Chapter 108: Chapter 107: Jie Jiachun
Zuo Yu, watching from the side, had an idea and quickly said, "Master Wen, let me go with you. I might be able to help with something."
Gao Yuerou glanced at the fawning Zuo Yu beside her, a little surprised. She had long known that Wen Qingye was formidable in the Alchemy Dao, but Zuo Yu was a well-known Pill Master in Phoenix City. For him to be sucking up to Wen Qingye like this was a testament to Wen Qingye’s own alchemical skill. Thinking of this, Gao Yuerou’s confidence in him grew even stronger.
Wen Qingye hardly needed Zuo Yu’s help to treat someone. But if Zuo Yu wanted to come, Wen Qingye certainly wouldn’t stop him.
"Alright, let’s go together," Wen Qingye said with a nod.
Zuo Yu was overjoyed when he heard Wen Qingye agree. ’As long as I can get on his good side,’ he thought, ’it will all be worth it.’
The three of them soon arrived at the Gao Mansion. Gao Yuerou led Wen Qingye and Zuo Yu straight to the rear hall, which was already jam-packed with people, surrounded three layers deep.
"Isn’t that Master Zuo?"
"Master Zuo is here too! Everyone, make way!"
"Is Master Zuo also here to see the Fifth-Grade Alchemist, Master Jie?"
Many of the surrounding Gao Clan Members recognized Zuo Yu and cleared a path. Zuo Yu quickly extended his hand toward Wen Qingye in a gesture of invitation.
Wen Qingye didn’t stand on ceremony and walked in with Gao Yuerou.
"Who is that kid? Why is Master Zuo being so polite to him?"
"I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before."
"Wen Qingye. That’s Wen Qingye."
...
As soon as Wen Qingye entered the room, he saw a middle-aged woman sitting in a chair, her face pale and her arm trembling slightly. Not far away, an old man was hunched over, writing something.
Of the people around, Wen Qingye only recognized the two leading figures: Gao Ming, the Patriarch of the Gao Family, and Gao Yuerou’s brother, Gao Li.
"Master Zuo, you’re here as well," Gao Ming said, quickly standing up when he saw Zuo Yu arrive. News that Zuo Yu had broken through to become a Third-Grade Alchemist had already spread.
Why was Zuo Yu respected by so many families? First, his master was the renowned Guo Weiyu. Second, Zuo Yu was only in his early forties. And what did that mean? It meant he still had room to grow. Who knew if he might advance to the Fourth Grade, or even the Fifth Grade, in the future?
Zuo Yu nodded proudly. He wasn’t nearly as courteous to others as he was to Wen Qingye.
Gao Li couldn’t help but ask upon seeing Wen Qingye, "Wen Qingye, what are you doing in my Gao Family’s home?"
Gao Yuerou quickly explained, "Brother, I invited Qingye. I wanted him to take a look at Mother."
Hearing this, Gao Li raised an eyebrow. He had long known that Wen Qingye had feelings for his sister, and he had always looked down on Wen Qingye for his previously timid nature.
But ever since the academy assessment, even though he himself had gone to the Purple Sun Prefecture, he had come to see Wen Qingye as a rival. Moreover, having spent several months in the Purple Sun Prefecture, he was well aware of Wen Tongyu’s power. He knew that when Wen Tongyu returned, Wen Qingye would be in for a rough time.
Gao Li glared and said, "Yuerou, you brought him here? This is absurd! Wen Qingye knows how to treat illnesses? Master Jie has already examined Mother and is writing the prescription now. Stop causing trouble."
Gao Yuerou opened her mouth, then pressed her lips together and said, "I think Qingye should take a look. His Alchemy Dao is..."
At that moment, a snide voice cut Gao Yuerou off. "That’s enough, Yuerou. Things are chaotic enough already. Don’t make it worse. You brought this Wen Qingye to treat her? Are you trying to kill your own mother?"
Wen Qingye followed the voice with his eyes and saw a woman in her thirties, dressed gaudily, standing not far away and looking at him with disdain.
Wen Qingye frowned. He had no idea how he had offended this woman, but he couldn’t recall her name at all.
Gao Yuerou opened her mouth to speak. "Fourth Aunt, I..."
Gao Yuerou’s Fourth Aunt waved her hand dismissively. "Alright, alright, that’s enough. Don’t disturb Master Jie while he’s writing the prescription."
Zuo Yu leaned in and said to Wen Qingye, "That old man is named Jie Jiachun. He’s the chief Alchemy Master for the Yao Family of Kaiyang County. He’s very skilled."
Upon hearing this, a thought struck Wen Qingye. ’The Yao Family of Kaiyang County... isn’t that the maiden home of the Yao Clan matriarch?’
At this point, Jie Jiachun seemed to have finished writing the prescription. He handed it to Gao Ming and said, "Taking the medicine according to this prescription should help a little. While it can’t provide a complete cure, it can delay the effects for a while. If you want a permanent cure, in addition to preparing the alchemy ingredients I mentioned earlier, you must also provide me with a Seven-Star Begonia Flower. Only then will I refine this Fifth-Grade Pill for you."
"Yes, yes, we’ll do as Master Jie says. Xiaocui, hurry and brew a bowl of medicine according to this prescription."
Gao Ming nodded repeatedly in agreement, but his heart was filled with bitterness. The Seven-Star Begonia Flower was a Seventh Grade Heavenly and Earthly Treasure, not to mention that the other alchemy ingredients Jie Jiachun had listed were all incredibly expensive. To acquire them all would be a crippling blow to the Gao Family. ’Would the Elders even agree?’ he wondered.
Standing by, Gao Li could see his father’s predicament. He couldn’t help but step forward and say, "Master Jie, you see, our Gao Family is just a minor family in Phoenix City. Could you perhaps be lenient? The Seven-Star Begonia Flower..."
Gao Yuerou’s Fourth Aunt chimed in, "Exactly! Forget the Seven-Star Begonia Flower, even the Flor Grass, Ghost Arrow Feather, and Flower Bud Stone you mentioned... it would be difficult for our Gao Family to gather all these herbs."
Though her words were seemingly directed at Jie Jiachun, they were actually meant for Gao Ming and the other Gao Clan Members standing behind him. The woman was truly venomous. Gao Ming’s face immediately began to shift, turning red and pale by turns.
When Jie Jiachun heard this, his expression immediately turned cold. "What? Does your Gao Family expect me not only to perform alchemy for free, but to provide the herbs as well?"
Seeing Jie Jiachun’s anger, Gao Ming quickly said, "No, no, that’s not what our Gao Family means at all."
Jie Jiachun snorted coldly and ignored Gao Ming, turning his head to look at Zuo Yu. He said slowly, "Zuo Yu, it has been some time. I heard you’ve already become a Third-Grade Alchemist. Not bad. The younger generation is truly formidable."
Zuo Yu gave a dry laugh but said nothing.
Jie Jiachun then turned his head toward Wen Qingye and said, "Just now, I heard that little girl say you want to treat her mother?"
"That’s right," Wen Qingye said with a nod.
Jie Jiachun frowned and asked, "What grade of Pill Master are you?"
Wen Qingye replied nonchalantly, "That doesn’t seem important, does it?"
Jie Jiachun was choked by Wen Qingye’s words. After a long moment, he fixed his eyes on Wen Qingye and said, "A young man like you should go back and study diligently. Don’t always be thinking about swindling people out here. Sooner or later, you will be exposed."
Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Wen Qingye’s eyes.
In that instant, Jie Jiachun’s heart trembled violently. He felt as if he had been targeted by a primordial beast, and his body began to shake uncontrollably.
Wen Qingye retracted his gaze, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You’re nothing but a henchman, a jackal serving a tiger. Be careful, or you might not live to see another day."
No one had expected Wen Qingye to be so fierce, matching Jie Jiachun’s words blow for blow without backing down an inch.
Seeing the fury in Master Jie’s eyes, Gao Li quickly stood up. "Wen Qingye, what nonsense are you spouting? This is the Gao Mansion, not a place for you to run wild! Let me tell you, you’re nothing but an outcast from the Wen Family. You have no right to speak here. Apologize to Master Jie at once!"
