Chapter 58: The Alchemists Chamber

Xu Yi had no appetite. The child had good intentions, and he did not wish to disappoint her. He rubbed her tiny head and started munching.

The dainty child watched him eating happily. Her round chubby face was in full bloom. She flashed her silly looking tigress teeth.

“Come eat with me? There’s so much food; how can I possibly eat it all?”

Xu Yi chuckled.

The child rubbed her bulging belly and pouted. “I can’t eat anymore. I am so full. Aye, Uncle Beardo, living with you has its pros and cons. I enjoy all the good food you’ve bought me. However, I am always bloated. Now, even a chicken drumstick does not taste delicious anymore.”

Xu Yi broke out in laughter. Suddenly, he recalled that Little Qiu might attend school in Furong Town. He queried, “Little Qiu, what’s Grandpa doing now? Please bring him out for a discussion on finding you a school in this town.”

“Go to school?” Little Qiu’s eyes sparkled. Very quickly, they lost their glint. “No need. It’s not in Furong Town. I’d rather stay home with Grandpa.”

“Lazy bum. We can go to school anywhere, can’t we?” Xu Yi pinched her chubby cheeks and chuckled.

The little girl did not wish to continue the discussion. She slipped down from Xu Yi’s lap, put her hands behind herself, and walked towards the door. She sighed along the way and lamented, “Uncle Beardo, how I wish I could grow up faster!” With that statement, she hurried out of the door.

Xu Yi shook his head and smiled wryly. His suggestion for Little Qiu to attend school was non-urgent. He decided to tackle the matter another time. He was getting ready to read when Yuan Qinghua hurriedly entered the courtyard.

“Boss, bad news!”

Yuan Qinghua was running out of breath. He was shouting as he pushed the door open.

“It’s probably not that big of a deal. Tell me slowly.”

Yuan Qinghua locked the door and pulled a chair to sit down by a window. He solemnly related, “Damn Black Dragon Hall’s bent on killing you. They’ve sent Wan Tenyun!”

“Who’s he? Is he some big shot?”

“Not only is he a bigshot, but he’s renowned throughout Guang’an! He’s the young master of the Black Dragon Hall. This guy, though young at 30 years old, has already achieved his peak in his prowess. He’s been listed among the top 10 Guang’an elites. His Execute Extreme Sword is powerful, and no one survives after seeing him strike. Being the only child and heir, if the Black Dragon Hall sends him to duel, that shows their determination to win. Nonetheless, this guy’s the trump card of Black Dragon Hall. Since Black Dragon Hall is sending him for the duel, they must have great confidence in the victory. Perhaps they have loaded him with other invincible weapons? I’m afraid that Boss will confront a humanoid weapon. How will you make it through this duel?”

“There’s always a solution to any problem. We do our best. There’s no need to worry too much. You’ve managed to gather only this piece of news on today’s trip? Have you forgotten what I asked you to do?”

Xu Yi was indifferent as he had already anticipated that he would be confronted with the strong opponents within the Black Dragon Hall. Despite the dismal situation, he thought he could manage it.

Yuan Qinghua was aghast at Xu Yi’s lack of sense of impending danger. He continued to answer his questions.

He had set out early that morning after Xu Yi had given him instructions last night. He first went over to the Linglong Hall to sell off the extraordinary silver spear for five hundred taels of gold. He requested Linglong Hall to gather and purchase medicinal herbs at high prices in various state capitals. Subsequently, he moved to the marketplace at An He North Bridge and easily disposed of the armour for twelve hundred taels of gold.

Xu Yi received the sum of seventeen hundred taels of gold from Yuan Qinghua. With his earlier redemption of the lottery tickets at fifteen hundred taels of gold coupled with his original three hundred taels of gold, he had a total of thirty five hundred taels of gold on hand. That was indeed far superior to the two gold pieces prior.

Xu Yi was elated.

Watching Xu Yi’s mercenary behaviour, Yuan Qinghua felt sick to his stomach. “Boss, how can you be happy? Do you know the odds? It’s a record in Guang’an. The odds are 5 to 1. Those ruthless folks dare to take such odds to attract more bets. That means half your leg is already stepping on the coffin string. This time, I’ll not buy you to win. You mustn’t rebuke me for being disloyal. I’ve gritted my teeth to control my urge to put in a bet for Wan Tenyun. That’s the best I can do.”

Xu Yi chuckled. He stood up and said, “Hope you won’t regret it!” He took the large bamboo hat that the maid He Hua had bought and strode out of the room.

“Boss, you are still unwell. Where are you going?”

Yuan Qinghua shouted from behind.

Xu Yi did not turn back. “The odds have been given out. There’s no need for me to pretend any longer. Take good care of Grandpa and Little Qiu. I’ll be gone for two days.” He disappeared into the halo of the setting sun.

He decided to look for Master Zhou. Since his fake injury, Master Zhou had not visited him in two days. He missed his friend.

When he reached Zhou’s residence, he found the door locked. He asked around and found an elderly lady living next door. She asked for Xu Yi’s name and handed over a letter from Master Zhou.

Xu Yi opened the letter and finally discovered the reason.

Master Zhou had gone on an urgent trip. He went to the the neighbourly Luzhou Mansion. He would be there for a while. He left Xu Yi a note asking him not to worry about him. He predicted that Xu Yi would be successful and did not forget to remind him to practise the Domination Secrets.

Xu Yi headed straight for the East City once he had left Master Zhou’s. This is the city where pugilists and warriors gather. There was no need to avoid the pedestrians, hence he was able to enter the city swiftly.

After a few moments, Xu Yi halted in front of a workshop.

Despite the sprawling spacious land that the workshop sat on, the curtains on the door were plain and unadorned. The door was unpretentious. Even the signboard lacked lustre as compared to that of Linglong Hall. It was a plain black board. Alchemists Chamber was printed in bold black letters. There was a line of fine print — Guang’an Branch.

The facade and the signboard were not lavish. However, Xu Yi had dared not underestimate this workshop. Inside the workshop, it was thriving with cries of dragons and tigers. The skies were at times bursting with brilliant lights and vibrant colors, and at other times, they were shrouded by eccentric, illusionary shadows. It was definitely a mysterious sight.

Once he had entered through the main door, he saw a few customers in the vast hall. Xu Yi did not meet any professional sales guides like those he had seen at the Linglong Hall. In fact, no one had greeted him since his entrance.

Xu Yi was not upset. He understood that there would be good reason for the arrogant attitude.

He had studied the authoritative technique. He changed his frame of thought and reckoned that there could be some written process to guide the customers how to go about things in the workshop.

After he made a few attempts to scrutinise the place, he found an engraved list on the painted wall. He took a glance before moving forward another ten yards. He found the room he was searching for. The Booster Hall was written above the signboard in bright red font.

He entered another door and arrived in the midst of a spacious hall. The decorations were ancient and unimpressive. This time, Xu Yi did not have to wait for long. A young service man dressed in a green uniform approached him upon entry. The youngster asked Xu Yi which grade of alchemist he needed.

The young man did not worry about Xu Yi’s weird outfit with the large bamboo hat. Everyone respected the privacy of the pugilists.