Chapter 872: Gathering at the Manor

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“If it isn’t Grandmaster Zhang! You’ve also come to join the bustle, sir?”

“What do you think? With such a rare chance of shooting for the moon, I’m not one to pass it up. Are you any different, Sir Li? You must want to get a post in the imperial family with this, right?”

“Please, I don’t hold such high hopes. I’m only here to enjoy the occasion, ha-ha-ha…”

Bright and early, as the rooster crowed, Flying Cloud manor entrance was packed with a huge crowd, alchemists drawn in by the rumors. 

As far as skills went, only some were real alchemists who came here to seize their chance.

The people laughed, joked, teased, greeted, yet what all had in common was their reserved stance. They were ready to sweep the opposition.

While warm smiles were everywhere, they were each wise enough to know the cruelty hidden within. They were rivals!

At long last, Zhuo Fan and Shangguan Qingyan arrived as well among this sea of hypocrites.

“Miss, are you an alchemist too? How rare.”

Shangguan Qingyan got quite a few curious glances, when they were actually trying to get some info out of her. “Alchemy is filled with fumes and toil, hardly an interest to women. I’m truly amazed you are an alchemist, miss.”

Shangguan Qingyan shook her head, pointing at Zhuo Fan, “You misunderstood, brother, it’s my elder brother who’s an alchemist. I’m only here to keep him company.”

“Oh, he is?”

The man turned his attention to Zhuo Fan, giving off a smile of contempt, “So brother is an alchemist coming to participate in the Pill King Convention. Greetings. Oh, there’s an old friend of mine. Better say hi. Let’s meet again.”

The man quickly left the two, being all friendly to another group, “Ha-ha-ha, one look told me you’re all seasoned alchemists. May I know from where…”

“Er…”

Shangguan Qingyan was taken aback then glanced at Zhuo Fan, “Who is he? He looks friendly yet bolts after a few words.”

Zhuo Fan shook his head, “He’s being nice to you, figuring you’d be a strong contender if you were an alchemist coupled with your cultivation. He was only assessing the competition. As a result, he saw me, in the Radiant Stage, as the only one to participate and was happy. Since alchemy skill is tied to cultivation as well.”

“He’s mocking you then?”

Shangguan Qingyan cursed, “What a snob! You may be weak, you may be average in alchemy, but you’ve come to join the grand Pill King Convention as an alchemist. Much better than those fakers coming fighting for scraps. I never liked their type!”

Ugh!

Staggering, Zhuo Fan’s heart fell, “Sister, they might look down on me, but at least you should appreciate me. Why are you calling me weak and average in alchemy?  Don’t you know you’re bruising my ego?”

“Oh, sorry, I was just trying to help you out.”

Shangguan Qingyan beamed as she apologized, “I got too excited and didn’t mean it like that. Moreover, I’m stating facts, as a 5th layer Radiant Stage cultivator, just how great of an alchemist can you be? If you were entrusted with such a heavy task, why then did dad force cousin to go through alchemy the past week?”

Zhuo Fan’s face twitched hard and almost spat blood, “Sister, I beg of you, never try to take one’s side again. I have great tolerance and can take it, but others would fly into a rage by now. You’re not helping me here, but the other!”

“Isn’t it all because of you two?”

Shangguan Qingyan blushed and glared at him with a pout, “Hanging out with the two of you every day, my mind’s jumbled up and don’t even know what I’m saying anymore. Yesterday, cousin failed in making an 8th grade pill and father was concerned if he would pass the selection. I tried soothing cousin but he took my kind words the wrong way and almost blew a gasket…”

Pff…

Zhuo Fan almost laughed out loud. Shangguan Qingyan was flabbergast, beating his spin in embarrassment, “What are you laughing at? It’s all your fault for teaching me this!”

“I didn’t teach you anything. You’re just a natural when it comes to cutting someone down to size, ha-ha-ha…”

“Don’t laugh!” The light punches kept coming, with Shangguan Qingyan looking distraught, “My Shangguan clan is one of virtue. The only reason I became like this is because I spent too much time around you. It’s all your fault. Can’t you be more gentleman-like? All the time you only know how to talk back and mock, ruining your son and even a lady like me…”

“Don’t blame me. Who told you to stick around every day…”

“No, it’s all on you!”

The two argued in front of everyone, having fun regardless of the audience. Only one pair of eyes watched them with hatred and fury.

It was none other than Shangguan Yulin. 

To not cast any doubts on them, the Shangguan clan planned for Shangguan Yulin and Zhuo Fan to act like strangers. Zhuo Fan was registered in Flying Cloud City, so nothing he did was eye catching. 

While Shangguan Yulin had to be subtle about it before falling back, faking that he was like everyone else, attracted by the Pill King Convention. 

This way, with one egg in another basket, the chances of failure dropped. At the very least, if Shangguan Yulin was found out, there was still Zhuo Fan safe, making the Gu household safe in turn.

Shangguan clan’s plan was ingenious, just that they omitted this young master’s mood. Watching the two having fun, Shangguan Yulin was about to explode, with veins popping on his hands.

“Oh, is brother an alchemist? A Soul Harmony Stage cultivator too.”

A most unfriendly voice sounded, from the same man who probed the others before, showing his fake smile, “Brother’s alchemy must be amazing, in the 9th grade I bet. May I ask from where…”

Shangguan Yulin spat, “Buzz off!”

“What did you say, brother?”

His anger made the words somewhat unrecognizable, and the new guy asked again despite the danger he was in.

Squinting, Shangguan Yulin showed a nasty grin, “Do you want to know my master? Humph, he is the most amazing man in the central area that everyone knows. But I can’t say it here, let’s go somewhere quiet and I’ll tell you.”

Shangguan Yulin walked to a corner and was gone.

The man was excited as he followed.

But just as he made a turn, his mouth was covered. What followed was an endless string of dull sounds as punches rained down on the hapless fool.

An hour later, Shangguan Yulin came out in the light looking refreshed and smiling, “Ah, much better.”

He went back to mingling, with a faint groan coming from behind. 

“W-why…”

A bloody hand stretched out of the corner, before slumping down and slowly crawling out was an unrecognizable man into the light. He cursed, “What the frickin’ hell? We were just talking. Why the violence? What did I ever do to you? I didn’t kill your father, nor steal your wife. Sob~” 

How was he to know that the man he accosted had indeed had his girl taken. Just that he couldn’t vent on the culprit and had him be the target instead since it just so happened he was the wrong guy at just the right time.  

It was just now his day for this unfortunate soul. 

Wiping the blood from his nose, he gnashed his teeth, “Curses, wait till I’ll tell on you!”

With a creak, the manor gate opened and a Soul Harmony Stage guard stepped out and cupped his hands to announce, “Alchemists, the lord welcomes you!”

He turned around and led the way in.

The crowd followed excitedly, eyes brimming with hope. They felt glory was just around the corner…

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