Magic Tiger Potion

All the final exams at Berely University City were over, and students began preparing to return home for the New Year holiday.

Having not been home for three years due to certain reasons, Lin Qi was finally going back to see his father this year. Enzo, who was alone with no parents or relatives, decided to tag along with Lin Qi to Dunkirk out of boredom. Enzo had always wondered what kind of family could produce such an exceptional individual as his boss.

Gram was going to take a long-distance coach back to the southern city of Bonauto. Traveling in the dead of winter would be difficult, taking ten days to get there and another ten to return. Though he had over a month for the New Year holiday, he would spend half of it on the road. Nevertheless, Gram had to go home. Every year during the holiday, he had to fight his even more stingy father for his living expenses for the next year – a truly arduous battle.

As a fallen noble, Yu Lian's family resided in Berely. With the year drawing to a close, even though the family had declined, fallen nobles still had their own social circles. Yu Lian, as the eldest son, was required to attend numerous banquets for fallen nobles. He also had to make ceremonial visits to the powerful and influential nobles of higher standing on behalf of his family, and his presence was essential for all these events.

As for Vik, like Lin Qi, Vik came from a commoner family. He was going to take home the year-end bonus Lin Qi had given him, which would significantly alleviate his family's financial burden. The thousand fake Atonement Talismans extorted from Father Balin had all been sold, and Lin Qi had distributed all the profits, especially a substantial bonus to core members like Vik, whose families were not well-off.

After spending his last few silver coins at The Cripple's Shop and reveling all night, Lin Qi waved goodbye to his brothers as dawn broke. Gram went to the coach station to catch his long-distance carriage, Yu Lian stumbled home drunk, Vik also boarded a coach home, while Lin Qi returned to the dormitory with Enzo. He still had a few odds and ends to pack, items he intended to take home.

Furthermore, The Cripple had informed Lin Qi that a large ship would be heading downstream at noon, arriving in Dunkirk by noon on the third day. Lin Qi planned to take that free ride. There were still several hours until departure. The only advantage of taking a free ride was saving money. Lin Qi only had a dozen copper coins left, barely enough for him and Enzo to eat black bread on the ship. The boat owner hadn't even charged them for the fare out of respect for The Cripple.

Humming an inexplicable little tune, Lin Qi and Enzo swayed unsteadily into the dormitory.

With Mr. Grong overseeing things, the school's logistics department was quite efficient. The broken door from two days ago had been repaired, and Lin Qi's room was tidied up. As the two of them stumbled and laughed their way into the dormitory, a burst of fire suddenly illuminated the room.

Lin Qi was startled. His instinct was that Black Horse House had come for revenge. He instinctively reached behind the door and gripped a single-edged great axe. Enzo reacted faster, waving his hand. A Stabbing Sword whistled through the air, piercing towards the source of the fire.

A scream followed. Enzo's Stabbing Sword instantly turned red-hot, the leather wrap on the hilt melting. Enzo's palm lost a large patch of skin. He flung the Stabbing Sword away and kicked out at the ball of fire. A thin streak of electricity tore through the air, striking Enzo's calf. He cried out again, convulsing and collapsing to the ground, unable to move.

Lin Qi, gripping his great axe, ready to fight to the death, gasped. Although the curtains were tightly drawn, he could still see the person in the room by the light of the fire. He carefully placed the great axe behind the door, closed the room door, and respectfully bowed, saying, "Master Ke Cha, why have you come?"

Lin Qi was even more astonished. He had always believed Ke Cha only knew fire magic, but today he discovered that Ke Cha also possessed the extremely rare power of lightning. Setting aside Ke Cha's mastery of elixirs, his lightning magic alone could secure him a very high position in the Empire.

A ball of red fire hovered in his palm. Ke Cha tossed it aside, igniting the white candles on the table. The fireball, powerful enough to instantly turn a Stabbing Sword red-hot, extinguished silently. Ke Cha's control over fire had reached the point of effortless mastery.

Ke Cha, completely shrouded in a cloak, revealing only a face disfigured by elixirs, coughed lightly. He glanced at Enzo, who was convulsing on the ground, and beckoned Lin Qi with a finger.

Lin Qi cautiously approached Ke Cha. A thin streak of electricity shot from Ke Cha's fingertip, making Lin Qi tremble and fall to his knees in a sorry state. Ke Cha pried open Lin Qi's mouth and poured a bottle of pale purple potion into it, then slowly stood up.

As soon as the potion touched his tongue, it transformed into a terrifying stream of heat that surged into his abdomen. In the blink of an eye, the heat flowed through his veins and bones, and Lin Qi felt his body suddenly fill with power. His bones even made cracking sounds.

"This is the last bottle of Magic Tiger Potion I refined. With your current strength, it will increase your overall power tenfold within three days. Bone density, muscle strength, organ resilience, pure power, as well as speed and reaction time – all these indicators will increase by one to two times. The combined enhancements will result in a tenfold increase."

Ke Cha narrowed his eyes and said calmly, "This is your reward for three years of loyal service. After your New Year holiday and visiting your family, hurry back. I have many things for you to do here. If you do well, more rewards await you!"

Enzo, still convulsing on the ground, was green with envy. Damn it, he was struck by lightning too, so why was he lying there cramping while Lin Qi received such great benefits? Enzo knew that Lin Qi's true strength was actually slightly greater than his own. Now that Lin Qi had taken the Magic Tiger Potion and his strength was amplified tenfold, Enzo knew he wouldn't be able to catch up even if he tried.

Enzo flashed Ke Cha a fawning smile. "Esteemed Master, I am Lin Qi's best brother!"

Ke Cha looked at Enzo coldly and snorted, "So what if you are Lin Qi's son? Have you ever served me?"

With a wave of his hand, Ke Cha dropped a bottle of burn salve, a compensation for Enzo's scorched palm.

Lin Qi almost burst out laughing at Ke Cha's words. He eagerly stood up, solicitously offering Ke Cha his arm, and said with a smile, "Master, the road is slippery and difficult. I'll escort you back to Master Tower! Don't worry, I'll return as soon as possible!"

A tenfold increase in overall strength! Lin Qi's eyes narrowed into slits as he grinned.