, so it was somewhat of a gain.

It's just that he needed to carefully inspect this thing to see if it was actually edible.

He wasn't in a hurry for the Blazing Flame Powder anyway; he was just here to check the quality this time. Even if it passed, he would still need some time to gather enough money to pay.

So it wasn't too disappointing.

Besides, this trip couldn't strictly be called a failure. Old Bai's Blazing Flame Powder was indeed extremely potent in terms of effect, just a bit too strangely potent, which made me hesitant. But since he was so confident he could impress me with his alchemy skills, he must have his reasons.

I'll try these Qi and Blood biscuits later and then consider whether to use his Blazing Flame Powder.

The Qi Replenishing Pill and Blood Replenishing Pill were very common pills, but Yue Wen hadn't bought any before, as these expensive recovery pills were generally only used by those who ventured into the wilderness. When active in the city, any injuries could be treated directly at the hospital.

The car hadn't driven far before he received a message from "Old Bai" on Cultivation Chat.

["Old Bai": Eat the Qi and Blood Integrated Pill with milk, twist, lick, and dunk for the best taste.]

You're still saying this isn't a biscuit?!

Yue Wen couldn't help but suspect. What if this jerk really tried to trick him with a box of sandwich cookies? Although a normal person would never do such a thing, he couldn't be defined as a normal person from any angle.

Even though he thought this, Yue Wen's reply remained polite.

["Enthusiastic Netizen 00772": Thank you, Apothecary Bai.]

This Enthusiastic Netizen was Yue Wen's ID on Cultivation Chat. He hadn't revealed his real information, and to avoid repetition, a string of numbers was added as a suffix.

["Old Bai": I'm not Apothecary Bai, he's busy refining pills. I'm his roommate. I didn't introduce myself earlier, you can call me Old Fan.]