"Why are you all so silent? Have you found out who refined the pills for Pan Gate yet?"
Han Xian looked at the people below, all with tightly sealed mouths and darting eyes.
"According to our investigation, Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan refined them."
A person in charge of intelligence stepped forward and said.
"Xiao Jietian is an Alchemist?" Han Xian shot up from his seat when he heard this news, asking in a sharp voice.
Xiao Jietian, this dark horse that emerged out of nowhere, was widely renowned. With his strength as a Dou Wang, he suppressed the old students of the Inner Academy, making them unable to lift their heads.
Now he was being told that Xiao Jietian was also an Alchemist. What kind of freak was this?
"Gang Leader, I can't stand it anymore. Can we only endure this and let them break our monopoly on pills? Our profits will shrink greatly in the future."
"What else? Should I send you to fight them?"
Han Xian glanced at the man who spoke. Hearing Han Xian's words, he sheepishly sat back in his chair: "Gang Leader, you're joking. I'm just an Alchemist. If I went looking for trouble, I'd probably get beaten so badly I'd shit myself."
"If you know that, then stop talking nonsense. You might as well spend this time thinking of a solution."
Han Xian gave the idiot a cold look, then suddenly noticed a crucial point, repeatedly echoing the man's earlier words.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he thought to himself: "That's right, since they are Alchemists and we are too, then we can solve it the Alchemist way. Your cultivation is impressive, but I don't believe your alchemy skills are that great."
Han Xian instantly became brimming with confidence, feeling that the advantage was his.
"You all may withdraw for now. Tomorrow, arrange for someone to invite Xiao Jietian and Xiao Yan over. Just say I have something to discuss with them."
"If there's nothing else, you may all disperse."
Han Xian glanced at the useless core members of the gang below and couldn't help but rub his forehead.
…
When Xiao Jietian returned to the pavilion, he was caught by Hu Jia and forcibly pressed into a chair to listen for an hour about Pan Gate's current scale, situation, and future development plans.
"Xiao Jietian, I really want to bite you to death."
Hu Jia looked at the dazed Xiao Jietian, who had fallen asleep, and ground her small tiger teeth, yelling fiercely.
Startled awake by Hu Jia's voice, Xiao Jietian jolted upright and sat straight: "What you said was very good, no problems. Just follow what you said, I support you completely."
Hu Jia looked at Xiao Jietian's appearance, feeling a wave of helplessness. Having this leader, she felt like she would live a few years less.
Hu Jia's big eyes darted around: "Since you agreed, then these medicinal ingredients are yours. You truly are a responsible leader."
Hu Jia handed Xiao Jietian a storage ring. After scanning the mountain-like pile of medicinal ingredients inside, Xiao Jietian stared blankly at Hu Jia, thinking, "Who am I? Where am I? What did I agree to?"
"You just said you'd support me in everything. You're not trying to trick me, are you? If so, I'll throw a tantrum and go on strike."
Hu Jia looked at Xiao Jietian's expression, feeling a surge of satisfaction, praising herself for being so clever.
She had simultaneously solved the pill problem and her own psychological issues. To prevent Xiao Jietian from shamelessly backing out, she quickly ran off.
Xiao Jietian sighed helplessly, returned to his room, and silently set up his medicine cauldron to begin refining pills.
In the middle of the night, Xiao Jietian, looking exhausted, put away his medicine cauldron and collected the countless jade bottles filled with pills scattered on the ground.
Xiao Jietian stepped into the bathtub, enjoyed a nice bath, changed into clean pajamas, and walked out of his room.
Then, like a thief, he slipped into Xun'er's room and quickly burrowed into Xun'er's quilt.
Xun'er had sensed Xiao Jietian's presence early on, so she didn't pay him any mind. She just snuggled closer into his embrace and continued to sleep.
Xiao Jietian looked at the sleeping beauty in his arms, chuckled softly, and, embracing Xun'er, fell asleep.
In his sleep, Xiao Jietian's auto-aim was on. He naturally slipped in and held the entire world.
Xun'er instantly opened her eyes, changed to a more comfortable position, and continued to sleep, not stopping him.
In the morning, Xiao Jietian woke up in Xun'er's room. The person beside him had already left.
After a quick wash, he came downstairs to the hall and saw Hu Jia and Xun'er looking at him with strange expressions.
Also sitting in the hall was a small girl in white, looking expectantly at Xiao Jietian as he came downstairs. It was Zi Yan.
"Little Zi Yan, why are you here?"
Xiao Jietian smiled and nodded at her, then walked over to Zi Yan, rubbed her head, and asked softly.
"I finished the pills you refined for me. I didn't want to bother you when you were in seclusion. I've been gnawing on medicinal ingredients for two days now. Today, I found you weren't there, so I came to find you."
"You said that when I finished them, I should come find you."
Zi Yan took out the bottle that had contained the pills before, tipped it, and said sheepishly.
"Mm, I'll refine a batch for you later."
Xiao Jietian looked at Zi Yan's adorable appearance and was very fond of her.
Zi Yan smiled when she heard Xiao Jietian's words, happily swinging her short legs.
Hu Jia looked at the two chatting harmoniously, then gently pulled Xiao Jietian aside. The others also quietly gathered around.
Hu Jia curiously asked Xiao Jietian: "Who is this little girl? She's not your illegitimate daughter from outside, is she?"
"This little girl came early this morning, saying she wanted to find you. Xun'er said you weren't awake yet, so she just sat here without a word, her little face chillingly cold."
Xiao Jietian playfully tapped her head: "Don't you look at my age and just guess wildly here? If she hears you, she might tear down the whole building later."
"Brother Xiao Jietian is right. I felt a powerful energy from her, which is why I stopped you all from acting recklessly."
Xun'er naturally didn't believe any of that about Xiao Jietian's illegitimate daughter.
"She's so small, how could she…" Hu Jia secretly turned her head and quietly glanced at the cheerful Zi Yan.
Xiao Jietian ignored Hu Jia and the others, took Xun'er's hand, and sat next to Zi Yan.
When Zi Yan saw Xiao Jietian sit down, she waved her hand, and seven or eight medicinal ingredients containing powerful energy appeared on it.
"You didn't 'borrow' all of these from there, did you?"
Xiao Jietian knew that Zi Yan usually liked to raid the medicinal ingredient storeroom for snacks, and occasionally went into the forest to find some herself.
"Nonsense! Most of these I dug myself recently. I have a unique sensitivity to these spiritual treasures of heaven and earth."
Zi Yan also felt a little guilty, because she had taken too many at once a few days ago, causing Elder Hao to be extremely vigilant with her, even sleeping in the storeroom. Without an opportunity, she could only go digging in the forest.
This time, she prepared more thoroughly, just in case Xiao Jietian went into seclusion again.
"This time I won't charge you for the medicinal ingredients. I'll refine them all into pills for you."
"Really? That's great! Xiao Jietian, you're such a good person."
Zi Yan's eyes sparkled with excitement, like two big light bulbs.
Xiao Jietian directly refined the medicinal ingredients into pills for Zi Yan in the hall.
Upon receiving the pills, Zi Yan couldn't wait, immediately eating one despite its fresh-from-the-oven heat.
"This is great! This is the taste! Delicious! Thank you so much, Xiao Jietian! If you ever need anything in the future, you must come to me."
Finally getting to eat the delicious pills again, Zi Yan's face was filled with an expression of enjoyment, her eyes narrowing.
After getting her pills, Zi Yan happily bid farewell to Xiao Jietian and the others, skipping and hopping out of the pavilion.
"Brother Xiao Jietian, who exactly is she? How can such a small girl appear in the Inner Academy? And I sensed extremely powerful energy from her."