Chapter 462: Heavenly Pill Pavilion
The old man chuckled. "If you truly wish to thank me, how about taking me as your master?"
Zhao Dong looked helpless. He was genuinely grateful for the old man's guidance and the pill he had provided, but accepting a master was a serious commitment. How could he decide so hastily?
Thus, Zhao Dong said wryly, "It's not that I don't want to accept you as my master, but what would I even learn from you?"
"What would you learn!?"
The old man leaped spryly from his chair, gazed at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, and thumped his chest with pride. "Let me tell you, back in the day, my alchemy skills were second to none in the Provincial City! Everyone in the martial world knew my name!"
"They called me the Pill Ghost! Do you know who the Pill Ghost is? A legendary figure of great renown!"
Who brags about themselves like this? Is this old geezer trying to pull a fast one?
"Forget it, I should get going," Zhao Dong said, waving his hand as he turned to leave. However, just as he turned, he saw a familiar figure approaching with an attendant in tow. It was the woman who had previously tried to contend with him for the Spirit-Nourishing Pill.
Seeing Zhao Dong there, the woman also looked surprised.
"Why are you here?" she asked first. But before Zhao Dong could reply, she broke into a warm smile. "It doesn't matter. The fact that we've met again so soon must be fate. Since we're so fated, why not indulge this little lady and hand over the Spirit-Nourishing Pill?"
Zhao Dong frowned. "Are you following me?"
The woman shook her head. "I wouldn't stoop so low. I simply smelled a peculiar pill fragrance and came to investigate."
Pill fragrance? She smelled that strange scent too? Zhao Dong was a little surprised, but the feeling passed in an instant. It made sense, he reasoned. Since she could recognize the Spirit-Nourishing Pill, it wasn't too strange that she could also detect this peculiar scent.
"I'm sorry, but I won't be giving up the Spirit-Nourishing Pill. Goodbye."
Zhao Dong couldn't be bothered with her and turned to walk away. The attendant behind her, however, flew into a rage.
"You brat! My Young Lady asked you for the pill so politely, and you're still so unappreciative! In that case, don't blame me for getting rough!" the attendant bellowed, rolling up his sleeves to lunge at Zhao Dong.
"Get back!" the woman barked, stopping her attendant once more. "How many times have I told you to keep a low profile when we're out? If you dare shout and threaten violence again, you can go straight back to the sect and enter solitary confinement!"
The woman's sharp rebuke made the attendant's face turn pale, and he shrank back sheepishly.
At that moment, the old man emerged from the shop. "Who are you?" he asked, eyeing the woman suspiciously as his gaze raked her up and down.
His unfriendly stare made the woman slightly uncomfortable.
She frowned and retorted, "And who might you be?"
"I am the owner of this rundown shop," the old man replied calmly.
"So you are the owner," the woman said, her tone tinged with surprise. She then spoke politely, "I am Shen Xiao, an inner disciple of the Heavenly Pill Pavilion. It is an honor to meet you, Senior."
SWOOSH!
Hearing her origins, the old man's expression changed dramatically. He sneered, "Heh, so you're trash from the Heavenly Pill Pavilion. It seems adversaries are truly fated to cross paths!"
His face was glacial, his tone utterly hostile. The word "trash" made Shen Xiao's brow furrow, her face showing simmering anger.
She snapped, "I have shown you, Senior, the utmost respect, yet you insult me so crudely! Don't you think you've gone too far!?"
"Too far? When it comes to people from the Heavenly Pill Pavilion, nothing I say is too much!" the old man retorted angrily. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
"I do not!" Shen Xiao replied coldly.
"Then listen well!" the old man explained. "My name is Duan Qiong. Years ago, I was an elder of the Heavenly Pill Pavilion. My talent for alchemy was so exceptional that I was chosen to be the next Pavilion Master! But the despicable whelps in the Heavenly Pill Pavilion grew jealous of my talent and envious of my position. They deliberately framed me, causing me to lose my cultivation completely. I was reduced to a cripple, expelled from the Heavenly Pill Pavilion, and left to rot here! I call you people from the Heavenly Pill Pavilion trash. Do you still have any complaints!?"
At his words, Shen Xiao's beautiful eyes widened in utter shock. She hastily clasped her fists and bowed. "This junior has heard of Senior Duan's great name and your legendary deeds, but I never knew you were forced to leave the sect after being framed. I sincerely apologize for my earlier rashness and hope you can forgive me!"
Duan Qiong sneered with disdain. "Hmph! I will never forgive anyone from the Heavenly Pill Pavilion! You're all cut from the same cloth, unscrupulous in your pursuit of your own interests. What right do you have to ask for my forgiveness!?"
With that, Duan Qiong pointed toward the street and shouted coldly, "Get out! Immediately!"
Hearing this, Shen Xiao's expression turned grim. She frowned. "Senior Duan, I sympathize with your experience, but not everyone from the Heavenly Pill Pavilion is a bad person. Why must you be so hostile?"
"Because of my pride!" Duan Qiong glared at Shen Xiao.
Shen Xiao stood up straight and scoffed, "Ha, some pride. You have no cultivation left; you're just an ordinary man. What pride is there to speak of?"
"Insolent girl! Who do you think you are? A little brat who isn't even fully grown, daring to look down on me!?" Duan Qiong's face flushed with anger.
Seeing this from the side, Zhao Dong could no longer remain silent. "How can someone still climbing the mountain dare to mock a god who has already descended from its peak?" he said coolly. "If you continue to spout such arrogant words, then the people of your Alchemy Pavilion truly are a bad lot."
The old man immediately shot Zhao Dong a thumbs-up. "Well said!"
Shen Xiao's brows knitted together. After a moment of thought, she bowed respectfully once more. "Senior, please forgive me. I was out of line. But as they say, where there is great hatred, there cannot have been great love. Your deep hatred for the Heavenly Pill Pavilion only proves how much you truly miss it.
"How about this? You've lost your cultivation, so you can no longer practice alchemy or refine high-quality pills. But your knowledge must surely remain. Why don't you pass on your alchemy skills to me? In return, I will speak on your behalf to the Pavilion's upper echelons and help you get reinstated. What do you say?"
"Unnecessary!" Duan Qiong refused instantly and coldly.
Still unwilling to give up, Shen Xiao pressed on. "Senior Duan, please don't let spite cloud your judgment. There may be no hope for you to recover in this lifetime. But are you truly content to hide away in this broken-down place and let your incredible skills be lost to time? Don't you want to find a worthy successor to carry on your legacy?"
At her words, a flicker of struggle did indeed cross Duan Qiong's eyes. Nevertheless, he snapped impatiently, "My affairs are none of your concern. Now get out!"
Shen Xiao's face turned ashen. She never imagined that Duan Qiong would be so utterly unyielding. But even if she couldn't obtain his legacy, Shen Xiao was unwilling to leave just like that.