Li Yu couldn't help laughing at Asuna's teasing, but when he thought about her Space Backpack, he felt better.
After all, if he had one of those, he'd probably bring even more than she did. He had to admit, it was incredibly convenient. Looks like he'd have to get one himself.
"Can't go wrong bringing extra things. I just brought some everyday supplies and the Red and Blue Potions I made yesterday." As he spoke, Li Yu set off toward the school.
When Asuna heard him mention the potions, she remembered the two scents she'd caught yesterday.
"Did you really spend yesterday experimenting with special flavors for the Red and Blue Potions?" Asuna asked curiously.
She hadn't gone downstairs to interrupt him, so she didn't know whether Li Yu had succeeded or failed. She was actually quite curious.
"Yeah, I've already made them. I made the Red Potion strawberry-flavored and the Blue Potion blueberry-flavored." Li Yu nodded without hiding anything.
He was sure that girls like Asuna would be even more fond of fruit-flavored Red and Blue Potions.
"Seriously?" Asuna was astonished to hear that he'd already made them. Had he really succeeded?
"Of course. Don't believe me? I'll show you." Li Yu stopped, pulled his backpack in front of him, unzipped it, and took out two pouches of differently colored liquid.
"Here, you can have these two. Give them a taste." Li Yu handed the pouches of Red and Blue Potions to Asuna. She accepted them without hesitation.
Looking down at the potions, which were no different in appearance from the ones she'd bought from Li Yu, Asuna felt that the whole thing was absurd.
Li Yu had really made them? Asuna brought a pouch of Red Potion to her nose and sniffed. It really did smell like strawberries... The familiar scent left her stunned.
It was exactly the scent she'd smelled in her apartment yesterday. Without hesitation, she unscrewed the cap, poured a little into her palm, and tasted it.
The moment it touched her tongue, the sweetness of strawberries filled her mouth. It really was strawberry-flavored... With that thought, Asuna activated her True Qi.
The liquid was quickly absorbed, leaving the taste of strawberries in her mouth.
"Uh... How did you do that?" After confirming that the potion's effects hadn't changed, Asuna stared at Li Yu in disbelief.
How had he done it? Even though she wasn't an alchemist, she knew how difficult it was to make flavored potions without increasing their cost.
Come on, that was a lot of effort for very little reward. That was why she was so shocked that Li Yu had actually managed it.
"Evening primrose. I added evening primrose and a few other herbs. The cost didn't actually go up, but when those ingredients were added, they reacted chemically with the original ingredients, giving the potions these flavors." Li Yu sounded quite confident as he explained.
Hearing the name evening primrose only left Asuna more confused. She couldn't help asking, "Isn't evening primrose a spice? You can use it to make potions, too?"
It did have some medicinal value, but not much, right? It was mainly used for seasoning, like star anise and other spices.
"It's a seasoning, sure, but it's also a medicinal herb." As they walked, Li Yu explained the reasoning behind it.
Asuna didn't understand all the details, but she got the gist: Li Yu had really found a way to do it. It was incredible. Plenty of alchemists couldn't be bothered to research something like this, yet Li Yu had actually managed to pull it off.
And the cost had barely changed. It was practically a miracle. Asuna was even more amazed by Li Yu's talent.
"Next time you make some, make a batch for me. I was too hasty—I can't believe you actually managed it. If I'd known, I would've waited!" Asuna soon began to regret her decision.
She'd bought so many the day before that they would probably last her a while. She had to admit she regretted it. If only she'd listened to Li Yu and waited for him to make the special-flavored potions.
"No problem! Just let me know when you need them." Business was coming his way. Li Yu couldn't help feeling pleased.
Asuna put away the two pouches of potions Li Yu had given her. If she ever got tired of the potions she had, she could use these to change things up!
That's it, she decided. Once they got to school, she'd let Yukinoshita and Kato try them too, so they could regret it along with her. She couldn't be the only one who regretted buying potions too soon.
The two chatted as they walked to school, and grabbed breakfast along the way.
When they arrived, they ran into quite a few classmates. Like Li Yu and Asuna, they were carrying backpacks and weapons.
They were the only ones dressed like this at the school, which attracted plenty of attention. What was with them? Was there some kind of event?
The other classes didn't know about the Special Class. Their students hadn't even reached the third tier, so the school had no plans to let them enter the Dungeon.
The two ignored the attention and headed straight for their classroom. But when they reached the building where their classroom was, they saw that many of their classmates were standing downstairs instead of going inside.
Looking more closely, they saw their homeroom teacher waiting there. Li Yu and Asuna exchanged a glance, then hurried over.
Zhang Li was filling out some kind of form. Li Yu and Asuna's arrival quickly caught her attention, especially Li Yu.
The moment Teacher Zhang Li saw him, surprise flashed in her eyes. She asked without thinking, "Li Yu, have you broken through to the fourth tier?"
At her words, the classmates chatting in small groups nearby turned to look.
Asuna did too, staring at Li Yu in disbelief. He'd broken through already? Had he been using cheats or something?
Asuna was completely dumbfounded. It had only been a few days, and Li Yu had already reached the fourth tier? It didn't seem long since his last breakthrough.
"Yeah, I've already broken through!" Li Yu nodded without denying it. His homeroom teacher was much stronger than he was, so he wasn't surprised she could tell at a glance.
"Come here!" Once he confirmed it, Zhang Li beckoned Li Yu forward. Though he was a little confused, Li Yu walked over.
As soon as he got close, Zhang Li placed a hand on his shoulder. Li Yu felt True Qi begin to flow from her palm and spread through his body.
"Don't resist!" Just as Li Yu was about to do something, Zhang Li's stern voice rang out, telling him to stay still.
Li Yu had no choice but to obey. Fortunately, Zhang Li acted quickly and finished before long. Her stern expression finally relaxed.
Before you continue