Chapter 107: with translation of chapter title

"Witch Selin, thank you for your kindness."

-> "Witch Selin, thank you for your kindness."

But we need to keep quotes? The Chinese includes 「」 which are quotation marks. We should keep them? The instruction: translate faithfully, preserve every paragraph break. It didn't say to drop quotation marks. Usually we keep them as English quotes. We'll keep the Chinese quotation marks? Better to replace with English double quotes? The source uses 「」 which are Chinese quotation marks. In English translation, we can use English double quotes. We'll output: "Witch Selin, thank you for your kindness." But we need to keep the line as a single output line with 【1】 prefix. We'll include the quotes.

Thus: 【1】 "Witch Selin, thank you for your kindness."

"Witch Selin, thank you for your kindness."

"Mo Li's choice did not exceed Lin Ke's expectations; she politely declined Witch Selin."

-> "Mo Li's choice was not beyond Lin Ke's expectations; she politely declined Witch Selin,"

Note: Chinese comma at end; we keep comma.

Mo Li's choice was not beyond Lin Ke's expectation; she politely refused the sorceress Selin,

"But I feel that in my sales position, I still have many things I haven't mastered; now is not the right time to switch to the pretreatment and finishing of plants and herbs."

-> "\"But I feel that in my sales position, I still haven't learned many things thoroughly; now is not a good time to switch to the pretreatment and refinement of plants and herbs. \""

We need to keep quotes. The Chinese line starts with 「」 and ends with 」. We'll translate accordingly.

Thus: 【3】 "\"But I feel that in my sales position, I still haven't learned many things thoroughly; now is not a good time to switch to the pretreatment and refinement of plants and herbs. \""

"After saying that, she anxiously awaited Witch Selin's response, unsure if her refusal would upset the witch."

-> "After saying that, she anxiously awaited Witch Selin's reply, unsure if her refusal would upset Witch Selin."

"Witch Selin was not only not displeased, but actually quite pleased."

-> "Witch Selin was not only not upset, but actually quite pleased."

"A wizard, or a wizard's apprentice, who wants to achieve something—regardless of the scale—must first have perseverance."

-> "A witch, or a witch's apprentice, who wants to achieve something—no matter how big or small—must first have perseverance."

"She does not value, and indeed dislikes, those who merely parrot others, lack their own opinions, or are easily swayed."

-> "She does not value, and even dislikes, those who simply parrot others, lack their own opinions, or are easily swayed."

"Hmm, pretty good."

-> "\"Mm, pretty good. \""

"Witch Selin nodded, her face showing a pleasant expression, then she walked away holding her tray."

-> "Witch Selin nodded, her expression quite pleasant, then walked away holding her tray."

"Seeing this, Mo Li felt the stone in her heart drop, and she let out a gentle sigh."

-> "Seeing this, Mo Li felt the stone in her heart drop, and she let out a soft breath."

"She had previously watched Lin Ke and Witch Selin chatting happily, and as an observer she hadn't felt anything, but now that it was her turn to face the witch, she could truly feel that pressure."

-> "She had often watched Lin Ke and Witch Selin chatting and laughing easily; as an observer she hadn't felt anything, but now that it was her turn to face Witch Selin, she could truly feel that pressure."

"How should I describe it?"

-> "How to describe it?"

"It's like an ant standing before a giant: even if she knows the giant means her no harm and even offers her food, she instinctively fears the giant."

-> "It's like an ant standing before a giant—even if it knows the giant means no harm and even offers it food, instinctively it fears the giant."

"Because the giant only needs to blow a gentle breath to kill the ant."

-> "Because the giant only needs to blow a gentle breath to kill the ant."

"I haven't done anything wrong, have I?"

-> "\"I didn't do anything wrong, did I? \""

"After thinking, Mo Li still couldn't help asking in a low voice."

-> "After thinking, Mo Li still couldn't help asking in a low voice."

"Lin Ke didn't speak; he just shook his head."

-> "Lin Ke didn't make a sound, just shook his head."

"Even under the same roof as Witch Selin, lowering one's voice is of no use."

-> "Being under the same roof as Witch Selin, lowering one's voice is useless."

"If it's meant to be heard, it will be heard."

-> "If it's supposed to be heard, it will be heard."

"Then that's good."

-> "\"Then that's fine. \""

"Mo Li let out a long breath, completely putting her mind at ease."

-> "Mo Li let out a long breath, completely putting her mind at ease."

"After lunch, she continued working."

-> "After lunch, they continued working busily."

"Lin Ke kept spinning back and forth between the two operations like a top, busy nonstop, feeling very fulfilled."

-> "Lin Ke spun back and forth between the two tasks like a top, busy nonstop, feeling very fulfilled."

"Until the sun set in the west and the evening clouds were dyed."

-> "Until the sun set westward and the evening clouds layered in color."

"A day's work finally ended."

-> "A day's work finally ended."

"After changing out of their uniforms, Lin Ke and Mo Li left the pharmacy and headed toward the platform."

-> "After changing out of their uniforms, Lin Ke and Mo Li walked out of the pharmacy and headed toward the platform."

"From afar, Lin Ke saw five timid figures loitering near the platform."

-> "From afar, Lin Ke saw five timid figures shuffling back and forth at the edge of the platform."

"Like ants on a hot pan, they showed panic."

-> "Like ants on a hot pan, they showed panic."

"Anything wrong?"

-> "\"Anything up? \""

"Lin Ke approached the platform, also nearing the five thugs, and asked with a smile."

-> "Lin Ke approached the platform, also drawing near the five thugs, and asked with a smile."

"Big... brother, is there... something?"

-> "\"Big……brother, is……there something? \""

"For some reason, whenever the thug leader saw Lin Ke these past few times, his tongue would involuntarily tie up, and he would stammer, 'No... nothing, I just... just wanted to explain the previous incident to you.'"

-> "For some reason, whenever the thug leader saw Lin Ke these past few times, his tongue would involuntarily tie up, and he spoke haltingly: \"No……nothing, just……just wanting to explain the previous matter to you. \""

"Over the past two days, even though Lin Ke showed no sign of seeking trouble with them, the five thugs still couldn't put their minds at ease."

-> "These past two days, even though Lin Ke showed no sign of looking for trouble with them, the five thugs still couldn't put their minds at ease."

"Excusing their lack of experience, they only learned this morning about the uproar at the press conference between Witch Selin's pharmacy and Luchia's pharmacy."

-> "Excusing their lack of insight, they only learned this morning about the uproar at the press event between Witch Selin's Pharmacy and Lukia Pharmacy."

"They really don't have the spare money to buy registration credentials for the 'RevosoS forum'."

-> "They simply didn't have the spare money to buy registration credentials for the \"RevoSith Forum\"."

"Or they heard it from others chatting about the growing witch rights movement, and then they learned about this."

-> "Or they heard it from others chatting, learning about it only when the increasingly large witch rights movement came up."

"The thugs merely lack talent and strength; it's not that they lack brains."

-> "The thugs merely lack talent and strength; they are not stupid."

"After a little thought, the thugs realize they are being used, dragged into a power struggle between two bigwigs who are about to become sages."

-> "A little thought, and the thugs realize they are being used, dragged into the power struggle between two bigwigs on the verge of becoming sages."

"This is actually not a big deal."

-> "This actually isn't a big deal."

"What's deadly is that they have directly provoked a refined but ruthless person."

-> "What's deadly is that they directly provoked a cultured tough guy."

"After thinking left and right, pondering wildly, the thugs all feel it necessary to come forward in person to explain and apologize."

-> "After thinking left and right, wild and random thoughts, the thugs all feel it necessary to come in person to explain and apologize."

"So that this ruthless person won't treat them the same way he dealt with that previous fool."

-> "Lest this tough guy deal with them the same way he dealt with the previous fool."

"By then, they might not even know how they died."

-> "By then, they might not even know how they died."

"Oh, this matter."

-> "\"Oh, this matter. \""

"Lin Ke pondered for a moment, deliberately drew out his tone, and said, 'No need to explain; I haven't taken it to heart.'"

-> "Lin Ke pondered a moment, deliberately drawing out his tone, and said, \"No need to explain; I haven't taken it to heart. \""

"Th... thank you, big brother."

-> "\"Th……thanks, big brother. \""

"The thugs nodded repeatedly, their heads bobbing like garlic cloves being mashed."

-> "The thugs nodded repeatedly, their heads bobbing like garlic cloves being mashed."

"Hmm. Keep your eyes open from now on; don't take on just any job."

-> "\"Mm. Keep your eyes open from now on; don't take just any job. \""

"Lin Ke saw the transit train about to arrive, waved his hand, signaling the thugs to leave on their own."

-> "Seeing the urban rail train about to arrive, Lin Ke waved his hand, signaling the thugs to leave on their own."

"Thank you for the guidance, big brother; thank you, big brother."

-> "\"Thanks for the guidance, big brother, thanks big brother. \""

"The thugs again nodded and bowed, thanking him incessantly."

-> "The thugs bowed and nodded again, thanking him nonstop."

"Lin Ke no longer paid attention to the thugs, and together with Mo Li boarded the train."

-> "Lin Ce no longer paid attention to the thugs, and together with Mo Li boarded the train."

"Lin Ke no longer paid attention to the thugs, and together with Mo Li boarded the train."

"No sooner had she sat down than Mo Li couldn't help asking, 'Lin Ke, what exactly have you done? People both inside and outside the academy are afraid of you like this!'"

-> "Just as they sat down, Mo Li couldn't help asking: \"Lin Ke, what exactly have you done? People both inside and outside the academy are afraid of you like this! \""

"Lin Ke remained silent."

-> "Lin Ke remained silent."

"Indeed."

-> "Indeed."

"His image has, without him realizing, become somewhat demonized."

-> "His image had, without him noticing, already become somewhat demonized."

"The five brothers in the academy and the five thugs outside, judging by their reactions when facing Lin Ke, are alike."

-> "The five senior fellows in the academy and the five thugs outside, judging by their reactions when facing Lin Ke, are cut from the same cloth."

"Similar reverence, comparable panic."

-> "Similar reverence, comparable panic."

"There are some differences underneath."

-> "Internally, there are some differences."

The five brothers were just accustomed to this style, while the five hooligans had to tuck their tails and behave.

Lin Ke thought for a moment and could only say: "It's not that exaggerated."

Mo Li pursed her lips, inwardly complaining nonstop.

It's not that exaggerated!

Look, you've scared Mina Hafcheck so much she doesn't dare to compete with you!

Um... This matter was told to Mo Li by Ella.

As for the others, there's no need to say more.

Mo Li often felt that if it weren't for her sticking to Lin Ke, Lin Ke would probably always act alone, never socializing.

Let's not think about those for now; let's leave it as is.

Mo Li leaned her head back against the carriage wall, closed her eyes and dozed.

Returning to the academy, she filled her stomach at the cafeteria.

The two didn't stop, heading straight to the experimental building.

Basement third floor, the laboratory.

Lin Ke recorded the plant and herb pretreatment techniques, methods, and insights he had summarized into the lab's intelligent simulation device, teaching them one by one to Mo Li.

For Mo Li, this was an extremely efficient way of learning.

For Lin Ke, it also wouldn't waste time.

Reviewing the old to know the new, right?

After teaching, Lin Ke went to consult the materials in the high-level literature archive.

Mo Li kept operating the intelligent simulation device nonstop.

She wore a pair of glasses, and on her hands she put on a pair of gloves so thin they were nearly transparent but full of "sensors"; according to the tutorial, she practiced plant and herb pretreatment in midair.

The glasses provided near-real visual feedback, the gloves near-real tactile sensation, and together with the intelligent simulation device's alchemical sigil array, aside from lacking physical objects, Mo Li and Lin Ke's working states were identical.

Late at night, both left the laboratory laden with their harvest.

Mo Li had accumulated some experience in plant and herb pretreatment, while Lin Ke found two articles about past Two Districts Grand Comparisons on the "credit" exchange page.

He spent two "credits" to redeem those two articles.

After Lin Ke read them carefully, his understanding of the Two Districts Grand Comparison greatly improved.

Initially, the academy had no such thing as the Two Districts Grand Comparison, and even the junior college had no division into South and North Districts.

Later, local apprentices increasingly discriminated against and excluded the Storm Sea Newbloods.

Among the Storm Sea Newbloods, a portion was utterly useless—not only were their knees weak, they also wouldn't let others stand.

Another portion of the hard‑headed Storm Sea Newbloods, unable to tolerate it any longer, began to resist.

Conflicts among the groups were constant, brawls and fights occurred repeatedly, and bloody incidents were not uncommon.

The academy management, left with no choice, thus divided into South and North Districts.

The regulation of zero‑ring sorcery also began then, gradually reducing attack‑type sorcery in the sorcery trading center.

Blocking is not as good as guiding.

To prevent the opposition between the South and North Districts from escalating to extremes, and to provide a platform and channel for venting that opposition, the Two Districts Grand Comparison came into being.

The comparison takes many forms, randomly drawn, hard to predict, so it's hard to make targeted preparations in advance.

For the Newbloods of the South District, this is both fair and unfair.

The fair point is that, before the comparison begins, participants cannot know the specific details.

The unfair point is that the native apprentices of the North District have far better conditions in every aspect than the South District Newbloods.

Even if they cannot make targeted preparations in advance, the North District apprentices still enjoy many advantages in overall quality.

This is like children in remote mountainous areas who can only learn textbook knowledge.

Children in big cities can extend various interests and hobbies, cultivating many specialties.

The situation is rather grim, not optimistic.

Even with system assistance, possessing a Brain Seal Technique and four talents, Lin Ke is not necessarily stronger than the top North District apprentices.

Super geniuses are never lacking.

Returning to the dormitory, he did nothing else but wash up, meditate, and sleep.

The next day.

He went to work as usual, calm and uneventful.

The following day, still calm and uneventful.

For four straight days, life saw no special changes.

Except that the witches' rights movement successfully held a parade that could be called both a success and a failure.

Calling it a success, the parade merely looped around the Eastern District, with only a group of apprentices participating.

Calling it a failure, the parade sparked a huge uproar on the "Revosoth Forum," with heated discussion and endless arguments.

Lin Ke watched coldly, thinking that as soon as the academy gave an order, the increasingly farcical witches' rights movement could vanish overnight.

Those few third‑rank witches who had been prominently featured over the past few days were likely about to achieve their goal.

Equality?

That's not what they want.

What they want are certain privileges!

Let's not dwell on these matters.

Lin Ke felt it was too far removed from him; he thought it better to just live each day solidly.

Calm is always meant to be broken.

This day was Wednesday of the sixth week of the vacation.

Don't rush into work; come over first.

After exchanging greetings, Witch Selin deliberately called out to him, then prepared to rush into the two workrooms in the backyard where Lin Ke was.

What are your orders, Witch Selin?

Lin Ke withdrew his steps toward the backyard and asked.

Today someone is coming to take over your duties; you'll hand over to him this morning, then in the afternoon hand everything over to him to handle, and come up to the second floor.

Witch Selin said calmly.

Thanks, Witch Selin!

Lin Ke didn't need to think; he immediately thanked her loudly.

This is a great thing!

The second floor is Witch Selin's exclusive area, where all specialty potions are brewed.

Among all the shop assistants, aside from Tina—who is currently a potion packaging assistant and will become a potion brewing assistant—the other two have never gone up there.

Witch Selin's meaning, read between the lines, is to give Lin Ke a chance to see proper potion brewing.

Like the Lixuan grass series Lin Ke previously developed, that's potion research, which is different from potion brewing.

The difference between mass-produced, externally sold finished products and the samples Lin Ke pulls out can be huge.

This is definite cultivation!

(End of chapter)