Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Seeing Murong Again

Xiao Gu’s death caused a huge stir in the Alchemist Guild.

But Xiao Gu had brought it upon himself. No one blamed Jiang Chen; on the contrary, the incident made Jiang Chen famous overnight, and many people now held him in high esteem.

Jiang Chen didn’t think much of it and returned to the Steward Hall.

"Halt."

"What do you want?"

Xiaoba was standing guard outside Jiang Chen’s office in the hall. When he saw Yuan Sheng and his group about to rush in, he immediately shouted for them to stop.

Since Jiang Chen had rewarded him with ten million spirit crystals, Xiaoba had become even more loyal—utterly devoted, in fact.

When Yuan Sheng saw it was Xiaoba, the memory of Xiaoba taking his ten million spirit crystals was still fresh in his mind.

He forced a smile. "We’d like to see Lord Steward Jiang."

Xiaoba frowned.

’Yuan Sheng’s master, Xiao Gu, just died not long ago, and now he and his group are suddenly here to see Jiang Chen.’

’It’s a little strange.’

"Wait here. I’ll report to the Lord Steward and see if he’ll meet with you."

With that, he hurried off to report to Jiang Chen.

After hearing Xiaoba’s report, Jiang Chen was a bit puzzled.

’Yuan Sheng and his group are looking for me now?’

He said lightly, "Let them in."

Xiaoba acknowledged and went back.

A moment later, Yuan Sheng and the others walked in.

Each one of them was exceedingly respectful, their attitudes impeccable.

They were all Xiao Gu’s apprentices.

*THUD...*

*THUD...*

The moment they entered, the men knelt before Jiang Chen without a word.

Jiang Chen was stunned.

"Yuan Sheng, what is the meaning of this?"

He looked at Yuan Sheng and the others in confusion, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

’This situation is bizarre.’

Yuan Sheng and the others immediately spoke up. "Lord Steward, please take us as your apprentices!"

It seemed they had planned this, to ask Jiang Chen to be their master.

Jiang Chen felt his scalp tingle with unease.

He waved his hand dismissively. "Your master Xiao Gu’s body isn’t even cold yet, and you’re already here asking to be my apprentices?"

"People’s hearts are truly as cold as ice."

"Now get the hell out of my sight."

People like Yuan Sheng made Jiang Chen’s heart turn cold just by looking at them.

Never mind that Yuan Sheng and his group had been looking for trouble with him just a short while ago; he had just killed Xiao Gu, and the man’s bones weren’t even cold.

And now these apprentices were betraying their master to join his own faction.

The sight of such scoundrels made him want to slap them to death.

But Yuan Sheng and the others persisted, their expressions firm.

"Lord Steward, your Alchemy Skill has completely won us over! Xiao Gu was nothing compared to you."

"Please, take us as your apprentices! No, just taking me would be fine too!"

Yuan Sheng had started to push aside his own sect brothers.

He looked ready to do anything to become Jiang Chen’s apprentice.

Immediately, Yuan Sheng and his fellow apprentices actually started arguing right in front of Jiang Chen.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen erupted in fury.

"You bastards, get out! I don’t want to say it a third time."

He was utterly repulsed by people like them.

When Yuan Sheng and the others saw Jiang Chen’s anger, they hastily scrambled to their feet and left in a sorry state.

They didn’t doubt Jiang Chen’s methods for a second.

After chasing Yuan Sheng’s group away, Jiang Chen still felt that it was a miracle Xiao Gu had managed to live as long as he did.

To have such unfilial apprentices...

Jiang Chen sat in his chair in silence for a moment before getting up and walking outside.

"Steward Jiang."

"Greetings, Steward Jiang."

Everyone who saw Jiang Chen outside greeted him, far more respectfully than before.

Jiang Chen just nodded silently, not speaking, as he wandered around the Alchemist Guild.

「Several uneventful days passed.」

One day, on the fifth floor of the Treasure Elephant Pavilion.

Pavilion Master Tian Mu looked at the beautiful and captivating woman before him, who was as serene as still water.

"Eldest Miss, although that Jiang Chen became a Senior Steward of the Alchemist Guild, I heard he’s just a placeholder."

"There’s no need for you to go see him personally. Just sending someone with a gift to show our sentiment would be enough."

Because he had learned that this Eldest Miss actually intended to go to the Alchemist Guild to meet Jiang Chen.

Master Tian Mu felt rather helpless as he tried to persuade her.

He had also heard that Jiang Chen had only become a Senior Steward by using his master’s name.

And that his own skills weren’t that impressive.

He didn’t want the Eldest Miss of their Treasure Elephant Pavilion to personally go see Jiang Chen.

And the purpose of the visit was merely to congratulate Jiang Chen.

It was such a trivial matter, and the Eldest Miss’s status was so noble.

But Murong Xiangming said sternly, "Be that as it may, I still feel it is necessary to meet this Jiang Chen in person."

"Pavilion Master, the matter is settled."

"I’m taking the Nine-Year-Old Flower and Xing’er Hong from our Treasure Elephant Pavilion’s collection."

With that, she rose and left.

She was really going to see Jiang Chen in person.

Master Tian Mu shook his head with a wry smile.

’What on earth is so capable about that Jiang Chen that our Eldest Miss would treat him like this?’

’Good heavens, she took both the Nine-Year-Old Flower and the Xing’er Hong! She must be giving them as a gift!’

Master Tian Mu knew very well that the Nine-Year-Old Flower and Xing’er Hong in their Treasure Elephant Pavilion’s collection were extremely precious materials.

The Nine-Year-Old Flower was worth no less than five million.

The Xing’er Hong was worth even more—eight million. Both were materials for refining High-Level Elixirs.

He never expected the Eldest Miss to just take them.

But Master Tian Mu could only smile wryly. He wouldn’t dare stop the Eldest Miss. If he made her unhappy, his head would be on the line.

Although he was the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Elephant Pavilion in Hanwu City, he was just a minor figure. The Eldest Miss, on the other hand, had a truly formidable background.

After leaving the Treasure Elephant Pavilion, Murong Xiangming, dressed all in white, stood alone outside the entrance to the Alchemist Guild’s main hall.

Like a dazzling vision, she left the Alchemist Guild’s guards mesmerized and dazed.

"Look, isn’t that Hanwu City’s number one beauty, Murong Xiangming?"

"Heavens, it is her! She actually came to our Alchemist Guild!"

Although the Treasure Elephant Pavilion and the Alchemist Guild were usually on good terms, Murong Xiangming, as the Eldest Miss of the Pavilion, rarely visited.

And now she had come alone.

Several guards hurried forward to greet her.

"Greetings, Eldest Miss Murong."

Murong Xiangming nodded, acknowledging the guards.

She smiled, and her smile was like a warm spring breeze.

"I would like to see Steward Jiang Chen of your Alchemist Guild."

Hearing that Murong Xiangming actually wanted to see Jiang Chen,

the guards were all visibly surprised.

Jiang Chen’s fearsome reputation was known by practically everyone in the Alchemist Guild.

And this Eldest Miss wanted to see him.

They quickly said, "Eldest Miss Murong, please wait a moment while we make a report."

The Alchemist Guild had its own rules; not just anyone could enter.

Upon arriving, Murong Xiangming also didn’t dare to just barge in.

She waited quietly.

"Huh? Miss Murong?"

Just then, a man’s voice called out.

A young man who looked like an alchemist, dressed in a white robe, was just passing by the main entrance.

He suddenly grew excited upon spotting Murong Xiangming.

Murong Xiangming glanced over, her brows knitting slightly.

It seemed she recognized the person.

However, she did a good job of hiding her impatient expression and said coolly, "Young Master Qin."

She knew this person was Qin Lie, the son of the Alchemist Guild’s President, Master Qin.