"A misunderstanding. This is all a misunderstanding..."

Li Hong stammered, his words rushed and faltering.

If he admitted it, it would mean all his earlier flattery was a lie. But if he didn’t admit it, how could he explain what Chen Che had just said?

This was the ’self-incrimination’ trap.

No matter how he answered, he would be led by the nose.

"If it’s a misunderstanding, then why hasn’t Steward Li returned my Spirit Stones?"

After telling Ding Fei to serve the tea, Chen Che turned back and sneered.

He wouldn’t be polite when someone gave him an opening.

The man had extorted his Spirit Stones—that was a fact. He hadn’t had a chance to deal with him before, but now that Li Hong had delivered himself to his doorstep, he would take back double.

"I’ve been meaning to return them for a while, but I’ve been too busy managing the Market to find the time. In front of Miss Meng, I’ll return the Spirit Stones to you now..."

Li Hong didn’t argue, clearly not wanting to ruin his impression in front of Meng Qingxuan. Forcing a smile, he took out a bag of Spirit Stones.

"After today, we’ll be even!"

’Even? In your dreams!’

’Our feud has only just begun.’

Just as Li Hong was about to count them, Chen Che reached out, snatched the bag, and glanced inside.

"There are one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones in total here. The extra twenty can be the interest for delaying this long. Li Hong, as a Steward of Jinyun Valley, you shouldn’t care about a few Spirit Stones, right?"

"Er..."

Li Hong was stunned. He had only extorted fifty Spirit Stones from Chen Che, but he never expected the man to turn around and extort more than double that from him.

"Tributor Chen is right. Our trivial matters aren’t worth mentioning. Miss Meng’s business is the top priority; we can’t delay her!"

Feeling Meng Qingxuan’s gaze on him, he could only suppress his anger and change the subject.

He even managed to slip in a bit of flattery.

Meanwhile, Meng Qingxuan, who had been sitting and drinking her tea, casually took out a Pill Formula upon hearing this. Seeing it, Ding Fei quickly took it and handed it to Chen Che.

Just as Chen Che was about to look at it, he saw Li Hong leaning in and immediately put the Pill Formula away.

"Why are you still here?"

"Why can’t I be here?"

Again and again... Li Hong could barely contain the rage in his heart.

"First, you’re not a customer. Second, your brother is a Pill Master. Don’t you know that every Pill Master’s techniques are secret? Or are you planning to steal my methods? I’ll look at Miss Meng’s Pill Formula when you leave!"

Chen Che slapped a heavy accusation on him.

Li Hong froze at his words.

He had his own plans for bringing Meng Qingxuan here.

If Chen Che could handle the job, he’d get credit for the introduction. If he couldn’t and ended up on bad terms with Meng Qingxuan, Li Hong could kick him while he was down.

But who would have thought...

Chen Che wasn’t giving him the chance, trying to drive him away now.

At that moment, Meng Qingxuan also put down her Fragrant Tea and said casually,

"Steward Li, you may leave first. If I need anything, I will find you at Jinyun Valley!"

"Miss Meng, I will take my leave."

Li Hong cupped his hands, turned, and walked out the door. As he left, he shot Chen Che a look filled with hatred.

...

’A sycophant like him actually thought he could scheme against me?’

Tucking the Spirit Stones into his robes, Chen Che snorted inwardly. Li Hong had tried to kill him with praise, preying on the supposed hot-headedness of youth. But Chen Che had correctly guessed that Li Hong wouldn’t dare lose face by arguing in front of a ’big shot’.

’Are big shots really that easy to butter up?’

’All the sycophants are lining up to kiss her boots. Didn’t he notice that no matter how hard he licked, Meng Qingxuan remained completely unmoved?’

In fact, she even seemed a little disgusted!

"Cold Pill?"

As these thoughts crossed his mind, he looked at the Pill Formula and immediately frowned.

It was an advanced version of the Cold Frost Pill.

Its refining difficulty was even greater than the Cold Frost Pill’s. Although it was still a Tier One High Grade Elixir, its refining difficulty was comparable to that of a Tier Two Elixir.

Chen Che didn’t want to refine it.

"Miss Meng, could a Cold Frost Pill be used instead?"

"No. The Cold Frost Pill won’t meet my needs."

Meng Qingxuan slowly shook her head, her expression leaving no room for negotiation.

"What needs?"

"A few days ago, I tracked a Fiery Flying Crane here, hoping to take it as a mount. The Cold Frost Pill’s effects don’t last long enough to support me in a prolonged battle with it. Only the ’Cold Pill’ is a suitable choice."

"The Fiery Flying Crane!"

Chen Che nodded slightly.

It was a Wading Bird Type Demon Beast, with a power ceiling at the Late-stage Qi Refining realm. Its body was wreathed in flames, and it excelled at fire-based attacks. Among Demon Beasts of the same tier, its combat power was above average. Its endurance was also extremely high, on par with raptors.

It was a top choice for a mount.

"Alchemist Chen, since you can skillfully refine the Cold Frost Pill, you can surely refine the Cold Pill as well. Refine three for me!"

Seeing Chen Che lost in thought, Meng Qingxuan watched him quietly and said,

"I will cover all the materials for the alchemy, and I will purchase each pill at three times the market price!"

Chen Che did a quick calculation. If he took this job, he would net at least twenty-five Spirit Stones.

He didn’t want to refine it, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t.

’Not unless the price is right.’

"In that case, I’ll give it a try!"

...

「Jinyun Valley.」

Li Hong’s face was dark as he strode back to his small courtyard.

Tributor Li was hunched over a desk, a mountain of Pill Books piled before him. Hearing the commotion, he looked up.

"Why are you back? Didn’t I tell you to stay by Meng Qingxuan’s side and not leave her for a moment?"

"Meng Qingxuan sent me away!"

Li Hong angrily chugged a glass of water, but he couldn’t suppress his rage. He clenched his right fist, and the cup instantly shattered, splashing water everywhere.

"What happened?"

Tributor Li was taken aback.

His younger brother wasn’t an idiot. He knew who he could afford to offend and who he had to flatter. How could he have been driven away?

"It was Chen Che, of course!"

Li Hong gritted his teeth and recounted what had just happened at the Pill Shop.

"Such a sharp tongue..."

After listening, Tributor Li fell silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"Forget it. If we can’t get into her good graces, he probably can’t either!"

"Why?"

Li Hong was confused.

"Meng Qingxuan came in pursuit of the Fiery Flying Crane, but do you know why the Fiery Flying Crane is here?"

Tributor Li chuckled softly.

"Chen Che can’t help her with this! No matter what he does, it’ll just be a waste of effort."

This area isn’t the Fiery Flying Crane’s natural habitat, so there’s only one possibility: it was passing through and laid its eggs here to nest.

This means there are two Fiery Flying Cranes in the nest.

"I understand now! In that case, this is a blessing in disguise for me. I’ve gotten myself out of a messy situation!"

Li Hong couldn’t help but chuckle.

He glanced at his brother, who had returned to his desk, a new doubt rising in his mind.

"Brother, what’s the Pill Formula the Valley Master asked you to complete?"

WHOOSH! 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Before his words had even faded, Tributor Li’s head snapped up, his gaze icy.

"Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t be asking."

"...Alright!"

Li Hong was stunned, his thoughts in turmoil. He had never seen his brother with such an expression before.

...

Meanwhile, after returning to his Cave Mansion, Chen Che fired up the Chixia Tripod. He refined seven pills in a single batch, and the extra materials and pills were naturally his to keep.

He delayed for three days before finally handing over the Cold Pills. After receiving the pills, Meng Qingxuan left in a hurry.

He thought that would be the end of the matter.

Unexpectedly, she returned that very afternoon. Her clothes were scorched in many places, and there were even a few burn marks on her face. She looked utterly disheveled.

"Chen Che, get out here!"

Meng Qingxuan shouted as soon as she entered the Pill Shop.

"What can I do for you, Miss Meng?"

Seeing her like this, it looked like she was here to cause trouble, which gave Chen Che a headache. "Could it be that there was a problem with the pills I refined?"

"No, your pills are great!"

But Meng Qingxuan shook her head, her eyes burning with anticipation.

"I miscalculated before. There are two Fiery Flying Cranes, and they’ve made a nest in the mountains and laid a few eggs. The effects of the Cold Pill aren’t enough for me to handle two of them, so I need a higher-grade pill!"

"I need you to refine three Linghan Pills for me within three days!"

Chen Che frowned. Li Hong really had brought him a major headache.

’Linghan Pill!’

’That’s a genuine Tier Two Low-grade Elixir.’

"Miss Meng, you should know better than I do how difficult a Tier Two Elixir is to refine. I’m not yet a Tier Two Alchemist. How could I possibly refine them in three days?"

But Meng Qingxuan didn’t care at all. Instead, she slammed her hand on the table.

"I don’t care! You have to refine them for me!"

Hearing this, Chen Che’s expression darkened.