In the afternoon, Chen Yue found Chen Lin tallying the accounts.
"Steward Chen."
Chen Lin looked up. Seeing it was Chen Yue, his expression softened a bit. "Are you settled in? What is it?"
Chen Yue chose his words carefully before speaking. "Steward Chen, back when I was an apprentice, I developed a keen interest in elixirs. Even though I’m a guard now, that interest hasn’t faded.
I was wondering if I could stop being a guard for now and go help the Alchemy Masters, to learn some of the simpler tasks in the Alchemy Room?"
Hearing this, Chen Lin’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He set down his brush, looked at Chen Yue, and tapped his fingers lightly on the edge of the ledger.
’The pharmacy does have enough guards at the moment, and the shifts are flexible. It wouldn’t be a major issue if Chen Yue stops being a guard.’
’On the other hand, Lin Quan has been pestering me for more help, but his standards are incredibly high. He’s already driven away several apprentices after just a day or two.’
’This whole affair is about to reach the ears of the main family.’
"It’s a good thing that you want to learn more."
Chen Lin said slowly, "However, guards have their duties and pay, just as apprentices have their chores and monthly wages. If you really go to the Alchemy Room to do an apprentice’s work, you’ll only receive an apprentice’s pay. Are you willing to accept that?"
"I am willing," Chen Yue answered without hesitation.
’Just being a guard, the money I can earn is too little to support rapid Cultivation.’
’I’ll lose some of my monthly pay by becoming an apprentice in the Alchemy Room, but that’s nothing compared to the chance of learning the Alchemy Skill.’
’Besides, if I can really make some progress in Alchemy, the rewards will far exceed this small monthly wage.’
Seeing the look in Chen Yue’s eyes, Chen Lin nodded. "Since you’re willing, very well. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to Master Lin. He happens to need a quick and nimble helper. However,"
His tone grew serious. "Master Lin is a bit of a recluse and is extremely meticulous when it comes to Alchemy. When you get there, keep your eyes open, your ears open, and your mouth shut. Work hard and be quick. If he finds you clumsy or unsuitable, you’ll be sent away immediately."
"Yes, I understand. Thank you for this opportunity, Steward Chen!" Chen Yue’s heart settled, and he bowed solemnly.
...
The next morning, Chen Lin led Chen Yue, who had changed into a set of clean but old clothes, through the front hall. They passed down a quiet corridor and arrived before a small, secluded courtyard located even deeper in the rear of the property.
The courtyard was serene, and the air was filled with a peculiar fragrance—a mixture of various medicinal herbs, at times sweet, at times faintly astringent.
Outside the gate, Chen Lin straightened his robes before stepping forward to knock gently.
A moment later, the gate opened a crack. A medicine boy with a wooden expression peeked out, and upon seeing Chen Lin, he hurriedly opened the gate wide.
"Steward Chen."
"Is Master Lin in? I’ve brought someone over," Chen Lin said, leading Chen Yue into the small courtyard.
The courtyard was not large, but it was kept exceptionally tidy. A neat stack of dry firewood was piled in one corner, while several waist-high water vats stood in another. Straight ahead were three interconnected rooms. The door to the central room was open, revealing a massive stove and a faint wisp of smoke inside.
A gaunt, elderly man stood with his back to the entrance, sorting sun-dried medicinal roots on a stone table. His movements were unhurried but intensely focused; he examined each root carefully before placing it onto a different bamboo tray.
Hearing footsteps, he didn’t turn around, merely asking in a flat voice, "Steward Chen? What is it?"
It was none other than the Alchemy Master, Lin Quan.
A smile appeared on Chen Lin’s face as he stepped forward. "Master Lin, my apologies for the interruption. This is Chen Yue. He’s in the Skin Refining Realm, knows all the medicinal herbs, and is quick on his feet. I recall you’ve been looking for an assistant, so I brought him over to see if he’s a good fit. You can put him to work on any rough or heavy tasks you have."
Lin Quan stopped what he was doing and slowly turned around. His scrutinizing gaze fell upon Chen Yue, and his brow furrowed slightly.
"A guard?"
Lin Quan’s voice was raspy, laced with clear annoyance. "Steward Chen, I need a dedicated apprentice—someone meticulous, patient, who understands the basics of medicinal properties and heat control. Why did you bring me a guard? He can’t possibly handle this kind of work!"
Chen Lin was prepared for this and quickly explained, "Master Lin, please don’t be so quick to judge. Hear me out. Lately, there haven’t been any suitable apprentices in the rear courtyard who are both clever and know all their herbs. The few who are slightly better have impetuous personalities. I was afraid that bringing them here would only hinder you."
He pointed to Chen Yue. "This lad is different. Though he’s a guard, he’s strong. Hauling firewood, fetching water, and tending the furnace fire are no problem for him. Most importantly, he recognizes nearly all the medicinal ingredients in the shop. He can handle tasks like processing and sorting right away."
As Lin Quan listened to Chen Lin’s explanation, his brow relaxed slightly, but the critical look in his eyes didn’t lessen.
"He knows all the medicinal herbs?" Lin Quan pressed, his tone still flat.
"Replying to Master Lin, I can identify all the herbs listed in the shop’s medicine cabinets," Chen Yue answered respectfully, neither bragging nor showing any nervousness.
Lin Quan grunted noncommittally and glanced at Chen Lin, who simply smiled back.
Lin Quan was silent for a moment. "Fine. Since Steward Chen insists, he can stay for today. I’ll try him out and see if he’s useful."
He turned to Chen Yue, his gaze suddenly sharpening. "There’s only one rule here: you do exactly what I tell you to do. Don’t touch anything I haven’t given you permission to touch. Understand?!"
"Yes, I understand," Chen Yue immediately replied, his expression serious.
"Hmph."
Lin Quan said no more. He pointed to the pile of firewood in the corner of the courtyard. "Go sort that pile of wood. Separate it by thickness and dampness and stack it neatly. Move the damp pieces under the eaves over there to air out. Keep the kindling and the logs separate so they’re easy for me to grab when I need to stoke the fire."
"Yes, sir." Chen Yue acknowledged the order, then turned without another word and walked over to the firewood pile to begin.
Seeing this, Chen Lin knew Lin Quan had agreed to the trial period. He smiled and cupped his hands toward the Alchemy Master. "Well then, Master Lin, I’ll let you get back to your work. If you need anything, just send someone to the front to find me."
He shot Chen Yue a meaningful look, signaling him to work hard, then turned and left.
In the small courtyard, the only sounds that remained were the soft rustling of Lin Quan sorting his herbs and the scraping of Chen Yue moving the firewood.
For Chen Yue, Lin Quan’s Alchemy Room was a whole new world.
Here, there was none of the sweat and clamor of the herb grinders in the rear courtyard, only an almost tangible sense of focus. Processed and unprocessed medicinal ingredients were all sorted and stored in specific Jade Boxes, earthenware jars, or bamboo trays, with not a single item out of place.
Chen Yue made himself the most silent component of this place.
Whenever Lin Quan performed Alchemy, he never came within three paces of the Pill Furnace. Instead, he would find a spot where he wouldn’t block the light but could still clearly observe the master’s every move, and there he would stand in silence.
His eyes recorded everything: the order, timing, and amount of each ingredient Lin Quan added; the rhythm with which he worked the bellows; the technique he used to stoke the coals.
Unless Lin Quan gave a direct order, Chen Yue simply observed, searing every detail into his mind as he awaited the miraculous settlement and comprehension that would come from his panel at midnight.
When Lin Quan finished refining a batch of Elixirs, Chen Yue would silently retreat to a corner of the courtyard, assume his stance, and practice his Iron Mountain Fist within the confined space.
As the sun set, the fire in the Alchemy Room’s furnace dwindled to a dim glow.
Lin Quan washed his hands and began wiping several of his most-used Jade Medicine Spoons with a clean, soft cloth. His gaze occasionally swept over to Chen Yue, who was tidying up the firewood and cleaning the workbenches.
’That initial bit of annoyance and scrutiny I felt has long since vanished.’
’Chen Lin wasn’t exaggerating. This lad’s familiarity with medicinal herbs far surpasses that of an ordinary apprentice.’
’Whether I ask for a measure of air-dried June Snow or five-year-old Old Ginseng Roots, Chen Yue always finds it quickly and accurately from the seemingly disorganized piles of ingredients. He just has to weigh it by hand, and the amount is almost always perfect.’
’This kind of foundation would be impossible without years of immersion and an exceptional memory.’
’What satisfies me even more is Chen Yue’s quiet nature. He doesn’t talk unnecessarily, doesn’t ask foolish questions, and has an honest look in his eyes.’
’In an Alchemy Room, knowing when to keep silent is sometimes more valuable than being a good talker.’
As night fell, Chen Yue returned to his own small room in the west wing of the front courtyard. It wasn’t large, but it was his alone, furnished with a bed, a table, and a cabinet. The window was bright and the room was spotless.
Compared to the large, communal sleeping quarters from before, it was a world of difference.
He lay on the bed, exhaustion washing over him like a tide, yet his mind was buzzing with excitement from the day’s gains.
[Daily Settlement]
[Diligently practiced Iron Mountain Fist. Iron Mountain Fist EXP +50, Cultivation +5]
[Diligently studied Alchemy. Blood Circulation Pill EXP +30]
[Skill: Iron Mountain Fist (Perfection 110/400)]
[Skill: Blood Circulation Pill (Entry Level 30/100)]
[Realm: Skin Refining Realm (6/300)]
A fresh stream of insight flooded his mind. It wasn’t just a simple memory of which herbs the Blood Circulation Pill required. It also included the keys to pre-processing the ingredients, the ideal color and temperature of the furnace fire when adding them, and even the subtle sounds the medicinal liquids made as they fused, indicating each distinct stage of the process...
It was as if the experience Chen Yue would have gained from personally performing the process—and failing hundreds of times—had been absorbed in an instant, becoming something akin to instinct.
Today, Lin Quan had only refined the most basic Blood Circulation Pill, and with just that, Chen Yue had already reached the Entry Level.