Seeing his cowardly appearance, Chu Wenfeng sneered, “You alchemists are so timid and afraid of trouble?”

“Nonsense!” Xie Shuci slammed the table and instinctively retorted, “When I was one against nine in the canyon, you weren’t even born yet!”

Xie Shuci was right. At that time, the author hadn’t even written this book.

Chu Wenfeng gave him a disdainful glance from head to toe and scoffed, “One against nine? Was it like crushing nine ants with one foot?”

Xie Shuci couldn’t contain his anger. His fair skin turned red with his heightened emotions, and his eyes became bright and moist. “You’re talking nonsense! You bear child, I can take on ten of you even if I’m using only one hand!” [1]

Chu Wenfeng didn’t understand what he meant by “bear child,” so he just sneered and said, “A bear child like me can knock out ten of you with a single punch, believe it or not?” 

“I can eat ten brats like you in a single bite!” Xie Shuci refused to back down.

Xie Shuci placed his arm on Xie An’s shoulder, looking arrogant, and said, “If you provoke me again, I’ll let Xie An teach you a lesson.”

However, Xie An didn’t respond. His expression turned cold as he firmly held onto Xie Shuci’s wrist, moving his arm away from his shoulder.

Chu Guiyi glanced at Chu Wenfeng, signaling him to restrain himself. The latter gave Xie Shuci a resentful look before sulking and sipping his tea in frustration.

Chu Guiyi smoothly changed the topic, “Actually, Young Master Xie is not an alchemist.”

“Huh?” Xie Shuci looked surprised. “How do you know?”

“Your bronze pill cauldron shows no signs of use, and although your spiritual energy seems abundant, it’s clear that you have no idea how to operate it. Young Master, you probably rarely use spiritual energy,” Chu Guiyi explained.

“You’re so clever, Young Master Chu! Indeed, I am not an alchemist, and I don’t know how to use spiritual energy,” Xie Shuci admitted.

Chu Wenfeng sneered, “So you’re not even an alchemist, just a complete waste. Cultivators have a responsibility to the world, and you’re simply squandering your talents.”

Xie Shuci retorted, “Are you jealous?”

“Jealous of you? You’re overestimating yourself. Someone like you probably doesn’t even know what you want to do,” Chu Wenfeng mocked.

“Nonsense!” Xie Shuci cursed, then composed himself and said, “Actually, I’ve had a dream since I was a child. I want to become the man who will become Shanghai’s Pirate King.”

Hearing this, all three of them showed a puzzled expression.

“King of thieves?”

“Where is Shanghai?”

Xie An glanced at him, looking puzzled, and his lips moved slightly, “Instead of becoming a hero,  King of thieves?”

Xie Shuci, “…”

Damn! There’s a generation gap between him and these three ancient people!

“Do you guys not know how to break a sentence? It’s to become, Pirate King, one piece, ahem… ” Xie Shuci stood up, imitating a certain character’s iconic move, “My goal is to become the man of one piece!”

The three of them fell silent.

Chu Wenfeng looked shocked and said, “So you like men!”

Xie Shuci, “???”

Chu Guiyi smiled faintly and said, “Xie Shuci is not afraid of societal judgments, and I, Chu Guiyi admire that.”

“…”

Xie An seemed unsurprised, a faintly amused smile playing on his lips.

For some reason, a scene of Xie An’s naked back flashed in Xie Shuci’s mind, causing his cheeks to burn. He quickly lowered his head and returned to his seat, angrily saying, “You’re the ones who like men! Don’t talk nonsense, you bunch of ignorant people.”

“Come on, let’s go back to the room,” Xie Shuci grabbed Xie An’s hand, and they both returned to their room in a huff.

The room had only one bed. Xie Shuci kicked off his shoes and lay down, feeling frustrated.

Xie An walked to the side of the bed, looking down at him for a while, and then sat down beside him.

He reached out and took Xie Shuci’s hanging hand, writing in his palm, “Do you hate Xiao Xun?”

Xie Shuci turned to look at him and said, “Yes.”

Xie An’s eyes deepened, and he asked, “Why?”

Xie Shuci’s anger had dissipated somewhat. He rested his hands behind his head and replied without hesitation, “He practices the path of slaughter, his hands are covered in blood. He stops at nothing to achieve his goals, is unpredictable, and has a dark and twisted mind.”

Xie An listened silently, his face showing no extra expression.

From Xie Shuci’s angle, the curve of his jawline was evident, his thin lips slightly pursed, and his long eyelashes covered his dark eyes.

“Are you afraid of him?” Xie An asked again.

Xie Shuci hesitated for a moment. He felt embarrassed to say that he was afraid, but he had already embarrassed himself in front of Xie An before, so he nodded firmly, “Yes, I am. Who wouldn’t be afraid of him? When I came down from the mountain, I wanted to stay far away from him, but who knew he would show up here. Let me tell you, from now on, you should stay away from him too. When you see him, run away, don’t hesitate.”

Xie An leaned against the head of the bed, remaining silent for a long time. Then, he smiled with a mysterious meaning, “If you meet him, will you cry?”

Xie Shuci, “…”

He shook his head firmly, “No! Even if I cry, it must be because of the wind.”

Xie An chuckled but didn’t respond further.

That night, Xie Shuci went to bed early.

The next morning, he took Xie An to the dining hall for breakfast, intending to inquire about Xiao Xun’s situation.

When they arrived in the hall, they saw Chu Guiyi and his junior brother.

“Young Master Xie,” Chu Guiyi nodded at the two.

Chu Wenfeng yawned as if he hadn’t fully woken up.

“Don’t call me that, it’s so weird. Just call me Shuci,” Xie Shuci said, leading Xie An to sit at their table.

Chu Guiyi nodded with a smile, “Sure.”

Xie Shuci called over a waiter and ordered a basket of steamed buns and a few side dishes.

During the meal, Xie Shuci asked, “Have you heard any news about Xiao Xun?”

Chu Guiyi said, “I heard that the senior disciple of Xiaoyao Sect has already arrived at Luofang City. Perhaps there will be news soon.”

Xie Shuci nodded and noticed that Xie An hadn’t touched his chopsticks. He picked up a meat bun and put it in Xie An’s bowl, saying, “You’re still growing, eat a bit more.”

Xie An nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, Chu Guiyi asked, “Shuci, you’re not an alchemist, so why do you carry the bronze medicine cauldron with you?”

“My senior brother gave it to me before I left. I don’t know what it’s for,” Xie Shuci replied.

“Your senior brother is an alchemist?”

“I’m not sure. alchemists are so precious, and our family is just a small sect. I don’t think we have any alchemists. Maybe he thought the cauldron was a good thing and gave it to me.”

Chu Guiyi frowned, “The bronze medicine cauldron is the most precious among all medicine cauldrons. In the cultivation world, alchemists who possess it are all from prominent families with deep backgrounds.”

“You think our tiny little sect has a deep background? Stop kidding, we don’t even have a disciple to clean the floor. From the eldest senior brother to the newest junior brother, each of us has to clean for a day. Our sect leader is especially stingy, repairing and patching his shoes for seven or eight years without wanting to replace them. If our sect had a deep background, there wouldn’t be any poor people in this world.”

Chu Wenfeng teased, “Maybe it was some ignorant disciple who found the bronze medicine cauldron and casually gave it to you.”

Xie Shuci nodded, “That’s indeed possible.”

“What a waste.”

Xie Shuci rolled his eyes at Chu Wenfeng, put one foot on the stool, and leaned half of his body on Xie An’s shoulder, proudly saying, “I’ve decided. From now on, I want to become an alchemist.”

Without the need for fighting and killing, while getting a high status, Xie Shuci felt that this was tailor-made for him.

Chu Guiyi said, “Shuci’s temperament is good, indeed suitable for an alchemist.”

Xie Shuci raised his head and smiled, “Of course. I’ve already thought about it. I want to refine the kind of pills that can heal Xie An’s eyes and one that could heal your legs. As for Chu Wenfeng, I’ll make him a leg and eye bulging pill.”

The name of this pill didn’t sound like something good.

Chu Wenfeng looked disdainful, “A poisonous pill? The kind that kills upon consumption?”

“Ignorant.”

Chu Guiyi smiled and said, “Shuci, I appreciate your good intentions. Unfortunately, no matter what pills I take, both Young Master Xie An and I can’t recover.”

Xie An’s eyes darkened, and he looked up at Chu Guiyi, a trace of coldness crossing his brow.

“Why?” Xie Shuci asked, puzzled.

Chu Guiyi was about to speak when Xie An suddenly slammed his teacup down heavily.

Chu Guiyi glanced at him but didn’t pay much attention. After all, going berserk was not something to be proud of, and Young Master Xie probably didn’t want to bring it up in front of others.

Chu Guiyi didn’t continue, instead saying, “Shuci, there are unscrupulous people among alchemists. In front of outsiders, you shouldn’t easily use the bronze pill cauldron.”

Chu Wenfeng sneered and said, “He flaunted it in front of everyone at Manjiang Hall, so it’s probably already widely known in Luofang City. Just by looking at his appearance, you can tell he’s only a first-stage wandering cultivator without any powerful sect backing. I can guarantee that his bronze medicine cauldron has already caught the attention of others.”

“Fuck? I heard that alchemists have a high status. How come there are still people daring to snatch my things?” Xie Shuci exclaimed in shock.

Chu Guiyi explained, “Indeed, alchemists hold a high position, but human nature is greedy and untrustworthy. Shuci, there are probably many cultivators in Luofang City eyeing your treasure. The possession of a bronze pill cauldron is enough to entice all alchemists. They would agree to trade it for any kind of pill you want.”

“That’s terrifying! I don’t want it anymore. Whoever wants it can have it!” Xie Shuci shook his head anxiously, and Xie An reached out to comfort him by gently patting his back.

“You’d better not leave Luofang City for now. With many people around here, they won’t easily take action. But once you leave, I’m afraid…” Chu Guiyi didn’t finish his sentence, but Xie Shuci understood his meaning.

The status of alchemists was indeed very high, and because of that, if anyone wanted to snatch something from the hands of alchemists, they couldn’t leave any evidence behind. In other words, those who intended to seize the bronze pill cauldron not only needed the cauldron itself but also Xie Shuci’s life.

Xie Shuci frustratedly laid his head on the table. “What the hell? If I don’t leave, I’ll be killed by Xiao Xun. If I leave, I’ll be killed by someone else? Damn, it’s as if I’m destined to die no matter what!”

Chu Guiyi apologized, “I’m sorry, I was careless, I shouldn’t have brought it up in public.”

Xie Shuci waved his hand dismissively, “It’s not your fault. You were just helping me out.”

At that moment, Xie An lightly tapped the tabletop twice, trying to attract Xie Shuci’s attention.

Xie Shuci looked over weakly and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xie An lowered his gaze and held Xie Shuci’s hand, writing, “Why do you think he would kill you?”

Xie Shuci let out a sigh. He couldn’t possibly say that, according to the plot’s arrangement, sooner or later, he would die at the hands of Xiao Xun.

“For what other reason? I’m handsome, have a good personality, and everyone likes me wherever I go. On the other hand, he’s narrow-minded, always calling for violence at the slightest provocation. He’s bound to be jealous of me and wouldn’t stand that I’m better than him.” Xie Shuci sighed and complained.

Xie An, “…”

Chu Wenfeng had never seen someone so shameless before and couldn’t bear to listen any longer. He got up and left the inn.

Chu Guiyi couldn’t help but chuckle as he glanced at Xie Shuci.

Xie An narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth in frustration.

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[1] “Bear child” is a term used colloquially in Chinese to refer to a mischievous or naughty child. It implies that the child is playful or misbehaving, similar to how a bear cub might act.