Chapter 27: Coercion

“Restoring the Ethereal Pill will be quite difficult. For now, I will focus primarily on cultivating my techniques and use the restoration of pill recipes as a secondary pursuit!”

After considering for a moment, Chen Fei set the matter of the pill recipe aside. It wasn't because it was unimportant, but because it was the most difficult. Since all three paths were equally vital for increasing his strength, the choice of priority was naturally clear.

Time passed leisurely. During the day, Chen Fei would refine pills at the medical clinic, but he did so infrequently; after refining perhaps a few batches of Blood Qi Pills, he would stop.

Next, he would grind his proficiency in "Immortal's Path." This was the most obvious way to improve his strength. Once he reached Great Perfection with Immortal's Path, his killing move would be complete.

Fortunately, the finger-tapping motion was indeed simple; it was merely a matter of hand speed. Within two days, Chen Fei had cultivated Immortal's Path to its peak.

【Technique: Immortal's Path (Great Perfection)】

*Swish!*

In the courtyard, a streak of sword qi flashed, and a hole silently appeared in the rockery. Chen Fei smoothly sheathed his sword, stepped forward to inspect the hole, and couldn't help but let a smile grace his face.

"Manager Chen, Manager Chen, are you there?"

Liu Jun's voice rang out from outside the door. Feeling a bit puzzled, Chen Fei opened the door to find Liu Jun panting heavily.

"Did something happen at the clinic?"

Because he wanted to test the Immortal's Path sword technique, Chen Fei had intentionally skipped the clinic today.

"A new manager has taken office at the clinic. Everyone is required to report there immediately," Liu Jun whispered, glancing at Chen Fei. Previously, most people believed the position of manager at the North City Clinic would fall to Chen Fei.

After all, they had heard that Chen Fei's connections came from the eldest miss of the Zhang family, Zhang Sinan. To their surprise, after only a few days, a new manager arrived, and Chen Fei had not been promoted.

Liu Jun felt that Chen Fei should be furious, but looking at his expression, he was remarkably calm.

Of course he was calm. If the Zhang family could renege on the recipe for the Ethereal Pill, how could they possibly grant Chen Fei the position of manager at the North City Clinic?

Furthermore, Chen Fei had no interest in the manager position. It wouldn't bring much more money, but it would certainly bring a mountain of trouble. This current situation actually suited his intentions better.

"Let's go. Let's go meet the new manager together."

Chen Fei smiled slightly and walked forward. Liu Jun followed cautiously behind, whispering the information he had gathered to Chen Fei.

The new manager was named Zhang Yuezhen, a member of a collateral branch of the Zhang family who had previously been developing in another county. However, that county had been conquered, and its people had become refugees; Zhang Yuezhen's family had come to Pingyin County to seek refuge with the main branch.

"I heard Manager Zhang has a very good relationship with the Eldest Miss," Liu Jun whispered from the side.

Chen Fei nodded slightly. Their relationship was likely indeed significant; otherwise, she wouldn't have been sent to manage the North City Clinic. However, having just fled to Pingyin County and immediately being appointed manager, the North City Clinic was likely in for a busy time.

"Before I arrived, I reviewed the clinic's ledgers. The profits are far inferior to the Qingzheng Clinic. I won't pursue matters that happened in the past, but moving forward, I expect us to catch up to, or even surpass, the Qingzheng Clinic."

As soon as they stepped into the clinic, a voice rang out. Chen Fei looked up to see Zhang Yuezhen staring intensely at everyone present, her aura suppressing the entire room.

"Alright, return to your posts. If I need you, I will call you for individual discussions!"

Zhang Yuezhen waved her hand, and the crowd dispersed immediately, feeling as though they had been granted a reprieve.

"Greetings, Manager Zhang!" Chen Fei stepped forward and cupped his hands.

"You are Chen Fei?"

Zhang Yuezhen sized Chen Fei up shamelessly before continuing, "Sinan mentioned you to me. Your talent for alchemy is decent."

"The Eldest Miss flatters me."

"I have come to the North City Clinic at Sinan's request to reshape this institution. Therefore, I will need many people to help."

"Contributing to the clinic is our duty!" Chen Fei said with a smile.

"If it is your duty, then is this all the medicine you refine every day?"

Zhang Yuezhen's tone suddenly turned stern as she stared at Chen Fei. "I have seen your alchemy records from the past few days. Only a few Blood Qi Pills a day? Is this how you contribute to the clinic?"

"I was a bit shaken a few days ago, so my condition hasn't been optimal lately," Chen Fei explained.

"I don't need to hear excuses. I am only asking you this: from now on, can you refine thirty batches of Blood Qi Pills and thirty batches of Healing Pills every day?" Zhang Yuezhen waved her hand, cutting him off directly.

"I'm afraid I cannot," Chen Fei said, shaking his head slightly.

"When the manager asks you to refine pills, you refine pills. Where do all these excuses come from? You clearly just don't want to work!" Shan Xiang scolded from the side. She was a maid serving Zhang Sinan and had come along to signal Zhang Sinan's attitude.

Although Chen Fei was the deputy manager, Shan Xiang showed him no fear whatsoever.

"Alchemy is difficult to explain clearly," Chen Fei said, spreading his hands helplessly.

Zhang Yuezhen's eyes narrowed slightly, showing signs of impatience. "Then tell me, how many batches of pills can you refine every day?"

"Starting tomorrow, I will strive to refine five batches of Blood Qi Pills."

"Only one more batch than now?"

Zhang Yuezhen's aura pressed down on Chen Fei. Though she was young, she had already reached the Bone Tempering Realm by relying on her family's power.

"I will strive to recover quickly and refine more pills," Chen Fei said with a smile.

Zhang Yuezhen said nothing, her eyes fixed on him. Chen Fei did not look away, meeting her gaze directly.

"Very well. Remember your decision today!"

Zhang Yuezhen gave a cold snort and turned to leave. Shan Xiang also shot Chen Fei a fierce glare before following in Zhang Yuezhen's footsteps.

"Manager Chen..."

Seeing Zhang Yuezhen walk away, Liu Jun stepped forward with concern. Was it wise to have a conflict with the new manager on her very first day?

Chen Fei patted Liu Jun on the shoulder and walked toward his alchemy room.

A new official usually makes a grand entrance by cracking the whip, and it was clear Chen Fei was the first target. If Chen Fei actually agreed to the demand, not only would his time be completely squeezed, but he would also have no energy left for his own affairs.

Furthermore, Zhang Yuezhen would likely assign him even more work in the future.

Although Chen Fei was the deputy manager, his foundation was actually very shallow. Others thought he had Zhang Sinan backing him, but Zhang Sinan had never truly treated him as one of her own.

On the contrary, Zhang Yuezhen was a true relative of Zhang Sinan. As long as Zhang Yuezhen could control Chen Fei, once the others saw even someone like him being so submissive, they wouldn't dare slack off.

Chen Fei had effectively become a tool in Zhang Yuezhen's hands—a tool to reorganize the North City Clinic.

"Since Chen Fei is being so uncooperative, I will certainly report this to the Eldest Miss once we return!" Shan Xiang said indignantly.

"There is no need to trouble Sinan with such matters."

Zhang Yuezhen's eyes narrowed as she sneered, "If Chen Fei had refused me outright, I might have respected him as a man. This kind of evasion is worse than a woman's; it actually makes me look down on him!"

Shan Xiang couldn't help but laugh. How could Chen Fei have the courage to refuse her to her face? He would likely be slapped down by Zhang Yuezhen, after all, he was only in the Skin Tempering Realm.