Chapter 36: Seeing Qin An'an clinging to Lu Fan, Jiang Ruxue panicked.

If anyone else had said those words, Third Master Qin would surely have dismissed it as mere posturing. But coming from Lu Fan, it was ten to one that he wasn't just "slightly familiar" with the craft, but an absolute master of it.

When he had produced that high-grade beauty-retaining pill, his expression had been indifferent. If it were someone like Shen Qianye, they would have been beating drums to let the whole world know they possessed such a treasure. Lu Fan, however, was low-key, gifting it away in nothing more than a simple wooden box. Had Shen Qianye not overreached by trying to use the incident to belittle Lu Fan, the existence of the pill would never have been exposed. It was evident that Lu Fan had never regarded a high-grade pill as anything of importance from the very start.

Even someone of the Third Master's status found such pills hard to come by, yet this young man possessed such an otherworldly detachment. There could only be one reason: he had seen plenty more where that came from.

The pill that had brought him back from the brink of death was not merely the "perfectly suited medicine" Lu Fan had described. While the acupuncture only suppressed the parasitic gu in his body, his physical recovery had been rapid. He usually took ordinary tonics, but if those had been effective, he wouldn't have seen his health deteriorate despite months of consuming rare herbs. A clever man like Third Master Qin had long since realized that his swift recovery was due to the pill Lu Fan had pulled from that wooden box; it must have had a profound origin.

Beyond the debt of saving his life, the Third Master was eager to win Lu Fan over. If a family could secure the loyalty of an exceptional alchemist, they could ascend to much greater heights. This was why he had specifically called his daughter to his side.

Although Qin An'an was a pampered heiress, she did not share Jiang Ruxue’s habit of looking down on Lu Fan. Upon hearing that he was the miracle doctor who had saved her father, her eyes sparkled as she looked at him. For a free-spirited person like Lu Fan, a young girl without guile or hidden agendas was much easier to approach.

When Lu Fan mentioned he was only "slightly familiar" with alchemy, the girl’s eyes lit up instantly. "Brother Miracle Doctor, you’re so amazing! Does that mean once we gather all the herbs, you can refine high-grade pills? As many as we need?"

"In principle, that is correct," Lu Fan replied nonchalantly.

He had no idea how earth-shattering his words truly were. Aside from his time at a higher institution of learning where he kept pace with the world, he had spent his time on the mountain and, after descending, lived a life centered around his kitchen stove. He was completely unaware of how far the arts of weapon forging, alchemy, and qi cultivation had declined.

Forget low-grade alchemists; even mid-grade ones could not guarantee production on demand. Nowadays, an alchemist with a success rate of over sixty percent was considered exceptional, and most hovered below thirty percent. That was only for low-grade, or rarely, mid-grade pills. As for high-grade ones, they were the domain of a handful of legendary figures, and even then, the success rate was abysmal. Not even a century-old master would dare boast that they could produce as many as wanted, provided there were enough materials.

Yet, Lu Fan had said exactly that.

Having witnessed Lu Fan's abilities, the Qin family, like Lin Ziyu, had silently become his devoted fans. If he dared to say it, they dared to believe it.

Lin Ziyu noticed the Qin family members looking at Lu Fan with eyes full of fervor, as if they wanted to devour him whole. If they knew his true background, they would surely milk him for all he was worth! She covered her mouth and coughed softly. "Although I don't practice alchemy, I know it's not that easy, right?"

Lu Fan was merely unguarded, not truly foolish; he immediately understood his senior sister's implied warning. He quickly backtracked, "Well, in truth, it isn't so simple in practice. With the current scarcity of spiritual energy, refining high-grade pills requires rare flowers and exotic herbs. Even finding the ingredients is difficult, and even if one manages to gather them, refining one or two is already a feat. After all, precious herbs aren't like cabbage, growing everywhere."

"That makes sense. But if we gather them, can Brother Miracle Doctor refine them?"

Lu Fan shook his head. "No. I am not a martial artist; I lack the support of spiritual energy. The higher the grade of the pill, the more spiritual or mental energy it consumes. The reason I perform acupuncture on your father every seven days is because I need several days after each session to recover my mental energy. Even if you found the materials, I wouldn't have the mental strength to refine them."

Hearing this explanation, a flicker of disappointment crossed Qin An'an's eyes. "I see. Then let's prioritize my father's illness. Brother Miracle Doctor, I leave my father to you."

"I will do my best," Lu Fan answered sincerely.

His open and honest demeanor only deepened the Qin family's admiration; such a capable yet humble young man was a rarity in this day and age.

"Mr. Lu, with such talent, have you ever considered developing your career in the capital? If you wish, I, the Qin family, will do everything in my power to pave the way and plan for you. I will ensure you rise rapidly and take your place among the ranks of the Medical Immortals."

"I appreciate the Third Master's kindness, but I am merely an obscure barefoot doctor, and I have never sought to rise through the ranks."

"If that is the case, to each their own. I shall not press the matter. However, Mr. Lu has given me a new lease on life. Should you ever face any difficulties in the future, I will certainly do my part to help you resolve them."

"Much appreciated."

Seeing that Lu Fan was a man of character, the Third Master grew high-spirited and insisted on having a drink with him. Despite his family's attempts to stop him, he toasted Lu Fan with a cup of tea instead of wine.

Qin An'an was equally proactive, clinging to Lu Fan. "Brother Lu Fan, I just returned to the country and I'm not familiar with Night City at all. Could you show me around?"

Lu Fan looked at Lin Ziyu, feeling awkward. "Perhaps let Sister Ziyu accompany you. You are both girls, it will be easier to talk..."

Lin Ziyu knew the Qin family's intentions; why would she act as a third wheel? She refused repeatedly. "No, no, I have a date later. Lu Fan, why don't you see this through to the end and take care of little sister An'an?"

"But I have to pick up Xiaoyou later."

"Is Xiaoyou your daughter? She must be very cute! Can I come with you to pick her up? I love children the most."

Lu Fan, with his indifferent nature, was completely helpless against her and could only compromise. "Alright, then."

"Don't worry, Brother Lu Fan is so gentle, he will surely be a great guide."

Third Master Qin laughed heartily. "Mr. Lu, my daughter is mischievous; it is a good opportunity for you to discipline her properly."

"You are too kind, Third Master."

Although the Qin family held high status, they did not put on airs in front of Lu Fan, acting as amiable as the elders of the Lin family, unlike the aggressive, overbearing nature of the Jiang family. Lu Fan had always respected those who were polite, so he did not mind interacting with the Qin family.

He was unaware that outside, Jiang Ruxue was sitting on pins and needles, unable to spend a single second longer with Shen Qianye. She had already made it clear that apart from business cooperation, there would be no private contact, but she could not shake off Shen Qianye’s persistent pestering.

As the door to the private room opened, Jiang Ruxue caught sight of Lu Fan walking in the middle, flanked by bodyguards. Just as she was about to step forward to greet him and assert her presence, she saw Qin An'an skipping along behind him.

Qin An'an called out sweetly, "Brother Lu Fan, wait for me..."

Seeing this scene, Jiang Ruxue was thrown into a complete panic.