"How does Brother Tang intend for us to work together?" Ge Ming chose his words with care.

"A profit-sharing arrangement." Tang Yan laid out his terms in a few words.

Ge Ming mulled it over, then said slowly, "As far as I know, any pill able to temper the meridians is at least third tier.

I don't have the authority to decide a profit-sharing deal for a high-grade pill on my own.

I'll send word to headquarters today and have them dispatch someone to talk with you, brother."

Tang Yan smiled. "Brother Ge worries too much. My master naturally took all of that into account. Meridian Tempering Powder is only a first-tier high-grade pill. With your skill, Master Ge, refining it would be no trouble at all. Even other alchemists could manage it."

"What? A first-tier meridian-tempering pill!" Ge Ming shot to his feet again, beside himself.

Forewarned by the last time, Tang Yan kept his hand steady, took a leisurely sip of tea, and watched Ge Ming with laughter in his eyes. "Brother Ge, this time, can we sit down and talk the matter through properly?"

"We can talk, we can talk." Ge Ming settled back into his seat, brimming with excitement. As an alchemist, he understood exactly what kind of profit such a formula could bring. He pressed eagerly, "Brother, no need to dance around it with your old brother. This formula-how do I get it for my Myriad Pill Pavilion?"

"The rights to use the formula go to Myriad Pill Pavilion for one million taels of silver. As for the pill's profits, we split them three to seven, with Myriad Pill Pavilion taking seventy percent." Tang Yan named his figure after a moment's reckoning.

A million taels sounded like a fortune, but set against the true worth of Meridian Tempering Powder it was a drop in the bucket. Myriad Pill Pavilion wouldn't blink at it.

"The split seems a touch high," Ge Ming said, brows knitting.

"For an ordinary formula, even a one-in-ten share would be steep. But Brother Ge surely knows how precious a meridian-tempering formula is.

Myriad Pill Pavilion isn't the only alchemy power in Tingxiang Kingdom. Step beyond Yun City and there are other buyers to be found. As for the split, I could just as easily push it to five-five, six-four, even seven-three-with us taking the larger share, of course.

Three-seven: first, to thank old brother for the gift of the cauldron that day; second, out of faith in Myriad Pill Pavilion's good name.

Anywhere else, a share this low would be out of the question." Tang Yan's tone turned earnest.

Ge Ming knew every word was true. He nodded. "And the exact effects of Meridian Tempering Powder?"

"Right here. See for yourself, Brother Ge." Tang Yan drew a porcelain vial from his robes and handed it over.

Ge Ming took the vial, pulled the stopper, and sent a thread of divine sense in to probe the pill within. A clear, soothing fragrance washed over him, and the meridians throughout his body felt like a stuffy cellar suddenly flooded with fresh air-light, open, and renewed.

From that aura alone, Ge Ming knew there could be no mistake. Excusing himself, he carried the vial off toward the appraisal room.

A quarter hour later, he came charging back out, spirits soaring.

"Brother Tang, it truly is a meridian-tempering pill!" His face shone with excitement. The powder's effects matched expectation in every way.

"Would I joke about a thing like this?" Tang Yan laughed despite himself.

"I got carried away." Ge Ming pressed on eagerly. "When would be convenient to sign the contract? And when do I receive the formula?"

"We can sign right now. The moment the contract takes effect, the formula is yours." Tang Yan wasted no words and decided on the spot.

"Good! Now that's decisive! Sit and wait a moment-I'll draw up the agreement at once." For a deal this certain to turn a profit, and a vast one at that, Ge Ming moved with brisk efficiency.

Borrowing brush and paper, Tang Yan began writing out the formula for Meridian Tempering Powder, along with the detailed refining steps.

He had barely set down the brush when Ge Ming laid the drafted contract before him.

Tang Yan read the terms over carefully. Even the end-of-month settlements were spelled out plainly. Satisfied, he nodded, took up the brush, signed his name, and pressed his handprint to the page.

Ge Ming brought out Myriad Pill Pavilion's seal and stamped it, then added his personal seal and handprint, leaving nothing out. Each side kept one of the two copies. At last he produced a thick stack of gold notes and handed them to Tang Yan, and the deal was sealed.

"Marvelous, simply marvelous! Your honored master is a man of divine talent!" Having gone over the formula, Ge Ming couldn't stop praising it. Though only a first-tier pill, the process involved a great many steps and was exceedingly intricate.

Each stage of the refining locked into the next, clear and orderly-shattering once and for all the rumor that no divine meridian-tempering pill existed below the third tier.

"You flatter him. Since the matter's settled, let me wish us a fruitful partnership." Tang Yan and Ge Ming exchanged a smile, both well pleased.

"Brother Tang, should you come by any other fitting formulas, bring them straight to Myriad Pill Pavilion. I'll see your interests safeguarded to the fullest." Ge Ming made sure to add.

"Formulas like this come by fortune, not by seeking. My master spent a long while in calculation before he could set it down. Should others surface in the future, I'll be sure to work with Brother Ge. For today, I'll head back, and trouble you again another day."

Tang Yan cupped his hands in farewell, and Ge Ming hurried to his feet to see him off.

When the two of them emerged, the hall-noisy until a moment ago-fell silent at once.

"Greetings, Master Ge!" The crowd hailed him one after another.

"No need for that. Tend to your business; I'm only seeing Brother Tang out." Ge Ming gave a nod and, paying the others no further mind, led Tang Yan toward the doors.

To Tang Yan's surprise, the woman in white from before still hadn't left. The moment Ge Ming appeared, she came striding over and said coldly, "You're Ge Ming?"

"That's right. And who might you be, miss?" His path blocked, his name flung out without a shred of courtesy, Ge Ming returned the question with cool indifference.

"Can you refine a third-tier high-grade pill?" the woman asked icily.

"My apologies. This old one is but a second-tier alchemist; I cannot." Being asked in public about something beyond him only deepened his displeasure. "A third-tier high-grade pill is worth ten thousand gold and near impossible to find. I'd suggest you look in Dongzhou, miss."

"Pardon the intrusion." The woman was decisive enough-hearing that no one at Myriad Pill Pavilion could refine it, she turned at once and left.

"Heh. I've made a fool of myself in front of Brother Tang." Watching her go, Ge Ming looked a little put out.

"Think nothing of it. This is far enough, Brother Ge. When you've the time, come sit at the Tang Family more often." Tang Yan seized the chance to extend the invitation.

"Of course. I'll call on you in a few days." Ge Ming answered warmly.

The Tang Family?

Catching the exchange, a few sharp-eyed onlookers felt a quiet jolt. What ties did Myriad Pill Pavilion have with the Tang Family? And that young man-why did he look so much like the Tang Family's good-for-nothing young master?

A stack of gold notes tucked in his robes, Tang Yan had meant to head straight home. But stepping out, he saw the woman in white walking steadily ahead, and curiosity got the better of him. He slipped after her on the quiet.

This freak Tang Yan-who knew how many tricks of shadowing he had stashed away in that head of his. On a street this crowded, with people coming and going, he trailed her for ages without once being noticed.

Half an hour on, the woman did nothing more than buy a few medicinal herbs before heading out of the city. Once past the gates, her pace surged.

Tang Yan didn't fall behind. Drawing up a breath of True Qi, he followed carefully after her.

Looking for more free chapters? Visit www.skynovelvault.com to read over 5,000 free chapters and continue exploring more stories from SkyNovelVault.