C8 Shut Up!!

"Why should I teach you?" Tang Yuan asked with an icy tone.

By this time, Menng Ya and her group had arrived, and a crowd had gathered around, eager to witness the commotion. They were all pointing and whispering about Tang Yuan.

"Isn't that the Tang family's castoff? How does he know such a beautiful woman?"

"He actually turned her down. Has Tang Yuan been so traumatized that he's lost his mind?"

Tang Yuan glanced around with dissatisfaction and was about to walk away when Wang Bao spoke up sharply, "Tang Yuan, you really don't recognize a good opportunity when you see one. Do you realize who Miss Linger is? The Nangong family is the most formidable pill refining family in Jin City, and Miss Nangong is a prodigy among them. At just sixteen, she's already a Grade Four Pill Refining Master!"

"Grade Four Pill Refining Master?" Tang Yuan's gaze briefly swept over Nangong Linger, and a slight smile appeared on his face. "I suppose that's all she is."

After Tang Yuan's remark, silence fell over the crowd. They were convinced that Tang Yuan had indeed lost his mind. How could he give such a dismissive assessment of a Grade Four Pill Refining Master?

"Such a show-off!"

Wang Bao's voice was icy as he addressed Nangong Linger, "Miss Linger, please don't take offense. He's just a rejected member of the Tang family who's not in his right mind."

With a swift motion, Tang Yuan's expression turned frosty, and he slapped Wang Bao, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"You!" Wang Bao was stunned, unable to believe that Tang Yuan had the audacity to strike him. He was a Pill Master at the Treasure Pavilion, with a lofty status, and backed by the formidable Pill Master Ding Qishui.

Where did Tang Yuan get such courage?

"How dare you!" Seeing his disciple struck, Ding Qishui's face darkened with anger. His Spiritual Force surged as he took a menacing step forward.

"Wait!" Nangong Linger interjected, "Please, for my sake, let's put this incident behind us. I am willing to offer the Spirit Pill formula as compensation."

Ding Qishui's gaze flickered as he slowly withdrew his spiritual force, giving a cold snort that served as a tacit approval.

Tang Yuan was momentarily taken aback. Spirit Pills were known for their rapid replenishment of spiritual force and were classified as Grade Three pills, but they were notoriously difficult to refine. Some pill-refining families would modify the recipe to reduce the chance of failure. Nangong Linger was certainly generous to do so.

"Young Master Tang, please grant Ling'er's request," Nangong Linger implored once more.

"I'm willing, but you should know that my services come at a steep price," Tang Yuan replied.

"Shameless!" was the silent cry in everyone's hearts. They looked at Tang Yuan with a mix of envy and resentment.

"Agreed." Nangong Linger promptly produced a gold card. "I have only 10,000 gold coins. Will that suffice?"

Her voice was tinged with caution, fearful that Tang Yuan might decline her request due to the modest sum.

"It'll do," Tang Yuan said nonchalantly, accepting the 10,000 gold coins with a grin. At last, he, Young Master Tang, had come into some money!

"Shameless!" Menng Ya inwardly cursed as she observed the transaction, yet she couldn't suppress her curiosity about what qualities Tang Yuan possessed that had captivated Nangong Linger.

Surrounded by an admiring throng, Tang Yuan made his way back to the Treasure Pavilion and assumed his place at the head of the room.

"Begin! Show me your pill-refining technique," Tang Yuan commanded, eyeing the ingredients laid out on the table.

Nangong Linger nodded, producing a purple pill furnace from her belongings and gently starting the process.

"A Purple Gold Furnace?" Tang Yuan noted with interest. The Nangong family certainly didn't shy away from investing heavily. A Purple Gold Furnace was a mid-grade pill furnace that could significantly enhance the chances of successful pill refinement, and it was exceedingly valuable.

Nangong Linger appeared to enter a trance-like state as she refined, extracted the essence, and ultimately produced the pill. The process flowed seamlessly, and when the pill furnace opened, a delightful fragrance filled the air.

"Incredible!" Wang Bao exclaimed, his face beaming with approval. "In just half an hour, she has successfully refined a pill that seems to meet the standards of a mid-grade pill!"

"Yes, Miss Nangong's talent is exceptional. I must admit, I feel quite inferior!" Ding Qishui nodded slightly. "Today has truly been an eye-opener!"

"Indeed!" Menng Ya agreed, nodding. She might not understand pill refining, but having witnessed the entire process, she couldn't help but express her admiration.

Nangong Linger's expression remained unchanged, as if the comments were about someone else entirely. Her attention was fixed on Tang Yuan, waiting quietly.

"Weren't there some who claimed they wanted to instruct Miss Linger? What happened? Got cold feet?" Wang Bao glanced at Tang Yuan and spoke with a dismissive tone.

"I fear that being too blunt might offend," Tang Yuan replied coolly.

"Arrogant!" Wang Bao barked.

"Heh, youthful brashness isn't bad, but there is such a thing as too much," Ding Qishui added slowly.

Tang Yuan ignored the master and his disciple, moving to stand behind Nangong Linger. "Your control over the flame is commendable. To achieve this level at your age is quite impressive."

Wang Bao let out a derisive snort upon hearing Tang Yuan's words, thinking that even a novice could make such an observation.

"But everything else is rubbish!" Tang Yuan abruptly shifted his tone, leaving even Menng Ya shocked.

Was it all worthless?

"I know you must be feeling indignant hearing this from me." Tang Yuan picked up a pill from the table and crushed it effortlessly.

The onlookers were astounded. A Grade Four pill, just crushed like that?

"Tang Yuan, do you realize what you've done?" Wang Bao pointed at Tang Yuan, then turned to Nangong Linger. "Miss Linger, you see, he's a fraud!"

"You'd best keep quiet," Tang Yuan shot a cold look at Wang Bao. "Enjoy playing the fool, do you?"

Wang Bao's face chilled, but recalling Tang Yuan's earlier slap, he held his tongue and stepped aside with a cold huff.

"Look at this pill. The uneven color inside has nothing to do with the temperature; it's due to incorrect extraction techniques. And to think you took half an hour to refine such a subpar Qi Refining Pill..." Tang Yuan listed over a dozen flaws in one go. If Tang Yuan's assessment was accurate, then Nangong Linger's efforts were indeed worthless.

But could Tang Yuan's words be trusted?

"Utter nonsense!" Ding Qi Shui couldn't contain himself any longer and blurted out, "How can the extraction of medicinal ingredients and the method of refining be taken so lightly? How can you prioritize speed over everything?"

Ding Qi Shui pointed at Tang Yuan, his voice icy.

"Master is absolutely correct!" Wang Bao chimed in again, "Miss Linger, please don't be offended. I'll have him thrown out immediately!"

"Could you please be quiet?" Nangong Linger, who had remained silent until now, spoke up.

"Haha, did you hear that, Tang Yuan? Miss Linger told you to be quiet!" Wang Bao's face was smug with mockery, but he quickly realized that all eyes were on him.

"Young Master Wang, if you interrupt me again, I must ask you to leave," Nangong Linger said, her gentle nature making her words all the more indicative of her anger.

Wang Bao paused, then slowly bowed his head.

Tang Yuan sneered, "Since you don't believe me, I'll prove it to you! Miss Linger, please refine it once more following my instructions!"

Nangong Linger nodded and began the pill refining process anew, with Tang Yuan guiding her from behind.

"Refine the Qi Gathering Grass with a strong flame! Next, keep only the root and leaves of the Heavenly River Orchid..." Tang Yuan issued instructions one after another, and Nangong Linger executed them flawlessly.

"The heat needs to be adjusted like this." Tang Yuan gently took hold of Nangong Linger's delicate hand, and a surge of Spiritual Force flowed into her like a gentle, warming current.

Nangong Linger shivered, her cheeks flushing with a rosy hue. She had never been this close to a man before, and the intimacy caught her off guard.

Unaware of her reaction, Tang Yuan naturally released her hand after a moment.

Nangong Linger quickly composed herself and, using the fire control technique Tang Yuan had taught her, soon a fragrance wafted from the purple-gold Pill Furnace.

Success!

The onlookers wore expressions of disbelief. The process had taken only a quarter of the usual time, cutting it in half!

"The quality!"

When Nangong Linger presented the pill, everyone gasped in astonishment.

The quality of the pill — high grade!