Chapter 22: Chapter 19: Obstruction by Dan Child_1
Translator: 549690339
After that, seeing Gu Mingyue’s fluctuating emotions, Yang Chen let her leave first and went alone to see Elder Yang.
Unlike the last time, when Elder Yang held a public lecture and opened his courtyard to everyone, on ordinary days, common people of the Yang family were not allowed to come here. Even if they came, they couldn’t enter. For example, now Yang Chen wanted to enter the courtyard to find Elder Yang, but he was stopped by an outer alchemy disciple.
Yang Chen did have memories of this disciple. He was a favored person by Elder Yang and was said to be picked up from outside by Elder Yang. Due to his good talent in alchemy, he was appointed as an assistant alchemist, usually helping Elder Yang guard the door, filtering out miscellaneous people.
And Yang Chen, just so happened to be regarded by this disciple as one of the ‘miscellaneous people’.
This disciple seemed very arrogant and didn’t pay attention to Yang Chen at all. He guarded the courtyard lazily and yawned, “Yang Chen, do you think you can come and go as you please in the Second Master’s courtyard? Who do you think you are? Why don’t you take a look at yourself in the mirror? Your behavior has spread to other clans. What’s your status compared to Second Master’s?”
Yang Chen briefly looked at the disciple, who seemed to be around fourteen or fifteen years old, with a rosy face and white teeth, indeed having a likeable appearance.
He searched his memory and found quite a few memories from before.
In the past, ‘Yang Chen’ also often came to Elder Yang’s place to practice alchemy, but as long as this disciple was here, he would always find ways to make things difficult for ‘Yang Chen.’ Since the previous Yang Chen had a weak temperament and didn’t dare to speak up when bullied, this disciple gradually treated Yang Chen as a soft target.
Recalling these memories, Yang Chen couldn’t help but smile wryly, it seemed that Elder Yang, being such an important figure, had forgotten to mention himself to the disciple. Otherwise, even with several guts, this disciple wouldn’t dare to look down on others.
Yang Chen, with his hands behind his back, calmly said, “Elder Yang personally told me that I can come here anytime.”
When he said these words, he deliberately made his voice louder by a few degrees.
He guessed that Elder Yang was most likely refining elixirs in the room, and hearing his words, he would come out. As for this disciple, he really didn’t want to waste too much time arguing with him. If it wasn’t for the need to use Elder Yang’s alchemy room, he might not have come here in the first place.
“Hahaha.” The disciple laughed blatantly without any hesitation, “Elder Yang personally told you? I could also say that Elder Yang personally told me I am his own grandson. Would that make sense? Does it mean anything, Yang Chen? Making up these lies only makes me think you’re childish. You should know that in the entire Yang Family, besides me and the Clan Leader, no one else can freely enter and exit Elder Yang’s courtyard.”
With an air of superiority, the disciple looked at Yang Chen, and a feeling of superiority emanated from his bones. Being able to freely enter and leave Elder Yang’s courtyard was an honor.
“Xu San.”
Suddenly, an aged voice rang out. Following that, an elder with white hair and beard walked out of the room.
When the disciple heard this voice, the sense of superiority he felt just now vanished instantly. Like a completely changed person, he hurriedly bowed respectfully and said, “Elder Yang, why did you come out? Is it because this Yang Chen was too noisy and disturbing your cultivation? If so, I’ll immediately drive him away!”
At first, Elder Yang was calm, but upon hearing Dan Tong Xu San’s words, he immediately frowned and scolded, “Xu San, your words are getting more and more outrageous!”
“E… Elder Yang, what’s going on?” The disciple was dumbfounded, thinking it was Yang Chen’s fault, and immediately said sternly, “Yang Chen, get out now!”
“Silence!”
Elder Yang said coldly, “Xu San, Yang Chen is my honored guest!”
Xu San looked stunned, as if unable to believe it and said, “Elder Yang, how… how is that possible!”
“You impudent fool.” Elder Yang said expressionlessly, “Do you dare to question my words?”
He shook his head, feeling that Xu San was really out of line.What he needed was a dan tong, not someone who flaunts their power under his protection. What are the responsibilities of a dan tong? Having keen insight, strong adaptability, and knowing their own status. Xu San initially did quite well in these aspects, being smooth and smart, indeed making him worry-free.
However, recently, Xu San has become increasingly unreasonable. Just now, he had not understood the meaning of his words several times in a row, which was no longer meeting his requirements for a dan tong.
Earlier, he had heard the noise outside the room but didn’t come out immediately. He also heard Xu San and Yang Chen’s conversation. Although Xu San’s condescending behavior annoyed him, he didn’t take it seriously. After all, Xu San had been working under him for two or three years.
Moreover, not telling Xu San about Yang Chen’s matter was also his responsibility. Therefore, he didn’t plan to bring it up. However, Xu San kept contradicting him, which angered Elder Yang, leading to the scolding.
After the scolding, Xu San was completely dumbfounded.
Yang Chen was actually Elder Yang’s honored guest?
How could that be possible? He knew Yang Chen’s nature and abilities better than anyone else. Still, he was good at judging people, and when he encountered a difficult situation, he would quickly change his attitude.
“Yang Chen, please come with me,” Elder Yang said with a smile, then turned to Xu San and said: “Xu San, remember, whenever Yang Chen comes here, let him pass without question. Do you understand?”
“Yes… Second Master,” Xu San gritted his teeth and replied.
However, his gaze at Yang Chen was filled with malice, as if Yang Chen had taken away what was rightfully his.
As a dan tong under Elder Yang, Xu San had indeed been well taken care of. Elder Yang was kind-hearted and would naturally not mistreat an attendant. At first, Xu San was grateful, but as time went on, he began to regard himself as Elder Yang’s beloved grandson.
He wanted to receive all of Elder Yang’s love and could not stand anyone else competing for it. He believed that among the young generation of the Yang family, no one could receive Elder Yang’s favor and surpass him.
But now, Yang Chen had appeared, and at least for now, Elder Yang seemed to greatly value him.
“Damn it.” Xu San gritted his teeth and the hatred towards Yang Chen planted a seed in his heart. At least he would never allow someone whom he had once insulted to surpass him.
“Yang Chen, indeed it’s my fault for not informing Xu San about your matter. So, don’t take it to heart. Although Xu San’s words were unpleasant, his nature is not bad,” Elder Yang said gently.
Yang Chen, who didn’t dare to be arrogant, hurriedly said: “Second Master, if you apologize to me, it’s as if you’re shortening my life!”
“You kid, you sure know how to speak.” Elder Yang found Yang Chen more and more pleasing. As they walked forward, he asked, “So, you returned home a while ago and used the materials to refine elixirs. How did it turn out?”
Yang Chen touched his chin, answered without much thought: “Second Master, during this time, I’ve been working hard on alchemy, and the results have been remarkable. I’m quite satisfied with the outcome of some elixirs, but after refining for some time, I encountered many obstacles. It seems that I’ve hit a bottleneck. As a junior, I didn’t dare to be careless, so I came to you.”
These words were, of course, his prepared excuse. With his alchemy level, how could it be Elder Yang’s turn to teach him?
“Haha, a bottleneck is a good thing. By the way, what kind of elixirs have you been refining?” Elder Yang asked.
Yang Chen listed several names of elixirs.
Hearing this, Elder Yang raised his eyebrows in astonishment and said, “If what you say is true, and you have refined these elixirs, your alchemy level must be at least First Grade Middle Stage. No wonder, no wonder. Yang Chen, do you know why you’re facing a bottleneck? It’s because if you take one more step forward, you’ll become a Grade 1 high-rank Alchemist!”
“Is your words true, Second Master?” Yang Chen pretended to be surprised, but in fact, all this was within his expectations.