Chapter Thirty-Three: The Alchemist Apprentice Examination

When Mingyue entered the classroom for the first round of examinations, she found three examiners in the independent room, surrounded by a mountain of herbs of various shapes, sizes, and colors—easily thousands of varieties.

The three examiners were taken aback to see a female student enter. In previous years, there had been precedents where female students participated in the Alchemy Pavilion’s alchemy attendant test, but even if they passed, they were ultimately not admitted. Even if Mingyue passed the assistant attendant exam, the final result would remain the same: rejection.

One kind-faced examiner said to Mingyue, "Student, our Alchemy Pavilion primarily recruits male disciples, and alchemy attendants are essentially prepared for inner-sect disciples. Do you still wish to continue with the exam?" Mingyue nodded firmly.

The examiners exchanged glances. Since this female student insisted on taking the exam, they could not refuse, though they knew she would not be admitted in the end. One examiner registered her basic information, another brought out herbs to test her on their names, vintages, and properties, while the third recorded the results.

The examiner randomly selected twenty herbs for assessment; answering correctly for at least eighteen was the passing threshold. Only by passing this round could one proceed to the next.

Mingyue had studied various medical texts since childhood and was extremely familiar with the colors, scents, characteristics, vintages, and uses of all kinds of herbs. Consequently, she answered all twenty questions with fluid ease.

The kind examiner was genuinely surprised. Stroking his beard, he praised, "Not bad, not bad at all. I’ve tested so many students, and this is the first time I’ve seen a perfect score. What a pity, what a pity."

Mingyue smiled and, under the examiner's direction, went to another separate, enclosed space for the next round of testing.

The second round was for identifying medicinal pills. Upon entering, Mingyue saw four or five examiners sitting at a wide desk covered with hundreds of small, emerald-green jade bottles. There were no labels or descriptions, just a table full of pills, and the entire room was filled with a fragrance that invigorated the spirit.

Mingyue carefully read the detailed examination requirements. On the table were first, second, and third-tier pills. Candidates had to select five from the first tier, three from the second, and two from the third, and within half an hour, identify the name, ingredients, basic uses, and refining time for each. Each correct identification was worth ten points, for a total of one hundred.

This round was simple for those deeply versed in the field, but for those without a deep understanding, it was as difficult as a literal illiterate trying to read. Fortunately, Mingyue had loved medicine since childhood and, by extension, had developed a keen interest in alchemy. Having also taken alchemy courses at the Shushan Immortal Cultivation Academy for over a year, she was quite familiar with first and second-tier pills and identified them with little effort.

The hardest part was the third-tier pills. These belonged to the intermediate category; a single pill could contain dozens of medicinal materials, making complete identification quite difficult for her.

The pill the examiner randomly handed her was a low-grade third-tier "Snow Beauty Pill." She knew its primary use, but could only identify about twenty of its components, missing several others.

The examiners graded her on the spot, giving her ninety-four points. It was a high score, and she was immediately notified to proceed to the next—and final—round.

The final round was a written test. There were two proctors, and Mingyue noticed an acquaintance hunched over his paper: Mu Xiaotian.

The examiners had prepared dozens of unique test papers. Each paper contained ten questions, primarily comprehensive knowledge inquiries. Candidates had half an hour to complete them.

Halfway through her test, Mu Xiaotian handed in his paper and left. By the time Mingyue finished, the sky outside was already turning to dusk, and the queues had vanished. She hurried toward the cafeteria, fearing that if she were late, all the good food would be gone.

Halfway there, she remembered she was still carrying her study materials. Deciding to take a shortcut through the back mountain to drop them off at her dormitory before returning for dinner, she followed a secluded, tree-lined path. After rounding a bend, she reached the back garden, and passing through a corner of it, she arrived at the back of the dormitory.

Mingyue was walking quickly when she suddenly caught sight of two figures standing nearby. Looking closely, she realized one looked very much like Feng Qingcheng, and the other was Nalan Meidai.

It was too late to turn back, and passing by them would be awkward. Mingyue crouched down behind a patch of low shrubs, intending to wait for them to leave before heading to her room. She annoyed herself, thinking, "Why do I always run into them on their dates? It makes it look like I’m intentionally eavesdropping."

Nalan Meidai said in a sweet, coquettish voice, "Cousin, can you take me on as your alchemy attendant? I want so much to be at the Alchemy Pavilion with you every day." Her voice was delicate, crisp, and tinged with shyness, entirely lacking her usual arrogance. She sounded like a young girl acting spoiled toward her beloved, seemingly having forgotten how Feng Qingcheng had rejected her last time. Mingyue recalled how Nalan Meidai had sabotaged her during the previous trial, and she couldn't help but feel a dislike for her.

Feng Qingcheng said coolly, "All alchemy attendants at the Pavilion must pass the official exam to be admitted; you are no exception."

Mingyue suddenly remembered recent rumors at the academy: that Nalan Meidai had joined the Shushan Immortal Cultivation Academy for Feng Qingcheng’s sake, and that after the last annual competition, Feng Qingcheng had taken her on a date. People said they were a perfect match, both from noble royal backgrounds. Mingyue, however, felt unconvinced.

She bit her lip, curious despite herself. She had heard him reject Nalan Meidai with her own ears last time—could they actually be lovers having a lover's quarrel?

Just as her thoughts wandered, she heard Nalan Meidai sobbing. Mingyue was stunned. Nalan Meidai was breathtakingly beautiful, with a line of men clamoring for her favor, yet she was usually cold and condescending. Mingyue had never seen her shed a single tear.

"Cousin," Nalan Meidai said sadly, "have you truly forgotten our old affection? We were so close when we were young, and even now... didn't I come to the Shushan Immortal Sect for you?"

Feng Qingcheng seemed to sneer. After a long silence, he said, "If I were still the way I was before, would you have come?"

Nalan Meidai sobbed for a while before crying, "But you are better now, aren't you? Isn't your current self an even better match for me?"

Feng Qingcheng remained silent for a long time before saying impatiently, "I have matters to attend to. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

Mingyue listened to their back-and-forth, initially interested, but soon feeling exhausted and hungry. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she eventually fell asleep with her arms wrapped around her knees.

She didn't know how long she had slept, but she felt someone tapping her shoulder. A voice asked in her ear, "Wake up, are you alright?"

Mingyue opened her sleepy eyes to find that it was nearly dark. A handsome face was magnified before her; Feng Qingcheng was crouching in front of her, looking at her with concern.

Startled, Mingyue stood up abruptly, her head colliding with Feng Qingcheng’s chin.

Feng Qingcheng rubbed his reddened chin, looking at her speechlessly. "How can you fall asleep in such a cold place?"

Mingyue quickly reached out to help him rub his chin, asking, "I'm so sorry, Brother Feng, are you alright?"

She stood on her tiptoes, pressing close to his chest, and used one hand to gently rub his chin. His skin was smooth, perfectly complementing his features. She was so close that he could feel the sweet, orchid-like scent of her breath.

Feng Qingcheng stared steadily at her beautiful face, his eyes burning with an intensity that left him momentarily dazed.

"How is it? Does it still hurt?" Mingyue tilted her head up and asked with a smile.

Under the moonlight, she saw the intense gaze in Feng Qingcheng’s eyes and felt a sudden jolt in her heart. Only then did she realize how close they were—the proximity was far too intimate. She froze, pulled her hand back, and took a few steps back, looking around in awkward confusion.

Mingyue felt incredibly embarrassed, her heart pounding wildly, not knowing what to do.

Feng Qingcheng coughed lightly and asked, "I heard you took the alchemy attendant exam? They say you did quite well."

He wasn't a proctor, so how did he know so quickly? Mingyue remembered what the proctor had said, twisted the hem of her clothes, and said bashfully, "Actually, I just took it for fun. Please don't take it seriously."

Feng Qingcheng looked at her with burning eyes. Mingyue felt a sudden panic; remembering how she had just rubbed his chin, she felt so mortified she wanted to escape the scene immediately.

And so she did. She hurriedly bowed and said, "Brother Feng, I—I must go eat." Without waiting for his reply, she slipped away.

Feng Qingcheng watched her hurried retreat, stunned for a moment before he couldn't help but laugh softly.

When Mingyue returned to the dormitory, Nangong Yurou, Mo Yao, and Dou Ruhua were waiting for her to go to dinner. Seeing her flushed face and flustered expression, they all looked at her.

Dou Ruhua called out, "If you don't come back now, all the food will be gone!"

Nangong Yurou saw that her expression was off and asked with concern, "What’s wrong? Did you not do well?"

Mo Yao added, "Anyway, the Alchemy Pavilion doesn't accept female disciples. Whether you did well or not, the result is the same."

Mingyue thought of her encounter with Feng Qingcheng and felt embarrassed, yet also a sense of loss. Deep down, had she not secretly yearned to be accepted? What was it she truly craved? Was it really to be a little alchemy attendant and learn skills from the masters? Or was it because she could see Feng Qingcheng every day? She couldn't even tell herself.

"Since the result is already decided," Mingyue said listlessly, "what is there for me to be sad about?"

The others looked at her with sympathy, not knowing how to comfort her.

Though she spoke those words, she was, in truth, deeply disappointed. What was it, deep in her heart, that she had been hoping for?