101:

  Xiao Feng closed the door to Lianhua’s room behind him before striding forward with purpose, with a cloth satchel slung over his shoulder that he was keeping in place with his right hand.

  “It took me all the willpower I had to not sprint to my room and back, you know,” Xiao Feng protested out loud as he walked towards the open Alchemy Vault, knowing that Lianhua would be waiting there for him.

  “And make your actions even more attention grabbing than usual?” Lianhua asked, peeking over her shoulder to get a clear view of Xiao Feng, her attention fixating upon the cloth satchel he was carrying.

  “If Alchemist Zhi hasn’t tried anything else, I don’t think he will mess with me until after the duel,” Xiao Feng replied with a shrug, as he stepped into the Alchemy Vault, noting that Lianhua’s pill furnace was missing from the vault. In its stead lay a plush cushion that sat upon the padded floor before her.

  Xiao Feng sat down cross-legged beside Lianhua, having closed the door to the Alchemy Vault behind him.

  “Hm, that is true,” Lianhua mused. “Given that he has gone as far as to invite Grand Alchemist Ming to officiate the duel, it is not only you he wishes to compete with any longer.”

  Xiao Feng raised an eyebrow at her words, before asking, “What does that mean?”

  “There is no honor or reputation to be gained by defeating a recruit, no matter how prestigious your name might be in the Frontier Sect,” Lianhua answered. “If anything, it reflects poorly on Alchemist Zhi for proposing the duel in the first place, no matter what the circumstances leading to it might have been. Unless, of course, he puts on a performance that has all the spectating alchemists too impressed with his display to care about such trivial concerns.”

  “Does that mean he’s going to try and refine two out of three Beast Bonding Pills?” Xiao Feng asked, his tone laced with suspicion.

  “Two?” Lianhua shook her head. “If he hadn’t invited Grand Alchemist Ming to officiate, two might have been enough to impress the spectating alchemists.”

  “Well, that’s what he claimed,” Xiao Feng replied, his tone amused.

  “You ran into Alchemist Zhi?” Lianhua asked, her tone incredulous. “And you didn’t even tell me?” She asked, a note of protest audible in her tone.

  “I didn’t want to worry you,” Xiao Feng sheepishly replied, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. “Well, that and I had it handled.”

  “Handled?” Lianhua repeated, as she turned to look him in the eyes. “You didn’t run through a wall, did you?”

  “What?” Xiao Feng asked, his tone feigning shock. “I would never do such a thing,” He stated in mock earnestness.

  Lianhua rolled her eyes.

  “Okay, fine…. I might’ve told Alchemist Zhi that my blade is faster than any schemes his devious mind can concoct,” Xiao Feng reluctantly revealed. “I do think that I got the message across pretty well, you know—- he hasn’t tried to frame me since,” He added in a cheery tone.

  Lianhua softly sighed before shaking her head and replying, “I hadn’t been completely certain of what to make of Alchemist Zhi’s actions before, but to go this far, I am certain that he has taken offense to me accepting you as a disciple. Had he wished to go after me directly, his approach would have to be far subtler than the brazen path he has chosen.”

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  Xiao Feng sensed the tension in Lianhua’s words and for once, chose to remain silent and waited for her to continue.

  “I must apologize to you for Alchemist Zhi’s actions,” Lianhua stated, her tone solemn. “Whether it is because his pride has been wounded due to my acceptance of an initiate as a disciple while he remains without a master or because he covets the instruction you are receiving, such conduct is unworthy of the designation that has been bestowed upon him,” Lianhua dipped her head in his direction.

  Xiao Feng quickly reached for Lianhua’s shoulder to keep her from bowing any lower, before hurriedly stating, “Hey, hey, his roguish actions have nothing to do with you. If anything, your reputation is the one that’s really on the line and it’s my fault for agreeing to such an absurd duel. Please, don’t apologize.”

  Lianhua raised her head, steel having replaced the disappointment in her gaze as she raised her chin and spoke in an imperious tone, “Then crush Alchemist Zhi on the very stage he has set up to show his dominance and show him why your Master’s reputation is not for the likes him to bring into question.”

  Xiao Feng blinked, taken entirely aback by Lianhua’s sudden change in demeanor. He had gotten increasingly friendly with Lianhua over the several weeks he had spent under her tutelage and the casualness of their relationship had made him forget exactly who his master was.

  Lianhua Wu, the youngest Senior Alchemist in the Alchemy Division, daughter of Grand Alchemist Xin Wu and keeper of Alchemist Flame Purity, had not reached her designation without displaying her mettle and proving that she was better than those who coveted her position, time and time again.

  “Yes, Master!” Xiao Feng enthusiastically bellowed.

  Lianhua nodded, her features easing.

  “Though uhh, if he’s not going for two out of three refinements like he claimed then…,” Xiao Feng trailed off.

  “How cunning of him to try and mislead you,” Lianhua muttered to herself, her disappointment audible. “Indeed, he is going to aim for three successful refinements. I know it for a fact, because that is what I would do if I was in his shoes and trying to impress Grand Alchemist Ming.”

  “How?” Xiao Feng asked in bafflement. Even Lianhua had a one in three chance of refining the Beast Bonding Pill.

  “Three Mortal Grade Refinements, to be specific,” Lianhua added, as if that statement alone was enough to explain everything. “There are certain modifications one can make to any refinement process to increase the chances of success if they are aiming for the lowest possible grade of refinement possible at two parts out of ten. Each Mortal Grade Pill awards three points in the duel and a total of nine points is very impressive when the subject is a Beast Bonding Pill.”

  “That sounds like cheating to me,” Xiao Feng protested.

  “Making modifications to the pill refinement technique displays a high level of understanding of the subject. Even then, Alchemist Zhi is not guaranteed to succeed on all three attempts. He is making a gamble and if he wins it, well, it is an impressive display of confidence if nothing else,” Lianhua explained.

  “Sooo, how many points does a Heavenly Grade Pill get you?” Xiao Feng conspiratorially asked.

  Lianhua froze.

  Xiao Feng’s eyes began to gleam, “Come on.”

  “Ten points,” Lianhua reluctantly answered.

  “A single pill?” Xiao Feng asked incredulously.

  “Yes,” She replied dryly.

  “Just the one? And I get three chances?” He asked.

  “You get three,” She repeated dryly.

  “Okay, well that’s out of the way,” Xiao Feng said, doing his best to try and feign nonchalance. He failed a moment later and burst out into laughter.

  Lianhua’s effort lasted a little longer before she too joined in with muffled chuckles.

  Once the situation had calmed down and both alchemists had concluded their laughter session at Alchemist Zhi’s expense, Xiao Feng finally reached for his satchel, placing it upon his lap before reaching inside and cupping a ball of roughspun cloth. It was unravelled to reveal the damaged beast egg and it was with the utmost gentleness that Xiao Feng placed it upon the plush cushion.

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