Chapter 23: The elixir is successfully refined again, and the sister-in-law suffers once more

Chen Clan.

Long Ming glanced at the sky; it had grown dark, and her son and husband still hadn't returned, and she hadn't seen anyone all day.

"Where did those two people run off to?"

She paced back and forth, occasionally glancing at the door, but the two never returned.

After about half an hour, Long Ming grew impatient and wanted to go out to look for them.

Two figures approached from outside the gate; before they arrived, their smell arrived first.

"It reeks."

Long Ming frowned, covered her nose, but the odor was impossible to block; even after covering her nose, she could still smell it.

It was too foul, too nauseating.

"What is this smell?"

Long Ming endured the stench and walked forward to greet her husband and son, taking two steps; the foul odor hit her, she stopped, looked around strangely, seeking the source of the smell, and finally fixed it on the two figures.

That stench was emanating from them; Long Ming immediately snapped, "What smell do you have on you? Don't come inside yet."

It was sickening; the odor was too pungent for her to bear.

Chen Yuan and Chen Chusheng halted their steps, exchanged a glance, and were extremely embarrassed.

All the way home, people avoided them like snakes and scorpions; upon arriving home, they thought things would change, but who knew, they were still despised.

"Father, speaking of you, you reek to death."

Chen Yuan opened his mouth to speak, but realized his son had snatched his words; those should have been his to say.

He glared fiercely at his son; this son needed a proper lesson, or else he'd really get carried away.

"That daughter-in-law, as husband..."

He, who had not yet approached, was immediately ordered to stop.

Long Ming said disdainfully, "Don't come inside; just stay outside."

"Speak up—what exactly happened? Why do you reek of a foul odor?"

Chen Yuan glanced at his son; Chen Chusheng found it hard to explain.

After a full explanation, the whole story came out.

After hearing it, Long Ming's brows relaxed, yet she still couldn't help feeling disgusted.

"So you were kept by Chuyang? Become his alchemy errand boys?"

"Mm-hmm."

"It's all Father's fault; if it weren't for Father, I wouldn't have to..." Chen Chusheng muttered.

Chen Yuan couldn't hold back and kicked out directly.

"Bang."

Poor Chen Chusheng was kicked three meters away, slammed hard onto the ground, pathetic.

He still wanted to go up and add another kick; this son simply couldn't be left unpunished, he had no respect for his father at all.

Once or twice like this, and he really would get carried away.

"Unfilial son, stand still for me."

"Bang bang bang."

The beating began; Long Ming watched the chaotic scene of chickens flying and dogs jumping, and rubbed her forehead.

After a quarter hour, Chen Chusheng lay on the ground, feeling wronged and miserable.

He couldn't fight back, could only endure the beating passively—after all, the other was his father, he was the son.

"Cough cough, all right, that's about enough; you'd better hurry off, or do you want to try your mother's fists?"

"A mixed doubles? Have you ever heard of such a thing?"

Hearing that, Chen Chusheng shivered, turned and fled immediately, without even a chance to groan.

Long Ming gave Chen Yuan a sideways glance and said irritably, "You too—can't you stop always beating Chusheng? He's your eldest son; be careful he doesn't retaliate against you later."

"He dares."

"The child has grown up and needs dignity; you can't keep beating him like this."

Long Ming soothed Chen Yuan, saying, "The son has grown up; you can only beat him for another two or three years—by then his strength will surpass yours, and then you won't be able to do anything about it."

In the future, when they're old, they'll have to watch their son's expression.

"You're overthinking it; this little brat wants to surpass his old man? He's far from it."

"This time Chuyang's elixir is indeed effective; I already feel the urge to break through."

Long Ming's eyes lit up.

"The effect is that good?"

"Exactly; want to give it a try? I'll have Chuyang prepare a dose for you."

"Never mind, I'd rather not; I think things are fine as they are."

Long Ming immediately refused; that odor was too foul, and she didn't like it.

She also didn't want to reek all over herself; she couldn't stand it.

"Don't come near me; you'll stink to death."

"Hehe."

The despised Chen Yuan smiled narrowly and said, "Madam, what about that brat Chuyang and Hongxue?"

Long Ming, upon hearing that, fell silent for a moment, then said, "I've said it before, but there's been no follow-up."

"Over at the Shang Clan lady's side, there's been no reply; likely it hasn't been decided yet, probably waiting until Shang Hongchen leaves Longshe Cheng before confirming."

"Shang Hongchen is tough to deal with; she always sticks her foot in at critical moments—whether this works out depends on when Shang Hongchen leaves the Shang Clan."

Chen Yuan said: "Soon, the Heavenly Heart Sect won't allow her to stay too long."

"That's good."

Chen Yuan wanted to step forward and hug his wife, but she pushed him away.

Long Ming directly ordered: "Wait until that smell on you dissipates, then come find me."

"Ah?"

Chen Yuan was dumbfounded; this time, he's doomed.

Time passed quickly—three days went by.

On Longshe Shan.

Chen Chuyang looked at the many prescriptions before him, each one he had revised based on several people's reactions, and every version was present.

These prescriptions are very useful; although they have a few minor issues, those issues aren't problems.

It's just a bad smell; endure it and it'll pass.

Cough, cough, cough—anyway, the ones suffering aren't him but others, so who cares.

"The prescriptions still need revision, but Longshe Shan's spiritual medicine is limited, and there isn't much left, so we can't waste it."

"It's a pity Father and Elder Brother no longer go up the mountain, so we have fewer chances to test."

"I don't even know if those two have made a breakthrough."

Chen Chuyang's expected effect is that after soaking in the medicinal liquid, the two will have a breakthrough in strength.

How many levels they break through depends on their fate.

At least, they can advance to the first heaven.

"And what about Shang Hongxue this girl? I haven't seen her in days—is she being locked up at home by Shang Hongchen, or what?"

Chen Chuyang missed Shang Hongxue this girl; she wasn't troublesome, did whatever he asked, was obedient and sensible, always cooperating with him—even if he wanted to do something to her, she wouldn't resist.

"Huh?"

The formation trembled slightly.

Chen Chuyang looked in surprise toward the mountain base, closed his eyes, and sensed the whole of Longshe Shan.

"It's Hongxue this girl—she's finally here."

"My new prescription finally has a test subject."

Sleepiness came with a pillow.

His sister-in-law Shang Hongxue arrived just in time; Chen Chuyang was overjoyed and personally went out to welcome her.

Shang Hongxue climbed to the summit, saw Chen Chuyang personally coming to meet her, and was overcome with excitement.

She was almost about to run up and hug him.

"Big Brother Chuyang, are you here to meet me?"

"Yes, are you happy?"

"Mm, happy."

"Great, since you're so happy, then please get into the pot."

"……"

Shang Hongxue stared, mouth agape.

Half an hour later, Shang Hongxue was already in the pot.

The medicinal liquid enveloped her, and that pungent smell spread again.