"You... you little brat... you're causing trouble again. What did I just tell you? Are you deaf or stupid? You destroyed three hundred years' worth of polygonum multiflorum and the blood of a level-seven tiger demon beast. Even if I sold you, it wouldn't be enough to pay for the loss. This time, you're dead for sure..."

Just then, a man in his thirties, dressed in luxurious clothes, stormed in from outside. He looked furious, his voice thunderous as if he wanted everyone to hear, but if you looked closely, you would notice a flash of excitement and pride in his triangular eyes.

"Cough... cough... medicine... medicine..."

At that moment, someone burst out from the room that had just exploded and was still smoking. Covered in black soot, their appearance was unrecognizable, only a pair of large, tear-filled eyes could be seen.

William Clark was stunned for a moment when he saw this scene, quickly searching through those chaotic and lewd memories for relevant information. He soon found it: the man who had just rushed in was called Samuel Grant, one of the three alchemists of the Cheng family, and the only level-six alchemist. The path of alchemy is divided into alchemists, pill masters, grandmasters of the pill path, and the legendary pill path sages. Pill masters are extremely prestigious; each one is exceedingly proud. Even with the Cheng family's great power in the Blue Cloud Empire, it is difficult to attract a pill master.

To have an alchemist in one's own family is already extraordinary. Supporting an alchemist is incredibly costly. Especially a level-six alchemist—money alone can't buy one. Even in the Cheng family, they are treated as honored guests.

As for the thin figure covered in black soot, looking as if she had just crawled out of a coal pile, there was little memory of her, but she seemed familiar. Judging by the voice, she sounded like a young girl, but he couldn't match her to anyone from the chaotic and lewd memories of this wastrel.

"I... I didn't mean to. I didn't let it all explode. I... I managed to save some..."

The little girl held a shattered piece of the pill furnace in her hands, with some medicinal residue inside. Her hands were red and scalded, some skin already burned and giving off a scorched smell. Her chest was stained with blood, clearly from desperately rushing forward just now.

"Bang! The pill furnace is already blown up, the medicine is ruined, what could you possibly have saved?"

Samuel Grant stepped forward and slapped the fragments from the little girl's hands, hitting her already red, trembling hands hard.

"Ah! The medicine!"

The little girl had held back her tears despite her injuries, but when she saw the medicine knocked away, she couldn't help but cry. Ignoring the burns and intense pain in her hands, she staggered forward, trying to save the medicine, but it had already melted and scattered, impossible to recover.

"Why are you crying? If I wasn't afraid of dirtying my hands, I would have slapped you to death already. Go to the steward and receive your punishment. From now on, you don't need to come back..."

Samuel Grant glanced slightly at William Clark who had just come out of the room, but didn't pay much attention. After scolding the little girl, he turned to leave.

Although alchemists hold an unusual status and are treated as honored guests even in great families like the Chengs, William Clark was still the master. Samuel Grant's attitude was only because William Clark had no authority in the family. Moreover, William Clark was always causing trouble, often pestering Samuel Grant for strange medicines, so Samuel Grant didn't take this notorious wastrel, the top of the four scourges of Yunge City, seriously at all.

Precisely because of this, Samuel Grant dared to ignore William Clark's presence and turned to leave after speaking.

"Stop."

At that moment, William Clark, whom Samuel Grant hadn't even looked at directly, suddenly spoke. His tone was casual, yet carried an undeniable authority that could not be ignored.

This wastrel must have some new mischief and wants my help, Samuel Grant thought, stopping reluctantly and glancing sideways at William Clark. "Young master, your injuries have just healed. You should go back to your room and rest. I'll have them prepare a few more prescriptions for you. I'm sure you'll be full of energy again soon."

After saying this, Samuel Grant once again tried to leave. His meaning was clear: although you are the direct grandson of the Cheng family, I, a dignified level-six alchemist, am not someone a brat like you can order around. If you ask me nicely and offer benefits, maybe I'll consider it, but if you want to throw your weight around with me, you're far from qualified. Wait until you become the head of the Cheng family.

William Clark had just taken over this body and still didn't understand many things, but who was he? One of the top ten grandmasters of the pill path in Jiuzhou, a supreme existence. For a mere level-six alchemist who couldn't even refine pills to act so arrogantly in front of him—utterly ignorant of life and death.

"Men, seize him for me."

William Clark's voice was not loud, but it carried an irresistible authority, like a general commanding thousands of troops—leaving no room for doubt.

Chapter 3: Go ahead, can you really leave?