Chapter 64: Visiting the Door

The disappearance of people in Hogen City was finally resolved.

The murderer was a mage apprentice who had been wanted for using forbidden spells and fled to Hogen City.

After fleeing to Hogen City, he still refused to lie low, continuously robbing local civilians just to continue his research on forbidden spells.

According to information Pierre obtained, it was the city’s own mage who personally intervened and apprehended the murderer in the act.

The news of the murderer’s capture was deliberately publicized and spread quickly.

The tense and restless atmosphere in Hogen City was brought under control.

This allowed Gao De to breathe a long sigh of relief.

With the strange incident resolved, he could finally return to farming in peace.

Farming and cultivation are the way!

Thirty days after the green leaves thrived, the flowers bloomed like blazing flames.

The Month of Green Leaves passed in an instant.

Month of Flower Flame, Day 2.

Seda Herb Garden.

Inside the workshop.

The table was piled high with various items.

A row of failed preliminary Stamina Potion concoctions filled more than half the tabletop.

Gao De bent over, meticulously recording the process and causes of his latest failure on paper.

As a “top student” who had received modern education, his logical and analytical abilities already surpassed those of most people in this world.

And he had always maintained the habit of summarizing and organizing.

“Summarizing and organizing” sounds simple, but in reality, few people—even in his past life—could achieve this.

Countless people, during study or work, repeat the same mistakes when encountering the same problems again.

Commonly known as having no memory.

In short, Gao De carefully recorded and analyzed every failure in his potion-making process.

And before each new attempt, he mentally reviewed all previous errors.

This allowed him, despite having no master to guide him and relying solely on the potion formula, to make steady progress while always staying on the right path.

Combined with the potion-making talent inherited from his previous self, and through relentless experimentation, he was now getting closer than ever to successfully brewing his first preliminary Stamina Potion.

“This time, I’ll push through and succeed in one go!”

Gao De flipped through his previous notes once more, ensuring every potential cause of failure was firmly memorized, then decided to make his final attempt today.

Focused intently, he placed the three primary ingredients for the preliminary Stamina Potion into separate wooden bowls.

First came the magical transformation step.

The Gao Shan Ironwood Root was used for its “drought- and cold-resistant” properties; the Sunfire Fruit for its “intense” properties. The magically treated Sunfire Seed was placed in a mortar, mixed with a measured amount of mountain spring water, and ground clockwise.

During grinding, he added an appropriate amount of wolf gland fluid to neutralize the "intense" property, but ensured the "intense" potency did not drop too low—previous failures had always occurred here when the mixture turned pale gold. This time, he completed it flawlessly in one continuous motion.

As the final auxiliary ingredient was added to the potion, a flash of magical light appeared, then quickly faded.

“Success!”

With the fleeting flash of magical light, Gao De’s tense mind instantly relaxed, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.

Finally, it worked.

He had successfully brewed his first preliminary Stamina Potion.

Though the magical glow was dim, that was merely a matter of practice.

The breakthrough of “one” had been achieved; what remained was simple, tedious repetition to improve proficiency.

“Zero-rank potions aren’t that hard!” Gao De couldn’t help but remark.

He had arrived in this world on Day 2 of the Awakening Month (February) in Nolann Year 9655.

Today was Day 2 of the Month of Flower Flame (May) in Year 9655.

Exactly three full months—ninety days—had passed.

In just three months, the number of spells Gao De had mastered had grown from two to twelve—perhaps even rivaling Seda’s own abilities.

In the field of potion-making, he had now mastered both of Seda Herb Garden’s best-selling potions.

Aside from his mage rank being lower than Seda’s, Gao De had caught up with him in every other aspect.

Thinking of this, a deep sense of fulfillment filled Gao De’s entire being. The Seda Mage, who had once seemed impossibly distant three months ago, now felt within reach.

“Stay humble. Stay focused,” Gao De reminded himself several times.

After all, he knew well that the “boss” he had regarded as Seda Mage was, in truth, merely a mage apprentice.

Yes, an apprentice.

He wasn’t even truly a mage yet.

And neither was Gao De now.

He hadn’t even crossed the threshold into the world of mages!

Gao De remained humble, but the summer breeze stirred slightly, blowing in through the window.

The workshop door was knocked on urgently; after his permission, Amy pushed in, looking tense.

“Gao De, someone’s here to see you.”

Gao De’s expression changed slightly.

“Who? How many?”

“Don’t know who, five or six people. They’re waiting outside the herb garden.”

“I see. I’ll go out and check.”

Gao De frowned. He couldn’t think of anyone who would come looking for him.

Someone seeking him? Unlikely. His only acquaintance in Hogen City was Pierre, at most.

Someone seeking Seda Mage?

Even less likely.

From the letter Seda Mage left behind, Gao De had confirmed that for the past ten years in Hogen City, Seda had been in seclusion, devoted entirely to researching the Spirit-Link Potion, with zero social activity.

He had come to Hogen City as a fugitive, barely had time to hide his identity, let alone reveal his location to former acquaintances.

If it wasn’t for him, and not for Seda Mage, then who could possibly be visiting? As he pondered this, Gao De crossed the corridor and entered the herb garden courtyard.

Outside the gate.

Five or six figures stood clustered at the herb garden entrance.

Gao De opened the gate.

At the front stood a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious attire.

Behind him stood five others: four in coarse linen, clearly bodyguards; and one person Gao De recognized.

It was the clerk from Phil’s Potion Shop.

Seeing Gao De appear, the clerk stepped forward immediately and introduced him: “This is our shop owner, Mr. Oliver.”

“We’ve come unannounced—hope you don’t mind?” Oliver looked at Gao De with a faint smile.

“Sir, you’re too kind,” Gao De replied with a polite, composed smile, unsure of their intent: “Your visit is an honor to the herb garden.”

“But Master Seda is currently away on business and has not yet returned. If you have matters to discuss, perhaps you could return after he comes back?”

“It seems Master Seda is absent, and you’re currently in charge of the herb garden,” Oliver clapped his hands.

“Since we’ve come all this way, we won’t leave empty-handed. I’ve come here for one reason only: please relay this message to Master Seda upon his return.”

“What is it?”

“For many years, the Shadowlight, Rosebloom, and Phil’s Potion Shop have divided Hogen City’s potion market among us. We’ve competed openly and covertly countless times, each hoping to dominate the entire market,” Oliver stated calmly.

“But our strengths and resources are nearly equal, and mutual checks have kept us in stalemate.”

Gao De knew this well.

A triangle is the most stable shape.

“But recently, due to changes outside the city, the potion market has grown even more prosperous.”

“This is an opportunity—our shop intends to seize it and expand,” Oliver narrowed his eyes. “The first step in expansion is growth.”

“We’ve partnered with your Seda Herb Garden for nearly ten years. I greatly respect Master Seda’s abilities. We wish to purchase your herb garden and hire Master Seda as our chief potion-maker. The price is negotiable.”

“We don’t have much else—but we have plenty of money.”

Gao De fell silent.

He could tell that Oliver, though called shop owner, was merely a “senior employee” working for a true “boss” behind the scenes.

(End of Chapter)