Chapter 2555 — The Third-Rank Cauldron

What was he rushing around so frantically for? Wei Zhao wondered privately. Surely he wasn't about to bring more good things for himself and Han Jingyi?

It had to be said: the person who understood You Panhu best was, astonishingly, Wei Zhao. You Panhu returned to the classroom, and the first thing he looked at was Wei Zhao's seat—but he came up empty.

"Where's Wei Zhao?" You Panhu asked, taken aback.

"Young Master You, I heard he had some business this afternoon and left on leave." Purple Hair had not gone back with You Panhu; he had stayed at the school the whole time.

"Left on leave? What the hell!" You Panhu felt as though his fist had landed on cotton. He had come in high spirits, hauling a whole pile of good things, all set to show them off—and now Wei Zhao had gone!

On second thought, though, Wei Zhao's absence was no great loss. He had meant to show off to Han Jingyi anyway, and without Wei Zhao around it would be all the easier; Han Jingyi surely wasn't as devious as Wei Zhao, so it should be comparatively easy to talk her around.

At that, You Panhu fished the second-rank cauldron from his previous visit out of his backpack, walked over to Han Jingyi's desk, and plunked himself down right beside her.

Han Jingyi was at that moment poring over the alchemist's notes that Wei Zhao had given her, the ones belonging to Leader Bai's master. Much of the content also appeared in the alchemy notes Wei Zhao had brought back from the ancient tomb, but Han Jingyi had nothing else to do just now, so out of sheer boredom she had begun reading them from the start.

Seeing You Panhu approach, Han Jingyi swiftly put the alchemist's notes away and then picked up a school medical textbook and began leafing through it.

You Panhu rolled his eyes on the spot. He had not expected Han Jingyi to be so vigilant—he had barely walked over before she stowed the material away, which left him both irritated and helpless.

"Han Jingyi, you're really that diligent? Studying even during the lunch break?" You Panhu asked, twirling the cauldron in his hand.

"Mm. Jingjing has to study hard so she can help Brother Wei Zhao later," Han Jingyi answered without lifting her head.

"Pfft... damn it..." Hearing this, You Panhu felt thoroughly aggrieved. What was so great about Wei Zhao? Why did every one of these girls give him their undying devotion?

"What's the matter with you?" Han Jingyi raised her head and looked curiously at You Panhu, whose face had gone red.

"Nothing..." You Panhu gave a dry laugh. "So, Jingjing, what were you looking at just now? Could I have a look?"

"No," Han Jingyi refused flatly.

"Come on... don't be like that. Doesn't Teacher Bai always say that classmates ought to help one another? I'd like to see the material in your hands, so you ought to let me see it, right?" You Panhu invoked Leader Bai's name.

"Helping one another isn't the same as forcing someone. If I told you to strip down and dance in the middle of the classroom, would you agree?" A sharp gleam flickered through Han Jingyi's eyes, there and gone, as she spoke mildly.

"Ah... uh..." You Panhu was instantly speechless.

"If you wanted me to help you with something study-related, of course I would. Lending you a textbook to look at, for instance," Han Jingyi said.

"Well... never mind, then. I've got my own." You Panhu was somewhat puzzled. Han Jingyi usually seemed so guileless—how was her mind so quick on its feet? She did not look easy to talk around. This girl was probably just playing the innocent in front of Wei Zhao, much like Shen Yushu. What a pain in the ass. Winning her over was clearly not going to be easy.

"Oh." Han Jingyi nodded, ignored him, and went on reading the textbook in front of her.

You Panhu felt rather put out. To draw Han Jingyi's attention, he began playing with the second-rank cauldron in his hand—three turns to the left, three turns to the right... For an alchemist of You Panhu's caliber, this was child's play, smoother even than the acrobats performing in a circus.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"

The second-rank cauldron spun furiously in You Panhu's hands, performing all manner of high-difficulty tricks.

Yet after all that showing off, it was the classmates whose eyes he had drawn—most of them envious and astonished that You Panhu could work such a fine... cauldron! Only Han Jingyi remained oblivious, quietly reading the textbook before her.

You Panhu had only wanted to catch Han Jingyi's eye, but she did not so much as glance at him. What did it matter to You Panhu if the others were astonished to death? Somewhat helpless, he set the cauldron down on the desk, coughed twice, and said to Han Jingyi, "Jingjing, that second-rank cauldron I traded you last time—you've used it, haven't you?"

"Oh, I have. It's quite good, thank you," Han Jingyi answered lukewarmly.

"Uh... ha, well, this second-rank cauldron, you see, for a beginner it breaks very easily. If you don't control the temperature and the flame properly while you practice, it might just blow up mid-refinement!" You Panhu paused there, then asked, "Your cauldron hasn't broken, has it?"

"No, it's holding up well," Han Jingyi said without raising her head.

"Oh... well, since it hasn't broken, you really ought to keep a spare cauldron on hand, just in case. If it blows up, you'll have a backup," You Panhu said.

"You mean you're going to give me another one?" Han Jingyi finally raised her head and looked at the second-rank cauldron You Panhu had set on the desk.

"Well... of course I can't just give it away, but we could trade," You Panhu said, overjoyed that he had finally steered Han Jingyi onto the real subject.

"Oh, then never mind. Mine hasn't broken yet, so I won't trade for now." Han Jingyi lowered her head again, leaving You Panhu on the verge of tears, utterly without recourse.

"This... actually, you wouldn't have to give up anything at all. How about this: make me a copy of that material you were reading just now, and this second-rank cauldron is yours. What do you say?" You Panhu held the cauldron up and wheedled, "This is a second-rank cauldron, you know!"

"I won't copy it for you," Han Jingyi said outright.

"..." You Panhu realized that everything he had just said had been wasted, and all his expressive faces wasted too—Han Jingyi had no designs on the second-rank cauldron whatsoever! After some thought, he asked, "How about this, then: tell me what you need. What is it you want?"

"What do I want?" Han Jingyi thought it over. "I already have a second-rank cauldron, so giving me another isn't much use—it would just be a spare. But if you had a third-rank cauldron, I wouldn't mind one of those."