Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Grand Unveiling of the Elixir

“Can’t sleep? Don’t you usually count sheep?” Su Ye looked astonished. This little girl often stayed up until three in the morning, yet tonight, it was only one o’clock and she was actually thinking of going to bed?

“This time it’s not working. I even put on that ‘Five Years of College Entrance Exams, Three Years of Mock Tests’ audio. Normally, as soon as the teacher starts lecturing, I fall asleep, but now I still can’t…” Jiang Liuying pouted aggrievedly, curling up in her oversized rabbit pajamas, looking irresistibly adorable.

Then, hugging her pillow, she bumped into Su Ye and slipped right in. Su Ye rubbed his nose, still unable to figure out what this little girl had put on; as she passed by, a faint, pleasant fragrance lingered in the air. He knew all too well that after everything that had happened today, the Jiang family had gone through an upheaval.

Let alone a young girl who nearly got married off, even someone as seasoned as the housekeeper probably couldn’t sleep tonight.

“So, since you can’t sleep, you came into my room with your pillow for what?” Su Ye asked, baffled.

Jiang Liuying, a little displeased, walked over to his bed, picked up a shirt Su Ye had tossed carelessly on the bed with her delicate fingers, and threw it onto his head, snapping, “You’re unbelievable, leaving your clothes everywhere. Could you be any messier?”

“Hey, hey, this is my room. What are you up to?”

“Sleeping, what else? But let me make it clear—you stay on that sofa! Or the carpet, if you want… I’m generous, see?” With that, Jiang Liuying dove straight under the blankets, wrapping herself up tightly.

Su Ye stared, dumbfounded. Was this really happening?

“You’re going too far! I sacrificed so much today—I’m the wounded one here, and you come and take over…”

“Hey, stinky Su Ye…”

“What?”

“If my dad doesn’t get better, what will happen? Tonight, I overheard the housekeeper say there are so many businesses at home, and I don’t understand any of it… Never mind, no use telling you, you wouldn’t get it either! Tell me a story, will you?” came Jiang Liuying’s voice, trembling softly from under the covers.

Su Ye’s body tensed as he heard that. Suddenly, he understood her behavior. The Jiang family’s world had turned upside down tonight, nearly destroyed. Since childhood, she had watched her brothers leave one after another, until only her father, Jiang Ziyang, was left.

And today had almost been the final straw.

She was, after all, just a seventeen-year-old girl, raised in comfort, carefree. Who could know what her limits truly were? In a family as vast as the Jiangs, who was there for her to confide in?

With a gentle, heartfelt tone, Su Ye replied, “A story… I don’t know. What if you fall asleep before I finish? We still have a lot to do tomorrow! If you really want to help your family, why not train hard? Remember I told you about that acupoint technique I created? I could teach—”

“No, thank you.” The young lady shook her head firmly, her refusal crisp and final.

“You really are hopeless, blind to opportunity, missing fate, unable to recognize greatness—”

“Enough already?” Jiang Liuying sat up abruptly, grabbed the pillow, and threw it at Su Ye, shouting, “Get out!”

“This is my room. If anyone’s leaving, it’s you—ah, you dare to get physical now? Come on, do you think I’m the same old Su Ye as before—ah, let go, let go, hey… let go, are you a mad dog? Stop, my fingers are going to break, don’t twist them, you’ll really break them… ow, ow, ow!”

The commotion continued until the housekeeper was alarmed and, only then, did the victim manage to survive…

…

By noon the next day.

Ouyang Yunfeng actually came in person to fetch Su Ye and Jiang Liuying.

This time, they were heading to the Pill Residence to seek help, so Jiang Liuying was the most qualified to go.

Because Ouyang Yunfeng was making the trip, a convoy of over a dozen vehicles rolled grandly toward a tranquil courtyard nestled in a bamboo forest.

Even a layman could see that the cost of cultivating everything here was astronomical. The vehicles wound their way along the bamboo-lined road, and in the distance, a vast man-made lake came into view.

Along its shores stood a collection of distinctive buildings.

“The Pill Residence is just ahead… These days mark the auspicious occasion when the alchemist unveils his furnace. All those martial artists you see have come to offer their congratulations. We are but one among many. If Master Chen’s pill refinement succeeds, our request is almost certain to be granted.” Ouyang Yunfeng, clearly familiar with the place, described what they saw as they went. Allowing Su Ye and the others to quickly understand the situation was for the best.

Su Ye, massaging his wounds, nodded in response, never expecting to arrive on such a significant day.

“Huh? Su Ye, what happened to you? That wound looks odd—were you struck by a hidden weapon? But it looks more like a bite mark…” Ouyang Yunfeng paused, puzzled.

Sitting beside him, Jiang Liuying, looking every bit the innocent, tranquil beauty, flashed an angelic smile. Sweetly, she said, “Young Alliance Master, your eye for detail is remarkable.”

Su Ye, next to her, could only grind his teeth in frustration.

When their convoy finally stopped, Su Ye realized this was more than just a day for unveiling a pill furnace—it was a grand event! The luxury cars, each worth millions, were numerous; clearly, many tycoons had arrived early.

These were all the most prominent magnates in Yang City, rarely finding time for arduous cultivation. Lacking talent—and, frankly, being lazy—they simply spent vast sums on beneficial elixirs.

“Hahaha, Mr. Zhang, you’re early! Looks like you came prepared!”

“Ah, Boss Jiang, with my measly few hundreds of millions, I wouldn’t dare show off in front of you! This time, that Qilan Gathering Elixir is as good as yours, isn’t it? Don’t let Old Master Wei snatch it away!”

“If he wants it, he can have it! I’m here for that batch of pills. They’ve been refined for a year and three months! I’m relying on them to break through my bottleneck!”

Compliments and laughter rang out in succession, every face alight with joy. Clearly, this wasn’t their first time here, and each had their eyes on a particular prize.

Su Ye considered himself lucky—if he hadn’t previously extorted the Yan family, his twenty million wouldn’t have lasted long.

They hadn’t walked far before a group noticed them, drawn by Ouyang Yunfeng’s status as Young Alliance Master, but also because Jiang Liuying, dressed so sweetly and delicately today, was impossible to ignore.

Many tycoons greeted them from afar.

At that moment, a woman in her thirties, wearing expensive glasses and high heels, swayed over with a peculiar tone and said,

“Well, if it isn’t my dear brother! How does someone as busy as you find time to come here and relax? If Father finds out, I wonder if he’ll get so upset he falls ill again.”

“Do I need your permission to go anywhere?” Ouyang Yunfeng’s voice turned cold. The woman before him, Ouyang Man, was his elder sister, but there was no trace of familial affection between them.

Listening from the side, Su Ye immediately understood. He’d heard the Ouyang family was as ruthless as a royal court, with little regard for kinship.

And now it was plain to see—their sibling relationship was exactly as rumored.

“Heh, haven’t you always done as you pleased? Why would you need your sister’s approval? Even Father can’t control you anymore!”

Ouyang Man’s gaze swept over Su Ye, her voice dripping with disdain, “So, you’re the new lackey my brother recruited? I hear you’ve bitten quite a few people lately!”