Jin Huang gulped.
Seated directly in front of him, on the other side of a long table within the Herb Sage's private chambers, were Meng Lan and Xiao Chen, who was still masked and in the character of 'Lord Obsidian.'
Herb Sage and Yuan Zhi were seated off to the side, but their gazes were similarly fixed on Jin Huang, unmoving and largely expectant.
"How," Xiao Chen started, "could you possibly know Lord Duotian? Where did you pull those alchemy skills out from?"
"Who are you, truly?"
Chewing nervously on a piece of raw ginger, Jin Huang did his best to avoid their gazes as sweat poured down the side of his face. At random intervals, he would give a nervous, sheepish laugh and laughingly say, 'these things happen,' and 'you know what I mean.'
Clearly not buying it, Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed behind his mask. Meng Lan was equally dissatisfied with his answer.
"You didn't just concoct a pill. You touched upon the deepest truths of Alchemy, and expressed the ability to see through various others' alchemy paths. Such a thing shouldn't be possible," Yuan Zhi shook his head, defeated by the ludicrous nature of the very words he had just spoken.
Herb Sage also said his piece. "Your ability to see through the bloodline power of herbs as well... only a true Grandmaster could boast such a power. I fear that even I may not hold a candle to your display of alchemical prowess, young man."
Jin Huang did not know that to say. He himself could not possibly understand how such a thing had come to pass. One moment, he was reading the tome on how to concoct the pill, the next he was transported to some strange place, and before he knew it, he was a pill concocting master.
As for the matter of Old Man Duotian... He had not even an inkling of a clue on how he was able to pull that name out of his ass!
At the time, it just felt like the right thing to say. He had never met any 'Duotian' before. In fact, he didn't even know such a person existed. What kind of insane concept was it, then, for the name of said person to just randomly appear in his mind?
If he couldn't even explain it to himself, then how could he explain it to others?
The only thing that made any kind of sense to him was that it was related to the Supreme Immortal Body. For a moment, he considered revealing this secret to them.
As he was doing so, a thought came to him and he paused, then frowned. On his face, in that moment, was the sudden and unexpected appearance of intense displeasure and matchless arrogance.
"Hmph! Is it any of your places to question me!? This Emperor's secrets are not for paltry mortals to wonder after!" With a flourish, Jin Huang stood abruptly and turned away, walking away swaggeringly without looking back.
He left behind four dumbfounded individuals staring at his back, not a single one of them able to keep their mouths closed. Ironically, none of them were able to form words.
Jin Huang hurriedly departed the main building of the Pill Tower and exited into the gathering area. Here, following the events of the alchemist gathering, a number of guests had already cleared out.
The strange couple wearing the fox masks had gone off to who-knows-where, and the family from the Eternal Forge Hall was also nowhere to be found. Zhao Kun and his disciples were still around, as were Ximen Ming and Mo Kuang.
When Mo Kuang saw Jin Huang appear in the gathering area, he turned to his master and immediately got his attention. With sharp eyes, they both followed Jin Huang's figure as he left Pill Tower behind.
"Should we approach?" Mo Kuang asked.
"Not yet," Ximen Ming gave a shake of his head and adjusted his spectacles.
We can't take such risks until we're sure. For now, we'll pay very close attention to their movements. I suspect Obsidian will have quite a lot for Jin Huang to do before the grand auction. After that, we may have a chance to approach and discover the truth for ourselves."
Mo Kuang nodded respectfully to his master, and the two soon left Pill Tower behind as well.
Jin Huang, who was actually panicking on the inside as he reflected on his attitude back then, wondered what had come over him in that moment. The only time he had felt something similar to that was when he was faced with the Old Ones' suppression.
Such an inborn feeling could only have come from his subconscious self, but it was also true that he did not recognize the person he had become in those brief moments.
"Am I losing my mind? Is insanity a side effect of the Supreme Immortal Body?" Jin Huang clutched his head in worry, aimlessly walking as he began to leave the district of the city behind.
As he walked, it went without saying that the numerous people that had been spectating the alchemist gathering were able to recognize Jin Huang. They had been watching on those screens and had seen his ability on full display. Of course, most of them chose to remain quiet about it and just stare.
Previously, he had been at the very 'tip' of Spearhead City. As he continued walking, he left the walls of the city behind and wandered along the western road. At first, there had been quiet a lot of traffic, but in his state of disarray, Jin Huang wandered off the main road and ended up on a rather obscure road.
When he finally escaped his own mind, Jin Huang let out a breath and shook his head. "I'm being foolish. I am the Supreme Immortal, am I not? I'm in control here, not this pesky body of mine."
Having arrived at this conclusion, Jin Huang felt like the fog in his mind had cleared and he was ability to think straight once again. Gathering his thoughts, he smiled as he stared at his surroundings, then immediately frowned.
"Where the hell am I?"
Looking around, all he saw were trees and the dirt road he was walking along. Turning around, he saw the high walls of the city nearby. Shrugging, he started for the city, mumbling, "How odd."
Unbeknownst to Jin Huang, someone had been watching him from among the trees. When that person saw that he had suddenly turned around, they saw their chance.
Rushing out, that person kicked up a cloud of dust as they suddenly appeared in the middle of the road, blocking Jin Huang, who waved his hand at the dust and coughed lightly. "Hey! What gives?"
As the dust cleared, a person's figure could be seen, their hands on their hips and their posture straight and tall. From behind the cloud of dust, their figure gave off a most noble and righteous air, as if some kind of gallant hero had just appeared.
Jin Huang's eyes widened, then quickly shut; some dust had gotten in causing him to cry out, "Shit!"
The person standing in the cloud of dust paid him no mind, instead loudly clearing their throat and taking a step forward. As they did so, and the dust cleared, more of their appearance was slowly revealed.
With each step, they would utter a few words. "I built this road.... toiled day by day.... yet you trespass upon it... with your filthy feet... and ungrateful eyes."
Hearing a young man's voice, Jin Huang wiped at his eyes and took a proper look.
This person was a youth of average build, dressed in loose, dust-colored robes layered beneath a long, hooded cloak. A cloth wrapped loosely around his neck was pulled tightly over his mouth and nose, while the cloak's broad hood shielded his face from the worst of the dust.
His clothing was practical rather than elegant, with tightly secured sleeves and hems that kept the dust from finding its way inside. Clearly, he was used to kicking up dust like this and had taken steps to protect himself.
Seeing his eyes, Jin Huang was instantly wary.
They constantly wandered with a shameless, almost lecherous curiosity, making him seem like a vulgar and thoroughly perverted young man. In addition, he was currently putting on airs of some kind of noble, high-born character.
Jin Huang was speechless; the young man cleared his throat again.
"Didn't you hear me? I said that I built this road, so if you want to enter, you'll have to pay!" The young man snorted coldly.
Jin Huang looked again to ensure that Spearhead City was indeed ahead, and he pointed to it and said, "But I came from that way-"
"Oho!? You're trying to call me a liar? You think I'm stupid, is it? Good! Very good!" The young man postured and pointed at Jin Huang as though he were talking to a criminal.
"No," Jin Huang raised his hands, "I'm just saying that I came from that way, so-"
The young man's voice raised even louder, "Oh!!! So that's what it is? Calling my mother a prostitute!? My father's a gambling addict, is he!? Good! Very good!"
Jin Huang froze in utter confusion, not sure what to say anymore.
Seeing that he was speechless, a sharp glint flashed in the young man's eyes, and he continued to the next phase. He daintily pressed the back of his hand to his temple and cried out weakly, "Oh dear!"
He suddenly seemed to become weak in the knees, almost falling over. "Oh, the humanity! How could one as soft as I- how could one as innocent as I- how could this dashing young prince be treated so harshly!"
"Oh, to have my intelligence insulted, my mother dishonored and my father called out on his deplorable behavior! My fragile self cannot bear it!" Finally, the young man fell onto the floor, looking helpless and distressed.
Jin Huang's brows twitched. "So, out of all those, only the nonsense about your father was true? And who said anything about your intelligence or your parents? What kind of game are you playing?!"
The young man cried out again, "Ah, my poor mental health! I'm afraid not even months of therapy can help me now!"
Just as suddenly, he was back on his feet and pointing at Jin Huang.
"You! Vile villain! You must take responsibility for your actions and pay my medical bills! I suppose such deep, emotional and psychological damage would require some truly heaven-defying medical techniques! Five gold coins should cover it!"
Jin Huang's flat expression showed that he was, clearly, not buying it. However, the young man thought that he had slipped up in his valuation of 'heaven-dying medical techniques,' and so quickly made an adjustment.
"Did I say five? I meant... a hundred gold coins!"
Jin Huang shook his head, taking a step forward as his hand moved. Shrieking in fear, the young man reeled and raised his arms in a girlish defense, "Eeek! No! Gate guard! Gate guard! Help! Murder!"
Pat.
Jin Huang's hand touched upon the young man's shoulder, and he stared at him with a face full of kindness. The young man gave an 'eh,' sound and ceased his hollering, looking at Jin Huang with hopeful eyes.
Suddenly, Jin Huang said, "Are you all right in the head? Do you know your own name? How many fingers am I holding up?"
"Tch!" The young man removed Jin Huang's hand and turned on his heel. With his back to Jin Huang, he began to brainstorm as he thought out loud, "Why didn't that work? My acting was flawless. Perhaps the material was too weak? Was my delivery lacking, somehow? Or maybe this guy's just a heartless jerk."
Suddenly, he perked up. "That must be it! This guy must be a sociopathic murderer! Of course I couldn't appeal to any emotions. Instead, I need to-"
The young man turned around, his brows lowering slightly then drawing inward as his eyes narrowed into a cold, unimpressed stare. "Oi! Dumbass! I built this road, so if you want to pass you better fork over some cash!"
"Refuse, and I, Luo Ran, will slaughter your entire family!"