Wenqiu City.
Shen Tanqi carried Goldfish and Taro Ball down from the carriage, then helped Lin Tanjiu and Xiao Yu out.
Once everyone was out, he glanced back into the carriage and saw Yu Ce with a gloomy expression, holding Sandan, quietly getting off without a word.
“How did it go?” Shen Tanqi asked cautiously, “Did you find anything?”
Yu Ce’s fingers tightened slightly around Sandan, looking very reluctant as he muttered from between his lips, “There is indeed demonic aura.”
Shen Tanqi sighed with relief, as long as there was no real threat to life, just the fact that Mian Mian could survive was a huge relief to him. The heavy stone in his chest finally fell, and he whispered, “Since we’re here now, let’s wait until the alchemy trial ends and then go see that daemonic healer?”
Upon hearing this, Yu Ce rubbed his temples with his hand, calming his mind, and said, “There’s no need.”
He had just carefully examined Sandan and found no problems at all. He had never even considered the possibility of demonization before. Yu Ce had no idea what daemonic beings were like after demonization.
But he did know of one daemonic being who had been demonized, and that is the one who should be skinned and chopped into a thousand pieces: Xie Chi. Ever since he had been demonized, Yu Ce had never felt the slightest trace of blood connection to Xie Chi.
Yu Ce took a deep breath. Even though he didn’t want to admit it, he had to face the fact that his youngest son was most likely demonized.
Having devoted more than ten years to eliminating demons, in the end, his own son had become one.
What a ridiculous joke!
Seeing his expression change, Shen Tanqi coughed dryly and quickly took Sandan from his arms, saying, “We still need to take a look. After the alchemy trial, I’ll take Mian Mian to see. Don’t blame Mian Mian. Mian Mian hasn’t even been born yet and doesn’t understand anything. If you want to blame someone, blame Xie Chi and Yan Ning for giving Mian Mian the birth-inducing Gu.”
Yu Ce’s expression showed no signs of softening. He whispered quietly, “I don’t blame Sandan.”
He had no reason to blame Sandan. If he were to blame anyone, it would be himself for not being able to protect Shen Tanqi and the children in the first place.
One day, he would surely kill Xie Chi with his own hands and remove this disgrace from the daemonic race.
“Demonic aura is not easy to cleanse, and I have heard of the birth-inducing Gu,” Lin Tanjiu intervened, trying to ease the tension, “It requires someone to constantly purify Mian Mian over the years. If you don’t mind, cousin, my spiritual energy is relatively pure, and I can give it a try.”
Shen Tanqi looked at her with some emotion and said, “No need. You’ve already helped us a lot. With me, Yu Ce, and Taro Ball, it’s enough.”
Taro Ball nodded solemnly and said, pretending to be mature, “Exactly. If Mian Mian is demonized, I will do everything I can to bring him back to normal. Daddy, you can rest assured.”
Shen Tanqi naturally felt reassured because he knew that Taro Ball and Goldfish stabilized Sandan’s energy every month, cleansing his spiritual energy.
He affectionately rubbed Taro Ball’s head and said, “Then we’ll count on you, Taro Ball.”
Taro Ball squeezed his hand and smiled, “Daddy, why are you so polite? Helping my little brother is what I should do.”
When he first found out that Daddy had given him a little brother, he was almost overjoyed. Finally, he could take care of other children instead of always being taken care of as the little brother.
Goldfish came over, tiptoed, and earnestly raised his little hand, saying, “I can too, I can too! I’ll practice hard from now on, so I can help my little brother in the future!” Although he didn’t know what he was supposed to do for his brother, he was sure to help him.
Shen Tanqi happily kissed each of their foreheads and murmured softly, “Good, from now on, I’ll rely on you both to protect your little brother.”
However, does Mian Mian really need protection from others? Hmm…
A strange premonition hit him, making him feel that Mian Mian didn’t seem like the type who needed protection.
Fang Wenxun and Xiao Qingyu stepped down from another carriage, carrying several boxes over to Shen Tanqi and Yu Ce.
Wiping sweat from his forehead, Fang Wenxun waved a big hand, signaling Xiao Qingyu to open the boxes. He chuckled, “Junior brothers, you’re in luck. The sect leader really went all out this time!”
As the boxes opened, Shen Tanqi and Yu Ce peered inside curiously.
Shen Tanqi wondered if a big sect like Rongyun Sect really had lots of treasures hidden away.
Yu Ce was curious about what valuable things their stingy sect leader could possibly give out.
They all gathered around, but soon, with a collective ‘tsk,’ they dispersed.
Shen Tanqi’s mouth twitched. He picked out a wilted spirit herb and looked at Fang Wenxun and Xiao Qingyu. “Senior brother, did you bring the wrong boxes?”
Fang Wenxun and Xiao Qingyu were equally baffled. “How come there’s so little!”
Inside were just a few withered spirit herbs, a worn-out wooden bucket half-filled with Tian Shan snow water—he didn’t even bother to fill it up.
Yu Ce: …
Not surprised at all, he had already expected this.
Yu Ce’s forehead, which was already aching, throbbed even more now. Yu Ce, slightly amused by the sect leader’s stinginess, closed the box, and said, “Forget it. The sect’s grand competition this year was costly for Rongyun Sect. Giving out even these is already a stretch for him.”
He and the sect leader had known each other for a long time and understood each other’s temperaments well. The old man must have known about the treasures he had collected during his travels over the years, hence he hadn’t bothered to prepare seriously at all.
As for Shen Tanqi, the wealth and background of the Shen family didn’t require the sect leader’s concern. Even these spiritual herbs and snow waters were probably intended only for distribution among other Rongyun Sect disciples, not for them.
Fang Wenxun couldn’t help but exclaim, “After all these years, the sect leader is still like this.” Initially, Rongyun Sect was very poor, but after gaining momentum and wealth, the sect leader became even more frugal.
For instance, when Shen Tanqi was admitted to the inner sect against regulations, it was all because the Shen family had given too much.
Shen Tanqi smiled helplessly and said, “Forget it, during the alchemy trial, materials will be distributed at the platform. Let’s distribute these things to other disciples.”
At his words, Xiao Qingyu anxiously interjected, “Senior Brother, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. Although these items are few, they are worth a lot even outside. In any case, they are better than those distributed on the trial platform. Please, pick some first.”
“No need,” Shen Tanqi shook his head. “Alchemy doesn’t depend solely on equipment; it also requires intelligence and spiritual energy. I can recite the alchemical recipes from the Rongyun Library backward now, so rest assured.”
Seeing him speak like this, Xiao Qingyu didn’t insist further. He exchanged a glance with Fang Wenxin, sighed together, and had no choice but to carry the boxes to distribute them to the other participating disciples of Rongyun Sect.
“Recite the alchemy manuals backward?” Yu Ce raised an eyebrow, took out a scroll from his storage ring, casually flipped open a page, and read, “Ingredients for making Illusion-Dispelling Pill: three grams of Qing grass combined with Sulfur wood…”
“A bowl of ice water, first chilled and then boiled, simmered over low heat for three quarters of an hour, finally molded with spiritual energy.”
Yu Ce was somewhat astonished, not because he looked down on Ah Qi, but because Ah Qi had never demonstrated these skills before. Back then, when he had pulled Ah Qi into reciting books together, it was just a way to play around with Shen Tanqi.
Realizing something was off, Yu Ce flipped to another page and tentatively asked, “What about the Tranquil Heart Pill…?”
Shen Tanqi didn’t miss a beat, “Add Hun Shi powder, soak it in clear spring water until it dissolves without color or taste, then place it in the alchemy furnace and shape it with spiritual energy for half an hour. To refine it to a third-grade or higher, it requires a large infusion of spiritual energy until purple mist bursts from the mouth of the furnace.” Shen Tanqi finished smoothly, without hesitation, and gave Yu Ce a knowing glance. He smirked, “How about that? I used to work in a similar field.”
He majored in pharmaceutical engineering in college and always topped his class in chemistry. However, later on, in search of a stable and peaceful job that wouldn’t get him fired, he ended up working as a librarian, a job that had nothing to do with pharmaceutical engineering.
Thus, Shen Tanqi could effortlessly recall such information. Moreover, Yu Ce had often tested his knowledge before, so Shen Tanqi had memorized the alchemical recipes very firmly.
The only inconvenience was that he often struggled to control spiritual energy, resulting in ugly-looking pills. They were sometimes less attractive than if they had been rolled on the ground or chewed up by a dog.
Yu Ce, somewhat surprised, set down the book he was holding and looked at Shen Tanqi. “You usually…”
Wasn’t Ah Qi usually impatient with this sort of thing? He often complained that he couldn’t beat him anyway, so why bother learning?
Could it be that his Ah Qi was… a genius?
Shen Tanqi glanced at him, scratched his face, and said, “What about me usually? I’m perfectly normal.”
Yu Ce choked back what he wanted to say, looking down at his two genius sons. The answer seemed quite clear now.
Perhaps their children’s talents weren’t all inherited from him.
He suddenly thought, if Ah Qi had never trusted his own abilities, would he ever realize that he was actually more capable than he imagined?
“What are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and go to the trial platform, or you’ll be marked absent again,” Shen Tanqi’s voice interrupted Yu Ce’s thoughts. He grabbed his sleeve and eagerly headed towards the alchemy trial platform to the east of Wenqiu City.
Wenqiu City, true to its name, enjoyed perpetual autumn throughout the year. The weather here was rare—neither cold nor hot, maintaining a consistently comfortable temperature due to its high altitude and abundant spiritual energy. Fruit trees in Wenqiu City bore fruit year-round, earning it the name ‘Wenqiu,’ which meant ‘to hear autumn.’
The reason the alchemy trial was specifically held here was because of the symbolism of ‘seeking causes and obtaining results,’ with the implication of abundant harvests.
A peregrine falcon soared high above Wenqiu City, emitting sharp, piercing cries, which were soon drowned out by the fireworks that marked the beginning of the trial.
The alchemy trial officially began.
Shen Tanqi and Yu Ce took the stage one after the other, standing not far from each other. However, Shen Tanqi was significantly lagging behind in points, barely maintaining his position in the top spot with the red flower.
“Ah Qi,” Yu Ce tossed him a damp handkerchief and whispered softly, “Go easy on me during the competition.”
This time, he meant it sincerely.
Shen Tanqi looked at him strangely, took the handkerchief, and wiped the interior of the alchemy furnace in front of him. He replied, “You think highly of me.”
His spiritual energy was not as pure as Yu Ce’s and Lin Tanjiu’s, so to produce better pills, he would need to spend more energy and time refining repeatedly. Thus, Shen Tanqi had never aimed for the top spot. As long as he achieved results he was satisfied with, it would be great for him.
The peregrine falcon circled in the air, then swiftly landed on a wooden beam near the trial platform. Its jet-black eyes fixed intently on Shen Tanqi, who was smiling as he cleaned the furnace. Then, the falcon tilted its head slightly.
After a while, seeming to grow weary of watching, the falcon spread its wings and flew over their heads, speeding towards the distant mountain peaks. Finally, it settled on the broad shoulders of a figure dressed in black.
“Ah…”
The man chuckled softly, allowing the falcon to perch, while his gaze carefully surveyed the bustling scene of the alchemy trial below from the mountain peak, taking in every detail without missing a thing.
He pondered for a moment, pursing his lips. “My time is running short, yet my dear brother Shen Tanqi and Yu Ce are here playing these mundane games in Wenqiu. It’s truly enviable.”
Pausing briefly, the man shifted his gaze to the falcon on his shoulder and asked, “Jing Wei, shall we give them a big gift?”
The falcon seemed indifferent, lowering its head to peck at its own feathers before lifting its gaze to them with an impassive expression. After a moment, it flew from the man’s shoulder and transformed into a seventeen-year-old youth.
Standing beside the man, the youth spoke in a monotone voice, “Shen Tanqi, he is your brother?”
The man nodded knowingly and chuckled, “Why wouldn’t he be? He calls me that himself. Back when he was pregnant, I used to chat and gossip with him every day.”
Jing Wei turned his gaze to Shen Tanqi and said expressionlessly, “You do look alike. So, do you want me to kill him?”
The man fell silent for a moment, then reached out to pat the youth’s head, unusually serious as he said, “I’ve already told you he’s my brother. You’re not allowed to act on your own.”
“Oh, I thought a demon like you saying that was a hint,” Jing Wei’s eyes turned cold, and he spoke calmly, “Huo Yening, call me out again before you die, and then go to sleep.”
With that, Jing Wei turned and left.
“You heartless brat.”
Huo Yening pursed his lips, muttered under his breath, watching the youth’s departing figure vanish. He sighed softly, and a bloody mark appeared on the exposed half of his pale blue arm within his sleeve.
Once the mark disappears, he will die.
By then…
What would the demon clan do? He would no longer be able to control anything. When the demon clan causes chaos and launches a major invasion, it would ultimately fall to Yu Ce and Shen Tanqi to handle this troublesome situation.
So, let’s give them one last gift.
Consider it… a welcoming gift for Shen Tanqi’s children.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
