Chapter 8: He’s Actually a She?

Ling Jue smiled faintly, taking a few steps back to give Ye Wenxin ample space. Ye Wenxin could do nothing but place all five materials into the alchemy furnace, then added warm water.

Ling Jue’s smile deepened. Alchemy was entirely different from dealing with medicinal herbs; adding water might actually diminish their intended effects. However, he made no effort to warn Ye Wenxin, seeming to enjoy watching her make a fool of herself.

But in truth, this method could indeed be used for alchemy, completely merging the five medicinal properties together. Furthermore, due to the water’s effect, the quantity of the produced concoction would also increase.

The furnace burned vigorously, and within moments, a small ball popped out of the outlet. The ball emitted a faint glow, and Ling Jue picked it up to examine it, unable to hide his astonished expression.

“Indeed, it’s a first-grade Qi Refining Pill, but it’s still a bit lacking.”

“Naturally, after all, this method emphasizes quantity over quality.” Ye Wenxin replied with a smile to Ling Jue’s inquiry. As she spoke, another small ball rolled out from the alchemy furnace.

Then a second, and a third… originally there was only enough to make one first-grade Qi Refining Pill, but it produced more than a dozen. While the potency of a single pill might not match that of a regular first-grade Qi Refining Pill, the quantity of over a dozen far surpassed the medicinal properties of one. It could even be equivalent to the quantity of five first-grade Qi Refining Pills.

In light of this discovery, how could Ling Jue not be surprised?

“The results this time are truly lacking, but it’s passable.” Ye Wenxin also picked one up for inspection. Perhaps due to being outdoors, she did not have perfect restraint, but it was enough to baffle Ling Jue.

“Thank you for lending me your alchemy furnace and materials, milord. These are yours.” As she was saying, Ye Wenxin picked up three small balls and handed the rest to Ling Jue.

“You…” Even Ling Jue, the proud genius of Medicine King Valley, was left bewildered by Ye Wenxin’s actions.

In this world, no one had ever considered using this method of using water as a catalyst; instead, they pursued higher medicinal properties. The leftover sap after the herbs melt could not be evenly distributed, resulting in even less quantity. Conversely, it was not as effective as Ye Wenxin’s method.

“Um, I’ll just take two.” Ye Wenxin subconsciously handed another small ball to Ling Jue. However, in excitement, Ling Jue tossed the small ball aside and grabbed Ye Wenxin’s wrist.

Ye Wenxin frowned. Even though she appeared as a child now, she knew she should maintain some distance from males. Despite Ling Jue’s good looks, he should not have overstepped the boundaries between men and women like this.

“Milord, please unhand me.”

Ling Jue suddenly realized the abruptness of his actions, his face flushing slightly. He hurriedly explained, “I was just too surprised. May I ask who the young lady’s master is?”

Ye Wenxin was about to say that she did not have a master, but considering Ling Jue’s inquisitive nature, she felt he might ask further questions, so she spoke up, “This was something told to me by an expert who used to stay in the village. However, I don’t know her name.”

Ling Jue showed a regretful expression, clearly intrigued by the “expert” Ye Wenxin mentioned. However, seeing her guarded demeanor, he refrained from pressing further.

“Young lady, to be frank, I am Ling Jue of Medicine King Valley.”

Ling Jue revealed more about his identity, yet still hesitated to disclose his position as the junior valley master. Ye Wenxin nodded. “That expert also mentioned this place. It seems like Medicine King Valley is full of alchemists.”

Seeing that Ye Wenxin was familiar with Medicine King Valley, Ling Jue breathed a sigh of relief. Despite being a proud genius, he showed no airs before Ye Wenxin, which impressed her even more. She could not help but admire the man, truly deserving of the title “Peerless Gentleman”, a gentleman in every sense of the word.

But Ye Wenxin’s reaction was too calm. Ling Jue decided to simply reveal his purpose for being here.

“To be honest, I’m here this time as a guest instructor under my master’s name.”

If anyone in the martial world knew that the junior valley master of Medicine King Valley had come to Azure Wings Sect to teach, it would surely cause a stir. Perhaps for this reason, Ling Jue came alone.

After all, although the Azure Wings Sect was the leading sect among the Ten Immortal Sects, when it came to alchemists, Medicine King Valley was considered the most formidable. It was no wonder that the Peerless Gentleman personally came to teach.

“I see, no wonder you were so curious about my reasons for wanting to go to the Azure Wings Sect. It turns out we have the same destination.”

Ling Jue felt somewhat speechless, but he still nodded and continued, “If you really just want to see Fairy Fengya, perhaps I can help you.”

Ye Wenxin’s eyes lit up, feeling incredibly fortunate with her luck thus far, “Really?”

Ling Jue nodded firmly, “After all, this invitation was proposed by Fairy Fengya herself. I don’t think it should be difficult for me to arrange a meeting with her.”

Another piece of gossip burst forth from Ling Jue’s lips. Ye Wenxin momentarily imagined various possibilities of him being involved with Fairy Fengya. Upon closer inspection, he seemed more like a powerful supporting character on the protagonist’s journey. She could not help but feel a bit sympathetic towards Ling Jue.

“Miss Ye, what’s with that look? Are you doubting the authenticity of my words?”

Ling Jue appeared at a loss under Ye Wenxin’s sympathetic gaze, responding with a hint of resignation. His tone was warm and natural, yet for some reason, Ye Wenxin could not feel his masculine charm at all. Instead, she found him to be as approachable and amiable as a next-door sister.

“No, I just want to know how someone without status like me can get accepted.”

Ye Wenxin skillfully changed the subject. Ling Jue’s smile bloomed like a spring breeze, yet Ye Wenxin remained unfazed, completely unaware of why she was not attracted to such an extraordinarily handsome guy.

“This is the question I wanted to discuss with Miss Ye. I intend to hire you as an assistant and will, of course, provide compensation accordingly.”

“Really?” Ye Wenxin’s eyes sparkled. Ling Jue’s proposal seemed much better than the previous approach, as it would not provoke any parties, and Medicine King Valley’s status in the martial world would certainly ensure her safety.

Indeed, alchemists and artificers held extremely high status, and their numbers were few. If Ye Wenxin could ride on Ling Jue’s coattails, it would further reduce the resistance to entering the Azure Wings Sect.

“Moreover, if it’s known that you, Miss Ye, are my assistant, I believe it will certainly help with gaining entry into the Azure Wings Sect’s inner sect.” Ling Jue was offering a deal that would undoubtedly benefit both parties, and it was undeniably the greatest temptation for Ye Wenxin.

However, there was no such thing as a free lunch. Ye Wenxin calmed down and asked Ling Jue about his intentions.

“So, what does Young Master Ling want to gain from me?”

A charming smile graced Ling Jue’s incredibly handsome face, showing his satisfaction with Ye Wenxin.

“Naturally, what I want is the right to use the recipe.”

“Right? You mean for the ‘add water’ method?” Ye Wenxin finally got the picture. But in a world where even patents and trademarks did not exist, it did not matter if he were to plagiarize someone’s work.

However, it was precisely because Ling Jue was an upright gentleman that he proposed such terms in exchange.

Ye Wenxin began weighing the pros and cons. Ling Jue, sensing that she might not find the initial condition enticing enough, added, “I will also disclose to you the method of concocting a third-grade Golden Pill. Judging by your proficiency earlier, coupled with diligent cultivation, achieving a third-grade Golden Pill would be well within your reach in due time.”

This condition was even more enticing than all the things Ling Jue had mentioned earlier. The recipe for the Golden Pill from Medicine King Valley had never been disclosed to outsiders. And now, Ye Wenxin unexpectedly had the chance to obtain this secret formula. How could she possibly pass up such a golden opportunity?

“However, there’s a condition for the Golden Pill recipe as well. I must see you produce a second-grade Golden Pill,” Ling Jue added again. Ye Wenxin was afraid he might change his mind, so she promptly agreed.

“I accept the the job, Young Master Ling. I look forward to your future guidance.”

Ling Jue smiled faintly, seeming quite satisfied with Ye Wenxin’s confident spirit. However, Ye Wenxin still could not fathom why Ling Jue had chosen her.

“Young Master Ling, why did you choose me as your assistant?”

Ye Wenxin decided to ask outright. Facing Ling Jue, this enigmatic man, she felt her mind flooded with countless questions.

“Do you feel anything special when you see my face?”

“I think you’re very handsome.”

“And then?”

Ye Wenxin pondered deeply but could not think of any other adjectives. She could only give her honest observations.

“What else do you need? Shall I praise your talent as well?”

Ling Jue chuckled, his smile carrying a hint of feminine tenderness, sending shivers down Ye Wenxin’s spine. It seemed Ling Jue himself felt he had laughed too carelessly, so he hastened to explain, “No, you’ll understand why I chose you once you’ve spent more time with me.”

Ye Wenxin was puzzled by his statement, but upon careful consideration, she realized that Peerless Gentleman Ling Jue was peerless in the world, naturally attracting many admirers. However, Ye Wenxin had seen and experienced too much of what she should and should not see, so despite acknowledging Ling Jue’s excessive handsomeness, she harbored no other thoughts.

Upon reflection, Ye Wenxin concluded that Ling Jue had probably chosen a young girl like her as his assistant willingly because she was not interested in his face.

Ling Jue watched Ye Wenxin’s expression of sudden realization and praised her, “You’re very clever. Do you understand it now?”

Ye Wenxin did not deny it. She observed the man in front of her, always displaying a tender demeanor more akin to that of a young woman than a man, and even more alluring than some women. Unable to resist any longer, Ye Wenxin finally posed the question she had been wanting to ask the most.

“Young Master Ling, do you like men?”

Ling Jue nodded abruptly, but then quickly realized something was amiss. “No, I like women,” he blurted in panic, but the way he flustered like a girl, his voice becoming slightly sharp, betrayed his words.

Ye Wenxin stared at Ling Jue for a few seconds, finally understanding why she had found him odd this whole time.

If she guessed correctly, Ling Jue was not a man, but a woman who used some kind of secret technique to conceal her gender. So the display of masculine qualities under the charm of female hormones made Ye Wenxin feel extremely uncomfortable.