Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Something’s Not Right

"Haha!"

"Haha!"

Outside Jiang Chen’s courtyard, the members of the Jiang Family stared in bewilderment at their Patriarch as he walked out.

Jiang Han was letting out a chuckle every so often as he walked.

It was unnervingly strange.

"Patriarch, what are you laughing about?"

"Yes, what’s so funny?"

Everyone was overcome with curiosity.

"Is it good news from Jiang Chen?"

Jiang Han hardly knew how he’d managed to walk out; all he knew was that he was brimming with excitement.

His son was actually a powerful Alchemist. It was the first time he was learning of this fact.

Of course, this revelation made him ecstatic.

He couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

With another laugh, Jiang Han announced to the crowd, "That’s right. My son was the one who refined the Elixirs."

"I never expected it either. He secretly became an Alchemist."

What?

Everyone’s eyes went wide in utter disbelief.

"Patriarch, are you serious?"

"Young Master Jiang Chen is really an Alchemist? He knows Alchemy?"

They simply couldn’t process the news that Jiang Chen, the good-for-nothing, had transformed into a genius Alchemist so quickly.

But it was the truth.

Jiang Chen was an Alchemist, and he had saved the Jiang Family.

Jiang Han waved his hand. "Alright, everyone disperse. We no longer need to worry about the Jiang Family’s Elixirs."

"Return to your duties."

"Oh, and one more thing. The fact that my son knows Alchemy must be kept a strict secret within the Jiang Family. No one is to speak of this outside, understand?"

The family members exchanged glances, their shock quickly turning into elation.

One by one, they cast deep, meaningful looks toward Jiang Chen’s courtyard.

Then they nodded solemnly.

"Patriarch, we understand."

They had all doubted Jiang Chen before, but now they finally understood. The supposed good-for-nothing was actually a hidden master.

He had single-handedly resolved the Jiang Family’s crisis in an instant.

Everyone was deeply moved.

Their respect for Jiang Chen was now heartfelt.

Even though the guy was still sound asleep.

But what did that matter? Why not let him sleep in a little longer?

He was the Jiang Family’s greatest hero right now.

’Right now, Ximen Jiang and Ling Xuan are probably enjoying the show,’

’But this time, they’re in for a huge disappointment.’

Jiang Han’s expression turned grim. He returned to the family’s main hall and convened another meeting.

Everyone was present.

The heavy atmosphere that had previously hung over the Jiang Family was gone, replaced by a sense of ease and even joy.

There was no longer any need to worry about the Alchemist problem. Jiang Chen was a member of the Jiang Family; he wouldn’t just leave abruptly like Ling Xuan.

Everyone also understood that Ling Xuan’s departure was a venomous plot concocted by him and the Ximen Family to bring down the Jiang Family.

"Haha, I bet Ling Xuan and the Ximen Family never saw this coming."

"Our Jiang Family has Young Master Jiang Chen."

"If they saw that our Jiang Family Elixir Shop was still open, the looks on their faces would be as ugly as if their parents had just died, right?"

"Hahaha, I think so too."

「Meanwhile, at the Ximen Family residence.」

Ximen Gong, Ling Xuan, and Chen Ran were gathered together.

Ximen Gong spoke up. "Master Ling, Master Chen, the future of the Ximen Family rests on you two."

"You are the pillars of our Ximen Family."

Ling Xuan and Chen Ran both replied, "Patriarch, you jest. Strengthening the Ximen Family is our duty."

Chen Ran added with a laugh, "Jiang Men from the Jiang Family even came to poach me, promising a fortune if I’d go to their family."

"And guess what happened."

As the other two looked on, puzzled, Chen Ran laughed heartily. "I gave that Jiang Men a harsh scolding. He left with his face livid with rage."

"Hahaha..."

The three of them burst into loud, unrestrained laughter.

They were laughing with immense satisfaction.

Clearly, they were all delighted to see the Jiang Family suffer a setback.

Ximen Gong was overjoyed.

"You gave Jiang Men a piece of your mind? That Jiang Men is second only to the Jiang Family Patriarch, Jiang Han. The Jiang Family has lost all face this time."

"Plus, Master Ling took all of the Jiang Family’s Elixirs. Starting today, the Jiang Family will have no Elixirs to sell."

"The Jiang Family is finished for sure. Today, we’ll sit back and watch their pathetic downfall."

Ling Xuan smiled smugly.

"The Patriarch is right. Let’s see how the Jiang Family even plans to open for business today."

"We’ll wait and see."

Chen Ran spoke up as well.

"I’ll have someone keep an eye on the Jiang Family’s Elixir Shop right now and report back as soon as there’s any news."

At once, the Ximen Family arranged for men to go scout for information outside the Jiang Family’s Elixir Shop.

A group led by Ximen Tangshui, along with a few other Ximen Family members, went to the vicinity of the Jiang Family Elixir Shop.

Following the family’s orders, Ximen Tangshui loitered outside the Jiang’s Elixir Shop.

He saw that the Jiang Family’s Elixir Shop looked no different than usual.

People were coming and going. It was rather strange.

’What’s going on? Weren’t they supposed to have no Elixirs left to sell?’

Puzzled, he arranged for a clan member who rarely showed his face in public to disguise himself and slip into the Jiang Family’s shop.

The man returned shortly after.

"Boss, something’s not right. The Jiang Family’s Elixirs seem completely normal."

"No, I discovered something even more abnormal. Not only are they not out of stock, but the quality of their Elixirs is also quite high."

What?

Ximen Tangshui was flabbergasted.

’This is definitely not right.’

He had his men keep watch while he rushed to report the news to the Patriarch.

"Are you sure?"

Upon hearing the news, Ximen Gong was considerably shocked.

He grabbed the clan member and questioned him repeatedly.

The answer he received was certain: the Jiang Family’s Elixir Shop was still selling Elixirs.

Ximen Gong felt as awful as if he had just swallowed a dead fly.

He looked at Ling Xuan.

"Master Ling, what is going on?"

Ling Xuan was also dumbfounded, unable to process what was happening.

He was certain that he had swept up every single one of the Jiang Family’s Elixirs. He knew their inventory like the back of his hand and hadn’t left a single Pill behind.

He said, bewildered, "Patriarch, you saw it yourself. I really did take all of the Jiang Family’s Elixirs. Not a single one was left. You couldn’t even find a second one in a mouse hole."

"This is truly bizarre."

Chen Ran couldn’t hold back any longer.

He suggested, "In that case, let’s have our men take another look. Perhaps it’s just leftover stock from the shop that didn’t sell."

But Ling Xuan waved his hand. "Impossible. The Jiang Family’s Elixir Shop usually only keeps enough stock for the day. They have to retrieve the next day’s supply from the storeroom."

"Their shop must have sold out yesterday. Even if they didn’t, there couldn’t be more than a few Pills left."

This left Ximen Gong even more astonished.

"Then where did their Elixirs come from?"

This was a very serious question.

If the Jiang Family could maintain a steady supply of Elixirs, then Ling Xuan’s departure would have no effect on them whatsoever.

It would render the whole point of suppressing the Jiang Family meaningless.

Ling Xuan’s brow furrowed deeply.

He was the most bewildered of all.

’Could they have possibly found a new Alchemist so quickly?’

That was the most likely explanation.

He was incredibly frustrated.

He suddenly felt like a clown. His departure had had no impact on the Jiang Family at all.

It was even possible that the Jiang Family’s attempts to make him stay were just an act.

They might have even been hoping he would leave.

Ling Xuan felt an urge to vomit blood.

Chen Ran spoke up.

"They couldn’t have hired a new Alchemist this fast. We know all the Alchemists in Hanwu City. There isn’t a single one available right now that they could possibly persuade."

The three of them were now completely stumped.

"Keep gathering information. No, have someone go to the Jiang Family’s Elixir Shop, buy a few of their Elixirs, and bring them back. Once we see them, we’ll know what the problem is."

Ximen Gong made a final decision. He absolutely could not allow the Jiang Family to rise from the ashes.

After all, he had been so close to causing their complete collapse, but now this unexpected complication had arisen.