NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17:
Chapter 17: I Was Too Naïve Back Then!:
Fragments of the shattered furnace flew in all directions!
In an instant, thick smoke filled the alchemy room.
“Get out quickly, this smoke—”
Before she could finish speaking, Chi Lingxiao was already coughing violently.
The disciples who had been refining medicine covered their mouths and noses, stumbling as they fled.
“Senior Sister, be careful!”
Qi Ze reached out to shield Chi Lingxiao, quickly leading her outside.
Only when they reached the osmanthus tree did he help her sit down on a stone bench.
Seeing the sorry state of her disciples, Chi Lingxiao nearly coughed up blood.
Everyone was covered in soot and ash, their once pristine robes tattered. Some disciples even bore minor injuries from the furnace explosion.
The once elegant, refined disciples of the Alchemy Hall now resembled blackened crows, their faces smudged with smoke.
Shocked, Chi Lingxiao subconsciously touched her own face, worried about how she must look.
“Senior Sister, don’t worry,” Qi Ze reassured her. “I used my sleeve to block the sparks just now.”
It was as if he had read her mind.
Grateful, Chi Lingxiao lifted her gaze to thank him. “Thank you, Junior Brother, just now—”
Before she could finish, she suddenly leaped to her feet, raising her hand to strike Qi Ze’s head!
Qi Ze was completely bewildered. Before he could react, Chi Lingxiao’s palm had already landed on his head.
Smack! Smack!
Two quick slaps later, Chi Lingxiao finally let out a relieved sigh.
“That was terrifying! It’s finally out!”
“Junior Brother, the spark on your head was about to ignite! If I hadn’t put it out in time, you would’ve been on fire!”
Qi Ze was stunned for a moment before panic set in.
He desperately wanted to run to a mirror and check himself.
That damned spark—how did it land on his head?
Thank goodness Chi Lingxiao acted quickly! If he had really caught fire, he would’ve been the laughingstock of the entire Mystic Spirit Holy Sect!
He kept his expression calm, but inside, he was still shaken.
Just thinking about it made him break out in cold sweat.
“Thank you, Senior Sister, for saving me.”
As he spoke, Qi Ze turned to look at the alchemy room.
The windows and door frame had been blown off, and roof tiles continued to fall one after another.
“This alchemy room is completely ruined.”
The moment he said that, Chi Lingxiao let out a cold snort, her face full of frustration.
“This is infuriating! There’s nothing wrong with the prescription, but everything about this feels off! This kind of failure hasn’t happened in nearly a hundred years!”
At her words, the alchemy disciples lowered their heads in shame.
Before, refining medicine had never been this chaotic.
At first, everyone had believed that with Qi Ze’s guidance, today’s refining process would go smoothly.
Who would have thought it would be even worse?
The previous explosions had at least produced fragrant medicinal smoke, which was harmless.
But this time, thick, nauseating fumes had filled the room—this wasn’t medicine at all, it was poison!
The disciples were angry but dared not speak, yet their gazes toward Qi Ze no longer held the same admiration as before.
Sensing the stares, Chi Lingxiao’s eyes flashed coldly.
“What are you all standing around for? Clean this mess up immediately!”
“If someone sees you in this disgraceful state, how will that reflect on our Alchemy Hall?”
Hearing this, the disciples quickly obeyed and dispersed.
“Senior Sister, it’s getting chilly out. Why don’t we leave as well?”
Qi Ze suggested.
Chi Lingxiao nodded without hesitation.
“Yes, let’s call it a day and leave quickly.”
Her intentions were obvious.
Although she wasn’t injured, her current appearance was surely not ideal.
And the person in front of her was Qi Ze, her longtime crush.
She couldn’t let him see her like this!
Half an incense stick’s time later, Chi Lingxiao emerged completely refreshed.
Opposite her, Qi Ze had also tidied himself up, appearing as elegant as ever.
They stood side by side, white robes as pure as snow, red dress as fiery as flames.
Neither of them mentioned their earlier humiliation.
Chi Lingxiao’s red lips parted slightly, her eyes full of emotion.
Just as she was about to speak, whispers from a distance reached her ears.
“Today, the Alchemy Hall made quite a spectacle. Not only did the furnace explode, but even the roof tiles were blasted off.”
“I heard some disciples got injured. They say the prescription was jointly developed by Hall Master Chi and Junior Brother Qi.”
“That makes it even stranger. Two geniuses came up with this, and it still failed?”
“Ever since Senior Brother Lu left, nothing in the Alchemy Hall has gone smoothly.”
“Before, Hall Master Chi always consulted Senior Brother Lu before refining medicine.”
As the conversation continued, Chi Lingxiao’s face turned pale, then flushed red with rage.
Those words were true, but saying them in front of Qi Ze—wasn’t that a direct slap to her face?
“Damn it!”
Furious, Chi Lingxiao instantly gathered her spiritual energy and pointed toward the voices.
Boom!
A loud explosion sent rocks flying, instantly silencing the chatter.
Qi Ze calmly withdrew his gaze, his tone gentle.
“Senior Sister, there’s no need to take it to heart. They’re just ignorant people spreading rumors.”
Chi Lingxiao huffed angrily, pouting.
“If I hear anyone say that again, I won’t be so merciful!”
Destroying the rock was a warning.
If anyone dared to speak out of turn again, she wouldn’t hesitate to kill them!
Despite forcing herself to remain calm, her resentment was unmistakable.
All of this was Lu Chen’s fault!
Since he had so much free time, he should’ve written down more prescriptions before leaving!
That way, she wouldn’t have to struggle like this, and everything would still be under control!
As she fumed, a sudden thought flashed through her mind.
“Junior Brother, do you think Lu Chen did this on purpose?”
“He acted like he was helping me, but in reality, he wanted me to let my guard down.”
“In the end, after he left, I was left flustered and humiliated by my own disciples. This must have been his plan all along!”
“I never imagined he could be so petty. His heart is truly vile!”
Chi Lingxiao’s eyes blazed with fury, her teeth clenched in anger.
Qi Ze’s eyes shifted subtly, his tone hesitant.
“I… I’m not sure.”
“But, Senior Sister… if the rumors are true that Senior Brother has regained his cultivation, doesn’t that mean he was hiding it all along?”
“If that’s the case, then it’s possible he was plotting against you.”
Chi Lingxiao stomped her foot in rage.
“Junior Brother, you’re too kind! What do you mean ‘possible’? It’s absolutely true!”
“He dared to deceive the entire sect. Why would he care about betraying me?”
“I was too naïve back then… I never suspected his motives, and now I’ve been completely used by him!”
Qi Ze let out a long sigh.
“Now, many sects are competing to recruit Senior Brother. If they find out his cultivation is restored, they’ll become even more aggressive.”
“If that happens, the chance of him ever returning will become even slimmer.”
“No matter what, he was a once-in-a-generation prodigy, a future Emperor in the making.”
Qi Ze’s voice was steady, planting the seed carefully.
Chi Lingxiao snorted coldly.
“Don’t call him Senior Brother anymore! He has nothing to do with our sect. Even if he becomes an Emperor one day, he was still cast out of the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect!”
Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, Chi Lingxiao grabbed Qi Ze’s hand.
“Junior Brother, come with me!”