Chapter 399: A Mistake in Memory

Jin Huanzhen was a senior commander of the Swift Wind Guard, a powerhouse at the Soul Sea realm.

In recent days, as the Wind Emperor deployed troops and appointed generals, the Swift Wind Guard naturally had its share of matters.

The unit under Commander Jin Huanzhen's command would soon be heading to the front lines.

When troops set out on an expedition, weapons and pills were indispensable.

Pills, in particular, were far too important for a unit. The quantity and quality of pills determined their survival rate and sustained combat capability.

A few days earlier, the Swift Wind Guard had placed a unified order for a batch of pills with the Alchemist Guild.

And today was the day to collect the pills.

Jin Huanzhen came to the Alchemist Guild to find Yang Xiu, but was blocked at the door by his disciple.

"Oh, it's Lin Yi! How have you been lately?"

Jin Huanzhen often dealt with Yang Xiu and was naturally very familiar with his senior disciple, Lin Yi.

In the past, Lin Yi would have immediately bowed and greeted him, but today he looked down his nose as if he didn't see anyone.

"Master is refining pills. Come back another day if you have business," Lin Yi said stiffly.

Jin Huanzhen frowned, feeling quite displeased.

Setting aside his relationship with Yang Xiu, he himself was a major patron of the Alchemist Guild. Why was Lin Yi speaking so harshly and rudely today?

"Hmm, I had an appointment with Elder Yang to pick up the pills today. How could he be in the middle of refining pills?" Jin Huanzhen frowned.

"How would I know? I only know Master told me to keep watch here and not let any riffraff disturb his pill refining!"

Jin Huanzhen's face darkened. "Lin Yi, what kind of talk is that? Elder Yang and I are old friends. Am I considered riffraff? Look, go in and inform him that I'm here. He won't refuse to see me."

Lin Yi replied with equal displeasure, "Master is at a critical stage in his pill refining. How can I disturb him? If something goes wrong with his refining, can you bear the responsibility?"

"You! Fine, very well! When I see Elder Yang, I'll ask him whether I, Jin Huanzhen, am riffraff or not! If he's refining pills, I'll wait here today!"

Jin Huanzhen was furious and dug in his heels against Lin Yi. But he didn't have the nerve to force his way in.

The Alchemist Guild housed the best alchemists in the entire Gale Realm and operated independently of the Wind Emperor's jurisdiction; no one dared to provoke them.

If Lin Yi said Yang Xiu was refining pills, and if it was some critical pill, Jin Huanzhen truly couldn't bear the consequences.

Even in the Gale Realm, where alchemy was not advanced, although Jin Huanzhen and Yang Xiu were both at the Sea Transformation realm, Yang Xiu's status was far higher.

Lin Yi said indifferently, "Suit yourself!"

With that, Lin Yi ignored Jin Huanzhen and let him be.

...

Four hours passed in the blink of an eye, and there was no movement from inside.

Jin Huanzhen paced back and forth incessantly, looking very anxious and angry.

Lin Yi had taken some kind of crazy notion today, deliberately opposing him.

He had been waiting here for several hours, not only without a single cup of tea, but Lin Yi had even ordered all the chairs removed!

This was utterly outrageous!

Although standing for a few hours was nothing for a Soul Sea realm martial artist, the feeling of contempt was a great insult.

Heaven helps those who help themselves. As dusk fell, Yang Xiu finally emerged from the pill refining room.

Jin Huanzhen was overjoyed and immediately put on a smiling face as he approached: "Elder Yang, I've been waiting for you for ages! You're finally out!"

Yang Xiu smiled. "Oh, it's Huanzhen. What brings you here?"

Just as Jin Huanzhen was about to speak, he suddenly felt something was off.

Logically, after such a long time refining pills, an alchemist's soul power would be greatly depleted. Even if it wasn't an important pill, he should be somewhat fatigued.

But Yang Xiu was full of energy, without the slightest hint of tiredness. Could Lin Yi have been lying to him?

So Jin Huanzhen probed, "Elder Yang, were you just now... refining pills?"

Yang Xiu looked surprised. "Refining pills? No, I was studying some things in the pill refining room and lost track of time. I didn't realize it was already dark."

Jin Huanzhen ground his teeth in anger. "Elder Yang, it's not that I like to tattle, but your disciple Lin Yi is utterly disrespectful! When I came to see you, he said you were refining pills, making me wait outside for four hours..."

Jin Huanzhen poured out his grievances, fully expecting Yang Xiu to give Lin Yi a severe scolding. But what happened next took him by surprise!

Yang Xiu glanced at Lin Yi and asked, "Did you tell him I was refining pills?"

Lin Yi nodded. "Yes."

At this point in the conversation, Jin Huanzhen was ready to watch the show, but Yang Xiu's next words nearly made him spit out blood.

Yang Xiu slowly turned to Jin Huanzhen and said, "Oh, is that so? I must have remembered wrong. I really did refine pills all day! Ah, I'm old and useless. Huanzhen, if you have business, come see me tomorrow. I need to go rest."

Jin Huanzhen stared wide-eyed at Yang Xiu, unable to recover for a long moment. Only when Yang Xiu left did he snap out of it and hurriedly chase after him.

"Elder Yang, wait! Elder Yang, wait!" Jin Huanzhen shouted.

Yang Xiu said impatiently, "Huanzhen, it's very late. Let's talk about business tomorrow!"

Jin Huanzhen said urgently, "Elder Yang, please don't be like this! The army is about to march, and I really can't afford any delays! Elder Yang, that batch of pills of mine, after all..."

"Pills? What pills?" Yang Xiu asked with a blank look.

Seeing Yang Xiu's expression, Jin Huanzhen's heart sank. He quickly reminded him, "Ten days ago, didn't we agree to order a batch of pills from you?"

"Is that so? I don't remember. Brother, the guild has been swamped with orders lately, and I'm overwhelmed. How about... you wait a little longer?" Yang Xiu suggested helpfully.

Jin Huanzhen knew full well that Yang Xiu was deliberately playing hard to get. But he was baffled, unsure how he had offended this big shot.

Yang Xiu held a very high position in the Alchemist Guild, and Jin Huanzhen couldn't afford to offend him. He had to plead, "Elder Yang, you know our army is about to march soon. We... we can't wait any longer!"

Yang Xiu spread his hands. "Then I can't help it. I'm really too busy here. How about... you find someone else?"

Jin Huanzhen cursed inwardly but had to be cautious: "Elder Yang, I wonder how I have offended you. Could you give me a hint?"

Yang Xiu laughed heartily. "Not at all, not at all! Brother, you're overthinking it! I'm really busy! Alright, enough talk. My head is spinning from all this pill refining. I'm going back to rest."

The same scene was playing out in various places throughout the alchemist city of Wangcheng...