Pitiful People

Xiao Yan left aboard a Thick-Winged Bird, venturing deep into the Tagor Desert in search of his opportunity.

Meanwhile, Su Heng remained in Black Rock City, dealing with the troubles that kept coming one after another.

"Qing Lin... the pills in the green jade bottle on the left are gifts in return for the Chen Family. The Third-grade Pills in the small red bottle in the middle are for the Helian Clan. The pills in the white porcelain bottle on the right are Wound-Recovery Pills refined for the Li Family."

"When you go deliver them later, make absolutely sure you don't mix them up."

"Once this batch is sent out, we'll both be free... This is too hard!!! So annoying!"

Looking at the mess of a cottage piled high with all sorts of gifts, Su Heng let out a pained howl from the depths of his soul.

Not long after the Alchemist examination ended, news that the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild had produced two genius Alchemists swiftly spread through every street and alley.

The people coming to offer gifts and request medicine had nearly trampled down the threshold of Su Heng's residence.

At first, Su Heng could still maintain his manners and respond to them one by one. But after more than ten days, there were simply too many visitors, tormenting him until he was utterly overwhelmed. In the end, he could only claim illness, shut his doors, and turn away guests.

Today's pills were the last return gifts that needed to be sent out. Seeing little Qing Lin, who had grown visibly thinner from overwork, Su Heng's heart ached terribly.

Socializing had always been the most irritating thing. Back in his previous life on Blue Star, Su Heng had hated such activities. Now that he was on the Dou Qi Continent, he still hated them just as much, except Qing Lin had been dragged into it as well.

"We're finally almost done, Brother Su Heng. How about we go back to Stone Desert City and hide for a while?"

A lifeless expression hung on Qing Lin's delicate, beautiful oval face. These past ten-odd days of rushing about had undoubtedly been the most frustrating period of her life.

Although the warmth and respect of strangers gave Qing Lin a sense of happiness at being valued, when that enthusiasm became too intense, she truly could not bear it.

"Yeah, you're right. Once I buy some Dou Techniques in the Imperial Capital this time, we'll return to Stone Desert City. Black Rock City is really impossible to stay in. I don't even dare leave the house now."

The moment Su Heng stepped outside, the locals of Black Rock City would recognize him and immediately surround him.

Among them were those seeking pills, those trying to curry favor and make connections, and beautiful women throwing themselves at him like starving tigers. Once they hugged Su Heng, they simply refused to let go.

Once, Su Heng had been trapped outside by several beauties. Qing Lin's little face turned bright red from panic, and she screamed so loudly that she nearly summoned the Rock-Scaled Rattlesnake to clear the area.

Fortunately, Su Heng reacted quickly and escaped the crowd, avoiding a catastrophe.

Only then did Su Heng gain an entirely new understanding of just how exalted an Alchemist's status was.

Of course, these past ten-odd days had not been entirely without benefits. After consuming the Companion Amethyst Source Xiao Yan had given him, Su Heng had fortunately caught hold of a faint cluster of purple flame amid that violent purple fire-attributed energy.

Though this wisp of Purple Flame was as weak as a candle flickering in a gale, Su Heng still successfully drew it into the Dou Qi Whirlpool within his body.

With his experience nurturing Profound Flame, the cultivation of Purple Flame had gone extremely smoothly over the past ten-odd days. Su Heng could now control two Six-tier Beast Flames at once.

With the support of two Beast Flames at the Dou Emperor level, Su Heng's speed of absorbing the Dou Qi between heaven and earth increased once more. Although he had not cultivated at all these past ten-odd days, he had still advanced to a Four-Star Dou Master.

For Su Heng now, if he could obtain a Mid-Profound Tier or High-Profound Tier fire-controlling Dou Technique, everything would truly be perfect.

Watching Qing Lin leave the small courtyard, Su Heng finally let out a long breath. The damned socializing that had lasted more than ten days had finally come to an end.

Unfortunately, heaven did not grant his wish. Not long after Qing Lin left, Lin Fei rushed in through the gate in a frantic hurry. Before Su Heng could say anything, she grabbed him and hurriedly dragged him toward the door.

"Senior Sister, what's wrong? Slow down and tell me!"

Su Heng was completely baffled by Lin Fei's inexplicable behavior. What was she trying to pull?

"Get out right now and hide at my house. Pill King Gu He's disciple has come to the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild and specifically asked for you and Xiao Yan. I can tell that this guy has bad intentions. He's here to cause trouble!"

Without looking back, Lin Fei pulled Su Heng toward a carriage by the gate. Two familiar guards stood beside it—the same two from when Lin Fei had treated everyone at Chengyue Tower.

Before Su Heng could get into the carriage, a cold voice carrying a hint of mockery suddenly sounded from beside him.

"Su Heng, I am Liu Ling. I heard that you are Black Rock City's Alchemy genius, so I have come to seek your guidance."

Su Heng turned toward the voice and saw several people strolling leisurely toward them.

The man in front wore a silver-white Alchemist robe. He was tall and straight, seemingly around twenty years old, with a handsome face as sharply sculpted as if by a blade, carrying a trace of feminine softness.

Though his temperament was somewhat feminine, a gentle smile rested on his face, making him seem unlike a malicious person.

Of course, the most eye-catching thing was the Alchemist badge on his chest. Three silver ripples reflected a dazzling light beneath the sun.

Su Heng did not hold much prejudice against Liu Ling. More accurately, in Su Heng's impression, both Gu He and his disciple counted as good people.

There were two kinds of people most worthy of respect in this world. One was someone who repaid kindness, and the other was someone who could accept defeat. Gu He and his disciple belonged to the latter.

As long as they were defeated fairly and openly, they would never make underhanded moves behind the scenes. They would admit defeat openly and leave. Su Heng deeply admired that.

"Brother Liu, I have long heard that Pill King Gu He is the foremost Alchemist of the Jia Ma Empire. As his personal disciple, you are already a Third-grade Alchemist. Why trouble yourself by coming to make things difficult for me?"

"Brother Su, there is no need for such courtesy. I heard that during the Alchemist Apprentice examination, you and Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family in Wu Tan City fought evenly, and that you even defeated him. That is why I came to seek guidance in your alchemy. I hope you will not refuse."

When he mentioned Xiao Yan's name, Liu Ling's handsome face visibly twitched, and a trace of resentment entered his voice.

Seeing Liu Ling's expression, Su Heng roughly guessed why this fellow had appeared here.

Su Heng could not help sighing inwardly. It seemed that his arrival in the Dou Qi Continent had still caused quite a substantial butterfly effect.

Originally, no one had watched the examination Xiao Yan took at the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild, and the Second-grade Alchemist examination had also been conducted behind closed doors.

However, Su Heng's appearance made Master Otto want to show off before Black Rock City's nobles and powerhouses, so many invited guests had come to observe on the day of the examination.

Furthermore, Frank and Otto had altered the closed Second-grade Alchemist examination into a public alchemy session, allowing many guests to witness Xiao Yan's alchemy ability.

News that Black Rock City had produced two seventeen-year-old genius Alchemists soon swept explosively through the cities surrounding Black Rock City.

Liu Ling, who had followed his master Gu He to the desert border, naturally received the news as well.

After confirming that this Xiao Yan was Nalan Yanran's fiancé, the jealous fire in Liu Ling's heart caused him to completely lose his reason.

He had been hopelessly in love with Nalan Yanran for many years. Ever since Nalan Yanran broke off the engagement, Liu Ling had remained at her side, hoping to take advantage of the opening.

He had originally believed that Xiao Yan, whose engagement had been broken and who had made the Three-Year Pact, was a complete and utter waste. Yet Xiao Yan had unexpectedly become an Alchemist.

And he was even the youngest Second-grade Alchemist Black Rock City had seen in nearly a hundred years.

This immense pressure made Liu Ling start imagining things. He believed Xiao Yan had become useless in the past because of a mutation in an Alchemist's soul.

Since Xiao Yan had now become a Second-grade Alchemist, that meant he had recovered his cultivation talent.

Xiao Yan, who had recovered his cultivation talent, was undoubtedly a genius cultivator. At the same time, he was a genius Alchemist. Under such circumstances, it was hardly impossible for the Nalan Clan to accept Xiao Yan again.

This intense self-suggestion nearly drove Liu Ling to collapse. He could neither eat nor sleep, spending night after night awake.

Gu He's group had originally come to the desert border to seize Heavenly Flames from the Snake-People Tribe, while Liu Ling had been left in the rear to handle support.

But after Gu He and the others departed, Liu Ling immediately cast aside his teacher's arrangements and rushed nonstop to Black Rock City.

Unfortunately, he had still arrived several days too late. Xiao Yan had already ventured deep into the Tagor Desert and vanished without a trace.

Having missed his chance to fight his "love rival," Liu Ling was furious. With the mindset of having come all this way anyway, he had actually lost his mind and decided to challenge Su Heng, the one who had defeated Xiao Yan.

Su Heng had defeated Xiao Yan, so if Liu Ling defeated Su Heng, would that not mean Liu Ling was stronger than Xiao Yan?

Men trapped in simp-like love always developed all sorts of strange delusions. Su Heng was thoroughly speechless at Liu Ling's behavior.

You want to use me as a foil for yourself? You're crazy. I'm not.

Su Heng gave Liu Ling several utterly speechless looks. The man before him was quite handsome, and in Su Heng's impression, his character was above average. He was more than worthy of Nalan Yanran, that regretful woman.

Su Heng even felt that Nalan Yanran marrying Liu Ling would be reaching above her station.

Su Heng helplessly shook his head. Looking at this simp trapped in false love, he let out a long sigh and said,

"Brother Liu, I know you have secretly loved Miss Nalan Yanran of the Nalan Clan for many years. Brother Xiao Yan is Nalan Yanran's fiancé, and you want to defeat him to prove your own excellence. I can understand that."

"But Brother Xiao Yan is not here, so you've turned your attention to me, the one who defeated him?"

"You want to use me as a foil for yourself? What makes you think I would cooperate with you?"

"If word of this gets out, maybe you can afford the humiliation, but I cannot!"

"You came to Black Rock City and barged onto my doorstep just to satisfy your own selfish desires. You're crazy, but I'm not!"

Every word Su Heng spoke struck straight at Liu Ling's heart. Liu Ling's handsome face instantly turned bright red.

Though Liu Ling did not know how Su Heng knew these things, every sentence struck directly at his sore spots, leaving him so embarrassed that he wished he could disappear into the ground.

If it had been someone else, they might have drawn their blade and started fighting. But Liu Ling was Gu He's disciple, and when he was in the wrong, he would admit it.

Thus, although Liu Ling was overwhelmed with shame, he did not erupt. Instead, he fell silent.

After hearing Su Heng's words, Lin Fei finally could not hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. From the moment Liu Ling had come to the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild, she had felt something was off. She had not expected it to be because of this.

"Oh, so that's why you seemed to have bad intentions. It was all for this!"

"Let me tell you, if a woman likes you, she'll like whatever you do. If she doesn't like you, even if you pluck the stars from the sky and give them to her, she'll complain they aren't bright enough!"

"Brother, you should just give up. With the things you're doing now, if I were that Nalan Yanran, even giving you another glance would mean I had no eyes."

Su Heng and Lin Fei took turns mocking Liu Ling, making everyone around them find him rather ridiculous. Even the servants who had accompanied Liu Ling were suppressing their laughter and did not dare make a sound.

"I... I... you..."

Liu Ling was rendered speechless by their retorts, shame flooding him. His handsome face looked like a red-hot branding iron, steaming with heat. Who knew whether Dou Qi had rushed to his head or whether he had held back his blood and anger too long.

"Brother Liu, listen to my advice. Nine and a half out of ten members of the Nalan Clan are snobs. They are not worth someone like you giving them your sincere heart. Nalan Yanran marrying you would be reaching above her station."

"There are plenty of fish in the sea. Why obsess over one flower?"

At Su Heng's words, Liu Ling, who had been filled with shame a moment ago, suddenly flew into a rage. He roared,

"Do not slander Yanran!"

"You can mock me, Su, but if you slander Yanran, I won't let this go!"

"I demand that you apologize immediately! Apologize to me in front of everyone!"

At that moment, Liu Ling was like a crazed beast, doing everything he could to defend a woman who was not worth it at all. Su Heng felt a little pity for him, but an endless contempt rose within him at once.

Liu Ling's head was truly hollow enough to echo when struck. He was completely hopeless.

Naturally, Su Heng had no pleasant expression for such a person. He rolled his eyes at Liu Ling and said coldly,

"I stated nothing but facts. What is there to apologize for? If you want to use force, I wouldn't mind setting your bones straight."

Liu Ling was only a Five-Star Dou Master. If they fought, Su Heng, enhanced by two Beast Flames, would be certain to win. Not to mention this was his territory, and a Third-tier Magical Beast Rock-Scaled Rattlesnake lived in his own courtyard.

If the two sides truly fought, Liu Ling would either be carried away severely injured or lose his life outright.

"Su Heng, you!"

Liu Ling had clearly been truly enraged. Pale golden Dou Qi erupted around his body. At that moment, Liu Ling looked like a mad demon, as if he might suddenly lash out and hurt someone at any time.

Of course, Su Heng did not indulge him either. Empowered by Profound Flame and Purple Flame, surging dark purple Dou Qi likewise wrapped around his body.

Su Heng stood glaring at him, his expression clearly saying that if Liu Ling dared attack, he dared beat him to death.

At the same time, the Rock-Scaled Rattlesnake sunning itself in the courtyard seemed to sense Liu Ling's hostility. It shot out abruptly, its body rapidly expanding as its enormous tail crashed down on Liu Ling like Mount Tai bearing down from above.

"Little Gold, don't!"

Had Su Heng not stopped it in time, Liu Ling, a Third-grade Alchemist, would likely have been reduced to a lump of minced flesh.

Staring at the Third-tier Magical Beast before him, as huge as a small mountain, Liu Ling, who had narrowly escaped death, was so frightened that his soul seemed to return to his body. His gaze became incomparably clear. After taking a walk through the gates of hell, he had finally sobered up.

"Su Heng, I formally challenge you to a contest of alchemy!" Liu Ling said through gritted teeth, his face dark as he stared fixedly at Su Heng.

"I refuse! Why should I agree just because you challenge me? I'm busy. I don't have time to waste on you!"

Liu Ling had nearly been smashed into minced meat, yet he was still thinking of restoring Nalan Yanran's honor. If Su Heng's impression of him from his previous life had not been fairly positive, Su Heng would have wanted Little Gold to send him on his way right there.

"I'll use this as the wager. If you win, it will be yours. If you lose, I want you to go to the Imperial Capital and apologize to Yanran and the Nalan Clan in front of everyone."

Liu Ling's eyes were bloodshot as he took out a scroll of Dou Technique from his Storage Ring, raised it high, and roared himself hoarse.

"This is the High-Profound Tier fire-controlling Dou Technique personally passed down to me by my master Gu He: Thousand Flames Art!"

"It can allow an Alchemist to control flames with greater mastery and even condense flames into forms. Is such a wager enough?"

If it had been any other wager, Su Heng might truly have refused without a second thought. He had no desire to indulge this boring simp's nonsense, but a High-Profound Tier fire-controlling Dou Technique?

Actually, if he had nothing better to do, spending a little time messing around once in a while was not impossible.