Longevity with a Turtle

Chapter 129: Chapter 107: Little Black’s Intense Desire

Fushou Lane, Blessed Residence Number 136.

Zhuang Xinyan returned from the Qinghe Tavern. She hung an ”In Seclusion” sign on the courtyard gate before stepping inside and shutting it tightly.

At this time, Jiang Ruxu had just finished her alchemy and saw Zhuang Xinyan walking in.

”Senior Sister, did you go out?” Jiang Ruxu asked, puzzled.

She had been apprenticed to Alchemist Zhuang for several years and knew just how fiercely he protected Zhuang Xinyan. He rarely let her go out alone. It was as if he feared some terrible accident would happen if she was out of his sight for even a moment. Only after Jiang Ruxu joined them did Alchemist Zhuang allow his granddaughter to go out, but usually only if accompanied by Jiang Ruxu. He still rarely let her go out unaccompanied.

”Yes. Elder Chen is here, so Grandpa asked me to order some Spiritual Cuisine from the Qinghe Tavern,” Zhuang Xinyan replied.

”Elder Chen is here?” Jiang Ruxu’s large, expressive eyes stole a peek toward the guest hall, catching a glimpse of Chen Jianghe’s back. She quickly pulled Zhuang Xinyan closer and whispered in her ear, ”Elder Chen didn’t come looking for trouble, did he?”

”No, it seems everything Grandpa said was true. Elder Chen just came to visit him.” With her naive personality, Zhuang Xinyan took the conversation between Chen Jianghe and Alchemist Zhuang completely at face value.

”Uh... so they really are friends.” Jiang Ruxu was slightly skeptical, but it was hard to argue when Chen Jianghe was right there in the guest hall, chatting and laughing with her master. Moreover, Zhuang Xinyan had even brought back Spiritual Cuisine and Immortal Spirit Wine from the Qinghe Tavern to host him.

”Oh, right, did you succeed, Junior Sister?” Zhuang Xinyan asked.

”Yes, but the Pill Success Rate was a bit low. I only managed to produce two Qi Nourishing Pills from the furnace.”

”Two Qi Nourishing Pills in one furnace! Your talent is so good, Junior Sister. No wonder Grandpa is always praising you, saying you have the potential to become a Tier Two Alchemist.

”I can only manage to produce one pill per furnace. Sigh...”

”Let’s hurry inside, Senior Sister. We shouldn’t keep Master and Elder Chen waiting,” Jiang Ruxu said, linking her arm through Zhuang Xinyan’s. The two walked into the guest hall together.

”Greetings, Elder Chen,” Jiang Ruxu bowed respectfully to Chen Jianghe.

”Fellow Daoist Jiang, have you finished your alchemy session?” Chen Jianghe nodded and smiled. ”Alchemist Zhuang is an exceptional master. To be taken in as his disciple means you have profound fortune.

”You must diligently practice your Alchemy Technique and not waste this rare opportunity.”

”I will remember your teachings, Elder Chen. I will certainly work hard and learn well from my master,” Jiang Ruxu nodded earnestly.

”Ruxu, how was the pill yield?” Alchemist Zhuang interjected.

”To answer Master, your disciple managed to produce two pills in this furnace.”

”Two Qi Nourishing Pills. Yes, not bad. You can barely be considered a Lower-Grade Alchemist now.” Alchemist Zhuang nodded in satisfaction.

Hearing this, Chen Jianghe smiled.

He could tell Alchemist Zhuang was showing off to him, displaying his capital for networking. He was subtly implying that even though Chen Jianghe was friends with a Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he wasn’t lacking either; he was a High-Grade Alchemist himself, and his disciple possessed immense potential.

Chen Jianghe found this amusing.

He knew he didn’t actually possess any real networking capital. His relationship with Gao Peiyao was nothing more than a past acquaintance from when they were both struggling at the bottom. It was different from her dynamic with Yu Daniu, as Gao Peiyao actually owed Yu Daniu a favor.

However, since Alchemist Zhuang was intentionally trying to befriend him, Chen Jianghe naturally wouldn’t refuse. Having a High-Grade Alchemist as a friend was highly beneficial. It would be of great help to his future Cultivation. After all, whether it was Body Refining or practicing Spiritual Techniques, both required the assistance of Spirit Pills.

Soon after, Alchemist Zhuang asked Zhuang Xinyan to bring out the Spiritual Cuisine and Immortal Spirit Wine she had fetched from the Qinghe Tavern.

The moment the food and wine were revealed, an alluring aroma instantly filled the room.

It had to be said that Alchemist Zhuang indeed had deep pockets.

The profit margins for Pill Masters were vastly higher than those for Talisman Masters. This table of Spiritual Cuisine consisted of Wind Wolf Leg, Black Bear Paw, Fire-Breathing Rabbit, as well as Cyan-Scaled Fish and White Egret sourced from the Qinghe Marketplace. These were all elaborate dishes prepared from Spirit Beasts and Demon Beasts.

There was also that pot of Top-Grade Immortal Spirit Wine.

Chen Jianghe couldn’t guess the exact value of the Spiritual Cuisine, but he knew the Top-Grade Immortal Spirit Wine cost ten Spirit Stones per pot. Yun Xiaoniu had mentioned it back when they were preparing a congratulatory gift for Gao Peiyao.

During the private banquet, they chatted and laughed, the atmosphere harmonious and joyous. Since both men harbored the desire to befriend one another, their conversation flowed naturally, and neither was stingy with their praise for the other.

After several rounds of food and wine.

Just as Chen Jianghe was about to take his leave, Alchemist Zhuang finally said to him, ”If you ever need Spirit Pills in the future, Fellow Daoist, feel free to come to me.

”I won’t promise a massive discount, but I can certainly help you save quite a few Spirit Stones.”

Alchemist Zhuang didn’t explicitly state the price, but his tone made it obvious that the offer would definitely be more favorable than the one he had promised in the past.

Twenty-five years ago, through Talisman Master Chu Lang’s introduction.

Alchemist Zhuang had once told Chen Jianghe that he could get a five percent discount on any Spirit Pills he purchased. Now that they were building a friendship, the discount would naturally be greater.

”Then I will thank you in advance, Fellow Daoist,” Chen Jianghe said, cupping his hands in gratitude.

At this moment, he thought of Ruan Tieniu’s matter, so he added, ”There is one more thing, depending on whether you have the time, Fellow Daoist?”

”Oh? What is it?” Alchemist Zhuang asked with a smile, a glint flashing in his eyes.

He wasn’t a fool.

Chen Jianghe hadn’t come to look for trouble, but had instead gone out of his way to make nice. He definitely needed a favor.

There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

What they called ”building connections” was merely an exchange of mutual benefits. They just hadn’t laid it all out in the open yet. If Chen Jianghe truly asked for nothing, Alchemist Zhuang would have had to worry about his real intentions for reaching out. Was he plotting to usurp his family’s legacy?

Similarly, Chen Jianghe understood perfectly well why Alchemist Zhuang was befriending him and publicly claiming they had a relationship. In reality, the old man was just paving the way for his granddaughter’s future.

It was just that Chen Jianghe’s relationship with Gao Peiyao was nowhere near as deep as Alchemist Zhuang imagined.