Wrinkles upon wrinkles merged into one, as the Old Man stared at the green Elixir in my hand. He hummed to himself thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing down to two dark slits hidden under his wrinkly face.

I kept my expression straight, kneeling nearby as I held out the Elixir to him. The fact that I wasn’t smiling with a smug expression impressed me a lot, as my cheeks hurt from having smiled all the while I’d tested the new Elixir. My tests had shown that it was around 4% more potent than the normal version, and 19% faster.

That may not seem like much if not for the fact that I’d only barely just started learning alchemy. Results like this may have been a fluke for now, but it was extremely promising nonetheless for the potential of much more development.

Even back home, chemistry began as alchemy and the desire to create gold. Same with the immortality chase and herbal science in Asia. Both of these fields were fuelled by the greed of the rich and powerful. Yet, both of these fields eventually led to become something far more valuable to humanity, and a way to study the world around us. If I could show the potential Alchemy had, research it and break it down in an understandable way, then perhaps I could spark a change in this world as well.

I doubt it would happen in my lifetime, and I didn't know if I’ll even manage to succeed in breaking down the mysteries behind this world within my lifetime. But that did not matter. Even just a start would be enough for me. And this was a cultivation world, perhaps I'd pick up enough tidbits to live a bit longer. Worth it if it let me further my research.

“So you’ve done it, despite my warnings then,” the old man said, and I nodded. He sighed once, walked forward as he took the porcelain bottle, swirling it once.

“Did you succeed in improving the recipe Lu Jie?” the old man asked, inspecting the elixir.

“Somewhat,” I replied, “There’s a lot to be improved even now. But it’s marginally better, and slightly more cost efficient,” I said as Old Man’s continued to stare at my elixir.

“Do you know why, trying to improve these recipes is frowned upon, Lu Jie?” the Old Man asked, I shook my head, straightening up slightly. Something about the tone of his voice made me worry.

“The Ancestors, who established the Seven Celestial peak, from which the Cloudy Peaks sect branch was formed, had also formed a vault of alchemy. It is now run by a council of elders and holds many of the recipes that our ancestors had left behind,” the Old man’s voice was fraught, as he looked at me. “They safeguard the recipes, and the commonly available alchemical books only contain the simplified versions. Any alternate brewings are shut down, and added to the vaults.”

I frowned, sighing somewhat. I’d expected this. Partially at the very least. It was difficult not to. No matter how backwards the technology might be, these Alchemists and cultivators lived for centuries, and are leagues better than what I can do with my own Qi. Something as simple as mixing in the Spirit lotus into the elixir would not remain untested for such a long period of time.

The obvious answer that I’d come to the conclusion to had been that some powerful figure was controlling the recipes present in the market.

“I’ve known a few, who’d still continued, trying to explore the depths that their knowledge and gifts would take them. They usually die, by some misfortune, or in some explosion from their elixirs or pills,” The old man said, handing me the bottle of elixir back.

“Do you really wish to continue down this path Lu Jie? It isn’t too late. You can climb much higher than this old man ever did. I’ve seen the drive in your eyes boy. But it doesn’t have to go against the Elders to pursue that path,” the old man said, his voice heavy and tired. I think he knew my answer, and the concern on his expression hurt me.

I stared at my elixir, frowning. I could go through the hoops, live as an Alchemist under the sect, and rise through the ranks, while experimenting on the side. But was that truly what I wanted to do?

No, definitely not. I wanted to be no part of these politics, and bullshit. Even as an alchemist, being part of the sect would mean interacting with cultivators, which I already had to do more than I’d like to. Not to mention, other alchemists might try to steal my recipes, or betray me, or just push me down a notch if I rise too fast. It was far too tedious.

No, I’d instead be free. I had no intention of going against any elders, or organisation, but I had no intention of being tied down either. What I needed was a lab. A lab of my own, where I could freely experiment, as I pleased, and research all I want, free from the concerns of the cultivator nonsense.

I raised my head, taking a deep breath in when the Old Man raised his hand, shaking his head.

“No need boy, I know that look,” the Old Man said with a tired sigh. “You have the spark I lacked as a youth Lu Jie. Perhaps this truly was the path chosen by the heavens for you, but I see your desire to learn, and it is not one to be bound under chains, but one that wishes to soar like a dragon in the open skies,” the old man said, smiling.

I scratched my nose, embarrassed by the heaps of praise. “I don’t plan to go against the Elders, Master. I have no desire for conflict. But, I do not wish to be tied down by the sect. I would like to pursue my own craft, and stand on my own two feet,” I replied. Had this been anyone else, I wouldn't have let my thoughts out so openly. Yet, even in just a few days, I’d come to think of the Old Man as my Master. And lying about this would’ve been an insult to him.

“There are free alchemists around. Usually more merchants than alchemists. It is difficult to make it out on your own, Lu Jie. Not in these cities. The lords of the empire provide for the sects, and any new rising powers are crushed with impunity.”

I nodded. I knew this already, with how the sect was structured to favour strength. Not just the sect, but the entire empire. It was strength that ruled in these lands, and competition was not tolerated.

“I’d be more than happy to live a quiet comfortable life, pursuing my dream master. I don’t dream of any more than that,” I said, and the old man nodded.

“Very well, my disciple. You have chosen your path. As your master, all I can do is guide you along it. Let us begin the lesson,” the old man said, and I smiled, taking out my little textbook as the now familiar scent of burning herbs and boiling elixirs touched my nose.

I’ll follow my dream, and my Path. One step at a time.

***

Labby squeaked in my pouch, and I nudged his nose, trying to get him back in as I made my way.

For some reason, Labby had been refusing to leave my side for a few days. He’d climb on my body or my shoulder, or even sit on my head sometimes as I went through my notes. I hadn’t been able to tell why he was doing so, so far. Nothing other than luring him with a pill or spirit herb would get him to leave me alone.

I ducked my head, keeping my eyes on the ground as a cultivator walked by. I wasn’t particularly afraid of the disciples in the outer sect, but I still preferred not to stand out or be remembered by anyone if I could help it. The fewer people knew me, the easier it would be to leave the sect when I had enough money.

I smiled at the thought, patting my other pouch containing the spirit pills I’d agreed to give to Su Lin, in exchange for spirit herbs and a 3/4th share of what he got from the pills. The reason why I was even doing so, despite having Labby, was threefolds.

Firstly I did not know anyone who I could sell my pills to. Trying to explain where I got them would be annoying, and I had a feeling Su Lin would not care for the source so long as he got the pills.

The second would be, even if I knew someone who I could sell to. I’d have no idea how much these pills would cost, or how to get a good price for them. I wasn’t a merchant or trader or anything, and Lu Jie had had no encounters with alchemy pills, or their prices, so his memory did not help either.

Lastly, I just didn’t want to get involved. Perhaps Su Lin would sell these to whatever merchant he knew, or there genuinely was some smuggling going on. I did not care enough to stick my foot in there either way. Being an outside source, and creating my own pills means what I was doing was not illegal by any means.

There was the issue of Su Lin lying about how much the pills had sold for, which is why I’d asked the Old Man, how much these would roughly go for. The prices tended to vary but two silver and fifteen copper was his reply. Quite a bit more than I’d expected out of a single batch.

If Su Lin planned to lie to me, I’d be able to tell. But I suspected he would not do so. I’d tempted him with the promise of higher grade pills, it would be much more beneficial for him to have a good relationship with me.

I spotted Su Lin standing in the distance, under the shade of a tree, to a side path. I followed the way, walking nearby and Su Lin turned around walking away as he noticed me, a bit further ahead.

Stopping for a moment in confusion, I followed behind him. The way took me around the corner, behind the sparring chambers into a small bamboo thicket. I was starting to grow wary, wondering if an ambush was waiting for me here. Murder would be far too difficult to hide, and Su Lin did not seem the type to me, but I kept my guard up.

As if sensing my worries, I felt Labby’s Qi flare. The little rat had grown a decent bit, though I suspected he was still not at the first realm yet. I gently patted his head, as he seemed to calm down somewhat.

“Do you have it?” I heard Su Lin ask from further ahead, his two crooked teeth showing as his nose twitched once. Definitely rat-like. Though Labby was far more precious.

“I do, do you have the herbs?” I asked, eyeing Su Lin.

He held a pouch in his hands, showing me the herbs. I stopped myself from snickering at how much this interaction felt like I was dealing drugs.

I took out my own pouch, and opened the bag, dropping the Qi refilling pills in my hands. I saw Su Lin’s eyes go wide as he saw them. Unsurprising, it was difficult to get your hands on any pills as an outer disciple. I suspected a lot of them would be willing to pay me more than the pill’s worth, just for the chance to cultivate better. It would make me money, but exploiting those disciples, or getting involved with them was something I wanted to avoid.

I held my hand out, handing the pills to Su Lin, and took my little herb bag.

“I never knew ye had it in ya Jie. I was expecting ya to not show up today,” Su Lin said, storing the pills.

“Three fourths of the money goes to me,” I said, looking at Su Lin, the lanky fellow nodded once, snickering.

“Got yourself a hand on the key perhaps. Nah, don’t say it. I won’t hear where you get these from. You’ll have the money by next week, when we meet,” Su Lin said, walking further into the grove.

I sighed, feeling slightly exhausted from the interaction. It was tough being a cultivation drug dealer.

“Let’s go back eh Labby?” I said, and paused, when I didn’t see Labby in my pouch. “Labby?” I called out, as panic began to build up in my chest. I walked out of the grove, trying to sense Labby’s Qi when I heard an ear piercing shriek.

I ran towards where the noise came from, and just a bit further ahead, I found Labby frozen with a half eaten pill in his hand. A young girl stood with her fists bare, wearing intricate robes filled with Qi as lightning crackled among her fists.

“What is that rat doing here?” the girl shrieked, as her face turned red.

I felt my heart drop into my gut, as Lu Jie’s memory informed me who she was. The girl I stared at was the young prodigy of the Inner sect, a famous young beauty, and the granddaughter of an Elder, Yan Yun.

Fuck me Labby, you’ll get us both killed.