《College Student Is Pill Tycoon》


 Chapter 1: The Call

    The library bustles with a quiet energy. Students sit hunched over desks, flipping through books, typing with pens, or staring blankly at notes as if psychic powers can force them to understand the contents¡­


    In the meantime Lu Chen was sitting by the window. Ignoring the chaos around him


    His desk is a mess. There are open textbooks, crumpled notes, and half-empty water bottles found in cheap vending machines that sit precariously on the edge.


    But in the midst of change There is a strange symmetry. It was as if everything in his world made sense. His pen moves across the notebook with unceasing precision. Scribbling neat letters as his brows furrowed in concentration.


    For anyone Overachievers may appear to be putting too much pressure on themselves. But for Lu Chen This is his holy place.


    University life was not what he had imagined for himself. Not after everything he had been through, the wars, the betrayals, the sleepless nights. Living life with nothing but determination¡ªnow it''s a different world.


    This life, with its lectures, dormitories, and library hours, feels unreal. But he still clung to it fiercely. It was as if learning could erase the blood stains from his past.


    ¡°Yo, Academician Lu!¡± Earlier that day, Zhang Wei''s voice suddenly sounded. Make your classmates laugh a little. ¡°Still trying to win the award for most boring guy on campus?¡±


    Lu Chen smiled faintly. With the comment but not saying anything, Zhang Wei didn''t mean any harm. For him and most people here Lu Chen was just another student who was trying, quiet, driven, and a little too fierce.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    When the sun sets below The hours melted away. Paint the library with golden shadows. Students began to go out, but Lu Chen stayed put as if oblivious to his surroundings. He had promised himself he¡¯d finish this chapter tonight, no matter what.


    By the time he packed up his things, the library was nearly deserted. Outside, the campus was alive with the hum of crickets and the occasional burst of laughter from a group of students passing by. Lu Chen walked back to his dorm, his footsteps unhurried seemingly in happy mood after finishing the chapter.


    The dorm buzzed with its usual chaos. Zhang Wei was glued to his gaming setup, his enthusiastic shouts echoing as if the fate of his digital world hinged on every play.


    Nearby, Li Ming lounged across his bed, aimlessly scrolling through social media, while Zhao Fan was a whirlwind of focus, furiously typing away on his laptop, grumbling about a last-minute essay.


    ¡°You¡¯re late,¡± Zhao Fan remarked, barely lifting his gaze.


    ¡°Had some stuff to finish,¡± Lu Chen replied, casually tossing his bag onto the chair. As the evening unfolded, a familiar routine settled in.


    Lu Chen flipped through his notes while his roommates gradually quieted, the night growing deeper.


    By midnight, the dorm fell silent, save for the gentle snores emanating from Li Ming¡¯s corner. Lu Chen leaned back, his gaze drifting out the window.


    The moon hung low in the sky, its light gently filtering through the sheer curtains. This was his cherished moment¡ªwhen the world seemed to slow down, leaving him alone with his thoughts.


    Just as he prepared to close his notebook and embrace sleep, his phone buzzed on the desk, shattering the peaceful stillness. He glanced at the screen and felt a pang in his chest: Dad.


    His father rarely called, especially at this hour. Casual conversations weren''t his style. If he was calling now, something serious must be at hand. Lu Chen answered quickly.


    ¡°Dad?¡± The voice on the other end was soft, almost fragile¡ªa stark contrast to what he was accustomed to.


    ¡°Lu Chen¡­¡± Lu Chen froze, sensing something was off. His father¡¯s tone felt weak and unfamiliar.


    Lu Chen froze. His father¡¯s voice sounded off¡ªfragile, almost. It wasn¡¯t right. His throat felt dry, and he struggled to speak.


    ¡°Dad, what¡¯s wrong? Are you okay?¡±


    His father didn¡¯t answer right away. When he did, his words came slowly, like they were hard to get out. Lu Chen listened without interrupting, gripping the edge of his desk tightly. With every word, the pit in his stomach grew deeper.


    When the call ended, Lu Chen sat there for a moment, staring at the dark screen. His heart pounded in his chest. He didn¡¯t need more details to know that something was very, very wrong.


    He stood up suddenly, grabbing his jacket and shoving a few things into his bag. His movements were rushed, almost clumsy. His roommates stirred at the noise. Zhang Wei sat up slightly, rubbing his eyes.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Zhang Wei mumbled sleepily.


    ¡°Home,¡± Lu Chen said, his voice strained.


    Without explaining further, he left the room. The night air hit him as he stepped outside, cold and sharp against his face. He didn¡¯t slow down, he ran as fast as he could towards the station.

 Chapter 2: Main story starts now

    A small town was brightly lit. With the rise of a massive film studio on the outskirts of Longhua Town, the town itself gradually prospered.


    In the midst of this town stood a house exuding an ancient charm. Dim light filtered through the windows, and suddenly, a young man carrying a backpack hurriedly pushed open the door and rushed inside.


    "Dad! Dad, where are you? Please, don''t let anything happen to you!"


    Lu Chen''s face was filled with anxiety, his appearance dusty and travel-worn. He was a senior in college, but two nights ago, he suddenly received a call from his father, Lu Yuan. Over the phone, Lu Yuan urged him to return home immediately, saying he was on the brink of death and had matters to settle.


    The news nearly caused Lu Chen to faint from shock. He immediately took leave from school and boarded the train home. After a frantic journey, he finally arrived back at the house he hadn''t visited for half a year, just before nightfall.


    Seeing that the light in his father''s room was still on, Lu Chen breathed a long sigh of relief.


    "Chen''er, is that you?"


    Lu Chen clearly heard his father''s voice. He quickly responded, placed his backpack in the living room, and with a single bound, leaped up to the second floor, pushing open the door to his father''s room.


    A man in his fifties lay on the bed, his face flushed. His expression brightened when he saw his son enter.


    The moment Lu Chen saw his father''s complexion, his expression changed dramatically. He fell to his knees before the bed with a thud, grabbing Lu Yuan''s hand and sobbing, "Dad, what¡­ what happened to you? Why did you take the Revival Pill? That''s a forbidden drug!"


    Lu Yuan didn''t seem surprised that his son recognized the effects of the forbidden pill at a glance. He reached out to pat Lu Chen''s head and said, "Chen, it''s good that you''re back. I''ve been holding on with the pill''s power, waiting for you to return."


    Tears welled up in Lu Chen''s eyes as he choked out, "Dad, did you test another pill on yourself? Otherwise, how could this have happened?"


    Lu Yuan chuckled, "Chen, you''re a grown man now. Don''t cry like a little girl."


    The flush on Lu Yuan''s face seemed to deepen. Realizing that his time was short, he continued, "Chen, I''m not going to make it, but I have no regrets. The only thing I''m unwilling to accept is that I couldn''t refine many of the pills recorded in our Lu family''s Pill Sutra. It''s something I''ll take to the grave."


    "Dad¡­"


    Lu Chen''s voice trembled with emotion.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Lu Yuan coughed heavily twice, a trace of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth. Lu Chen quickly wiped it away with a handkerchief, his face filled with worry and sorrow.


    Seeing the concern on his son''s face, Lu Yuan smiled faintly. "Chen, our family''s Pill Sutra records the methods for refining over a thousand kinds of pills. With the right ingredients, it even contains recipes for elixirs that could allow one to ascend to immortality in broad daylight. But our family has declined with each generation. No one has been able to master the True Samadhi Fire needed to activate the Desolate Cauldron. We''ve been reduced to using mundane fire to refine third-rate pills¡­"


    As he spoke, blood continued to drip from Lu Yuan''s mouth, clearly on the verge of collapse.


    Suddenly, Lu Chen stood up and began frantically searching through drawers.


    Lu Yuan glanced at him with a look of relief and said, "Chen, there''s no need to search. The Nine-Turn Spirit Pill is gone, and even if it were here, it wouldn''t save my life."


    Lu Chen trembled at his words and slumped to the ground in despair. "Dad, why didn''t you use the Nine-Turn Spirit Pill to save yourself? Why¡­"


    Lu Yuan shook his head. "Foolish child, that pill, passed down from our ancestors, has only one dose left. Though it can revive the dead and regrow flesh on bones, I''ve been poisoned by pill toxins. There''s no way to survive it. On top of that, these toxins have accumulated in my body for decades, all flaring up at once. The fact that I managed to hold on until you returned is already a miracle."


    As he spoke, Lu Yuan trembled as he removed an ancient ring from his finger and handed it to the tearful Lu Chen. "Put this on. Our Lu family has three treasures: the Space Ring, the Desolate Cauldron, and the Pill Sutra. The Desolate Cauldron and Pill Sutra contain many of the pills I''ve refined over the years, as well as the medicinal herbs our ancestors have collected over generations. All of it is inside this Space Ring. You must treasure it."


    Lu Chen took the ring and put it on. Seeing this, a faint smile appeared on Lu Yuan''s face, but then he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.


    Lu Chen immediately grabbed his father''s hand.


    Lu Yuan''s face, which had been flushed, suddenly brightened with energy. But Lu Chen, deeply knowledgeable in medicine, knew that this was a final burst of vitality¡ªhis father had already expended the last of his life force. Unless there was an elixir of immortality, no pill could extend Lu Yuan''s life by even a second. Tears silently streamed down his face.


    Lu Yuan, aware of his own condition, saw the sorrow on his son''s face and smiled brightly. Trembling, he reached under his pillow and took out a piece of glistening jade. It was shaped like a dragon, but only half of it remained.


    Lu Yuan placed the jade in Lu Chen''s hand, his voice shaking. "Chen, I used the Nine-Turn Spirit Pill to arrange a marriage for you. I know that people today value the freedom to choose their partners, so if you''re truly unwilling, you can pretend this engagement doesn''t exist. But please, don''t blame me. I only hoped that you would continue the Lu family line¡­ Sadly, I won''t live to see that day."


    Seeing that even in his final moments, his father was still thinking about his future, Lu Chen''s tears flowed even more freely. He murmured, "Dad, don''t worry. I''ll make sure the Lu family continues to thrive."


    Hearing this, Lu Yuan smiled in relief, but then his grip on Lu Chen''s hand tightened suddenly as he spat out a large mouthful of blood.


    "Chen''er, remember¡­ never attempt to refine higher-grade pills without mastering the True Fire of Samadhi. And never, ever test pills on yourself like I did¡­"


    "Dad¡­ Dad¡­"


    As the light on Lu Yuan''s eyes faded, a wail erupted from the house.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    [Three Days Later]


    Lu Chen sat quietly, staring blankly at his father''s portrait. His gaze unintentionally fell on the glistening half of the jade pendant, and a flash of anger crossed his eyes.


    "Fianc¨¦e? If it weren''t for you, perhaps the Nine-Turn Spirit Pill could have saved my father. It''s all your fault! Even if you become my fianc¨¦e, this won''t end well!"


    Lu Chen clenched the green jade pendant tightly in his hand.


    ****


    In a place as picturesque as a fairyland, surrounded by verdant bamboo, stood a simple bamboo pavilion.


    Incense smoke wafted gently from a burner, and a woman sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, her expression serene. In her soft, jade-like hands rested the other half of the green jade pendant.


    Suddenly, the woman stood up, and it seemed as though the entire world moved with her. She had long, jet-black hair and wore a spotless white robe, cinched at the waist with a white silk sash that perfectly accentuated her graceful figure.


    Yet, no matter how hard one tried, it was impossible to see the woman''s face clearly. It wasn''t because she wore a veil or anything of the sort; rather, her face seemed to give off an ethereal, dreamlike aura. You could vaguely make out her delicate features, but her true appearance remained elusive.


    Like a celestial being, the woman''s lips curled into a slight smile as she softly murmured, "Lu Chen, my future husband! It seems I must heed my master''s words and venture into the mortal world. Scion of a declining pill master family, don''t disappoint this Zhang Niangniang¡­"

 Chapter 3: Actress??

    "According to the latest reports, last night at 8 PM, a crew of ''Peerless Love'' was caught in a sudden fire. The acclaimed superstar He Suyan, known across Asia for her acting, singing, and dancing, has unfortunately sustained injuries¡­"


    Click!


    Lu Chen reached out and switched off the TV. He stood up, walked out of the room, and took a deep breath.


    Having lost his mother at a young age, he now faced the loss of his father, but this ordeal seemed to have matured him. The sadness that once lingered on his face had now vanished.


    Breathing in the fresh air and gazing up at the blue sky, Lu Chen exhaled deeply, a faint smile appearing on his lips as he murmured, "Dad, I promise I''ll live a happy life. You don''t need to worry."


    After quickly freshening up and slipping on a robe, Lu Chen walked into a training room. As he observed the familiar surroundings, memories of his father urging him to meditate and cultivate flooded his mind.


    Now that those days were gone, Lu Chen composed himself, sat cross-legged, and began practicing his family''s ancient cultivation method.


    The Lu family''s cultivation technique emphasizes longevity and health. In this era where the art of cultivation has almost faded away, fewer and fewer people practice it. As a result, several generations of the Lu family have been unable to produce a master who could cultivate a Golden Core, which would allow them to freely wield the True Samadhi Fire to activate the Desolate Cauldron and refine superior pills. This decline is the very reason why the once-renowned family of alchemists has fallen into obscurity.


    Lu Chen felt the Qi in his dantian surge, filling him with energy. All the exhaustion from the past few days dissipated as he slipped into a deep meditative state.


    As nightfall approached, Lu Chen suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. He stood up from the meditation cushion, listening intently.


    A faint sound of crying reached his ears, coming from outside the room. It was a woman''s voice, soft and sorrowful. Lu Chen frowned slightly, puzzled by the presence of someone crying outside at this hour.


    Having just emerged from the grief of losing his father, Lu Chen was in a low mood. Normally, he would have rushed out to investigate, but now he was hesitant.


    He tried to ignore it, but the crying persisted, growing weaker with each passing moment. Finding it strange that there were no accompanying footsteps, he finally decided to investigate, his curiosity piqued.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    With a creak, the door swung open, and Lu Chen. Scanned the area, seeing no one. Just as he was about to close the door, a white figure huddled in the corner caught his attention.


    Under the dim streetlight, Lu Chen noticed a person hidden in the darkness of the corner.


    Instinctively, he moved closer for a better look and was immediately struck by a chill.


    Before him was a face that seemed to be a grotesque fusion of an angel and a demon. Fortunately, Lu Chen wasn''t easily frightened. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was a woman dressed in a hospital gown. Her face was covered in scars, one side of her fair complexion still glistening with tears, while the other side was marred by terrifying injuries. Clearly, this was the woman who had been crying.


    Though summer was approaching, the night air was still chilly. As someone well-versed in medicine, Lu Chen knew the dangers of exposure to the cold, especially since it looked like it might rain soon. If she stayed out any longer, she might fall even sicker.


    Lu Chen gently shook her, trying to rouse her. "Miss, wake up."


    However, she remained unresponsive, even after several attempts.


    "She''s burning up¡­ she''s feverish," Lu Chen realized that she wasn''t ignoring him but was unconscious from the fever.


    Without a second thought, Lu Chen scooped her up. Despite the hospital gown, he could still feel the softness of her skin and the lightness of her body.


    But Lu Chen was too concerned to dwell on these sensations. All he could think about was how alarmingly hot she was. If her fever wasn''t brought down soon, it could cause lasting damage.


    He gently placed her on a bed, quickly fetched a pill, dissolved it in water, and carefully administered it to her.


    Seeing her swallow the Qi-boosting pill, Lu Chen finally relaxed. With the pill''s potency, even a severe cold would be no match for it. Although the Lu family had declined, the effectiveness of their low-grade pills was still remarkable.


    Indeed, after taking the pill, the feverish woman''s forehead gradually cooled, and her incoherent mutterings subsided.


    Lu Chen checked her temperature and, confirming that the fever had broken, sighed in relief. He covered her with a blanket and decided to take her to the hospital the following morning once she had regained consciousness.


    The next day, just as the sun peeked over the horizon, Lu Chen was sound asleep when a sudden scream jolted him awake.


    He sprang up and dashed towards the room where the scream had come from.


    .


    .


    He Suyan felt as though she had been trapped in a nightmare. An orphan by birth, she had used her natural beauty and sharp wit to rise to stardom, becoming a celebrity adored by millions.


    But fate had played a cruel joke on her. A devastating fire had not only scarred her once-flawless face but also burned large portions of her body. According to her doctors, skin grafts could hide the scars, but there was no hope of restoring her former beauty.


    At just over twenty years old, He Suyan was crushed by this blow. No matter how composed or intelligent she usually was, the sudden tragedy had overwhelmed her. Taking advantage of a moment of inattention, she had fled the hospital, her injuries barely stabilized.


    Along the way, people had recoiled from her as if she were some terrifying creature. He Suyan knew that the reason those who used to swarm around her now avoided her was because she had become a hideous monster.


    Exhausted and heartbroken, she had curled up in a corner, crying like a lost child until she had fainted.


    But when she awoke, she found herself in an unfamiliar bed, and instinctively let out a terrified scream.


    The door burst open, and a naked man rushed in, asking, "What''s wrong?"


    He Suyan froze, her wide, watery eyes staring dumbly at the man''s bare body. It was the first time she had seen a naked, and for a moment, she couldn''t process what she was seeing. It wasn''t until her gaze fell between his legs that she fully grasped the situation, and another, even more piercing scream escaped her lips.


    "Pervert!"


    Lu Chen was startled by the lion-like roar of the woman curled up on the bed. Just as he was about to rush over and cover her mouth to stop the noise, her shout of "pervert" made him pause.


    Only then did he realize his mistake. His face turned red as he quickly bolted out of the room, just as hastily as he had entered, mentally berating himself for forgetting his habit of sleeping naked.


    As he hurriedly dressed, Lu Chen couldn''t help but think how embarrassing it was. To be seen naked by a woman, especially one as scarred and frightened as she was, was mortifying for someone who had never even had a girlfriend.


    He couldn''t believe that his first time being naked in front of a woman had happened in such a ridiculous situation¡ªand to make matters worse, the woman was someone whose appearance was¡­ less than ideal.