Chapter 30: A Master's Regret

Now that things had come to this, Chen Guan understood perfectly what Fa Ma was proposing.

He found himself envying those with lesser talents, who never had to face such distressing decisions. He, on the other hand, was deeply conflicted.

"I understand your meaning, Senior," he said, choosing his words carefully. "I do have a bit of the wood attribute, and I possess what's needed to become an alchemist." He had only learned this from Master Shu Tianhe; he had never been formally tested.

Seeing the fervent heat in Fa Ma's eyes intensify, Chen Guan felt he couldn't bear it any longer. He quickly explained before the old man could make his formal offer.

"I hope you understand, Senior. Although I am curious about alchemy and would like to learn, due to some... special reasons, I cannot focus all my energy on it. I probably couldn't even spare one day a month to study. So, I must decline your kind offer."

His statement was a slight exaggeration, but it clearly conveyed his priorities. Cultivation would always come first. Beyond that, he would never abandon the art of Puppetry his master had entrusted to him.

Alchemy was practical, and he would certainly find time to learn. But with his powerful soul perception as a foundation, and in a world where alchemy was so prevalent, it was actually easier for him to master than Puppetry. He knew that in the future, he would have to spend far more time on Puppetry. To an outsider, it would inevitably look like he was "neglecting his proper duties."

Fa Ma, of course, was unaware of these thoughts. Hearing that Chen Guan placed so little value on his alchemical talent, he felt his liver ache with frustration. With such a powerful soul, it would be a criminal waste not to focus on alchemy!

Taking a deep breath, Fa Ma made his minimum request. "Devote ten days a month to learning. I will accept you as my personal disciple. I promise you will reach the rank of a Fourth-Grade Alchemist before you turn twenty."

"You must think carefully about how useful the identity of an alchemist is. Look at Gu He for an example. I am the President of the Alchemist Association. As long as you nod, you can use any medicinal materials in my guild for practice. Moreover, I am a Dou Huang powerhouse. If you become my disciple, you can walk sideways through the Jia Ma Empire without a single worry."

Unwilling to let such a good prospect slip away, Fa Ma began to dangle benefits, something he had never done before.

I can already walk sideways, Chen Guan muttered to himself. "I am very grateful for your appreciation, Senior, but I truly cannot spare that much energy. Even one free day a month would be a luxury. I can only let you down."

"Do you think you're haggling at a market stall? One day? Why don't you just learn in your dreams?" Fa Ma's beard trembled with anger. With his status, he had humbled himself to this extent, only to be rejected. If word of this got out, no one in the Jia Ma Empire would believe it.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He completely lost the dignified air of a Dou Huang powerhouse and was more like an exasperated parent, pointing at the boy and scolding him nonstop.

"You foolish boy! If you were my descendant, I would beat you half to death today!"

He ranted on and on, venting all his pent-up frustration. It wasn't so much anger as it was a profound sense of disappointment and regret for the young man's wasted talent. He felt like an avid collector who had just discovered that a coveted masterpiece was being used as a tablecloth. At a time like this, refraining from physical violence was a sign of incredible restraint.

Chen Guan listened awkwardly from the side, not daring to say a word. This was precisely why he had been so upfront. He knew the benefits of having Fa Ma as his master, and he was very tempted. But what would come after? Rather than making Fa Ma angry every day and causing them both to grow resentful, it was better to be clear from the start.

Fa Ma scolded until his throat was dry. At just the right moment, Chen Guan handed him a cup of tea. After drinking it all, the old man calmed down, his "masterly" image returning.

"Let's get down to business," he said, his tone curt. "You didn't come to my Alchemist Association today just to visit me and pick up Yue'er." He wanted to send the boy away as soon as possible, before he got angry again just looking at him.

Chen Guan nodded awkwardly and took a jar from his ring. "By chance, I once acquired a small amount of Ice Spirit Cold Spring. But because the original owner did not preserve it properly, it was contaminated. I would like to ask you, Senior, to help purify it, or at least remove the corrosive elements."

"Ice Spirit Cold Spring?" Fa Ma took one look at the jar and shook his head with regret. "It's real, but you've been far too careless in preserving it. I'll handle it, but you must be prepared. Once it's processed, the remaining quantity will be greatly reduced. You'll be left with only two or three bottles at most."

Under normal circumstances, seeing such a fine treasure so horribly polluted would have made him curse the wastefulness of it all. But after his exchange with Chen Guan today, he suddenly felt the Ice Spirit Cold Spring was hardly worth mentioning.

"I understand," Chen Guan said. "And the rules of alchemy must be followed. This grain of Spirit Nourishment Dust will be your reward. I hope it can help you advance to the sixth rank soon."

Fa Ma looked calm, initially planning to refuse any so-called reward. He just wanted the boy out of his sight. The very sight of him was upsetting. But when Chen Guan finished explaining the miraculous uses of the dust, Fa Ma was deeply moved.

He was a peak Fifth-Grade Alchemist, just one step away. With this single grain of dust, he was one hundred percent certain he could break through to the sixth rank and fulfill his lifelong wish!

This reward was too great.

Never mind purifying one jar of Ice Spirit Cold Spring; even ten or a hundred wouldn't match the value of the Spirit Nourishment Dust. Below the eighth rank, no alchemist could remain calm in its presence. Fa Ma was incredibly excited.

Even so, he didn't lose his wits. He took a long, steadying breath. "Is this your intention," he asked, "or the intention of the royal family?" If it was the latter, he could only give it up, no matter how painful it was.

Fortunately, the boy who had so infuriated him finally gave him the answer he wanted.

"It is mine. It has nothing to do with the royal family."

Hearing this, Fa Ma breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Chen Guan had a relationship with the royals, but he didn't know how deep it ran. Judging by the friendship between the boy and the two princesses, they were undoubtedly close. But good friends were still just friends. At most, he might be slightly biased toward the royal family because of the boy's kindness, but it wouldn't be considered a betrayal of the guild's principles.

Unfortunately, he still underestimated the complexities of the situation. After taking a long, deep look at the boy, Fa Ma followed his heart.

"I'll accept the Spirit Nourishment Dust," he said. "Come and get the Ice Spirit Cold Spring tomorrow afternoon."

I'll just keep the favor in mind, he thought, and not mention it all the time.

***

(End of Chapter)

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