The Passerby Female Supporting Character – Chapter 42

Alchemy

Song Linlin had a very peculiar feeling; fate truly was such a wondrous thing. However, she wasn’t too worried. Since Ye Tingran and Zhiyu had both already set off for Guanzhong, besides herself, no one else knew she had once pretended to be Zhang San within Yuanqing City.

As long as she didn’t volunteer the information, who could possibly know?

            

Song Linlin relaxed. She propped her head up with one hand, her thoughts uncontrollably drifting. Being an alchemist really was a great profession! This occupation didn’t have any particular requirements for combat strength, plus you could achieve freedom with pills​¹—even if you didn’t need them yourself, you could sell them.

Moreover, alchemists didn’t need to fight people; they just had to focus on honing their alchemy techniques.

Thinking this, Song Linlin’s gaze shifted back to Chi Qianning. She wondered if Chi Qianning knew alchemy. Song Linlin realized that being an alchemist was practically her ideal profession—daily life was very Zen-like​², and it was very safe.

            

“Chi Qianning, do you know alchemy?” Song Linlin suddenly asked.

“Hm?”

Chi Qianning turned her head and gave Song Linlin a somewhat puzzled look. “No. You want to learn alchemy?”

            

She had no interest in alchemy, so naturally, she hadn’t looked into it.

“Who wouldn’t want to…” Song Linlin sighed. Plenty of people wanted to become alchemists, but most couldn’t find the way or simply lacked the aptitude, ultimately failing to even get started​³.

Chi Qianning thought for a moment. Given Song Linlin’s cowardly​⁴ personality, becoming an alchemist actually seemed quite suitable. No idiotic​⁵ person would make an alchemist stand at the front lines when a battle started. Powerful alchemists were all honored guests of those Sects and great families.

            

“Song Linlin, you should go learn alchemy!” Chi Qianning suddenly declared.

Song Linlin didn’t do anything productive all day, running off to do meaningless things. Chi Qianning couldn’t persuade her otherwise and could only watch Song Linlin fool around outside every day.

Since that was the case, it would be better to find something proper to do, at least not squandering time like before.

            

“Huh?”

Song Linlin was also a bit stunned. She did want to learn, deep down, but even she felt it was a bit far-fetched. It wasn’t something just anyone could master.

She scratched her head, lacking confidence. “I should probably forget it… Alchemists aren’t like cabbages, a dime a dozen​⁶. I know absolutely nothing about this​⁷, whether I can succeed is really uncertain. Most importantly, you don’t know alchemy either, so where would I find someone to guide me?”

            

“Go find that Zhang San,” Chi Qianning said.

Song Linlin felt quite embarrassed. Zhang San was younger than her; learning from her would be too awkward. Mainly, the girl was so skilled at such a young age; if she herself couldn’t even get started for a long time, wouldn’t that be utterly humiliating​⁸?

Song Linlin shook her head, subconsciously resistant. “Let’s just forget it… She definitely has her own things to worry about!”

            

“Go try this afternoon. Even if she refuses, you lose nothing,” Chi Qianning stated coolly. Based on Song Linlin’s earlier description, she estimated this kid was likely broad-minded and inexperienced in the ways of the world​⁹; she probably wouldn’t refuse.

Besides, just asking​¹⁰ wouldn’t cost anything.

Since Chi Qianning had put it that way, Song Linlin couldn’t really object further.

            

When afternoon arrived, after lunch, Song Linlin went with Chi Qianning to Ziting Residence. She led the way, knocked on the main gate, and called out, “Zhang San, are you inside?”

After a moment, Zhang San’s voice came from within. “Yes! Just come straight in!”

Song Linlin pushed the gate open; it wasn’t locked and yielded easily. She peered inside and immediately spotted Zhang San squatting in the courtyard. She was under the shade of a tree, sleeves rolled up, holding a small trowel and digging up soil. In front of her, several plants had already been planted.

            

Zhang San used the trowel to flatten the loose soil, then patted her palms together, dusting off the dirt. Only then did she stand up and look at Song Linlin. “Oh, it’s you.”

“What are you doing?” Song Linlin walked into the courtyard, looking at the row of strange plants. She sensed these weren’t ordinary plants; each one contained pure energy within it.

Zhang San explained simply, “Some medicinal herbs must be planted in soil to ensure they don’t wither and die.”

            

At the same time, Zhang San noticed Chi Qianning behind Song Linlin. Initially, Song Linlin had blocked Chi Qianning from view at the entrance. Now that both had entered the courtyard, Zhang San finally saw her.

Her unique appearance made Zhang San look a few extra times. There were actually many good-looking people, but this was the first time she had seen someone with this particular kind of look. It was just that the other person’s aura was so cold and detached, it made Zhang San instinctively hesitant to approach. She could only look at Song Linlin and ask, “This is?”

“This is Lin Qianqian. She’s my friend,” Song Linlin explained.

            

“Oh.”

Zhang San nodded, feeling the name was a bit odd. After thinking for two seconds, she belatedly exclaimed in surprise, “Wow, Song Linlin, your names are so similar! Almost like a pair!”

Song Linlin naturally understood that this name sounded strange alongside her own. She didn’t know what Chi Qianning had been thinking, telling Zhiyu this was her name.

            

Now, Song Linlin could only offer a smile to cover her awkwardness. “They are quite similar.”

“Let’s go inside to talk,” Zhang San said.

She didn’t mind Song Linlin bringing someone over. Since she was unfamiliar with the place and people here, getting to know more people wasn’t a bad thing.

            

The three sat down in the living room. Zhang San looked at Song Linlin. “Did you come looking for me this afternoon for something specific?”

Song Linlin turned to look at Chi Qianning; she was too embarrassed to speak up. Chi Qianning, however, felt no such embarrassment. It wasn’t like they were asking for free labor; she had no intention of trying to get something for nothing​¹¹ by deceiving a child.

“Can you teach her the basics of alchemy?” Chi Qianning didn’t beat around the bush​¹², stating their purpose directly. She never liked wasting time on pleasantries with others.

            

Zhang San looked at Chi Qianning, then turned to look at Song Linlin. Song Linlin felt rather guilty; why hadn’t Chi Qianning even offered a few polite words before stating things so bluntly?

Song Linlin quickly waved her hands. “If it’s inconvenient for you, it’s okay to refuse!”

“Sure, it’s no trouble at all,” Zhang San agreed without much thought. To her, it didn’t seem like a very troublesome matter. Back in the sect, she would often help fellow disciples and discuss alchemy techniques and insights.

            

Just teaching some basics? That was quite simple, so she agreed immediately without even thinking.

“Uh…” Song Linlin stared at Zhang San, stunned.

She had agreed so readily, without even a moment’s consideration. This actually made Song Linlin feel a bit uncomfortable, as if she were freeloading​¹³.

            

Weren’t ordinary cultivators usually unable to even find a way to learn alchemy? How did it become so simple for her?

Even Chi Qianning, off to the side, was slightly taken aback. This was somewhat different from what she had imagined. In her expectation, the other party was, after all, a disciple of a major sect, and from a lineage famous for alchemy at that. Even as a fledgling​¹⁴ newcomer, she should have been more cautious.

She had heard about many old alchemists who had all sorts of requirements for accepting disciples. Yet this Zhang San had agreed so easily. Chi Qianning hadn’t even mentioned the compensation she had prepared.

            

It seemed this really was a simple-minded young girl. But that was fine too; at least she had readily agreed.

Although Zhang San hadn’t made any demands or asked for payment, Chi Qianning was still a principled snake and wouldn’t take advantage of Zhang San.

Chi Qianning nodded. “It’s naturally good that you’re willing to teach her. Of course, we won’t let you work for free. I will give you appropriate compensation.”

            

“Hm? What compensation?” Zhang San hadn’t expected such a simple task to come with a reward and asked curiously.

Chi Qianning turned to Song Linlin. “I killed two demonic cultivators before, and I tossed their Qiankun Rings to you. Do you have those two rings with you now?”

Two demonic cultivators? Qiankun Rings?

            

Song Linlin thought hard for several seconds before finally remembering that this had indeed happened. The first time she met Chi Qianning, she had stumbled into a cave and unluckily encountered Chi Qianning confronting two demonic cultivators.

When the three started fighting, Song Linlin had been scared to death, thinking her life was surely over. Fortunately, Chi Qianning dealt with them. At the time, Chi Qianning hadn’t thought much of the contents of their Qiankun Rings and had casually tossed them to her.

Song Linlin couldn’t be sure when she might need those two Qiankun Rings again, so she had put them in the small cloth pouch she carried with her and hadn’t taken them out since.

            

“I have them, wait a moment.”

This small pouch contained quite a few useful little things. Song Linlin always kept it hanging at her waist. Reaching in now, she indeed fished out two Qiankun Rings from the very bottom.

She stood up, walked over, and handed the items to Chi Qianning. However, Song Linlin was also quite curious. She remembered that these rings seemed to contain only poison. Surely Chi Qianning wasn’t planning to gift the girl a bottle of poison…

            

That would be too… indescribable…

Chi Qianning accepted the Qiankun Rings, her spiritual sense probing within. She was, indeed, preparing to give Zhang San a bottle of poison. Alchemists loved collecting all sorts of pill formulas, and this naturally included recipes for potent poisons.

The items carried by those two demonic cultivators, long turned to ash, were mostly poisons. Their Qiankun Rings even contained several poison formulas.

            

Chi Qianning had no use for these things anyway. She didn’t practice alchemy, nor did she disdain using poison in sneak attacks against enemies. So, she didn’t mind handing these over to Zhang San now.

Chi Qianning took out a yellowed piece of parchment. However, the very bottom of the paper showed signs of having been burned. She said, “This is a poison formula of no less than fourth-grade. Unfortunately, the final part was slightly burned away.”

“But with your aptitude, having the actual substance and the formula, deducing this small final portion shouldn’t be difficult.”

            

Song Linlin felt ashamed​¹⁵ listening; she really was giving her poison. She quickly turned to check Zhang San’s reaction.

“Poison?”

Upon hearing this, Zhang San showed no sign of anger. Instead, she seemed interested, reaching out to take the parchment and examine it carefully.

            

And the bottle of poison—she opened the lid. The contents emitted no scent whatsoever. The ingredients listed in the formula were all highly toxic substances. Such a thing could be used silently and without a trace.

Zhang San hadn’t expected any payment originally. Now, she was very satisfied with what Chi Qianning gave her. No alchemist disliked collecting strange formulas.

“Lin Qianqian, you’re such a good person! I’ll definitely teach Song Linlin properly!” Zhang San accepted the items and said sincerely.

            

Song Linlin, standing nearby, was dumbfounded. She hadn’t expected this to work!

Having accepted the payment, Zhang San was now highly motivated. She said to Song Linlin, “I’ll make a list for you first. These are the things you need to prepare for alchemy. Tomorrow, I’ll formally teach you the basics!”

“Okay.”

            

Song Linlin nodded. Since she was going to learn, she definitely needed to prepare the tools. Anyway, she had received a bottle of pills from Zhang San yesterday, earning 3,500 contribution points. She certainly had enough money to buy the most basic materials.

Zhang San found paper and a brush, placed them on the table, held the brush, and occasionally paused to think about what items were needed.

This was the domain of professionals; Song Linlin couldn’t lend a hand​¹⁶, so she just waited nearby. Idle with nothing to do, she could only wander around near Zhang San.

            

Chi Qianning sat in her chair. Now that it was settled that Zhang San would teach Song Linlin alchemy, she had nothing else to do. She leaned back lazily against the chair, supporting her cheek with the back of one hand, elbow resting on the armrest.

She lowered her gaze, her eyes drifting beside her chair. Only then did she notice a large blue-and-white porcelain jar placed next to it, filled with soil. Several unfamiliar herbs were planted inside; presumably, Zhang San had planted these too.

Since she was just sitting here idly, Chi Qianning reached out and touched a leaf of one of the plants. The touch felt surprisingly warm; the leaf had a temperature.

            

However, the next moment, the herb that had looked lush green, even bearing small yellow flowers, rapidly began to wilt, starting from the leaf she touched. All the leaves drooped, and even the petals of the yellow flowers quickly curled inward.

Then, a dull yellow color spread, the leaves withered and fell off one by one, and the flower petals immediately shriveled.

“Holy crap!”

            

Song Linlin couldn’t help but exclaim. She had witnessed the whole thing. One second the plant looked full of life, but just after being touched by Chi Qianning, it rapidly withered and died in less than three seconds. It was too bizarre!

Did she have poison on her hands? Surely the plant wouldn’t die just from a touch!

Chi Qianning was also a bit stunned. She had only just touched the leaf, and then the plant died.

            

Hearing the commotion, Zhang San turned around and saw the withered remains of the plant. She immediately cried out, “My Yang Heart Grass​¹⁷! How did it suddenly die?!”

This type of grass needed prolonged exposure to sunlight to avoid withering. It also couldn’t come into contact with things possessing a yin-evil attribute​¹⁸. She had planned to move the jar outside to sunbathe later. How could it have died just when she wasn’t looking?

“That’s not right! There shouldn’t be anything yin-evil nearby. How could it suddenly die?” Zhang San still couldn’t believe it.

            

Hearing this, Song Linlin understood what had happened. Chi Qianning also looked somewhat awkward; she hadn’t expected the grass to die just from her touch.

Song Linlin tried to cover up the truth, starting to talk nonsense​¹⁹, “Uh, maybe Lin Qianqian touched the poison? That poison isn’t made from good stuff, so maybe the Yang Heart Grass died because of that.”

“I’ll buy you a new one this afternoon to compensate you!”

            

She remembered seeing this item available at the exchange.

“Alright…” Zhang San nodded. That seemed the only option now.

But she still couldn’t help muttering, “It’s really strange, it really shouldn’t have died…”

            

Song Linlin and Chi Qianning didn’t dare say another word.

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The author has something to say:

Too much ambiguity/flirtatiousness written previously. These recent chapters are focused on plot development. Probably get back to the romance in a chapter or two, hehe.

            

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