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Chapter 95
Chapter 95: Nfirea Bale's Surprise, the Silence of Grandma Lijie
Lizzy's Workshop.
It was a Potion Workshop operated by the Bareiare family, specializing in the sale of various healing potions.
However, business at the workshop hadn't been good recently.
Due to unknown conditions in the depths of the Touv Great Forest, the Adventurer's Guild had not provided any accurate information, causing a significant reduction in the number of adventurers venturing out.
Coupled with the gradually stricter entry checks outside the city gate, the keen-nosed adventurers sensed something was amiss.
With no adventurers getting injured, the demand for healing potions naturally decreased significantly.
However!
This was not a major issue for Grandma Lijie; after so many years of selling healing potions, she had already accumulated a considerable amount of wealth.
"Grandma, is this proportion correct?" Nfirea Bale picked up the prepared herbs in his hand and asked softly.
"Mm."
Grandma Lijie nodded expressionlessly.
She was already very satisfied with her grandson's crafting method; at Nfirea Bale's age, she certainly couldn't have achieved it.
Ding-dong!
The door pushed open, and the bell hanging on it chimed softly.
A customer had arrived!
Nfirea Bale quickly and carefully set down the herbs in his hand, then stood up and looked towards the doorway.
A figure wearing what resembled a priest's robe entered the workshop. The modified robe didn't appear bulky at all; instead, its cinched waist made the wearer's figure seem tall and trim.
The moment he saw this figure, Nfirea Bale immediately thought the person must be gentle.
For most people, clothing and appearance were the simplest way to judge a person.
But!
When he saw the black hair, Nfirea Bale visibly paused, unable to resist staring.
To do so in front of a customer was quite impolite.
Yet, Nfirea Bale couldn't help himself, because Tang Zheng's current appearance was a world apart from when they first met.
If not for that iconic black hair, he might not have recognized him at first glance.
If the Tang Zheng from back then had given Nfirea Bale the impression of a somewhat mysterious, simple adventurer, then now he was an elegant, gentle noble.
It wasn't just a change in attire; his entire demeanor was distinctly different, leaving Nfirea Bale momentarily unable to describe it.
"Long time no see, Nfirea Bale."
Seeing Nfirea Bale frozen in place and staring at him, Tang Zheng waved and spoke in a familiar tone.
"You've struck it rich, Tang!" Nfirea Bale blurted out after a moment.
"I did indeed make a small fortune," Tang Zheng chuckled to himself and replied with a smile.
Nfirea Bale's face immediately brightened with joy, and he quickly stepped forward. "After so long, I thought you had already left E-Rantel, Tang."
Thump!
Nfirea Bale's steps abruptly halted as he saw the small Evil Spirit Hound peeking out from behind Tang Zheng.
At the same time, a faint, aged voice spoke, "An Evil Spirit Hound. It seems you've made a trip to the Touv Great Forest."
"Madam Barerare, long time no see."
Tang Zheng looked up at Grandma Lijie, who was sitting behind the counter, one hand propping up her chin and the other holding something like a pipe, from which she exhaled white smoke.
"There won't be any danger, will there, Tang?" Nfirea Bale's expression instantly tensed as he looked at Tang Zheng.
This sounded as if he was worried about Tang Zheng himself.
However, having spent some time with Nfirea Bale, Tang Zheng knew he wasn't worried about him, but was asking if there would be any danger in bringing an Evil Spirit Hound into the city.
"I found it by chance on the outskirts of the forest, and it's quite attached to me," Tang Zheng said softly, indirectly answering both their questions.
Grandma Lijie put down the pipe in her mouth and turned her head to look at Nfirea Bale.
"Nfirea Bale, go to the back and count the number of healing potions that are starting to degrade."
Hearing this, Nfirea Bale scratched his short golden hair and raised an eyebrow at Tang Zheng with a hint of apology in his eyes, then quickly said, "Understood, Grandma."
With that, he walked toward the back, looking somewhat helpless.
As Nfirea Bale's footsteps faded, Grandma Lijie re-examined Tang Zheng and suddenly spoke.
"Has your trouble been resolved?"
This unexpected question caught Tang Zheng off guard, but he quickly realized that Grandma Lijie must have invented a backstory based on the change in his appearance.
"Not yet, but I have some ideas now," Tang Zheng replied.
"That's good, then."
Grandma Lijie nodded, took out a familiar potion from under the counter, and placed it down.
"You made this alchemical potion, didn't you?"
"No wonder you were discussing herbs and alchemy with Nfirea Bale back then. I never imagined you possessed such an alchemical skill."
*Isn't this the alchemical potion I gave to Master Beronry?*
Seeing Tang Zheng in a daze, Grandma Lijie looked unfazed. "There are no secrets in a place like E-Rantel. If there are, it's only because no one has bothered to investigate."
*Heh! Khajiit of Zuranon hid here for so long without being discovered. If it weren't for the Bone King's intervention, E-Rantel would most likely have been razed by two bone dragons. And when Nfirea Bale was captured, he also had to ask the Bone King for help, even putting his entire fortune on the line.*
Hearing Grandma Lijie's somewhat arrogant words, Tang Zheng couldn't help but inwardly scoff, though his expression remained unchanged.
"With skills like yours, you can't be here just to buy potions, can you?"
"I'd like to sell some herbs."
"Very well. I can purchase them at the highest price, but before that..." Grandma Lijie paused, then pushed the alchemical potion forward, her gaze burning with fervor as she looked at Tang Zheng.
"I hope to buy the manufacturing technique for the alchemical solution."
"For a price of two thousand gold coins?"
"If you think that's not enough, you can name your price."
Grandma Lijie leaned forward, her wrinkled cheeks flushed with excitement.
This alchemical technique, completely different from any she knew, had been tormenting her for some time. She simply couldn't comprehend how it was made.
*So that's it.*
No wonder he had felt Grandma Lijie's gaze on him was a bit odd ever since he entered.
A price of two thousand gold coins!
To be honest, Tang Zheng was truly tempted, but he knew very well that this technique was simply not something Grandma Lijie could learn.
It relied on the passive ability of the 'Magic Swordsman' class and a Level 10 Alchemist.
Seeing Tang Zheng remain silent, Grandma Lijie thought the offer was too low and was just about to propose a higher one.
"Do you have the materials?" Tang Zheng asked directly.
A look of delighted surprise appeared on Grandma Lijie's face. She nodded eagerly, then turned and headed to the back room.
A short while later, Grandma Lijie returned carrying several intact gallows spider corpses, followed by Nfirea Bale, who was holding a pile of delicate equipment and looking utterly bewildered.
Nfirea Bale looked at Tang Zheng; though he didn't speak, he was clearly asking what was happening.
"Put those down and get back to your work," Grandma Lijie patted Nfirea Bale's head.
"Oh."
Nfirea Bale could only comply, walking away while constantly looking back.
"Do you need anything else? Just say the word," Grandma Lijie said, her voice thick with emotion.
"No, this is enough." Tang Zheng waved his hand and looked at the gallows spiders, his eyes glinting.
As their former opponent, he knew how troublesome these gallows spiders were. To think their corpses had been preserved so perfectly.
"One gallows spider poison sac."
As soon as Tang Zheng spoke, Grandma Lijie had already deftly removed a poison sac, showing no hesitation to act as his assistant.
Under Grandma Lijie's intense gaze, Tang Zheng picked up the poison sac, dropped it into some ordinary water, and then casually activated his alchemy. In just two or three breaths' time, the poison sac had completely dissolved into the water. Then, the impurities in the solution rapidly vanished at an unbelievable speed.
With a flash of blue light, a clear, luminous blue alchemical potion appeared.
"It's done."
Tang Zheng casually tossed it over.
Grandma Lijie caught it frantically, her eyes filled with bewilderment, but she still instinctively cast the "Item Appraisal" magic.
Silence.
"Ahem, could you make another one?" Grandma Lijie looked up at Tang Zheng, her voice much softer.
Tang Zheng casually made another bottle.
Grandma Lijie fell completely silent this time. She saw very clearly that Tang Zheng hadn't used any special methods or unimaginable techniques at all.
It was the exact same process used to create ordinary, inferior alchemical solutions.
She didn't understand!
But one thing was certain: this young man named Tang had an understanding of alchemy that had reached a very high level.
Grandma Lijie had always thought her grandson was a genius, but comparing him to the person before her now, she realized that this one was the true genius.
After a long moment of silence, Grandma Lijie looked up again, a somewhat stiff smile forced onto her wrinkled cheeks. "Let's talk about the herbs."
(end of chapter)
Lizzy's Workshop.
It was a Potion Workshop operated by the Bareiare family, specializing in the sale of various healing potions.
However, business at the workshop hadn't been good recently.
Due to unknown conditions in the depths of the Touv Great Forest, the Adventurer's Guild had not provided any accurate information, causing a significant reduction in the number of adventurers venturing out.
Coupled with the gradually stricter entry checks outside the city gate, the keen-nosed adventurers sensed something was amiss.
With no adventurers getting injured, the demand for healing potions naturally decreased significantly.
However!
This was not a major issue for Grandma Lijie; after so many years of selling healing potions, she had already accumulated a considerable amount of wealth.
"Grandma, is this proportion correct?" Nfirea Bale picked up the prepared herbs in his hand and asked softly.
"Mm."
Grandma Lijie nodded expressionlessly.
She was already very satisfied with her grandson's crafting method; at Nfirea Bale's age, she certainly couldn't have achieved it.
Ding-dong!
The door pushed open, and the bell hanging on it chimed softly.
A customer had arrived!
Nfirea Bale quickly and carefully set down the herbs in his hand, then stood up and looked towards the doorway.
A figure wearing what resembled a priest's robe entered the workshop. The modified robe didn't appear bulky at all; instead, its cinched waist made the wearer's figure seem tall and trim.
The moment he saw this figure, Nfirea Bale immediately thought the person must be gentle.
For most people, clothing and appearance were the simplest way to judge a person.
But!
When he saw the black hair, Nfirea Bale visibly paused, unable to resist staring.
To do so in front of a customer was quite impolite.
Yet, Nfirea Bale couldn't help himself, because Tang Zheng's current appearance was a world apart from when they first met.
If not for that iconic black hair, he might not have recognized him at first glance.
If the Tang Zheng from back then had given Nfirea Bale the impression of a somewhat mysterious, simple adventurer, then now he was an elegant, gentle noble.
It wasn't just a change in attire; his entire demeanor was distinctly different, leaving Nfirea Bale momentarily unable to describe it.
"Long time no see, Nfirea Bale."
Seeing Nfirea Bale frozen in place and staring at him, Tang Zheng waved and spoke in a familiar tone.
"You've struck it rich, Tang!" Nfirea Bale blurted out after a moment.
"I did indeed make a small fortune," Tang Zheng chuckled to himself and replied with a smile.
Nfirea Bale's face immediately brightened with joy, and he quickly stepped forward. "After so long, I thought you had already left E-Rantel, Tang."
Thump!
Nfirea Bale's steps abruptly halted as he saw the small Evil Spirit Hound peeking out from behind Tang Zheng.
At the same time, a faint, aged voice spoke, "An Evil Spirit Hound. It seems you've made a trip to the Touv Great Forest."
"Madam Barerare, long time no see."
Tang Zheng looked up at Grandma Lijie, who was sitting behind the counter, one hand propping up her chin and the other holding something like a pipe, from which she exhaled white smoke.
"There won't be any danger, will there, Tang?" Nfirea Bale's expression instantly tensed as he looked at Tang Zheng.
This sounded as if he was worried about Tang Zheng himself.
However, having spent some time with Nfirea Bale, Tang Zheng knew he wasn't worried about him, but was asking if there would be any danger in bringing an Evil Spirit Hound into the city.
"I found it by chance on the outskirts of the forest, and it's quite attached to me," Tang Zheng said softly, indirectly answering both their questions.
Grandma Lijie put down the pipe in her mouth and turned her head to look at Nfirea Bale.
"Nfirea Bale, go to the back and count the number of healing potions that are starting to degrade."
Hearing this, Nfirea Bale scratched his short golden hair and raised an eyebrow at Tang Zheng with a hint of apology in his eyes, then quickly said, "Understood, Grandma."
With that, he walked toward the back, looking somewhat helpless.
As Nfirea Bale's footsteps faded, Grandma Lijie re-examined Tang Zheng and suddenly spoke.
"Has your trouble been resolved?"
This unexpected question caught Tang Zheng off guard, but he quickly realized that Grandma Lijie must have invented a backstory based on the change in his appearance.
"Not yet, but I have some ideas now," Tang Zheng replied.
"That's good, then."
Grandma Lijie nodded, took out a familiar potion from under the counter, and placed it down.
"You made this alchemical potion, didn't you?"
"No wonder you were discussing herbs and alchemy with Nfirea Bale back then. I never imagined you possessed such an alchemical skill."
*Isn't this the alchemical potion I gave to Master Beronry?*
Seeing Tang Zheng in a daze, Grandma Lijie looked unfazed. "There are no secrets in a place like E-Rantel. If there are, it's only because no one has bothered to investigate."
*Heh! Khajiit of Zuranon hid here for so long without being discovered. If it weren't for the Bone King's intervention, E-Rantel would most likely have been razed by two bone dragons. And when Nfirea Bale was captured, he also had to ask the Bone King for help, even putting his entire fortune on the line.*
Hearing Grandma Lijie's somewhat arrogant words, Tang Zheng couldn't help but inwardly scoff, though his expression remained unchanged.
"With skills like yours, you can't be here just to buy potions, can you?"
"I'd like to sell some herbs."
"Very well. I can purchase them at the highest price, but before that..." Grandma Lijie paused, then pushed the alchemical potion forward, her gaze burning with fervor as she looked at Tang Zheng.
"I hope to buy the manufacturing technique for the alchemical solution."
"For a price of two thousand gold coins?"
"If you think that's not enough, you can name your price."
Grandma Lijie leaned forward, her wrinkled cheeks flushed with excitement.
This alchemical technique, completely different from any she knew, had been tormenting her for some time. She simply couldn't comprehend how it was made.
*So that's it.*
No wonder he had felt Grandma Lijie's gaze on him was a bit odd ever since he entered.
A price of two thousand gold coins!
To be honest, Tang Zheng was truly tempted, but he knew very well that this technique was simply not something Grandma Lijie could learn.
It relied on the passive ability of the 'Magic Swordsman' class and a Level 10 Alchemist.
Seeing Tang Zheng remain silent, Grandma Lijie thought the offer was too low and was just about to propose a higher one.
"Do you have the materials?" Tang Zheng asked directly.
A look of delighted surprise appeared on Grandma Lijie's face. She nodded eagerly, then turned and headed to the back room.
A short while later, Grandma Lijie returned carrying several intact gallows spider corpses, followed by Nfirea Bale, who was holding a pile of delicate equipment and looking utterly bewildered.
Nfirea Bale looked at Tang Zheng; though he didn't speak, he was clearly asking what was happening.
"Put those down and get back to your work," Grandma Lijie patted Nfirea Bale's head.
"Oh."
Nfirea Bale could only comply, walking away while constantly looking back.
"Do you need anything else? Just say the word," Grandma Lijie said, her voice thick with emotion.
"No, this is enough." Tang Zheng waved his hand and looked at the gallows spiders, his eyes glinting.
As their former opponent, he knew how troublesome these gallows spiders were. To think their corpses had been preserved so perfectly.
"One gallows spider poison sac."
As soon as Tang Zheng spoke, Grandma Lijie had already deftly removed a poison sac, showing no hesitation to act as his assistant.
Under Grandma Lijie's intense gaze, Tang Zheng picked up the poison sac, dropped it into some ordinary water, and then casually activated his alchemy. In just two or three breaths' time, the poison sac had completely dissolved into the water. Then, the impurities in the solution rapidly vanished at an unbelievable speed.
With a flash of blue light, a clear, luminous blue alchemical potion appeared.
"It's done."
Tang Zheng casually tossed it over.
Grandma Lijie caught it frantically, her eyes filled with bewilderment, but she still instinctively cast the "Item Appraisal" magic.
Silence.
"Ahem, could you make another one?" Grandma Lijie looked up at Tang Zheng, her voice much softer.
Tang Zheng casually made another bottle.
Grandma Lijie fell completely silent this time. She saw very clearly that Tang Zheng hadn't used any special methods or unimaginable techniques at all.
It was the exact same process used to create ordinary, inferior alchemical solutions.
She didn't understand!
But one thing was certain: this young man named Tang had an understanding of alchemy that had reached a very high level.
Grandma Lijie had always thought her grandson was a genius, but comparing him to the person before her now, she realized that this one was the true genius.
After a long moment of silence, Grandma Lijie looked up again, a somewhat stiff smile forced onto her wrinkled cheeks. "Let's talk about the herbs."
(end of chapter)
