Night of the Broken Gliph

Not much later, a round elixir appeared in Ping Chi’s palm. “This is the calming elixir. I see that you’re easily irritated and often in a bad mood; it might be a sign of you breaking through. Take this elixir before you attempt to break through. It will keep you conscious.” 

Chui Yim took the elixir with a frown and turned towards Ping Ching with a questioning look. Understanding him, Ping Ching spoke up. “As a grandmaster, my master can refine grade three elixirs without an elixir stove as it is simple for him. This calming elixir forged by my master should cost… more than a hundred thousand silver taels…” 

“I’ll believe him for now.” Chui Yim trusted Ping Ching. He swiftly kept the elixir in disdain. “Alright, deal. You’ll teach me alchemy while I assist you in writing that stupid book.” 

“Deal!” Ping Chi’s angry expression disappeared instantly as he replied, fearing that Chui Yim might go back on his words. Old Chan watched this scene dumbfoundedly from the side….

Ping Chi was a well-known teacher, but this was only in terms of medicine. He might have been a grandmaster alchemist, but he rarely took in disciples. His only two disciples were Ping San Yat, current clan leader of the Ping Clan, who was also a great master in alchemy, and Ping Ching, his second disciple.  

How much good karma has this nameless kid accumulated to receive such excellent treatment…

Obviously, wanting Chui Yim to assist him in writing a book was just an excuse. Ping Chi was glad to have met Chui Yim; he wanted to take him in as a disciple. Doctor Odd was knowledgeable in both alchemy and medicine. Great Master Ping San Yat was a successful disciple of his, and even Ping Ching was a talented boy who would definitely become a great master, maybe even a grandmaster. 

However, Ping Chi didn’t have a disciple in medicine. He might’ve been a hundred-gliphic gliphist, but he wasn’t interested in battle. Medicine was everything he pursued in life, and Ping Chi learnt alchemy just because it complemented medicine, as elixirs could be used to save lives in emergencies. 

Because he was such a great glipheon, he had high requirements for his disciples. Ping San Yat and Ping Ching were suitable disciples for alchemy, but Ping Chi had not come across anyone qualified to call him a master in medicine even after a hundred years. Ping Ching only called him a master when it came to alchemy.

Today, Ping Chi was on cloud nine. Chui Yim’s medicinal understanding was nothing, even childish to Ping Chi. However, he could tell that Chui Yim had a great foundation, often thinking out of the box. Chui Yim never limited his thinking to standard medical techniques and dared to experiment with all kinds of things. This was a crucial trait for glipheons. 

If one didn’t dare to experiment, then humans would have never developed gliph tattoos! 

Unbeknownst to many, the first glipher had a gliph tattooed on him as he wanted to save a life. The abilities that came with it were just a side benefit.

Most importantly, Chui Yim was still young! Having such a strong foundation in medicine that is better than even some of the old researchers? He has a bright future! 

Ping Chi was a cunning old fox about two hundred years old. The fact that he was skilled in both medicine and alchemy, yet there was nobody who could control him, showed that he was intelligent. He knew how Chui Yim would react if he went and tried to take him as his disciple right now. Chui Yim only did things beneficial to him and wouldn’t accept it even if Ping Chi gave away all his treasures. Thus, Ping Chi used alchemy to bait him into becoming his alchemical disciple before showing off his medicinal knowledge while they wrote the book. Chui Yim would be shocked before kowtowing to him willingly, becoming his direct disciple in medicine! 

Old Ping couldn’t help but feel happy at the thought of Chui Yim kowtowing and calling him master. A wide smile washed over his wrinkly face. Sensing his malicious intent, Chui Yim left with Ping Ching hurriedly. 

Outside the Ping Clan, on one of the mountain routes of the Southern Mountain, gliphic plants and herbs filled the mountain. 

The Southern Mountain was the base of Southern Ping. Walking on the mountain routes, accompanied by a mountain breeze and aroma of herbs, would energize anyone. 

Ping Ching stared at Chui Yim curiously, as if looking at a monster. 

“What are you looking at?” Chui Yim huffed and glared at him. However, this didn’t scare Ping Ching. 

“I’ve never seenmy master value someone else so highly.” Ping Ching blinked. “Brother Chui is really something else.” 

But Chui Yim only sneered in response. As a human for two lives, he could tell what Ping Chi thought. “Take me as a disciple? Let’s see if he’s qualified enough.” 

His arrogant words made Ping Ching’s eyes widen in shock. With Ping Chi’s fame, there would be a line from the top of the Southern Mountain to the foot if Ping Chi was openly looking for a disciple. However, the boy in front of him didn’t seem to care. 

Chui Yim never had a master in this life. Even Chor Shing Chit was just a teacher in school to him. Moreover, he paid school fees, so it was a paid service. Right now, they had a very close bond and addressed each other as brothers that helped each other grow instead of having a master and disciple relationship. 

Chui Tin might have taught Chui Yim medicine, but he was his father and not his master. In both his lives, there was only one person who Chui Yim acknowledged as his master:the man that taught him the Nine Levels Of Heaven’s Flame, White Spark. If anyone in this world knew how powerful White Spark was, nobody would think the things he said were arrogant. 

A breeze caressed them as they travelled. The temperature fell as it got late. Ping Ching couldn’t help but shudder and said with a smile,“It’s quite late, brother Chui. Let’s return.”

“Let’s go.” Chui Yim nodded. 

Both of them headed back to the Ping Clan. 

Whoosh…

Another cold breeze blew past them, making Chui Yim and Ping Chi puff out fog. Chui Yim was dumbfounded. It might be late winter, but how could it be so cold? 

Suddenly, the Heaven’s Flame shuddered. It was just a slight movement, just like what Ping San Yat saw back at the inn. It was like someone turning in their sleep, but the chilliness Chui Yim felt disappeared as his body returned to normal. If Chui Yim still couldn’t tell that something was off, he wasn’t Chui Yim anymore. 

Shuddering, he pulled Ping Ching back instantly. 

Whoosh! 

A black figure shot past Ping Ching as blood sprayed out.