"Brew another batch of Blood Vitality Pills."
Jia Shiheng told a menial to fetch another set of ingredients and handed them to Lu Zhiyuan.
Lu Zhiyuan did not refuse. He cleaned the alchemical furnace, prepared the medicinal ingredients, and placed them inside. His movements were a little more practiced this time.
He corrected one or two of the brewing errors he had deliberately made before. Those few improvements were enough to brighten Jia Shiheng's eyes as he watched.
A faint medicinal fragrance rose from the furnace. Fifteen minutes soon passed. Lu Zhiyuan opened the lid and took out the Blood Vitality Pill.
Compared with the first, it was rounder, with fewer ingredients left unblended.
An outsider might have seen little difference between the two Blood Vitality Pills. Jia Shiheng could tell that the difference was considerable.
He looked from the pill in his hand to Lu Zhiyuan, unable to conceal his admiration.
People were always willing to believe their own eyes. Lu Zhiyuan had brewed two batches right in front of him, showing clear improvement.
That demonstrated rare aptitude for alchemy. In all his years at Clearwell Clinic, Jia Shiheng had seen very few people with comparable promise.
It was still too early to call him an alchemy prodigy. Blood Vitality Pills were simple. But he had shown enough promise for the clinic to invest in his training and see how far he could go.
If he could later brew other pills as successfully as these, Clearwell Clinic would truly have found a treasure.
"Very good. I didn't expect you to brew Blood Vitality Pills successfully only two days after seeing the formula."
Jia Shiheng smiled warmly. "But don't become arrogant. These two Blood Vitality Pills still have many flaws. You'll need more practice to brew them well."
"Thank you for your approval, Master Jia." Lu Zhiyuan stood and cupped his hands.
"Remaining a household guard would waste your aptitude. I'll speak to Steward He. From now on, brew pills here with me. First master brewing Blood Vitality Pills, then move on to other pills." Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Master Jia!"
Lu Zhiyuan smiled as well. He had finally achieved his goal. At last, he had a way to earn silver.
Two hours later, he brewed another batch of Blood Vitality Pills in front of He Bingchuan, delighting the steward.
Despite Jia Shiheng's request, He Bingchuan had found it difficult to believe that a household guard, and until recently a mere menial, could brew pills.
But seeing was believing. However unlikely it seemed, he had to admit that Lu Zhiyuan possessed considerable aptitude for alchemy. Naturally, there was no reason to refuse Jia Shiheng's proposal.
In less than half a day, news that Lu Zhiyuan had become an alchemist spread throughout the clinic, leaving everyone astonished.
An alchemist! That craft depended enormously on aptitude.
If one in ten people practicing martial arts might achieve something, perhaps not even one in a hundred who tried alchemy would succeed.
At Clearwell Clinic, an alchemist's standing was far above that of a household guard.
Lu Zhiyuan's status had risen again. From menial to household guard to alchemist, two promotions in a few days. Who knew how many people envied him?
They had also heard that his aptitude for alchemy had impressed both Jia Shiheng and He Bingchuan. Only two days after reading a pill formula, he had worked out how to brew the pill on his own.
If that did not count as outstanding aptitude, what did?
Many had been waiting to laugh at him, using his affairs as their idle amusement. Now they no longer dared talk that way, for fear he might hear.
He had little authority yet, of course. But who knew how far he might rise? Offending someone like that for the fleeting pleasure of a few remarks was hardly worthwhile.
They should be thinking of how to win his favor instead. What if he really did become successful one day?
"Damn it! That poor bumpkin's luck is unbelievable!"
At the drinking table, Du Zheng slammed his cup down with a dull thud.
"I hear Master Jia thinks very highly of him," a household guard said quietly. He no longer dared join Du Zheng in freely disparaging Lu Zhiyuan as he had before.
Du Zheng snorted. Looking around at the others and finding none of them willing to agree with him, he stood and left. He might as well give up drinking. It only made him more irritable.
The other household guards exchanged glances, unsure what to say. Alchemists really did stand above them at the clinic.
Du Zheng's seniority and cultivation at the Flesh Tempering stage allowed him to disregard Lu Zhiyuan to some extent. They could not afford to do the same.
The next day, Lu Zhiyuan no longer stood watch in the main hall. Instead, he concentrated on brewing pills in the alchemy room. Jia Shiheng stood beside him, personally correcting his mistakes.
Lu Zhiyuan was surprised by how seriously the man took him. Perhaps the aptitude he had demonstrated had dazzled him.
He had shown a little more than intended, but the result was satisfactory. Unwilling to waste that kindness, he listened carefully and corrected one or two errors in his next batch.
Seeing how effective his instruction was, Jia Shiheng grew more enthusiastic with every lesson, his face flushed with excitement.
For a teacher, a gifted disciple who understood at once, without needing a second explanation, brought an immense sense of accomplishment.
Jia Shiheng had not felt that way in years. Watching Lu Zhiyuan's pills improve with each batch made him happier and prouder than brewing a difficult pill himself.
"Very good. All the medicinal ingredients in this Blood Vitality Pill have now blended together. The balance still isn't quite right, but this is a great improvement."
He smiled at the pill in his hand. The more he looked at Lu Zhiyuan, the more pleased he became. In his mind, he already regarded the young man as something of a disciple.
"It's thanks to your teaching, Master Jia."
Lu Zhiyuan offered a timely bit of flattery, making Jia Shiheng's smile even brighter.
Worth teaching. Truly worth teaching!
Lu Zhiyuan smiled. Though his words had been a compliment, Jia Shiheng really was skilled. The increase of ten-odd proficiency points in brewing Blood Vitality Pills on his panel was proof enough.