The attendant trembled, begging, "Alchemist Qian, please save me!"
Alchemist Qian frowned deeply.
On one hand, anyone who could work in the Pill Pavilion was bound to have connections.
This attendant was a distant relative of a Yellow-grade Middle-tier Alchemist.
He was able to work in the Pill Pavilion thanks to that Yellow-grade Middle-tier Alchemist.
Because of this, he usually acted arrogantly and offended many people.
If he were truly fired, it might offend that Yellow-grade Middle-tier Alchemist.
On the other hand, this person had offended a distinguished guest, and how to punish him should be decided by their Pill Pavilion.
Yet, this gray-haired youth was interfering in their Pill Pavilion's internal affairs with a casual remark, which made him very displeased!
Even if this gray-haired youth had some extraordinary background.
However, their Pill Pavilion, as the top force in Tianchu Province, was not to be trifled with, with even the Governor's Mansion, Miyun Mountain, and Seven Star Cave not daring to offend them lightly!
This was not a matter of whether to punish the attendant.
It was a matter of the Pill Pavilion's dignity!
Therefore, from any angle, he could not back down.
Having thought this through, Alchemist Qian said to Chu Tiange, "Seventh Young Master, it's not that I don't want to give you face, but this is beyond my authority. I need to seek instructions from the Pavilion Master. How about this, this person is temporarily suspended. After I consult with the Pavilion Master, I will give you an explanation."
Chu Tiange pondered for a moment.
He quickly understood Alchemist Qian's intentions.
Alchemist Qian was trying to smooth things over, merely putting on a show for them.
It was likely that once they left, the attendant would be fine.
After all, the Pill Pavilion still cared about its reputation.
At such a time, they would surely choose to protect their own.
However, Chu Tiange soon solidified his stance. If he couldn't even handle this small matter, how could he be Mr. Ling's subordinate in the future?
Wouldn't that make him, the Seventh Young Master of the Governor's Mansion, seem too useless!
Chu Tiange said forcefully, "What Mr. Ling has decided with his golden words cannot be changed. Alchemist Qian, I will personally explain this matter to your Pavilion Master, so as not to make things difficult for you!"
Seeing Chu Tiange's determination, Alchemist Qian gritted his teeth and said, "Very well, since Seventh Young Master is so resolute, I will make this decision on my own authority!"
In other words, he was doing this entirely to accommodate Chu Tiange.
It had nothing to do with Ling Fan.
Alchemist Qian did not look at Ling Fan because he was very displeased with the attendant's matter.
He hadn't erupted on the spot purely out of consideration for Chu Tiange.
The attendant was dragged away, looking utterly dejected.
The onlookers around them sighed with emotion.
They had initially thought the gray-haired youth would be easily handled by the people from the Pill Pavilion.
How could they have imagined that this gray-haired youth was such a tough nut to crack!
Even the Pill Pavilion had suffered a setback.
"Seventh Young Master, let's go see the Pavilion Master quickly. The Pavilion Master is probably getting impatient."
Alchemist Qian urged.
He glanced at Ling Fan.
This person had no sense of propriety, no idea when to stop.
He had already conceded, yet this person dared to disrespect their Pill Pavilion.
He found this gray-haired youth increasingly displeasing and just wanted him to disappear from his sight as soon as possible.
Chu Tiange didn't rush to leave. Instead, he respectfully asked Ling Fan, "Mr. Ling, what brings you to the Pill Pavilion? Is there anything I can help you with?"
His enthusiastic and fawning attitude was obvious even to a blind person.
Ling Fan said, "I'm here to collect some uncommon medicinal ingredients for alchemy."
Hearing Ling Fan say this, Chu Tiange raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Mr. Ling, you can also refine pills!"
Ling Fan nodded faintly, "I can do it a little."
"What do you mean 'a little'! If you can, you can. If you can't, you can't! Alchemy is such a sacred matter, yet you speak of it as if it were child's play. This is outrageous."
"It's not that I look down on you, but alchemy is not something just anyone can do. I, Qian, as a Yellow-grade High-tier Alchemist, must uphold the image and honor of alchemists. Do not let me hear you utter the word 'alchemy' again!"
Alchemist Qian, who was already displeased with Ling Fan, was even more indignant and rebuked him fiercely!
Chu Tiange frowned deeply.
As Ling Fan's loyal subordinate, he hated it when anyone dared to speak ill of Mr. Ling. He felt like slamming the table and rising up immediately!
So, he was about to argue with Alchemist Qian.
However, Ling Fan shook his head faintly and stopped him.
As the dignified Azure Cloud Emperor, a Heaven-tier Alchemist.
In his previous life, his attainments in alchemy were second to none in the Ten Great Heavenly Realms.
Now, to argue with a mere Yellow-grade High-tier Alchemist about whether he could refine pills would be beneath him.
Ling Fan clasped his hands behind his back, unfazed by Alchemist Qian's mocking gaze, and said, "Chu Seven, lead the way. Take me to see the Pavilion Master of the Pill Pavilion."
"Yes!"
Chu Tiange quickly took the lead.
Seeing Ling Fan's dismissive attitude, clearly not placing the esteemed Yellow-grade High-tier Alchemist in his eyes, Alchemist Qian's anger flared.
But just as he was about to erupt.
He received a warning glance from Chu Tiange.
He had no choice but to suppress his anger for the moment.
He thought, "Let you show off for now. When we meet the Pavilion Master later, let's see how you'll show off then!"
"A mere child like you dares to talk about alchemy.
It's like showing off your skills before an expert, making a fool of yourself!
Don't you know that our Pill Pavilion is the orthodox place for alchemy?"
Suppressing his surging anger, Alchemist Qian followed behind them, his face flushed with irritation.
Soon.
The group arrived outside an alchemy room.
Alchemist Qian said to Chu Tiange, "Seventh Young Master, our Pavilion Master spends all his time in the alchemy room researching various pill formulas, to the point of neglecting food and sleep. If there is any lack of hospitality here, please bear with us."
Chu Tiange said with solemn respect, "I have always heard of the Pavilion Master's reputation as a 'Pill Maniac,' and seeing him today, it is indeed well-deserved! No wonder the Pavilion Master has achieved what he has today. It is truly a testament to hard work paying off. I am full of admiration, how could I possibly blame you."
Alchemist Qian's expression improved slightly.
"Thank you for your understanding, Seventh Young Master."
"Knock, knock."
Alchemist Qian knocked on the door.
"Come in."
After a while, someone inside the alchemy room replied unhappily, seemingly annoyed at being disturbed from his alchemy.
Upon entering.
Ling Fan, Chu Tiange, Alchemist Qian, and the others saw a small, thin old man, a little over sixty, with a white goatee, comfortably slumped in a recliner.
To the astonishment of Chu Tiange and the others.
The old man held a pill-like object in one hand, continuously and rapidly kneading it with his thumb and index finger of his left hand.
The speed was so fast it almost created afterimages.
While his other hand was placed between his toes, rubbing something.
The speed was also very fast.
His fingers danced nimbly.
All the while, he wore a thoughtful expression.
Chu Tiange stared at the old man, dumbfounded.
He seemed to understand what the black, pill-like object in his hand was...
"Holy cow!"
"A toe-picking old man."
"Liu... Pavilion Master Liu?"
Chu Tiange called out tentatively.
The old man, still in deep thought, completely ignored Chu Tiange.
Alchemist Qian put his hand to his forehead.
Seeing his Pavilion Master in such an unkempt state, he was so embarrassed he wished he could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.
It was too humiliating!
"Pavilion Master!"
Alchemist Qian couldn't bear it any longer and slammed his hand heavily on the table.
The old man was startled awake.
With a hint of anger, he puffed out his goatee and glared at Alchemist Qian.
"Little Qian, what are you doing! Didn't you see I was thinking? I was conceptualizing a new pill formula, and now my train of thought is completely disrupted."
Alchemist Qian's expression immediately turned apologetic, and he scratched his head, "Pavilion Master... I... I was wrong! Seventh Young Master from the Governor's Mansion is here to see you."
"Oh, it's the kid from the Governor's Mansion. I know you."
Pavilion Master Liu reluctantly put down the mud ball he had been rubbing into a perfect sphere.
He reached out his hand, intending to shake Chu Tiange's hand warmly.
Chu Tiange's hair stood on end.
Goosebumps erupted all over him.
He dared not shake hands.
Instead, he recoiled slightly.
Alchemist Qian came to Chu Tiange's rescue, "Pavilion Master, there's no need for a handshake! Seventh Young Master has urgent business. Let's get straight to the point."