C14 Who Is the Noble One?

As Lee Qingqiu approached, Ling Chen's demeanor remained unchanged. He nodded with a smile and said, "Master Lee, I didn't expect our paths to cross again so soon. It seems we're quite destined to meet."

"Indeed, it's all about fate!" Lee Qingqiu quickly concurred, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness. "Ever since our last encounter, I've been longing to see Master Ling again. I hope you don't mind my unannounced visit today."

"Master Lee, you flatter me. Feel free to visit anytime," Ling Chen responded warmly.

Lee Qingqiu felt a surge of relief at these words.

He stole a quick glance at Ling Chen's face, searching for any sign of displeasure.

Finding none, his anxiety eased.

Truth be told, his visit wasn't to take Ling Hui as a disciple; his true intention was to forge a friendship with Ling Chen. It just so happened that Ling Hui from the Ling family had once sought to become his disciple, an offer Master Lee had previously declined.

Now, he was willing to accept, largely to curry favor with Ling Chen and, by extension, to get on good terms with the Ling family.

The onlookers were visibly confused by the exchange.

The ease between the two suggested that Ling Chen and Lee Qingqiu had known each other for some time.

"Master Lee, do you know Chen?" Ling Shan asked, his voice laced with disbelief at the unfolding scene.

The room fell silent, everyone waiting with bated breath.

The Fifth Elder and Ling Hui's anxiety was palpable, their hearts racing.

"I had the fortune of meeting Master Ling once before," Lee Qingqiu replied, still smiling.

This reassured the Fifth Elder and his son.

So it was just a chance meeting after all.

But before they could fully relax, Lee Qingqiu's next statement completely shattered their assumptions: "Mr. Ling is a young talent, a true alchemist! When it comes to alchemy, I am no match for him!"

The declaration dropped like a bombshell, sending shockwaves through the crowd.

"Master Lee!" The Fifth Elder exclaimed, his eyes bulging with disbelief. "You... you're saying Ling Chen is an alchemist?"

How could that be?

Within the Ling family, it was no secret that Ling Chen was considered useless. At eighteen, he was only at the Second Empyrean of the Warforged realm. Could it be that after being labeled useless for so long, he had somehow grasped the art of alchemy?

They refused to believe it!

Lee Qingqiu gave him a sidelong glance.

Despite his advanced age, his eyes sparkled with a sharp intensity.

"What? Do you doubt my words?"

"No... not at all."

The Fifth Elder quickly responded, his voice laced with anxiety and respect.

He might strut around the Ling family on any given day, but in Lee Qingqiu's presence, he was as meek as could be. A mere look from the elder was enough to terrify him.

The onlookers were filled with mixed feelings upon witnessing this exchange. They had never imagined that the person they had once scorned as worthless was now acquainted with a respected alchemist.

Was it a pleasant surprise or a shock?

Ling Hui's face turned particularly sour. This was supposed to be his moment to shine, yet now, all the attention was on what he considered to be worthless trash.

"Alright, Master Lee, there's no need to stand around outside. Let's continue our conversation indoors," Ling Chen said with a smile, then turned to the elder beside him. "Grandfather, Master Lee has arrived. Shouldn't you invite him in to sit?"

The elder snapped to attention and quickly replied, "Yes, yes, of course! How remiss of me. Master Lee, please, come in!"

"With pleasure," Lee Qingqiu chuckled, gesturing before he stepped through the threshold of the Ling Residence.

Ling Chen and the rest followed swiftly behind.

"Useless trash!" Ling Hui hissed under his breath as they walked. "I don't know what tricks you've pulled, but don't get cocky just because you know Master Lee! When it comes to talent, I'm the one he sees potential in, the one who will become an alchemist!"

"Really?" Ling Chen shot him a look brimming with sarcasm.

Some people always live in their own little world, blissfully ignorant of the vast sky above. It's quite pitiful, really.

Ling Chen couldn't be bothered to squabble and quickened his pace towards the Ling Residence's main hall.

"Humph!" Ling Hui snorted, forcibly suppressing his dissatisfaction, and followed suit.

The group passed through the gate and made their way back to the main hall.

Before anyone could sit down, the Fifth Elder eagerly offered his assistance, commanding, "Someone, bring a chair for Master Lee!"

Two servants promptly carried over a mahogany chair.

Witnessing this, Ling Chen was visibly irate.

This despicable man had just handed him a lowly stool, and now that Master Lee had arrived, he immediately fetched a chair for him!

Ling Shan's face was a picture of displeasure as well.

Even some members of the Ling family couldn't help but snicker internally.

"Master Lee, please have a seat," the Fifth Elder said, beaming, almost clinging to Lee Qingqiu.

"Mm," Lee Qingqiu nodded.

He was about to sit down when he suddenly froze.

His gaze shifted to Ling Chen beside him, and a bead of sweat slid down his forehead.

He noticed that Ling Chen was actually seated on a stool!

"Master Ling, what's going on?" Lee Qingqiu asked, pointing at him, somewhat bewildered.

He glanced around and saw that everyone else was seated on mahogany chairs.

Only Ling Chen was perched on a stool.

"Elder Ling, what is the meaning of this?" Lee Qingqiu's face darkened as he glared at the Fifth Elder and demanded, "Why have you given me a mahogany chair while Mr. Ling is sitting on a stool?"

Lee Qingqiu was livid with the Fifth Elder!

With Ling Chen relegated to a stool, how could he possibly sit on a chair? It was a good thing he hadn't sat down yet. If he had, it would surely have provoked Ling Chen's displeasure!

The Fifth Elder's heart raced, and he hastily explained, "Master Lee, the chairs in the Ling Residence are in short supply, so... so..."

"Short supply of chairs?" Lee Qingqiu raised an eyebrow, glanced at the chair beneath the Fifth Elder's seat, and let out a scornful laugh, "If the chairs are in such short supply, then why are you still seated in one?"

With that, the Fifth Elder collapsed into a stammering mess, unable to articulate a response.

The onlookers...

Everyone was astounded.

They had assumed that Master Lee and Ling Chen's acquaintance was fleeting, yet unexpectedly, Master Lee defended Ling Chen. It appeared their relationship was far more complex than it seemed at first glance.

"The bond between Master Lee and Ling Chen is truly extraordinary."

"At first, I didn't notice, but if you look closely, doesn't Master Lee seem to be intimidated by Ling Chen?"

"Intimidated? That can't be. Master Lee is a respected four-leaf alchemist; why would he fear Ling Chen?"

The crowd murmured among themselves, their gazes toward Ling Chen shifting. Some even quietly resolved to befriend Ling Chen once this affair concluded.

"Let it be, Master Lee," Ling Chen interjected as the Fifth Elder squirmed in discomfort. "The Ling family has a limited number of chairs. You are our guest, having traveled from afar, so naturally, you should have the only available chair. The Fifth Elder is considering the best interests of the Ling family; please don't trouble him over this."

"Isn't that right, Fifth Elder?" Ling Chen asked, his smile beaming.

"Absolutely!" The Fifth Elder quickly agreed, nodding vigorously.

He clearly recognized that Ling Chen was easing the tension. Lee Qingqiu, however, still seemed uneasy after Ling Chen's offer.

"No, how could I presume to take precedence over Mr. Ling?" Lee Qingqiu insisted, moving the chair in front of Ling Chen. "Mr. Ling, please take the chair. I'll sit on the stool."

The crowd inhaled sharply at his words.

The statement had caught everyone off guard.

Ling Xiao, about to sip his tea, choked and erupted into a fit of coughing.

The Fifth Elder steadied himself, nearly sliding off his chair again.

Ling Hui was on the verge of collapse, staring at Lee Qingqiu in disbelief.

The expressions on everyone's faces were a sight to behold.

A distinguished four-leaf alchemist from the Alchemy Branch was visiting, and he was offering to sit on a stool? If word of this got out, the Ling family's reputation in Suinsa County could be irreparably damaged. Even if Lee Qingqiu insisted, the Ling family wouldn't dare let him sit on a mere stool!

"Fifth Elder!"

The patriarch barked a cold reprimand, his glare piercing through the Fifth Elder.

This man had tried to outsmart Ling Chen, aiming to set him up, yet his scheme had backfired spectacularly. And now, was he really going to drag the Ling family down with him?

"Patriarch... Patriarch," the Fifth Elder stammered, still seemingly in shock.

The patriarch's nose twisted in irritation as he snapped, "What are you dawdling for? Bring a chair over here already. Are you saving it for the New Year?"

"Oh, right, right, right," the Fifth Elder quickly replied upon hearing this, then instructed the servants to fetch a chair, though internally he was utterly dismayed.

He inwardly berated himself for his foolishness, having nearly crossed an alchemist.

As the chair was brought in, Lee Qingqiu raised an eyebrow and inquired, "Fifth Elder, didn't you claim there were no chairs left? How come there's suddenly one available?"

"Uh, well, that is..." The Fifth Elder was at a loss for words, sweating profusely in his panic. He covertly signaled to Ling Chen, hoping for some assistance.

Witnessing this, Ling Chen internally scoffed.

This wretch had attempted to disgrace him, and now he expected Ling Chen's aid? Nonetheless, Ling Chen chose not to escalate the situation. Considering the Fifth Elder's significant influence within the Ling family, it wasn't the time for an outright confrontation.

"I suppose the servants might have overlooked it," Ling Chen said after a brief pause, his tone light and amiable.

"Exactly, exactly, it must've been overlooked by the servants!" the Fifth Elder quickly agreed.

Lee Qingqiu, hearing this, chose not to pursue the matter further.

He then gestured for Ling Chen to take a seat.

Once Ling Chen was seated, Lee Qingqiu also settled himself quietly.

The tension in the room eased only after both men were seated.

While everyone else had been on an emotional roller coaster, Ling Chen's demeanor remained unchanged, his expression carrying a serene smile throughout.

Ling Shan blinked curiously as he observed his son.

A smile graced his face, tinged with a hint of satisfaction.

"This rascal actually has some skills."