Chapter 408: Chapter 278: Shaking Down
Ye, this surname may be quite common in Daxia, but in Beiqing, especially among the higher echelons of the Alchemist World, it is a surname that is scrupulously avoided.
Simply because, the leading figure among the Beiqing alchemists today, Master Hong Ru, the only rival he acknowledged in his life, was the foremost alchemist from Daxia who fell five hundred years ago, Ye Wuming.
Information regarding Ye Wuming has become exceedingly rare among the common folk of Daxia, and even his descendants, it is said, have long been reduced to poverty and destitution.
Could it be that this Ye Lingyue really has some connection to Ye Wuming?
In the eyes of the old alchemist, a thousand thoughts whirled, but his face wore a serene smile.
Standing up, he showed no contempt for Ye Lingyue, despite his own status as a Nine Rank Alchemist.
"Cauldron Master Ye is indeed accomplished at a young age, a Seven Rank Alchemist at such a small age. I am Wei Bo, the Left Protector from the Dan Palace."
Upon hearing this, Ye Lingyue’s expression sharpened, the old alchemist had instantly seen through her level of cultivation.
After mastering the Chaos Primordial Elixir, Ye Lingyue had broken through the Seventh Grade, but had yet to report to Alchemist Tower. Even her master, Master Long Yu, was still uninformed, and she was still wearing her old Alchemist Robe, but despite this, the other party had still seen through her at a glance.
What? Ye Lingyue had broken through to become a Seven Rank Alchemist?
Hong Fang beside her was also incredibly shocked.
Recently, the speed of Ye Lingyue’s cultivation breakthroughs had simply been too fast.
But what use was her breakthrough, she was still only number eight hundred on the Qing Province Elixir Ranking; his own daughter, Hong Mingyue, had once been third on the list.
Thinking this, Hong Fang felt relieved.
"Sir, you are Alchemist Wei from Dan Palace, I have long heard of your great reputation. I often hear Alchemist Mei speak of you." Ye Lingyue responded very politely, with a respectful expression on her face.
This statement was not mere courtesy.
Ye Lingyue had indeed heard of Wei Bo before through Alchemist Mei.
Alchemist Mei had told her, during her time in Beiqing, there had been an Elder Wei who had treated her very kindly and had once imparted to her some knowledge about refining Reincarnation Elixirs.
One could say that Alchemist Mei’s final success in refining the Reincarnation Elixir was primarily due to the medicine recipe provided by Ye Lingyue, but without Wei Bo’s earlier guidance, it would have been impossible for Alchemist Mei to refine it.
"Alchemist Mei? Are you speaking of Little Friend Mei, could it be that the Reincarnation Elixir from Daxia?" The old alchemist paused.
"Indeed, the Reincarnation Elixir from Daxia was refined by Alchemist Mei, and she also said that without your guidance, sir, the Reincarnation Elixir of Daxia would not have existed," Ye Lingyue nodded.
Wei Bo was precisely that Nine Rank Alchemist who had earlier been ordered to investigate the Elixir Candle Dragon and the Reincarnation Elixir in Daxia. He had already thoroughly investigated the matter of the Elixir Candle Dragon but had still not heard any news about the creator of the Reincarnation Elixir.
Now knowing that the Reincarnation Elixir was crafted by Little Friend Mei whom he had once guided, Wei Bo felt a wave of emotion and also a sense of relief.
At least, things were not as Lord Hong Ru had thought—that both the Reincarnation Elixir and the Elixir Candle Dragon were the work of the same person.
Daxia had not seen the emergence of a talented Alchemy Master with astonishing gifts.
"The Dan Palace has always welcomed young and talented friends with open arms. Should you find time in the future, Dan Palace would be delighted to have Little Friend Mei and Cauldron Master Ye come to learn. However, today, this old man has come for the Ninth-grade Spirit Python, Cauldron Master Ye, might you return the snake corpse?" After exchanging pleasantries, Wei Bo once again brought up the matter of retrieving the serpent’s corpse.
After all, the Ninth-grade Spiritual Python had been raised by Dan Palace for so long; its death could only be considered deserved, but its corpse must be taken back no matter what.
"Is Elder Wei truly certain that the Spirit Snake is Dan Palace’s?" Ye Lingyue asked knowingly, with another question.
"Of course, if even Cauldron Master Ye does not believe, you may check the seven-inch spot on the Python’s belly, where the mark of the Dan Palace can still be seen," Alchemist Wei confirmed.
"If that’s the case, it’s settled, the snake’s corpse should return to its owner. However, before doing that, let’s settle an account first." The words of Ye Lingyue made both Alchemist Wei and Hong Fang froze in shock.
Especially Hong Fang, who inwardly cursed his luck, he was all too aware of Ye Lingyue’s temperament.
This woman, plucking feathers from a passing goose, she surely wouldn’t even let the people of Dan Palace off...
"Someone, bring up the account books," said Ye Lingyue with immense enthusiasm.
Jin Wu Old Monster scuttled forward with several account books in hand, each as tall as a man.
"Elder Wei, I won’t hide it from you, Daxia truly suffered heavy losses this time due to the Ninth-grade Spirit Python. I’ve listed them all out, please review them, Elder Wei," said Ye Lingyue with a face full of sorrow and indignation.
Underneath the voluminous Alchemist Robe of Alchemist Wei, his hands couldn’t help but tremble.
He finally understood; Ye Lingyue’s earlier confirmation that the snake was indeed Dan Palace’s wasn’t to return the corpse, but to seek compensation.
Alchemist Wei opened the account book and glanced through it.
The more he read, the harder it was for his old face to remain composed.
The losses on the account books were listed as follows:
The Pastoral Village suffered heavy damage, with one hundred and thirty villagers dead, livestock losses amounting to two hundred and thirty-two, and more than fifty households’ houses destroyed.
Compensation for a villager was a thousand taels of silver, a head of livestock five hundred taels of silver, and fifty taels of silver for a house.
The Tiger Wolf Army had been devastated, with nine hundred and eighty elite soldiers dead or injured, and three hundred and twelve top-grade military horses gone, along with a loss of a hundred and ninety weapons.
Each soldier required a compensation of a thousand taels of gold, a military horse three hundred taels of gold, and a hundred taels of gold for each weapon.
There were also losses to the city walls, nearby crops, and medicinal fields.
Adding everything up in the account book, if they wished to take away the corpse of the Ninth-grade Spiritual Python, the Dan Palace would need to pay Daxia several millions of taels in gold.
Even for the financially robust Dan Palace, such a sum was jaw-dropping.
Therefore, Elder Wei’s hands, holding the account books, started to shake uncontrollably.
"Cauldron Master Ye, this sum of several million taels of gold is not insignificant. What do you think..." Alchemist Wei spoke nervously, hoping to further negotiate.
"Elder Wei, you also seem to be a person of great understanding. It’s said that even when striking a dog, one should look at the owner. Whoever’s Spiritual Beast harms people should naturally offer compensation. Moreover, in listing these compensations, I have already taken into consideration the fact that Beiqing and Daxia are friendly nations. This list of compensations does not even include emotional damages. You should know that the sorrow of the family members of those villagers and soldiers will last a lifetime. Even if this matter reaches Emperor Beiqing himself, we still hold the moral high ground," Ye Lingyue spoke at length.
The issue suddenly escalated to the level of diplomatic relations between the two nations, and even Alchemist Wei, who had seen his share of predicaments, couldn’t help but wipe his brow with his sleeve.
Having been in Dan Palace for so many years, it was the first time Alchemist Wei had received such treatment. He had come to demand something, but now found himself being bitten back.
"Here’s what we’ll do. This amount is indeed staggering. I must first report back to the Palace Master. I’ll provide Cauldron Master Ye with an answer tomorrow," Alchemist Wei said, and then, as if his eyebrows were on fire, he immediately went to report back to Dan Palace.