Chapter 190
Chapter 190: Little Hamster’s Strange Behavior
The Alchemy Conference’s competition process was simple: the first round tested recognition of spirit herbs. Contestants had to write down each herb’s name, growth environment and habits, medicinal properties, and so on; anyone with errors or omissions would be eliminated until only one hundred remained.
In the fourth-grade division there were 525 alchemists. They stood before their assigned stations as staffers brought out the herbs to be identified.
In a corner, Rong Shu accepted a storage pouch from a staffer; inside were the herbs to be examined.
With the division’s bell ringing, the first round began. The storage pouch held two hundred kinds of spirit herbs, and the alchemists had half a stick of incense to identify them all and record their answers on paper.
On a high platform by the arena sat a row of big shots: the city lord of Wanderer’s City, the branch master of the Wanderer’s City Alchemists’ Guild, several renowned alchemists, and a handful of aristocratic patriarchs. For the moment, though, all of them were carefully making conversation with Xiao Zi An, who sat in the seat of honor in the middle.
Several people tried to chat him up: Young Master Xiao, we did not expect you to attend in person. Young Master Xiao, have you been comfortable these last few days in Wanderer’s City?
Xiao Zi An kept a polite smile at the corner of his lips and said: Life was too dull, so I came out to stretch my legs; no need to stand on ceremony, everyone. I am only here to watch the excitement. As the voices at his ear continued fishing for topics, he answered them smoothly with polite phrases while lowering his gaze to the alchemists below who were identifying the herbs. When he found Rong Shu’s figure, a genuine smile flashed in his eyes before he gradually reined it in and turned his head to continue exchanging pleasantries.
Half a stick of incense passed in the blink of an eye. All the alchemists set down their brushes, and the staff announced on the spot the names, habits, and medicinal properties of that batch of herbs. Those who heard they had written something wrong left on their own. Under so many watching eyes, most alchemists were people with reputations; none would thicken their faces to cheat. To cheat before the branch master of the Alchemists’ Guild, once caught, was to be blacklisted by the Guild.
After one pass, the fourth-grade division eliminated only twenty-five people in dribs and drabs.
The second pass began: this time the number of herbs to be identified doubled to four hundred, with the same half-stick time limit. As time went on, the first-round results for the first-, second-, and third-grade divisions came out, selecting one hundred to compete in tomorrow’s second round, while the fourth- and fifth-grade divisions continued. The alchemists in these latter two divisions were relatively stronger on average, so a longer screening was required.
In the second pass, fifty people were eliminated from the fourth-grade division. In the third pass, they had to identify eight hundred kinds of herbs in half a stick of incense, eliminating three hundred people. In the fourth pass, they identified sixteen hundred kinds in the same time, eliminating a hundred more. With the fourth pass concluded, the fourth-grade division’s advancing contestants were finally decided.
Among the fifty, Rong Shu let out a breath in her heart for the moment. If not for the year she had spent in the Scorchfire Secret Realm’s cave residence studying alchemy and poring over countless alchemy books, she would have been eliminated long ago. This was only the first round and already so difficult. She silently warned herself to go all out in the second round.
Up on the platform, seeing that Rong Shu had advanced put Xiao Zi An in an excellent mood. He murmured with satisfaction: Not bad at all; my little junior sister truly hid her light well. Earlier, when he learned Rong Shu was a fourth-grade alchemist, he had been surprised but did not think too much of it. By the Alchemists’ Guild’s standards, one had to be proficient in refining at least fifty pills of the same tier to be called an alchemist of that grade; yet in the eyes of the public, even being able to refine a single pill made one a half-baked alchemist. Now, though, Rong Shu had proved herself with action; she fully deserved the title of fourth-grade alchemist.
People around the platform sighed in admiration: That young lady is so young and yet a fourth-grade alchemist, and she even passed the first round. Her future is limitless; which clan or sect is she from? Listening to the branch master and others marvel and praise, a surge of pride rose in Xiao Zi An’s heart; he almost wanted to show off on the spot that she was from his own family. Still, he kept in mind his third senior brother’s words and quietly pressed down his excitement.
In the nearby crowd, Wu Hua looked at the much-watched Rong Shu and smiled sincerely. After Rong Shu registered her advancement, she happily went to find Wu Hua: Senior brother, I made it to the second round. Little Hamster on Wu Hua’s shoulder cooed excitedly. Wu Hua nodded: Mm, very good. Do your best in tomorrow’s second round. He passed Little Hamster back to Rong Shu.
Before the competition, Rong Shu had entrusted Little Hamster to Wu Hua’s care. Smiling as she took Little Hamster, she stroked him out of habit and said: Mm-hmm, I will. Come on, let’s go back to the inn.
Wu Hua’s gaze swept the surroundings without meaning to. Rong Shu looked too young and tender; among the fourth-grade alchemists who had advanced, she was the youngest, so she naturally drew attention. However, anyone who thought to approach and strike up conversation with her was overtly or subtly “dissuaded” by Wu Hua. The two left the arena and returned to the inn.
On the other side, Huo Yi Han, who was also competing, had likewise advanced smoothly.
Acting as spectators, Yu Ruan Ruan and Qin Yuan congratulated Huo Yi Han at once. Yu Ruan Ruan cheerfully hugged Huo Yi Han’s arm and said: Second senior brother, you are amazing; I believe tomorrow’s second round will not trouble you either. Huo Yi Han glanced at her hand on his arm and answered with a faint sound. Qin Yuan also spoke: Second senior brother, congratulations.
Yu Ruan Ruan looked around and failed to see their companion Yun Wu Ya, then said: Huh? Where did senior brother Jin Yu go? Two senior brothers, let’s go look for him. Qin Yuan did not think much of Yun Wu Ya, but since Yu Ruan Ruan had spoken he could hardly refuse, so he said: All right. …
Back at the inn, Rong Shu and the sneakily arrived Xiao Zi An had a meal together before she slipped into her own room. From the Han Chuan Cosmos Pearl she took out five pill recipes: Fourth-grade Snow Drunk Pill, fourth-grade Cold Moon Pill… Yesterday, when she went to the Myriad Books Tower, she had specifically selected five recipes for pills refined with ice-attribute spirit herbs, all of which had the effect of gently nourishing an injured spiritual root. The Ice Spiritual Root cultivated far too slowly, so Rong Shu intended to nurse it back to health as soon as possible. Tonight I will refine these.
It was her first time refining these five pills, so she focused all her spiritual sense and did not dare be the least bit careless. Little Hamster, at loose ends, glanced at busy Rong Shu, then climbed onto the windowsill to enjoy the cool breeze. After sitting a long while, Little Hamster felt a bit hungry and turned to look at the fruits Rong Shu had left on the table. He lifted a tiny paw and hooked at the fruit basket. A spatial rift opened above the basket and swallowed it in one go; the next second, another spatial rift opened beside Little Hamster and spat the basket back out. Little Hamster grabbed a fruit and began gnawing, munching while gazing out at the view beyond the window.
Time ticked by, and Rong Shu continued refining pills. Night fell. A night breeze stirred, ruffling Little Hamster’s fur into scattered tufts. Feeling a bit chilled, he curled up, finished the seed in his paws, then lay down by the window and closed his eyes.
In his sleep, Little Hamster dimly heard someone scolding: Fool… spineless… Little Hamster’s eyes flew open, pupils hazy, and he turned to the high, cold moon hanging in the night sky outside the window. The next instant, Little Hamster’s figure vanished from the sill.
Moments later, immersed in alchemy, Rong Shu rolled her neck and extinguished the flame beneath the furnace. She turned her head and, not seeing Little Hamster, froze. Yan Yan? Her divine sense swept through the entire room in an instant, but she still could not find him. Where was Little Hamster? Where had my adorable Little Hamster gone?
She looked at the open window, stepped over in a few quick strides, and leaned out: He did not fall, did he? Thinking this, Rong Shu jumped out the window, then activated a tracking talisman. Once the talisman took effect, it quickly responded. Following its guidance, she arrived at a lakeside where the water mirrored a city ablaze with lights. By the lake stood a pavilion; on its rooftop stood a person.
It was a youth who looked thirteen or fourteen. Though his features were still tender, one could glimpse the bearing he would one day have. Rong Shu glanced at the black clothes on the youth and nodded inwardly: Not bad, he put on his clothes properly this time.
As Rong Shu approached, the youth, who had been gazing fixedly at the lake, let a faint ripple pass through his eyes. [Kill her.] Out of nowhere such a thought leapt into his mind; the hand hanging at his side twitched slightly. Rong Shu came near the pavilion and lifted her head to him: Yan Yan, why did you run out without telling me?
The youth’s slightly lifted hand paused. Hearing that familiar voice, most of the hostility in his eyes inexplicably melted away. He lowered his head a little to look at the girl below and said: Nothing… it is nothing. […So… stupid! Kill her, now!] The youth frowned; his mind was a jumble. Who is talking… so annoying.
As his chaotic thoughts slowly turned, he realized that “voice” wanted him to kill Rong Shu, and a flash of killing intent stirred in his eyes. Not allowed… no one is allowed to touch Shu Shu. Rong Shu reached up to rub his cheek and, feeling the coolness in her palm, pressed her lips into a smile: Yan Yan, let’s go back. The youth answered obediently: Mm. Then his gaze fell to the hand she was holding, and the restlessness in his heart vanished without a trace; the strange “voice” slipped from his mind.
Back in the room, Rong Shu measured the youth’s height in front of her; he was shorter than her by a head. It had not been that long since he could only cling to her leg—how had he shot up like this? Would there come a day when Yan Yan grew taller than her? The thought made her feelings complicated.
The youth sat in a chair, all well-behaved and docile, hands resting on his knees, looking at Rong Shu with bright, expectant eyes: Shu Shu. She reached out and patted his head: When you went out, did anyone see you?
Rong Yan happily leaned in to receive the pat and answered: No… I used teleportation to go out. Why did you go out, then, asked Rong Shu. I… I do not know, it just suddenly made me want to, he said, lowering his head at once, a bit uneasy. He did not know what was wrong with him; for a moment he had wanted to destroy Wanderer’s City—no, he had wanted to destroy everything in sight. Fortunately he had come to his senses; he remembered that Shu Shu was in Wanderer’s City and that she was going to compete—he could not ruin it.
Seeing he could not explain, Rong Shu ended the topic herself: All right. If you are not sure, then do not dwell on it. Go to sleep. Mm-hmm. Watching the youth turn back into Little Hamster, she tucked him into his nest. As Little Hamster drifted into sleep, the smile at the corner of Rong Shu’s lips slowly faded, replaced by deep puzzlement.
Yan Yan at the lake… something about him felt different. For an instant she had felt he was very dangerous and that she should flee at once. Yet when she looked back down at the sleeping Little Hamster, she lifted a hand and touched her own brow. There lay a contract mark. If Yan Yan had harbored harmful intent toward her, the contract should have warned her; just now there had been no feedback at all. Thinking of this, she said silently to Little Hamster: Good night.
The next day, the second round of the Alchemy Conference began. The second round required pill refinement. They would see who could refine the most kinds of pills; if any pill failed, that contestant would be eliminated. Only when twenty people remained would the round end. Because the numbers were large, pill refinement would be done outdoors. Refining without an enclosed environment was itself a test for alchemists.
With the many recipes she had obtained all at once in the Scorchfire Secret Realm, and with the knowledge reserve from the Myriad Books Tower, Rong Shu held out smoothly to the end and became one of the final twenty.
On the third day came the third round, a mutual-testing session. The twenty alchemists each proposed a refinement “problem” for a pill to test the other nineteen; failure on any single pill meant losing eligibility to contend for placement. If, after one pass, two or more alchemists remained, they would proceed to the next pass until the final victor emerged. By the third round every alchemist had earned the right to the conference rewards; this round determined the size of the allocation and the order of selection. The higher one’s final rank, the more and rarer the rewards, and the earlier one could choose freely.