Raking in a Million Taels

"How would you like us to work together, Brother Tang?" Ge Ming asked, choosing his words carefully.

"A profit-sharing partnership," Tang Yan stated his terms succinctly.

After a moment's deliberation, Ge Ming said slowly, "As far as I know, pills capable of tempering the meridians are at least third tier.

I don't have the authority to approve profit-sharing arrangements for high-grade pills.

I'll send word to headquarters today and have someone come to discuss it with you."

Tang Yan smiled. "You're worrying too much, Brother Ge. My master would naturally have considered what you mentioned. Meridian Tempering Powder is only a First-Tier Upper Grade medicine. With your skills, Master Ge, refining it should be no trouble. In fact, other alchemists could refine it too."

"What? A first-tier meridian-tempering medicine!" Ge Ming sprang to his feet in excitement again.

Fortunately, Tang Yan had learned his lesson the first time. His hand remained steady as he leisurely sipped his tea and looked at Ge Ming with smiling eyes. "Brother Ge, can we sit down and properly discuss this deal now?"

"Yes, yes, we can." Ge Ming sat down excitedly. As an alchemist, he understood all too well the profits this pill formula could bring. He asked eagerly, "Brother Tang, let's dispense with the empty talk. What will it take for you to give this pill formula to the Wonderful Elixir Workshop?"

"I'll sell the rights to use the pill formula to the Wonderful Elixir Workshop for one million taels of silver. We'll split the profits from the medicine thirty-seventy, with the Wonderful Elixir Workshop taking seventy percent," Tang Yan said after a little calculation.

A million taels of silver sounded like a lot, but compared with the value of Meridian Tempering Powder, it was merely a few drops in the bucket. The Wonderful Elixir Workshop would hardly care.

"That share seems a little high," Ge Ming said with a frown.

"For an ordinary pill formula, even a ten-percent share would be a steep price. But I'm sure you understand how precious a formula for tempering the meridians is, Brother Ge.

The Wonderful Elixir Workshop isn't the only alchemical organization in the Fragrance-Hearing Kingdom. Outside Cloud City, we could find other buyers. We could also negotiate a fifty-fifty split, forty-sixty, or even thirty-seventy-with us taking the larger share, of course.

We're offering you seventy percent partly to thank you for giving me that cauldron, and partly because we trust the Wonderful Elixir Workshop's reputation.

Anywhere else, such a small share for us would be out of the question," Tang Yan said seriously.

Knowing Tang Yan spoke the truth, Ge Ming nodded. "What exactly does Meridian Tempering Powder do?"

"Here it is. Have a look, Brother Ge." Tang Yan took a porcelain bottle from inside his robe and handed it over.

Ge Ming accepted the bottle, pulled out the stopper, and sent a thread of spiritual sense inside to examine the medicine. A delicate fragrance seeped into his heart and lungs. His meridians felt like a stuffy cellar suddenly flooded with fresh air, leaving him refreshed in body and spirit.

That aura alone convinced Ge Ming it was genuine. Excusing himself, he took the porcelain bottle to the appraisal room.

A quarter of an hour later, Ge Ming rushed out in high spirits!

"Brother Tang, it really is a meridian-tempering medicine!" Ge Ming was visibly excited. The effects of Meridian Tempering Powder fully met his expectations.

"Why would I joke about something like this?" Tang Yan couldn't help laughing.

"I got carried away." Ge Ming asked eagerly, "When would it be convenient to sign the Written Contract? And when can you give me the pill formula?"

"We can sign it now. Once the contract takes effect, I'll give you the Pill Formula." Tang Yan wasted no time and made his decision on the spot.

"Good! Straight to the point! Sit here and wait a moment. I'll draft the agreement right away." With a deal that was guaranteed not merely to make money, but to rake it in, Ge Ming moved with remarkable efficiency.

Borrowing paper and a brush, Tang Yan began writing down the Pill Formula for Meridian Tempering Powder, along with detailed instructions for refining it.

Tang Yan had barely set down his brush when Ge Ming placed the completed draft of the Written Contract before him.

Tang Yan carefully read the clauses, which clearly specified everything, including settlement at the end of each month. Only then did he nod in satisfaction, pick up the brush to sign his name, and add his handprint.

Ge Ming took out the Wonderful Elixir Workshop's seal and stamped the Written Contract, then added his personal seal and handprint without missing a single one. They each kept one of the two copies, and finally, Ge Ming handed Tang Yan a thick stack of gold notes. The deal was sealed at last.

"Brilliant, truly brilliant! Your esteemed master is a genius!" After examining the Pill Formula, Ge Ming couldn't stop praising it. Although it was only a first-tier medicine, the process involved many elements and was extremely complex.

Each stage of the refining process linked neatly to the next, following a clear, orderly sequence. It utterly shattered the claim that no miraculous meridian-tempering medicine existed below the third tier.

"You're too kind. Now that everything is settled, here's to a happy partnership!" Tang Yan and Ge Ming exchanged smiles, both thoroughly pleased.

"Brother Tang, if you have any other suitable pill formulas in the future, bring them straight to the Wonderful Elixir Workshop. I'll make sure your interests are protected to the fullest," Ge Ming added.

"Formulas like this can only be found through good fortune, not sought at will. My venerable master spent a long time working out this one before writing it down. If there are any others in the future, I'll certainly work with you, Brother Ge. I'll head home for now and come trouble you again another day."

Tang Yan cupped his hands in farewell, and Ge Ming hurriedly rose to see him out.

When Tang Yan and Ge Ming emerged, the somewhat noisy hall immediately fell silent.

"Greetings, Master Ge!" Everyone greeted Ge Ming in turn.

"Don't mind me. Carry on with your business. I'm just seeing Brother Tang out." Ge Ming nodded to everyone, then paid them no further attention as he led Tang Yan outside.

To Tang Yan's surprise, the woman in white from earlier still hadn't left. The moment she saw Ge Ming, she approached and asked coldly, "Are you Ge Ming?"

"I am. May I ask who you are, young lady?" With his path blocked and his name spoken without a shred of respect, Ge Ming responded in a cool, indifferent tone.

"Can you refine third-tier Upper-Grade Pills?" the woman asked icily.

"I'm sorry, but I'm only a second-tier alchemist. I cannot." Being publicly asked about something beyond his abilities made Ge Ming even more displeased. "Third-tier Upper-Grade Pills are hard to obtain even with ten thousand gold pieces. I suggest you try the Eastern Continent."

"Sorry for the trouble." The woman was decisive. Hearing that no one at the Wonderful Elixir Workshop could refine them, she immediately turned and left.

"Heh, sorry you had to see that, Brother Tang." Watching the woman leave, Ge Ming felt rather frustrated.

"It's no matter. You needn't see me any farther, Brother Ge. Come visit the Tang Family when you have time." Tang Yan took the opportunity to extend an invitation.

"Of course. I'll pay you a visit in a few days," Ge Ming replied warmly.

The Tang Family?

Hearing their conversation, a few attentive onlookers felt a jolt. What connection did the Wonderful Elixir Workshop have with the Tang Family? And why did that young man look so much like the Tang Family's wastrel young master?

With a thick stack of gold notes tucked inside his robe, Tang Yan had intended to return straight to the Tang Family. But when he stepped outside and saw the woman in white continuing down the street, curiosity drove him to follow her quietly.

Who knew how many methods of tailing someone that freak Tang Yan had tucked away in his head? On the bustling street, he followed her for quite some time without her noticing a thing.

Half an hour later, having bought only a few medicinal ingredients, the woman headed out of the city. Once beyond its gates, she abruptly picked up speed.

Tang Yan kept pace, drawing up a breath of true qi as he followed cautiously.