Lin Jichen had recently set a new condition: all alchemy masters would not only receive generous salaries but also earn a 5% commission on the elixirs they crafted and sold.
Once this policy was announced, alchemy masters from all over the city flocked to join, even many high-level alchemy masters were willing to leave their old employers to come on board.
This was the fundamental reason why Lin Jichen's pharmacy had stood undefeated despite fierce competition from other shops.
Most stores run by other players preferred to recruit real-world players and offered generally low wages to save costs.
This approach also had a significant advantage: training new player alchemy masters.
They would sign long-term contracts, so when everyone's cultivation realm improved in the future, there would be a need to craft more advanced elixirs.
Training them now was better than hiring them at high costs later.
Lin Jichen, however, was entirely different. His store had almost no player alchemy masters; they were all NPCs.
Currently, the pharmacy had only recruited one player, Zhao Baige.
In the eyes of his peers, this was sheer folly.
After all, NPCs wouldn't give you discounts or sign long-term low-price contracts just because you employed and trained them for a long time.
Even if NPCs' alchemy skills currently outclassed players, it was only temporary.
It was a losing proposition.
Players' alchemy skills would eventually catch up, and by then, would NPCs still be needed?
Of course, if they knew that in a few years the game would integrate into the real world, they wouldn't think this way.
Lin Jichen wasn't entirely against training new talents; he had a recruitment post pinned on the forum.
However, he only trained elite alchemy masters, like Zhao Baige.
A future elixir king like Zhao Baige could easily surpass a thousand alchemy masters alone, no exaggeration.
Thinking about this future elixir king, he hoped she wouldn't be ruined under his watch (covering his face).
Lin Jichen arrived at Zhao Baige's alchemy room, just as she was coming out.
She was still covered in soot, pushing a small cart filled with bottles and jars of elixirs.
"Xiao Ru, here are five hundred bottles of Blood Clotting Pills and five hundred bottles of Vitality Pills. Have Manager Cui'er check them."
As soon as Zhao Baige came out, she instructed the steward outside.
The steward immediately started counting the elixirs on the cart for inventory.
Zhao Baige stretched, looking a bit tired, and was about to head back inside when she noticed Lin Jichen standing behind her, startling her.
"Boss? You scared me to death."
Zhao Baige patted her chest and then grinned, "Boss, my success rate in alchemy has improved a lot. Blood Clotting Pills are at 98%, and Vitality Pills at 95%. Not bad, right?"
Lin Jichen nodded with a light smile, "Yes, you've made rapid progress."
"Hehe, thanks to your careful guidance and the Earth Grade furnace you gave me. That furnace is simply amazing, my absolute favorite!"
Zhao Baige said excitedly, then suddenly remembered something and turned to Lin Jichen, "Boss, I might need to take two days off."
"Sure," Lin Jichen agreed readily and asked, "Something in real life?"
Zhao Baige shook her head with a wry smile, "I need to take time off to level up. My realm is too low to craft many elixirs."
Lin Jichen chuckled in realization. No wonder Zhao Baige needed time off; she was among the first players to enter Tale of Immortal, but her cultivation was still only at the Qi Refining stage.
She indeed needed to level up, as many elixirs had realm requirements.
"Are you planning to level up alone?" Lin Jichen asked.
Zhao Baige nodded, "Yes, I don't know anyone else in the game."
Given Zhao Baige's strength and combat skills, leveling up alone would take forever.
This was no small matter, as it concerned Zhao Baige's alchemy skill improvement and the pharmacy's business.
Lin Jichen thought for a moment and decided to take her to level up, clearing a couple of Secret Realms to boost her experience.
Upon learning that Lin Jichen would take her to level up, Zhao Baige was overjoyed.
She immediately took out her long-unused weapon from her Storage Ring, eager to ride on his coattails and gain experience.
Lin Jichen led her out of the pharmacy, but as soon as they stepped outside, an unwelcome figure appeared at the door.
"Jichen, I heard you were here, so I came to find you. Can I treat you to a meal?"
Standing in front of Lin Jichen was the persistent Guo Jie.
Guo Jie had been having a rough time lately.
Every time she logged in, she was assigned various dirty and tiring tasks by the senior brothers of the Servant Hall: digging, fertilizing, carrying manure, sweeping toilets, and so on.
These disgusting tasks nearly drove Guo Jie insane.
She had countless times wanted to quit the game, but she didn't know where Lin Jichen lived now.
Only in the game could she have a chance to know Lin Jichen's whereabouts.
Ever since the news broke that Lin Jichen was the top real estate tycoon in Tale of Immortal, worth billions, she swore to win him back and make him fall for her again.
After nearly half a month of waiting, she finally found out where Lin Jichen was. She immediately dropped her tasks and rushed over.
Seeing her, Lin Jichen's eyes flashed with disdain.
But he remained calm and said indifferently, "Do we know each other?"
Guo Jie, feeling wronged, said, "Jichen, I know you still think I'm fickle, but I've really changed. I heard you dropped out of school, so I dropped out too to find you. To make up for my mistakes, I've rejected all the men who pursued me and stayed single, just to prove my determination to change."
Guo Jie spoke with utmost sincerity and vivid emotion.
Knowing the truth, Lin Jichen sneered. This woman's skin was thicker than a city wall.
She was expelled from school but claimed she dropped out to find him.
She was abandoned by the second-generation wealthy but claimed it was to make amends.
Truly, shamelessness knows no bounds.
Zhao Baige, listening on the side, was stunned. Could this be the boss's ex-girlfriend?
Lin Jichen remained unmoved, simply saying, "I said I don't know you. Stop talking nonsense; you've got the wrong person."
With that, Lin Jichen prepared to leave with Zhao Baige.
Guo Jie immediately blocked their way, pleading, "Jichen, how could I mistake you? Don't be so heartless. You used to love me so much, but now you pretend not to know me..."
Lin Jichen grew impatient. If it weren't for the city's no-violence rule, he would have sent her back to the respawn point with a single sword strike.
Not wanting to hear her nonsense any longer, Lin Jichen summoned Panda Xiong, mounted it, and extended his hand to Zhao Baige.
Zhao Baige, a bit flustered, obediently extended her hand.
Lin Jichen pulled her up, and they sped away on Panda Xiong.
Guo Jie tried to chase them, but she couldn't outrun Panda Xiong and was soon left far behind.
Once again, Guo Jie stood alone on the street, watching Lin Jichen's departing figure, her face dark with determination.
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas