Emerging from the pharmacy at Danyang Gate, Lu Heng felt he could leave the capital for now. Otherwise, being pestered by Wuchenzi, that persistent shadow, made him rather uncomfortable.
However, he hadn't anticipated Wuchenzi being even faster. He had underestimated Danyang Gate's influence in the capital. Just as he was planning to check out and leave the city immediately,
He saw Wuchenzi, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, on the first floor of the inn.
"Little friend Lu, I've finally found you," Wuchenzi said, stroking his beard as he strode towards Lu Heng and the other person.
Lu Heng glanced at Elder Lu, who was following behind Wuchenzi, and sighed inwardly. He had explicitly stated earlier that he didn't intend to disturb Wuchenzi with his affairs in the capital, and he was planning to leave today. Yet, this old man Wuchenzi had still come.
"Haha, I've been in the capital for a few days, and I was just planning to visit other places."
"Leaving already? Which room are you staying in? I have something I'd like to discuss with you, and I'll trouble you for a little while longer."
"Oh, who is this young friend?" Wuchenzi asked, looking at Lu Bai, who was holding Lu Heng's hand and standing beside him.
"Let's go upstairs first." Somewhat helplessly, Lu Heng turned and led Lu Bai back to their room.
"The inn you found isn't very good. Why don't you stay at Danyang Gate's residence in the capital?" Wuchenzi said, following behind Lu Heng and looking at the inn's environment with a hint of disdain.
The inn's waiter, upon hearing Wuchenzi's first sentence, had intended to retort, but when he heard Wuchenzi mention Danyang Gate, he promptly shut his mouth.
He didn't recognize the old man who had just entered, but he had heard of Danyang Gate. It was a sect that specialized in refining elixirs for the royal family, and they, as small business owners, could not afford to offend them.
Upon entering the room, Wuchenzi surveyed the furnishings and said again with disdain, "This place is truly too simple. Look, apart from some basic furniture, there are no other decorations. It's not easy to find a room like this in the capital. How did you find this inn, little friend?"
Lu Heng then looked around the room. Indeed, as Wuchenzi had said, apart from a bed and a set of table and chairs, there was no decoration at all.
Fortunately, they only planned to sleep here and would be out exploring during the day. However, this was considered the "Heavenly" room, so what would the ordinary rooms be like? Perhaps just dormitories?
Closing the door, Lu Heng sat down on a chair by the table. "What is it you wanted to see me about?"
Wuchenzi glanced at Lu Bai, who was sitting on the bed.
"Feel free to speak. This is my younger brother, Lu Bai," Lu Heng said, instantly understanding Wuchenzi's implication.
"When did you get a younger brother, little friend?"
How could he not remember Lu Heng mentioning any family members before? He vaguely recalled Lu Heng saying he was an orphan.
"Cousin," Lu Heng said. He couldn't quite recall if he had mentioned family matters before, but he had seen Wuchenzi's suspicion.
"Oh, you don't look very alike, indeed." Although Lu Heng was considered handsome, his cousin had a more effeminate appearance.
Putting aside his thoughts, Wuchenzi sat down on the other side of the table and looked at Lu Heng with a serious expression. "I came to find you because I do have something I want to inquire about. The day before yesterday, the second son of the Jingning Royal Mansion did not awaken after consuming a crystal. Therefore, they found me and want to question me about this situation."
As expected, the crystal had caused some deviation. However, perhaps the human bodies here were different from those in the apocalypse, so such a situation was not impossible.
But this person happened to be from a noble family, which meant there might be some trouble.
"Have any other individuals who consumed the crystal experienced a similar situation?"
"No, this is the first time we've heard of such a case since we started selling the crystals," Wuchenzi said, also puzzled. When he was summoned by the people from the Jingning Royal Mansion, he had initially thought there was a problem with some elixir he had refined.
Lu Heng tapped his fingers on the table, contemplating. If this was indeed just an isolated incident, he wouldn't have any solutions. The only way was to have the second son of the Jingning Royal Mansion continue to consume the crystals until he awakened his abilities.
However, if he consumed a large amount of crystals and still couldn't break through, Lu Heng would have no way to deal with it.
"Did that person personally go to Jinyang City to consume the crystal, or did they purchase it through someone and consume it after bringing it back to the capital?"
"A guard from the Jingning Mansion personally went to Jinyang City to purchase it. The guard said the crystal had not left his possession since it was bought."
"That's hard to say. Without any proof, and relying solely on the Jingning Royal Mansion's word that it was consumed, it's impossible to prove. When we sold it, we did mention that the crystal could not guarantee awakening and that it depended on individual fortune."
"That is true. However, after all, they are the Jingning Royal Mansion. Although they didn't target me when they called me yesterday, given my identity as an alchemist, this matter might have some impact on the future sales of the crystals."
"After that person found one crystal ineffective, did they consume a second one?"
"No, those people are quite fond of their lives and wouldn't dare to try another. However, I heard earlier that they had purchased two crystals and tested one on a nephew from a collateral branch of their family. After it was effective, they then gave it to the second son."
"Then contact them. I'll go and see what the situation is myself."
"Then, rather than choosing a day, let's go today. I was supposed to go today, but His Majesty requires an elixir to be refined, so I had to postpone the matter with the Jingning Royal Mansion."
"By the way, His Majesty is also a cultivator, isn't he? What kind of elixir is he having you refine? Is it for eternal life?"
"Oh, that's an interesting thought, but don't speak nonsense. I won't refine such heaven-defying elixirs. If it reaches His Majesty's ears, and he forces me to refine it, I'll end up dying in the palace. The current His Majesty, although a cultivator, doesn't have to personally go out and fight enemies. Having some ability to protect himself is enough, so the elixirs he asks me to refine are nothing more than those for that purpose."
"He has quite a few consorts?"
"It's unavoidable to be in that position. One must show favor to all and continue the royal lineage."
"Cough, alright. It's probably not good to tell me, an outsider, such palace secrets."
"How can little friend be an outsider? Besides, these are not secrets. Anyone who inquires a little or is familiar with royalty knows about them."
"Then don't you have any ready-made elixirs on hand? It's not the first time you've refined such elixirs for His Majesty, is it?"
"Indeed, but His Majesty feels the effects of the previous medicines are not good enough, so..."
"Here, take this. One tablet at a time. Remember not to take too much," Lu Heng said, taking out a few small blue tablets from his懷 and handing them to Wuchenzi. "Take these to tide His Majesty over for now, as an emergency measure."
"What is this?" Wuchenzi picked up a tablet and sniffed it, but he didn't detect any particularly strong scent.
"It's similar in effect to the elixir you provide for His Majesty, but remember, do not exceed one tablet at a time," Lu Heng reiterated, emphasizing his caution.