Chapter 18: Taking a Master

Qin Xingchen felt a wave of shyness wash over him. "President Jiang, you..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Jiang Rong rushed over and hugged him again, consumed by excitement. Even more shockingly, she disregarded all decorum, pulling his head toward her and burying his face deep into the cleavage between her magnificent, heaving bosom. Although those twin peaks had "shrunk" slightly, they remained breathtakingly alluring—still as large, fragrant, and soft as ever. Qin Xingchen was nearly dazed by the sensation! He had never expected that this woman, when overcome with fervor, could be so utterly uninhibited and reckless.

In his past life, he had been a mighty Saint, a figure who looked down upon the masses and commanded the respect of all. He had never imagined that, as a dignified Saint, he would one day be subjected to such "humiliation," leaving him completely at a loss.

"No, I cannot let this woman continue to act so wantonly!"

Qin Xingchen immediately pulled his head away and looked at Jiang Rong with a helpless expression. "President Jiang, please, calm down!"

Hearing this, Jiang Rong gradually composed herself, shaking off her euphoria. She looked at Qin Xingchen and smiled. "Little Brother Xingchen, I apologize. I was just too excited, please forgive me!"

Qin Xingchen felt a sense of resignation. He found this woman’s wild side somewhat intimidating. Wait... Jiang Rong used to address him as Young Master Qin; why had it suddenly changed to "Little Brother Xingchen"? How fickle this woman was!

Jiang Rong smiled warmly. "Young Master Qin, thank you for purging the toxins from my body. I feel as if I have been reborn, and my constitution has fully recovered. I will never forget this debt of gratitude!"

With that, she knelt on one knee and cupped her hands in a formal salute toward Qin Xingchen.

Qin Xingchen was bewildered. "President Jiang, what is the meaning of this?"

Jiang Rong replied, "Young Master Qin, please, take me as your disciple!"

She believed that Qin Xingchen was far more than just a fourth-rank alchemist; he might even be capable of crafting fifth-rank pills. If she wanted to win over such a master of alchemy, the most effective method was to become his student.

Qin Xingchen was stunned. "President Jiang, you are the President of the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce. I am merely a nobody; how could I possibly take you as a disciple?"

Jiang Rong insisted, "Young Master Qin, I have been stuck at the third-rank alchemist stage for many years, unable to break through to the fourth rank. I never expected to encounter a young expert like you today. I feel I must seize this opportunity. Only by becoming your disciple can I hope to travel further and reach higher realms in the path of alchemy! So, please, accept me!"

Qin Xingchen replied, "I apologize, but I never take on disciples."

Jiang Rong said with firm resolve, "Young Master Qin, if you do not accept me today, I shall remain kneeling here!"

"You..." Qin Xingchen felt helpless. The dignified President of the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce was kneeling before him! If this were to get out, it would surely cause a sensation throughout the Tianhe Dynasty. Furthermore, if he didn't accept her, it would be awkward to have her kneeling indefinitely. Besides, he still needed to obtain the five medicinal herbs required for the Beauty-Restoring Snow Paste from her.

He had no time to waste. After weighing his options, he relented. "Jiang Rong, I do not take on disciples lightly, but seeing your sincerity and eagerness, I will accept you as a probationary disciple for the time being."

"Thank you, Master!" Jiang Rong beamed with joy and quickly kowtowed. "Disciple Jiang Rong pays respects to Master!"

"Very well." Qin Xingchen nodded slightly. "Since I have accepted you as a probationary disciple, I will impart the 'Alchemy Nourishing Technique' to you as a gift."

He extended his right hand, tapped two fingers against her forehead, and silently recited a mysterious formula, transmitting the 'Alchemy Nourishing Technique' directly into her mind.

As Jiang Rong absorbed the contents, her expression changed dramatically. She had never imagined such profound and unfathomable alchemical techniques could exist. Compared to the alchemy she had learned previously, this technique was like the difference between heaven and earth. She felt as though her meridians had been cleared, and her mind suddenly opened up.

Qin Xingchen said, "Cultivate this technique well. In the future, let alone reaching the fourth rank, if you work hard and possess the right personal destiny, even becoming a fifth or sixth-rank alchemist is not impossible."

Jiang Rong trembled, looking at Qin Xingchen with shock. "Master, you are truly incredible. Just who are you?" At this moment, it wasn't just the technique; she felt that Qin Xingchen’s temperament and wisdom were entirely at odds with his youthful appearance. He felt increasingly mysterious to her.

Qin Xingchen replied, "Ask less about my affairs. If the opportunity arises, I will tell you."

"Yes!" Jiang Rong responded.

Qin Xingchen added, "Also, do not announce our master-disciple relationship for now to avoid unnecessary suspicion. You may tell others that I am a second-rank alchemist."

"Yes, Master!"

Qin Xingchen continued, "Finally, in addition to the five herbs I requested, I need some others. I would also like to refine some pills here. Is that acceptable?"

"Of course!" Jiang Rong said firmly. "Master, since we are now teacher and student, anything you need that I possess is yours to take!" She winked at him. "Even if you wanted your disciple’s body, I would be willing. And... I am still a maiden, so Master..."

"Stop, stop, stop! That is enough!" Qin Xingchen interrupted her. This woman had seemed so dignified at first, but she had become increasingly brazen. He continued, "I already have a fiancée. You must never speak such nonsense in front of her."

"Ah..." Jiang Rong’s face showed a flicker of disappointment.

Qin Xingchen said, "Very well, I will list the herbs I need. Prepare them for me; I need to continue refining pills."

"Yes!" After receiving her orders, Jiang Rong turned to prepare the list.

Qin Xingchen intended to refine the Beauty-Restoring Snow Paste right there. To do so, he first had to refine a Beauty-Restoring Snow Pill. Once the pill was ready, he would grind it into powder and mix it with a special plaster to complete the final ointment.

Half an hour later, once Jiang Rong had prepared everything, he began the process in the alchemy room.

Approximately two hours later, Qin Xingchen had successfully refined both the pill and the final ointment. He decided it was time to return to the Wangyue Sect.

He arrived back at the sect at dusk. As he approached the entrance to the Yunyin Peak, he heard a series of earsplitting, insulting shouts.

"Yu Yumeng, you ugly woman, why are you hiding in the Yunyin Peak? Come out and let us vent our anger on you!"

"You stinking bitch, it’s bad enough you’re ugly, but you have the nerve to show your face in the sect’s shops? Have you no shame? Next time I see you there, I’ll beat you every time! You disgusting thing!"

"Did you hear me?"

"Hmph, ugly and silent—you don't even dare to come down and talk back. You might as well spend your whole life being a spineless bitch!"

"Oh, right, I heard your pathetic fiancé, Qin Xingchen, snuck off to the Luoyin Mountains yesterday to find something and hasn't returned yet. Do you know why? I’ll tell you—that useless piece of trash is probably already dead in the mountains, ha ha..."

Standing before the gate were two inner-sect disciples, both around eighteen or nineteen years old. Just then, a delicate figure ran out from the peak, shouting defiantly, "You’re lying! Xingchen will be fine! He’ll definitely be fine!"

One of the disciples walked up to Yu Yumeng and scoffed, "He’ll be fine? Hmph, he’s nothing but a waste. If he went into the Luoyin Mountains, he’s as good as dead. Besides, if he’s not dead, why hasn't he returned?"

"That's not true, it's not true!" Yu Yumeng cried out in agitation. "He promised me he would return!"

The disciple sneered, "An ugly freak is always an ugly freak, living in fantasies all day. I’ll give you a slap to wake you up!"

She raised her right hand to strike Yu Yumeng, but before her hand could complete the motion, it was caught by a firm grip.

The person who had arrived was none other than Qin Xingchen!

Qin Xingchen gripped the disciple's arm and squeezed hard. "Who did you say was dead?"

"Ah!" The disciple shrieked in agony as Qin Xingchen kicked her, sending her flying through the air.

"Qin... Qin Xingchen! It’s you!" The other disciple stared in panic at his sudden appearance. "You useless trash, weren't you already..."

*Slap!*

Before she could finish, Qin Xingchen struck her across the face. She was sent spinning, crashing to the ground over ten meters away, looking utterly wretched.