Chapter 86: 84. Vanished Like Smoke and Clouds (2/3)

84. Vanished Like Smoke and Clouds (2/3)

The Market, Zhenbao Hang.

As soon as Chen An walked in, he saw Shen Qingyi and Pan Hui sitting in a corner eating breakfast; their relationship looked as close as sisters, as always.

He had no intention of going over to greet them, merely walking over to Manager Liu to chat.

Pan Hui saw him and immediately nudged Shen Qingyi beside her, saying that Alchemist Chen had arrived and she wondered if he would be able to pass the Zhenbao Pavilion test today.

Shen Qingyi just smiled and said nothing.

About an hour or so passed.

The time was nearing noon.

Chen An did not wait for Manager Li of Zhenbao Pavilion, but instead waited for a secret letter delivered by a spirit pigeon.

"Manager Liu, how do I take this letter out?"

Looking at the letter cylinder tied to the spirit pigeon's leg, which was covered in runes and engraved with the three characters "To Chen An," Chen An could not help but ask Manager Liu before him for advice.

Manager Liu smiled and said, "Alchemist Chen, this is a formation pattern used by Zhenbao Pavilion to encrypt letters; only members within our Zhenbao Pavilion can unlock it. Let me help you take it out."

"Then I will trouble you, Manager Liu."

Chen An said, handing over the spirit pigeon in his hand.

Manager Liu reached out to take the spirit pigeon, and after only a moment's effort, he took the letter paper out of the bamboo cylinder and handed it to Chen An, saying, "Alchemist Chen, this is the letter sent to you by Manager Li. It should be about the test results; hurry and open it to see."

Chen An took the letter paper and opened it with both anticipation and trepidation.

Then, the next second, his expression instantly turned ugly.

The test was not passed.

It said the quality of the Qi-Condensing Pills was substandard.

At the very bottom of the letter, it was written that one more chance could be given, allowing him to refine 20 Spirit-Cleansing Pills within 20 days, and they would come to inspect them when the time was up.

Spirit-Cleansing Pill, a First-tier pill.

Its main effect is to clear impurities contained within the body's Spirit Power and increase the purity of Spirit Power.

Although this Spirit-Cleansing Pill is a First-tier pill, it is extremely difficult to refine; even for a Second-tier Alchemist, being able to guarantee the refinement of one pill a day is considered highly efficient.

Refining 20 pills in 20 days is much more difficult than refining 2000 Qi-Condensing Pills in 15 days.

"Alchemist Chen, how were the test results?"

Seeing that Chen An's expression was not right and that he had been silent from the moment he opened the letter until now, Manager Liu could not help but ask.

Chen An did not speak, merely handing the letter paper in his hand to Manager Liu.

Manager Liu took the letter paper and began to read it, soon slightly furrowing his brows, his face full of confusion as he said, "That shouldn't be. I have seen the Qi-Condensing Pills you refined; their quality is even better than these in my shop. How could the quality be insufficient?"

As he spoke, he suddenly thought of something and hurriedly said to Chen An, "Alchemist Chen, you know me; I am a person of great principle. I never even touched the 2000 Qi-Condensing Pills I helped you keep; there is even Recording Stone surveillance."

"I have never doubted you, Manager Liu."

Chen An smiled and said, "Manager Liu, starting tomorrow, I will be refining the Spirit-Cleansing Pills mentioned in the letter. I will have to trouble you again for the next 20 days."

"No problem, it's a small matter. Alchemist Chen will surely pass the test this time."

Manager Liu replied with a smile.

Neither of them was smiling from the heart.

One was forcing a smile.

The other was a professional fake smile.

After chatting with Manager Liu for a few moments, Chen An soon left Zhenbao Hang.

Watching his departing back, Pan Hui, sitting in the corner, could not help but look surprised and say, "In the past half-month, I saw Alchemist Chen wearing a smile every time he came out after refining pills, and I thought he was a sure thing. I didn't expect it to be this result."

Shen Qingyi did not reply, merely drinking her porridge in silence.

But if one looked closely, one could still see a trace of surprise on her face.

Clearly, she was also surprised that Chen An had failed the test.

Green Willow Alley, at home.

As soon as Chen An stepped through the door, his three wives and concubines greeted him, all impatient to know the test results.

But upon seeing Chen An's poor expression, the questions instantly stuck in their throats, unable to be asked.

"Husband, you must be tired. I will go boil water for you to bathe now."

"Husband, I will go cook for you."

"Daddy, hug!"

"Hug what hug? Go to the courtyard and practice drawing Qi into the body immediately!"

Wen Zhiyun said, taking Chen Yuejian out.

Soon after, she returned alone, smiling mysteriously at Chen An and saying, "Husband, come to my room for a moment; I have a surprise for you."

"Xiao Yuejian is all by herself in the courtyard now, and I'm worried. I'll go check on her."

"It's fine, I already had Ying watch her outside. Hurry and come to my room; I really have a surprise for you."

After Wen Zhiyun finished speaking, she went behind Chen An and pushed him toward the room.

Half an incense stick later.

Inside the room.

Wen Zhiyun raised her head slightly, looking at Chen An with watery eyes, and asked, "Husband, do you like this surprise I gave you?"

"Where did you learn this?"

"Ying taught me something related to it before, and I improved it myself."

"I didn't expect you to be quite creative."

Chen An touched Wen Zhiyun's head, his affection for this tsundere concubine growing a little more in his heart.

Wen Zhiyun enjoyed being petted on the head by him; casting aside her usual haughty demeanor, she became as gentle as flowing water and said, "Husband, Yun'er still wants to... wants to give you one more surprise."

Half an incense stick later.

The two of them came out of the room.

From beginning to end, Wen Zhiyun never asked about the test results, focusing entirely on doing her best to relieve Chen An's stress and soothe the frustration in his heart.

"Husband, the water is ready. Ying has learned some new tricks a few days ago; come and experience them, Husband."

As soon as Chen An walked out, he was pulled into the bathroom by Song Huaying.

Half an incense stick later.

Song Huaying sat in the wooden tub, snuggled against Chen An's chest, and looked up at him with a slightly raised face, saying with a sweet smile, "Husband, how do you feel about these new tricks of mine?"

"Your husband likes them very much."

"Ying is very happy that Husband likes them."

After saying this, Song Huaying began to show off her new tricks again, hoping to divert her husband's sense of loss from failing the test as much as possible.

Half an incense stick later.

The family of five sat together in the hall.

The dishes were very sumptuous.

Ten dishes and two soups.

"Husband, come and try this braised spirit shrimp."

"This white-cut Spirit Chicken tastes so fresh, Husband, you must try it!"

"Husband, this cucumber salad was made by Yue with a special honey marinade; it's sweet and sour, and especially delicious. Here, let me pick a piece for you to try."

The three wives and concubines were constantly picking food for Chen An.

Seeing this, their tiny daughter followed suit and picked up a piece of boiled spirit vegetable, placing it into Chen An's bowl, her face blooming with a smile as she said, "Daddy, eat grass!"

"Pfft!"

"Hehehehe..."

Chen An was amused by his daughter Chen Yuejian's remark about eating grass and couldn't help but laugh out loud, the gloom in his heart instantly dissipating by more than half.

The three wives and concubines on the side were also laughing uncontrollably.

To think she could call a spirit vegetable grass.

Isn't Xiao Yuejian just too silly and cute?

Chen Yuejian didn't know what her father and mothers were laughing at, but seeing them all laughing, she giggled along, her little face filled with a radiant smile.

In an instant, the room was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

PS: Bowls out, begging for monthly tickets and recommendation tickets!