The fact that the two previous alchemists had been swayed away was bad enough—even the last one, Fan Hong, had been quietly poached by Zhuo Ningsi. But now this woman was openly trying to recruit Yang Kai right in front of him? She was treating him like he didn't even exist!
Kang Siran was furious!
"There's no need for Manager Kang to get worked up," Zhuo Ningsi said, showing not the slightest fear. After all, they were both Void King Realm Third Stage cultivators, their Source Power fully converted long ago—they were simply lacking the opportunity to break through to the Dao Source Realm. She smiled sweetly through her lips. "I'm merely having a word with Alchemist Yang. Surely that doesn't inconvenience you in any way?"
Kang Siran's face was murderous, but he couldn't very well make a move. He could only stuff his fury back down inside himself, feeling as though his organs were literally on fire.
Seeing his reaction, Zhuo Ningsi turned her beautiful eyes back to Yang Kai and said, "Alchemist Yang, what do you think of my proposal? As for compensation, don't worry—I'll match whatever Manager Kang is paying you, doubled. How does that sound?"
Upon hearing this, Kang Siran's complexion turned an even deeper shade of ashen green.
The three alchemists at the Spirit Pill Workshop had all been lured away by profit, defecting to the Danqi Pavilion. He didn't know Yang Kai well and had no deep relationship with him, so he had no idea what Yang Kai's true feelings were.
With a heart full of dread, he looked toward Yang Kai—and immediately felt his spirit plummet to the floor!
Yang Kai was wearing an expression of genuine interest, his face beaming with a smile. "There's such a good offer?"
Zhuo Ningsi's smile grew even brighter as she nodded. "Of course. If Alchemist Yang doesn't believe me, you're welcome to ask Alchemist Fan. Besides the compensation you're owed, I'll also arrange for four lovely handmaidens to attend to you personally, taking care of your daily needs."
A man's life, chasing fame and fortune—it all boiled down to power, wealth, and women. As a seasoned and experienced woman, Zhuo Ningsi naturally understood what men wanted, which was why she had been able to tailor her approach and successfully poach several alchemists from under Kang Siran's nose.
She believed that as long as Yang Kai wasn't a fool, he would make the wise choice.
"Manager Zhuo's proposal is truly tempting." Yang Kai's eyes were practically spinning as they lingered greedily on those beautiful handmaidens.
Seeing him like this, Fan Hong let out a cold snort, a look of contempt rising in his eyes—as though he found Yang Kai's character utterly repulsive. But on second thought, he realized he had no right to judge, and quickly looked away in embarrassment.
"Alchemist Yang, you..." Kang Siran stared at Yang Kai with an expression of utter despair, a thousand words on the tip of his tongue that ultimately dissolved into a single, helpless sigh.
Even though he had just signed a Soul Contract with Yang Kai, it only stipulated that the pill recipes could not be disclosed.
Yang Kai hadn't even received the recipes from him yet, so the Soul Contract was essentially useless at this point!
Kang Siran cursed himself. If he had known this would happen, he would have written every possible clause into the contract. But now it was too late for regrets!
Zhuo Ningsi chuckled softly, her eyes bright with excitement—as though she could already see the day the Spirit Pill Workshop would shut its doors, the day she would earn the recognition of the upper echelons of the Merchant Association.
As long as she could deal a devastating blow to the Spirit Pill Workshop, or even drive it into bankruptcy, she would have a chance to gain the favor of her superiors and possibly be transferred from a backwater like Maple Forest City to a larger city to oversee the association's business there.
Just as she was about to press her advantage and seal the deal, she saw Yang Kai's expression turn troubled. "What a shame, though..."
"A shame what?" Zhuo Ningsi's delicate brows furrowed.
"A shame that I just signed a Soul Contract with Manager Kang." Yang Kai shook his head with a rueful sigh, his face full of regret. "So even though I'd like to, I'm afraid I can't help you, Manager Zhuo."
Kang Siran froze for a moment, then looked at Yang Kai with overwhelming joy.
He certainly didn't believe that Yang Kai was ignorant of what the Soul Contract restricted. The fact that Yang Kai said this now meant he had no intention of joining the Danqi Pavilion. How could he not be thrilled?
His eyes lit up with excitement as he gazed at Yang Kai, brimming with gratitude.
After all, if Yang Kai had actually left, what could he have done beyond calling him dishonorable a few times? Without an alchemist, the Spirit Pill Workshop wouldn't be long for this world.
And Yang Kai's attitude had become his lifeline. In that instant, his evaluation of Yang Kai did a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn—even Yang Kai's figure seemed to suddenly grow taller and more imposing.
"A Soul Contract!" Zhuo Ningsi was visibly startled. "Manager Kang, that's quite the grand gesture—even the precious Soul Contract was put to use."
Kang Siran snorted coldly. "It was a measure born of necessity."
"Manager Zhuo, how about this?" Yang Kai regarded Zhuo Ningsi with a pleasant smile. "I'll refine pills for Manager Kang on one side and for your Danqi Pavilion on the other. I'll take just half of the benefits you offered. What do you say?"
"Go jump off a cliff," Zhuo Ningsi shot back without a shred of politeness, glaring at Yang Kai.
Now that she knew Yang Kai had signed a Soul Contract with Kang Siran, she instinctively realized there was no chance of poaching him. Gone was her previous coyness—she turned to verbal hostility instead.
Since she couldn't recruit him, why bother being courteous?