Chapter Thirty: News from the Alchemy Sect

The second-year alchemy class was bustling with excitement. Rumors had been circulating that the Alchemy Sect was about to announce a major development. As a result, the classroom was packed to the brim that day, even attracting students who usually skipped the lessons, such as Nalan Meidai, Jiang Yiyi, Feng Linchuan, Han Ruge, Niu Zhuangzhuang, and Dou Ruhua.

The female students were all adorned in their finery, their faces radiant and blooming like spring flowers, adding an extra touch of allure to the room. Meanwhile, many of the male students kept stealing glances at Mingyue and Nalan Meidai, the two most striking girls of the year—one pure and delicate, the other dazzling and captivating—truly the epitome of two contrasting styles.

Mingyue looked at Nangong Yurou in surprise. “What’s going on today? So many people suddenly came to the alchemy class—has the sun risen in the west?”

Nangong Yurou and Mo Yao came over and took the empty seats beside Mingyue. Meanwhile, Dou Ruhua plopped down next to Niu Zhuangzhuang in the back row, teasing, “Zhuangzhuang, you don’t even know how to read, and you have no clue about alchemy. Maybe you should learn something else.” The nearby students burst out laughing.

Niu Zhuangzhuang’s face turned bright red with embarrassment. He glanced toward Nalan Meidai, seated a bit forward on the right, and stammered defensively, “How are you any better than me? Move a little to the side; you’re almost sitting in my spot.”

Dou Ruhua smiled teasingly, unbothered. “I heard that every time you go to the bathhouse, you have to check the male and female signs before you dare to go in. Is that true?”

The class erupted in laughter. Niu Zhuangzhuang’s face turned a deep shade of purple. He turned away, ignoring Dou Ruhua.

Niu Zhuangzhuang was famously illiterate and often confused left and right. It was said he spent a long time staring at the male and female signs before entering the bathhouse, which made him the butt of jokes.

Mingyue asked Nangong Yurou and Mo Yao with curiosity, “Do those two have a grudge? Why do they always argue when they meet?”

Mo Yao chuckled softly and whispered, “Not a grudge, little one. They’re actually... involved.” Nangong Yurou nodded, smiling quietly.

Mingyue was puzzled. “Really? People who like each other argue all the time? Shouldn’t they be sweet and loving?”

At that moment, Nangong Yurou lowered her voice and said, “I heard that after today’s alchemy class, the Alchemy Sect will make a major announcement. Didn’t you see the notice posted at the bulletin board at noon?”

Mingyue looked bewildered. “What major announcement? I haven’t heard anything.”

Mo Yao whispered, “We just got the news too. We even went to check the bulletin board. It’s true—it was posted this afternoon. They’re recruiting alchemy apprentices, and after class, they’ll announce the recruitment criteria and register applicants. I heard Senior Brother Feng Qingcheng might come himself. See? More people keep coming.”

“What?” Mingyue almost jumped with excitement. “You mean Senior Brother Feng Qingcheng is coming?”

Nangong Yurou nodded eagerly and looked at her. “Yes. Are you going to apply? But I heard the Alchemy Sect never accepts female disciples. Shh, here comes Teacher Wu...”

Mingyue saw Teacher Wu enter the room, his face stern.

Wu Buhui was an inner disciple of the Alchemy Sect, a third-grade alchemist, appearing to be in his forties or fifties. He had a thin mustache, triangular eyes, and a gaunt figure. Though somewhat unsightly, he carried an air of arrogance. His lectures on alchemy were dry and tedious. Because of his stern and rigid nature, few students had attended his classes in the previous year.

Seeing the throng of students flooding in today, Wu Buhui initially thought he had entered the wrong classroom. After multiple checks, he confirmed he was in the right place. Thinking the students had finally recognized his charm, he was thrilled for a while before calming down—unaware that they were actually waiting for someone else.

It was the first time so many had come to his class. Energized, Wu Buhui boasted at length before launching into a long, tedious lecture that made most students drowsy.

In truth, Mingyue believed that despite Teacher Wu’s unremarkable appearance, he possessed genuine expertise; otherwise, he wouldn’t have become a third-grade alchemist by his forties. But the students’ attention was clearly elsewhere—many yawned, dozed off on their desks, or whispered among themselves, infuriating Wu Buhui to no end.

The class finally ended amid eager expectations. As usual, Wu Buhui assigned questions and homework, the part everyone disliked most. Students below nervously looked up, afraid their names would be called.

After a pause, Wu Buhui said, “The lesson is over. As usual, I will ask questions. Those who cannot answer will be punished.”

The room instantly fell silent. Most bowed their heads, unwilling to meet his gaze.

“You, stand up and answer—the female disciple in purple,” he called out Nalan Meidai.

Mingyue wondered what question he would ask. Before he could speak, Nalan Meidai replied coldly, “I’m sorry, I cannot answer. I’m only here to audit the class.”

Wu Buhui nodded. “Very good—knowing what you know and what you don’t. Sit down. You, answer the question.” This time, he called on Niu Zhuangzhuang.

“What are the main effects of alchemy on the flow of meridians? By the way, what is your name?”

Niu Zhuangzhuang fumbled for a long time before stammering, “Teacher, my name is Niu Zhuangzhuang. It’s my first time auditing.”

Wu Buhui’s mustache twitched with anger. “You think I won’t punish you just because you copied others?”

“I... I really...” Niu Zhuangzhuang, tongue-tied and flustered, tried to explain, “Teacher, I really am here to audit... I...”

Wu Buhui, furious, slammed his ruler against the desk and shouted, “Get out! Run twenty laps around the training ground!”

At that moment, Han Ruge stood up to plead. “Teacher Wu... I mean, Wu Teacher... forgive me for the mistake.” Calling him “Teacher Wu” first stunned the class, then triggered uproarious laughter. Many students bent over laughing, some even fell to the floor, infuriating Wu Buhui to the point his face turned iron-gray, trembling uncontrollably.

Han Ruge, seemingly unaware of his slip, continued, “Niu Zhuangzhuang really is auditing. I can vouch for him. The first auditor wasn’t punished. Shouldn’t the second be treated the same?”

“Quiet!” Wu Buhui slammed the ruler on the desk again. The class fell silent, all staring at him in disbelief.

Clenching his teeth, Wu Buhui sneered, “I wondered who dared to defy me like that. Turns out it’s the son of Elder Han. Am I the teacher or are you? Niu Zhuangzhuang, thirty laps. Anyone else who pleads for him runs thirty laps as well.”

“You!” Han Ruge was equally annoyed and sat down resentfully. Niu Zhuangzhuang gratefully glanced at Han Ruge and then at Nalan Meidai before lowering his head and running out amid the class’s laughter.

Wu Buhui looked around the classroom with satisfaction, snorted coldly, and said, “Wait a bit longer. The Alchemy Sect will make an important announcement soon.” Then, proudly lifting his head like a victorious rooster, he left the classroom.

No sooner had he stepped out than laughter burst forth again. The students’ good spirits remained undampened; they seemed invigorated as if fueled by adrenaline.

Nangong Yurou patted her chest, laughing. “Teacher Wu is so scary—a real demon of death. No wonder so many avoid his classes. Mingyue, you face him every day. That’s harsh. Lucky I’m only auditing.”

Dou Ruhua and Mo Yao chuckled along.

Mingyue retorted, “I don’t call him Teacher Wu. I’m not afraid of him.”

Suddenly, someone exclaimed, “Here he comes, here he comes!”

All eyes fixed eagerly on the newcomer, a young man about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in the Alchemy Sect’s disciple robes, holding a notice.

The youth stepped in and unfolded the notice, reading aloud: “I am Yan Dan, the Alchemy Sect’s messenger, here to announce the recruitment of alchemy apprentices. Due to the Sect’s needs, two apprentice assistants will be recruited from among the academy’s disciples. Requirements: proficiency in pharmacology, familiarity with various herbs and their ages, and basic knowledge of alchemy. Male disciples will be given priority. Main duties: assist in the auxiliary work of alchemy preparation... Salary: one hundred taels of silver per month...”

Yan Dan read for a long time before finishing and then said, “Those willing to apply, please come forward to register.”

This recruitment was only for students attending alchemy classes; others were not considered. The goal was to cultivate elite talent in medicine and alchemy. Historically, the Alchemy Sect had never accepted female disciples.

The interview would be held during tomorrow afternoon’s alchemy class. Only those who passed would become official apprentice assistants.

The announcement sparked a lively buzz. Regardless of their chances, many surged forward to register with Yan Dan.

The apprentices recruited by the Alchemy Sect were assigned to assist alchemists in their work, handling miscellaneous tasks during the preparation of elixirs.

It was a long-standing tradition at Shushan Academy that starting from the third year, various elder sects within the Shushan Immortal Sect would recruit assistants from among the academy’s disciples. Officially called assistants, these positions were actually meant to select outstanding talent for specialized training by different elder sects. After five years of academy study, most of these assistants would become inner disciples or elite members of their respective elder sects. Consequently, every year there were disputes among elder sects competing for talented students.

Being selected as an assistant was a source of pride for academy disciples. The assistants of each elder sect received salaries, with the Alchemy Sect’s apprentices receiving the highest—one hundred taels of silver per month. Next was the Pharmacy Sect, paying about seventy taels, while other elder sects paid around fifty taels.

To put this into perspective, the average commoner’s household expenses for an entire year did not exceed one hundred taels. County-level officials in the empires earned only about three hundred taels per month. These salaries served as indirect encouragement for students. Although Shushan Academy charged no tuition and provided free room and board, students still had to cover their personal expenses. For disciples from the great families of the four major empires, this money might not even cover a meal, but for commoner students, it represented a significant sum.

However, among the disciples, few possessed both medical expertise and knowledge of alchemy to meet these requirements.

Two candidates were most favored: Mu Xiaotian, known as the ‘Alchemy Maniac,’ who was obsessed with elixirs and alchemy knowledge to the point of neglecting sleep and food; and Mingyue, dubbed the ‘Little Medical Immortal.’ Though young, she could identify thousands of herbs and was highly skilled in medicine, with a strong interest in alchemy. Yet for thousands of years, the Alchemy Sect had never accepted a female disciple—until now, who knew if an exception might be made?

This year’s recruitment was a full year earlier than usual. Mingyue didn’t dwell on it too much. Although the Alchemy Sect traditionally did not accept female disciples, she decided to apply for the apprentice assistant exam anyway. Whether accepted or not, she wanted to test the difficulty of the Alchemy Sect’s examination and gain experience. Thus, Mingyue resolved to participate in the apprentice exam.