Pill Apprentice's Obstruction

After that, seeing Gu Mingyue's emotions churn restlessly, Yang Chen had her leave first while he headed alone to Second Master Yang's place.

Unlike last time, when Second Master Yang had held a lecture and opened his courtyard to the public, his status was normally too exalted for ordinary members of the Yang Lineage to come here. Even if they did, they would not be allowed inside. Just like Yang Chen now—he wished to enter the courtyard to see Second Master Yang, yet the Pill Apprentice outside stopped him.

Yang Chen did have memories of this Pill Apprentice. This Pill Apprentice was Second Master Yang's favored attendant, supposedly picked up by Second Master Yang from outside. Because his talent for Pill Refining was decent, Second Master Yang had appointed him as an alchemist's assistant. Usually, he guarded the gate for Second Master Yang, screening all idle outsiders away.

And Yang Chen, by sheer coincidence, had been deemed one of those "idle outsiders" by the Pill Apprentice.

The Pill Apprentice appeared lofty and arrogant, utterly disregarding Yang Chen. Guarding the entrance to the courtyard, he lazily yawned. "Yang Chen, you say you can come and go from Second Master's courtyard whenever you please? Who do you think you are? Why don't you piss in a puddle and take a good look at what sort of thing you are? Your ugly reputation has spread to the ears of other lineages. What status does Second Master have, and what status do you have?"

Yang Chen gave the Pill Apprentice a rough once-over. He looked fourteen or fifteen, with rosy cheeks and white teeth. It was true enough that he had a face people would find appealing.

Searching through his memories, Yang Chen indeed unearthed quite a few memories from before.

In the past, "Yang Chen" had often come here to refine pills with Second Master Yang. But whenever this Pill Apprentice was present, he would invariably think of every possible way to make things difficult for "Yang Chen." The Yang Chen of that time had been timid by nature; when bullied, he did not dare say much. Over time, the Pill Apprentice had naturally begun treating Yang Chen as a soft persimmon to squeeze.

Recalling those memories, Yang Chen laughed soundlessly. It seemed Second Master Yang, burdened with countless affairs, had not mentioned him to the Pill Apprentice. Otherwise, even if this Pill Apprentice had ten times the courage, how would he dare look down on others with dog eyes?

With his hands clasped behind his back, Yang Chen said unhurriedly, "Second Master personally told me that I could come here whenever I wished from now on."

As he spoke, he deliberately raised his voice a little.

He guessed that Second Master Yang was most likely refining pills in the inner room. Upon hearing him, he would naturally come out. As for this Pill Apprentice, Yang Chen truly had no desire to waste more breath on him. If he did not need Second Master Yang's alchemy room, he might not have come here at all.

"Hahaha!" The Pill Apprentice burst into laughter without the slightest restraint. "Second Master personally told you? Then I'll say Second Master personally told me I'm his biological grandson. Would that be useful? Would that mean anything, Yang Chen? These lies only make you seem childish. You should know that in the entire Yang Lineage, apart from me and the Patriarch, no one can freely enter and leave Second Master's courtyard."

The Pill Apprentice looked at Yang Chen with his head held high, superiority spilling from his very bones. Being able to enter and leave Second Master Yang's courtyard at will was an honor.

"Xu San."

Suddenly, an aged voice rang out. Immediately afterward, a white-haired old man emerged from the room.

The moment the Pill Apprentice heard that voice, all his earlier superiority vanished without a trace. As though he had become another person, he hurriedly bowed and scraped. "Second Master, why have you come out? Was Yang Chen being too noisy and disturbing your cultivation? If so, I'll throw him out at once!"

Second Master Yang had initially remained as calm as ever, but upon hearing Xu San's words, his brow immediately furrowed and he snapped, "Xu San, you are becoming more and more outrageous!"

"Se... Second Master, what is going on?" The Pill Apprentice was dumbfounded. Thinking it was because of Yang Chen, he immediately said in a cold voice, "Yang Chen, why haven't you gotten lost?"

"Shut your mouth!"

Second Master Yang said with a frosty expression, "Xu San, Yang Chen is my honored guest!"

Xu San stood there blankly, as though unable to believe it. "Second Master, th... this is impossible!"

"Impudence." Second Master Yang spoke expressionlessly. "You dare question my words?"

He shook his head. This Xu San had truly gone too far.

What he needed was a Pill Apprentice, not someone who borrowed his tiger skin to swagger about. What were a Pill Apprentice's duties? To be perceptive, adaptable, and aware of his own station. Xu San had initially done these things quite well. He was smooth in his dealings, clever and quick-witted, and truly spared him much worry.

But recently, Xu San had become increasingly out of line. At the very least, Xu San had failed several times just now to understand what he meant, clearly no longer meeting his standards for a Pill Apprentice.

He had heard the commotion outside long ago, but had not come out immediately. He had also heard Xu San's conversation with Yang Chen. Seeing Xu San's dog-eyed contempt for others had angered him, but he had not taken it too seriously. After all, Xu San had worked under him for two or three years.

Moreover, it had indeed been his own responsibility not to instruct Xu San about Yang Chen, so he had not intended to bring the matter up. Yet Xu San had actually contradicted him again and again, infuriating Second Master Yang and drawing a sharp rebuke from him.

Once those scolding words came out, Xu San was completely stunned.

Yang Chen was actually Second Master Yang's honored guest?

How... how could that be possible? He knew better than anyone what Yang Chen was capable of and what sort of person he was. He had always been perceptive; whenever he encountered a hard bone to chew, he immediately changed his attitude.

"Yang Chen, come with me." Second Master Yang smiled. Then he turned to Xu San and said, "Xu San, remember this: whenever Yang Chen comes here in the future, let him through without exception. Do you understand?"

"Yes... Second Master." Xu San's heart jolted, but he still gritted his teeth and answered.

Yet his gaze toward Yang Chen was filled with venom, as though Yang Chen had stolen the treatment that should have belonged to him.

As Second Master Yang's Pill Apprentice, Xu San had indeed received much care from him. Second Master Yang was kind by nature and naturally would not mistreat a Pill Apprentice. At first, Xu San had been deeply grateful, but as time passed, he began to see himself as Second Master Yang's grandson in his old age.

He wanted all of Second Master Yang's affection and could not tolerate anyone else competing with him for favor. He believed that among the younger generation of the Yang Lineage, no one could possibly win Second Master Yang's favor and surpass him.

But now Yang Chen had appeared. At least from what he could see now, Second Master Yang valued him greatly.

Damn it. Xu San ground his teeth in his heart, and a seed of resentment toward Yang Chen was planted within him. At the very least, he would never allow a worthless cripple he had once bullied to climb over his head.

"Yang Chen, this was also my responsibility. I never told Xu San about you. So do not take this matter to heart. Though Xu San's words were somewhat unpleasant, his nature is not bad," Second Master Yang said gently.

How could Yang Chen dare act arrogantly? He hastily said, "Second Master, you jest. If you apologized to me, it would shorten my life!"

"You brat, you certainly know how to talk." The more Second Master Yang looked at Yang Chen, the more pleasing he found him. Walking ahead with his hands behind his back, he asked, "Speaking of which, after you returned home some days ago and used those materials to refine pills, how were the results?"

Yang Chen stroked his chin. Without much thought, he cupped his hands and said, "Second Master, these past days, Yang Chen has devoted himself to Pill Refining, with remarkable results. I was quite satisfied with the results of refining several kinds of pills. However, after refining for some time, I discovered that obstacles suddenly appeared everywhere. It seemed I had encountered some sort of bottleneck. This junior did not dare be careless, so I came to see you, Second Master."

Naturally, he had prepared those words in advance. With his alchemy level, how could he possibly need Second Master Yang to teach him?

"Haha, a bottleneck is a good thing. Tell me, what kinds of pills have you been refining?" Second Master Yang asked.

Yang Chen named several kinds of pills in succession.

Upon hearing them, Second Master Yang's brows shot up, and he said in shock, "If the pills you mentioned were truly refined, then your current alchemy level would be at least First-Rank Mid-Level. No wonder, no wonder. Yang Chen, do you know why you have encountered a bottleneck? Because if you take one more step forward, you will become a First-Rank High-Level Alchemist!"

"Second Master, is that truly so?" Yang Chen feigned surprise, though this had all been within his expectations.