"Oh?" Jin Yao appeared very interested, "Where is her alchemy room?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, Junior Brother's alchemy room is in the farthest northwest corner." Jing Song looked up at Jin Yao, "Junior Brother enjoys refining poisons, and to avoid harming innocents, she chose the most remote alchemy room herself."
Jin Yao nodded, and immediately led his men towards the farthest alchemy room in the northwest corner. Jing Song lagged a step behind, "Quickly find Master, and tell him Second Young Master is looking for Junior Brother, for unknown reasons."
"Senior Brother, will Junior Brother be alright?"
"If you run fast enough, he'll be fine!" Jing Song shoved the disciple, "Hurry, make sure to bring Master back quickly. If it's too late, I fear Junior Brother might be in trouble!"
"Yes, Senior Brother."
Jin Yao stood with his men in front of Xiao Man's alchemy room.
Xiao Man was refining pills. While waiting for this batch of pills to be ready, she heard footsteps outside, and they weren't familiar ones. She knew it must be an outsider, as the disciples of the Alchemy Hall wouldn't arrive at his door so silently.
"Is this Lan Xiao's alchemy room?" Jin Yao's voice sounded from outside the door.
A smile crept onto Xiao Man's lips. The fish had taken the bait!
"Reporting to Second Young Master, this is Junior Brother's alchemy room. It is taboo to disturb someone while they are refining pills. At best, it will ruin the batch of pills; at worst, it might cause an explosion and endanger lives." Jing Song stepped forward, blocking the entrance to the alchemy room, fearing Jin Yao might barge in.
"There's no need for you to worry. I'm just here to take a look." Jin Yao's expression was calm. "Senior Brother Jing Song, do you have some misunderstanding about me?"
Jing Song felt a chill run down his spine. Jin Yao actually called him Senior Brother! This was more terrifying than it raining blood, as it was simply inconceivable!
"Second Young Master, what exactly do you want here?"
"Soon, I will be departing to attend the Grand Assembly of Heroes at the Heavenly Sword Sect. I require a bodyguard by my side." Jin Yao said slowly. "I have heard that Junior Brother Lan Xiao is quite skilled in using poisons, even capable of incapacitating the Fifth Elder. Therefore, I wish to invite Junior Brother Lan Xiao to be my bodyguard."
"Second Young Master, Junior Brother is an alchemist, barely able to protect himself, how can he protect you? You should go to the Martial Arts Hall and select Senior Brothers with high cultivation as your guards."
"There are countless experts outside. What I want is someone capable of taking down many masters." Jin Yao said slowly. "Furthermore, I have an enemy who is also quite skilled in poisons. If I encounter this person, I will need someone to deal with them, which is why I came to the Alchemy Hall to select someone."
"Second Young Master." The Third Elder's figure appeared before them.
"Master, you're back." Jing Song immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
The Third Elder stepped forward, "What brings Second Young Master to my Alchemy Hall?"
Jin Yao immediately clasped his fists in greeting. "Third Grandfather, you have been distant from me lately. When I was young, I used to visit the Alchemy Hall often. Back then, you often gave me pills as if they were candy."
The Third Elder forced a smile. Back then, the Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master often played here. He doted on the Eldest Young Master, but treated the Second Young Master equally, giving him whatever he asked for. He just never expected that the boy who always followed behind the Eldest Young Master, calling him 'Brother', would become so ruthless.
"If I recall correctly, Second Young Master hasn't visited my Alchemy Hall in a long time. I presume you have a purpose in coming today?"
"You say that, Third Grandfather. I haven't seen you in ages, and I heard you had a conflict with First Grandfather. I was worried about you, so I came to see you. Additionally, I am about to embark on a long journey to the Heavenly Sword Sect for the Grand Assembly of Heroes, and I wish to select two disciples from the Alchemy Hall to accompany me. I trust you won't refuse this small request, Third Grandfather."
"Second Young Master's journey, naturally, requires an alchemist to accompany you." The Third Elder said calmly. "Jing Song, arrange for two alchemists to accompany Second Young Master on his journey."
"Third Elder, the person I want this time is Lan Xiao."
"She is in seclusion and will not come out for a while. I am afraid she cannot accompany Second Young Master on his trip." The Third Elder said defensively. In his eyes, Xiao Man had offended the First Elder, and Jin Yao, who was close to the First Elder, was ostensibly seeking to take Xiao Man as an accompanying alchemist, but in reality, he intended to kill Xiao Man. Su Dan Novel Network
"Third Grandfather, you must have misunderstood me."
"There is no misunderstanding. Lan Xiao is indeed in seclusion. Second Young Master is in a hurry to leave, so please select someone else." The Third Elder said coldly. Those aligned with Madam Jin were now soaring in status, and the Patriarch, fearing the influence of the Heavenly Sword Sect, dared not say anything, implicitly approving Madam Jin's actions. But they were not lackeys of the Heavenly Sword Sect!
A flicker of anger flashed in Jin Yao's eyes, but he hid it well. "Third Grandfather, you've changed."
"Second Young Master is joking. I have never changed; it is you who has changed." The Third Elder said calmly. "The you of the past respected elders, was fond of your brother, and was polite to your fellow disciples. But are you still the same you now?"
"If I were still the same me, wouldn't that mean I haven't made any progress?" Jin Yao smiled. "Third Grandfather, people change. What has happened cannot be undone. Now I am the only legitimate son of the Jin family. You should see reality, shouldn't you?"
"Thank you for the reminder, Second Young Master. I will bear it in mind."
"I hope so." Jin Yao turned. "Then please trouble Third Grandfather to arrange two alchemists for me: one skilled in healing, and one skilled in poisons."
"Very well. Jing Song, escort Second Young Master out." The Third Elder ordered indifferently.
"Second Young Master, please."
Jin Yao glanced at the closed alchemy room, a cold smile flashing in his eyes, and then turned to leave.
The Third Elder watched Jin Yao's figure disappear before letting out a sigh of relief. He looked towards Xiao Man's alchemy room, "How long has Lan Xiao been inside?"
"Master, Junior Brother entered the alchemy room yesterday and hasn't come out yet. Should I call Junior Brother out?"
The Third Elder shook his head. "I thought they would at least be quiet for a while, but I didn't expect them to make a move so soon. Jing Song, arrange more guards here. Also... prohibit any uninvited personnel from entering the Alchemy Hall, including the Patriarch."
"Master, is this not inappropriate?" Jing Song asked worriedly. "We just had a conflict with the Patriarch and the First Elder. It was only thanks to the poisons developed by Junior Brother that we managed to stabilize the Patriarch. If we do anything else that opposes the family, I fear the Patriarch will truly not tolerate the Alchemy Hall."
"When has he ever tolerated us?" The Third Elder sneered. "The Second and Third Branches have always been close to the Eldest Young Master. The Fourth Branch remains neutral, offending no one. The First and Fifth Branches are close to the Second Young Master. Now that the Eldest Young Master..."