護花近衛 - 第2552章 換聚氣丹 - 翰墨軒

Moreover, even the Marrow-Cleansing and Bone-Refining Pill, once its ingredients were simplified, could be turned into a Life-Extending Detox Pill—but Physician Guan's Trauma Ointment simply could not compare. Though its effects were much the same, Wei Zhao had tinkered with it until it was barely recognizable.

"Which goes to show, good things never lack buyers. Besides, most of the people who come to this kind of trade fair belong to the ancient circles. In ancient sects and ancient clans, having a second-rank alchemist is nothing remarkable—they need to buy up large quantities of ingredients to hone their craft." Leader Bai explained.

"So that's it. Why didn't you just say it was an ancient-circle trade fair?" Wei Zhao said with a bitter smile. That much he could understand easily enough—even the Ice Palace had its alchemists!

"Heh, I assumed you weren't familiar with the ancient circles..." Leader Bai said with a laugh.

The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder into Leader Bai's office. The routine was the same as before: Leader Bai handed Wei Zhao a stack of materials and said no more than that.

"Thank you, Teacher Bai. I'll be on my way, then." Wei Zhao nodded with the implicit understanding they shared, but inwardly he hesitated. Should he return the favor and show Leader Bai the alchemist's notes he had obtained from Zhang Lifeng's tomb?

By rights, Leader Bai was Zhang Lifeng's successor, so showing him Zhang Lifeng's alchemist notes would hardly count as breaking any rule. Put plainly, it was just Wei Zhao letting him take a look at something that had originally belonged to him anyway.

"Very well, off you go." Leader Bai nodded, then added, "When you have time, bring Jingjing around to my home for a visit. If any problem comes up, she can come to me directly as well."

"Will do." Wei Zhao understood that Leader Bai had, in effect, accepted Han Jingyi as his student.

Stepping out of Leader Bai's office, Wei Zhao spotted You Panhu standing far off at the end of the corridor, pretending to be absorbed in the bulletin board on the wall. Seeing Wei Zhao approach, he flashed a smile and greeted him, "Ha, if it isn't my classmate Wei Zhao! What's this—Teacher Bai giving you more good stuff again?"

"He is. But I don't want to trade with you." Wei Zhao came straight to the point. "All right, step aside."

"Gah?" You Panhu had not expected such bluntness this time—it was nothing like the previous two occasions. But this time, having overheard Leader Bai's words, he was quite confident about the materials in Wei Zhao's hands. And seeing that Wei Zhao was not playing hard to get but had frankly admitted they were good materials and refused to trade, that only confirmed it.

"Wait a moment!" You Panhu hastily blocked Wei Zhao's path. "All right, Wei Zhao, since you're being so direct, I won't beat around the bush either. I know what you've got there—it's Leader Bai's master's alchemy notes, isn't it?"

"And what if it is?" Wei Zhao said coldly. "I don't want to give it to you this time. I'll admit that the last two times I was somewhat stringing you along, playing hard to get. But this time, I have no intention of trading with you whatsoever, so give it up. No need to say more."

"Don't be like that..." You Panhu said. "Wei Zhao, don't speak so absolutely. Everything has its value. You're refusing me because you think I can't possibly offer a price that would move you—but I can tell you plainly, I can."

"You can?" Wei Zhao shook his head. "I don't think you can. And I don't want to trade with you anyway. Step aside unless you want a beating—I don't want to start a fight here at Teacher Bai's place."