[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-the-mage":3,"chapter-above-the-mage-above-the-mage-chapter-21":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Above the Mage!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2257025,4404,"Chapter 21: Unexpected News","above-the-mage-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>As the three were stunned by the freezing ray, Gao De activated another spell model and cast another spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, his left hand flung a small emerald-green liquid sphere, like a malevolent comet slicing through the air, straight toward the leader, whose movements had been slowed by the freezing ray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief spin in midair, the sphere burst into a wide spray of mist, then landed precisely on the leader’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the acid touched the man, his clothes and skin immediately hissed as they corroded, billowing thick smoke and a pungent sulfur smell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fabric of his clothes began to melt, his skin melted too, leaving behind a glowing green trail of corrosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The acid vanished after only about three seconds, but those three seconds were enough to render the man writhing in unbearable agony, collapsed on the ground, rolling and screaming in torment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dim alley, the acid vanished swiftly, leaving only the acrid green smoke drifting in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man lay on the ground, still convulsing violently, his body a horrific sight—charred and blackened, no trace left of his earlier menace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two were paralyzed with terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had some knowledge of mages, but only superficially; in truth, they were merely petty thugs with minor connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they failed to realize that a mage apprentice like Gao De, with no background and at this age, was almost certainly a First-Class Apprentice, with limited mana and no more than five spells he could cast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Mage, Master Mage, spare us! Spare us! We didn’t know you were a mage—we offended you, we’ll never dare again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second-in-command kept begging; in his eyes, this boy with traces of youth still on his face was more terrifying than the top enforcer of the city’s criminal gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are a noble mage—don’t lower yourself to deal with scum like us. Don’t strike us again.” He trembled as he saw a flicker of magical light reappear at Gao De’s fingertips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader’s horrific state was right before his eyes—he had not a shred of courage left to resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He feared ending up just like the leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De silently lowered his right hand, suppressing his rage, and spoke coldly: “Who are you? Why did you attack me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same question as before—but this time, they answered honestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We are miners from Nottingham Mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Gao De’s anger seemed to ease slightly, he spoke rapidly, like a drowning man finally breathing air: “Ever since the Nottingham vein ran dry, the three of us lost our jobs and have been doing odd jobs in the city, barely scraping by.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We knew we couldn’t go on like this. A few days ago, while drinking, we heard a rumor that a new mine had opened in Bremen City and was desperately hiring miners—we planned to go there and return to our old trade, but—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you always spend whatever money you earn at the taverns, so now, when you need cash, you can’t even afford the travel fare, is that right?” Gao De understood, speaking coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, miners rarely had any sense of saving—they were all “moonlighters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they received their wages, they spent it all on drinking or pleasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, at the start of every month, when wages were settled, the taverns were busiest and most profitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second-in-command looked embarrassed but kept begging: “It’s our fault—we were lazy and had wicked thoughts. Master Mage, please don’t hold us scum accountable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why target me? Do I look like someone with money?” Gao De didn’t let them off easily—he pressed for details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second-in-command nervously glanced at Gao De and explained: “It was the leader. A while back, Phil’s Apothecary was hiring temporary herb collectors—we all went, worked for a few days gathering thorngrass with their clerks…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What this man said, Gao De actually remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he and Amy first visited Phil’s Apothecary, he had indeed seen a notice at the door announcing they were hiring temporary herb collectors—perfectly matching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“During the herb-gathering breaks, the leader chatted with their clerks, and one clerk shared a funny story:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the four herb gardens they partnered with, your garden’s alchemist is the most troublesome—he sells them low-grade potions, yet constantly buys high-grade herbs from them, giving most of his profits right back to them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the head alchemist scolded him for disrespecting Ceda the Alchemist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said Ceda the Alchemist was in seclusion, refining high-grade potions, never leaving his quarters—neither sales nor purchases were handled by him personally, but by his apprentices, proving his focus. Once he finishes refining a high-grade potion, it’ll be extraordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was that remark that gave the leader the idea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the leader found out that the apprentice handling herb procurement and sales for your garden had recently been replaced by a much younger person—you. We figured the younger you were, the easier you’d be to attack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing the full story, Gao De fell silent for a moment, then asked suddenly: “Did you find out when your garden’s next herb purchase will be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you can answer that, I’ll let you go this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know! I know!” The third man, who had been trembling silently beside them, blurted out: “That clerk said your garden placed an order last month, and this month you urgently ordered the same thing again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They have stock of all other herbs, but the ones you ordered are rare—they can’t supply them until their next shipment arrives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even bragged that your alchemist is desperate, but there’s nothing he can do, because the herbs he needs are available only through Phil’s Apothecary in the entire Hoggen City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve been lying in wait outside your garden for days. Today we saw you leave for the city with empty hands—we figured the apothecary had received its shipment, and you were going to pick up the herbs with money, so—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De had learned key information; his focus shifted, and his anger gradually faded. He waved his hand impatiently: “Go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They only sought money, not lives—and they’d already been punished enough. Under these circumstances, he simply couldn’t bring himself to kill them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he had drawn his blade without hesitation when facing Yilan’s threat, he was never a violent or bloodthirsty man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Gao De relent, the two nodded frantically, dared not think or linger a moment, and hurriedly dragged the still writhing leader away, fleeing as fast as they could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the three leave, Gao De felt a lingering sting on his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That blunt blow had been powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though it was only a wooden club, being struck like that still hurt badly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his anxiety and fervor temporarily drowned out the pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His anxiety came from learning, from their words, that his time was truly running out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fervor came from the fact that this was the first time he had fully unleashed a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he had cast spells after successfully constructing the spell model, he never imagined their power in actual combat could be so great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was only a cantrip—what would a 1st-level spell do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably one spell would send all three to meet their great-grandmothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hoggen City, Commercial District.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Phil’s Apothecary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao De glanced at the entrance, then stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apothecary’s clerk stepped forward and quickly recognized Gao De, greeting, “This time, the interval between your herb garden’s two deliveries is shorter than before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apothecary clerk approached, recognized him immediately, and greeted: “Your garden’s delivery intervals have been shorter than before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not here to deliver goods today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Gao De scanned the potions on the counter—plenty of them, but mostly ordinary low-grade auxiliary potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our alchemist specifically sent me to ask: have the herbs he ordered arrived?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know our shipments arrive on the last day of every month.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We know Ceda the Alchemist is eager, but the goods won’t arrive until the end of the month. Please tell him to be patient.” The clerk smiled warmly, showing no impatience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand. I’ll relay the message to the alchemist.” Gao De nodded calmly and turned to leave the apothecary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[67] (End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1367,"2026-06-19T14:28:48.629Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8427e5e0e567a08a7393ee76b2cfcc7982b55221a49c4e69e7dc656a884258db","above-the-mage-chapter-22","above-the-mage-chapter-20",529,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-mage-cover.jpg"]