Chapter 69

Chapter 69: An Unexpected Invitation

"Are you two looking for an inn?" Bilin asked, looking at the travel-worn Mu Chen and Ye Shi.

Ye Shi nodded, expressing his frustration, "Indeed! The inns in the Imperial City are not only expensive but also hard to find."

"True. We were fortunate, though. We found a small courtyard as soon as we arrived. A room for each at five hundred yuan stones per day," Bilin said, blinking with a hint of relief.

Upon hearing Bilin's words, Ye Shi looked enviously at the group, "You're quite lucky. I've inquired around, and the cheapest inn charges six hundred yuan stones a day."

Bilin glanced at Mu Hong and others, suggesting, "Given the shortage of accommodations in the Imperial City, perhaps you could join Mu Hong..."

Interrupting her, Mu Hong frowned, "My room is small, and if Chen practices at night, I'm afraid my snoring might disturb him."

Seeing Mu Hong's attitude, Bilin's brow furrowed. Since the Spirit Pill incident, rumors had been circulating about the cooling relationship between Mu Yuanhang and Mu Yuanfeng. It seemed those might be true.

Shui Qiancheng said disapprovingly, "Mu Hong, you shouldn't be so..." inconsiderate!

Mu Chen smiled, interrupting Shui Qiancheng's words, saying, "It's alright. I don't particularly enjoy sharing my living space with others anyway. Shi Tou and I will find another place to stay."

...

"Is this Young Master Mu Chen?" A middle-aged man approached as they conversed.

Mu Chen nodded, "Indeed."

Puzzled, Mu Chen observed the newcomer, an imposing figure whom he didn't recall meeting before.

"Master Fu sent a letter to our guild leader a few days ago, mentioning your potential arrival. He instructed us to offer you the best hospitality. Are you looking for an inn? As an honorary guest of our guild, we have arranged accommodations for you," the man said earnestly.

Ye Shi's eyes widened in surprise, "Your guild provides lodging?"

The middle-aged man nodded, remarking, "Indeed!"

"For free?" Ye Shi asked with sparkling eyes.

The man chuckled, "Of course."

"Thank you, elder," Mu Chen replied with a faint smile.

"Young Master Mu, please follow me," the man kindly instructed.

Ye Shi blinked, momentarily stunned. Mu Chen tugged at him, and only then did Ye Shi, still a bit dazed, follow along.

"The guild leader never mentioned free accommodations when joining the guild," Ye Shi whispered to Mu Chen.

Mu Chen nodded, "Indeed."

"That low-tier Alchemist Guild is genuinely considerate! If the old man had mentioned free lodgings earlier, we wouldn't have hesitated back then," Ye Shi grumbled.

Mu Chen: "..."

Mu Hong and the others watched Mu Chen and Ye Shi leave, their expressions a mix of puzzlement and curiosity.

"Elder, what's the Low-tier Alchemist Guild?" Bilin asked Qian Dongting as Mu Chen and Ye Shi disappeared from view.

"The Low-tier Alchemist Guild is a platform for novice alchemists to exchange ideas. Although mostly comprised of low-level alchemists, the guild's influence is vast. Many senior alchemists started there," explained Qian Dongting.

"Is it easy to become an honorary guest of the Low-tier Alchemist Guild?" Bilin inquired.

Qian Dongting shook his head, "Not at all. Even third-tier alchemists find it challenging."

Shui Qiancheng, looking puzzled, asked Mu Hong, "When did Mu Chen become an honorary guest of the Low-tier Alchemist Guild?"

Mu Hong shook his head, "I don't know."

Mu Hong thought deeply, "When Mu Chen left the Mu family, he was just a first-tier alchemist. How did he catch the eye of the guild's elites? Did they misjudge him?"

"Mu Chen truly is remarkable," Bilin commented genuinely.

Shui Qiancheng nodded in agreement, "He certainly is."

Mu Hong lowered his gaze, unable to hide the jealousy in his eyes.

...

"Mr. Mu, this is the residence provided by our guild. What do you think?" the middle-aged man inquired.

"It's quite good. Thank you, Guild Master, for your kind attention," Mu Chen responded, feeling a touch of unease from the other's hospitality.

"If you have any needs, Mr. Mu, please let me know. Don't be shy," the middle-aged man said warmly.

Mu Chen offered a reserved smile, replying, "Thank you, truly."

As soon as the middle-aged man left, Ye Shi eagerly opened the door.

"Impressive, truly impressive," Ye Shi remarked with delight.

Mu Chen chuckled to himself, thinking: To Ye Shi, anything that's free always seems wonderful.

"It's still early. How about we go for a stroll?" Mu Chen suggested.

Ye Shi shot upright, his eyes shining, "Are you thinking of solving problems to earn money? That's a good idea!"

Mu Chen: "..." Just how worried is Ye Shi about missing a meal!

"Let's go out and see first," Mu Chen said.

Ye Shi nodded and replied, "Alright."

Mu Chen and Ye Shi arrived at the junior alchemist guild, only to find a large crowd gathered at the entrance, many of whom were there to buy the Rushing Yuan Pill.

After making some inquiries, Ye Shi learned that the Rushing Yuan Pill was a new elixir developed by the alchemist guild. It aids martial practitioners in their cultivation. Many members of influential families have been taking elixirs from a young age. Once the body develops a resistance to one elixir, switching to another can have miraculous effects.

With Saint Star Academy's enrollment approaching, many are preparing. Once the 'Rush Element Pill' was introduced, it was instantly sold out.

"I've checked. Each 'Rush Element Pill' costs two thousand yuan stones, and there are many buyers," Ye Shi reported seriously.

Mu Chen acknowledged with a nod, "Is that so?"

"Mu Chen, can you refine the Rushing Yuan Pill? If you can, we'll strike it rich," Ye Shi asked with gleaming eyes.

With a sigh of resignation, Mu Chen replied, "Ye Shi, the formula for this pill is said to be developed by an elder of the Junior Alchemist Guild. Without the formula, how could I possibly make it?"

Disappointed, Ye Shi sighed, "I wonder who this elder is. Always hiding behind the scenes; probably not a trustworthy individual."

Mu Chen: "..."

After a moment of silence, Ye Shi remarked, "Though he might not be trustworthy, he sure knows how to make money."

Mu Chen remained silent.

Mu Chen spent two thousand yuan stones on a single Rushing Yuan Pill, causing Ye Shi's heart to race in distress.

Holding the pill, Mu Chen felt a hint of suspicion. This pill seemed...

"Mr. Mu, the Guild Master awaits," a maidservant approached Mu Chen.

Concealing the pill, Mu Chen replied coolly, "Lead the way."

Led by a maid, Mu Chen and Ye Shi entered a study.

"Greetings, Guild Leader," Mu Chen greeted respectfully, pulling Ye Shi along.

Ye Shi kept his head down, eyes darting covertly, assessing everyone in the study.

"Both of you, please sit. Make yourselves comfortable," Xie Qiong greeted with a smile.

Looking at Xie Qiong's smiling face, Ye Shi felt he was like a sly old fox.

"Thank you, senior," Mu Chen said, taking a seat in the hall with Ye Shi.

"This is the recipe for the Rushing Yuan Pill," Xie Qiong handed over the formula to Mu Chen.

Ye Shi's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched Xie Qiong hand over the formula. Why would Xie Qiong... Isn't this formula a secret of the junior alchemist guild?

"This is...?" Mu Chen asked with a furrowed brow.

"Indeed, this is the improved formula for the Fierce Yuan Pill that you proposed during our guild's quiz. While the Fierce Yuan Pill can enhance one's energy, it can damage the meridians, so it's not frequently used," explained Xie Qiong.

Ye Shi stared in astonishment. This Xie Qiong, brazenly showing off the pilfered formula right in front of Mu Chen.

"I apologize. I should have consulted you before using your formula. I couldn't reach you," Xie Qiong said apologetically.

Mu Chen gave an awkward smile, "It's fine. I'm just wondering, if the formula is correct, shouldn't it have been made public by now?"

"Your submission was rejected. It was assessed by one of our guild elders," Xie Qiong explained.

Realization dawned on Mu Chen. If his submission was rejected, no one else would see it, except for guild management. The guild that he once esteemed was riddled with corruption.

"I have two proposals for you," Xie Qiong began.

Mu Chen looked up, "What are they?"

"One, you receive 10% of the guild's revenue from the sale of the Rushing Yuan Pill. The other, the guild offers you 500,000 yuan stones to buy your formula outright," Xie Qiong stated calmly.

"I'll take the buyout," Mu Chen replied without hesitation.

Ye Shi looked at Mu Chen, his eyes wide in exasperation, "Mu Chen, do you even know how to do the math? With the sales of the Rushing Yuan Pill, taking a percentage would've been more profitable!"

Feeling Ye Shi's intense gaze, Mu Chen became somewhat self-conscious.