Number One Beauty

If Small Shadow said this Alchemist Liu was dangerous then of course he believed his Elder Brother. On the other hand, for some reason, he felt Ling Hua was also trustworthy. Which of the two should he listen too?

"Little Brother, should I ask my honorable Father to investigate Miss Ling Hua?"

Lord Uncle's voice resounded in his head. "Clearly understand what is before you. Use reason to determine action."

"No, investigating Ling Hua isn't required. You are my family and I trust you. However, she is my friend and I trust her as well. Let's see what Alchemist Liu has to say for herself. Is this not better than letting hearsay determine our actions."

Small Shadow's eyes misted. "Little Brother you-you trust me?"

"Mhm," replied Tian Cai.

Small Shadow looked up in wonderment. Was was this feeling? Someone had complete faith in him!

"Let's go, the banquet will be starting soon," said Tian Cai.

Entering the room with the screen, Tian Cai said, "Alchemist Liu we meet again. Big Brother Zhao Ding just asked me to show you things."

Alchemist Liu hurried over and cupped her hands. "Small Dis..er-uhm Young Master Zhao, this Alchemist greets you."

Nodding, Tian Cai said, "Please follow us. This master will show you something marvelous."

Soon he brought her through a tunnel which eventually opened up to a series of open fields.

Alchemist Liu gasped in amazement. "Such a place exists?"

"Secretly, Zhao Clan has been purchasing the neighboring manors. Surprisingly, our neighbors were quite happy to be bought out and relocate."

Alchemist Liu eyes twitched.

Who in their right minds would want to live next to Savant City's craziest family?

Clearing her throat, she said, "If this Alchemist deduces correctly, you want me to utilize this land to grow these seeds?"

Tian Cai took out a control disc and passed over. "This control this allows you to control the formations which regulate the temperature and humidity in these fields."

Suddenly the two heard shouts. Three guards were leading a series of open carts and about twenty servants.

"Are we not paying you triple? Hurry up and get those carts over there. Master wants us to have this DMD ready for use."

Alchemist raised her an eyebrow, "Young Master Zhao, DMD?"

"Simply its fertilizer. Let me show you its effects."

After several breaths, Tian Cai showed her to his own courtyard. Inside vegetation grew like a dense jungle.

Alchemist Liu hissed, because she just a two foot long bee. Pointing, to that bee as it pollinated a giant flour, she asked, "By the Divinities what's that?"

Clearing his throat, Tian Cai said, "DMD is a miraculous fertilizers. Essentially, not only does it grow things faster, but its influence, things grow larger than normal."

This?

Gasping Alchemist Liu said, "If I were to use this on a herbal garden..."

"Alchemist Gu already realized this and has set aside some land. Surprisingly, he's not that interested in gardening."

Alchemist Liu nodded with understanding. "Senior Gu comes from a long line of alchemists. Many such alchemists of such lineage never learn the fundamentals of growing herbs."

"But you did?"

"There was no choice. Often I must travel to the forest and forage for ingredients on my own. Pursuing the Dao of Alchemy requires enormous resources. If I cannot afford it...I must pick it or I must grow it."

Tian Cai was impressed. He respected DIY type people very much. In his past life, the last time he used a hammer, he punctured through the wrong wall and finally met his neighbor of 10 years.

"So you can grow things...understood. However, why is it you can't refine a potion?"

Alchemist Liu stiffened. "You-You heard of me?"

Tian Cai sat down and invited Alchemist Liu to follow suit. "How did you meet Miss Ling Hua?" he asked.

Sitting down, Alchemist Liu said, "She-She saved this one's life."

Tian Cai smiled, "Big Brother Zhao Ding would want to learn of this."

Alchemist Liu jolted. Wasn't this also her task? To talk up Ling Hua?

"Miss Ling Hua is considered Ling Clan's number one beauty." Alchemist Liu paused. Imagining Ling Fan in her pink armor, she continued, "In addition, not only is she noble, she's mighty and heroic."

Tian Cai eyebrows curled? "A maid's mighty and heroic?"

"Ah that, she's simply not just a maid. She's also Young Miss's hidden bodyguard."

Tian Cai gasped, "Ling Clan's number one beauty is not only a maid, but a hidden bodyguard as well?"

Small Shadow who had been silent the whole time, rolled his eyes. Wasn't Mu Psycho just like this Ling Hua? Wasn't Little Brother's preference in women a little strange?

Tian Cai chuckled, "Big Brother Zhao Ding hears she 28 years old? How come she's not married yet?"

Small Shadows almost groaned. Another older woman?

Suddenly, Gray Shadow appeared. "Little Brother, Matriarch asks you to get ready and hurry over to the main hall. Guests will be arriving soon. Later, I will bring Patriarch Ling and Young Miss Ling Fan over."

"What about Sister Qin? She isn't about?"

Gray Shadow shrugged her shoulders. "Sister will ask when she see Young Miss Ling Fan."

"Understood. Alchemist Liu, why don't you stay a bit and get acquainted with my courtyard. That way you can fully observe the wondrous affects of the DMD."

"Thank you, Young Master Zhao."

Tian Cai paused a bit. "Alchemist Liu, since Miss Ling Hua saved you, she obviously views you as reliable. Our Zhao Clan will trust you as well."

Turning about he left.

Behind him, Alchemist Liu trembled. Someone actually believed in her?

However, unbeknownst to her, several large bees started eyeing her. Apparently, they were smelling a fragrance from one of her many hidden vials. Happily, she turned about to begin learning about things when three bees surrounded her.

Alchemist Liu's face blackened. Didn't she just survive the security area?

Suddenly, five more bee's appeared.

RUN!

While Tian Cai had been escorting Alchemist Liu. Yueng He-ping was in an examination room. He had just put on his robes after having Alchemist Gu fully examine his condition.

Alchemist Gu looked at Yueng He-ping gobsmacked. Not only had he lost half his hair on his scalp, that thing below was shriveled up. How did the man do his business?

"So you say, you inadvertently started using a Death Knight's weapon as your own....and you were completely unaware it had been sapping your vitality all this time?"

Yueng He-ping masked head nodded somberly.

"Well I know now why Master Zhao requires you to drink the Super Yang Blend."

"Alchemist Gu, Fish 2 asks exactly what this Super Yang Blend is?" inquired Yueng He-ping.

"Follow me to a lounge specifically prepared for our test subjects. There you can meet the original Fish. Also, will send you your first cup to drink."

"So it's a drink?"

"Yes, Master Zhao calls it Joe. There's a least three varieties this Alchemist knows of. It is imbued with Yang essence and will definitely counteract the Death aura."

"Such a miraculous drink exists?"

"Indeed. Unfortunately, there is extremely low quantity. Thus for Master Zhao to be so generous as to offer it to you...he's paying a high price."

This!

Yueng He-ping trembled. Wouldn't he have to offer a life time of service as repayment? But his life already belonged to Fierce Leader.

Curiously, Alchemist Gu asked, "Fish 2, who exactly is this Miss Ling Hua. Often has this alchemist met Patriarch Ling at the Heavenly Tea Pavilion. He has never mentioned her before."

Clearing his throat, Yueng He-ping said, "Miss Ling Hua is widely recognized as Ling Clan's number one beauty. Just the other day, my eyes saw her and was struck blind by her charisma."

Yueng He-ping just remembered Ling Fan impaling her sword into his now dead subordinate's neck. Who wouldn't be blinded when a six year old Martial Adept did that to a Martial King. Suddenly, he felt really old.

"Many people have said she's a maid," continued Alchemist Gu.

"Humph! That's just a cover up. In reality she's Ling Clan's hidden expert. Her sole task is to guarantee the safety of the Young Miss."

"So that how it is. She a top hidden expert as well as a great beauty. How old is she? My son's wife died a couple of years back. This old man could use some more grandchildren."

Yueng He-ping shot Alchemist Gu a look.

He want's to marry off his son to Fierce Leader?

Gritting his teeth, Yueng He-ping said, "My understanding is she's 28."

Alchemist Gu frowned, "And she's not betrothed?"

Inwardly he sighed in bewilderment. Why was Young Zhao so interested in this Ling Hua? Didn't he also have Fiance Mu, her little sister Mu Psycho and now this Ling Hua. And weren't they all older than him. The little boy sure had his idiosyncrasies.

A breath later, they entered a room. Zhao Chen sat in a chair and was drinking tea.

"Senior Fish, this here is Fish 2, we just accepted him into our testing program."

Zhao Chen nodded, "Good Good it won't be so boring here from now on."

"Fish 2, have a seat. Someone will be over with your drink soon. This Alchemist has things to prepare for tomorrow. Fish 2 after consuming your beverage, you may leave."

Turning about, Alchemist Liu quickly left the room.

Yueng He-ping cupped his hands, "Senior, Fish 2 greets you."

Motioning with his hand, Zhao Chen said, "Sit. So what brings you here?"

Yueng He-ping sighed heavily.

"It can't be that bad man?"

"It's bad."

Zhao Chen looked over in disbelief.

I don't care who you are? You don't have a bush load of hair growing out of your right ear. My right breast is a drooping, wrinkled man boob while the left is firm like it was 3000 years ago. Humph! Bad my ass!

"You don't believe me do you?...If you're here, I suppose your circumstance must be similar....its like this...," reluctantly, Yueng He-ping revealed his condition.

Long ago, Zhao Chen had spat out his tea in shock. The story he just heard addled his head to no end. Indeed it was bad.

Yueng He-ping was nos sobbing uncontrollably. "Senior, earlier Fish 2 was paying attention and scratched his head and lost another clump of hair. Fish 2 only has half a scalp left."

"Are you sure your condition isn't contagious?" asked Zhao Chen. Secretly, as a precaution, he was marshaling his inner power getting ready to end the man's misery.

"No..The Death Ax was the root cause."

Zhao Chen sighed in relief, and quietly withdrew his power. Gingerly, he patted Yueng He-ping's shoulder. "Now that you're here. You can relax. If anybody can cure you it's Master Zhao. They already uncovered the the secret to hair regrowth."

Yueng He-ping trembled. "They have?"

"Mhm. In fact, let Fish 2 help you along." Looking about to ensure no one else was watching, Zhao Chen pulled out five pellets.

"Senior what's this?"

"This man will say it clearly. The taste will be absolutely the most disgusting thing you ever will swallow. And much, much worse is the smell. After you eat these, you will continue to smell it for days."

"Senior, these are?"

"DMD pellets...You take enough of them, your hair will regrow by itself. I know not if it will counteract the death aura and heal your other thing. However, most definitely, your hair will regrow. Take them, tell no one I gave you these."

Yueng He-ping gasped, "DMD Pellets!?"