Chapter 2: Alchemy Begins with the Defense

As the saying goes, rely on the mountain for food, rely on the water for food.

Located at the edge of a vast forest, adventurers naturally make a living by hunting magic beasts.

But this money isn't so easy to earn.

The times are bad, and the region where Ji Ming lives is especially bad.

Although Black Forest Territory nominally still belongs to Hui Guang Kingdom, the rulers' governance has become distant, making it essentially an autonomous region.

Moreover, due to its proximity to the Magic Beast Mountain Range and the Barbarian Plains, the area has also developed a complex mix of ethnic groups and a tangled web of forces.

Adventurers may be counterattacked by magic beasts, may be robbed by gangs, and may even be ambushed by strange hidden foes.

For example, the two youths before us are prime examples of suffering great loss due to carelessness.

As dusk falls, you dare to leave the group—if you're not unlucky, who is?

Ji Ming calmed his breathing and began to advise Charlie.

"Your friend's calf wound hasn't reached the bone, but for the time being, try not to let it touch the ground."

"If possible, eat more meat to replenish the lost qi and blood as much as you can."

Charlie nodded repeatedly like a child being scolded by a teacher.

"I'll remember, I'll tell all of this to Uncle Mo Dun."

Mo Dun.

Is he the father of that reckless brat?

Ji Ming didn't worry about that.

"Hmm, just remember it."

Then the two fell into an awkward silence and stared at each other.

In the end, Charlie finally came to his senses.

"I almost forgot, doctor—how much is the treatment fee approximately?"

Ji Ming pulled over the price list and began calculating on his fingers.

"Wound cleaning: one copper coin; using Blood-Coagulating Powder: three copper coins; wound suturing: one copper coin per stitch; using Spring Return Liquid: twenty copper coins..."

But Charlie grew more confused the more he listened, and could only keep scratching his head.

"So... how much should it add up to?"

The education in this world is really terrible!

Ji Ming had no choice but to state the answer directly.

"Fifty-four, that's fifty-four copper coins in total."

"But since you're still children, I'll waive the fee."

Upon hearing that number, Charlie's face showed difficulty.

"Doctor, I probably don't have that much money on me..."

Ji Ming gave a slight smile.

"Then go get it."

"Quack Doctor's Rule Four: always refuse credit."

However.

"We can accept collateral."

"Remember to rest early, and remember to bring money early tomorrow to redeem your blade."

After taking Bell's sidearm, Ji Ming watched the two boys leave the clinic.

Originally both should have been confiscated, but Sunlight City is different—let's leave them something for self-defense.

Washing away the blood stains on the blade, the sharp edge glints with a cold light.

This is actually a quite fine precious blade; although it has nothing to do with magic or craftsmanship, for an ordinary person it's already a family heirloom.

Could they be two rich second-generation heirs?

But would scions of wealthy families run out to take this risk?

Setting aside the inconclusive thoughts, Ji Ming began to study this newly appeared skill point.

He had a premonition.

If he adds it to the production of Spring Return Liquid, he can immediately brew a qualified batch.

And if he adds it to the Corpse Suturing Technique, he can also obtain a complete wound-suturing technique.

But the former can be deduced through constant experimentation, while the latter seems to have no practical significance under the current circumstances.

Thus Ji Ming once again chose to roll a new skill.

【Please wait】

【Congratulations on obtaining the Battle Skill: Stun Club】

【Stun Club: By 'striking the target's head with a blunt weapon,' you can cause apprentices of occupational level to fall into a forced dizzy state】

【For patients who can be healed, this is the best anesthetic; for patients who cannot be healed, this is the best euthanasia】

……

Pulling out that short axe from his bosom, Ji Ming examined its thick, rusted iron back.

He swung it a few times in the air; it felt fairly manageable.

It's always a means of self-defense.

With the matter settled, Ji Ming eagerly slipped into the alchemy room.

He sat beside the medicine pot and once again opened his own medical notes.

Although the Ji Ming in the setting doesn't know the correct ratio for Spring Return Liquid, he, having successfully produced several inferior batches, still left a vague record in the notes.

For example, the most used material is a single kind of spirit elixir grass, and the number of drops of toad venom equals the amount of centipede mandibles.

Even if we only have a rough direction, it's better than a headless fly, so the only problem now is……

Using wooden strips to make a cross, Ji Ming tied a shiny, oily big black rat onto it.

"Squeak!"

The rat was full of vigor; even though it was fixed in place, its plump body continued to struggle nonstop.

"Good, it looks like our volunteer is ready for the experiment."

Ji Ming lit a fire with firewood, set up a large pot, and confidently began exploring the formula for the rejuvenation liquid.

Herbs, mandibles, mica stone.

Timing, measuring, sequencing.

He felt as if he had returned to the time when he did chemistry experiments in high school.

He hefted the test tube, gave it a couple of shakes, then picked up pen and paper to record two numbers.

With chemist. jpg

As the ingredients were continually added, the clear water in the pot began to change color.

A mysterious broth seething with endless darkness gradually formed, and the air filled with an extraordinarily magical aroma.

It was like boiling herring canned together with durian.

Fearing the flavor wasn't strong enough, he also dumped half a bottle of every seasoning he could find in the kitchen into it.

Finally, he might have dripped in a few drops of sesame oil for freshness.

"Squeak squeak squeak squeak!"

This effect was perhaps too strong; the rat, which had just calmed down, instantly regained its vigor.

It opened its mouth wide, eyes bulging, and swayed left and right as if someone were choking its neck.

"Oh shit, am I cooking poop?!"

After retching twice, Ji Ming could no longer maintain his rigorous scientific attitude; he immediately rushed out of the alchemy room, found an old shirt, and covered his mouth and nose.

When he returned, the suspicious liquid in the pot was already evaporating continuously while beginning to turn viscous.

According to the notes, this is the easiest place to scorch the pot, so Ji Ming had to keep stirring it with a spoon like when cooking tangyuan.

A pot of black, sticky water bubbled, bubbles constantly rising and then bursting with a "pop".

Ji Ming, crouching to the side, felt he was not some mysterious alchemist but an evil witch.

"Anyway, I'm definitely not a Gege witch—I have no cat, only a rat……"

Muttering softly, he sincerely closed the pot lid.

Afraid of an accident, he also moved a stone and placed it on top to weigh it down.

Still hesitating whether to go out for a breath of fresh air, he heard the sound from the pot beginning to grow louder.

Ji Ming frowned, quickly raising the door to shield himself in front.

"Bang!"

It was like using a flying kick to blow up a rural outhouse.

A clump of even more terrifying stench exploded, shaking open a crack even in the heavy stone.

Ji Ming clung to the doorframe with difficulty, feeling nauseous enough to almost vomit outright.