--- Chapter 13 ---
"Alchemist Association?" Baek Ain tilted his head.
"Branch, add that." Lan Rou responded with a nod.
Baek Ain was confused because there shouldn't be an Alchemist Association Branch near the beginning of the BTTH. If he remembers correctly, Xiao Yan's pill caused a wave in the Auction House and made the other family in Wu Tan City hire a 1-Rank Alchemist.
Yes, that's it.
There is an Alchemist Association Branch in Black Rock City, which is understandable because that place is quite far and needs one to travel through the harsh desert.
He has never heard or read anything about a branch near Wu Tan City.
'Is this an alternative universe?' Baek Ain thought to himself.
'Alicia.'
[Yes]
[Even though the main events haven't changed much, some details and characters are slightly different than the original ones. The Protagonist of this world is still Xiao Yan, but you might find something unfamiliar later on your journey]
'Why didn't you tell me about this?' He was speechless.
[You never ask me]
[To be fair, you have never trusted me until a few days ago]
"..." Baek Ain knew Alicia was right.
After getting transmigrated to this world, Baek Ain focused too much on useless thoughts and branded the system as his adversary. He was too emotional because the unbelievable shits dragged into his peaceful life.
In conclusion, he couldn't refute Alicia's comment and sighed in defeat.
Baek Ain rubbed his forehead and crouched down to rethink his goal from now on. "No, let's think about that later." He mumbled while slapping his cheek.
"Finish this mission first and think about everything calmly."
He glanced at Lan Rou and asked, "Instructor. Xiao Che isn't wanted just because he slanders the Miteer Auction House, right?"
"There should be more on that."
Lan Rou sent a carrier bird to Yafei's office and answered, "Correct. He wants to report the Miteer Auction House for selling a pill made by an unknown distributor, who used his secret recipe."
"Who's this distributor?"
"He only left us his name. I believed the lady called him Yan Xiao."
Hearing Lan Rou's replies, Baek Ain slapped his knees and cursed, "You gotta be kidding me..."
'So I'm here to clean that damned Protagonist's problem! What the fuck is wrong with my fate...'
Lan Rou couldn't understand what her disciple said as Baek Ain used English. She understood one thing, though. He was annoyed by something or someone.
"Phew..."
Baek Ain took a deep breath, releasing it one second later.
[You have used Breathing]
[Breathing Proficiency increased by 3%]
"How long has the carriage gone?" He questioned Lan Rou again.
"Around 3-4 minutes. I can easily chase them with my speed, but I can't bring you."
"Don't worry about me. I'll follow you from behind."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
They moved to the south and chased after Xiao Che's carriage. Lan Rou was amazed because Baek Ain was actually keeping up at 70% of her full speed.
That's unheard of, considering his weird movement.
Baek Ain continuously used "Hyper Jump." and "Hover." while following Lan Rou. This godly combination is a match made in heaven because he could move fast without losing acceleration and mobility.
Hover let Baek Ain stay in the air for 3 seconds with 1 second cooldown period, allowing him to spam it with Hyper Jump that erases the cooldown.
However, in that one-second gap, he couldn't move except in one direction. And Hyper Jump needs a ground or "platform." to be activated.
They reached a mountain range and saw a carriage with several horse-riding mercenaries. Baek Ain grabbed onto a thick tree branch and observed the crowd, locating Xiao Che.
It's the real Xiao Che, who possesses 7-Star Dou Master Realm.
"Instructor, can you take the leader?"
"I'll abduct Xiao Che from the carriage."
Lan Rou activated her Dou Qi Armor and responded, "What about the rest of the mercenaries? They are quite a lineup for you."
A confident smile appeared on Baek Ain's smile as he answered, "You're my teacher. Don't you trust this pitiful disciple of yours a little?"
Chuckling at Baek Ain's statement, Lan Rou gave him an understanding and returned, "Let's do this."
...
...
Xiao Che sipped his wine in a great mood, knowing the chaser from the possibly Miteer Auction House died because of his planning. He glanced at his spatial ring and grinned as this thing filled with pill recipes.
One by chance is similar to the cultivation pill auctioned by the Miteer Auction House, which he could use to defame them and reap millions of gold.
He only needed to reach the Alchemist Association Branch and report this matter. And with the Green Bull Mercenary group on his side, there shouldn't be any problem with transportation.
The carriage moved through the fastest route possible, a cliff road carved beside a mountain wall.
"Intruder!" Someone from the Green Bull Mercenary Group suddenly shouted.
BAM!
Crack!
Xiao Che felt a massive impact on the carriage and rolled around like a dirty cloth in the washing machine. He was about to puke when a firm hand broke the carriage's wall and grabbed his neck.
"You, come with me." An unfamiliar man's voice penetrated Xiao Che's ears.
BOOM!
The carriage fell from 500 meters high and was instantly demolished into pieces, leaving some rubble.
"RELEASE ME!"
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHO YOU WERE FACING, KID!"
"I'M THE GREAT-!"
"Yeah, shut up. I don't care." Baek Ain hit the back of Xiao Che's neck and leaped back to the cliff, seeing Lan Rou land a finishing move at the Green Bull Mercenary's Leader.
A mercenary leader is a burly-looking man with a hairy chest and intimidating muscle mass. He's 1-Star Dou Grandmaster, and Lan Rou killed him with one sweep kick on the neck, slashing the man's head off.
"N-No way."
"You're Gale-!" The mercenary leader's last word was unclear as his headless body slumped to the ground.
Lan Rou turned around and noticed the faint Xiao Che on Baek Ain's arm. She also glimpsed some corpse on the back, lying on the ground with no sign of life. There are seven of them, meaning her disciple finished them somewhat instantly.
'His growth is astonishing.'
She grabbed a spare spatial ring for the corpses and said, "Let's clean this area."
"No evidence."
"Mm, no evidence." Baek Ain nodded calmly.
They swept any trails Xiao Che had made in the last kilometer and stored Green Bull Mercenary's corpse in a spatial ring. Baek Ain also didn't forget to take the broken carriage from the bottom of the cliff. Not a single piece is "literally." left behind by them.
After that, Lan Rou and Xiao Che returned to Wu Tan City.
On the way, Baek Ain abruptly felt a weird sensation on his neck and glanced back. He is bringing Xiao Che on his back, and the rogue alchemist is asleep like a princess.
[It's the spatial ring on Xiao Che's hand]
[There is a soul inside it]
[You could use "Sixth Sense." to pry into the ring, but I wouldn't recommend it]
'Why so?'
[The soul might be hostile]
[You might get Spiritual Shock]
[You're traveling 221 miles an hour currently, what if you suddenly stop?]
'I'll slam my face on the ground...'
[Applause, you're smart]
"..." Baek Ain has a deadpan look on his face.
He looked at Lan Rou's back and said, "Instructor, can we take a break? It seems the fight consumes more stamina than I expected."
"Sure." Lan Rou is okay with it.
They searched for a cave and found one after traveling two more miles.
Since the cave is "actually." hidden from plain sight and terrain, Lan Rou could make a campfire and brew bamboo water.
Baek Ain meditated not far away, prying into Xiao Che's spatial ring.
And he felt a smack on his head.
[Ding! You have received Soul Attack]
[Innate Skill: Soul Protection nullified the damage, but your body will be stiff for a few seconds]
'Hmm, what a suitable vessel for this great me...' An elderly voice appeared in Baek Ain's head.
'And his kid has rich spiritual energy. It would be a great start for my alchemy life again.'
'Kekeke, this body shall be mine!!!"
The unknown elderly's soul tried to pierce Baek Ain's soul space and was "immediately." greeted with a massive golden light. And soon demolished into light particles.
'NO! WHAT IS THIS?? IT CAN'T BE!!'
'I, THE GREAT ALCHEMIST SAINT, YAO MEN... WON'T DIE-!'
'P-PLEASE!'
'S-Spare my life...'
Cough!
Baek Ain coughed blood and sarcastically said, "That hurts a little."
[Ding! Innate Skill: Soul Protection has killed "Yao Men."]
[Ding! You have earned Yao Men's Knowledge and some of his skills]
"Haha, nice." He leaned on the cave's wall.