"Te… teacher!"
Jiang Yunhong clutched his burning cheek, staring at Zhu Mingyuan with eyes full of disbelief and grievance.I spoke for you. I defended you. Why did you slap me?!
But Zhu Mingyuan didn't even glance at him.
Instead, he walked quickly toward Jiang Chen, and in full view of everyone—
he bent at the waist, bowing respectfully.
"Master Jiang," Zhu Mingyuan said with a trembling voice, "these two fools have no idea what they're saying. How could you take their words seriously? I was at fault for letting them speak so recklessly. I beg you, don't lower yourself to their level."
Silence.
For a heartbeat, the street seemed frozen.
Jiang Yunhong and Jiang Qianhe stared blankly, their faces like stone masks.
What… what did he just call him?
Master.
Zhu Mingyuan—the chief alchemist of Baodan Pavilion, a dignified second-rank senior alchemist, a man of prestige in Lingyun City—was bowing like a junior in front of Jiang Chen… a "good-for-nothing" from Cangshan City.
It felt like the heavens had cracked open.
"This… this can't be real…" Jiang Yunhong muttered, his lips trembling.
Jiang Chen didn't even look at him. He glanced lazily at Zhu Mingyuan."Zhu Mingyuan, is this your new 'disciple'? Seems like he's even more arrogant than you."
Zhu Mingyuan's expression hardened."Master Jiang," he said hurriedly, "this boy was only brought here as a favor to a friend. I never formally accepted him. But after today—"
He turned abruptly toward Jiang Yunhong, eyes cold and voice sharp as a blade.
"—I wouldn't take someone like you as my disciple even if I were blind."
Jiang Yunhong's knees buckled.
"Y-you…" His lips quivered as he looked between Zhu Mingyuan and Jiang Chen, his world collapsing.
"I won't take you as an apprentice," Zhu Mingyuan barked. "Get out of my sight!"
Those words were like a death sentence.
Jiang Yunhong's mind buzzed. His dream—shattered. The ladder to glory he and his grandfather had clawed and begged for—burned to ashes.
All because of him…
He turned toward Jiang Chen, his eyes bloodshot with rage and despair.
Jiang Chen met his gaze with a faint, mocking smile."One word from me, Jiang Yunhong," he said lightly, "and I can drive you from heaven… to hell."
The sentence hit like a hammer, crushing what little dignity Jiang Yunhong had left.
Jiang Qianhe's face turned green, veins bulging on his forehead."Master Zhu, this must be a mistake!" he barked desperately. "Jiang Chen is from my Jiang family. This boy has never even touched alchemy! How could he possibly be the chief alchemist of Baodan Pavilion?"
Zhu Mingyuan turned his cold gaze on him."I, Zhu Mingyuan, do not have failing eyes." His voice was sharp and laced with contempt. "If I say he is the chief alchemist, then that is what he is. Now—take your grandson and get out."
"No… teacher, please! I was wrong!"
Jiang Yunhong collapsed to his knees, crawling forward. "Give me another chance! Please!"
But Zhu Mingyuan's voice was merciless."Rude to Master Jiang, and you still dare call me teacher? Let me make it clear—not only will I never take you as an apprentice, but with Master Jiang's word, no alchemist in Lingyun City would dare take you in."
The last thread of hope snapped.
Jiang Yunhong's face turned ashen. His whole body went slack, like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
In one morning, he had been sent from the gates of heaven to the depths of hell.