Chapter 139: Yearning and Contact

After this fat-headed, big-eared dog-head boss said that, the more Luge looked, the more he felt his Secret Technique Mark pattern really resembled an egg with one end cracked open.

"Do you have any special insights on the pattern of this kind of thing, my dear Uncle Lun Se?" Luge said. "I've always only regarded it as an identity mark."

"My foolish nephew, you don't want me to keep calling you Eggshell Brat, do you!" Old Dog Head Lun Se said displeasedly.

"Oh sorry, Uncle, you can call me Luge." Luge said.

"That kind of thing is of course just a marker used to distinguish identity, but it is generated under the intervention of World Power, so naturally it's not that simple either. Some say it also involves the power of Fate. Among Wizards there is a saying with the highest acceptance: the Secret Technique Mark's pattern is your appearance in the eyes of the World..." The fat-headed, big-eared Uncle Lun Se seemed to think of his own missing-corner bone pattern, and pursed his lips somewhat unhappily.

Lun Se shook his big dog head, drilled out from behind the counter, and walked toward the back of the shop.

Luge hurriedly followed, and it was only at this time that he saw his dog-head uncle was missing a leg, the lower leg replaced by a wooden stick. That wooden stick might once have been exquisite, with some remnant pattern traces, but now it was just dirty and already very old.

This Old Lenser runs a Potion Shop, so he should be fairly wealthy, right? And he's at least a high-level Wizard Apprentice, could he still not fix a broken leg? Luge walked while staring at his leg.

"Luge brat, the last Contract added was a smart choice; it will let us get along more pleasantly." Old Lenser said while walking.

"Of course, I am your nephew." Luge said.

"Yes, my nephew." Old Lenser said, laughing.

The shop's front merchandise area was both small and crowded, the back living area likewise. Luge followed Lun Se closely the whole way, so he only got a general look. Most of the whole four-story building was used to store materials, some still being cultivated. A sapling-like thing was placed at the stair corner; seeing the two pass by, it even twisted twice.

And from this floor to the fourth, walking up all the way, not a single place belonged to Luge. His foothold was in the attic.

"This is your room, it's Uncle's doting on his nephew, hehe. You just arrived here, there's much you don't understand," Old Dog Head Lun Se said. "Later you will thank me."

Luge examined the attic. The whole attic was originally fairly spacious, but only one-third of the area allowed standing upright. And one corner of the attic was neatly stacked with a pile of cargo boxes, which made his activity space much smaller. But fortunately there was still a small window.

"I've always been grateful to you, Uncle Lun Se." Luge said smiling.

"Hmm."

Old Dog Head Lun Se waved a hand, bringing over a book of astonishing thickness.

Luge's eyes lit up, and he received it with a face full of happiness.

Lun Se seemed very satisfied with his reaction: "Today you rest here first! Try to memorize this book. The materials usable for some low-level Potions in the shop are basically all covered above. The Mental Power Fluctuation you displayed when signing the Contract and Casting was very good, steady and solid. You're a guy who can learn Potion Production. Just hope you're not too stupid. Although that would bring me many Magic Stones, it would also waste many materials."

"Of course, my Uncle."

Luge spoke, and the large, thick book was already open in his hands, eyes as if grown on it.

Old Lenser glanced at him, shook his big dog head, and slowly left the attic, conveniently bringing the attic's crooked little door shut behind him.

Luge came to the window and sat down, then raised his hand and Cast a Light Spell.

As the fist-sized White Light Ball floated to above his head, his breathing also calmed down, as if he did not exist in this room. For a moment only the occasional sound of turning pages remained.

This was just a low-level illustrated guide for beginners, but to Luge it was extremely good, a treasured gem he liked tightly in his heart. The illustrated guide in the book mainly involved one of the important branches of Alchemy, the incomparably vast field of Potion Studies. Individual small things in it he had seen when catching bugs to eat everywhere, only he didn't recognize them then. Combining the book's descriptions, and verifying those growth environments according to memory, it actually had a different kind of interest.

Unknowingly, he had already supplemented two Light Spells.

Suddenly a shadow flashed past outside the window.

Luge held the book and raised his head. Outside was still under the illumination of blood-colored light, but it seemed slightly darker than when he came down the mountain.

He gazed intently and saw a nimble figure currently peering out from the opposite window.

That seemed to likewise be a person living in an attic. The two houses were very close, almost connected together. The person opposite seemed to sense his gaze, raised their head — it was a pretty young girl, with a pair of red eyes like this blood light.

He was still distracted, subconsciously thinking about the illustrated guide content he had just seen, his eyes somewhat blank. That might have caused a misunderstanding for the opposite side.

That woman first smiled and waved at him. Getting no response, she glared at him fiercely. By the time he raised his hand, the person opposite had already closed the window and shrunk back.

Luge continued burying his head in the book.

He had already imagined in his heart the appearance of himself being able to independently produce various Supernatural Potions. The corners of his mouth always unconsciously curved up slightly.

Until outside thoroughly darkened, his stomach growled, and only then did he react that he still hadn't eaten anything.

He waved his hand wanting to open a Spatial Door, but stopped again.

Since living here, he couldn't always rely on himself to solve it, he thought.

He put away the heavy book, rose, and walked downstairs.

The temptation of becoming an Alchemist Apprentice and producing Supernatural Potions momentarily dazzled his eyes.

Thinking of this, the corners of his mouth smiled. He actually quite liked this kind of bewilderment. Of course he also couldn't immediately immerse himself in it. Like now, he needed more contact with here. When he walked down from that Mountain Cave, the first goal he set was to understand here first.

He followed the old stairs, creak creak, walking down.

Wonder if that dear Uncle has slept yet, he thought.

He recalled the corner he saw passing the third floor earlier. That should be the kitchen and small dining area crowded together.

A little sound came from the innermost room.

"Uncle Lun Se?" he said softly.

Again a little sound.

He glanced at the empty dining table, stood quietly in place for a moment. Sure enough, another little sound came.

He mustered courage and walked toward the room at the end of the third floor.

As he approached, a kind of suppressed, pained groaning gradually became clear.

He reached out and lightly touched that door. The whole room seemed different. This door was made of some strange metal. Along with the faint pained groans from behind the door, Runes flickered on and off on the door simultaneously.

Luge listened sideways and could confirm this sound was Old Lenser.

Having listened, he quietly retreated backward.

(Chapter End)