The Herbology Club's Threshold

After Monday afternoon's Herbology class ended, Luan was kept behind by Professor Sprout.

"It seems I greatly underestimated your talent for Plant Magic."

Professor Sprout was holding the new wand Luan had made.

She examined it carefully in her hand before raising it and pointing it at an orchid on the workbench.

Orchid Bloom

As the incantation ended, a pristine white orchid quietly blossomed.

"Although I do not know how to make one myself, there is no denying that it is indeed a qualified wand."

Sprout gave the most impartial assessment.

The wand shaft came from a magical plant stimulated by potions, while its core was merely Unicorn tail hair picked up in the Forbidden Forest.

That alone determined that this wand's potential would not be especially high.

Compared to it, the wand he had in Xilin was of a quality several tiers higher.

"All right, Mr. Scarlett. I believe you have submitted an almost perfect assignment, but I cannot award you extra points this time."

Sprout handed the wand back to Luan, wiped her hands on either side of her apron, and then solemnly took out an invitation.

It was an envelope made of yellow parchment, sealed in the middle with a green stamp bearing the image of an unknown plant.

To Mr. Mu En Scarlett

The blue lettering on the envelope looked as though it had been written a long time ago.

"Actually, I had prepared this invitation long ago, but I truly never expected you to complete such an impossible task in so short a time."

"Professor, your club has been motivating me all along."

Luan returned the compliment to Sprout word for word before taking the envelope and opening it.

Dear Mr. Mu En Scarlett:

In recognition of your outstanding completion of the task and your exceptional talent in herbological plants,

you are hereby sincerely invited to join the Daffodil Club.

P.S. The club meets every Monday evening at seven. Attendance is voluntary. The location is the third Small classroom to the right of the Great Hall.

Pomona Sprout

"Well? Are you interested?" Professor Sprout asked with a smile after watching Luan finish reading the letter.

"Of course!" Luan replied, solemnly placing the letter in his pocket.

"Good. Believe me, child, the answer you have submitted will absolutely leave everyone astonished tonight."

Sprout patted Luan on the shoulder as she spoke, then went off to prepare for that evening's club ceremony.

After leaving the Greenhouse, Luan first went to the library to finish that day's homework, then headed to the Great Hall for dinner.

He had to leave himself enough time for the club activity.

But he had barely arrived at the Great Hall and taken a few bites when Cedric came straight over.

"The gathering is at seven tonight. If you have nothing else to do, we can head over early."

The moment Cedric said that, Luan knew that the Daffodil Club's secretary had already heard the news from Sprout.

"Uh, all right."

Luan hurriedly swallowed his food, wiped his mouth, and followed Cedric out.

"Looks like Luan got Professor Sprout's invitation, just as he wished."

Ron watched Luan leave with some envy, then stuffed another large mouthful of pudding into his mouth.

Hermione, seated beside him, had also been staring in the direction Luan had gone. She had stopped turning the pages of her book, and her eyes seemed to hold both contemplation and an urgent desire.

"I really didn't expect you to finish Wand Making so quickly. When Professor Sprout asked me to explain the club rules to you earlier, I nearly didn't react in time."

The Club Classroom was very close to the Great Hall. As soon as Cedric finished speaking, they had arrived at its door.

It was an inconspicuous little wooden door, beside the staircase leading to the Hufflepuff Common Room.

Cedric pushed the door open and gestured for Luan to enter with him.

"Actually, I didn't expect Wand Making to go so quickly either. Maybe I really do have a talent for it."

Only after answering did Luan begin carefully looking around the Small classroom.

The place was practically another version of the greenhouse, with the scents of plants and soil filling the entire room.

The surrounding walls were covered in unknown climbing vines, while several long wooden workbenches stood below them.

Every workbench held plants of varying shapes. Their fragrances made Luan feel as though the entire classroom was a vast forest.

There was not a single chair in the room. Plants covered the walls, and plants filled the workbenches around the room and the table in the center.

If Luan had to describe this place, there was only one way to put it: plants, plants, and more plants.

"The club currently has thirty-two members. If we only count students currently at the school, you are exactly the seventh."

After seeing Luan finish admiring the surroundings, Cedric began explaining the club's situation.

"Seven people? Isn't that a little too few?"

Luan had been about to inspect the plants on the workbench. Hearing Cedric's words, he turned around in confusion.

"It isn't really that few. Think about the conditions for joining."

At Cedric's reminder, Luan understood.

He had been able to join the club because he had successfully grown a magical plant, then used it to make a wand.

The difficulty of accomplishing that was extremely high. He had four years of planting experience at Xilin Farm just to ensure the sapling survived.

Then there were his three years of woodcarving experience, along with that flash of inspiration while making the wand, which had allowed him to complete his first wand.

If joining the club was this difficult for everyone, then seven people truly was not a small number.

As if to demonstrate the club's absolute authority in herbological plants,

Cedric led Luan to a workbench.

"This bench displays the work each member submitted when they joined. Every piece represents a new discovery or application involving herbological plants."

Cedric pointed to a plant with curled-up leaves.

"This is Snail Grass. It was cultivated by Bernard, who then used the juice it produced to create an excellent magical adhesive."

As Cedric spoke, he picked up a transparent glass bottle beside the plant. Its white label read, "Bernard's Adhesive."

"This adhesive is extremely sticky and lasts a long time. I heard that a Quidditch specialty shop has already offered Bernard a position. Once he graduates next year, he'll go work there."

"This is Swallowtail Flower. Molinar successfully cultivated it and then made an incense with a distinctive fragrance."

At that point, Cedric suddenly leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Although the professor does not allow this semi-finished incense to enter the market, Molinar has secretly let several friends try it. I heard they were all very satisfied."

"This is Sleepyface Fungus. My father and I discovered it during an expedition. Its spores have an extremely powerful hypnotic effect. This is what I relied on to join the club."

Cedric looked a little embarrassed while introducing his own work.

Compared with the other members, whose plants had already produced usable finished products, his contribution to joining the club was merely discovering an unregistered magical plant.

But Luan did not notice the change in the boy's expression.

Only after listening to Cedric did he truly understand just how high the club's threshold was, and why it had so few members.

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