CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 51 : XIE JIANYU IS A BAD HOST

Despite the unforeseeable incident that resulted in Xie Jianyu’s injury, the Grand Tutor was pretty satisfied with the end result of the mission. The Thousand-Legged Centipede Spirit had been slayed, leaving the Human Realm with one less menace. Hurrah to humanity.

Battered and bruised, everyone returned to the safety of their homes.

The next day, the young alphas gathered one last time at Crystal Jade Pavilion. As expected, Xie Jianyu did not show up because he had to nurse his injured leg.

The Grand Tutor brought some rewards to distribute to his dear students.

"To Crown Prince Xie Jianyu and Prince Zhang Fengxi, I herewith bestow each of you with a vial of elixir that I made using the Thousand-Legged Centipede Spirit’s life essence."

The entire class gaped at the two precious vials in the Grand Tutor’s hands. They were filled to the brim with blue shimmering liquid. The shimmering effect came from golden dust that were floating inside the viscous elixir.

"Grand Tutor, what is that for?" an alpha asked out of curiosity.

The Grand Tutor lifted the vials above his head, showing them off like trophies.

"The Thousand-Legged Centipede Spirit was one of the most poisonous beings in the human realm. For more than a thousand years, it fed on poisonous plants and animals.

Day after day, as it ingested more and more poison, its entire body became a vessel that refined the most lethal poison, a powerful combination of all poisons that were known to men.

The life essence of the centipede spirit contained such poison.

By adding Phoenix Wing Dusts that hailed from Qifeng Palace’s famed Phoenix Mountain, the effect of the life essence is reversed.

These two vials now contain the most effective poison antidote that is known to men."

The entire class wowed and oohed in astonishment.

It had to be said that the Grand Tutor was an excellent alchemist. He liked working with exotic ingredients and creating equally exotic and highly limited potions and elixirs.

Among many of his quirky characters, the Grand Tutor typically did not make the same item twice, mainly because he couldn’t be bothered to gather the necessary ingredients twice.

He liked to blame it on his advanced age, but it was really just his laziness.

In this case, there were not many Thousand-Legged Centipede Spirits wandering in the human realm. It might take another thousand years or more for a normal centipede to cultivate to that level!

These two vials of multi-purpose antidotes might be the only ones that the world got to see!

Under the watchful eyes of his students, the Grand Tutor approached Zhang Fengxi’s desk with the rare items clutched in his hands.

"The Crown Prince was injured and could not make it to the class today. Prince Zhang Fengxi, do take one vial to Fuxi Palace today and take a look at his condition. We all wish for his speedy recovery."

Zhou Guiying, Jiang Muchen, and the rest of the class got different parts of the giant centipede, none of which could compare with the vials of antidote that Zhang Fengxi just obtained.

When the Grand Tutor heard the buzzing complaints, he shut them all with a scolding, "Had you all been working as hard as Crown Prince and Prince Zhang Fengxi, surely the Crown Prince did not have to get hurt. Be sure to thank the Crown Prince when you happen to see him in the future!"

Zhang Fengxi tucked the vials safely in his qiankun* bag and rode his spiritual mount to the Fuxi Palace.

The guards and maids at Fuxi Palace were a lot friendlier when they heard that Zhang Fengxi was there to drop off a vial of precious elixir and not to beat up their master again.

Xie Jianyu was meditating in a small pavilion just below the bell tower. Zhang Fengxi had to climb hundreds of steps just to reach him. He felt like a devotee who was paying homage to a deity at a shrine.

"Xie Jianyu."

Zhang Fengxi wrinkled his nose when he reached the small pavilion. It was that pungent smell again. The alpha looked around and spotted an incense burner on the ground, just next to Xie Jianyu. Gentle wisps of smoke arose from the holes in the lid, blowing gently around Xie Jianyu’s form.

Xie Jianyu opened his eyes slowly and blinked at the uninvited visitor.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

Zhang Fengxi raised his hands in response. Xie Jianyu stared at the two vials in Zhang Fengxi’s hands quizzically.

"A present from the Grand Tutor for our great achievements," Zhang Fengxi said with a grin.

"Our".

Xie Jianyu lowered his gaze.

"You can leave them with my servants. I need to continue meditating," he said with a hint of nonchalance.

"This is Grand Tutor’s original creation. A multi-purpose antidote made of the centipede spirit’s life essence!"

Xie Jianyu gave him a faint smile.

"How wonderful."

"..."

There was no use talking to an ice statue like Xie Jianyu.

Zhang Fengxi wanted to go down the steps and leave, but then he thought of something else. He turned around and faced Xie Jianyu again.

"I came this far to look at your condition. Can’t you be hospitable and offer me a cup of tea?"

"..."

Xie Jianyu sighed. He gathered the incense burner into his hands and rose to his feet.

"Come," he said. "Let’s have tea together."

By the time they reached the main building, Xie Jianyu told Zhang Fengxi to wait in the guest reception room. He left with the incense burner, going back to his bedroom to "get dressed".

Maybe it was the habit of an omega, to make himself presentable to attract future husbands.

When Xie Jianyu returned, though, he was wearing the exact same clothes, minus the incense burner.

Zhang Fengxi licked his lips. His brain was brooding a plan.

Meanwhile, Mingyu arrived with a tray of tea pot and tea cups. She unwittingly furrowed her brows when she caught sight of Zhang Fengxi.

But Zhang Fengxi made Xie Jianyu happy on his birthday, so maybe Mingyu should be nicer to him.

"Please enjoy, Palace Master and Prince."

The young maid bowed deeply before she left.

Xie Jianyu was probably the worst host ever. Other than pouring tea for his guest and himself, he did not bother to extend Zhang Fengxi any hospitality.

His vocal cord must be made of pure gold.

"I am exhausted," Xie Jianyu said, as if answering Zhang Fengxi’s unspoken dissatisfaction.

"Thank you for bringing me a vial of the antidote. I shall send the Grand Tutor a thank you message by today."

He clearly wanted Zhang Fengxi to leave.

Unfortunately, Zhang Fengxi was the type of person who would stubbornly stay when the host wanted him to leave.

"Oh, owww... OWWWW... AHHH...!!!"

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Author’s note :

* qiankun bag - literally taken from MDZS, the all-purpose, all-fitting bag that we all want to have.