Chapter 142: Chapter 84: Outstanding Alchemy! The Center of the Vortex!_2
The man in black thought he had frightened Su Changkong into submission, believing he had scared him out of his wits and knew how to choose. He dropped a sentence and swiftly left.
In the room, Su Changkong slowly picked up the Iron-Cutting Sword that had been placed by the bed. He caressed the sheath and quietly contemplated.
With one strike, he could kill the man, take revenge for Gong Zheng, and also vent his own fury. But doing so would completely obliterate his desire to peacefully cultivate! He would also have to irreversibly fall out with the Deputy Gang Leader, Meng Sang!
Obeying obediently and then deliberately failing at pill refining seemed like the best choice, but could he really continue to live in peace as before?
Gong Zheng had not offended either party, yet he still met an untimely end.
Su Changkong was indeed very conflicted at this moment.
Eventually, Su Changkong made up his mind: “I’ll leave it to fate then! During the pill refining later, I will do my best, and we’ll see whether this last batch of pills turns out successful or not!”
If the alchemy failed, Su Changkong wouldn’t need to poison the pills, and he wouldn’t greatly offend Meng Sang, allowing him temporary peace. If successful… he definitely wouldn’t poison either, which would mean offending Meng Sang!
“I just want to quietly engage in alchemy, quietly practice… why must I be put in such a difficult position?” Su Changkong caressed the sheath, sighing.
As the night deepened, Su Changkong got ready and went to Sikong Huang’s residence on time to refine the third batch of pills.
“Mr. Su, just do your best,” Sikong Huang was still comforting Su Changkong before the alchemy session, but it was clear that she was also very worried and anxious.
The ingredients for the Condensing Spirit Protecting Heart Pill were very precious, and Sikong Huang only managed to procure three sets. If they failed again this time, there would be no more opportunities!
“Mm.”
Su Changkong nodded, entered the secret chamber to start the pill refining, pushed aside all distractions, and began to meticulously prepare the ingredients, preheat the pill furnace, and at the right moment, added various ingredients into it.
As time passed, Su Changkong completely forgot about other matters, focusing solely on making this batch of pills a success.
Alchemy (Realm 5 Stand out 1%)
Unbeknownst to him, Su Changkong’s alchemy skills, already nearing the fifth realm, naturally broke through in the process, officially stepping into the fifth realm!
And at this moment, dawn was breaking, the flames under the pill furnace were dimming, and a heartwarming scent of the medicinal fragrance began to waft through the room!
“Was it a success?”
Sikong Huang, who had been waiting outside, entered the secret chamber and, smelling the intoxicating medicine fragrance, a smile of genuine joy appeared on her usually stern face!
“Did it really succeed?” Su Changkong looked at the Pill Medicine inside the opened furnace, the corner of his mouth revealing a wry smile.
“Mm… Lucky, there’s only one pill formed.”
Su Changkong nodded.
A grateful smile spread across Sikong Huang’s face: “That’s enough… it’s enough! Master Su, thank you for your hard work these past few days. If there’s anything you need in the future, you can come to me, and if it’s within my power, I won’t refuse.”
“It’s nothing, it’s my duty,” Su Changkong shook his head, silently to himself; Sikong Huang had no idea that by coming to him for pill refining, she had already made him offend Meng Sang!
After thinking it over, Su Changkong didn’t tell Sikong Huang about Meng Sang forcing him to poison the pills. If he did, and Sikong Huang asked him to confront Meng Sang, Su Changkong’s plan to leave the Giant Whale Gang quietly would be ruined.
With the internal strife within the Giant Whale Gang growing fiercer, and his inability to remain uninvolved, slipping away quietly was an option.
After the pill refining, Su Changkong bid farewell and left with Sikong Huang seeing him off.
Although Sikong Huang’s matter was resolved, Su Changkong knew that it wouldn’t take long for Meng Sang’s informants to report back. Su Changkong had not only successfully refined the Condensing Spirit Protecting Heart Pill for Sikong Huang but also refrained from poisoning it as instructed, so Meng Sang might retaliate against him for it!
But such was fate, and Su Changkong had to be ready to deal with whatever came his way.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed by peacefully.
That morning, as Su Changkong headed to the pill refining room, he hadn’t yet entered when he heard a joyful tune coming from inside.
It was Liu Geng, who seemed to have encountered some happy event and was excitedly humming a little tune.
“Master Su, you’ve arrived?” Liu Geng noticed the approaching Su Changkong and immediately stopped, a flicker of something strange in his eyes, but his face showed his usual shy smile as he greeted Su Changkong.
“Mm, you seem to be in a very good mood today. Did something nice happen?” Su Changkong asked curiously.
“No… nothing, let’s start alchemy. Master Su, I’ve been watching and learning by your side when you refine pills, but I can hardly match half of Master Su’s ability. Some things are truly hard to make up for with just effort!” Liu Geng shook his head and sighed.
Liu Geng was indeed happy because the previous night, Meng Sang had come to him to inquire how his alchemy skills were progressing and whether he was sufficiently capable of taking up the significant responsibility of being the Giant Whale Gang’s alchemist.
Liu Geng clearly understood what this meant!
It meant that Su Changkong had gravely offended Meng Sang, and Meng Sang would rather nurture an alchemist with less talent and efficiency, rather than one who was disobedient!
Since arriving at the Giant Whale Gang as a youth, Liu Geng had put in countless efforts and endured much hardship, and at last, he was about to rise to prominence. To become an alchemist that, even the elite disciples and hall masters had to treat with respect!
Although Liu Geng didn’t say anything, from his unabashed delight, Su Changkong could guess what had happened; Meng Sang must have decided in his heart to replace the alchemist with someone more compliant.