Bai Murong initially dwelled in regret, believing her prior visit to the Grand Princess's estate had provided Bai Shengyi an opportunity to curry favor with their grandfather. However, she soon regained her composure.
Her immediate priority was to alter her grandfather's perception of Bai Shengyi. She understood him well; his patience was wearing thin with Bai Shengyi's repeated rejections.
As Bai Murong pondered, she continued, "Ayi, Grandpa has already apologized to you. Please don't refuse any longer. Becoming the young family head of the Bai family is Grandpa's affirmation of you. Moreover, Grandpa only wants what's best for you and would never harm you. Why do you harbor such hostility towards your own family?"
Bai Sicheng chimed in, "That's right, Ayi. We all wish for you to do better. If you become the young family head, you'll have more resources to practice alchemy and cultivation in the future."
Duke Rong's expression darkened slightly. After hearing Bai Murong's words, he felt Bai Shengyi was becoming rather presumptuous.
He didn't understand Bai Shengyi's grievances towards the Bai family, nor did he believe the family owed Bai Shengyi anything from the past.
Bai Murong carefully observed Duke Rong's expression, knowing he had taken her words to heart.
She looked expectantly at Bai Shengyi, waiting for the foolish girl to reject her grandfather again. The more decisive the rejection, the better!
At that moment, she thought, if she angered Grandpa, not only would she not get the medical texts, but the position of young family head wouldn't even be within Bai Shengyi's reach!
However, she hadn't anticipated that Bai Shengyi couldn't be understood by conventional logic. Not only did she not refuse further, but she also launched a scathing rebuke at Bai Murong.
"Bai Murong, can't you understand human language or discern situations? Are you only capable of sowing discord? I merely stated my stance, how is that hostility? I think you're the one with great hostility towards me. This sourness, you must be seething with jealousy, aren't you?"
"Ayi, you misunderstand your sister." A flicker of darkness crossed Bai Murong's eyes as she lowered her gaze in feigned distress.
"Ugh!" Bai Shengyi exclaimed, "Excuse me, I feel like vomiting when I hear you say 'sister'!"
Moreover, she felt so disgusted that she decided to change her mind!
With that thought, Bai Shengyi gave Bai Murong no chance to respond and directly asked, "Old Man, Big Brother, Bai Murong, do you all truly believe I should be the young family head?"
"Of course, Ayi. You are the rightful heir." Bai Sicheng replied gently, his voice full of affirmation.
Bai Murong's expression contorted for a moment.
"Ayi, your talent is so outstanding, you naturally should be the young family head of the Bai family."
Although Duke Rong felt Bai Shengyi was ungrateful for her repeated refusals, seeing that Bai Shengyi seemed open to the idea, he put on a loving and amiable smile, as if Bai Shengyi were his most cherished junior.
Bai Murong's face twisted again.
Just as she regained control of her expression, she heard Bai Shengyi call her name, "Bai Murong, don't keep your head down. Weren't you just advising me so eloquently? What do you think?"
Bai Murong was trapped, gnashing her teeth in anger!
Bai Shengyi was doing this deliberately! To humiliate her!
She had no choice but to look up, only to meet the gazes of Bai Sicheng and her grandfather. They looked at her, expecting her to continue persuading Bai Shengyi to accept the position of young family head.
To persuade Bai Shengyi to take possession of what she herself had relentlessly pursued but never obtained!
Bai Murong felt a sharp pang in her chest, as if her heart were bleeding.
"You see, there is someone who does not approve of me..."
"No! Ayi, you've misunderstood!" Bai Murong felt Bai Sicheng's disapproval and her grandfather's suddenly stern pressure, so she hastily interrupted Bai Shengyi. With great difficulty and against her will, she said, "I… I have no objections."
Bai Murong vaguely felt that things were spiraling out of her control.
She felt a hint of panic, suddenly realizing that her attempt to persuade Bai Shengyi was utterly foolish.
But it was too late!
Bai Murong heard Bai Shengyi's clear, half-smiling voice.
"Alright! I'll do as you all wish! Since you all want me to be this darn young family head so badly, I'll reluctantly agree, so as not to be accused of being ungrateful..."
Bai Murong couldn't hear the rest of what was said. She gasped for breath, feeling the colors drain from her surroundings.
Bai Shengyi, how could Bai Shengyi dare to agree?
What qualifications did she have?
Why?
"Oh, Bai Murong, what's with that expression? Jealous of me? So, your earlier persuasion wasn't sincere, was it? You were just trying to appease Old Man and Big Brother, right?"
Adhering to the principle of adding insult to injury, Bai Shengyi precisely and forcefully struck at Bai Murong's sore spot again.
Bai Murong hated Bai Shengyi so much she wanted to devour her alive, yet she had to compose herself and respond with a gentle smile, "No, Sis… I'm happy for you, Ayi."
She was almost developing psychological trauma from Bai Shengyi's retorts and instinctively changed her address.
Bai Shengyi chuckled happily, "You're smiling like you're crying."
Bai Murong stiffly pulled at the corners of her mouth. She truly detested Bai Shengyi! How could she be so excessive!
It was Bai Sicheng who couldn't bear to watch any longer. "Murong, you've just returned. Why don't you go rest for a while?"
"Yes, yes, Rongrong, go rest first." Duke Rong also chimed in.
Bai Murong: ...Everything was in chaos, completely different from what she had envisioned!
She had wanted to tell her grandfather and elder brother about what had happened during the assessment period, but seeing their demeanor, it was as if they were eager to dismiss her, treating her as an extraneous presence.
They held the familiar expectation and approval, but it wasn't directed at her, but at the formerly weak and useless Bai Shengyi, whose face bore a composed smile.
It was blindingly glaring.
All of this should have been hers!
"The wound is indeed a bit painful. I'll go rest first." Bai Murong played a small trick.
As expected, Duke Rong was about to ask about her.
However, before he could even utter the question, he heard Bai Shengyi say, "Old Man, when will you give me the medical texts?"
Duke Rong then turned his attention back to Bai Shengyi. "You'll receive them after the succession ceremony, Ayi. For now, could you refine the Po Han San again? Let Grandpa have a good look?"
Bai Murong watched the harmonious scene beside her, feeling utterly forgotten. The stark contrast finally became unbearable, and she flicked her sleeve and left in a huff.
Bai Shengyi! You wretch! Your triumph won't last long!
Bai Shengyi had done this intentionally.
She watched Bai Murong storm off, her smile widening even further.
Did Bai Murong enjoy the taste of lifting a rock only to drop it on her own foot?
"You're like a villain," the Samsara Brush commented silently.
Bai Shengyi chuckled lightly, "I'm not a good person to begin with. Who asked her to be so hypocritical?"
She desired so much, yet outwardly appeared to be a good person with no desires, constantly trying to sow discord with her, Bai Shengyi. Today, she even tried to use the "praise to kill" tactic, as if she didn't know Bai Murong's ulterior motives!
Didn't she just want Bai Shengyi to completely offend the old man?
But she wouldn't let that happen!
After chatting with the Samsara Brush, Bai Shengyi took out the Po Han San, placed it in the Haoyue bottle, and prepared for the second round of refinement.
Duke Rong, however, exclaimed in surprise, "Ayi, you're directly using spiritual energy to retrieve the Po Han San?"
He was astonished not only by Bai Shengyi's unique method but also by her exquisite control over spiritual energy.
Bai Sicheng had actually brought a spiritual jade spoon, but Bai Shengyi, accustomed to using spiritual energy instead of such utensils in her illusions, had not used it.
She didn't find it surprising and nodded, focusing on the refinement.
Duke Rong's gaze shifted slightly, but he didn't disturb Bai Shengyi further, instead intently watching her movements.
Smooth, precise... just as she had seen before, no, the movements were even faster and more decisive. Soon, Bai Shengyi finished refining and lifted the cauldron.
Another high-grade!
Next, Bai Shengyi began refining the third, fourth furnace...
She seemed unaffected by fatigue, continuing to refine for ten furnaces in total and even intending to proceed further.
"Ayi, aren't you tired?" Bai Sicheng voiced Duke Rong's question.
"Not tired."
Bai Shengyi replied, her hands continuing their work.
"Wait, are you preparing to refine the Tier 2 Po Han San?"
Duke Rong noticed the difference in the medicinal ingredients Bai Shengyi had added this time, his brow furrowing deeply.
"You're too impatient. Tier 2 Po Han San is not like Tier 1. You've been refining for so long, and your spiritual energy and stamina are not at their peak. Trying this now is utterly pointless and meaningless."
His tone was full of disapproval, and he chided, "Why are you so eager for success at such a young age!"
Upon hearing his grandfather's reprimanding tone, Bai Sicheng felt a sense of impending doom.