Chapter 401: 401. Chapter 401: Trying Again

401. Chapter 401: Trying Again

Late at night.

Gao Ling arrived, after counting today's five bottles of medicine, he laughed and said, "Hard work, junior brother."

"It's nothing."

Jiang Cheng smiled and said, "This is also what I should do."

"You're being too polite, junior brother."

Gao Ling glanced at the camera in the corner and said, "Junior brother, you must have noticed today that there's something extra in the room, right?"

"You mean the camera, senior brother?"

Jiang Cheng turned his head, glanced at it, and nodded, "I noticed it this morning."

"Well, junior brother, I hope you don't misunderstand—this isn't because we don't trust you."

Gao Ling coughed and explained, "It's not just you here; every alchemy room has been fitted with this because a few days ago someone made medicine, didn't turn it in, but hid it and sold it for money."

"Really?" Jiang Cheng sounded a little surprised.

"Yeah, actually this isn't the first time; since the Alchemy Department was established, this has been happening all along, and we've caught quite a few, but this time it's blown up out of proportion,

Changlin has made up his mind this time, ordering me to have people install cameras in every alchemy room overnight to see who dares to do this, after all the treatment we give here is already among the best in the Inner City District—if they still do this, they're truly heartless."

"Indeed."

Jiang Cheng nodded in agreement.

Seeing him like this, Gao Ling already had some doubts about whether Changlin's guess was wrong.

Jiang Cheng didn't hide his medicine after making it like other alchemists did.

After all, the whole day he had someone watching his room, and from morning to night he only produced five batches of medicine.

"Since you haven't misunderstood, junior brother, that's good."

Gao Ling laughed and patted Jiang Cheng's shoulder, "Don't worry, once this blows over I'll remove the camera for you so you won't feel uncomfortable making medicine, but don't tell anyone else about this, otherwise I'm afraid others will hear it and feel unbalanced."

Although he said that, he actually had no intention of doing so.

It was just polite talk; besides, whether it can be removed isn't up to him.

"No need."

Jiang Cheng smiled, "Leaving it here is fine, and if others find out it'll be a hassle."

"Is that so?"

Gao Ling was taken aback.

Perhaps Changlin and I really overthought it.

After seeing Jiang Cheng off, he proactively contacted Changlin and recounted what happened today.

The focus naturally fell on Jiang Cheng,

After listening, Changlin's expression also turned somewhat solemn.

"In that case, it's unlikely he secretly made one or two extra batches of medicine?"

"I don't think so, because when I tested him and said we should remove the camera, he said it didn't matter, which is completely different from others, and Changlin, his performance these past months we've seen—he's always been cooperative with us, not the sly, crafty type." Gao Ling mused.

"That's true."

Changlin gave a slight nod.

Twice he asked to lower the profit share, and Jiang Cheng agreed both times without causing any trouble.

If it were someone else, that wouldn't happen.

Maybe he understands deep down that doing this is pointless; rather than cause a scene where everyone ends up embarrassed, it's better to just accept it. Of course there's another possibility—that he's just very good at enduring, appearing calm on the surface while actually brewing something.

"As the saying goes, you can paint a tiger's skin but not its bones; you can know a person's face but not their heart. I think we should still send someone to test him, to see what he's really thinking."

"Understood."

Gao Ling readily agreed.

Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng returned home; it was already past ten, nearing eleven.

Hearing the door open, Chen Sao pushed open the bedroom door and came out, her face full of worry.

"Xiao Cheng, why have you been coming home later and later lately? Is the workload increasing?"

"It's increased a bit, but it's still okay."

Jiang Cheng smiled.

Because of the surveillance, he had to extend the time for each batch of medicine to make sure today's duration matched yesterday's; otherwise even a fool would get suspicious.

"This..."

Hearing that, Chen Sao's worry grew deeper.

She remembered that back in the Outer City District, Jiang Cheng could usually come home around dusk.

After moving here, he first came home at seven or eight, now it's ten or eleven; if it gets later, will he have to come back in the early morning?

"Xiao Cheng, why don't we go back? Back to Dinghu Community?"

She asked softly.

Hearing that, Jiang Cheng gave a wry smile and shook his head.

There's no going back.

Even now, if he wanted to take his family somewhere to hide, it's unrealistic.

"Go to sleep, Chen Sao; don't worry—I'm not an ordinary person, so coming back this late is nothing, and even if I stayed awake for several days and nights, it wouldn't be a problem for me."

Hearing that, Chen Sao could only nod and turned back to her room.

Jiang Cheng then turned and entered the room, took out his phone, and dialed Qin Lao's number.

In just a moment, the call was connected, and Qin Lao's voice came through, "Little brother, why are you calling me so late? Is something wrong?"

Hmm, Qin Lao, I've paid back the money I owed Gu Zhangkong; I can leave here and go to your side.

Really?

Qin Lao almost jumped up in excitement.

He guessed that Jiang Cheng calling him this late must be something important; he never expected it to be this!

Qin Lao, if I join you, I also have a small request; I want to make it clear beforehand.

Please speak, junior.

Qin Lao said solemnly.

Currently my proficiency in refining Awakening Pill is already near perfection, but compared to refining pills, I'd rather boost my own strength; so after I join you, I'll refine pills for at most six hours a day, and after subtracting material costs, we'll split profits fifty-fifty; I won't cheat, but I hope you won't force me or treat me as a tool.

Junior, what are you talking about?

Qin Lao was somewhat incredulous; is that all Jiang Cheng's request?

Junior, after you join us, you can refine pills for however many hours you want each day; even if you go several days without refining, we won't say anything, but we still hope you'll refine a bit more each month; as for the split, we can do six-four, seven-three also works—we take three, you take seven.

Qin Lao laughed, somewhat deferentially, "Well, if possible, it'd be even better if you could help us train a few more alchemists; don't worry, this is extra, we'll give you appropriate compensation, such as cultivation resources or treasures and such." (End of chapter)