Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The Difficult Art of Alchemy and the Zhao Family’s Unusual Actions_1
Before long, another day had passed.
In the early morning hours, in Qingshi Town, the Luo Family Ancestral Land.
Within a courtyard of the central area of the Luo Family’s estate, beneath the Stone Pavilion.
Luo Changfeng was at this moment holding a book titled “Introduction to Alchemy”, browsing through it with a very serious expression.
Even though he didn’t understand why Luo Youwei, that little girl, was like this.
What he did know was that if he wanted to prolong the little girl’s life,
the only method at present was to.
Forcefully suppress the extreme and bone-chilling coldness within the little girl’s body.
Only by suppressing that extreme and bone-chilling coldness,
would the little girl have a chance to survive the next full moon night.
“In my past life, when I read novels, the protagonists made alchemy and artifact refining seem like handy side jobs for making money, as if it was quite simple.”
“But now that it’s time to actually learn alchemy…”
“After three whole days, I haven’t even been able to touch the threshold of entry-level alchemy techniques…”
Luo Changfeng sighed helplessly.
Then, he carelessly tossed the book “Introduction to Alchemy” onto the stone table.
His original plan was to research alchemy techniques up to the introductory stage.
Then, by consuming the vital blood of his clansmen, advance his cultivation to Viscera Refinement, beyond Bone Refinement.
Resolve the issue of his insufficient lifespan first, and then address the issues faced by Luo Youwei, that little girl.
But if things continue at the current pace…
Issues of cultivation and lifespan seem resolvable.
But the problems concerning that little girl, Luo Youwei,
seem unpredictable now!
“No matter what, I will do my best!”
“If it really doesn’t work…”
Luo Changfeng murmured softly, a hint of helplessness flashing through his slightly cloudy eyes.
After shaking his head, he picked up the book “Introduction to Alchemy” from the stone table again.
He opened it and slowly began to leaf through it.
…
Qingshi Town is so named because of the abundant Qingshi ore veins in its vicinity.
Therefore, the small town got the name Qingshi Town.
However, due to years of mining and exploration, the Qingshi ores near Qingshi Town
mostly belonged to someone.
If not to the Luo Family, then to the Zhao Family.
But the recent discovery of a top-grade Qingshi ore vein, stretching over three hundred meters, was an exception.
“Father, those from the Zhao Family have been acting somewhat unusual today,”
spoke a young man, robust but not exaggeratedly so,
with a handsome, fair complexion and an unyielding air, who was standing quietly in the center of a large tent set up near the newly found top-grade Qingshi ore vein outside Qingshi Town.
His brow was slightly furrowed, and he spoke in a somewhat stern tone to his father, Luo Yong.
“Unusual?” Luo Yong, puzzled by his son’s words, asked, “In what way unusual?”
“Father, the previous days were fine, but today near this top-grade Qingshi ore vein, quite a few people from the Zhao Family have appeared,”
the young man said in a low voice.
However, before he could finish,
Luo Yong, seated calmly at the place of honor and regarded as the strongest individual within the Luo Family by the outside world, waved his hand dismissively and said with a smile, “What’s so unusual about that?”
“Our Luo Family and the Zhao Family are each responsible for mining and selling the Qingshi ore veins near Qingshi Town.”
“The value of a top-grade Qingshi ore vein stretching over three hundred meters is clear to both us and the Zhao Family.”
“Therefore, it is understandable that the Zhao Family is still covetous of this ore vein.”
“In the following period, all we need to do is guard this top-grade Qingshi ore vein well.”
“Why bother with other matters?”
…
After speaking, Luo Yong paid no more attention to his son.
He just went about his usual routine, eating and drinking as he pleased.
After all, life went on as usual.
As long as that top-quality Qingshi vein, stretching for over three hundred meters, remained in the Luo Family’s possession, that was all that mattered.
Even if some members of the Zhao Family appeared near the precious Qingshi vein, what of it?
Certainly, those people from the Zhao Family wouldn’t dare to confront him, Luo Yong, or the Luo Family, would they?
As for the robust, handsome, fair-skinned yet masculine young man…
After his father had stopped paying attention to him, he could only helplessly shake his head and walk out of the large tent.
[Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…]
As soon as he stepped out of the tent, he was greeted by gusts of cold wind, tinged with a hint of ice.
The autumn season was gradually passing by.
The winter, out of the four seasons of the year, was also drawing near.
“Father’s temperament is still the same…”
The youth named Luo Qingshan adjusted his collar and let out a soft sigh.
His father was not wrong.
It was enough as long as the Luo Family could defend that vein of top-quality Qingshi.
But the biggest problem now was…
That the Zhao Family’s sudden abnormal behavior today must have a reason.
If the Luo Family did not take proper precautions against this,
they could be caught completely off-guard by an attack from the Zhao Family.
And then, things could get quite serious.
“Perhaps I should inform my eldest uncle about this news,” he thought.
“Even though Father, my eldest uncle, and the second uncle can’t work together in harmony,”
“at least in the face of such significant matters…”
“all members of the Luo Family should unite and work together.”
“Otherwise, the future path of the family is worrisome indeed!”
…
Before long, it was noon.
The sun hung high in the sky, scattering its relatively warm rays of sunlight.
It temporarily dispelled the chill brought by the tail end of autumn.
“Family Head, these are the messages that Young Master Qingshan asked me to convey,” said a house servant.
Inside a room in Qingshi Town, the Luo Family Ancestral Land,
which was somewhat warm with the burning charcoal fire,
a robust and elite Luo Family house servant,
stood with his head slightly bowed and hands clasped,
speaking with utmost respect.
“The Zhao Family’s abnormal behavior?” After contemplating for a moment, Luo Ping waved his hand and said in a low voice, “I’m already aware of this matter. You may leave.”
“Yes!” After bowing, the elite house servant turned
and left the room quickly.
As the servant gradually disappeared from Luo Ping’s sight,
Luo Chuan, who had been hiding in a corner of the room, slowly emerged
and nonchalantly took a seat next to his father.
“Chuan’er, regarding the Zhao Family’s abnormal behavior,”
“what do you think is their true intent?” asked Luo Ping, turning his head to his son, puzzled, after pondering for a long time without result.
“The answer to that question is quite straightforward,” Luo Chuan began,
picking up a cup of hot tea from beside him, bringing it to his lips, and taking a sip.
After another moment of thought and organizing his words,
he spoke softly, “The reason why the Zhao Family has taken such abnormal actions is simply that they can no longer restrain themselves…”