I Became the Alchemy Master by Picking Up Trash-Chapter 154 - 152: Contracted Healing Master
"Alright, that’s it for today! Everyone go home and rest. I’ll figure out the order situation."
Zhang Long, Wang Liang, and Qian Xiaowu were relieved, finally able to escape from the grip of Yang Dawei, the heartless boss, go home, take a shower, and change their clothes.
Before leaving, Li Xing gave each of them two bottles of high-grade Red Medicine as a reward. Inspired by the generous bonus, the three of them felt their fatigue disappear and promised to help in the next match.
After sending away Zhang Long and the others, Li Xing sighed, pondering how many elixirs she could refine in one batch if she expanded the Shennong Cauldron to its maximum capacity.
Yang Dawei suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, Master Li, that student with the surname Ning and his sister came looking for you several times. I told them you hadn’t returned yet and to wait for news. Do you want to see them?"
"Ning Zhun and Ning Yao?" Li Xing’s eyes lit up. Right, how could she have forgotten about them!
"Yes, let them know I’ve returned, and they can come anytime!"
"Got it!"
Yang Dawei instructed the staff to clean up the shop while Li Xing returned to the second floor to brew a pot of fragrant tea and wait for the guests to arrive.
Soon enough, twenty minutes later, Ning Zhun and Ning Yao arrived. Considering the timing, they must have rushed over as soon as they received Yang Dawei’s message.
"Master Li!" Ning Yao’s eyes were brimming with admiration, even more excited than when she saw Li Xing last time.
Li Xing felt a bit embarrassed under her intense gaze and touched her nose, asking, "Yang Dawei mentioned that you looked for me several times. Is there something urgent?"
Ning Zhun glanced at his sister, feeling helpless, and said, "It’s not exactly urgent; mostly, Yao Yao wanted to see you, so I accompanied her."
Li Xing looked at Ning Yao, whose eyes were full of affection, cheeks rosy. If Li Xing weren’t certain that the girl’s orientation was normal, she might have suspected Ning Yao had taken a fancy to her.
Ning Yao exclaimed excitedly, "Master Li, I am the leader of your Star Fans!"
"Uh, thank you."
"We’ve established a Li Xing Support Club called the Star Alliance. If it’s not too much trouble, could you interact with us on your personal page?"
"Sure."
"And we also—"
Ning Zhun quickly interrupted her, gently reminding, "Get to the point!"
"Ah, oh oh. Well, Master Li, I’ve finished reading the materials you gave me and gained much from them. Following your guidance, I refined a few elixirs; could you check their quality for me?"
Ning Yao retrieved a delicate brocade box from the space button. Upon opening it, inside were round pills resembling longan, totaling three, emitting a faint medicinal aroma.
Li Xing picked up one, examined its quality, held it under her nose to sniff, and couldn’t help but be surprised.
All three were Small Returning Pills, of superior quality.
Though Small Returning Pills are entry-level elixirs, it’s truly remarkable that Ning Yao could refine them successfully without hands-on guidance, resulting in high-quality pills. It’s evident that Ning Yao possesses extraordinary talent in alchemy.
"Did you refine these yourself?"
As Li Xing asked, her face remained expressionless, causing Ning Yao to feel increasingly nervous, unsure whether her elixirs were good or bad.
"Yes-yes, I did."
"How many batches did you refine to get these three elixirs?"
"Ten batches." Ning Yao poutingly said, "Five batches produced elixirs, while the other five either exploded or burnt, resulting in twenty-nine pills, of which I selected the best three."
Ning Yao’s voice grew softer, her heart sinking to rock bottom, fearing that Master Li would resent her low success rate, jeopardizing her apprenticeship hopes.
Li Xing, however, thought the opposite; a fifty percent success rate was considered superior among Dan Cultivators, one point higher than what she achieved during her early years.
It’s hard to believe that Ning Yao achieved this level of success within half a month under her guidance; this child is a promising candidate for a Dan Cultivator!
Li Xing closed the brocade box and smiled at the tense Ning Yao, saying, "Ning Yao, you’re quite impressive."
"Eh?" Ning Yao was taken aback, expecting to be scolded by Li Xing, but the unexpected turn left her momentarily dazed. "Master Li, are you being sarcastic?"
Li Xing shook her head, "I’m being serious. Explosions are common when using a Medicine Cauldron for alchemy. If a newbie has a success rate above thirty percent, they’re considered qualified. You have a fifty percent success rate, which is extremely talented."
Ning Yao blurted out happily, "Really! Master Li, then—"
"I know what you want to say, but I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I won’t accept an apprentice until someone achieves Heaven Rank qualification."
The flame of hope in Ning Yao’s eyes was extinguished instantly.
Li Xing continued, "However—"
Ning Yao perked up, exclaiming, "I love ’however’! Master Li, please tell me what however means!"
"While I can’t accept you as an apprentice for now, you can receive my guidance as a signed Healing Master."
Ning Yao and Ning Zhun spoke in unison, "Signed Healing Master?"
Li Xing nodded, "Yes, yes. I won’t hide it from you; my shop got popular, and the demand for medicine orders is overwhelming. I can’t handle it alone. So I need capable and talented Healing Masters like Ning Yao to join me in making medicine."
"If you agree to sign, all the medicine recipes and steps in my shop will be fully disclosed to you, and I will personally guide you in alchemy. Two percent of the shop’s profit will go to you, and I can help you solve any problems you encounter while making medicine."
Under patent law, obtaining another Healing Master’s medicine recipe is incredibly difficult. The recipe condition alone is enticing, let alone the profit.
Ning Zhun began to envy Ning Yao. If he could use a Medicine Cauldron for medicine making, would he receive Master Li’s elixir recipes too?
Seeing Ning Yao’s increasingly bright eyes, Li Xing continued:
"Of course, I have conditions too. Our contract period is fifty years. During these fifty years, regardless of your rank as a Healing Master, you must work for my shop until the contract expires. You cannot hold another position or help your family, even if you’re asked. During the contract period, all medicines you create, including those you develop yourself, will be exclusively sold by my shop."
Fifty years isn’t long for the Qianyuan people, who have a lengthy lifespan. Li Xing is betting on Ning Yao’s future achievements; if she can level up to Earth Rank Healing Master within twenty years, this contract will undoubtedly be profitable.
Ning Yao’s mind was in turmoil; she understood Li Xing’s intentions. Joining the shop meant she could learn the trade, but for fifty years, no matter how skillful she became, she’d merely be an employee, unable to act high and mighty, obliged to fulfill any given task.
A two percent profit is considerable, but she could already use a Medicine Cauldron to refine elixirs, and in the future, like Li Xing, she could pursue qualification as a Healing Master and discard the amateur label. Her family might then provide more resources and support.
If she could achieve Earth Rank, she’d undoubtedly be attractive to aristocratic families. Ning Yao possesses both talent and background, and should she nod, a multitude of nobles would surely invite her, offering guest elder positions and substantial yearly salaries.
However, if she refuses, she’d not only lose Li Xing’s professional guidance but would also never learn the refining methods of those miraculous medicines used by Li Xing in competitions. This would be a colossal regret for Ning Yao.
Should she contract herself for learning and shine brightly after fifty years, or continue in uncertainty, stumbling her way within her family?
Ning Yao closed her eyes, then opened them again, now clear of hesitation: "I agree to sign the contract!"
"Straightforward!" Li Xing immediately presented the pre-prepared contract to Ning Yao, who signed her name with a decisive flourish.
Li Xing cheerfully stored the contract, pouring tea for Ning Yao.
"Yao Yao, you’ll be our shop’s Chief Healing Master from now on. Make sure to shine for the shop! Be here at eight tomorrow morning for work, and I’ll first teach you how to make itching powder!"
"Yes!" Ning Yao’s cheeks flushed with excitement, causing Ning Zhun to feel jealous.
"Li Xing...no, Master Li, do you think I have any hope left?"
Li Xing stroked her chin, sizing up Ning Zhun. Under Li Xing’s assessing gaze, Ning Zhun felt unusually tense and hopeful.
"You lack a Fire Elemental Spirit, making it challenging to use a Medicine Cauldron effectively for refining elixirs. Here’s what I’ll do: if you also join the shop as a signed Healing Master, I can modify the recipe for you, allowing you to produce liquid medicines with equivalent effects. However, your remuneration will be half of Yao Yao’s. How does that sound?"
Ning Zhun was overjoyed, accepting without hesitation: "Sure, sure, I’m willing!"
