Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Nightfall Organization (Third Update)_1
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"Pills? What pills did you take?"
Shang Han was startled. This was a condition that even the top Grandmasters of Zone One couldn't cure, how could it possibly be solved just by taking a random pill?
Upon hearing this, Fang Ren immediately made frantic eye signals to Mu Huanqing at his side, they had already agreed not to tell Uncle Han about this.
It was quite clear that Mu Huanqing received Fang Ren's eye messages, and she said with a serious face, "Ah Ran doesn't want me to tell you that he made the pill himself."
"What!?"
Fang Ren instantly turned to stone. What was this? Hui Qing, who always keeps her mouth shut? Hadn't they agreed to keep secrets?
And she just sold out her own husband like that?
As Mu Huanqing finished speaking, the frown on Shang Han's forehead suddenly relaxed, and with a slight smile on his lips he looked at Fang Ren and said, "Let's eat first."
Mu Huanqing went back to her seat, but Fang Ren was stunned. Although he had never intended to tell you about it, couldn't you show some reaction?! That was the world's first pill capable of repairing severed meridians!
"What's wrong?" Shang Han, seeing Fang Ren still in a petrified state, spoke up, "Shouldn't I be greatly surprised and then feel that you, you little brat, couldn't possibly concoct such a pill?"
"Isn't that how the script should go!" Fang Ren was completely disoriented, the old man was just too calm.
"Screw the script." Shang Han said with a look of disdain, "Did you think I didn't know that you've been messing around with alchemy in your room every day?"
"..."
Fang Ren was speechless.
"Since you were twelve, you've been making your room smell like medicine every day, and you even kept pills in an iron box in the drawer without even bothering to lock it. Do you think I'm blind? Can't I see?" Shang Han blasted out several sentences in quick succession.
In an instant, Fang Ren felt as if his little world had collapsed. What he thought was his secret from childhood was already known to the old man, who had been feigning ignorance all along!
After so many years, it turned out that all his affairs were still within the control of the old man!
Fang Ren sat at the dining table with a troubled face, "But those were just minor pills I made, how could they possibly be something even the masters of the first district can't handle?"
"Ha, did you really think the reason I sent you to medical school?" Shang Han said with contempt, "Do you think I let you continue schooling after you ranked third from last in every exam?"
Fang Ren blinked, feeling a bit guilty as he looked at Shang Han, as if the old man might know even more of his secrets.
Shang Han continued, "In this Great Cultivation Era, many people have infinite potential, like Qing'er. Who would have thought she could beat up...cough cough."
At this point, Shang Han stopped speaking and coughed twice, suddenly feeling a bit panicked. He shouldn't carelessly reveal that Qing'er could beat the world's strongest generals at the age of twenty.
What he wanted most now was for the two children to live their remaining lives as ordinary people, undisturbed by past events.
Shang Han went on, "Frankly, I am a bit surprised that you were able to make such a pill, but that doesn't mean you have a reason to be prouder than a Zone One Alchemist."
Surprised?
Fang Ren admitted defeat. Where exactly did you show any sign of surprise?
Proud? Am I that kind of person?
"Having talent is good, but being humble is even better." Shang Han poured himself half a glass of white wine and took a sip, then continued, "All those years of educating you weren't wasted after all."
"Yes, yes, yes."
Fang Ren didn't want to listen to him ramble on anymore. Now that the secret was known, there was nothing he could do about it; who asked him not to hide himself better?
Thinking about this, Fang Ren couldn't help but wonder: since the old man knew about his alchemy practice from a young age, did he also know about his account on the Alchemists' Forum?
"Uncle Han, to be honest, I never expected to succeed with this pill," Fang Ren said with a feigned calm appearance, "Thankfully, Master Qing'an of the Alchemists' Forum gave me some guidance, otherwise, it might have taken me five or six years to make such a pill."
Shang Han took a sip of his drink, frowning, "Master Qing'an... How should I put this, I always feel that he is much more accomplished in alchemy than even the top Grandmasters of Zone One. Some people even say that he is the peak alchemist of Earth for the past 200 years in the Cultivation Era."
On hearing this, Fang Ren's expression turned to a smile. As expected, the old man didn't know he was Master Qing'an.
But having his elder praise him like this to his face made Fang Ren inwardly a little embarrassed: Ah, what 'peak alchemist of Earth,' just be humble—blushing here, alchemy and stuff... Oh, just a bit knowledgeable is all.
"Ah Ran and Master Qing'an are really fated," Mu Huanqing suddenly said.
Shang Han smiled, "Master Qing'an likes to give guidance to young people on forums the most, just offering a bit of advice doesn't really count as fate."
"But that's not what I'm talking about," Mu Huanqing said.
Upon hearing Mu Huanqing's words, Fang Ren immediately started to frantically give her eye signals from the side. Was she seriously going to talk about the Space Ring? To say that Master Qing'an casually gave her a Space Ring?
Sister Hui Qing might believe him because she's naïve, but this old man might not be so easily fooled. He would definitely sense that something was off; after all, Master Qing'an only did Alchemy, not crafting.
"So what is it that Qing'er wants to talk about?" Shang Han asked.
Mu Huanqing received another burst of eye signals from Fang Ren, nodded, and said, "Ah Ran has met Master Qing'an once before."
"Met before?" Shang Han was surprised, "Is that true?"
Fang Ren breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. Sister Hui Qing, oh Sister Hui Qing, finally you're not messing things up for your husband!
"Back when I was traveling outside, I came across an old man and casually helped him out. Then he told me his name was Qing'an. At the time, I really didn't understand why he would tell me his name.
It was only later when he emerged into the limelight online that I suddenly realized he was an important figure," Fang Ren said, immediately slipping into an Oscar-worthy performance with a nostalgic expression on his face.
"He's an old man?" Shang Han took a sip of his drink and said, "That's right, to reach such a high level in medicine, it'd be impossible without the accumulation of years."
Fang Ren mentally nodded in agreement—yes, indeed, twenty-two years of accumulation.
After that, Fang Ren didn't speak much for the rest of the meal, fearing that he might accidentally say something wrong and raise Uncle Han's suspicions. Mu Huanqing cooperated as well and didn't bring up the Space Ring from beginning to end.
The news on TV was broadcasting tonight's report:
"Around seven o'clock tonight, the mayor of Yangming City, Sun Han, was assassinated by unidentified individuals. The fatal methods used on the body closely resemble those of the Nightfall Organization which disappeared three years ago. The case is still under investigation.
We urge the residents of Yangming City to pay extra attention to their personal safety..."
At the mention of Yangming City, Fang Ren and Shang Han instinctively turned to look at the television together.
Yangming City was, after all, their small county town. The murder of the mayor of Yangming City was far too close for comfort.
Watching the news on TV, Fang Ren was stunned. He had never imagined that the murder he came across tonight, the man who died before him, would turn out to be the mayor of Yangming City.
Shang Han frowned as he watched the news, his gaze fixated on the words "Nightfall Organization," lost in thought.
After watching the report, Mu Huanqing's expression turned very sorrowful. As expected... things were just as Ah Ran had said. Amidst the peace bought at the cost of countless warriors' lives, their kin were engaged in killing each other.
The rest of the meal passed in relative silence. After dinner, Fang Ren took Mu Huanqing back to their room, while Shang Han cleared the dishes and sat in front of the TV without going to his room to sleep.
Fang Ren had a lot of questions in his heart about Uncle Han's behavior today, like whether he had something on his mind, or why he didn't seem overjoyed even though Sister Hui Qing's legs had healed, or why he wasn't surprised that he could produce such an elixir?
Even if Uncle Han knew that he had talent in Alchemy from a young age, this particular pill was genuine and beyond the capability of any Alchemist in the first district.
Did Uncle Han really think so highly of his talents, or did he think that the pill was mostly provided by Master Qing'an?
Uncle Han, Fang Ren had so many questions he wanted to ask, but asking would be pointless; he would either stay silent or not tell the whole truth.
"Ah Ran, why did the Nightfall Organization want to kill that man?" lying in bed, Mu Huanqing asked with a sorrowful tone.
"Some might do it for grudges, and others for their own benefits," Fang Ren said.
"Why not exert their abilities in cultivation and protect more people instead..." Mu Huanqing mumbled, then snuggled closer into Fang Ren's arms, feeling sad again.
"I've told you, human nature has a dark side," Fang Ren said, stroking her silver hair. "But remember, in this world, the majority are good people. Sister Hui Qing, don't think everything is bad, it's just a few bad apples."
Mu Huanqing nodded and cuddled closer to Fang Ren.
"What's wrong?" Fang Ren asked, noticing her persistent snuggling.
"Why aren't you doing those things to me tonight, Ah Ran?" Mu Huanqing asked softly.
Fang Ren paused for a moment, "I saw that Sister Hui Qing wasn't in the best mood, so I thought I'd provide some comfort."
"Can't we do that... and talk at the same time?" Mu Huanqing asked.
"Alright, as you wish."
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