Chapter 128: Chapter 128:1 Don’t Normally Help Others
Translator: 549690339
Yang Zhen was somewhat innocent. The cunning Cloud Master was indeed saying that, but she also said some other things. For instance… she knew Yang Zhen possessed many valuable items, and she found out from the Hua Family, for instance… The Flower Moon Pavilion had two great alchemists, who might be able to help Yang Zhen.
As for how the Cloud Master would thank Yang Zhen if he won the Dan Rewarding Conference, she didn’t mention it. All she said was, “You’ll know when the time comes.”
This woman, she knew how to get a grip on people’s hearts just right, always scratching at the most curious part, making them itch inside.
After hearing what Cloud Master said, the reason Yang Zhen changed color was because he understood that the whispered conversation between the Cloud Master and him had essentially tied Yang Zhen to the interests of Flower Moon Pavilion.
Sure enough, a group of people around him were looking at Yang Zhen with envy, jealousy and hate, causing Yang Zhen to feel a bit stunned, yet secretly very pleased.
Knowing how to manipulate people’s hearts wasn’t enough. The Cloud Master still underestimated Yang Zhen’s humble and destitute attitude. If Yang Zhen was really pushed to the edge, he could throw away his pride, let alone care about the opinions of others around him.
Yang Zhen had always lived for himself, and he wanted to live very freely.
Their agreement was simple. If the Flower Moon Pavilion needed something from Yang Zhen, they could exchange it for something of equal value, and Yang Zhen had to ensure that Flower Moon Pavilion had first refusal rights.
When Flower Moon Pavilion was in trouble, Yang Zhen could help as much as he could, and Flower Moon Pavilion would thank Yang Zhen afterwards, and make sure he was satisfied with the thank you.
This kind of agreement was almost as good as nothing, Yang Zhen didn’t refuse it. Why refuse an opportunity to benefit both parties?
Hua Youyue looked at Yang Zhen with a complex expression and said in a low voice, “The Dan Rewarding Conference is full of senior practitioners of alchemy, and many of them are respected figures. Other things aside, you mustn’t offend the alchemists too much.”
Yang Zhen understood this point as well. Alchemists were one of the most respected professions in the Nether State, nearly touching upon matters of life and death. No one wanted to casually offend an alchemist.
Yang Zhen also didn’t want to offend people randomly. Upon hearing this, he smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I’m the most low-profile person!”
Hua Youyue’s expression froze, clearly not believing Yang Zhen’s empty promise.
“Let’s eat first, let’s eat first, food is the most important thing to the people. If you miss a meal, it’s starving!” Yang Zhen changed the topic.
Hua Youyue seemed a little uneasy, staring at Yang Zhen and said, “Elder Ci is the most respected Alchemist Refining Grandmaster on the Coast of the East Sea. His status in the alchemy world is almost incomparable. As long as you get guidance from Elder Ci, you will definitely improve a great deal in your alchemy skills. This is achievable by any alchemist under any Alchemist Refining Grandmaster, so you can imagine how many famous people there will be at the Dan Rewarding Conference.”
Yang Zhen looked at Hua Youyue in surprise, “Is this Elder Ci that strong?”
Hua Youyue said irritably, “He’s even more powerful than you can imagine.”
Yang Zhen nodded, he loved making powerful friends. It seemed necessary to get acquainted with him. If he could form some sort of relationship with this Elder Ci, it would be far more beneficial than cooperating with the Flower Moon Pavilion.
Moreover, Yang Zhen had too many possessions. As a layman in the alchemy world, with barely a toe in the door, Yang Zhen didn’t know if the things in his ring would pass their shelf life. If they were to spoil, it would be too much of a waste.
This was the fundamental reason why Yang Zhen didn’t object to cooperating with the Cloud Master.
This meal on the Flower Moon Pavilion was the most luxurious meal Yang Zhen had ever eaten in his life. Anyway, it was all free, Yang Zhen almost tasted every expensive dish on the menu through Hua Youyue’s order.
Not only that, he also ordered a dance performance, and the waiter named Yan’er was part of it. Her dance was so graceful and enchanting, and her charming glances made Yang Zhen’s heart itch.
The people around them had changed the way they looked at Yang Zhen, they looked at him as if he were a nouveau riche.
The two days’ journey flashed by, Yang Zhen reluctantly left the Flower Moon Pavilion, deciding to stay for a few more days when he returned, because the food there was too delicious and the performances were so good, it made people reluctant to leave.
It wasn’t until the Medicine Elder appeared before Yang Zhen with an odd expression that Yang Zhen remembered this disrespectful old man had come along as well.
The Medicine Elder cooed in wonder, circled around Yang Zhen a few times, and with a gloating face, looked at Yang Zhen and said, “Boy, you better pray for good luck and be careful!”
The thing Yang Zhen was least afraid of was scaremongering, he grimaced and said, “Why?”
The Medicine Elder widened his eyes, pointed at his own nose and said, “You’re asking me why, I’m asking you, isn’t the person who opened the stall in front of Sea Tower you?”
Yang Zhen nodded.
“What about those crystal stones?”
“I’ve kept them all to distribute among everyone!”
Medicine Elder staggered, staring wide-eyed and saluted, “In all my life, I’ve never seen such a thick-skinned and shameless fellow as you. Impressive, impressive!”
Yang Zhen hurriedly returned the salute, “Embarrassed, embarrassed!”
An old and a young fox blinked their eyes. Medicine Elder, with his gaze slanted at Yang Zhen, said, “Surely, you wouldn’t swallow my share as well, would you?”
“Of course not, it’s just…” Yang Zhen looked dubiously at Medicine Elder, “How much did you bet?”
Medicine Elder’s eyes lit up, “Where’s the list?”
Yang Zhen hesitated and said, “I accidentally lost it!”
“Haha! No, what I meant was, I only bet ten thousand crystal stones on Sun Yushi’s victory. According to the odds, you should be compensating me with… one hundred thousand crystal stones!”
“Bah!” Yang Zhen glared, pointing at Medicine Elder, “You’re a wily old fox! I don’t even have a hundred thousand crystal stones on me. Isn’t your demand a bit too outrageous?”
“Shall I spread the word about your antics on East Forest Island?”
“Ten thousand crystal stones, no more!”
“One hundred thousand, not one less!”
“No, twenty thousand, take it or leave it!”
“One hundred thousand, or I’ll tell the world how you, the unprincipled bookie, eat, drink, and make merry on East Forest Island.”
“Old man, don’t push me!”
“Push you how?”
Yang Zhen glared at Medicine Elder, snorted, turned around, and walked away, “Go ahead!”
“Eh? Wait, lad, let’s talk some more…”
Indeed, the Alchemist Appreciation Conference was the biggest event on East Forest Island. Over the next two days, more and more airborne boats began to land on the island, and various vessels docked.
Even a newbie like Yang Zhen was getting calluses in his ears from all the chatter: Bai Yue, the genius alchemist from Baiqi Medicine Valley, Dong Yunlei, the extraordinary alchemist from Tianqing Blessed Land; Meng Bailou, the most powerful alchemist master, and so forth.
Among them, this powerful alchemist master Meng Bailou was the alchemist who Hua Youyue and the rest planned to visit for his pills.
“I thought he was an Alchemist Refining Grandmaster?” Yang Zhen inquired, a little puzzled.
Hua Youyue explained with a chuckle, “Master Meng has reached the grandmaster level in both theory and practical. He just needs to concoct a top-notch Seven Star Elixir to promote to an Alchemist Refining Grandmaster.”
Yang Zhen sneered, saying, “Yet, he still hasn’t concocted it.”
Hua Youyue countered irritably, “You’d think a Seven Star Elixir is easy to concoct! It’s rumored Master Meng plans to make a breakthrough during the Alchemist Appreciation Conference. I imagine he’s prepared. I’m just not sure he will help me.”
“No problem, if he doesn’t help you, I will. Unlike those ostentatious, low-grade outside, I usually don’t help others with my alchemy..”