This year's autumn came somewhat early.
The harvest season was supposed to be a time of reaping rewards, but Chen Xia discovered that not a single medicinal plant in his fields had grown up; they hadn't even produced a hint of fruit.
Only then did he realize that these medicinal materials were the kind that grew tall but never yielded results.
Grass.
He quickly calmed himself down, recalling what some thinker had once said - when something goes wrong, you should first look for the problem in yourself. Only when you've done everything perfectly should you have the right to blame others.
Chen Xia felt this was reasonable advice. He soon found the problem in himself as well.
Gentleness.
He had been too gentle with these medicinal saplings, often not daring to use a heavy hand and even intentionally softening his tone when scolding them.
He would have to change this. So he issued a final warning to the entire medicinal field.
"If you still don't yield results next autumn, I'll ga all of you! Damn it!"
The medicinal saplings trembled slightly, though it was unclear if that was from fear or the autumn breeze.
As he hefted his hoe over his shoulder, he suddenly turned his head toward the doorway upon hearing approaching footsteps - more than one person.
But right before they reached the door, the footsteps suddenly stopped. Then there was only the sound of a single set of footsteps, lightly knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" Zhang DaoMing didn't use his spiritual sense to investigate. That would be impolite. Casual spiritual probing could provoke conflict between cultivators, so he chose to call out instead.
"Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain, here to seek an audience with the Master Alchemist."
An elderly voice responded.
Zhang DaoMing was first startled, then his expression tightened nervously, somewhat panicked.
He knew of the Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain. He had already been extremely famous when Zhang DaoMing was still a child. Even back then, he was already a Medicine Master and could be ranked among the entire Realm Middle Layer.
Naturally, Zhang DaoMing was excited to receive someone he had only heard about in childhood. He hurriedly responded, "Coming!"
Then he rushed to open the door. Seeing the elderly Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain before him, he excitedly and warmly greeted, "Hello, hello!"
The Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain also knew of Zhang DaoMing and that he lived together with Chen Xia, so they should be good friends. Not daring to be negligent, he also hurriedly nodded in response.
"Hello, I'm here to seek an audience with the Master Alchemist."
Chen Xia's reputation was now known to all in the Realm Middle Layer.
The newly promoted Master Alchemist also had an heir presumptive backing him.
With such connections, who would dare provoke him?
The Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain had come today to apologize for his mistakes. That day, he had personally challenged Chen Xia and used some taunting words. Whenever he thought back on it afterward, he would feel somewhat uneasy, afraid that Chen Xia resented him for it.
If the Realm Middle Layer had not undergone such great changes in recent years, the Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain would have come to apologize to Chen Xia long ago.
"Chen Xia right? He's inside. Please, come in," Zhang DaoMing said warmly with a smile, inviting the Elder Patriarch inside.
The Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain's body quivered slightly. Feeling nervous, he entered the yard and carefully looked around. Not catching sight of Chen Xia, he asked doubtfully,
"Elder Chen...where is Elder Chen?"
"There, that's him," Zhang DaoMing pointed toward the figure in the medicinal field.
"Ah...ah?" The Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain was somewhat astonished. He turned to look again and clearly heard a hearty,
"Damn it!"
He froze, bewildered. To confirm, he asked Zhang DaoMing, "That really is Elder Chen?"
"Chen Xia!" Zhang DaoMing directly called out.
Chen Xia raised his hand to signal he understood. He had already noticed the Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain earlier but had no intention of paying him any mind.
Seeing Chen Xia's face, the Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain had no more doubts. He hurriedly came over and respectfully lowered his head to Chen Xia, "I unintentionally offended you some days ago and it was entirely my fault. I came today specifically to apologize and offer reparations."
Chen Xia waved his hand very magnanimously, "It's fine, you're still young. I don't blame you."
Zhang DaoMing was startled.
The Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain was also frozen. Considering he would soon turn 15,000 years old, he truly did not know how to respond. After hesitating for quite some time, he could only utter,
"You are most generous."
"Mm," Chen Xia nodded and then shook his head, "Remember in the future, young one, not to be too ostentatious. If you don't have an accurate assessment of yourself yet you dare to directly provoke others, you see, doesn't it end up as a slap in the face?"
"I was too reckless," the Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain said deferentially with his head lowered.
"Mm. Looking at it realistically, you are indeed a few years older than me, but learning takes precedence over everything. In the alchemy path, I can be considered your senior predecessor. So I'll impart a teaching or two to you. You wouldn't be unhappy about it right?" Chen Xia went on.
The Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain raised his head, cracking a smile uglier than crying, and responded, "Naturally, I'm exceptionally joyful about it."
"That's good then," Chen Xia said approvingly with a faint laugh. Then he sighed, "That day when I saw you, I felt you were not a bad alchemy sapling. Although you looked somewhat old, good food is worth the wait. I'd intended to instruct you a bit afterward, but unexpectedly you were too arrogant, actually daring to show disrespect to me!"
That last line had too many questionable points for Zhang DaoMing to even know where to start.
Yet the Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain had already bent down at the waist, respectfully saying, "Antagonizing you was not my intention at all. It truly was that nasty idea from Triumphant Mountain. From that day onward, I have sincerely admired you. Whenever I think back on your alchemy techniques, I'm sleepless throughout the night."
Chen Xia nodded lightly with a faint laugh. Satisfied, he said, "Foolish child, it satisfies me that you have this attitude."
Zhang DaoMing stood blankly at the side, really not knowing how to interject.
Mainly because this scene was just too bizarre.
Or perhaps only Chen Xia was bizarre.
"Come, present your gifts to Elder Chen!" the Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain suddenly shouted toward the doorway.
Footsteps quickly sounded as six Foundation Establishment cultivators orderly walked in, each carrying an ancient looking storage treasure box. This should be for storing items.
The Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain chuckled, "Elder Chen, this is a small token of my regard. Just some common spirit stones, pills and treasures. You must accept them."
Chen Xia didn't respond. His gaze under the straw hat flickered unpredictably. In the sunlight, it seemed profound and meaningful. He placed his hand on the hoe at his side and lightly tapped his fingers. After a moment, he raised his eyes and slowly asked,
"Are you trying to compete with me in gift-giving?"
"Huh?" The Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain didn't understand.
"Old Zhang, present gifts!" Chen Xia waved a hand and called out.
Zhang DaoMing could only shake his head. He went to the wall fully decorated with placed pills, took out about half of them, stuffed them in a bag, then walked to the doorway and casually tossed it to Chen Xia.
"Here, take them all." Chen Xia handed the bag to the Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain.
The Elder Patriarch only smelled an intense pill fragrance. He didn't think too much of it when receiving the pills, but upon taking a closer look after opening the bag, his expression froze in shock.
These were all medicinal pills?!
"This...Elder Chen, how can this be? I'm the one who should be apologizing and giving you reparations!" The Elder Patriarch of Armor Wood Mountain said flusteredly.
"Apologizing is fine, but not the reparations," Chen Xia righteously stated.
He had always been the one to give others gifts.