"I'm looking for Li Yun. Have him come out and see me."
Ye Chen spoke calmly, but his words left the receptionist stunned. She stared wide-eyed at this handsome youth of only sixteen or seventeen, who dared to directly call Master Li Yun's name, and right here in the Alchemist Heart Palace at that. Was he truly not afraid of death?
She couldn't help but frown slightly, a trace of displeasure appearing between her brows. What kind of figure was Master Li Yun? He was an extremely important personage within the Alchemist Heart Palace, especially after recently becoming a Two-Star Alchemist. His status within the entire Xia Feng Kingdom was now among the very highest, second only to the royal court's Chief Alchemist.
Such a Two-Star Alchemist was enough to command reverence from anyone. Yet now, a mere brat dared to call Master Li Yun by name directly, showing clear disrespect.
The receptionist's voice turned cold on the spot. "I'm sorry, Master Li Yun is very busy. Do you have an appointment?"
Ye Chen shook his head. He had only thought of it in passing; where would he have an appointment?
Seeing this, the receptionist's expression grew even colder. To show such disrespect to Master Li Yun and have no appointment either—wasn't this just causing trouble? She immediately said coldly, "Without an appointment, you cannot see Master Li Yun. Please make an appointment next time."
Ye Chen frowned slightly. He hadn't expected that simply wanting to see Li Yun would be so troublesome.
He simply had no token on him. Suddenly, he remembered that Purple Pattern Gold Card. It originally belonged to Li Yun; perhaps it would be effective.
Now, he could only try a desperate remedy. If that didn't work, he planned to force his way into this Alchemist Heart Palace.
Just as he was about to take out that Purple Pattern Gold Card, a sudden fragrance like orchids wafted over, accompanied by a pleasantly surprised voice ringing in his ear: "Young master, it's you! You've come too."
A somewhat familiar and pleasant girl's voice sounded. Ye Chen felt a bit puzzled. Turning around, he saw a beautiful girl of ethereal grace.
The young woman was in the prime of her youth at seventeen or eighteen. Her hair was like clouds, adorned with a few jade hairpins. She wore only a simple mint-green robe, standing tall and graceful. With light makeup, she appeared beautiful and refined, standing out in the main hall of the Alchemist Heart Palace like a dazzlingly blooming begonia, attracting many gazes.
This young woman was looking at him with pleasant surprise, her beautiful eyes clear and bright like pools of spring water. With a faint, slightly mischievous smile, she said, "Young master, don't you recognize me?"
The young woman was Vivian.
Ye Chen was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected to run into Vivian here in the Alchemist Heart Palace. After parting in the Demonic Beast Mountain Range, he thought he would never see this girl again. Who would have thought that only a few days later, he would encounter her in the Alchemist Heart Palace? One had to admit, this was fate.
Meeting Ye Chen, Vivian was naturally overjoyed. Like Ye Chen, she had also thought it would be difficult to see the other again. After all, a youth like Ye Chen, who could slay Xiantian demonic beasts at such a young age, was definitely a heaven's favored child nurtured by a major power, possibly from outside the Xia Feng Kingdom. Once they parted, it would be hard to meet again.
Who could have guessed that only a few days later, while here on business, she would unexpectedly run into him? Truly, fate was wonderful and ineffable.
This chance encounter made Vivian, this usually serene and dignified beauty, smile with joy, her eyes sparkling.
Ye Chen also smiled. Since they met again, it was fate. "Of course I recognize you. I just didn't expect to meet you here."
Seeing Ye Chen, who rarely smiled, speak with a smile, Vivian's mood seemed even more relaxed and cheerful. "We came to request an alchemist master from the Alchemist Heart Palace to refine a pill. Perhaps you are also here seeking a pill, young master?"
So-called 'seeking a pill' meant requesting an alchemist from the Alchemist Heart Palace to refine a specified pill.
"Something like that," Ye Chen vaguely glossed over it, since he was also here to find someone.
Vivian cleverly didn't press further. In truth, she was already very happy to meet Ye Chen here. They chatted like friends, and Ye Chen wasn't in a hurry to find Li Yun immediately anyway.
"Young master, thank you so much. Last time, you let us have the Xiantian demonic beast. We received high praise from the academy's upper echelons." Vivian smiled faintly as she expressed her thanks. Although they had been swindled out of two hundred thousand gold coins, because they successfully brought back the carcass of a Xiantian demonic beast—and that of a Xiantian Giant Crocodile at that—the academy had heavily rewarded Vivian and the others.
Plus, after selling the flesh and blood of the Xiantian Giant Crocodile at auction to the royal nobles in the royal capital, the price wasn't much different from the two hundred thousand Ye Chen had swindled from them.
Remembering this incident, Ye Chen felt a bit embarrassed. He had actually tricked them out of two hundred thousand gold coins.
"Vivian, Vivian—"
A handsome, tall young man strode over. Dressed in noble, luxurious attire, he called Vivian's name twice.
Seeing the newcomer, Vivian couldn't help but frown slightly. "Young Master Hua, what do you want with me?"
"Vivian, who is this person? Do you know him?" Young Master Hua stepped between the two, blocking Vivian, and looked coldly at Ye Chen before saying, "However, I suggest you'd better not know him."
Ye Chen could sense that this young man seemed to hold considerable hostility towards him.
Taking another look at the gaze he directed at Vivian, it clearly carried admiration and a desire for possession. Ye Chen immediately understood.
Clearly, this Young Master Hua saw him as a love rival.
Vivian's delicate brows furrowed even deeper. "Young Master Hua, what do you mean by that? Do I need your permission to know someone?"
"Vivian, you must understand. You are a true lady of good breeding, a noble. The people you associate with should also be nobles. You shouldn't associate with some low-class people who don't know their place. It would only be beneath your status."
Hua Shaoyang glanced at Ye Chen as he spoke. Clearly, the 'low-class people who don't know their place' referred to Ye Chen, leaving him quite speechless. Indeed, beautiful women were troublesome; otherwise, the swarm of admirers around them would definitely try to trample you to death.
This Young Master Hua was something else, deliberately stepping on him like that to elevate himself.
Hearing this, even the usually gentle and serene Vivian immediately darkened her face and snapped, "Hua Shaoyang, that's enough! Insulting my friend like that is going too far. Also, you and I are merely acquaintances, not even friends. Please don't call me by my first name. Next time, address me by my full name, Yang Weiwei."
Vivian was just the girl's nickname. Her real name was Yang Weiwei.
For the usually even-tempered Vivian to speak such harsh words, it was clear that this Hua Shaoyang had angered her greatly.
Hua Shaoyang's face changed colors repeatedly. He hadn't expected Vivian to defend an outsider so fiercely, and a man at that, making him extremely jealous.
"Miss Vivian... you must understand I'm doing this for your own good. Because this poor kid simply doesn't know his place. Just now, he was here calling Master Li Yun by name directly. That's a great disrespect. And we need Master Gu De's help to refine a certain pill. Master Gu De is now Master Li Yun's disciple. We absolutely must not offend Master Li Yun. Are you really going to offend Master Gu De for this kid?" Hua Shaoyang concluded.
Vivian's expression changed slightly, but she didn't refute.
This time, coming to the Alchemist Heart Palace, they wanted to request Master Gu De to refine a special pill for them.
Master Gu De was an alchemist in the Alchemist Heart Palace. He had been refining pills for over thirty years. Although he was still only a One-Star Alchemist and could be somewhat difficult to deal with, charging high fees, his alchemy experience was quite rich. As long as the fee was paid in full, the pills he refined were generally of excellent quality.
Moreover, this time, Vivian and the others wanted to refine a relatively precious pill. Within the entire Alchemist Heart Palace, only Master Gu De had experience refining this kind of pill.
And since Master Gu De was Master Li Yun's disciple, they naturally dared not offend Master Li Yun either.
Finally, the bright smile faded from Vivian's lovely face. She gave Ye Chen an awkward smile. "I'm sorry, young master."
Seeing Vivian's troubled expression, Ye Chen naturally knew she didn't truly think that way; she was just in a difficult position. He didn't take offense. "You attend to your business. It's fine with me."
"Thank you, young master." Vivian gave him a grateful smile. Though still somewhat forced, it had clearly eased considerably.
Hua Shaoyang, however, gave Ye Chen a cold, triumphant smile, full of smugness. Ye Chen couldn't help but shake his head. What a childish fellow. He didn't feel like arguing with such an immature person.
At that moment, a greasy-faced little old man suddenly appeared before them. He wore ill-fitting luxurious clothes, his belly round and bulging, pushing his robe high. His appearance drew respectful gazes from many in the Alchemist Heart Palace's main hall.
This person was Master Gu De.
He walked straight up to Vivian. His lecherous gaze roamed over her body several times, lingering especially on her chest for a few extra circles before he said, "So you are from the Yang family?"