The Jiang Family Patriarch Jiang Lin and numerous Elders emerged together to receive their guest, clearly showing Yang Kai considerable face. Seeing this, Yang Kai cupped his fists and spoke with neither servility nor arrogance, "Visiting so late at night was out of necessity. I apologize for disturbing Patriarch Jiang and all of you. Please don't hold it against me."
"Not at all!" Jiang Lin replied warmly, laughing heartily. "To have Master Alchemist Yang grace our Jiang Family is our great fortune. We should be the ones welcoming you — where is there any talk of disturbance?" He stepped to the side and gestured inward. "Please, Master Alchemist, let's speak inside."
Yang Kai nodded slightly and exchanged a glance with Mo Xiaoqi before following Jiang Lin directly into the Jiang Family compound.
Before long, the group arrived at the Jiang Family's guest reception hall. Hosts and guests took their seats, and servants who had already been informed of the visit served freshly brewed tea to each person.
Under Jiang Lin's enthusiastic hospitality, Yang Kai took a few sips of tea and offered a few half-hearted compliments.
Jiang Lin either didn't notice or pretended not to, chuckling as he said, "I've long heard of Master Alchemist Yang's great reputation at the Spirit Pill Workshop, but never had the chance to meet you. To think that you'd personally visit our Jiang Family today — what a wonderful surprise and honor!"
Yang Kai showed a flicker of surprise. "Patriarch Jiang has heard of me?"
He had assumed Jiang Lin's earlier pleasantries were merely polite convention and hadn't truly expected the man to know his name.
Jiang Lin smiled. "Master Alchemist Yang's name is known to anyone of standing in Maple Leaf City by now. To be honest, our Jiang Family has purchased quite a few of the Origin Condensing Pills you refined, and many of our Disciples have benefited greatly. As for how you single-handedly saved the Spirit Pill Workshop from closing its doors — I'd heard about that long ago as well."
Hearing this, Yang Kai finally understood.
Although he had kept a low profile during the months he spent refining pills at the Spirit Pill Workshop, the goings-on within the workshop couldn't have escaped the notice of local powers like these. It wasn't surprising at all that they had learned of his existence.
"There aren't many Alchemists in Maple Leaf City, and even fewer who can refine Origin Condensing Pills," Jiang Lin continued with a chuckle. "Even if you wished to remain anonymous, others would have spread your name abroad before long." Then, abruptly shifting tone, he probed with deliberate indirectness, "However — I hear that Master Alchemist Yang has already parted ways with the Spirit Pill Workshop? That you no longer refine pills for them? I'm not sure if that's true or just a rumor…"
Yang Kai had no intention of concealing the truth. He nodded. "That's right. I had an agreement with Shopkeeper Kang to refine pills for the Spirit Pill Workshop for only two months. That term expired long ago."
"Is that so?" Jiang Lin's face lit up with undisguised delight.
It wasn't just Jiang Lin who showed excitement. Even the Jiang Family Elders seated nearby stirred, each one fixing Yang Kai with heated gazes — as though they were staring at some incomparably beautiful woman, wishing they could swallow him whole on the spot.
Seeing this, Yang Kai furrowed his brow. "Alchemy is not my primary pursuit, so I have no intention of developing in that field permanently."
"I see…" Jiang Lin was old enough to read between the lines, and disappointment crept into his voice. "If that's Master Alchemist Yang's choice, it truly is a pity. Well — may I ask what brings you to our Jiang Family? If there's anything we can help with, we certainly won't refuse."
Even with what Yang Kai had said, he was still a Void King Realm Alchemist. Building a good relationship with someone like that could only benefit the Jiang Family, and Jiang Lin wasn't about to let this opportunity to win favor slip away. He also understood that Yang Kai wouldn't have come to the Jiang Family without needing something from them.
Yang Kai deliberated for a moment, then said, "Since Patriarch Jiang asks, I'll be straightforward. I've come to your family primarily to find someone."
"Find someone?" Jiang Lin's brow furrowed. The other Elders present also wore expressions of puzzlement, wondering what sort of person Yang Kai could possibly be looking for within the Jiang Family.
Jiang Lin asked, "May I ask who Master Alchemist Yang is looking for?"
"A young girl, sixteen or seventeen years old, with cultivation at the peak of the Saint King Realm's second stage…" Yang Kai briefly described Zhang Ruoxi's appearance and some distinguishing features.
As he spoke, an elderly man with a ruddy complexion seated on the left side had his eyelids twitch ever so slightly before immediately returning to a composed expression.
Yang Kai's Divine Sense instantly caught this detail. His mind stirred, and he cast a meaningful glance at the man. The Elder promptly lowered his gaze, maintaining a perfectly neutral demeanor.
After hearing Yang Kai's description, Jiang Lin looked around at the assembled members and asked, "Do we have such a girl in our Jiang Family?"
An elderly man seated directly below Jiang Lin immediately rose to his feet and cupped his fists. "Reporting to the Patriarch — our Jiang Family may indeed have a girl matching that description, though we cannot be certain she is the person Master Alchemist Yang seeks."
"Good. Then bring her out so Master Alchemist Yang can take a look. If she truly is the person he's looking for, our Jiang Family naturally won't keep her." Jiang Lin gave his word without hesitation.
"There's no need." Before Yang Kai could speak, Mo Xiaoqi — who had been sitting quietly to the side all this while — waved a hand. "The person we're looking for isn't here."
Jiang Lin couldn't help but frown. He glanced at Mo Xiaoqi, then back at Yang Kai, and asked with suspicion, "Master Alchemist Yang, what does this mean? You come to my Jiang Family to find someone, yet you say the person isn't here? I'm truly confused."
"Could it be that you secretly scouted our Jiang Family beforehand, which is why you're so certain?" One of the Jiang Family Elders suddenly seemed to realize something. His expression darkened, and he shouted sternly.