NOVEL WEB Chapter 340: Asked For Lessons
Among the two pills, former was more explosive in effect, the latter more gentle and stable. The key difference was how the Firecloud Bark was treated during the purification phase.
Han Yu didn't even need to dig through the library. He just needed to double-check the diagram.
'Thank you, Master Li Mei,' Han Yu grinned inwardly, 'for raising me well.'
As the disciples began to slowly file out of the pill hall with slumped shoulders and muttered curses about having to spend the next week living in the library, Han Yu stood, stretching lazily. He was halfway to the exit when he noticed a small group gathering around him.
A few disciples exchanged glances before finally one of them, a girl with a neat braid and alchemy stains on her sleeves, stepped forward.
"Uhm… excuse me," she said with a bright, slightly strained smile. "Han Yu, right? That was… a really sharp question you asked earlier! Really insightful!"
Han Yu paused mid-step, turned to face her, and blinked once, his expression completely unreadable. Though internally he could already guess what they wanted from him as the Eight Emotions Energy of Anticipation gave him a hint.
The girl's smile twitched, then she pushed forward. "I was wondering if maybe… you could help explain the assignment? Like… not give us the answer or anything, but just maybe help guide us in the right direction?"
The other disciples nodded vigorously, voices overlapping.
"Yes, just a nudge would help a lot."
"You clearly understood more than the rest of us."
"Honestly, we're willing to pay for your time if needed."
Han Yu, ever the master of false humility, gave them a disarming chuckle. "You flatter me. I'm just as much a student as all of you."
'And that', he thought, 'is exactly what someone about to hustle you says.'
He placed his hands behind his back and looked them over. "But I suppose I could spare some time. You know, in between refining pills, studying, and not sleeping."
The disciples straightened hopefully.
Then he smiled wide.
"One thousand merit points per person."
They blinked.
The braid girl was the first to speak, "W-Wait… a thousand?"
"That's insane," muttered another.
"I thought you said just a nudge?!"
Han Yu shrugged. "You said you were willing to pay. I'm charging for quality insight. I won't just tell you which pills match; I'll show you the breakdown and include flame control paths. You'll practically walk into class glowing with enlightenment."
One disciple hesitated, then rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Honestly… that might be worth it."
"What?" another whispered.
"Better than failing and getting hit with punishment," he said. "And merit point penalties. Gai Qing's grading isn't generous."
The braid girl frowned. "Can we… maybe negotiate a discount?"
Han Yu tilted his head and gave her a charming smile. "Negotiation's another 200 points."
"…Fine."
One by one, the disciples grudgingly accepted. A few groaned, but eventually a group of six walked away with plans to meet Han Yu later that evening. After all, they'd rather be swindled by a fellow disciple than suffer under Gai Qing's iron teaching stick.
As they left, Han Yu's smile turned smug. The truth was, this assignment was a breeze for him. With just a few diagrams and slightly dramatic explanations, he could spin it out to appear much more complex than it was.
'Scamming people with pill theory might just be the most profitable side hustle yet,' he thought with glee.
And besides, he was helping them.
Technically.
By the time evening arrived, Han Yu had already picked out one of the quieter study rooms within the Alchemy Peak's library hall—a private compartment with three benches, a wide jade-etched diagram table, and a basic sound-isolation array.
The room was dimly lit by floating spirit lanterns, which flickered gently with soft yellow light, giving the whole space a calm and scholarly atmosphere.
The disciples trickled in one by one—six in total, each with a wary but curious expression.
They were a mixed bunch: two Outer Court disciples who had just joined the peak within the last few months, a pair of Inner Court students with stable cultivation but little alchemical experience, and two latecomers who seemed a little embarrassed to be seeking help from someone their junior.
Han Yu sat at the table, already preparing diagrams with his brush and ink, his sleeves rolled up and a confident air about him.
"Welcome, fellow scholars," he greeted with a dramatic bow that drew a chuckle or two. "Please, be seated. Let us walk the glorious path of pill refinement… through your wallets."
The mood relaxed, some of the tension melting as they took their seats.
"All jokes aside," he continued, "I'm glad you're all here. This assignment might seem straightforward, but it's actually a clever test of your ability to observe beyond the herbs. So let's begin."
He raised his hand and tapped the center of the jade diagram table, activating the formation. He had even come here early so that he could figure out how to use the diagram table. It was his first time using it so didn't want to embarrass himself. He had to sell the scholarly image after all.
An illusionary image bloomed to life above it—a 3D schematic of a pill cauldron, with five common herbs floating around it.
"This," Han Yu said, "is the base ingredient list shared by two well-known pills: the Jade Vitality Pill and the Emerald Blood-Recovery Pill.
The ingredients are:
Firecloud Bark
Spiritdew Leaf
Bloodroot
Silverstem Moss
Crystalline Ginger
"All five are neutral-to-warm in nature, and none of them are particularly rare. This makes them ideal for basic medical-grade pills focused on energy restoration and minor wound recovery."
He waved his hand, and the illusion split into two cauldrons. One glowed pale green, the other a more vibrant emerald hue.
"Now, here's the catch: despite using the same herbs, the pills created are completely different in effect."
He tapped the green one first highlighting its information and showing some diagrams.