Chapter 457: What Are They Plotting?

Zhang Xiaohua thought for a moment and said: “Little Fish Nie, it’s still early. I’d like to carefully reflect on the alchemy techniques we just practiced, and think through my insights on refining the Hundred Dispersal Pill, New Snow Pill, and others. When I have more time later, how about I accompany you to gather herbs then?”

Nie Qianyu forced a smile and replied: “It’s fine, Brother Ren. You go ahead and cultivate first. I’ll head back to prepare some things. Tomorrow, I’ll bring more herbs and some extra pill recipes. I’m sure not just you, but even Father will be pleased.”

After speaking, a trace of disappointment lingered at the corner of her brow as she hurried away with the disciples.

Watching Nie Qianyu’s slender figure gradually disappear, Zhang Xiaohua felt an indescribable emotion in his heart. He sighed and closed the door to the pill room.

The herbs for several types of pills had already been sorted out earlier. After sitting down, Zhang Xiaohua took out the pill furnace, calmed his mind, and began using immortal alchemy techniques to refine the same pills again.

Let’s leave Zhang Xiaohua to his review and focus on Nie Qianyu, who returned to the outer valley with a hint of melancholy, leading her disciples to the main hall where Valley Master Nie handled affairs.

Valley Master Nie had just finished some matters and was resting with his eyes closed, carefully pondering the cultivation technique Zhang Xiaohua had given him.

Hearing footsteps, he opened his eyes and, seeing Nie Qianyu, was surprised. He asked: “Little Yu, why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to be in the inner valley teaching Ren Xiaoyao how to refine a few types of pills today?”

Seeing her father’s concern, Nie Qianyu felt a pang in her heart. She pouted and said: “Why would I need to teach him? He’s already so skilled!”

Seeing his daughter upset, Valley Master Nie walked over with a smile and said: “So, Ren Xiaoyao made you angry? What happened? Tell your father.”

Nie Qianyu didn’t reply. She found a chair, sat down, and gulped down two mouthfuls of tea, grumbling: “Why would I be angry? I’m not angry at all.”

“All right, all right, you’re not angry,” Valley Master Nie said patiently. “But you should still explain things to me so I know how to settle accounts with that kid.”

“Settle accounts?” Nie Qianyu looked at her father and said, “If you knew what happened, you wouldn’t be settling accounts with Brother Ren—you’d be treating him like a treasure!”

When the Valley Master heard her refer to him as “Brother Ren”, he knew his daughter’s mood had improved, so he feigned curiosity and asked: “Then tell me, why should I treat him like a treasure?”

Nie Qianyu, seeing her father’s interest piqued, countered: “Father, do you know why I came back so early today?”

Valley Master Nie wondered to himself, “Didn’t I just ask this question earlier? And how is this any different from the last one?” 

Still, he doted on his daughter and looked at her in surprise, saying: “Why? Little Yu, tell me.”

Seeing her father’s exaggerated curiosity, Nie Qianyu’s frustration eased a bit, and she said proudly: “Father, you don’t know this, but today I prepared ingredients for five or six kinds of pills, thinking it would be enough for the day. But to my surprise, Brother Ren managed to perfectly refine every single pill on the first try, without a single mistake.”

“What???” Valley Master Nie was astonished. “Yesterday, when I watched, his technique was still quite rough, as if he’d never practiced alchemy before. Could it be that after just one day, he’s become an expert?”

Nie Qianyu smiled: “That’s exactly it. Yesterday, the pill recipes I gave him were all similar to the Fasting Pill, and the refining techniques were alike as well. That’s probably why he was able to succeed so smoothly.”

“Even so, that’s still extremely impressive.”

“Oh, right, Father. Brother Ren refined most of the herbs into pills and gave them to me to bring back.”

Valley Master Nie frowned: “Didn’t you say he was supposed to keep half?”

“Yes, that’s what we agreed. But Brother Ren didn’t take any of the freshly refined pills—he just kept a small portion of the herbs for himself, saying he’d refine them later this afternoon as his share.”

“Sigh, this child is truly righteous. It seems he really just wants to learn alchemy. To think I even asked him for half the pills yesterday…”

“Exactly, Father. Look at how generous Brother Ren is. He didn’t even look at those high-quality pills, just let me take them all back.”

“Haha, Xiaoyu, you really have a good eye. Your old father is getting on in years.”

Nie Qianyu smiled shyly, her eyes tinged with a hint of bashfulness. “Father, don’t you want to take a look at the pills Brother Ren refined?”

Valley Master Nie’s expression turned serious, and he nodded. “Of course I do. Yesterday, I examined the Blood Replenishing Pills he made. With the same quantity of ingredients, their efficacy was at least fifty percent stronger than what we make ourselves. I wonder if today’s pills are just as good.”

Nie Qianyu waved her hand, and the disciples behind her stepped forward to present the porcelain bottles they carried, then quietly left the hall.

Valley Master Nie casually took a bottle, opened it, and a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out. Just one sniff, and he exclaimed: “Is this the New Snow Pill? How is its potency so strong? Just by the scent, it’s at least fifty percent better than ours.”

Nie Qianyu beamed. “Father, that’s just from smelling it. If you study and compare them carefully, I think they’re at least seventy percent stronger.”

Valley Master Nie had no doubt about his daughter’s judgment. He sealed the bottle, opened the others one by one, sniffing each, and even poured out some powder to examine and taste for himself.

When he finished sealing all the porcelain bottles, Valley Master Nie’s face was already filled with disbelief and delight. He looked at Nie Qianyu and asked: “Little Yu, you personally witnessed Ren Xiaoyao refine all these pills with your own eyes?”

Nie Qianyu nodded solemnly. “Yes, Father, I saw it with my own eyes—Brother Ren refined them himself.”

“Good, good, good!” Valley Master Nie couldn’t help but praise him three times in a row, beaming as he said, “We’ve truly found a treasure—no, no, he’s the great savior of our Spring Rebirth Valley!”

Nie Qianyu was all smiles as well. “Congratulations, Father! If the cultivation methods Brother Ren taught you are sound, then in a few months you’ll be able to restore Spring Rebirth Valley’s former glory and revive the ancient art of alchemy.”

Valley Master Nie was overjoyed. “Congratulations to us both, Little Yu! This is all thanks to you. Though you faced disaster on your journey, you turned misfortune into blessing and brought such a great opportunity back to Spring Rebirth Valley.”

He then sighed and added: “What’s even more remarkable is that Nephew Ren not only saved you, but also shared such precious techniques with us. This kindness… Spring Rebirth Valley can never repay.”

Nie Qianyu replied: “Father, you’re overthinking it. Does Brother Ren seem like someone who expects repayment?”

Valley Master Nie shook his head. “When he rescued you, he never asked for a reward. When he took on the martial arts contest, he didn’t ask for anything. Even after teaching me his alchemy techniques, he never asked for compensation. Are there really people in this world who are so selfless?”

Nie Qianyu nearly burst out laughing. “If it were anyone else, I might believe it. But if it’s Brother Ren, I’d never believe it, not even if you beat me!”

With that, she began sharing some amusing stories from their journey, and even took out the gold they’d found in the peach grove outside Mochou City for her father to see.

She added, “I bet he just forgot about this gold. Otherwise, he’d have asked me for it long ago.”

“Is that so!” Valley Master Nie couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. In that moment, the godlike image of Zhang Xiaohua in his mind collapsed, replaced by a living, breathing person.

“Then, Little Yu, should we prepare some gold or silver for him?”

Valley Master Nie tentatively suggested.

“Don’t! Why give him anything when he hasn’t even asked for it? Father, you don’t understand—he loves taking small advantages, but he never asks outright. If you don’t offer, he won’t take; but if you do, he’ll be secretly delighted! Let’s not give him anything and see how he tries to get his little benefits then!”

Seeing her stubbornness, Valley Master Nie stifled a laugh: “Xiaoyu’s clearly acting out of pique. Ah, let them handle this themselves.”

He continued aloud: “But if we show no gratitude, wouldn’t it make Spring Rebirth Valley seem stingy?”

After a pause, Nie Qianyu shook her head. “Better not. Honestly, Brother Ren just enjoys small advantages—with his martial skills, could he lack gold? Besides, as I said, he’s surely gaining something from alchemy. Since he wants to learn, and we provide recipes and herbs, he’s already delighted. Why compensate further?”

“But he left all the pills he refined here at Spring Rebirth Valley—he didn’t get anything for himself! We’re the ones secretly benefiting from this!”

“This…?” Nie Qianyu found herself at a loss for words. Indeed, Zhang Xiaohua claimed he wanted to learn alchemy, but the techniques he displayed today were clearly those of the ancient methods—he hadn’t practiced any of the common ‘decoction alchemy’ at all. If he was just looking to practice, there was no need for him to use these pills as a test. Could it be that what he really wanted was to see Spring Rebirth Valley’s pill recipes?

As this thought crossed her mind, Nie Qianyu glanced at the Valley Master. Sure enough, he was also looking at her. The two spoke in unison: “The pill recipes!”

“That’s the only possibility.”

Nie Qianyu said: “But before we came to Mochou City, I never told him I was from Spring Rebirth Valley. And from his behavior, he really didn’t seem to know about our valley at all.”

Valley Master Nie nodded thoughtfully. “I discussed this with your Uncle Yue as well. We both felt it’s unlikely that Ren Xiaoyao came here specifically for Spring Rebirth Valley. Besides, the matter of the pill recipes only came up after he took on the challenge at the martial contest—it definitely wasn’t premeditated.”

“Mm, I trust Brother Ren’s character. He’s not that kind of person.”

“That’s good.” Valley Master Nie pondered for a moment, as if making a decision, and said to Nie Qianyu: “In that case, let’s grant his wish. Let him refine all of Spring Rebirth Valley’s pill recipes. I want to see just how many surprises this Ren Xiaoyao can bring me!”

Nie Qianyu was shocked and quickly said: “Father, you mustn’t do that!”