Chapter 204: A Kind Act

"It's me, President." Lu Yu said with a smile, "President, I have something I'd like to consult you about."

"Ah?" Song Tian was stunned for a moment, then said, "You, you go ahead."

"President, does our Branch have an Alchemy Furnace?" Lu Yu asked.

If not, he would have to spend money to purchase the equipment, which would cost an additional several hundred thousand Contribution Points.

"You mean the Alchemy Room, right? We do." Song Tian answered without even thinking.

Suddenly, as if realizing something, he asked in surprise: "Little Brother Lu, you aren't planning on practicing alchemy, are you?"

"Yes, President." Lu Yu responded with a smile, "I just bought the Alchemy for Blood Qi Pills, and after studying it a bit, it doesn't seem particularly difficult, so I want to try refining some. After all, refining them myself is much more cost-effective than buying them from the Association."

"Cost-effective, that is certainly cost-effective."

Song Tian hesitated for a moment, but still advised, "But that's on the condition that you can actually refine a finished product.

I won't hide it from you, a few years ago when our Branch had more people, someone tried to refine Blood Qi Pills, and the money flowed like water.

After finally refining a batch of Blood Qi Pills, when they did the math, it wasn't as cost-effective as buying them directly from the Association."

Song Tian's words clearly carried a tone of warning.

Actually, that was considered a good outcome; although that person couldn't make ends meet, because their talent for alchemy was valued by the Headquarters, they were taken to the Headquarters to practice alchemy.

I heard that after these few years, they are already able to refine Superior Blood Qi Pills, and over half of the Superior Blood Qi Pills in the Headquarters come from their hands.

But more people who tried to refine Blood Qi Pills ended up with nothing to show for it, and in the end, they obediently went back out to hunt Fierce Beasts to exchange for Contribution Points.

"It's fine, President, I'll just try it out. A set of medicinal herbs is only 20,000 Contribution Points, which isn't expensive. Even if I fail, there's nothing to feel bad about," Lu Yu said.

"That is true." Song Tian nodded. A mere 20,000 points, for Lu Yu, was easily earned by hunting one Advanced Fierce Beast, so it really wasn't much.

"Alright, Little Brother Lu, if you want to use the Alchemy Room, you can go anytime. We have so few people in our Branch, and no one else knows how to refine pills, so no one will compete with you for it."

"Good, then thank you, President." Lu Yu said hurriedly.

It must be said that the resource support the Association provides is indeed significant. Not to mention the Alchemy Room, just the many sets of medicinal herbs—if he had to get them himself, it really wouldn't be easy.

"By the way, Little Brother Lu..." Song Tian stopped mid-sentence.

"What is it?" Lu Yu asked curiously, "Does the President have something you want to tell me?"

"Um, it's about the group chat." Song Tian finally made up his mind and said, "Don't take what those people in the group said to heart. They don't understand the situation and just like to talk nonsense based on their own guesses."

"Ah?" Lu Yu looked blank, "What group chat? What did those people say?"

"?" Song Tian was taken aback, only then suddenly realizing that Lu Yu might not have checked the group messages at all.

"Nothing, nothing."

He hurriedly laughed it off and said with a smile, "Little Brother Lu, aren't you going to practice alchemy? That's great. Alchemists are very profitable, and maybe you'll even gain the appreciation of the Headquarters and have the chance to enter a medium-sized city, or even a Jiangnan Great City in the future."

"Is that so." Lu Yu smiled, "Then I will work hard."

"Mm, keep it up, Little Brother Lu, I believe in you."

After hanging up the phone, Song Tian let out a sigh of relief, a wry expression appearing on his face.

Well, he had worried for nothing. He had been sitting here pondering how to explain things to Lu Yu, but it turned out the person hadn't even paid attention to what was happening in the group.

That's fine too; rather than wasting time in the group, it's better to do more meaningful things.

However, Brother Lu suddenly wanting to practice alchemy really was beyond his expectations.

"I wonder if Little Brother Lu can refine a successful pill. It's a pity I don't understand alchemy, otherwise I could help him out." Thinking of this, Song Tian suddenly had an idea.

That's right, although he doesn't understand it, he can ask Yan Yi!

When Yan Yi was here, they had a pretty good relationship.

When Yan Yi lacked Contribution Points to buy medicinal herbs, he, as the President, helped out quite a bit, not only applying for subsidies from the Headquarters but even paying out of his own pocket.

Over these years, they had also kept in touch. It shouldn't be too hard for him to lower his pride and ask him to give Lu Yu a little guidance, right?

Thinking of this, Song Tian reached out and tapped his phone's contact list, his gaze searching among the many numbers, finally stopping on a name labeled "Yan Yi."

He took a deep breath, as if having made a great decision, and his finger tapped down lightly.

"Beep... beep... beep..."

The sound coming from the phone receiver felt like it was striking Song Tian's heartstrings, making his heart involuntarily jump into his throat.

Come to think of it, the last time he contacted Yan Yi was over three months ago.

That time was just a simple greeting, chatting about a few inconsequential things, and later the other party said they had an urgent matter and hung up the phone in a hurry.

This time, he didn't know if Yan Yi was busy again.

"Hello?" A man's voice came from the other end of the line, his tone carrying a hint of confusion, "Who is this?"

The smile Song Tian had prepared on his face instantly froze, and his heart skipped a beat, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

But he quickly adjusted his state, piled a full smile back onto his face, and said enthusiastically: "Yan Yi, it's me, Song Tian. What's wrong? It's only been a short while since we last spoke, and you can't recognize my voice?"

"Song Tian?" Yan Yi was slightly startled.

In an instant, the atmosphere at both ends of the phone became suddenly tense, and Song Tian felt his heart was about to jump out of his throat.

Judging by the situation, the other party seemed to have almost forgotten him.

Sigh, this was understandable. Yan Yi was now in Peng City, a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers resided, and the various powerful figures there were surely far stronger than himself.

"Oh, it's President Song."

Yan Yi seemed to have finally recalled, his tone becoming polite and distant, "President Song, you're calling suddenly, is there something the matter?"

"Uh, yes, there is indeed something I'd like to trouble you with." Song Tian subconsciously licked his lips.

The other party's polite yet distant attitude made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

But the call had already been made, so no matter how awkward it was, he had to bite the bullet and finish what he had to say.

"Yan Yi, a new young man has come to our Branch, and his talent is incredible. He's only seventeen and is already a Transformation Energy Martial Artist."

"Is that so?" Yan Yi's tone revealed a hint of surprise.

Such aptitude, even among the young talents in Peng City, was quite outstanding.

"Indeed!"

A look of pride could not help but appear on Song Tian's face, "This child is truly formidable; he was able to shoot and kill an Advanced Fierce Beast all by himself."

"Ahem, he is now planning to learn the Alchemy of the Blood Qi Pill. Yan Yi, your Alchemy is so impressive, could you spare some time to give him a few pointers so he can avoid taking unnecessary detours?"

"I'm sorry, Branch President Song."

Yan Yi declined without the slightest hesitation, "I am truly swamped over here; everyone is waiting for me. How about this, let's talk about it when there's another chance; definitely next time."

Having said that, he hung up the phone directly without waiting for Song Tian to respond.

"Who was that?" the man across the dining table asked curiously, "I heard you saying 'Branch President Song' over and over just now; who is it?"

"Song Tian."

Yan Yi set his phone down casually, picked up his chopsticks again, and said with a nonchalant air, "He was the Branch President when I was at the Yong'an City Branch, but that was several years ago."