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Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating the workbench.

Lu Yuan stood in front of the platform, holding a handful of Silverleaf Grass in his hand, carefully removing the soil from the roots.

This is the third batch of materials he has processed today.

Beside her, Laurina was adding materials to the crucible, saying without looking up:

"Peel the roots along the grain; don't pull them forcefully. Pulling them forcefully will damage the fiber structure and affect the release of the active ingredients."

Lu Yuan adjusted his technique as instructed, gently pinching the end of the root with his fingertips and slowly peeling it away along the grain.

Sure enough, the experience bar jumped slightly.

[Pharmacognosy: +0.2...]

It's rising faster than before.

Lu Yuan silently noted this detail and continued processing the materials in his hands.

"And that Blue-Scale Grass," Laurina's voice came from the side, "Before refining it, you need to soak it in warm water for fifteen minutes, around forty degrees Celsius. Too hot will destroy the active ingredients, and too cold won't allow it to fully develop."

"Knew."

Lu Yuan found the Blue-Scale Grass, put it into a copper basin next to him, and poured in warm water.

He deliberately tested the water temperature with the back of his hand to make sure it was about right before putting the herbs in.

[Pharmacognosy: +0.1...]

It's gone up again.

It turns out that you can gain experience by processing medicinal herbs in the right way; I used to only barely level up by relying purely on memory.

Lu Yuan sighed inwardly, realizing that his previous "gut feeling" approach to problem-solving was indeed incredibly inefficient.

No wonder the potions I make are always just barely passable.

How did you handle these materials before?

Laurina suddenly asked a question, her hands still moving, her eyes still fixed on the liquid in the crucible.

Lu Yuan paused for a moment.

"... That's good enough."

"Almost?"

Laurina then turned her head and looked at him with an incredulous expression.

"Are you serious?"

"Seriously."

Laurina was silent for a few seconds, her expression becoming somewhat complicated.

Then she shook her head, turned back, and continued concocting the medicine.

"No wonder your creations are so cloudy."

There was a hint of helplessness in her voice.

"Herbal processing is the most fundamental step in medicine refining. If the foundation is not solid, no matter how meticulous the subsequent steps are, it will be useless."

Lu Yuan did not refute.

Because she's right.

"However..." Laurina suddenly spoke again, "With your method, it's already quite good that you managed to produce a finished product. If an ordinary person were to make something like that, they'd be lucky if they didn't poison someone."

"Yeah."

Lu Yuan gave a noncommittal reply.

He certainly knew why he was able to produce the finished product.

The experience bar doesn't lie.

But this is something I can't explain to others.

The morning went by quickly.

Lu Yuan was in charge of processing the materials, while Laurina was in charge of refining them.

The two worked together fairly well.

When Laurina is immersed in her work, she becomes a completely different person.

His eyes were focused, his movements fluid, and he occasionally muttered to himself about some key points of the recipe.

She would adjust the heat according to the changes in the liquid's color, and would gently stir it with a wooden spoon to observe its viscosity.

Every step was precise and skillful.

The shadow of betrayal by his mentor seemed to have temporarily faded away at this moment.

At least when it comes to alchemy, she is still the top genius student in the Alchemy Department the Tower of Erudition.

As noon approached, Laurina put down her tools and let out a long sigh.

"That's about enough for the morning."

She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve; her face was a little pale, clearly showing that she was quite tired after working for several hours straight.

Lu Yuan glanced at a corner of the workbench.

The twelve bottles of Sanity Potion were neatly arranged there, their color clear and bright, gleaming with a faint blue light in the sunlight.

There were also seven bottles of Healing Potion next to it, all with a rich, healthy amber color.

All are of excellent quality.

If Lu Yuan were to do it himself, he probably wouldn't even be able to reach half the quantity, and the quality would be far inferior.

"Professionals really do make a difference," Lu Yuan exclaimed sincerely.

Upon hearing this, Laurina's lips curled into a slight smile.

"Of course."

There was a hint of pride in her tone, but she quickly suppressed it, as if she had remembered something unpleasant.

"Take a break, we have to continue this afternoon."

The rest area on the second floor is very basic.

Two chairs, a small table, and the outline of the Night Watcher Headquarters can be seen not far away through the window.

There were two cups of cold tea on the table, which Lu Yuan had brewed that morning.

Laurina leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes to rest.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains and fell on her face, revealing faint bluish tinges under her eyes.

Lu Yuan sat opposite him, his gaze fixed on the view outside the window.

The weather outside was fine, sunny and bright, with occasional pedestrians or horse-drawn carriages passing by on the street.

Everything seems normal.

Lu Yuan.

Laurina suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

Are you from the East?

She opened her eyes and looked at him with a hint of curiosity.

His light brown pupils appeared exceptionally clear in the sunlight.

"Having been here for so long, this is the first time I've seen an Easterner. There are very few Easterners here in the Empire. How did you get here?"

Lu Yuan thought for a moment and gave a vague answer.

"By boat, from the far East."

"How far?"

"It's so far away that we can't go back."

Laurina paused for a moment, as if she sensed something in his tone.

It's not just a simple "far from home," but an indescribable distance.

She didn't ask any further questions, she just nodded.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"It's nothing," Lu Yuan waved his hand, "It's just a long story, and you might not even believe it."

The room was quiet for a moment.

The distant chimes of the Clock Tower echoed through the window, deep and resonant.

Then Laurina spoke again, as if trying to change the subject.

"So... what are the Night Watcher's benefits like?"

Her tone became more relaxed, as if she were chatting casually.

I mean, salary, benefits, and things like that.

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"What, you want to join?"

"Just curious." Laurina shrugged. "After all, I'm now... taken in by the Night Watcher. I should at least understand the situation here."

Lu Yuan thought for a moment and then said truthfully:

"The salary is alright; I used to earn several Gold Shield a week, but I haven't signed a new contract since arriving in Bronze City." "However, it's definitely enough to live on in Bronze City. As for benefits... equipment and potions are provided, so you don't have to pay for them yourself. If you're injured, someone will treat you; if you die, there's a compensation payment."

Lu Yuan paused, then added:

"However, the danger is great. The mortality rate is not low, especially for missions involving exposure to Transcendence Contamination; surviving is considered lucky."

Laurina thought for a moment.

"That's certainly not as good as the treatment at the Tower of Erudition,"

"Just recently,"

"Forget about that." Laurina stood up and dusted off non-existent dust from her skirt. "By the way, what are we having for lunch?"

Laurina tilted her head and looked at Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan thought for a moment.

"I don't know, what would you like to eat? I'll go buy some."

"Bacon, bread, and vegetable soup," Laurina said, counting on her fingers. Then, as if remembering something, she pulled out several Gold Shield from somewhere.

"Here, this is the meal payment."

Lu Yuan stared at the Gold Shield Laurina handed him, falling silent. Where did she get it from?

I remember she didn't take much with her when she left.

But Lu Yuan accepted it anyway.

He wasn't exactly wealthy, and then, under Laurina's watchful gaze, Lu Yuan went out to buy groceries.

After a simple lunch.

The afternoon's work was similar to the morning's.

Lu Yuan processed the materials, and Laurina refined them.

They exchanged a few words occasionally, but most of the time they remained silent, focused on the task at hand.

The Alchemy Workshop was filled with the aroma of medicinal herbs, and the liquid in the crucible was bubbling away.

As the sun gradually sets in the west, the light outside the window begins to turn a dim, yellowish hue.

Laurina put down the last batch of medicine, stretched her stiff wrists, and heard a slight clicking sound from her joints.

That's all for today.

Lu Yuan glanced at the workbench.

Throughout the day, we made over twenty bottles of Sanity Potion, over a dozen bottles of Healing Potion, and some Antidote.

All are of excellent quality.

The Night Watcher should be satisfied.

At the edge of my field of vision, grayish-white text appeared.

[Pharmacognosy: 4.5/30]

[Pharmacology: 12/50]

Over the course of the day, Pharmacology saw a significant surge in sales.

Although he mainly assisted, under Laurina's "guidance," he made progress much faster than if he had been figuring things out on his own.

It seems that finding a professional to collaborate with was indeed a wise choice.

Laurina began packing up the equipment, her movements very careful.

The crucible must be thoroughly cleaned, the Mortar must be dried, and all tools must be returned to their proper places.

This is a habit she developed since childhood: keeping the equipment well-maintained ensures smooth operation next time.

Lu Yuan helped tidy up and also organized the filing cabinet.

Several materials are running out and need to be replenished.

The sky outside the window grew darker and darker.

The lights in the Alchemy Workshop came on, casting a warm glow behind the curtains.

A faint aroma of medicinal herbs filled the air, mixed with a certain metallic scent.

This smell reminded Lu Yuan of the Clinic in Grim Port.

Lu Yuan stood by the window, watching the streetlights outside gradually come on.

The Night Watcher should be here soon.

The knocking came after nightfall.

Three strokes, neither hurried nor slow.

It's a pre-arranged code.

Lu Yuan walked to the door, confirmed the identity of the person through the crack, and then opened the door.

A weary-looking Night Watcher in his thirties stood outside the door.

He carried a wooden box in one hand and rested his other hand on the weapon at his waist, clearly remaining vigilant throughout the journey.

"Materials." He handed over the wooden crate, his tone brief.

Lu Yuan took the wooden box, weighed it in his hand, and frowned.

"A little too little."

"That's all we can get," the Night Watcher said with a hint of helplessness. "Recently... there's been a lot going on, and resource allocation is tight."

Lu Yuan didn't ask any further questions, he simply nodded.

"Send more next time. At this rate, it won't last more than a few days. Especially the Silverleaf Grass, it's going to run out very quickly."

I will convey your message.

The Night Watcher responded and then looked into the house.

"Where's the medicine?"

"Inside."

Lu Yuan stepped aside to let him in.

The Night Watcher walked to the workbench and looked at the neatly arranged vials of potions.

He first counted the quantity, muttering to himself.

"Twenty-four... twenty-five..."

Then he picked up a bottle of Sanity Potion and examined it under the light.

His eyes lit up slightly.

"This quality..."

He then picked up a bottle of Healing Potion, examined it carefully, and rotated the bottle to observe the fluidity of the liquid.

"They're all of very good quality?"

"Hmm." Lu Yuan gestured with his chin towards the stairs. "She did it."

The Night Watcher followed his gaze.

Laurina was standing at the top of the stairs, quietly watching this side.

She changed into clean clothes and redid her hair, looking more energetic than she had in the afternoon.

"A student of the Alchemy Department of the Tower of Erudition?" the Night Watcher asked.

"Yes."

The Night Watcher nodded, saying nothing more.

He carefully placed the medicine into his leather pouch, moving very gently, as if afraid of bumping or knocking it over.

"The higher-ups will be very satisfied with this batch of goods," he said in a low voice. "We've been experiencing high losses lately, and this quality of potion is extremely scarce. You've been a great help."

Lu Yuan did not respond.

The Night Watcher filled the potion and prepared to leave.

He suddenly stopped when he reached the door.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing."

He lowered his voice, and his tone became serious.

"Don't go out for the next few days."

Lu Yuan's gaze darkened slightly.

"Especially that student you brought out." The Night Watcher glanced towards the stairwell, lowering his voice even further, "People from Headquarters are putting pressure on us, specifically asking for him. They say he needs to cooperate with an investigation or something."

"How long can it last?" Lu Yuan asked.

The Night Watcher was silent for a few seconds.

"It's hard to say."

He paused, then added:

"The higher-ups are trying to find a solution, but..."

He didn't finish speaking.

Some things don't need to be said to be understood.

He turned around, pushed open the door, and stepped into the night.

The footsteps faded into the distance, disappearing at the end of the street.

Lu Yuan closed the door and turned around.

Laurina stood at the top of the stairs, watching him quietly.

Her expression was calm.

But Lu Yuan noticed that her fingers tightened slightly, gripping the hem of her clothes.

Clearly, she heard everything.

"It's alright," Lu Yuan said calmly. "The Night Watcher won't hand them over."

Laurina looked at him and remained silent for a while.

Then she nodded.

"I know."

Her voice was soft, but steady.

"It's just... a little strange."

What are you not used to?

"The feeling of being protected."

She turned and walked towards the second floor.

"Get some rest, you still need to prepare the medicine tomorrow."