In the silent room, as the request for a hair of the testing beast and the beast masters floated in, the room was set a buzz.

A sound of a gulp sounded.

“Really? Is it as I think it is?”

“Is it a modification or a completely new potion? “

“Who even knows if this is even a potion? What is it is another kind of abomination?”

This is the issue with scholars – when they see something – they debate first and check later.

Not that it is wrong but it sure is annoying, thought Lu Yao.

Then he looked at his master and saw his face was the reddest among the surrounding arguing people, and thought, well – one should be passionate about their professions otherwise how can one progress?

“Yao’er, do you agree?”

“Yao’er, do you agree? Don’t worry. It’s alright.”

“Yes, Xiao Yao – we are all here. There’s nothing to worry.”

It was only then Lu Yao came to senses and saw everyone looking at him. He was tense all of a sudden.

What happened? Why is everyone looking at me?

After understanding that they wanted him to agree to something, he instinctively looked at his master and nodded when he saw him nodding.

“Great. The summon your beast.”

Lu Yao summoned his beast, a shadow leopard; when his master pulled a hair from him and his beast and handed it over to the lady attendant of the exam.

It was only then he realized that he was the guinea pig of this new potion.

Master, my dear master, why did you rebel? Testing the new potion? Who know what sequela will remain even if he is treated.

Lu Yao regretted insisting to come for viewing the test.

In the examination room, after getting the two hairs placed on a smooth white napkin; Zi Yang looked at the oyster and after calculating the time – he picked out the oyster.

After wearing the protective leather gloves, he removed the poison sacs and the other pearls.

The ice essence had already melted.

Finally, using a small hammer, he broke the outermost shell of the black-sea oyster and carefully too out a small semi-solid pearl.

Black-sea oysters are magical creatures who have the ability to absorb and filter. This semi-solid oyster is the hope for the oyster to be born again.

When black-sea oysters sense death, they instinctively mobile the resources and best components to nurture a semi-solid embryo pearl within their hard shells.

They absorb and filter useful ingredients and inject in this embryo.

Seeing this embryo, the potion masters understood why Zi Yang did what he did.

And it was brilliant. He maximized warmth using fire poison and fluidity using ice essence injected in the embryo by using the urgency of the oyster and toxic nature of heat and cold.

The embryo thus contains elements of absorption, filtering, unity, fire, water and wood.

Finally, Zi Yang added these two hairs to the embryo.

The freshly emerged embryo was hungry for food for growth and immediately began digesting.

Zi Yang waited the oyster embryo had digested it and softly placed it in the potion solution in the beaker.

The embryo started its job at swallowing food for growth and the level of the potion kept decreasing while the embryo showed signs of hardening.

Whenever this happened during this process, Zi Yang would increase the heat slightly and use his spirit qi to gently disturb the process.

Finally, as the entire potion became sticky, Zi Yang added a small cup full of lemon extract.

Seeing lemon extract being added to the solution, even masters had to wonder if the potion was really good.

But when they thought that they were not the one to test, everyone sighed in relief and looked at the young apprentice.

Lu Yao shuddered again, but plucked his courage and went to the exam room with the masters.

After a while, Zhong Min entered the examination room with the examiners.

Zi Yang waited for the evaluation.

Zhong Min came up to the potion and evaluated its physical characteristics – color and smell – to quickly determine if there was any chance of toxic infection.

After doing that, Zhong Min asked in curiosity – “Zi Yang, why did you refine the potion like this?”

The potion masters behind were equally curious. If it were not that this kid had a connection with Madame Dark Void, they would have swarmed the kid with questions already.

Only thinking of that one, could they hold themselves.

Zi Yang seemed to have expected this question, “Master Zhong, when I received the question – I was a little confused because this potion requires overnight stay under moon and then processing again the next day.

But then I thought, maybe it is to see if we can make changes to the potion and complete it within the timeframe. Master Meng had told me that such questions are usual in potion master’s exam.”

Usual in potion master’s exam?

Everyone had a question mark on their head.

Usual in first test for a one-star potion master?

Which Master Meng is this? Is it the same lousy Meng who lucked out and went to Plateau of Emptiness?

Was he really that awesome?

Looking at his apprentice, he might really be.

Wow, Meng was friends with them for so many years and they did not know his depth.

He prepared his student for one-star exam with standards of three-star exams.

Zhong Min was just as speechless as everyone.

If not for the innocence on his face, Zhong Min might really take him as spouting Versailles.

While the two were talking, the potion master below were impatient already.

Di Hao pushed Lu Yao as he came forward.

At this moment, he even edged Zhong Min and pushed him back.

Nobody stopped him either.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

He might be the provisional potion master but that was far away in the province – when it comes to potions – even one is equal.

Zhong Min knew this, as well. So, he helplessly smiled and made room for others.

“Candidate Zi, I understand the other steps more or less, but why did you add lemon extract later on?”, asked Di Hao.

“Ah, Sir, I think that the potion was a little sticky and also, lemon can add taste without spoiling the potion at this step.”

Everyone was choked, once again.

Good.

First class service attitude.

Considering if this is easy to eat and if the taste is good.

Damn. This is potion science – not food.

Seemingly understanding the expressions on their faces, Zi Yang understood what they meant.

But hell, even Snape added materials to make the potion taste better!

Finally, Zi Yang asked, “Masters, who is the taster?”

Everyone pushed Lu Yao.

Lu Yao took the potion bottle tremblingly and drank it in a gulp.

As soon as Lu Yao finished drinking, he trembled and felt dizzy.

Di Hao caught him in time and examined his condition. After ensuring that nothing serious happened, they made him sit on a chair.

Within a few seconds, Di Hao started showing different signs. He purred and growled.

Finally, as he opened his eyes and saw everyone looking at him – goose bumps rose on his hands and his hair stood on end.

He jumped from the chair and ran to the behind the pillar and assumed an attack stance like a leopard.

Seeing the intense changes, everyone guessed that the potion worked. In fact, it worked totally different from a normal twin-spirit potion.

In a normal twin spirit potion, one would still be himself but experience emotions and behaviors of their beasts.

Here, they saw the boy seemed to turn into a leopard. Wouldn’t it be a new potion then?

After the masters raised this point, Zi Yang said, “No masters, I think he was startled so the beast instinct took place. If everyone steps back and someone close to him calls, I think he would return to normal.”

“Is it?”

Di Hao stepped forward as everyone stepped back, “Xiao Yao, are you there?”

After low growls for a few times, Lu Yao’s eyes became less fierce and he returned to normal.

“Don’t get startled and control the impulses and feel the emotions and behaviors of your beast. Don’t be controlled by them.”

Seeing his getting better, Di Hao guided again.

For stabilizing and ensuring a good emotional foundation – this potion is a godsend.

For Lu Yao, who got this opportunity for free, is a double bonus. As his master, Di Hao guided him to make the most of it. The as if he thought of something, he dripped the remaining potion in a glass test tube and said,

“Summon your beast and let it drink too.”

Seeing his actions, everyone applauded the wit of this old man.

“Zi Yang, the potion should work on the beast too, as you took the beast master’s hair too?”

“Yes Master…”

“Call me, Mu Gong. I am still young and not with these geezers.”

Everyone looked at Mu Gong with disdain as he said that.

As if they like to associate with this stink.

Zi Yang chuckled lightly.

Within a short timeframe, he perfectly understood the dynamics of the potion masters – straightforward, proud and scholastic.

“Yes, Mu Gong. It works!”

Zi Yang also complied.

Straight-forward people are easiest and most pleasant to deal with. He could sense that Master Mu genuinely disdains titles.

Sure enough. Hearing this title, he beamed.

“That’s great.”

With a hand grasped, the old man suddenly pulled him out with enthusiasm.

“Come, let me take you to dinner.”

The old man displayed amazing agility, and by the time everyone realized – he was already at the door of the potion master association.

With one swish, he placed him on his beast and took him to the sky.

Everyone else cursed but did not follow. Zhong Min had too, however.

He was supposed to take care of the Zi Yang on orders of Madame Dark Void. How could he leave him alone?

He even planned to sleep in the association guest house tonight.

He could only follow.

A few minutes later, as Zi Yang realized the turn of events – he was already on a comfortable couch drinking Wuyi rock tea and sinking into calmness.

The contrast was too great.

The tea calmed him down and he had more insights into his potion making today. It was good tea.

The potion he made today, was a result of his knowledge reserve and his talent combined.

He got a preliminary idea today on limits of his talent. Had he not had the knowledge he accrued at Master Meng’s potion shop, even his talent might have failed him today.

His talent can push limits if he had knowledge.

But thankfully, even if he does not have enough knowledge – he could try to cooperate with Joanne and see if it would work.

Another item listed to do, in college.

Just when he finished drinking, Master Mu came again and brought with his son and granddaughter.

“See, Zi Yang – this is my granddaughter – how? Look good?”

Zi Yang was legit dumbfounded now.

The girl was roughly Zi Ming’s age. How could not guess what this old man was thinking!

“You’re still so shameless, scoundrel.”

With the rebuke came Master Zhong.

“Zi Yang, let’s go. This old man, really. She’s nine, for god’s sake and Mu Jin – why don’t you control your father?”

“Uncle Zhong, it’s not like you don’t him”, Mu Jin shook his head helplessly.

“What do you mean, old man Zhong? The son-in-law did not object – and what’s the issue with age? When she grows older – isn’t he benefitting?”

Not to mention Zi Yang, even Mu Jin blushed with shame.

See.

Are these human words?

“Master Mu, I should go now.”, Zi Yang did not want to be a part of this drama anymore.

He was tired after the gruesome exam which made this old man take advantage and drag him in a daze.

“Ah, Zi Yang – don’t call Master… Alas, have dinner first and then leave.”

Seeing his serious face and that Zhong Min tagged along too, Mu Gong could only sign that a good son-in-law slipped his hand.

The kid is worthy of having caught Madame Dark Void’s attention.

Smart, Unconventional, and yet, humble and polite.

Seeing the old man’s face, Zi Yang could only agree.

The rest was of the time before dinner was a little awkward but the little girl soon resolved the ambience.

She looked at him curiously, tilted his head and asked:

“Big brother, are you the husband my grandfather chose for Rong’er?”

Zi Yang choked on water and coughed heavily.

“Mu Rong, what does your behavior seem like?”

Mu Jin chided.

“Rudeness, father.”

“And how do you know?”

“Straightforwardness without the rules of propriety, becomes rudeness.”

Mu Rong answered, while sitting with a straight back.

“What does one do when they lose their propriety?”

Hearing this, Mu Rong quickly stood up and bowed like a mature young lady and said, “Please forgive me, I was abrupt.”

Zi Yang was about to say something when the little girl jumped and ran outside and shouted, “Grandpa, dad is scolding me again.”

It turns out Master Mu and Master Zhong has just come back again after their brief discussion outside.

“Alas. Sorry Zi Yang – you see, my father has spoiled this kid rotten and even my efforts to education would be undone as soon as he comes back.”

Zi Yang, who had not been interested in anything until now, was interested now.

He wanted to hire a Confucian master to teach his younger brother – but he was worried too.

Even if the Confucian scholars are not backward and rotten as they seemed in history of the planet in previous life – they are definitely too strict with things.

He wondered if Zi Ming could handle it and if his nature would be suppressed under such education.

He has an answer now, doesn’t he?

A strict Confucian disciplinarian, an energetic Potion Master and a lively girl.

If this family lived nearby, he could send Zi Yang there to learn.

Zi Yang’s eyes shone.

When Master Zhong and Master Mu came in, they saw those eyes.

Eyes eager to hunt.

The same eyes when Mu Gong had when he wanted to recruit him as a son-in-law and have him move.

Whom are these eyes directed?

Mu Gong carefully looked and discovered that they scanned his entire household.

Damn, did he invite a wolf into the house?

Mu Gong held Zhong Min’s arms tightly, as if for support.

Seeing the masters coming, Zi Yang quickly put away those scanning eyes – but the harm was done.

Mu Gong was on red alert!