Chapter 309: Chapter 309: Han Bingyu’s Request, an Imperial Command Hard to Defy

After two failed attempts, Yang Chan successfully refined the Ancient Spirit Pill. The process was much simpler than he had anticipated. He was curious about the elixir’s effects, but rather than test it in the Earth Fire Institute, he returned to his residence, the Yuanqing Courtyard.

His Maids were very attentive. Everything he needed was prepared, so he could soak in a hot bath as soon as he returned.

The high temperatures of Alchemy in the Earth Fire Institute made it easy to sweat. While not as much as an ordinary person, his body’s natural metabolism still functioned.

Naturally, he needed to wash off the sweat when he got back to feel more comfortable.

Han Bingyu had been staying with Yang Chan during this time. When he arrived, he led her into the bathroom, where they began to wash away the grime and exhaustion.

Concentrating on Alchemy was no easy task, especially when experimenting with new formulas.

Han Bingyu knew this well, so she helped Yang Chan relax, soothing his fatigue from mind to body.

"Has any news come from the Han Family?"

Yang Chan asked, his head resting against her soft skin.

The Refining of the Three Revolutions Nourishing Viscera Pill had failed, so he naturally needed to keep trying. That way, he could succeed sooner and finally get his daily income of Potential Points to break five for good, not just for a single day like with the Longevity Two Body Pill.

Compared to a sudden burst, Yang Chan preferred a slow and steady stream. That would be of far greater help to him.

The materials required for the Longevity Two Body Pill meant it couldn’t be mass-produced. Furthermore, the process of finding them was troublesome, making it an unsuitable choice for Yang Chan.

"No news yet. They should be delivered by tomorrow, logically."

Han Bingyu massaged the Extraordinary Acupoints on his head, her movements so gentle that Yang Chan closed his eyes in comfort.

Her massage technique had grown more and more skilled; she was a graduate of Yang Chan’s personal tutelage.

"Mm, just keep an eye on the Han Family’s matter."

Yang Chan heard her but paid it no mind.

"Your flesh and skin tempering is almost complete. I’ll give you another bottle of Lantian Jade Refining Pills. Break through your External Cultivation as soon as you can. Then you’ll be able to advance to Elite Disciple."

"There’s no concrete news from Lan State yet, but I have a bad feeling. It’s best to raise your Cultivation. If something does happen, you’ll have more ways to handle it."

Yang Chan knew the exact progress of Han Bingyu’s Cultivation. Not only had he gone through the same breakthrough before, but he could also sense the changes in her skin and flesh.

When Power was used for tempering, her skin took on a faint Brass hue, a sign that a breakthrough was not far off.

Han Bingyu already had a solid foundation, and after becoming Yang Chan’s Pharmacist’s Assistant, she had access to even more Cultivation Resources. A breakthrough was naturally imminent.

"Soon. But I plan to continue staying by Pharmacist Yang’s side. Is that alright?"

Han Bingyu wet her hands and gently rinsed away the impurities she had massaged out from his Extraordinary Acupoints. Once they were clean, she adjusted Yang Chan’s position and resumed the massage to help him relax further.

"Of course. The choice is yours."

Yang Chan had no reason to refuse.

As Han Bingyu’s Cultivation improved, she would be able to help him with more things. He was naturally happy to see this.

And Han Bingyu staying by his side was, of course, a good thing as well.

"In a little while, I’m going to take the Medicine Hall’s assessment and try to get promoted to Intermediate Pharmacist."

Yang Chan shared his intentions. He had already planned this, so there was no reason to hide it.

He needed to refine the Three Revolutions Nourishing Viscera Pill, and becoming an Intermediate Pharmacist would certainly be a great help.

"Then let me be the first to congratulate you, Pharmacist Yang."

A smile crept into Han Bingyu’s eyes when she heard him. This proved she had made the right choice.

’If I want to go further, I have to rely on him.’

...

「Near the Qingyuan River.」

"Lord Divine Constable, a letter from the palace."

A constable from the Six Gates produced a letter delivered by carrier pigeon and presented it to Jin Feihua.

Jin Feihua had been meticulously examining the area near the Qingyuan River, but when she heard the letter was from the palace, she instantly grew tense.

The two from the Jin Meng Empire seemed to have vanished into thin air. No clues could be found, not even downstream, and it was making her extremely frustrated.

The same went for Princess Lan Yue; all they had found was a scrap of her clothing. It was useless. She couldn’t report back with this.

At this moment, Jin Feihua was terrified of being punished by the Emperor. After all, the Old Emperor was unpredictable, and it was impossible to guess his thoughts.

’I hope this isn’t the worst possible news.’

Jin Feihua took the letter, moved to the side, and began to read its contents alone.

As she read, her brows drew tighter and tighter. The letter did not contain good news.

It wasn’t news of her punishment, but the situation it described was far from good.

The letter informed her that war was about to break out in Lan State’s Jinyun City, on the border. Her new orders were to go there and provide support.

As for Princess Lan Yue and the two from the Jin Meng Empire, she was to hand the case over to someone else. The only instruction was that they must not return to the Jin Meng Empire alive.

The letter may have solved her current predicament, but it was hardly good news. The armies of both sides were converging on Lan State’s Jinyun City; war could erupt at any moment.

If she went to Lan State’s Jinyun City to provide support now, she would very likely die there.

When two nations went to war, an Inner Master could play a significant role, but they could just as easily be killed.

After all, every nation possessed Hidden Weapons specifically designed to deal with Inner Masters. They were costly to use, but their effectiveness could not be underestimated. Even with an Inner Master’s keen sense of danger, on a battlefield, threats came from all directions.

If she were targeted, it was entirely possible she would be cut down on the spot.

For that reason, Jin Feihua did not want to go to Lan State’s Jinyun City.

Even if something went wrong with her current task of hunting down the Jin Meng Empire’s envoy and Prince, she had ways to resolve it without her life being in danger. But the borderlands were a different story.

After all, on the battlefield, even masters at the level of Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster might make a move. Her current cultivation at the Peak of Internal Refining of the Five Viscera was nothing before such experts.

Although Jin Feihua had these reservations, the Emperor’s command could not be defied. As a member of the Six Gates, she had to obey his orders. Otherwise, the current power and prestige of the Six Gates would become a puff of smoke, dissipating in an instant.

The Six Gates depended on the Old Emperor, which meant they had to act according to his whims. If the Old Emperor was displeased, the hard-won resurgence of the Six Gates could be instantly undone, sending them back into decline.

Jin Feihua understood the stakes, which was why her expression was so grim.

"Haaaah..."

Jin Feihua took a deep breath, her mind already made up.

’Since I can’t defy it, I can only follow orders.’

"Tai An, you..."