Charging on Credit

Arriving at the Alchemist Guild, Long Chen headed straight for Master Yun Qi's alchemy room. However, just as he entered the inner courtyard, he was stopped.

The Alchemist Guild was divided into an inner and outer courtyard. The outer courtyard was open to the public and served auxiliary functions, including the assessment of alchemist qualifications.

The inner courtyard, however, was where the Alchemist Guild conducted its internal affairs. The last time Long Chen had entered the inner courtyard for a test, Master Yun Qi had personally led him in, so there had been no obstruction.

"Inner courtyard of the guild, unauthorized personnel are not allowed."

The person guarding the gate was a young man who looked about the same age as Long Chen. He was wearing the uniform of a Medicine Boy and looked at Long Chen with an arrogant expression.

Long Chen smiled faintly, then flashed his identification badge. Amidst the Medicine Boy's stunned expression, he entered the inner courtyard.

Seeing the Medicine Boy's arrogant expression instantly turn to shock, Long Chen couldn't help but feel a little smug.

It seemed he had been suppressed for too long. Now that he was finally showing some progress, he was starting to indulge in petty desires. However, he secretly warned himself that he didn't have time to be pleased with such trivial matters right now.

As soon as he entered the inner courtyard, Long Chen couldn't help but slap his forehead. He had been too busy feeling smug and had forgotten to ask Master Yun Qi if he was actually in the inner courtyard. What if he wasn't here? Wouldn't that be a wasted trip?

Just as he was regretting it, a young girl walked past him. Without thinking, Long Chen stopped her and asked, "Miss, could you please tell me where Master Yun Qi is?"

The young girl had been walking with her head down and was suddenly stopped. Her expression turned displeased. She looked up and saw a slender young man looking at her. She said coldly, "What do you want with Master Yun Qi?"

Long Chen was slightly taken aback. The young girl was very beautiful. Although she couldn't compare to Chu Yao or Meng Qi, she could still be considered a rare beauty.

However, despite her good looks, the way she looked at people was rather unpleasant, as if she thought everyone was up to no good. A hint of unconcealed arrogance flickered in her eyes.

"I just want to know Master Yun Qi's whereabouts. Please, miss, inform me," Long Chen asked gently, though he felt displeased.

"Who are you? Why do you want to see Master Yun Qi?" the woman asked, looking at Long Chen warily.

Being asked irrelevant questions for the second time, Long Chen shook his head and ignored the woman, walking straight ahead to see if he could find someone else to ask.

"Hey, I'm talking to you! Why are you so rude?" Seeing that Long Chen hadn't answered her questions, the woman couldn't help but scold him angrily.

Long Chen had only taken a few steps when he turned back to look at the woman and said, "You're here to see a doctor, aren't you?"

"What?" The woman was stunned.

"If you have a problem with your brain, don't run around."

Long Chen snorted coldly and was about to leave when a strong gust of wind suddenly attacked, heading straight for his back. At the same time, an angry shout came.

"Kid, you're asking for death!"

Long Chen was secretly startled. The woman, despite her slender build, unleashed a palm strike that whistled through the air, making it difficult for him to breathe. He hadn't expected her to be a Qi Gathering Peak expert.

Moreover, her palm was imbued with extremely powerful energy. Currently, Long Chen's spiritual energy was hidden within his Wind Mansion Star, making him appear like a frail scholar.

Even an ordinary Qi Gathering realm expert would be severely injured by that palm strike. If it were an ordinary person, they might even be killed. To attack so ruthlessly without any apparent reason was astonishing.

"Scram."

Long Chen was already in a foul mood. Seeing the woman's sudden vicious attack, he could no longer suppress his anger and kicked out.

Bang!

Before the woman's palm could land on Long Chen, his foot struck her lower abdomen, sending her flying.

Crash!

The woman flew over twenty feet before crashing into a rack where medicinal herbs were being dried. The twenty-foot-tall rack toppled over, and the herbs cascaded down like a waterfall, burying the woman.

Boom!

With an explosive sound, herbs scattered everywhere. The woman burst out from the pile of herbs, her hair disheveled and covered in fine medicinal powder, looking extremely disheveled.

"I'll kill you!"

Her eyes were filled with rage. With a roar, her aura erupted. She condensed her palms, and a golden ripple appeared in her palm as she lunged at Long Chen.

Looking at the woman who had become like a shrew, Long Chen cursed his bad luck inwardly. He hadn't consulted his fortune today, so why did he have to encounter a lunatic?

This palm strike clearly used a battle skill, and its power was so strong that it was obviously intended to take his life. Long Chen's expression turned cold.

He possessed the soul of a Pill Emperor and also had some rudimentary combat experience. However, "rudimentary" was relative to a Pill Emperor.

The opponents Long Chen faced were merely small fry, and this rudimentary experience was no different from divine skills to him. Dealing with them was a piece of cake.

Long Chen's previous kick hadn't used any spiritual energy, which was why the woman hadn't been injured. Yet, instead of showing gratitude, she was trying to kill him.

Long Chen's eyes turned cold, and a killing intent slowly gathered. Looking at the woman lunging at him, although he wouldn't kill her, if she dared to attack, Long Chen wouldn't mind giving her a memory she would never forget.

"Stop!"

Suddenly, a cold shout echoed. The frenzied woman froze as if she had been acupunctured, not daring to move.

"Master!"

The woman quickly said respectfully.

The person who arrived was none other than Master Yun Qi. Long Chen was also shocked. No way, this crazy woman is his disciple?

Master Yun Qi shook his head. "I've said it before, I, Yun Qi, will never take a disciple in my life. It's useless for you to linger here."

"Master, I am a weak woman who traveled thousands of miles just to learn Pill Skills from you. I've been at the guild for three months. Isn't my sincerity enough?" the woman said somewhat aggrievedly.

"Go back where you came from," Master Yun Qi said indifferently, unmoved.

"No, I won't leave. Until you accept me as your disciple, I will stay here every day until you do," the woman said stubbornly.

"Whatever you wish, but remember, no violence is allowed in my guild. If there's a next time, I will expel you," Master Yun Qi said coldly.

After speaking, he turned to Long Chen and said, "Follow me."

Long Chen was momentarily stunned. This crazy woman actually wanted to learn alchemy from Master Yun Qi, but he remained unmoved.

Looking at the woman's venomous gaze, Long Chen suddenly understood. This woman must have mistakenly believed he was also a disciple of Master Yun Qi, which was why she questioned him so aggressively.

He glanced at the woman and shook his head. Who would dare to take a disciple like that? He slowly followed Master Yun Qi into a secluded chamber in the inner courtyard.

Upon entering the chamber, Long Chen quickly bowed and said, "I apologize, Master. I was reckless today."

Master Yun Qi smiled faintly. "It's alright, this matter is not your fault. I saw the entire incident.

However, you truly shocked me. To be able to kick a Qi Gathering Ninth Level expert away without using any spiritual energy at all.

Moreover, I could tell you didn't even use half your strength, otherwise that girl would have been seriously injured. Kid, you're hiding quite a lot."

Long Chen's heart leaped. It seemed he had underestimated Master Yun Qi. As the saying goes, old foxes are cunning. He didn't know how to respond for a moment.

"Child, everyone has their secrets, and that's fine. However, one cannot divide their focus. Otherwise, it would be a waste of your excellent talent, which would be a true pity," Master Yun Qi said meaningfully.

Long Chen's heart stirred. Master Yun Qi was hinting at something, hoping he would focus solely on cultivating the Pill Dao.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. Long Chen understands."

Regardless, Master Yun Qi had good intentions. Whether he heeded the advice or not, he appreciated the gesture.

"I heard that yesterday, you killed a Half-step Blood Condensation expert with three strikes. Is this true?" Master Yun Qi asked.

"Yes, that is true," Long Chen could only nod. At the same time, he felt a bit puzzled. The area was cordoned off by soldiers at the time; logically, no one else should have known about it.

As if sensing Long Chen's confusion, Master Yun Qi smiled. "Yesterday, someone from the Royal Family sounded me out, asking if the guild had a pharmacist named Long Chen. I replied that we did, and I mentioned you were my student. After that, they stopped inquiring."

Long Chen was stunned. Master Yun Qi, who had always refused to accept him as a disciple, had actually acknowledged him at this crucial moment. He couldn't help but feel touched. "Thank you, Master."

"Heh heh, it's really nothing. This signboard of mine still has some value, so I might as well make use of it. Besides, a student and a disciple are not the same thing," Master Yun Qi said with a faint smile.

Although it was a simple favor for Master Yun Qi, for Long Chen, it was a monumental help.

With Master Yun Qi as his backer, he now had a significant trump card, and his confidence grew considerably.

"Child, I've also learned a bit about your situation. The guild has its rules, and we cannot interfere in worldly disputes. This is all I can do to help you," Master Yun Qi sighed.

"Master, you've already done so much for me. I'm already immensely grateful. Leave the matters of the secular world to me, a mere mortal," Long Chen said with a smile.

Now that he had Master Yun Qi's reputation to rely on, his actions would be much smoother, and the safety of Marquis Zhenyuan's Mansion had also significantly improved.

Even though the Alchemist Guild would not intervene in worldly conflicts, as long as Long Chen did not truly get involved, he would still be protected by the Alchemist Guild.

When Long Chen gained enough strength to no longer need the Alchemist Guild's protection, he would be able to unravel those mysteries himself.

Although he had some clues now, he didn't dare to act recklessly. Maintaining the current situation was the best choice.

"What brings you here this time?" Master Yun Qi asked.

Long Chen finally remembered his main purpose. "It's like this, Master. I wish to borrow some medicinal ingredients from the guild on credit, and I'll return them after I refine some pills."

It was common for alchemists to obtain medicinal ingredients from the guild on credit, repaying them later with pills. This was a mutually beneficial arrangement for both the alchemists and the guild.

And since Long Chen possessed the Alchemist Guild's identification token, he enjoyed discounts on medicinal ingredients and also had the obligation to sell his refined pills to the guild first. A contract was signed by both parties when the token was issued.

"You can refine pills now?" Master Yun Qi asked with some surprise.

"I would also like to ask for your guidance, Master," Long Chen said with a slight smile, but his smile was filled with confidence.