“Great! Good job, Jingtao. Work harder and quickly nurture the bees. We have to catch that thief and get rid of him!” Lou Jinglei viciously and coldly said. His face then changed again as a smile made its way to his lips. “Right, Jingtao, have you heard of the matter at the Fenghua Banquet?”
“Ah? Fenghua Banquet? I have not heard of anything since I’ve been busy nurturing the bees. What happened? You look so happy. Could it be that Shulin got first place at the banquet?”
“… ” Lou Jinglei’s expression became vexed and complicated. “No, it’s not Shulin. However, our Lou family indeed gained much glory this time… Furthermore, there is an even more amazing thing. We may have a connection with the Alchemy King’s mansion.”
“Alchemy King’s mansion! It can’t be? What happened?” The revelation stunned Lou Jingtao as well.
In contrast to these two, Lou Potian and the others did not know much about Fenghua Banquet, and they were not as concerned about it. Lou Potian was happy since Lou Qianxue and Lou Xiaoxiao had safely returned.
“Grandpa, Sister Xiaoxiao, I may be gone for some time.”
“I know that you want to go out and handle a certain matter with Master Gong Sunheng. Although I’m not aware of what that matter is, I’m sure that it must be important. Moreover, young people should go out and explore. Go, we’ll wait here for you to return.”
Lou Qianxue nodded. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll come back as soon as I’ve settled the matter.”
Although Lou Qianxue wanted to leave Fengyang prefecture, right now was definitely not the time. After all, she did not feel assured enough about Lou Jinglei.
After bidding farewell to Lou Potian, Lou Qianxue went to meet Leng Qianhan. She briefed him about the matter, then she and Lou Xiaoxiao went to the Alchemy Union together.
“I’ll ask Master Gong Sunheng to help me refine pills in a while. Then, I’ll have to trouble you to bring the medicine back to Grandpa and Leng Qianhan.”
“Are you planning to directly leave? Qianxue, you’ll have to take good care of yourself outside.”
“Don’t worry, Sister Xiaoxiao. I’m not that kind of person who suffers losses easily.”
***
Master Gong Sunheng had been waiting at the Alchemy Union for a long time.
“You’re finally here, but what exactly are you planning to ask of me? Tell me directly. We’ll leave after completing it. That matter can’t be delayed.”
“It’s not something big.” Lou Qianxue smiled. “Master Gong Sunheng, as a proper demonically-talented alchemist, you should be able to refine fifth-grade pills, right?”
“You…” Gong Sunheng did not even address her as Miss Qianxue. He felt helpless. “Do you want me to help you refine fifth-grade pills?”
“Right.” Lou Qianxue nodded. “Breakthrough pill, how about it? Can you refine it?”
“Even if I can’t, I’ll have to. However, it’s not easy to find the medicinal herbs required for the breakthrough pill. Have you obtained everything?”
Lou Qianxue nodded.
“Let’s not delay any more then. Since you have obtained everything, let me do it. You all can wait here first.”
Master Huo, Ye Zhuixun, and Lou Xiaoxiao, who were eager to follow them, were left behind.
“This is thanks to you. You showed everyone your alchemy method at the Alchemy Union in Qingyun City the last time. Hence, I can help you refine this breakthrough pill. Otherwise, the usual method would require four or five hours to refine a breakthrough pill, and I don’t have that much time to waste.”
Lou Qianxue glanced at him sideways. “I know a method with which you can speed up.”
“A faster method?” The words shocked Gong Sunheng. When he came back to his senses, he looked agitated. “Are you serious? Quick, show me!” After he finished talking, he realized that such methods could not be casually shown to others. Hence, he hurriedly changed his words. “No, is there anything you want so that I can exchange it with your method?”
As Lou Qianxue thought of the blood ginseng that grew like wild weeds in the Mountain River Space, she narrowed her eyes. “Master Gong Sunheng, you also know that I’m an alchemist. Moreover, I’ve just started practicing alchemy. Besides, our Lou family in Qingyun City is also a little poor. Hence, I don’t have many medicinal herbs to practice.”