Chapter 87 - Planning Ahead

"Many of these are ingredients I've never had the opportunity to do any work with," Wu Lin said as he considered Ao Wen's offer. It was possible that all of this would go up in an expensive cloud of smoke, or worse, that the concoction would be unstable enough to produce a cauldron explosion. Being close to such a volitile mixture could be actively dangerous. And yet, he couldn't suppress his curiosity at the methods this unknown alchemist would bring to bear on such extraordinary ingredients. "I'd consider it a privilege to assist as your herb boy today," Wu Lin finally said, giving in to his curiosity about this mysterious concoction and the even more rare ingredients that would evidently be contributed directly by the City Lord's manor. 

"Thank you," Ao Wen said with a gentle smile. "I'm going to make notations for the order in which I'll need things to be prepared. I'll be honest with you," she added frankly. "If I'd had access to a fully stocked medicine storehouse, this prescription wouldn't be nearly as cumbersome. In some cases, we're using three or even four auxiliary ingredients to make up for the lack of a rare main ingredient. Juggling so many additional ingredients means we have to plan carefully for each group of refinements. You're going to be doing a lot of pre-processing and measuring so I hope you'll forgive me if I run you a little ragged today."

"Would it be worth reviewing the list to see if we actually have any other rare ingredients that you might have skipped over?" Wu Lin asked, hoping for a chance to earn back some of the lost reputation of their humble branch of the Alchemy Consortium. "We had the Pure Yin Lunar Jay Tail Feather after all."

"We can," Ao Wen said doubtfully. "But when I said rare, I really meant rare. Do you think you have Dragon Mother Crystal Dust or a Golden Crow Cinder Branch?"

Wu Lin looked at the many herbs and ingredients he'd brought and flushed in embarrassment. "I see what fellow Novice Ao means when she says 'really rare,'" he said somewhat sheepishly. "In that case, I'll focus on making the preparations you've outlined."

Several servants bustled around, bringing forth tables, scales and a number of other tools needed for the practice of alchemy. There hadn't been a resident alchemist in the City Lord's manor since the time of the current City Lord's grandfather but the materials had all been kept away and well preserved against the potential future need. 

"That cauldron," City Lord Zhang said, gesturing to a large cauldron of polished bronze supported by four tortoise feet and decorated with a the pattern of a tortoise shell. "It belonged to my grand uncle Zhang Lo Ru. It has sat unused for over a century since his death. If your concoction succeeds, please consider it a gift of thanks," he said in a tone that carried genuine sincerity. 

While the cauldron held sentimental value to the Zhang family, the exchange between Ao Wen and Alchemy Novice Wu made it clear to the City Lord just how exceptional of an elixir Ao Wen was preparing to concoct. Sentimentality had value to be sure and he wasn't one to hand out family relics easily, but equipping such a talented alchemist could secure more concrete benefits for him and his family than clinging to a family relic that none of his children showed any interest in learning to use. When benefits were present to be had, many sentiments could make way before real gains and he felt no pain at making this offer. As long as the concoction worked, that alone would be worth the gift of the cauldron! 

Meanwhile, Alchemy Novice Mao Ailum watched with an increasing sense of alarm. Seeing the ingredients appear one after another, each expertly examined by Ao Wen, told him that he'd been very wrong to doubt her alchemy skills. He'd managed to buy some time for himself by bluffing this far but even if her concoction failed, she was clearly a skilled enough alchemist to make observations on Feng Lieren's health. 

Desperately, his Scholar's mind worked to find a way out of the situation. He could attempt to frame himself as the manipulated victim of Long Ma's schemes, revealing the source of the Blood Iron Dust, but he'd been a conspirator for many years. The City Lord had already vented his fury more than once about having his power doubted. If Mao Ailum suggested that he was more afraid of Dragon Soldier Long Ma than City Lord Zhang, there was no way he'd be absolved of his crimes! Perhaps he could interfere with the concoction, ensuring it failed or caused disastrous results for Wan Yue? But how could he do that under the watchful eyes of not only the Formation Master City Lord but his Warrior wife as well? But if he didn't do anything, he was doomed! 

Mao Ailum's brows furrowed deeply as he thought about other ways he could disrupt the process. Perhaps, if he could find a way to poke holes in Ao Wen's planned concoction. She had already confessed to having to make numerous substitutions, maybe if he questioned some of her choices there, he could reveal some hidden flaw in all of this that he could exploit. Somewhere, somehow, there had to be a way to get himself out of this mess! He just had to assemble a plan that would work. 

Meanwhile, in a small shop that had once been busy and prosperous, Long Ma strode in from the rain with a scowl on his face as he took in the fallen state of the proprietor who lay slumped over his sales counter, clearly having spent much of the night drinking. "Aesthete Qing," the imposing Soldier said loudly, startling the weapons maker out of his stupor. "I see things have been hard on you since your encounter with Ao Wen. I'm wondering if you could help make something for me," he began, tossing a small bag of spirit crystals on the table. "I seem to be having my own troubles with the young Brawler and the opportunity to meet her with one of your works in hand is one I thought would interest you."

Looking from the imposing Soldier to the bag of spirit crystals and back again, the haggard Artist rubbed the sleep from his eyes as a grin formed on his lips. "Dragon Soldier Long," he said hoarsely. "Tell me more…"