Yuan forced a cough, "I… think we should… try some innovation!"
His words dropped like a stone in the pond. Every disciple, elder turned their gaze toward him at once.
"Innovation?" one of the senior alchemists asked, brows knitting.
"Aiye~ Little Yuan," Elder Yuhong said with a sigh, "we've already tried lowering prices, giving discounts, adding offers—yet the losses continue. What new trick could you possibly mean by innovation?"
Why did I open my mouth?! Yuan thought, sweating under their gazes. Scrambling, he blurted, "Elders, I… recently came across a secret Recipe for a new type of pill!"
The hall suddenly exploded with sharp voices of surprise.
"What?!"
"How?!"
"Nani?!"
"From last few months, I've been working on an alchemy recipe I obtained by…
...fortune—" Yuan began to throw his made up story, only to feel every elder's sharp gaze stabbing him.
In this serious, emotional discussion—throwing out a joke like that was begging for trouble.
Now, dozens of eyes locked on him. Everyone in the Xu Family knew Yuan's alchemy aptitude was a joke. Even a street beggar, taught for a few days, might refine pills better than him.
Feeling the cold atmosphere, Yuan's smile stiffened. He quickly threw out, "Ah! I mean—it's an alchemy recipe from Sister Ying'er. She's been working on…
…it!"
But the silence only grew heavier, pressing down on him as if the hall itself would swallow him whole. Yuan felt sweat bead on the back of his neck.
Just as he was about to stammer something else, Ying'er suddenly stepped forward.
She clutched her scrolls tightly, her eyes darting between the elders and Yuan.
Then, after a deep, shaky breath, she raised her voice.
"Enough! Junior Brother!"
The elders blinked, startled by her outburst.
Ying'er continued, her tone trembling, enough to sound sincere. "Elders, Junior Brother Yuan…
what he said is true! That recipe…
I've been working on it secretly. He merely wished to help me, to share the burden. If you must scold anyone, scold me!"
"Recipe? When did it happen? And who is scolding him?" One standby disciple thought, baffled. She was one of those who worked with Ying'er in almost every alchemical work. But she why doesn't remember something like that.
While Ying'er glare cut sharply toward Yuan, a warning flickering in her eyes.
Elder Yuhong's jaw slackened in surprise. "Ying'er… why didn't you tell me sooner? You're hiding research from even your own Master?"
"I… I didn't want to speak until I succeeded," she whispered, lowering her head dramatically. "And I… I believe… I can do it. I will not disappointed you.
And If you don't trust me, then we… we are ready to accept any punishment afterward."
Gasps circled the hall. Every disciple, elder's eyes glistened faintly.
"Such courage at her age…" one of the elders muttered.
"Ai~ Truly… she carries the true Alchemy spirit," another elder sighed, clutching his beard as though deeply moved.
Elder Ming even smacked his knee, voice thick. "If she is willing to risk her name, how can we not stand behind her?"
'Why is she including me in her punishment?' Yuan thought to himself clearly displeased. There was no need for her to add more trouble for him.
Grand Elder leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard slowly. His sharp eyes softened as he looked at Ying'er. "Aiye~ I never thought I'd see this side of you, Child. If you are truly shouldering this burden, then we shall not stop you,"
"But such matters cannot drag on forever. Thirty days, no more. In that time, you must succeed."
Gasps rippled through the hall. "Thirty days…"
Elder Yuhong muttered, shaking his head. "Aiye~ Such weight on her shoulders… how will she endure it?"
The elders bowed their heads in agreement, muttering words of encouragement.
Meanwhile, Yuan stood stiffly at the side, barely holding his composure. Inside, he was in turmoil. 'What the fuck! They are actually believing her.'
Ying'er's eyes met his again, her lashes lowering in a sly, vicious glare. Yuan swallowed hard, plastering a faint smile on face.
Soon, the heavy atmosphere slowly eased as Grand Elder's words settled. One by one, the elders rose from their seats, their robes swaying as they exchanged nods.
A few clapped Ying'er on the shoulder in passing, muttering encouragement, while others sighed heavily, already burdened with the weight of thirty days.
Elder Yuhong also patted her shoulder. "Ying'er if you find any difficulty in anything, come to me," she said as she moved away toward her chamber.
The great hall soon grew quieter. The scraping of chairs, the faint shuffle of feet, and murmured discussions about herbs and recipes faded into the distance.
Yuan stood awkwardly near the side, forcing a smile at each elder that glanced his way.
When the last robe finally swept out of sight, he let out the breath he had been holding.
Beside him, Ying'er gathered her scrolls, calm and composed as though nothing had happened.
But as she passed him, she leaned in slightly, with lips curving into a calm smile and whispered, "Junior Brother, Come to my room before I start missing you."
Then she walked off gracefully, leaving Yuan frozen, his jaw slackening.
"uhh!"
—
—
{Same Day at night}
Night had fallen dark but half moon is shining, giving its radiance to earth. Xu Yuan walked steadily, silently like a thief.
He had managed to avoid Ying'er until now, slipping from one shadow to the next. And to his luck, she seemed busy.
"Tomorrow's problem… we will see tomorrow." Yuan muttered softly, with hands clasping on the back.
Now, finally, he reached his own chamber. Glancing to the left, then to the right, he slid the door open with careful hands and entered inside.
The faint moonlight was spilling through the open window, the night air filled the room, carrying a cool touch.
Closing the door behind him, Yuan exhaled a long breath, relief flooding through his chest.
"Finally… peace," he muttered, walking toward the window and letting the cool night air wash over him. His thoughts tangled as he tried to find a way out of this mess. But as he turned around—
"Eeeek!" His whole body jolted.
"Junior Brother…" a figure stood before him, calm yet sharp. "Where have you been all this time?"