134: Trying to get something for nothing?

Bi Yao and Red Jade followed behind Bai Xiaofeng, wanting to speak several times but stopping themselves.

They exchanged glances, both seeing hesitation and worry in the other's eyes.

"Did the Young Master put too much trust in that Jiang Donghua this time?"

"Two million gold coins worth of medicinal ingredients, just given away so easily? What if that Alchemist was just talking big and couldn't produce the fire spirit pill at all?"

But in the end, they didn't dare to speak.

After all, their status was merely that of the Ninth Young Master's playthings.

Although they were favored usually, and occasionally could whisper sweet nothings, they had no right to interfere when it came to major affairs like this.

Moreover, Jiang Donghua was a Fourth-Grade Alchemist after all, possessing a noble status. If they spoke too much and angered him, the Ninth Young Master would be the first one to punish them!

"Forget it, let's take a gamble."

"If the Young Master truly becomes the Young City Lord, our status will also rise, and perhaps we can even escape this fate of being manipulated by others."

The two silently lowered their heads, saying nothing more.

Bai Yan, the steward of the Heavenly Serpent City medicinal ingredient warehouse, looked at the list handed over by Bai Xiaofeng, his eyelids twitching wildly and cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"N-Ninth Young Master, the ingredients on this list are all rare items! And the quantity is so huge, the warehouse might not be able to gather them all at once!"

Bai Xiaofeng impatiently waved his hand.

"Stop the nonsense! This Young Master needs them urgently, just get them ready!"

Bai Yan wore a bitter expression and cautiously said.

"But these ingredients, worth nearly two million gold coins, must be reported to the Great Elder first, according to the rules."

Bai Xiaofeng's eyes turned cold. He slammed the table and angrily said.

"Is money that important? Are you questioning this Young Master's authority?!"

Bai Yan trembled in fright and quickly waved his hands.

"I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare!"

Bai Xiaofeng sneered.

"If it's really impossible, then go complain to my father!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Yan's face instantly turned pale.

Complain?

Complain to the City Lord about the Ninth Young Master?

The City Lord of Heavenly Serpent City, Bai Wutian, was a Dou Zong!

He usually cultivated in seclusion, rarely showing his face, and even the few young masters and young ladies seldom got to see him.

If he, a mere steward of the medicinal ingredient warehouse, were to disturb the City Lord over such a trivial matter, he must be tired of living!

Bai Yan swallowed hard and immediately put on a flattering smile.

"The Ninth Young Master is joking! I'll go prepare them right away, right away!"

Bai Xiaofeng snorted coldly, then turned and left, satisfied.

Bi Yao and Red Jade followed behind, their hearts growing increasingly uneasy.

"Isn't the Young Master playing too big this time?"

But since things had reached this point, they could only bite the bullet and pray that Jiang Donghua could truly refine enough fire spirit pills as he claimed!

After all, being able to put a pill up for auction didn't necessarily mean his actual Alchemist skill level was extremely high.

If he failed to refine it even once or twice out of ten attempts, that would truly be an embarrassing disaster!

The courtyard was quiet, with only the rustling sound of the breeze passing through the leaves.

Jiang Donghua sat beside the stone table, his fingers gently tapping the surface. He frowned slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

"Strange. Logically, Bai Xiaofeng and Bai Wuchen have both come, so why is there no sign of Fifth Young Lady Bai Qingshuang and Eldest Young Master Bai Wuya?"

He was a Fourth-Grade Alchemist; in any power, he would be an honored guest, let alone during this crucial period of the Young City Lord competition?

"Could it be that they look down on me?"

Jiang Donghua shook his head, finding it unlikely.

"Bai Wuya, as the legitimate eldest son, has exceptional talent. Perhaps he holds himself in high regard and disdains actively recruiting outsiders."

"But what about that Bai Qingshuang? It is said she has the support of the Pill Pavilion and the Merchant Association; she should be even clearer about the value of an Alchemist."

The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Tsk, could they already be plotting something in secret?"

Red Silk stood holding her sword, glanced at him, and said indifferently.

"What's wrong? Are you unaccustomed to no one coming to curry favor with you?"

Jiang Donghua gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"Senior Sister, the way you say that makes it sound like I'm very vain."

Red Silk lightly snorted.

"Aren't you?"

Jiang Donghua didn't refute her, but merely narrowed his eyes and said thoughtfully.

"I just feel that something abnormal is happening. Their absence makes me a little uneasy."

Red Silk frowned, seemingly realizing something as well, and whispered.

"Do you mean they might have secretly joined forces?"

Jiang Donghua's eyes flashed, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Who knows? Perhaps they feel that instead of trying to win me over, it would be better to directly..."

Before he finished speaking, his expression suddenly hardened, and his gaze turned toward the outside of the courtyard.

Red Silk instantly became alert, placing her hand on the sword hilt, and said coldly.

"Someone is here."

Sure enough, a moment later, a set of light footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard.

A cool, feminine voice followed.

"Master Jiang, I apologize for disturbing you late at night."

Jiang Donghua and Red Silk exchanged glances, and a thought simultaneously flashed through their minds.

"They finally came!"

The courtyard gate gently opened, and a tall, slender figure gracefully stepped inside.

The moonlight was like water, spilling onto her, revealing a simple white dress. Her sleeves were like snow, untainted by dust. Her face was cool and clear, her features picturesque, her skin whiter than snow, her lips like dots of cinnabar. A pair of phoenix eyes were as deep as a cold pool, devoid of any emotion.

The Fifth Young Lady—Bai Qingshuang.

The corner of her lips lifted slightly, curving into an extremely faint smile that was neither fawning nor distant, merely polite courtesy, yet flawless.

"Master Jiang, I apologize for this late-night visit."

She nodded slightly, her voice clear and cold like an icy spring.

Jiang Donghua immediately put on a warm smile and stood up to greet her.

"Fifth Young Lady, you are too polite. Please sit."

Bai Qingshuang did not sit down. She simply stood in the courtyard, her gaze lightly sweeping over the tea cup on the stone table before looking at Jiang Donghua, speaking in a calm tone.

"Hearing that Master Jiang was invited by Ninth Brother and is temporarily residing here, Qingshuang specifically came to pay a visit."

Jiang Donghua's smile remained unchanged, but he cursed inwardly.

"Good heavens, trying to catch a tiger with an empty hand! She didn't even bring a greeting gift; she's even stingier than Bai Wuchen!"

Bai Wuchen at least falsely offered a partial scroll, but this woman is something else—she showed up empty-handed and adopted the posture of merely passing by to take a look!

Bai Qingshuang seemed to see through his thoughts. Her eyes flickered slightly, and she said indifferently.

"Master Jiang, there is no need to overthink this. Qingshuang's visit is not to win you over, but merely to express goodwill."

She paused, her tone still calm, yet conveying a hint of unquestionable confidence.

"If you find your stay with Ninth Brother unsatisfactory, my doors will always be open for Master Jiang."

Jiang Donghua smiled cheerfully on the surface, but inwardly he had already rolled his eyes.

"Heh, now this is a real empty promise! She won't even fork over a single copper coin, yet she wants me to switch sides? Does she really think I'm a three-year-old child?"

But he showed none of this on his face. Instead, he clasped his hands together, feigning gratitude, and said.

"Fifth Young Lady's kindness, I, Jiang, will engrave it upon my heart!"

Bai Qingshuang nodded slightly, seeming satisfied with his reaction, and then turned to leave.

Before leaving, she suddenly turned her head, casting a cool glance at Jiang Donghua, and said meaningfully.

"Oh, Master Jiang, Ninth Brother has an impatient temper and often acts without considering the consequences. I advise you to be careful when cooperating with him."

Having said that, she spoke no more and drifted away. Her silhouette was like frost, cool and aloof.

Jiang Donghua watched her leave, the smile on his face gradually receding, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

Red Silk coldly snorted.

"This woman is even better at pretending than Bai Wuchen."

Jiang Donghua gave a chuckle.

"Isn't that right? Bai Wuchen at least bothered to put on an act, but she's so lazy she can't even be bothered to pretend, trying to poach someone with just empty talk!"

He shook his head and sighed in wonder.

"It seems none of these members of the Bai family are easy to deal with!"

Red Silk frowned.

"Then what do you plan to do next?"

Jiang Donghua squinted his eyes, leaned lazily back against the chair, and a cunning arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"It seems we really need to stick close to this brainless Ninth Young Master!"