Su Yuanshan Arrives

The atmosphere inside the Pill Pavilion had already become taut as drawn bows.

Watching one important figure after another being invited over to preside, the alchemists gradually relaxed even more. Things had come to this—let's see how Lin Fan could possibly clean up this mess.

After exchanging a few glances, they all wore arrogant expressions, brimming with confidence. Heads raised and hands behind their backs, they waited for all the witnesses to arrive before beginning the contest.

It was around three in the afternoon. It was not particularly late, and quite a few people had been invited by Lin Fan and the alchemists. Hearing about such a lively affair, many had already been curious about Lin Fan, the young golden guest elder who had come to the estate. Some had even secretly spread rumors that he was Su Qingwei's lover. Thus, many people set aside what they were doing and flocked toward the Pill Pavilion, calling friends and companions along the way, waiting to see Lin Fan make a complete fool of himself before slinking away from the Su Family in disgrace.

After hearing the servants' report, Su Yuanshan had originally planned to find time in the next few days to meet this young Bone Tempering Realm cultivator, Lin Fan. He had heard that Lin Fan had been staying in the Pill Pavilion until very late these past few days, so it did not seem appropriate for him to go there himself merely to meet him.

Who would have thought that Lin Fan would stir up such a huge matter all at once? He was challenging every senior alchemist in the Pill Pavilion by himself, and choosing the pills each of those alchemists was best at refining.

Su Yuanshan lightly tapped the table with his fingertips, his gaze darkening somewhat. An ordinary verbal dispute would have been one thing, but the matter had now become known throughout the estate, and it was bound to spread into town as well. The Su Family was so large, with several thousand people; there was no way to seal every mouth. If this was not handled properly, it would not only damage Lin Fan's reputation—the Su Family's dignity would be dragged down with it.

"Family Head, things are getting more and more heated over at the Pill Pavilion. Quite a few branch stewards and guest elders have gone over. If you do not go soon, I fear it will become impossible to contain," a servant at his side quietly reminded him.

"Come. Follow me to the Pill Pavilion and take a look. Bring me my weapon." Lin Fan was in the Bone Tempering Realm, and he also carried a Forging Grade 25 spear. Su Yuanshan could not afford to be careless. No matter how one looked at it, a normal person would not seem likely to make such a wager.

Su Yuanshan rose to his feet. Dressed in a brocade robe, he walked with steady steps and led several people straight toward the Pill Pavilion in the rear courtyard.

Meanwhile, inside the Pill Pavilion, the alchemists had already selected the pills they were each most skilled at refining. Each person chose three kinds. Excluding duplicates, the five alchemists of the Pill Pavilion came up with thirteen kinds of pills. For the other two duplicated pills, Lin Fan only needed to refine two batches. In the end, victory would be determined by the time each side required to refine each pill and the quality of the pills. The winner of each pill earned one point, and Lin Fan's total score would be compared against the alchemists' combined score. After all, Lin Fan was challenging all of the alchemists alone. Lin Fan had also agreed to these rules.

As for Wang Delu, he did not dare take part in this contest. If Su Qingwei saw it, he truly would not be able to wash himself clean even by jumping into the Yellow River. He could only stand to the side, pacing in frantic circles as he watched Lin Fan and the alchemists select and finalize the pill varieties. They sharpened their knives, eager for battle, waiting only for the contest to begin. Unlike Lin Fan's calm and composed expression, the several alchemists on the other side were all visibly excited. In their eyes, their side had victory in the bag. Half of the 1,000 taels—since Wang Delu was not participating, that was one less person to split it with. The five of them could each receive another 100 taels of silver every month from now on.

The courtyard outside the Pill Pavilion was already packed to the brim, a sea of moving figures. Under the corridors and along both sides of the steps stood other Su Family stewards, guest elders, and notable figures from the estate, whispering to one another as discussions rose and fell without end.

"Do you think Lin Fan is being far too arrogant? Which of these estate alchemists has not spent decades studying the Dao of alchemy?"

"Hmph. A young man gets a few opportunities and refines a few good batches of pills, then he no longer knows how high the heavens are or how deep the earth is. This time, he is afraid he will stumble headlong into a great setback."

"He truly thinks that because his martial cultivation is profound, he can look down on everyone and treat the world as though it were nothing." Some people were also seeing Lin Fan in person for the first time. Sensing the formidable Bone Tempering Realm aura faintly emanating from him, they spoke up.

"A wager of five hundred taels of silver—if he loses, will he be able to pay it? And it is five hundred taels every month from now on. That comes to six thousand taels a year."

The alchemists stood before the crowd, receiving everyone's attention. Their backs were ramrod straight, their faces full of certainty. In their eyes, victory was already within easy reach.

Yet Lin Fan seemed wholly unable to hear the gossip around him.

No matter how loudly the crowd clamored, no matter how many mocking, spectacle-seeking, or doubtful gazes fell upon him, his expression remained calm. Only occasionally did his eyes sweep lightly over the several complacent old alchemists opposite him.

Just as the commotion reached its peak.

"The Family Head has arrived!"

With that loud cry, the noisy courtyard was instantly as if doused with cold water. The clamor of discussion stopped abruptly. The crowd automatically parted to either side, opening up a path. Su Yuanshan slowly entered the large courtyard before the Pill Pavilion, his sharp gaze sweeping across the scene.

Su Yuanshan wore a dark-patterned brocade robe, and the heavy presence belonging to a Late Bone Tempering Realm cultivator radiated from him, pressing down over the entire scene like an invisible mountain. His sinews and bones had long been tempered to their limits. Beneath his flesh, every bone was like divine iron, faintly revealing a restrained, lustrous white glow. With the slightest exertion, several fine cracks spread across the bluestone tiles beneath his feet.

Everyone present bowed in salute. When the alchemists saw Su Yuanshan personally arrive, they were even more delighted. With the Family Head himself presiding as witness, Lin Fan would have no room to go back on his word in this wager, nor would they need to fear that he would later refuse to honor it.

The leader of the old alchemists stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Family Head, Young Master Lin was the one who proposed competing with us in alchemy. He made a wager that if he loses, he will give us five hundred taels of silver every month from now on. If we lose, we must never again speak ill of Young Master Lin. We ask the Family Head to serve as a fair witness for us."

Everyone's eyes gathered on Lin Fan, waiting to see how the youth would respond. Su Qingwei, standing amid the crowd, also watched Lin Fan nervously. She had arrived earlier, but before so many people in the estate, it was not appropriate for her to speak with Lin Fan. Otherwise, would that not confirm the rumors that he was her lover? It would be fine if they eventually became a couple, but if they did not, women in this world still placed considerable importance on their reputations. Besides, things had already reached this point and so many people had arrived. Even if she stepped forward to persuade Lin Fan now, she would not be able to change anything.

Lin Fan raised his eyes and met Su Yuanshan's gaze. Neither servile nor overbearing, he lightly cupped his hands.

"Su Family Head, I did indeed propose this wager. Today, I ask everyone present to bear witness. If I lose, I will provide every alchemist with five hundred taels every month from now on. If I win, those alchemists need only apologize to me."