9: Chapter 9 Zhang Shan's Conspiracy

Yang Yao noticed that Ji Taichang's gaze was somewhat fiery.

Her pretty face grew a few shades redder. Forcing herself to stay calm, she left the Pill Hall lobby with the lunch box and went to her private Alchemy Room. She quickly closed the door and held her somewhat hot cheeks in her hands.

“Ahhh...”

“Xiao Chang brought me breakfast and looked at me with that kind of gaze... Does he, does he have feelings for me?”

“But, but I'm his Martial Aunt! I'm also a widow; it's impossible between us!”

“He's still just a child, just experiencing his first awakening of love. It's normal for him to have such thoughts. Yang Yao, oh Yang Yao, you must restrain yourself. You can't make a huge mistake!”

“Otherwise, how will the world look at us in the future? How would Xiao Chang be able to live his life...”

Yang Yao murmured to herself, unable to stop herself from rubbing her cheeks vigorously.

A moment later.

She took a deep breath, a look of determination appearing in her eyes.

Although Ji Taichang had risked his life to save her last night, causing certain feelings to sprout in her heart, their relationship being what it was, she really couldn't escape the eyes of the world and do something so scandalous!

“This box of breakfast... Well, since it's already here.”

Yang Yao looked at the exquisite lunch box in her hand. After hesitating for a moment, she opened it, and an enticing aroma wafted toward her.

She reached out with her fair, tender hand, took a bite of a pastry, and licked her rosy lips.

“Mmm... it's actually quite delicious!”

...

Pill Hall Lobby.

Array patterns flickered on the ground. The Earth Vein Fire was divided into hundreds of outlets, with Pill Furnaces set up over each one.

Numerous Disciples were busy, either researching pharmacology, processing medicinal ingredients, or learning Alchemy. It was very lively.

A Disciple in green robes cautiously lifted the lid of a Pill Furnace. A wave of scorching heat surged out, revealing over a dozen yellowish-white “pigeon eggs.”

“I finally succeeded in refining them!”

Despite their poor quality, the Green-robed disciple's face lit up with joy, looking extremely excited.

“Failed pills.”

But just then, accompanied by an indifferent voice, Ji Taichang's figure appeared like a ghost. With a sweep of his hand, he used his powerful spiritual power to pick up the dozen or so pills and tucked them into his robes.

“I'll be taking these!”

Then he pulled out a small notebook and wrote the words “Failed Pill” behind the Green-robed disciple's name.

“You... you're going too far!”

“These pills might be of poor quality, but they aren't failed pills. They're good pills!”

The Green-robed disciple was so angry his face turned red, and he glared fiercely at Ji Taichang.

Ji Taichang said calmly, “A true ningyuan pill is perfectly round and pure white, sometimes even having a pill vein. Yours are refined like lumps of coal—the color, smell, and appearance are all wrong. If they aren't failed pills, what are they?”

“But! But they have medicinal effects! They aren't useless...”

“Whether they're failed or not isn't for you to say. It's for me to decide!”

Ji Taichang turned and left, not bothering to waste any more words on him.

Ji Taichang had clearly sensed a killing intent from the kid just now, so he wasn't going to be polite!

And this was precisely where the power and perks of the Waste Pill Processing Deacon lay!

With his hands behind his back, Ji Taichang began checking the Pill Furnaces one by one, occasionally confiscating some failed pills. He felt quite relaxed and at ease.

Not only were there perks to be had, but as a deacon, his monthly salary of Spirit Stones was also significantly higher than that of an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple!

“Senior Brother Ji, come over here for a second. I want to discuss something with you.”

A pretty and cute female Disciple suddenly winked at Ji Taichang, took his hand, and quietly led him to a corner of the Pill Hall lobby.

“Is something the matter?”

Ji Taichang squeezed her soft and delicate little hand.

Zhang Caihua felt a wave of disgust, feeling her skin crawl.

But she suppressed the urge to pull her hand away. With a charming smile on her face, she blinked at Ji Taichang without withdrawing her palm.

She looked around, then lowered her voice and said to Ji Taichang, “Senior Brother Ji, I'm an Alchemist. Let's cooperate. I can refine some good pills to look very ugly but have no issues with their medicinal effects. You then classify them as failed pills.”

“When the time comes, we'll sell the pills together and split the profits fifty-fifty. What do you think?”

“This is a small token of my appreciation...”

Zhang Caihua took out a bottle of Medicinal Pills and stuffed it into Ji Taichang's hand.

Just as they were talking.

Zhang Shan, who was in the Pill Hall lobby, suddenly turned her head toward them. The corners of her mouth curled up into a cold, sinister smile!

Right where Ji Taichang and Zhang Caihua were, there was a gemstone on the wall that looked like a decoration, flickering with a faint, almost imperceptible light.

This was a Recording Stone!

Ji Taichang's appearance and his conversation with Zhang Caihua were all being recorded!

As long as Ji Taichang agreed, Zhang Shan could take the Recording Stone and report him to the Law Enforcement Hall. Not only could she strip Ji Taichang of his deacon position, but she could also send him to prison to rot!

Slap!!

Just as Zhang Shan was thinking happily to herself, Ji Taichang suddenly delivered a slap!

Caught off guard, Zhang Caihua was spun around three times by the slap and fell to the ground. Her originally round and cute face instantly swelled up like a pig's head.

The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the Pill Hall lobby, causing the surroundings to fall silent for a moment. Everyone's eyes turned toward them simultaneously!

“Deliberately refining good pills to look ugly, then having me identify them as failed pills to sell so we can split the profits?”

“Is this how you test an official?”

“What official could possibly withstand such a test!”

Ji Taichang's face was full of righteousness and severity, as if his entire being was radiating the light of justice. He barked, “You actually dare to openly bribe this deacon! How bold of you!”

“Where is your morality? Where is your bottom line?”

“Let's go. Behave yourself and come with me to the Law Enforcement Hall!”

Ji Taichang grabbed Zhang Caihua and prepared to haul her off to the Law Enforcement Hall right then and there!

At this moment, Zhang Caihua's head was buzzing, and she was completely dazed!

Not just her, but Zhang Shan and the other Pill Hall Disciples were also dumbfounded, watching in stunned silence.

You see, the secret collusion between Alchemists and the Waste Pill Processing Deacon—deliberately making good pills look bad to sell them as failed pills and split the profit—was a well-known unspoken rule!

Even if a deacon was unwilling, they would only refuse in secret.

No one had ever publicly exposed this before; it was equivalent to cutting off one's own source of wealth!

Is this guy a fool?

As Zhang Caihua was being dragged away by Ji Taichang, she finally came to her senses and panicked. “Senior Brother Ji, spare me! Please, let's not go to the Law Enforcement Hall. I know I was wrong...”

If this matter reached the Law Enforcement Hall, the consequences would be severe!

Her Alchemist qualification might even be revoked, cutting off her livelihood for the rest of her life!

“What are you mumbling about?”

“Go tell it to the people at the Law Enforcement Hall!”

Ji Taichang sneered, completely unmoved and without the slightest intention of showing any tenderness toward the fair sex!