Part 9
The Mistress of the Pill Refining House
Yun Che returned to the Massage House in the late afternoon, handed in his mission, and acquired 35 spirit crystals afterward. He then walked slowly, his clothes covered in dust, his arm injured, and a deep cut running across part of his shoulder.
Mei Liang raised her eyes as soon as she heard the door open. Her calm expression disappeared immediately when she noticed the dying state of her disciple.
"Yun Che."
She approached him and grabbed his arm before he could respond. Her eyes traveled over his wounds, carefully assessing the extent of his injuries.
"What happened? Didn’t I tell you to be careful and escape immediately if you encountered anything dangerous?"
"I ran into some trouble along the way. If I hadn’t escaped, I wouldn’t have come back alive."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble did you encounter?"
Her voice became cold.
"You’re covered in blood, you can barely walk, and you have the nerve to call this trouble?"
Yun Che gave a small smile.
"But I’m still alive."
"That doesn’t make your decision any less stupid."
Mei Liang led him to a chair and began treating his wounds. Her movements were firm but careful, revealing a concern she clearly had no intention of admitting.
When she finished, Yun Che took the small jade box from his bag.
"I found this in the tomb where I risked my life to explore."
Mei Liang cautiously opened the box. The moment she saw the ancient recipe, her expression changed.
"Yun Che... do you know what you found?"
"A pill recipe. I know how to recognize at least that much."
"No."
She carefully ran her fingers over the jade.
"You found a recipe that could be worth a fortune. Did you know that?"
Yun Che remained silent.
Mei Liang closed the box.
"You can’t sell this by yourself."
"Why not?"
"Because you won’t know how to distinguish an honest buyer from someone willing to kill you to obtain the recipe."
Yun Che immediately understood.
"Then do you know someone we can sell it to without having to worry?"
"Yes, I know someone."
Some time later, Mei Liang led Yun Che to the sect’s Pill Refining House.
The building was much larger than the Massage House. There were dozens of alchemy furnaces, shelves filled with spiritual herbs, and an atmosphere heavy with the aroma of medicines.
Inside a private room was a woman.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, possessing a mature and refined beauty. Her long black hair was elegantly tied up, while her face possessed delicate features and a confident gaze.
Her breasts were enormous and appeared remarkably firm, threatening to burst through her neatly arranged robes.
Her bearing was equally striking. There was an effortless combination of elegance, confidence, and natural sensuality about her, requiring no effort on her part to draw attention.
When she raised her eyes, Yun Che immediately realized that this was not someone who would be easy to deceive.
Mei Liang introduced her.
"Yun Che, this is Qin Ruolan, one of the people responsible for the Pill Refining House."
Qin Ruolan, in turn, examined Yun Che from head to toe.
"So this is the disciple you told me about."
"Yes."
She extended her hand.
"Show me the recipe you mentioned, the one you said was an ancient recipe."
Yun Che placed the box on the table. Qin Ruolan opened it and remained silent for several minutes.
Her eyes moved across every inscription with absolute attention. Finally, she raised her head.
"The recipe is genuine. What do you want, young cultivator?"
Yun Che remained seated.
"I want to sell it."
"I imagined you would say that. So how much are you willing to sell it for? If the price is reasonable, I’ll buy it from you."
"I don’t intend to sell it for money alone. I have three conditions for us to complete the transaction."
Qin Ruolan raised an eyebrow.
"Three conditions? What do you want, young cultivator?"
"First, 150 spirit crystals."
She remained motionless, simply staring at him.
"Continue."
"Second, I want a Veil-Breaking Pill."
Qin Ruolan’s gaze became more attentive.
"And the third?"
Yun Che looked directly at her.
"I want to become a student of the Pill Refining House under your guidance."
The silence that followed was heavy. Qin Ruolan slowly placed the recipe on the table, careful not to damage it.
"150 crystals, a rare pill, and you still want to become my student?"
"Correct."
"You’re only selling a recipe. You’re not selling your organs, young cultivator."
Yun Che did not back down.
"A recipe of this level can generate far more than 150 crystals. If you successfully refine the pills, you’ll obtain a fortune."
Qin Ruolan smiled.
"You’re quite confident for someone who is still at the Tempered Body realm."
"Confidence doesn’t depend solely on cultivation."
"That’s true."
She leaned slightly closer to the table, her enormous breasts swaying with the movement, causing Yun Che’s eyes to be drawn toward the imposing peaks.
"But that doesn’t mean you can set whatever price you want."
Yun Che crossed his arms.
"Then make a counteroffer."
Qin Ruolan examined the recipe again.
"100 crystals."
"I refuse."
"120."
"No way."
"130."
"I want 150. Nothing more and nothing less."
Qin Ruolan narrowed her eyes.
"You’re testing my patience, aren’t you, young man?"
"I’m negotiating."
She remained silent for several seconds before asking:
"Why do you need the crystals so badly?"
Yun Che answered without hesitation.
"Resources for cultivation."
"Is that all?"
"That’s all you need to know."
Qin Ruolan’s expression changed slightly. She realized there was something hidden behind that answer.
"You’re really not as simple as they say, are you, young cultivator from the Massage House?"
Yun Che did not respond.
Mei Liang finally intervened.
"Ruolan, the recipe was found in an ancient tomb. He risked his life to obtain it. Couldn’t you give in this time?"
Qin Ruolan looked again at Yun Che’s injuries.
"That explains his condition."
She picked up the recipe again.
"Since you insist, fine. I’ll simply recover the crystals through the profits. 150."
"The Veil-Breaking Pill."
"And entry into the Pill Refining House as my student."
"We have a deal?"
Qin Ruolan extended her hand.
"We have a deal."
Yun Che shook her hand, and the negotiation was concluded. Qin Ruolan took a small jade bottle from a cabinet.
"This is the Veil-Breaking Pill."
Yun Che carefully received it.
[Veil-Breaking Pill obtained.]
[Material condition fulfilled.]
Yun Che controlled his expression. Finally, he would have his long-awaited hot night.
Qin Ruolan then placed 150 crystals on the table. The sound produced by the small pile of spirit crystals made Yun Che’s eyes gleam subtly.
"Now you’re my student."
She pointed toward a huge pile of books.
"You’ll start as soon as you finish your business."
Yun Che looked at the books.
"How many?"
"All of them."
He fell silent.
Qin Ruolan smiled.
"Any problem?"
"None."
"Excellent."
She approached him, her enormous breasts almost touching him.
"But I’ll warn you about one thing, Yun Che. In my Pill Refining House, talent isn’t enough. I want discipline, attentiveness, and the ability to endure failure."
Yun Che nodded.
"Understood."
Qin Ruolan watched him for several more seconds.
"I hope you don’t regret it."
Later, Yun Che left the Pill Refining House. The sky was already dark. He walked alone through the sect’s corridors, with the small bottle and crystals carefully stored away.
Then the system appeared.
[Spirit Crystals: 185.]
[Veil-Breaking Pill: obtained.]
[Current Cultivation: Tempered Body.]
[Main Mission pending.]
Yun Che stopped. All his material problems had been resolved.