43: Chapter 43, Fourth Simulation Begins

Over the next few days, Chu Sheng was exceptionally busy.

Refining pills in the morning, practicing swordplay in the afternoon, and in the evening... navigating between Li Zhiyi and Lin Wanqing.

To say he was "navigating" was actually giving himself too much credit.

Chu Sheng simply hadn't refused the invitations from the two young ladies.

Li Zhiyi ran to the Listening to Bamboo Pavilion every two or three days.

Lin Wanqing was much more reserved, only occasionally sending some pastries via her maidservant or "happening" to meet him in the garden.

Xiao Huan saw it all and was anxious in her heart, yet she didn't dare say anything.

She could only silently arrange the pastries, brew the tea, and then hide to the side to peek.

In the afternoon, Li Zhiyi came again.

Today, she had changed into a Goose-yellow Ruqun, with a small silk flower pinned in her hair. She said with a beaming smile, "Attendant Chu, teach me alchemy today, okay?"

Chu Sheng couldn't help but laugh.

"Miss Li, your father is the number one alchemist in Qingshi Town. Do you really need to learn from me?"

"My father?"

Li Zhiyi curled her lip.

"He's been teaching me for five years, and I can't even refine a Blood-Qi Pill properly. His method must be wrong."

Chu Sheng thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright, let's give it a try then."

He took Li Zhiyi into the Alchemy Room and started teaching her from the most basic fire control.

An hour later, she personally refined a batch of Pseudo-First-Tier Qi-Recuperating Powder. She was so happy she almost jumped for joy.

"Attendant Chu! I succeeded! I succeeded!"

Chu Sheng nodded with a smile.

"Miss Li's talent is quite good. It's just that your father was too impatient in his teaching before."

Li Zhiyi held those few pills, her eyes sparkling, and suddenly asked.

"Attendant Chu, do you have a Dao companion?"

Chu Sheng: "...Huh?"

Li Zhiyi's face turned slightly red, and she blinked. "I was just asking casually."

After saying that, she put away the pills and left with a skip in her step.

Chu Sheng stood in the Alchemy Room, stunned for a long while.

"This girl... what does she mean?"

Xiao Huan poked her head out from behind the door and whispered, "Big Brother Chu, it seems Miss Li likes you."

Chu Sheng tapped her on the forehead. "Don't talk nonsense, kid."

Xiao Huan covered her forehead and pouted, saying nothing more.

[In the evening, Chu Sheng "happened" to meet Lin Wanqing in the garden.]

She was wearing a light purple long dress, sitting in a pavilion reading a book. Seeing him arrive, she rose slightly to give a greeting.

"Attendant Chu."

"Second Miss."

The two of them sat down, and a maidservant served tea.

Lin Wanqing lowered her eyes, appearing somewhat nervous.

Chu Sheng took the initiative to speak: "Is Lin Wanqing's health well lately?"

Lin Wanqing nodded. "Much better. Regarding the pills from last time... thank you, Attendant Chu."

"It was no trouble at all."

After a moment of silence, Lin Wanqing suddenly looked up at him and asked softly.

"Attendant Chu, I heard... that Lin Wanqing of the Li family has been coming to see you often lately?"

Chu Sheng was taken aback and replied truthfully, "Miss Li comes to learn alchemy."

Lin Wanqing gave an "oh" and lowered her head, her thoughts unknown.

After another silence, she suddenly said, "Attendant Chu, you... what do you think of Miss Li?"

Why did these words sound so familiar?

He gave a dry cough and said cautiously.

"Miss Li is bright and eager to learn; she is a good girl."

Lin Wanqing nodded and said nothing more.

After sitting for a while longer, she rose to take her leave.

Before leaving, she suddenly turned back and said softly.

"Attendant Chu, in the future... you can come by often when you have time."

Chu Sheng sat in the pavilion, watching her departing figure, suddenly having a bad premonition.

...

Listening to Bamboo Pavilion, Night.

Chu Sheng lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling beam, his mind in a mess.

Did these two girls make an appointment?

"How long has it been since I transmigrated?"

He muttered to himself, "How did I become such a hot commodity?"

He touched his own face.

At Qi Induction Fourth Grade, he indeed looked quite a bit better than before.

His skin was finer, and his features were more defined.

"Cultivation can even improve one's looks... does this count as an unexpected gain?"

He was lost in thought when he suddenly heard a lowered voice from outside the courtyard wall.

"...Utterly lawless! A mere servant, what right does he have to act so high and mighty in our Lin family?"

Chu Sheng's brow twitched.

It was Lin Hao.

He rose noiselessly, crept to the wall, and listened intently.

"Young Master, keep your voice down!"

Another voice urged.

"He is now an Alchemy Attendant, with a status equal to an Elder. If these words reach his ears..."

"So what if they reach his ears! Do you think I'm afraid of him?"

Lin Hao said hatefully.

"He just knows how to refine a few pills, and he really thinks he's somebody? After my father comes out of seclusion, watch how I complain about him! An outsider with a different surname, and he wants to turn the Lin family upside down?"

"But... regarding Attendant Han..."

"Don't mention Han Li!"

Lin Hao grew even more furious.

"That fellow is now shrinking his neck like a quail; he can't be relied on at all! When Father comes out of seclusion, I'll see who still dares to protect him!"

The voices gradually faded away.

Chu Sheng leaned against the wall, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Complain? Sure, wait until your father comes out of seclusion."

He turned back into the room and lay down again.

He didn't take someone like Lin Hao to heart at all.

As for Han Li... that guy was probably having a headache right now, with no mind to worry about Lin Hao.

Early the next morning, Chu Sheng was practicing swordplay in the courtyard.

In his mind, the simulator's notification sounded.

【The cooling period for the fourth Life Simulation has ended.】

【Would you like to start the fourth simulation?】

Chu Sheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"Two weeks passed quite quickly."

He put away his sword, walked to the stone stool to sit down, and immersed his consciousness into the simulator interface.

【Current simulation points: 1022.】

【Enter simulation?】

Chu Sheng didn't immediately click "Yes," but first looked at his surroundings.

Xiao Huan was drying medicinal herbs in the courtyard, the sunlight spilling over her, warm and cozy.

In the distance, the faint sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard; it was an ordinary morning in Qingshi Town.

"The fourth time."

He murmured, "How far can I go this time?"

He took a deep breath and clicked the confirmation button.

【Fourth Life Simulation starting...】

【Detected that the host has upgraded the prize pool to Lv.2. The probability of random trait quality has been optimized, and a pity mechanism has been unlocked.】

【Current equippable trait slots: 4】

【Trash (Black), Many Children, Many Blessings (Iridescent) have been locked.】

【The remaining 2 slots must be selected from the traits drawn this time.】

【Beginning trait draw...】

Chu Sheng stared at the light screen, his heart rate speeding up slightly.

"Come on, let's see what I can draw this time."