Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Sugar-coated Cannonball, Scheming

No one is kind to you without a reason.

Yang Chan was well aware of this. From his past life to this one, he understood the world with a piercing clarity. So, whenever people tried to befriend him, he would play the part of a “Mr. Nice Guy,” responding with a smile, but deep down, he knew exactly what their motives were.

The recent assessment for a Pharmacist’s Assistant was no different.

It was like a sugar-coated bullet—the danger hidden within the reward. The idea of taking the sweet coating while discarding the projectile was naive. People would even tamper with the coating itself, making it impossible to guard against.

The beautiful female disciples in the Pharmacist assessment were the sugar coating intentionally offered by the Noble Families. They wanted Yang Chan to take the bait, which would place someone by his side who could influence him in one way or another.

To take only the sweet coating and discard the bullet required absolute strength, which he currently lacked.

Therefore, he wanted neither the coating nor the bullet. This was all to secure more time for his Cultivation in the Cyan Yuan Sect.

He had accepted Han Bingyu as his Pharmacist’s Assistant, and she had already subtly mentioned the Han Family, even bringing up their young master’s marriage. If it weren’t for Han Bingyu, none of this would have concerned him at all.

Of course, Yang Chan couldn’t deny there were benefits to allying with a Noble Family. However, the Han Family was already providing the services he needed, and the two parties had reached a tacit understanding. There was no need to antagonize anyone over his choice of a Pharmacist’s Assistant.

If he had other ideas or opinions, he could voice them directly. If he was dissatisfied, he could find someone else to cooperate with. There was no need to use the Pharmacist’s Assistant position for such political games.

Besides, he wasn’t sure about the relationship between Medicine Hall Master Gu An and these Noble Families. But Gu An must have known about his cooperation with the Han Family beforehand. The fact that Gu An still extended an olive branch meant it probably wasn’t an issue; otherwise, he would have mentioned something.

There was no need to create more trouble for himself over this. While Gu An most likely wouldn’t care, Yang Chan didn’t want to stir the pot. He preferred to keep things steady.

Yang Chan carried all the alchemy-related books back to his residence. It was a considerable number of books, but for someone with his Martial Arts Cultivation, the task was effortless. To him, the weight felt no different than a single grain of rice.

After bringing the books back, Yang Chan didn’t immediately start reading. Instead, he returned to his room and began his Cultivation of the Flood Dragon Demon Breath Method. ’This is my top priority.’ He certainly couldn’t cut back on his time practicing the Flood Dragon Demon Breath Method.

With every session of Tempering his lungs and viscera, he could feel his power growing. His strength, speed, and other attributes all saw a faint increase. So did his Lifespan. The improvements weren’t huge, but he could clearly perceive them.

After all, the number on his status panel—Lifespan: 223—wouldn’t lie. It was a true record of his progress in Martial Arts Cultivation. He eagerly anticipated how this number would change once he succeeded in the Inner Refining of the Lungs and Spleens.

His Talent, of course, would also serve as a testament to his progress.

…

“Senior Brother Han, how did it go?”

Jin Kangbo asked hurriedly as he saw Han Yu return with a smile.

He was an Official Disciple whom Yang Chan had previously treated, so he was well aware of the Pharmacist’s capabilities.

Within the Cyan Yuan Sect, most Official Disciples chose someone to align themselves with. They would join either a small group, like the one Han Bingyu used to be in, or an Elite Disciple. Few chose to go it alone. Yang Chan himself had once joined a rather informal group, but he automatically withdrew after becoming a Pharmacist.

Before, it was like paying a small fee for protection. Once he no longer needed it, he wasn’t about to keep wasting money. Yang Chan had even refused when the group offered to give him a cut of their earnings.

Apparent benefits often came with hidden troubles. Now that he was a Pharmacist, Yang Chan didn’t lack for money and had no intention of inviting trouble upon himself.

Jin Kangbo was one such person who had sought the protection of an Elite Disciple, choosing the highly talented Han Yu. Having witnessed Yang Chan’s medical skills and heard of his prowess in Alchemy, Jin Kangbo had been keeping an eye on him ever since the moniker “the Twin Stars of the Servants” had emerged. He later made sure to bring the matter to Han Yu’s attention.

He knew that a genius Pharmacist like Yang Chan was guaranteed to have a place for himself within the Cyan Yuan Sect.

If Han Yu could recruit Yang Chan, it would be a huge benefit for Han Yu, for Jin Kangbo himself, and even for their entire group.

In his eyes, both men were geniuses who had risen from the ranks of the Servant Disciples. It would be easy for them to feel a mutual admiration. Even if Han Yu couldn’t recruit him, befriending him early on would still be immensely beneficial.

“I can only say it was a good start. Yang Chan has likely heard of my reputation.”

“When I said my name, I noticed a flash of surprise in his eyes. He clearly knows who I am.”

“In three days, after Yang Chan successfully refines the Lantian Jade Refining Pill, I’ll try contacting him again.”

A confident smile appeared on Han Yu’s face.

The meeting today went as he’d expected. He had guessed that Yang Chan would, in all likelihood, agree, though the timing for their next meeting might vary.

If Yang Chan had Lantian Jade Refining Pills on hand, he would have told him to wait a day or so. Since he didn’t, it meant they would meet after he finished refining the next batch.

The difference amounted to a few days.

“Congratulations on the good start, Senior Brother. I heard from a Steward at the Earth Fire Institute that Yang Chan is currently refining the First Revolution Nourishing Viscera Pill. That Elixir is a great help for anyone trying to break through to the rank of Inner Master.”

“If you can win Yang Chan over, Senior Brother, your path to becoming a Grandmaster will be much smoother.”

Jin Kangbo relayed the latest news he’d heard. He’d gotten it out of a Steward from the Earth Fire Institute after plying him with wine; the man had mentioned it while bragging in his drunken state.

He didn’t know the specifics of the refining process, but if Yang Chan had already started, he must have some confidence. At the very least, he was in the preparation stages. Even if he hadn’t succeeded yet, he surely would eventually.

The news of an Elixir that could help one break through to become an Inner Master had naturally made Jin Kangbo’s eyes light up when he heard it.

He was now deliberately telling Han Yu to make him take the matter more seriously.

He knew full well that geniuses were arrogant, and he didn’t want Han Yu’s pride to interfere with recruiting someone like Yang Chan.

Jin Kangbo saw in Yang Chan his hope of breaking through the External Refining realm to become an Elite Disciple, and even the hope of one day becoming an Inner Master.

With a genius Pharmacist like that around, if he could just get a small share of the benefits, his own chances of a breakthrough would be much higher than others’.

With enough Cultivation Resources, he was confident he could become an Elite Disciple and go even further. That was why he was pressing the issue with Han Yu.

“I understand what’s at stake. For now, I’ll have to trouble you, Junior Brother, to keep gathering information on Yang Chan.”

A sharp glint flashed in Han Yu’s eyes when he heard the name “First Revolution Nourishing Viscera Pill,” but his expression was gentle as he replied to Jin Kangbo.

Since it concerned the breakthrough to Inner Master, he naturally took it more seriously. His estimation of Yang Chan had just risen another level.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep