Huang's Pill Workshop.
A faint fragrance of pills permeates the courtyard.
Chen Sheng wears a brand new cyan robe, and beside him stands a young girl, Li Huayao, dressed in a lotus-colored skirt.
They stand side by side, with a prayer mat in front of them, and behind them stand Chen Sheng's uncle and Li Huayao's father.
The few people's expressions are solemn as they witness this apprenticeship ceremony.
The master seat is occupied by a middle-aged cultivator, his face gaunt, eyes bright and sharp, none other than Huang Yueyang, the alchemist at the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation.
Huang Yueyang holds onto the arms of the master's chair, his gaze flowing over the two children, then he slowly speaks:
"Having entered our Huang Clan's Pill Workshop, you must abide by the alchemy rules, study diligently, and not waste your time."
Chen Sheng and Li Huayao respond in unison.
"Yes!"
Then the two kneel to the ground, holding a teacup above their heads.
Huang Yueyang accepts the teacup and takes a sip, nodding as he says:
"From today, you two are my disciples; Li Huayao, sixteen years old, is the senior sister, Tang Yun, fourteen years old, is the junior brother."
Having said this, he beckons to the side of the courtyard:
"All of you, come over."
A few young men and women walk over, each with upright posture and remarkable demeanor.
"These are your three senior brothers and three senior sisters."
Huang Yueyang introduces them one by one.
Chen Sheng hurriedly bows and greets, his voice clear:
"Greetings, senior brothers and sisters."
Li Huayao follows suit, her manner dignified and graceful, as befitting a lady of a great family.
The senior brothers and sisters look at the two with gentle expressions, smiles in their eyes, very amiably.
At this moment, a petite figure dashes out from beneath the corridor, her skirt flying, very lively!
The girl appears to be twelve or thirteen years old, wearing a bracelet on her wrist, and her waist adorned with seven jade bells.
Her white clothes as pure as snow, and her features delicate like a painting, though youthful, they already reveal remarkable beauty potential.
Huang Yueyang points at the girl and laughs:
"This is my daughter Wangyou, your junior sister."
"Dad!"
Huang Wangyou says with one hand on her little waist, her expression quite dissatisfied:
"I just served you the apprentice tea the other day, they joined after me, how can they call me junior sister?"
Her almond-shaped eyes wide open, her small face puffed up, like a little fox with its fur standing on end.
Huang Yueyang is momentarily stunned by her words, then he recalls the "apprentice tea" playfully served by his daughter half a month ago.
Secretly he realizes he was fooled by this little girl, yet outwardly remains calm, supplementing Chen Sheng and Li Huayao:
"Although Wangyou is young, she joined earlier than you, so you should call her junior sister."
Li Huayao looks at the girl who is half a head shorter than herself, somewhat unwillingly lowering her voice:
"Junior sister."
Huang Wangyou pouts and responds softly.
Chen Sheng respectfully bows: "Senior sister."
Huang Wangyou immediately beams with joy, raising her chin slightly, giving Chen Sheng a "you know what's good for you" look, her lively demeanor causing the surrounding senior brothers and sisters to chuckle.
Senior Sister Liu teases with a smile:
"Wangyou has been the junior sister for many years, now she finally becomes a senior sister."
Three days later, in the morning, Huang Yueyang announces new arrangements in the alchemy room:
"Zhang Yue, Luo Yun, starting tomorrow, you two will teach the new junior brother and sister how to recognize and make medicines."
"Yes!"
Zhang Yue clenches his fist and responds, excitement in his eyes, Luo Yun also smiles gently, the rest of the senior brothers and sisters reveal gratified smiles on their faces.
Only Li Huayao looks confused, she quietly tugs on Chen Sheng's sleeve:
"Why do they seem eager to do more work?"
Chen Sheng smiles without speaking, though he understands in his heart.
Six years of medicine making, six years of fire control, eight years of Condensing Pill.
Totaling three stages!
According to the regulations of the Pill Workshop, you must master medicine making to enter the fire room for learning fire control, and only with proficient fire control can you learn Condensing Pill.
Under Master Huang, each stage has one male and one female disciple, with Chen Sheng and Li Huayao being the new ones, Zhang Yue and the others now have the opportunity to progress.
Unsurprisingly, once Chen Sheng and Li Huayao learn the basics of medicine making, Zhang Yue and the others will advance to the fire room to begin fire control lessons.
From here onwards, the two who originally learned fire control will study Condensing Pill, and the two who studied Condensing Pill can graduate.
Therefore, new disciples joining is a good thing for each disciple; the competition within the school is virtually nonexistent, and the relationships between each other are very harmonious.
Clearly, Master Huang is intentionally creating such a harmonious environment!
...
Time passed slowly, and in an instant, two months had gone by. Inside the pharmacy, shelves were lined densely with various medicines, arranged neatly in categories.
Chen Sheng squatted in front of the bluestone platform, right hand picking up a stalk of Ebony Grass, and he began to meticulously remove the dead leaves according to the method taught by Zhang Yue, with swift and focused movements.
Throughout the two months, he practiced during the day and memorized herbal maps by oil lamp at night.
Repeating the process of memorization and contemplation, he had long since mastered the handling methods of dozens of basic herbs and understood the essence of their medicinal properties.
"This technique of yours is getting more refined."
Before long, Zhang Yue took the processed herbs, nodded in satisfaction:
"Thanks to your efforts, Senior Sister Luo and I might be able to enter the Fire Room next month."
Chen Sheng replied sincerely:
"It's all thanks to Brother Zhang's repeated guidance and supervision; I merely put in a bit of effort."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yue sighed lightly:
"Yes, the basics of medicine recognition and preparation are not difficult. With a bit of effort, achievements can be made. Sadly, some people just don't apply themselves!"
As he spoke, his gaze turned to another group, and his expression showed a hint of displeasure.
Nearby, Senior Sister Luo was flushed with embarrassment, using a pestle to knock on the table while admonishing Li Huayao.
"Junior Sister Li! The root of the Red Ganoderma needs to be cut by three inches; just look at what you've cut?"
Li Huayao shrunk her neck and quickly reprocessed the herbs.
But as soon as Luo Yun turned away, she secretly began to yawn, and her hands moved more slowly.
Over the two months, Chen Sheng had gotten acquainted with the Seniors in the pharmacy; Brother Zhang and Senior Sister Luo both had average family backgrounds.
Especially Brother Zhang, whose family had borrowed a sum of Spirit Stones to send him here to learn Alchemy, hence both were very diligent, their learning attitude impeccable.
Li Huayao, on the other hand, was different; she belonged to a branch of the Foundation Establishment Clan Li. Her father was a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, quite wealthy.
She was also the youngest daughter in her family, and thus quite spoiled, although she hadn't developed a bad disposition, she clearly lacked a strong desire to work hard.
Zhang Yue patted Chen Sheng's shoulder:
"With such a peer as this, you'll have your patience tested in the future."
Chen Sheng merely smiled, knowing that every cloud has a silver lining as he continued to process the herbs in his hands.
Another month passed.
With Senior Sister Luo and Brother Zhang taking turns to supervise her without giving her a moment of respite, Li Huayao finally finished learning the basics of preparation and passed the inspection by the Master.
In the pharmacy, Huang Yueyang checked the results of Chen Sheng and Li Huayao, nodding in satisfaction:
"Luo Yun, Zhang Yue, from tomorrow you will go to the Fire Room to study."
"Thank you, Master!"
The two were filled with joy, bowing deeply; they could finally learn fire control.
Then Huang Yueyang looked at Chen Sheng and the other:
"With your Senior Brother and Sister gone to the Fire Room, you must take on the work in the pharmacy."
"Yes."
Chen Sheng nodded seriously, having spent so long in the pharmacy, he was well aware of the tasks at hand.
The common herbs were easily manageable for him, and for rare important herbs, the Master would personally guide them, which posed no big problem!
Without the help of the Senior Brother and Sister, it merely meant an increased workload.
Learning requires a lot of practice.
Li Huayao wore a bitter expression; the thought of the massive workload made her feel dejected, but in front of the Master, she had to nod her head.
Huang Yueyang noticed their attitudes.
Huang Yueyang turned his gaze to the corridor, to a nimble figure.
"Wangyou, as the younger Senior Sister, you will oversee your younger peers in the pharmacy hereafter."
"Alright!"
Huang Wangyou immediately bounced over, her waist adorned with a jade bell making crisp sounds in the air.
"I promise to keep them perfectly managed!"
She promptly ran to Li Huayao's side, carefully examining the Angelica she processed, suddenly pointing at the cross-section:
"There's heartwood left here, you should be punished!"
Li Huayao had no choice but to trim it again:
"Please guide me, Senior Sister."
Huang Wangyou puffed out her small chest: "Watch closely, Angelica should be cut against the grain, only then…"
Sunshine kissed her earnest profile, as Chen Sheng watched her playful eyes, he thought to himself that this young girl was indeed someone who bore grudges.