494: The Temptation of Home

Returning home once again, Jiang Ning's expression relaxed instantly.

As a native-born Earthling, his obsession with having a house was quite deep.

The concept of home being one's haven was deeply rooted in his mind.

Thus, whenever Jiang Ning arrived at a new place, he habitually rented a small courtyard to cultivate a home of his own.

Back in his house, Jiang Ning felt that even the air at home smelled sweeter than the air outside.

“They say a good man's ambitions lie in the four corners of the world, but I just happen to be very attached to home.”

Jiang Ning mused with emotion.

Shen Jinhuan listened from the side and smiled.

She liked men like Jiang Ning who were homebodies.

When the time came for them to become Dao Companions, they would stay home and be lovey-dovey every day, going nowhere, and no one would be able to separate them.

Wouldn't that be better than those people who run around outside every day, fighting for Opportunities, or going into seclusion for centuries at a time?

The miniature version of Xiao Bai stood on Xiao Hui's head and shouted, “Xiao Hui, let's go! To our room!”

Qing Dai, who was busy working in the house, heard the noise and hurried out.

This was Jiang Ning's house, and with people from the Spirit Pill Hall and the Sixth Princess looking after it, no outsiders would ever dare to intrude.

Movement in the house now meant that Jiang Ning must have returned.

Qing Dai ran out of the building, and seeing Jiang Ning's group, a wave of bittersweet emotion welled up in her heart.

It felt like a long-awaited reunion with family and dear friends.

Qing Dai was excited and wanted to rush forward to give Jiang Ning a hug, but she stopped herself just in time.

Being able to stand by Jiang Ning's side and serve him today was already a stroke of immense luck.

She shouldn't overstep her social boundaries.

Moreover, the woman standing beside Jiang Ning was far too dazzling.

Whether it was appearance, Aptitude, or Realm, none of it was something she could compare to.

Only someone like that could truly accompany Jiang Ning forever.

Furthermore, Qing Dai could clearly sense that this Disciple of Jiang Ning's harbored unusual feelings for him.

These feelings had already transcended the bond between Master and Disciple.

Qing Dai smiled gently.

“Master, you've returned.”

“Yes, we're back.”

Jiang Ning stretched and said to Qing Dai, “While we were out, did anything happen at home?”

Qing Dai shook her head. “Master has many friends and your strength is profound and mysterious; this courtyard is very safe, and no one has dared to disturb us.”

Watching Jiang Ning's group walk over, Qing Dai followed them.

They walked toward the main house together.

As they walked, Qing Dai said, “During the days Master was away, the Third Prince issued an announcement.

It says he is recruiting talented individuals.

The most important among them are Alchemist talents.

And the price he's offering is not low.

Relying on my own network, I looked into it, and many Alchemists are tempted.

Most of them are individual Alchemists, but some Alchemists within various factions are also beginning to stir.

According to a friend of mine, an Alchemist from a mid-tier faction in his city has already rushed to the Imperial City.

He said he wants to wait and see if the Third Prince truly intends to recruit Alchemists and provide them with preferential treatment.”

Jiang Ning was taken aback; these were things he hadn't heard about while outside.

Ever since Qing Dai learned of the relationship between Jiang Ning and Zhao Mian Shuang, she had been keeping an eye on the movements within the imperial court.

However, her influence and status were not high, so the information she could gather was limited.

It was mostly superficial stuff.

But even superficial actions could allow one to glimpse the objectives of the princes and princesses.

Some things couldn't wait for Jiang Ning's instructions; as a competent housekeeper, Qing Dai knew what she should do.

Hearing Qing Dai's words, Jiang Ning nodded.

He continued to ask, “Are there any Alchemists from the Spirit Pill Hall?”

Qing Dai shook her head. “Alchemists who can join the Spirit Pill Hall either have extraordinary talent or significant strength and status.

My connections within the Spirit Pill Hall are very few.

Most of them are purely transactional.

The Spirit Pill Hall has a poor opinion of the Third Prince, so the Alchemists there wouldn't dare easily show signs of wanting to defect to him.

It’s hard for me to investigate that.

However, looking at the recent rumors, I believe there is a high probability that some Alchemists from the Spirit Pill Hall have already been quietly contacting the Third Prince's forces.”

This coincided exactly with the deductions made by Jiang Ning and Zhao Mian Shuang.

Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow. “The Third Prince is recruiting Alchemists? Is he trying to reverse the conflict between him and the Alchemists now?

It makes sense, though. If more and more Alchemists defect to the Third Prince and receive preferential treatment,

Then regardless of whether he apologizes for the things he once said, people will feel that the Third Prince treats Alchemists well. They'll think it's just because of his status as a prince that it's difficult for him to admit his childhood mistakes.

After all, the Imperial Family cares about Face.”

“Master is right,”

Qing Dai said seriously. “It's not just Alchemists; even some friends I know are saying that imperial dignity cannot be violated. The Third Prince is using his actions to indirectly prove to the Alchemists that he has retracted those past jests.”

Jiang Ning sneered.

If it weren't for the matter regarding Pill Minister, the Third Prince's plan might actually have succeeded.

What a pity, the most important figure in this, Pill Minister, is already gone.

Trying to find someone within the Spirit Pill Hall who could replace Pill Minister would be far too difficult.

Jiang Ning thought about it in his mind.

Among the crowd in the Spirit Pill Hall, who could replace Pill Minister's position?

This person would need to have a clean background without too many ties to Noble Families.

And they would also need to hold a certain level of status within the Spirit Pill Hall.

After thinking for a long time, Jiang Ning really couldn't come up with anyone.

The Elders of the Spirit Pill Hall were all seniors from Noble Families.

These people wouldn't easily defect to the Third Prince.

Firstly, because their entanglements with the Spirit Pill Hall were too deep.

Secondly, because they represented not just the Spirit Pill Hall, but the Noble Families behind them. If they defected to the Third Prince, it would easily signal to other princes and princesses that their entire family had sided with him.

Thirdly, Pill Minister joined the Third Prince mainly for status and resources, but people from Noble Families didn't lack resources at all.

Of course, there were also many Alchemists from minor Noble Families within the Spirit Pill Hall.

However, these people were nobodies in the Spirit Pill Hall, far from matching Pill Minister's status.

“If we're really talking about candidates, it would be better to recruit people like Yun Qingqing, Gongsun Wangyue, or Xu Sheng.”

“Unfortunately, all three of them have Noble Family backgrounds. Even if they agreed, the families behind them wouldn't.”

Jiang Ning pondered in his heart.

Suddenly, another thought struck him.

“Wait, me!”

Jiang Ning muttered to himself. “The Third Prince doesn't know about my relationship with Zhao Mian Shuang.

In his eyes, I am the most talented young Alchemist in the Spirit Pill Hall.

And I have no background support. As a grassroots Alchemist, I definitely need resources.

Perhaps in the Third Prince's eyes, I am the most suitable candidate to replace Pill Minister.”

Jiang Ning had been thinking about this matter as an outsider.

He had excluded himself from the equation.

But he himself was the Third Prince's correct answer!