After Transmigrating into a Book, I Was Entangled by a Crazy and Beautiful Villain - Chapter 42

Song Linlin felt a peculiar sensation; fate was indeed a strange thing. However, she wasn’t too worried. Since Ye Tingran and Zhiyu had already set off for Guanzhong, no one besides herself knew that she had once impersonated Zhang San in Yuanqing City.

As long as she didn’t voluntarily reveal it, who would know?

Song Linlin put her mind at ease. She propped her head up with one hand, her thoughts drifting uncontrollably. Being an alchemist was truly a wonderful profession. It didn’t demand much in terms of fighting ability, and it provided freedom from relying on external sources for pills. Even if she didn’t need them, she could sell them.

Moreover, alchemists didn’t have to fight others; they just needed to concentrate on refining their alchemy techniques.

With this thought, Song Linlin’s eyes turned to Chi Qianning again. She wondered if Chi Qianning knew how to make pills. Song Linlin found that being an alchemist was practically her ideal profession: tranquil in daily life and very safe.

“Chi Qianning, can you make pills?” Song Linlin suddenly asked.

“Hm?”

Chi Qianning turned her head and looked at Song Linlin with some surprise. She said, “No. Do you want to learn alchemy?”

She had no interest in alchemy, so naturally, she hadn’t bothered to learn about it.

“Who wouldn’t want to…” Song Linlin sighed. Plenty of people wanted to become alchemists; it was just that most couldn’t find the way or simply didn’t have the talent, which prevented them from starting.

Chi Qianning thought for a moment. Given Song Linlin’s cowardice and fear of death, it actually seemed quite suitable for her to become an alchemist. No one in their right mind would let an alchemist stand at the front line when a battle erupted. Skilled alchemists were prized guests in sects and influential families.

“Song Linlin, go learn alchemy!” Chi Qianning suddenly urged.

Song Linlin spent her days doing meaningless things, and Chi Qianning couldn’t persuade her otherwise. All she could do was watch Song Linlin hang out and waste time every day.

If that was the case, it would be better for her to find something constructive to do, at least so she wouldn’t continue to drift aimlessly as before.

“Ah?”

Song Linlin was a little stunned. She did feel like learning it, but she also thought it was ridiculous. It wasn’t something just anyone could learn.

She scratched her head, somewhat lacking in confidence: “Maybe I shouldn’t bother… Alchemists aren’t like cabbage, easy to come by. I know nothing about it, and whether I can succeed is uncertain. The most crucial thing is that you don’t know alchemy either, so where would I find someone to guide me?”

“Go find that Zhang San,” Chi Qianning suggested.

Song Linlin felt embarrassed. Zhang San was younger than her; it would be too awkward to go ask her for lessons. Mostly, Zhang San was already so capable at such a young age. If it took her a long time to get started, wouldn’t that be completely humiliating?

Song Linlin shook her head, instinctively not wanting to go. “Let’s forget it… She must have her own things to be busy with!”

“Go try this afternoon. Even if she refuses, you won’t lose anything,” Chi Qianning said calmly. Based on Song Linlin’s previous descriptions, she guessed that the child was probably open-minded and naive, and she would likely not refuse.

Besides, it was just asking a question; there was nothing to lose.

Since the other person had said so, Song Linlin couldn’t argue anymore.

In the afternoon, after lunch, Song Linlin and Chi Qianning went to Ziting Residence. She led the way, knocked on the main door, and asked, “Zhang San, are you inside?”

After a moment, Zhang San’s voice came from inside: “I am! Just come in!”

Song Linlin pushed the door open. The door wasn’t locked and opened easily. Song Linlin peered inside and immediately spotted Zhang San squatting in the courtyard. She was under the shade of a tree, her sleeves rolled up, holding a small shovel to dig up soil. Several plants were already planted in front of her.

Zhang San used the shovel to flatten the loose soil, then dusted off her hands, shaking the dirt off, before standing up. She looked at Song Linlin and said, “It’s you.”

“What are you doing?” Song Linlin walked into the courtyard, looking at the row of strange plants. She sensed that these were not ordinary plants; each one contained pure energy within.

Zhang San briefly explained, “Some herbs must be planted in the soil to ensure they don’t wither.”

At the same time, Zhang San also noticed Chi Qianning behind Song Linlin. At first, Song Linlin stood at the doorway, blocking Chi Qianning’s figure. Now that both of them had entered the courtyard, Zhang San finally saw her.

The person’s unique appearance made Zhang San look twice. There were many good-looking people, but this kind of look was truly a first. However, the other person’s cold aura made Zhang San instinctively hesitate to approach. She could only look at Song Linlin and ask, “Who is this?”

“This is Lin Qianqian; she’s my friend,” Song Linlin explained.

“Oh.”

Zhang San nodded, feeling the name sounded a bit odd. After two seconds of thought, she belatedly exclaimed in surprise, “Wow, Song Linlin, your names sound so similar! Almost like a pair!”

Song Linlin knew the name sounded strange when mentioned alongside hers. She didn’t know why Chi Qianning had told Zhiyu she was called this name.

Now Song Linlin could only smile to hide her embarrassment. “They are quite similar.”

“Let’s go inside and talk,” Zhang San suggested.

She didn’t mind Song Linlin bringing someone along. Since she was new here and unfamiliar with the place, getting to know a few more people wouldn’t be a bad thing.

The three sat down in the living room. Zhang San looked at Song Linlin and asked, “Are you looking for me this afternoon for something?”

Song Linlin turned to look at Chi Qianning. She was too embarrassed to speak. Chi Qianning, however, felt no such discomfort. After all, she wasn’t asking for a favor for free; she had no intention of deceiving the young girl by asking for something without giving anything in return.

“Can you teach her the very basics of alchemy?” Chi Qianning got straight to the point, stating the purpose of their visit. She generally disliked wasting time with unnecessary small talk.

Zhang San looked at Chi Qianning, then turned to Song Linlin. Song Linlin felt a little guilty. Why hadn’t Chi Qianning even offered a few pleasantries before speaking so directly?

Song Linlin quickly waved her hands and said, “If it’s inconvenient for you, it’s okay to refuse!”

“Of course, it’s no trouble at all,” Zhang San agreed without much thought. To her, it wasn’t a troublesome request. When she was in the sect, she often helped her fellow disciples and discussed techniques and insights in alchemy.

It was just teaching some basic knowledge; that was very simple. So, she agreed without any hesitation.

“Uh…” Song Linlin stared at Zhang San, frozen in place.

The other person had agreed too readily, without even pausing to consider. This, instead, made Song Linlin feel uneasy, like she was getting something for free.

Didn’t people say that ordinary cultivators who wanted to learn alchemy often couldn’t even find a way to start? How did it become so simple for her?

Even Chi Qianning was slightly surprised. This differed somewhat from her expectation. In Chi Qianning’s mind, the other person was, after all, a disciple of a major sect, and furthermore, from a lineage famous for alchemy. Even if she was a novice, she should be more cautious.

She had heard that many old alchemists had all sorts of requirements for accepting disciples. Yet, this Zhang San agreed so easily. Chi Qianning hadn’t even mentioned the reward she was prepared to offer yet.

It seemed like she really was a simple-minded young girl. But this was good, at least the other party was happy to agree.

Although Zhang San didn’t ask for anything or demand a reward, Chi Qianning was a very principled she snake and wouldn’t take advantage of Zhang San.

Chi Qianning nodded. “It’s good that you are willing to teach her. Of course, we won’t let you work for free; I will give you a certain remuneration.”

“Oh? What kind of remuneration?” Zhang San was surprised that such a simple thing would come with a reward and asked out of curiosity.

Chi Qianning turned to Song Linlin and asked, “I killed two demonic cultivators before. I threw their Qiankun rings to you. Do you have those two rings with you now?”

Two demonic cultivators? Qiankun rings?

Song Linlin thought carefully for a few seconds before she finally remembered that this was indeed true. The first time she met Chi Qianning, she had accidentally wandered into a cave and unluckily encountered Chi Qianning confronting two demonic cultivators.

When the three of them started fighting, Song Linlin was terrified, thinking she was certainly going to die, but thankfully Chi Qianning dealt with them. Chi Qianning hadn’t cared for the contents of those two people’s Qiankun rings at the time and had casually thrown them to her.

Song Linlin also wasn’t sure when she might need those two Qiankun rings again, so she put them into the small cloth bag she carried with her and hadn’t taken them out since.

“I have them. Wait a moment.”

The small cloth bag contained quite a few practical small items. Song Linlin always wore it on her waist. She reached in and dug around, and sure enough, she pulled out two Qiankun rings from the bottom.

She stood up and walked over to hand the items to Chi Qianning. However, Song Linlin was quite curious. She remembered that there seemed to be only poison inside. Was she going to give the girl a bottle of poison?

That would be too… peculiar…

Chi Qianning took the Qiankun rings and extended her spiritual power into them. She was indeed planning to give Zhang San a bottle of poison. Alchemists loved to collect all sorts of pill formulas, and this naturally included recipes for powerful poisons.

The two demonic cultivators, who had long since turned to ash, had carried the most poison. The Qiankun rings even contained a few poison pill formulas.

Chi Qianning had no use for these things. She didn’t know alchemy, nor did she care to use poison to ambush enemies during a fight. So, she didn’t mind giving these things to Zhang San now.

Chi Qianning took out a yellowish parchment, though the bottom of the paper had traces of having been scorched. She said, “This is a poison pill formula no lower than Grade 4, but the latter part was burned away slightly.”

“But with your aptitude, having the actual product and the formula, it shouldn’t be difficult to deduce the final small part.”

Song Linlin was speechless upon hearing this. It really was giving her poison. She quickly turned to observe Zhang San’s reaction.

“Poison?”

Zhang San didn’t seem angry at all upon hearing “poison.” Instead, she became interested. She reached out and took the parchment, examining it carefully.

She also looked at the bottle of poison. She opened the lid, and the contents emitted no smell whatsoever. The materials recorded on the formula were all highly toxic substances. Such things could be used silently and without warning.

Zhang San hadn’t expected a reward, and she was very satisfied with what Chi Qianning gave her. No alchemist would dislike collecting strange formulas.

“Lin Qianqian, you truly are a good person! I will definitely teach Song Linlin well!” Zhang San accepted the items and expressed her gratitude sincerely.

Song Linlin, standing nearby, was dumbfounded. She never thought this would actually work!

Having received a gift, Zhang San was now highly motivated and said to Song Linlin, “I’ll first make a list for you. These are the things you need to prepare for alchemy. Tomorrow, I will formally teach you the basic knowledge of alchemy!”

“Okay.”

Song Linlin nodded. Since she was going to learn, she definitely needed to prepare the tools. She had earned 3,500 contribution points from the pill Zhang San gave her yesterday, which was certainly enough money to buy the most basic materials.

Zhang San went to find paper and a brush, placed them on the table, and held the brush, occasionally pausing to think about what items were needed.

This was a professional’s task, and Song Linlin couldn’t interfere. It was best to wait on the side. Since she was idle, she wandered around Zhang San.

Chi Qianning sat on the chair. Now that it was settled for Zhang San to teach Song Linlin alchemy, she had nothing else to do. She leaned back languidly, propping her face on the back of one hand, her elbow resting on the armrest.

She lowered her gaze and noticed a large blue-and-white porcelain jar next to her chair. It was filled with soil, and a few herbs, whose names she didn’t know, were planted in it. She assumed Zhang San had planted them.

Since she was idle, Chi Qianning reached out to touch the plant’s leaf. The touch actually felt warm. The leaf had a temperature.

However, in the very next moment, the herb, which had been green and even sported small yellow flowers, rapidly began to wither, starting from the leaves. All the leaves drooped, and even the petals of the yellow flowers quickly curled up.

Then, a yellow-brown color spread, the leaves withered and fell, and the flowers immediately wilted.

“What the heck!”

Song Linlin couldn’t help but exclaim. She had witnessed the entire process. The plant, which had been full of life just a second ago, suddenly withered and died in less than three seconds after being touched by Chi Qianning. This was too bizarre.

Did she have poison on her hands? The plant shouldn’t die just from a touch!

Chi Qianning was also a little stunned. She had just briefly touched the leaf, and then the plant died.

Zhang San heard the commotion and turned around. Seeing the withered remains of the plant, she immediately exclaimed, “My Sun Heart Grass! Why did it suddenly die?!”

This kind of grass needed prolonged exposure to the sun to keep from withering, and it absolutely could not come into contact with things of a Yin shadow/negative or evil attribute. She had originally planned to move the jar outside to sunbathe later, but just for a moment when she wasn’t looking, it died.

“That’s not right! There shouldn’t be anything Yin or evil nearby, so why did it suddenly die?” Zhang San still couldn’t believe it.

Hearing this, Song Linlin understood what had happened. Chi Qianning was also a little embarrassed. She hadn’t expected the grass to die just by her touching it.

Song Linlin tried to cover up the truth and started talking nonsense: “Uh, maybe Lin Qianqian touched that poison. That poison isn’t made of good stuff, so the Sun Heart Grass died.”

“I’ll buy you a new one to compensate you this afternoon!”

She remembered that she could buy this item at the exchange.

“Alright…” Zhang San nodded. That was the only option now.

However, she still couldn’t help but say, “That’s so strange, it shouldn’t have died…”

Song Linlin and Chi Qianning dared not speak.