Feng Ji.
The current Patriarch of the Yingchuan Feng Clan, and also the Feng Family's only living Alchemy Grandmaster. The Feng Family primarily cultivated the Gold Element Divine Pattern, Demon-Binding Rope. Although their Wood Element Divine Treasure was also suited for Alchemy, they ultimately couldn't compare to the Zhu Family, who practiced fire and wood Dual Cultivation.
Yet, even under these circumstances, Feng Ji still managed to become an Alchemy Grandmaster, which spoke volumes of his skill.
For an Alchemist, nothing was more important than their personal journal. These journals often contained their firsthand data on Alchemy. Many great clans' Pill Formula improvements and Alchemy Technique optimizations came from the journals of their top Alchemists.
The value of such a journal was self-evident.
If it were to get out, it would undoubtedly cause a frenzy.
Even the Zhu Family would go crazy for it, because the Feng Family's approach to Alchemy was vastly different from their own.
And that kid, Feng Kucha, had actually stolen the damn thing. Judging by how worn the journal was, he'd probably had it for a long time.
"Don't go, Old Feng!"
Zhao Ci wasn't about to let him leave, slinging an arm around his neck and pulling him into the backyard.
Feng Kucha struggled uncomfortably. "I'm fucking smuggling here. Keep it down."
"It's fine! I don't have any customers yet, no one can see us!"
Zhao Ci chuckled. "Aren't you afraid your old man will beat you to death if he finds out you stole his treasure?"
Feng Kucha sneered. "Let him try! He owes me. Even if he knew I stole it, he wouldn't dare say a thing to me."
Tsk!
Zhao Ci sighed. He had heard Feng Kucha's story. His mother wasn't Feng Ji's first wife, but a herb-gathering woman from deep within the Huailing Mountain Range.
The great war eighteen years ago had lasted a long time. Feng Ji was part of it, and when he was wounded, Feng Kucha's mother nursed him. Later, the war ended, she became secretly pregnant, but Feng Ji never returned to bring her to the Feng Family as he had promised.
She had her pride and never once thought of seeking out Feng Ji. She raised Feng Kucha by herself until he was five. Later, she encountered a demon beast infestation, and only on her deathbed did she give Feng Kucha a token and tell him to find Feng Ji.
Unexpectedly, the Feng Family's eldest legitimate son was too frail and sickly to be sent to Lingge. The second legitimate son was just the right age to be sent, and this child was extremely talented, doted on by both Feng Ji and his first wife.
As a result, before Feng Kucha had even spent three months with the Feng Family, he was sent to Lingge in place of the second legitimate son.
Although everyone in the Feng Family had treated him very well during those three months, he didn't appreciate it. He felt they were just coaxing him into being a sacrificial puppet.
"Old Feng!"
Zhao Ci was puzzled. "You had this amazing thing, so why didn't you give it to me that night we went to Feng's Pill Workshop?"
Feng Kucha pursed his lips. "Back then, I thought you were just messing around for fun. Giving it to you would have been a waste. I didn't expect you to get serious, spending three hundred and fifty thousand taels on the Hundred Refinements Furnace like a fucking madman. Just take this journal. It'll be good for you."
Zhao Ci shook his head. "This journal is too valuable. I can't just take it. Are you sure you don't want to be my Mansion Official? If you become my Mansion Official, I can use my merit points to pay you back big time!"
Feng Kucha's mouth twitched. "Just take it when I tell you to! Good grief, not only do you want my journal, but you also want to screw me over with that Mansion Official position. If I become your Mansion Official, I'll lose my monthly salary. Are you going to support me?"
Zhao Ci clutched the journal in one hand and slapped his chest with the other. "I'll support you!"
Feng Kucha: "..."
He stammered and struggled for a long moment.
Finally, he couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
Zhao Ci frowned. "You don't believe me?"
Feng Kucha's mouth twitched. "Don't you have any self-awareness, big bro? I'm giving you the journal mainly because I'm afraid your merit will go negative, which would be an embarrassment to me as your brother. You don't actually think you're going to soar to the heavens, do you?"
"Now you're just looking down on me, aren't you? I really can soar to the heavens!"
Zhao Ci lowered his voice. "I've hired a ridiculously skilled Alchemist to be my Mansion Official. With her, our Xiang's Pill Workshop will definitely soar to the heavens!"
Feng Kucha had a feeling he wasn't just bragging and couldn't help but feel a little suspicious. "For real? There's an Alchemist that amazing in this world?"
Zhao Ci nodded. "Never underestimate the heroes of this world! I'm definitely going to make a killing this time. The resources I get from the merit points will be more than enough for the few of us to cultivate for three years. We can finally wash away our reputations as wastes. I'm short-staffed right now. Are you in or out?"
"Well..."
Feng Kucha hesitated. He was wavering.
He had grown up in the remote mountains and hadn't had a Feng Family expert nourish his body with their Original Divine Treasure, so his innate talent was abysmal.
The only thing that could defy fate and change his life were the resources exchanged for a mansion's merit points.
'This...'
Just then, a fiery red figure came running over excitedly on her short legs, yelling as she ran.
"Zhao Ci!"
"Zhao Ci!"
"I did it! My family agreed to let me be your Mansion Official!"
"From now on! I am the number one Alchemist of Xiang's Pill Workshop!"
Zhao Ci: "..."
Feng Kucha: "Hiss..."
He was dumbfounded.
He couldn't help but ask, "Zhao Ci, is she the 'ridiculously skilled' Alchemist you were talking about?"
They all ran in the same circle of rich kids. Who didn't know who?
Zhao Ci opened his mouth, about to explain.
But Zhu Li cut in smugly, "Of course it's me! Who else would it be, you?"
"Hiss..."
Feng Kucha sucked in a sharp breath, his expression becoming a brilliant spectacle, as if to say: 'Zhao Ci, why don't you just go die?'
Zhao Ci couldn't help but say, "Old Feng, let me explain. Our merit points in the future will definitely..."
"This really isn't about merit points!"
Feng Kucha waved his hands dismissively. "The main thing is, I just like being a waste. Did you think I was a waste because I lacked talent and didn't work hard enough? You really don't understand me at all. I'm heading out. I wish you a bright and prosperous future!"
With that, he fled from Xiang's Pill Workshop as if escaping for his life.
Zhao Ci: "..."
Zhu Li clutched her letter of recommendation and waved it excitedly in front of Zhao Ci. "I'm your Mansion Official from now on."
Zhao Ci rubbed his head. "I know, I know..."
Zhu Li was a little dissatisfied. "Your number one Alchemist has reported for duty. What's with the attitude?"
"Oh, right! I should be happier!"
Zhao Ci rubbed his head again and tucked the journal safely inside his robes. 'Even if I had managed to recruit Feng Kucha, he would most likely have just been slacking off anyway. But this journal is worth tons of merit points. If Kucha isn't here to share in the resources, I'd feel bad using it.'
'Oh well. I'll give him another chance to choose after the Gongdan Conference!'
He looked at Zhu Li curiously. "By the way, how did you convince the Zhu Family?"
"It's all thanks to Luotang!"
Zhu Li repeated the words Kan Luotang had taught her, adding at the end, "Luotang said this method would be effective, but it might damage your reputation a bit. If it offended you, please don't blame her."
Zhao Ci smiled and waved his hand. "No blame! As for my reputation, I lost that thing a long time ago. Trading it for a fierce general is a huge win for me!"
Zhu Li nodded in deep agreement. "I think it's a huge win, too!"
Zhao Ci: "..."
'A simple math problem was all it took to make her this confident.'
He waved his hand. "I happen to be heading to the palace. Come with me to the Imperial Clan Court and register your name under my mansion."
"Okay!"
Zhu Li was excited. She would have an official position from now on.
She skipped toward the courtyard gate, then noticed Zhao Ci hadn't followed. She turned back and urged, "What are you dawdling for? Don't get in the way of my official duties!"
Zhao Ci: "..."
He rubbed his head, went to the kitchen to find the cook, and came out a moment later holding a bag.
Zhu Li was curious. "What's that?"
Zhao Ci smiled. "Groceries! I'm going to cook for my mother later."
"Huh?"
Zhu Li was both surprised and excited. "Wow, you're surprisingly filial! Are you a good cook? If you are, can I come freeload a meal?"
"Sure, I guess!"
Zhao Ci glanced at the colorful mushrooms in the bag and nodded.
Lately, whenever he had free time, he would analyze Gu Xiangzhu's identity.
She missed the food from her hometown, which meant it must be hard to come by. But the palace had famous chefs specializing in many cuisines; there were few dishes from across the Great Yu that couldn't be found there.
He had visited the head eunuch of the Imperial Kitchen and also inquired at some of the more famous restaurants in Lingge.
And he had actually figured it out through a process of elimination.
Dian Nan!
The region bordered the seventeen vassal states to the south. Although these small nations had all pledged fealty to the Great Yu, they each had their own agendas. Over the years, both sides had been infiltrating each other, turning Dian Nan into the most chaotic and weakly governed region in the Great Yu.
Coupled with logistical difficulties, it was indeed quite hard to get Dian Nan cuisine in Lingge.
The cuisine of this region happened to correspond with the Hundred Poison Secret Manual, the reward for completing her wish.
'How meticulous!'
Although food from Dian Nan was hard to source, Zhao Ci was, after all, part of the "waste" circle and knew all about food, drink, and entertainment. He found a fellow "waste" friend from the Dian Nan Yang Clan and managed to get some fresh ingredients and recipes through special channels.
With his decent cooking skills, he should be able to handle it.
'I have to serve that Demon Sect woman, Gu Xiangzhu, well.'
'It has nothing to do with whether I can cop a feel or not. The key is that she's a high-quality gold mine. She really drops skills!'
'While this mine hasn't collapsed yet...'
'I have to dig for all I'm worth!'
'Besides, based on our current relationship, we're still a long way from foot-massages.'
'I've got to keep working hard!'