Longevity: From Being Pushed By The Witch

In the elegant room, the fragrance of tea wafted.

Ji Boying and Sun Qingruo sat facing each other.

The latter caressed the teacup and paused before saying,

"If I'm not mistaken, Master Ji Dan's current level should be able to refine two-star medicinal pills, right?"

Ji Boying's movements faltered slightly, his gaze carrying a hint of doubt and vigilance.

Seemingly seeing through Ji Boying's thoughts, Sun Qingruo smiled gently and said softly,

"Master Ji Dan, please don't misunderstand. Qingruo is only making a rough judgment based on your success rate in pill refinement these past few days."

"For ordinary alchemists, the success rate of refining top-grade medicinal pills is at most eighty percent, while exceptionally skilled ones can reach ninety percent."

"Master Ji Dan's current success rate in refining top-grade medicinal pills is rarely seen to fail in several days, and the rate of producing high-quality pills is as high as eighty percent, with even the occasional birth of top-grade pills."

"With this level of skill, even those who have just reached the two-star level would find it difficult to match."

"So..."

Sun Qingruo looked at Ji Boying, her eyes containing a hint of amusement, and did not continue speaking.

"It's my fault for being presumptuous."

Ji Boying apologized, then took a sip of tea and continued,

"Miss Sun called me here not just for this matter, right?"

"Of course."

Sun Qingruo did not avoid anything and said directly, "I invited Master Ji Dan here for a request."

"Please tell me."

Ji Boying spoke calmly.

Sun Qingruo nodded slightly and said,

"I hope Master Ji Dan can serve as the resident alchemist of Jichun Hall, to be precise... the resident alchemist under my management at Jichun Hall!"

"Of course, in terms of benefits, Master Ji Dan will not only enjoy the original profit sharing, but Jichun Hall will also provide additional monthly bonuses. In addition, if Master Ji Dan needs anything related to alchemy, fire control techniques, or pill formulas, Jichun Hall will do its best to fulfill them."

Ji Boying remained silent.

The treatment of being a resident alchemist in a shop was indeed generous, and one would also receive the protection of the forces behind the shop.

However...

There were also many restrictions!

After signing a contract with a shop, one could only serve that shop within the contract period, and one's interests had to be tied to the shop.

If it were a slightly larger business, Ji Boying wouldn't mind becoming a resident alchemist or a dedicated alchemist. But if it were Jichun Hall...

Ji Boying hardly hesitated and directly refused,

"There's no need for me to be a resident alchemist, but deepening our cooperation is possible."

Sun Qingruo clearly did not expect Ji Boying to refuse so readily, without even much hesitation.

"Does Master Ji Dan have any dissatisfaction with the conditions I proposed? Please speak up! As long as Qingruo can do it, no matter what it is, I won't refuse!"

She looked at Ji Boying, and her words unintentionally revealed a hint of anxiety.

As long as it can be done, no refusal?

Upon hearing these words, Ji Boying's eyes flickered slightly, and his gaze involuntarily glanced downward.

A graceful lady, a gentleman's ideal partner.

Setting aside the fact that Sun Qingruo perfectly matched his aesthetic preferences, just the effects that Goldfinger could bring made it hard for him not to be tempted.

However, when he thought of Nan Gongwan, that witch, Ji Boying dispelled his thoughts.

"Miss Sun misunderstood. I simply don't want to be bound, that's all."

"Of course, if Jichun Hall encounters any difficulties within my capabilities, I will definitely do my best to help!"

With that, Ji Boying finished his tea in one gulp and then bowed to Miss Sun,

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Sun Qingruo quickly regained her composure and hurriedly stood up, bowing,

"I have been impolite today. I hope Master Ji Dan can forgive me."

"Miss Sun is being too polite!"

---

After leaving the elegant room, Ji Boying went straight to the quiet room to start refining pills.

Although he had already bought half a mountain outside Fulong City, he still needed Fulong City to complete its expansion in order to generate income.

In addition, aside from the pills he had refined in the past three months, Ji Boying also owed Jichun Hall about 150,000 low-grade spirit stones.

This amount of money was neither much nor little.

Fortunately, he was now a second-grade alchemist, and as long as he worked a little harder every day, he could basically repay it within a month.

Furthermore, Ji Boying calculated that he was still about 7,000 experience points away from breaking through to a second-grade middle-tier alchemist.

Based on the calculation of four experience points per furnace of second-grade pills, he would need about 1,750 furnaces of pills to reach the second-grade middle-tier.

In terms of time, it would take about nine months.

Fortunately, skill points are not like attribute points. As long as the corresponding attributes meet the skill requirements, skill points can continue to increase through practice.

This is also why Ji Boying was able to break through during the continuous alchemy process.

However, he hasn't found any other way to increase his sword skills besides fighting with Nangong Wan.

He had considered buying a basic sword technique book before, but because of buying land, he still feels financially constrained.

So, this matter has been put on hold.

But it's okay, these things will come eventually!

---

Another month passed, and Ji Boying, as usual, returned to his residence after refining the pill.

This time, before he even entered the courtyard gate, Ji Boying saw a faint candlelight shining in his room from a distance.

It seems...

For the past few months, this is the first time Nangong Wan has come home earlier than him.

Ji Boying paused for a moment, then walked towards the room.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw Nangong Wan sitting on the windowsill, seemingly lost in thought.

Her beautiful profile, illuminated by the candlelight, appeared serene yet melancholic.

"You're back?"

Nangong Wan glanced at Ji Boying at the door and said lightly, "If you're back, go prepare hot water."

"Yes."

Ji Boying put down the packed food in his hand and went to the kitchen to boil water.

In no time, a bucket of hot water was ready.

Looking at the somewhat unsightly wooden bucket in front of him, Ji Boying felt a bit melancholic.

During this time, he had wanted to replace the wooden bucket several times, to get a bigger one, but he couldn't find a reason to do so.

There were a few times when he fantasized about shaking the bucket like he had shaken the bed board before, but the quality of the bucket was too good, and he couldn't succeed even after shaking it several times.

Sigh...

Why was he so impulsive back then?

"Why are you staring at the bucket? Is there a problem?"

Just then, Nangong Wan's cold voice suddenly sounded.

Ji Boying quickly snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head, saying, "No, I was just thinking about something."

"Oh."

Nangong Wan responded indifferently, then said, "If there's nothing, come over and eat."

"Yes..."

Ji Boying nodded subconsciously, but... after taking a few steps, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

Eating together?

Did he mishear or... mishear?

"Why are you standing there? Don't you want to eat?"

Seeing Ji Boying stop in his tracks, Nangong Wan's voice sounded again.

This time, Ji Boying was certain that he didn't mishear; he looked at Nangong Wan and asked softly, "Senior, don't you eat first?"

"No need, let's eat together."

Nangong Wan spoke indifferently, and then she took the initiative to place the packed food Ji Boying brought on the table.

Like this...

The two sat facing each other, eating at the same table.

This was the first time.

And Ji Boying felt that this meal was the most delicious, even more delicious than the first time he ate at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant!

...

Soon, the table full of food was completely finished.

Of course, Nangong Wan only ate symbolically, while Ji Boying was the one who ate most of it.

After finishing the meal, Nangong Wan, as usual, went to the wooden bucket and poured several bottles of unknown liquid.

Meanwhile, Ji Boying was busy cleaning up the table.

Just then, Nangong Wan suddenly spoke.

When Ji Boying heard what Nangong Wan said, he froze in place, almost dropping the plate in his hand...