護花近衛 - 第2554章 郁小可的新麻煩 - 翰墨軒

"Here's the thing—if Wei Zhao agrees to the trade, have Panhu take a look at it, photograph whatever's on the first page and send it back to the family. I'll examine it myself and see just how important these materials really are!" Elder You said. "If they're truly valuable, then we must get them at any cost, no matter how much we have to pay! If they're merely optional, then pay just a little—if Wei Zhao agrees to trade, fine; if not, so be it. And if they're worthless, forget the whole thing."

"That could work, but Wei Zhao... would he even let me look?" You Panhu asked, somewhat hesitant.

"Well... that depends on your ability!" Elder You said. "Panhu, this will be a trial for you as well. If you handle it well, I intend to groom you to become the family's First Elder. But if you can't even manage a trifling matter like this, how can you ever hope to become an Elder?"

"Ah..." You Panhu was startled, staring at his grandfather in shock. He had never imagined his grandfather actually meant to groom him for the position of the family's Great Elder. That post was second only to the family head—though it dealt little with the family's affairs and devoted itself wholly to alchemy, even the family head had to treat it with the utmost respect!

The Great Elder of the You family at present, kept largely out of sight, was his grandfather's younger brother—You Panhu's Second Grandfather. A second-rank alchemist, so formidable that even his grandfather had to be polite in his presence; his eldest uncle groveled before him all the more. And You Panhu had never even met the man...

You Zhentian's expression also shifted slightly. Second Grandfather had never married in his life and naturally had no children, so the position of Great Elder was bound to be chosen from Grandfather's branch. You Zhentian was the heir to the family head, and his own son was likewise being trained to lead the You family one day. The Great Elder's position mattered a great deal too—yet never had You Zhentian imagined his father would groom You Panhu as its successor...

Previously, You Zhentian had assumed it would be good enough if You Panhu became an ordinary Elder—he had never expected the family's Great Elder...

Yet at this moment, if You Panhu genuinely obtained something that would benefit and advance the You family, then his becoming heir to the Great Elder would be the wish of all. Especially given his friendship with Kang Jinglong—once Kang Jingming became an Elder of the Xuandan Sect, then You Panhu might not merely become the You family's Great Elder, but even the young family head...

At that thought, You Zhentian resolved to make sure You Panhu firmly secured the Great Elder's seat, and on no account set his sights on the position of young family head. So he nodded hastily and said, "Indeed, Panhu, you must cherish this chance. If you become the Great Elder, you'll be all the better able to assist your brother You Panlong. You two brothers will lead the You family to glory..."

"I'll do my best!" The You Panhu of now still had no thought of replacing anyone—the Great Elder's position alone had him trembling with excitement. He was not yet a man of such ambition. "Grandfather, what do you say to me offering a second-rank medicinal cauldron? If Han Jingyi studies alchemy, a second-rank cauldron is a consumable—easily damaged."

"That could work too. Anyone who isn't a skilled, practiced alchemist will ruin a cauldron in no time, so bringing another second-rank cauldron is fine. But a single second-rank cauldron alone probably won't be very tempting, will it?" Elder You said.

"Hmm... but our family has no spare third-rank cauldrons—only second-rank ones at present..." You Panhu said.