"Master, Junior Brother Xiao, are you alright?"
Kong Qing and the others, hearing the explosion, ran out again. Seeing their master in a sorry state, their mouths twitched. When Zhai Ge looked over, they scampered away. If they stayed now, they were surely in for a beating from their master! Su Dan Novel Network
"Boy, do you know why your furnace exploded?"
"Is it because the order of refining the medicinal ingredients was wrong?"
"No."
"Then it was the heat that wasn't controlled well?"
"Neither."
"Could it be because I added a Fulingzi?"
"Not at all."
Xiao Man was puzzled, "Uncle-Master Zhai, stop being cryptic and just tell me, where exactly did I go wrong?"
"You opened the furnace too early!" Zhai Ge said through gritted teeth. "I never realized you were such an impatient kid. Refining elixirs requires stability and slowness, especially during the final condensation. You can't be in a hurry. The elixir had just formed, and the medicinal power hadn't been fully absorbed yet, but you went to open the furnace. The remaining medicinal power surged out instantly, causing the furnace to explode!"
Xiao Man clapped her hands, "So, my refining method is not the problem. The problem is that I was too anxious during the final condensation, and the medicinal power wasn't fully absorbed, which led to the furnace explosion."
"Yes."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Man's eyes lit up, "I'll try again."
"Both your master's and my alchemy rooms have been blown up by you, where are you going to try?" Zhai Ge asked with a headache.
"Isn't there another alchemy room over there?" Xiao Man pointed to another alchemy room, "I'll go to that one."
Zhai Ge almost knelt. He grabbed Xiao Man, "That's your Grand Uncle-Master's alchemy room, you can't go there!"
"Why can't I go?"
"Your Grand Uncle-Master dislikes others touching his things, so no one is allowed to enter his alchemy room." Zhai Ge held Xiao Man's arm tightly, fearing that Xiao Man would touch something she shouldn't. If she lost an arm or a leg, he wouldn't know how to explain it to his junior sister.
"Is Grand Uncle-Master here now?"
"He's in seclusion, not here."
"Oh." Xiao Man nodded in understanding, "Disciple understands. I'm truly sorry for destroying Uncle-Master Zhai's alchemy room today. Please forgive me."
"Forget it, forget it. It's just an alchemy furnace, we can buy another one. You've just recovered from your serious injuries, so don't overexert yourself. Go back and rest. The alchemy room will be usable again tomorrow."
"Yes, Uncle-Master Zhai."
In the early morning, as the faint dawn light broke, a figure, like a jade orchid tree, walked slowly towards the training room.
As soon as he entered, he saw Zhai Ge directing disciples to clean up the alchemy room.
"Disciple greets Martial Uncle."
"Greetings, Grand Uncle-Master."
The man nodded indifferently and walked towards his training room. As he reached the door and raised his hand to push it open, he sensed something unusual within. He quickly retreated, and a loud bang was heard. The doors and windows were blown open, and at the same time, a person was flung out, falling at the man's feet in a sorry state.
Zhai Ge gasped and rushed forward, blocking the man's path. He picked up the person who had fallen on the ground and looked at them, "You scoundrel! Did you really take my words for granted!"
Xiao Man's face was so dark that her original appearance was unrecognizable. She grinned, her two rows of teeth appearing exceptionally white, "Uncle-Master, don't be angry..."
"Not angry, how can I not be angry? Didn't I tell you again and again..." Before Zhai Ge could finish speaking, Xiao Man popped a pill into his mouth. Zhai Ge, caught off guard, swallowed it. The expression on his face changed, "What pill is this?"
"Qingxin Pill," Xiao Man held out her hand and showed it to Zhai Ge. Zhai Ge's heart leaped with joy, but then he remembered the person standing behind him and immediately put away his smile.
"Speak, why did you go into Grand Uncle-Master's alchemy room?"
"Our alchemy room is unusable now," Xiao Man said indignantly.
Zhai Ge's head ached. He turned around and pushed Xiao Man behind him to hide her, "Martial Uncle, this kid is reckless. I will severely punish him later. Please, Martial Uncle, spare her this once, considering she's just joined and is young and ignorant."
Lu Lin's eyes fell on Xiao Man, who was hidden behind Zhai Ge, "Your disciple?"
Just then, another person crawled out of Lu Lin's alchemy room, coughing continuously, "Xiao Qin, are you alright?"
"Master, I'm fine, how are you?"
Zhai Ge choked on a mouthful of blood, "Junior Sister!"
"Oh, Senior Brother Zhai, you're here too." Jun Fei'er waved her hand, but when she saw Lu Lin standing not far away, she quickly raised her sleeve to cover her face.
"Fei'er."
Jun Fei'er didn't want to answer, but she had to. She shakily climbed up from the ground, "Disciple greets Martial Uncle."
"This kid is your disciple?" Lu Lin's tone sounded very gentle, but Jun Fei'er felt a chill all over her body. Her Martial Uncle's tone became gentler the angrier he was.
From the expressions of the two, Xiao Man saw their fear of Lu Lin. She immediately stepped in front of Jun Fei'er, "Please forgive Grand Uncle-Master. It was I who disobeyed advice and trespassed into Grand Uncle-Master's alchemy room. It has nothing to do with my Master."
"One person does the deed, one person takes responsibility. Very good." Lu Lin's tone revealed no particular emotion. "Since you have destroyed my alchemy room, as punishment, you will serve as a medicine boy in my cave dwelling for a month."
"Martial Uncle, Xiao Qin is not in good health..."
"Precisely. My alchemy skills are quite good, I can help her recuperate since she is not in good health."
"Martial Uncle, Xiao Qin is clumsy and might not be able to do the job of a medicine boy..."
"As a direct disciple, if you can't even do the job of a medicine boy, then you have no right to be in the Hundred Herbs Hall, don't you think so?" Lu Lin looked at Xiao Man and asked slowly.
"Disciple destroyed Grand Uncle-Master's training room, and Grand Uncle-Master is not holding me accountable, but instead wants to help me recuperate. Disciple is somewhat overwhelmed with gratitude." Xiao Man said calmly, "I have heard that Grand Uncle-Master is the foremost alchemist in our sect. To receive guidance from Grand Uncle-Master is the honor of this disciple."
Lu Lin looked deeply at Xiao Man. The elders and disciples of the sect feared him like a tiger. Even the spirited Jun Fei'er, upon seeing him, acted like a cat seeing a mouse, wishing she could hide far away. It seemed this young disciple had just joined and didn't yet know his fearsomeness.
"Since that's the case, then come with me."
"Now?" Xiao Man asked in surprise, she should at least be given some time to pack.
"Now."
"But I haven't packed anything." Xiao Man spread her hands, "I need to wash up. In this state, I might dirty Grand Uncle-Master's cave dwelling."
"Washing up is not difficult. There is a bathing pool in my cave dwelling, you can soak there!" Lu Lin grabbed Xiao Man and instantly left the alchemy room. Jun Fei'er wanted to stop him, but the hand she extended only touched a sleeve. By the time she chased after them, the two had already disappeared.