Chapter 53: Chapter 52: Refining the Pill Formula
When Xia Heng saw Wen Qingye ambling down, he rushed over and asked with a smile, "I don’t believe I’ve caught your name yet, young friend?"
Xiaxia pouted and said, "Why didn’t you ask before? You’re only asking now."
Xia Heng shot Xiaxia a glare before turning to Wen Qingye with a fawning smile. "Please forgive my rudeness earlier, young man. Please, forgive me."
Wen Qingye wasn’t bothered by Xia Heng’s opportunism. "I’m Wen Qingye," he said.
He had seen all sorts of people in his life. Besides, while he found Xiaxia’s father to be an opportunist, he didn’t seem like an irredeemably wicked person. Wen Qingye didn’t feel the need to press the matter.
"So you are Master Wen! Quick, come inside! Please, take the seat of honor," Xia Heng said hurriedly.
After witnessing Wen Qingye’s Alchemy Skill, both Elder Yuh and Xia Heng became even more enthusiastic toward him—especially Elder Yuh.
Elder Yuh still felt a little uneasy. He had underestimated Wen Qingye so much at first, even calling him a greenhorn. But seeing that the young man didn’t hold a grudge, he was secretly delighted and couldn’t help but begin to admire him.
Elder Yuh spoke cautiously, "Master, I was wondering... could you perhaps offer me some guidance on my Alchemy Skill? It hasn’t improved in years."
Wen Qingye replied casually, "Your Primordial Qi is too impure. You must have consumed a fair number of pills, haven’t you? Your foundation of Primordial Qi is unstable, and your control over your Pill Fire is insufficient. If you cultivate properly for two years, breaking through from your current level shouldn’t be difficult."
It was a moment of sudden realization for Elder Yuh. "So that’s the reason! No wonder I’ve found it so difficult to advance in the Alchemy Dao."
Seeing Wen Qingye resolve the issue that had perplexed Elder Yuh for years with just a few casual words, Xia Heng’s admiration for him grew even stronger.
Xia Heng looked at Wen Qingye and asked, "Young Master Wen, what are your thoughts on Xiaxia’s marriage?"
"If Xiaxia doesn’t want to get married, then she won’t. I respect her wishes." Wen Qingye paused before continuing, "No one can force her. Not even you, her father."
"But..."
"Just spit out whatever difficulty you’re facing," Wen Qingye said, his brow furrowed.
At that moment, Elder Yuh stepped forward to explain. "Feiyun City is situated on the outskirts of the Hundred Break Mountains. As you know, countless Martial Artists venture into those mountains to seek their fortunes or to train. They not only gather vast quantities of medicinal ingredients, but also require a massive supply of pills. The pill business has always been the most lucrative in Feiyun City."
Wen Qingye nodded. It was true that many Martial Artists frequented the Hundred Break Mountains near Feiyun City. Running a pill business here, where one could buy raw ingredients from adventurers and sell finished pills back to them, was an incredibly profitable venture.
"Two families control the pill business in Feiyun City: the Yue Family and our Xia Family. But not long ago, a Fourth-Grade Alchemist suddenly joined the Yue Family. Now, a Fourth-Grade Alchemist in itself isn’t a catastrophe. After all, Fourth-Grade pills are rarely sold; most Martial Artists only buy Second-Grade pills."
Elder Yuh paused before continuing, "However, this Fourth-Grade Alchemist managed to improve several of our best-selling Second-Grade pills. The new versions are about twenty percent more effective, but the Yue Family didn’t increase the price. Because of this, most Martial Artists in Feiyun City now buy their pills from the Yue Family. The Xia Family has been stretched thin these days and is on the verge of collapse."
Wen Qingye nodded and asked, "Which are the best-selling Second-Grade pills? Bring me the pills and their Pill Formulas so I can take a look."
Upon hearing this, Elder Yuh nodded eagerly and walked out.
The three brothers—Xia Heng, Xia Dong, and Xia Yuan—were also extremely excited. They were now waiting for Wen Qingye to come up with a plan for them.
Xia Heng glanced at Wen Qingye and asked in a low voice, "Young Master Wen, I’ve already accepted the betrothal gift from the Yue Family... What should I do about that?"
Before Wen Qingye could say a word, Xiaxia, who was beside them, quickly interjected, "Just return it to them exactly as you received it."
"What does a little girl like you know?" Xia Heng glared at Xiaxia, then turned back to Wen Qingye. "To break off the engagement, we are required to repay ten times the value of the betrothal gift."
"Are you that afraid of the Yue Family?" Wen Qingye asked, looking at Xia Heng.
"Of course not! As long as our pills are improved, why would I fear the Yue Family?" Xia Heng declared, rising to his feet.
"Then that solves the problem, doesn’t it?" Wen Qingye said. "Since you don’t fear them, you don’t need to compromise. Just return the gifts as they were."
Xia Dong added from the side, "That’s right, eldest brother. That was one of the conditions they used to pressure our Xia Family. We never planned on agreeing to it anyway."
Xia Heng gritted his teeth. "Alright. I know what to do now."
Just then, Elder Yuh returned. He handed a sheet of paper and two pills to Wen Qingye. "These are the Blood Stopping Pill and the Qi Recovery Pill," he said. "Both are Second-Grade pills."
Wen Qingye examined the pills, then glanced at the Pill Formula. After a moment, he said, "Replace the Xanthium Herb with White Shell Flower. Also, when you refine the calamus and the Polygonum multiflorum, reverse the order in which you add them. Go back and give it a try."
Elder Yuh stared at Wen Qingye in astonishment. He committed every word to memory and then hurried off toward the Alchemy Room. He was eager to see if the modified Pill Formula Wen Qingye had suggested so casually would actually work.
Seeing how calm and casual Wen Qingye was, Xia Heng asked worriedly, "Young Master Wen, is it really that simple?"
"Mhm," Wen Qingye affirmed with a faint nod.
Xia Heng nodded. "I imagine the alchemy will take some time," he said. "Why don’t I prepare a room for you to rest for a while, Young Master Wen?"
Wen Qingye didn’t refuse. After Xia Heng showed him to a room, he pulled Xiaxia away and left.
Xiaxia smacked his hand away. "Father, what are you doing?"
"You... you..." Xia Heng stomped his foot in frustration. "So, your master is dear to you, but your own father isn’t?"
Xiaxia pouted. "He treats me far better than you do."
Xia Heng said, astonished, "You’ve only known him for a few months. How could he possibly be better to you than your own father?"
Staring at her father, Xiaxia retorted, "At the very least, he wouldn’t force me to marry someone I don’t like."
Xia Heng sighed helplessly. "Xiaxia, you have to understand your father. I’m in a difficult position, too. Do you even know who this Wen Qingye is? With such incredible skill in the Alchemy Dao, why have I never once heard his name?"
Xiaxia said proudly, "My master prefers to be low-key. He’s from a family in a small city, but his talent is immense. He’s currently studying at Qig Mountain Academy."
Xia Heng shot Xiaxia an irritated look. "Fine, your master is impressive."
"Of course he is," Xiaxia said smugly.
"Study the Alchemy Dao well under him, and when the time is right, remember to come back..."
"Hmph! By then, the world will be my oyster. I won’t be coming back to be your pack mule!"
"Sigh... you child..."
