I Became the Alchemy Master by Picking Up Trash-Chapter 255 - 253: Hui Hui’s Dormancy

Since the exposure of Tianyi City being a branch of the Zixian sect, the fervor for the military academy competition has subsided, and everyone is now focused on the newly risen Freedom Army and their acting commander—General Yang Zhou.

Now, as soon as you open the webpage on your light-brain, various posts and news about the Freedom Army pop up, with netizens almost daily posting revelations about how their certain relatives or friends had been kidnapped years ago, trapped in slave factories, but were fortunately rescued by the Freedom Army, and more.

Over the brief span of one month, the Freedom Army’s reputation built over more than a decade has blossomed, earning the trust and admiration of the masses, becoming an unstoppable force for a time.

Li Xing is naturally pleased with this outcome. Yang Zhou is busier than ever now, but unlike before, when he seemed to vanish without a trace, he now sends messages to Li Xing at intervals, chatting about recent events and giving reports of his safety.

Li Xing compiled her research results and speculations on the Tri-eye Worm into a report for Yang Zhou. Handling the Tri-eye Worm shouldn’t just fall to her; the government should also contribute its efforts.

Even though Zixian sect has been severely weakened, Yang Zhou is still worried about Li Xing’s safety and wants to assign people to protect her, but Li Xing politely refused.

She is not accustomed to having a tail following her, and given her strength, if danger did arise, who knows who might end up protecting whom.

Li Xing’s life still runs as systematically as before—she’s either at school or at her shop, The Place.

Ever since she cultivated two Nascent Souls, separating Chaos Qi has become more efficient, speeding up the cultivation of the Eternal Green Technique. This has also led to a terrifying consumption of low-grade Crystal Stones by Li Xing.

Luckily, some of her competition rewards, endorsement fees, and dividends have been disbursed, as long as the sales of goods at The Place remain stable, the combined profits are enough for her to cultivate to the early Great Perfection stage of the Body Refining realm.

Whenever Li Xing cultivates, the two Nascent Souls in her Dantian each perform their roles, one absorbing Chaos Qi, the other absorbing Spiritual Energy, both showing signs of growing stronger.

This means, although Li Xing is currently practicing the Body Refining Technique, her spell cultivation is also advancing due to the dual energies absorbed into her body—truly killing two birds with one stone.

Moreover, Li Xing doesn’t need to worry about consuming Spiritual Energy-rich food leading to body explosion, as her Five-colored Nascent Soul acts like a bottomless pit, taking in the Spiritual Energy her body cannot digest.

Li Xing is very pleased with this result, but the Three-thousand Lotus feels disgruntled. Before, the unused Spiritual Energy Balls from Li Xing served as its snacks; now they are all absorbed by the Five-colored Nascent Soul, leaving not a single one for it.

It has attempted to snatch Spiritual Energy Balls from the Five-colored Nascent Soul, but the little golden Nascent Soul is exceedingly fierce, chasing it down, demanding it spit out the greedy gobbled-up balls to return them to the Five-colored Nascent Soul. For such trivial gains, being thrashed to a halt is not worthwhile, so it gave up.

Today is the weekend, and Li Xing remembers Ning Yu’s advice, deciding to visit Ye Lan. When Housekeeper Lu sees her, the joy and enthusiasm overflowing from his eyes make Li Xing almost feel like she truly is the second young miss of the Chu Family.

Li Xing leaves a message via the encrypted network with Chu Yunyi regarding the transparent creatures, suggesting he continue to stay in the Elder Council.

Chu Yunyi has not replied, but according to the housekeeper, the young master’s special training isn’t over yet, and he probably won’t return until the next match, which puts Li Xing’s mind at ease.

Without seeing Chu Yunyi, Li Xing meets another Chu family member—Chu Ying, her future direct superior.

"Commander, hi!"

Chu Ying is on vacation today, returning to see her sister-in-law, unexpectedly encountering Li Xing here. Just as well, saving her the trip to The Place.

"Don’t call me Commander at home, call me Aunt!"

"Uh—okay." Li Xing feels a bit embarrassed; isn’t this family too casual?

"Are you here to see sister-in-law?"

"Yes. Mrs. Chu is napping; I didn’t have anyone wake her up."

Chu Ying nods: "In that case, accompany me for a walk in the garden; my sister-in-law has recently taken an interest in tending to flowers, the garden is very beautifully maintained, let’s take a stroll."

"Okay."

Chu Ying dismisses all the servants, personally escorting Li Xing through the garden.

"Li Xing, Yang Zhou told me everything that happened, thank you for saving his life."

"Aunt Chu, you’re too kind. Principal Yang is like my Uncle Li, one of my most important family members, how could I allow him to die in front of me?"

Li Xing’s eyes shift, her demeanor teasing: "Aunt Chu, did you reconcile with Principal Yang?"

On this topic, Chu Ying showed not a shred of a lady’s embarrassment but rather undisguised joy.

"Actually...it can’t really be called reconciliation, because we were never officially together. But compared to being ignored before, he’s willing to talk to me now, and I’m really satisfied!"

Li Xing puckers her lips: They say pursuing a man is like a layer of gauze, yet for Chu Ying it’s made of Ruoye silk yarn, even a spike can’t pierce it! Woman, what are you being humble about?

"You’re beautiful, elegant, with a good background and high position, why is Principal Yang so unwilling to accept you?"

At this mention, Chu Ying also expressed grievance.

"Maybe because my declaration of love for him back then was too high-profile, making him misunderstand that I’d use extreme measures like my big brother to force him to marry me."

Li Xing isn’t one to gossip, but she’s really curious about how high-key a woman’s declaration of love can get?

"What did you do back then?"

Chu Ying scratches her face, rarely showing a hint of embarrassment.

"Quite a lot, I can’t completely recall. For example—confessing to him publicly at the First Army’s commendation ceremony, in front of all the soldiers; buying hot searches on the Star Network for the love letters I wrote to him so everyone could see and envy him; announcing in various public venues that I loved him and wouldn’t marry anyone else."

Li Xing is so shocked her pupils quake: "Why, why did you do that?"

"To love someone is to let them know out loud, isn’t it?"

Li Xing is speechless: If Yang Zhou doesn’t like Chu Ying at all, this doesn’t count as a declaration of love, but undoubtedly sexual harassment! No wonder Yang Zhou lived peacefully during his ten years in Datang, never thinking about going back.

Principal Yang, you’ve suffered!

"Aunt Chu, you’d surely refrain from doing that in the future, right?"

Chu Ying nods: "I wouldn’t dare to; I’m truly afraid he’d ignore me for another ten years. I’ve really come to understand that if he has me in his heart, I need do nothing and he’d come closer to me. If he doesn’t like me, even splitting my heart open to gift him wouldn’t make him glance more than once."

"I don’t seek for him to love me, as long as I can stay by his side and talk with him like now, I’m already very satisfied."

Li Xing nods, Chu Ying has finally enlightened, understanding that companionship is the longest confession of love. Yang Zhou isn’t a cold or heartless person; given time, he’ll surely be moved by Chu Ying.

"Aunt Chu, don’t be disheartened; the principal hasn’t accepted anyone’s love either, you still have a chance."

"Really? Haha, then I’m relieved!"

Once Ye Lan wakes, Li Xing accompanies her for a lengthy chat, staying until after dinner when the sky is dark, before returning to Harssas Academy.

"Master!" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Li Xing is about to sleep when she suddenly hears Hui Hui’s voice; her mind stirs and she releases it. The Big-mouth Flower’s color has become notably richer, yet its spirit seems low and wilted.

Li Xing suspects it’s sick, urgently probing with her Divine Sense, unexpectedly discovering dense Spiritual Energy around the Big-mouth Flower, indicating it’s about to advance.

Li Xing is overjoyed: "Hui Hui, you’re advancing!"

"Yes, Master, Hui Hui feels so sad..."

Li Xing becomes anxious: "Why are you sad? Is that uncomfortable?"

"No." Hui Hui’s large head droops, rubbing against Li Xing’s cheek.

"Master, when I advance, I need to slumber; I don’t know how soon I’ll wake, perhaps soon or maybe after decades. Thinking of not seeing you for so long makes Hui Hui sad..."

Li Xing releases her anxious heart, reaching out to comfort the Big-mouth Flower: "Don’t be sad, I will always be here; we’ll see each other when you wake."

In Hui Hui’s memory, an immortal with flowing robes, gentle smile, also bids it farewell akin to today.

"Master, goodbye."