Gute's Treasure

Xiao Fan and Zi Yan cautiously entered the house. The room was a complete mess—tables and chairs scattered haphazardly, tissues strewn across the floor, and strange liquids spilled everywhere.

"Is this... really a place where people live? It's even dirtier than the doghouse Xiao Yan'er used to sleep in." Xiao Fan simply could not accept how messy the room was. He even felt like cleaning it himself.

Zi Yan was unhappy. "Xiao Fan, you clearly said that even the beds I slept in smelled nice!"

"Ow! Xiao Fan, why did you hit me again?!"

"Keep your voice down. That guy's an Alchemist. Aren't you afraid of being discovered?"

Xiao Fan naturally was not afraid, but it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Once inside, Xiao Fan immediately located Gute. He gestured to Zi Yan, holding up two fingers like tiny people. "We'll move quietly. Take the things and leave."

Zi Yan nodded, indicating that she understood Xiao Fan's instructions.

Then Zi Yan zipped behind Gute in an instant. Even Xiao Fan failed to react in time. He only heard a cry before Gute collapsed.

Xiao Fan hurriedly checked Gute's condition. "Whew, thankfully, he only fainted."

"Xiao Yan'er, didn't I tell you to move quietly?"

"Huh?"

Zi Yan widened her round eyes and asked in confusion, "Xiao Fan, didn't you tell me to knock that guy out, then empty out all his treasures?"

"..." Xiao Fan looked at Zi Yan speechlessly. But since it had already happened, there was no reason to turn back.

"Xiao Yan'er!"

"Here!"

"Move!"

Zi Yan swiftly searched through all kinds of treasures. Xiao Fan was in no rush; after checking Gute's condition just now, he knew Gute would be out for several hours.

Watching his treasure-hunting hound bring back all sorts of valuables, Xiao Fan could not help being surprised. "Spirit Absorber... Ice Spirit Cold Spring... Damn, this guy really is a fat sheep."

Xiao Fan began examining the room as well. Aside from the various treasures, there was a dust-covered Medicine Cauldron sitting in a corner.

Compared to everything else, this Medicine Cauldron had clearly gone unused for a long time.

Xiao Fan walked over to it and sighed. "As an Alchemist, collecting all kinds of treasures but not using them for alchemy, only obsessing over hoarding them—it's truly a waste of heaven-sent gifts."

But a notebook beside the Medicine Cauldron caught Xiao Fan's attention.

"Hm? An Alchemist's notes?"

Curiously, Xiao Fan opened the notebook. It was densely filled with records of insights gained while refining medicine, as well as the processes required for alchemy.

"Gute... That name sounds familiar." Xiao Fan recalled a few details from his time in the Gamma Empire.

"Isn't he Gu He's younger brother?"

With that thought, Xiao Fan understood why Gute had become so dispirited. It was not because Gute disliked alchemy, nor because he particularly loved collecting treasures. He had merely been suppressed by the halo of his elder brother Gu He's accomplishments. No matter how he refined medicine, he could never surpass his brother.

For an Alchemist with pride, no one wanted to be merely someone else's supporting foil. That was why Gute had taken an unconventional path, relying on collecting all kinds of rare natural treasures to build his reputation—and to numb himself.

Xiao Fan glanced at Gute again. "Once this guy wakes up and sees that all his treasures are gone, he might just lose the will to live..."

"Xiao Yan'er, let's go!"

"I'm coming, Xiao Fan!" Zi Yan skipped over behind Xiao Fan and skillfully jumped onto his back, chewing on some medicinal herb she had found somewhere moments ago.

The two of them quietly left Gute's residence as though they had never entered the room at all.

After walking for some time, Xiao Fan removed his mask and changed into the robes of a second-tier Alchemist.

He planned to take a flying magical beast to his next destination, Desert City.

Seeing the arrival of a second-tier Alchemist, the flying magical beast staff member was clearly extremely enthusiastic. "Sir, would you like to ride a flying magical beast?"

"That's right. I'm heading to Desert City."

"Certainly, sir. This way, please. We have private cabins specially prepared for you."

"Mm, then I'll trouble you."

"Not at all, sir. It is my duty."

Even after boarding the flying magical beast, Xiao Fan could not help sighing. "The profession of Alchemist really is highly sought after on the Dou Qi Continent."

Meanwhile, at Xiao Fan's residence in Black Rock City, a girl who had hurried over stared dejectedly at the already emptied room.

"Teacher, it seems Xiao Bufan has already left..."

The visitors were Xue Mei and Chairman Frank. Seeing his disciple's faintly sorrowful expression, Frank said, "Xue Mei, Xiao Bufan should have only just left. He most likely took a flying magical beast."

"Don't wait until you've missed something to regret it, Xue Mei."

Xue Mei tightly gripped an item in her hand. In just a moment, she made up her mind and said to Frank, "Teacher, I understand!"

With that, Xue Mei ran out, racing in the direction of the flying magical beasts.

Fortunately, just before the flying magical beast was about to depart, Xue Mei arrived beneath the enormous Griffin, panting heavily as she shouted upward, "Xiao Bufan!"

But after calling several times without receiving any response from Xiao Bufan, grievance and sorrow surged through Xue Mei's heart. Her grip on the object in her hand tightened further.

Tears began to fall, drop by drop. "Did I miss him after all?"

"Hm? Xue Mei?"

A head poked out from the Griffin's cabin. It was Xiao Fan. At first, he had not even reacted when he heard the name Xiao Bufan.

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's voice, Xue Mei immediately raised her face, swollen from crying.

"Xiao Bufan!"

The Griffin had already taken flight. The loud winds made it difficult for Xiao Fan to hear Xue Mei clearly, and he could only see the movement of her lips.

"Xiao Bufan, may you be safe!"

Using all her strength, Xue Mei threw the item in her hand toward the Griffin. It traced an arc through the air.

The young girl was still too weak. Even with all her strength, she could not throw it far enough to reach Xiao Fan.

It was the innocent love of a young girl—before it could even begin, it had already ended. She had exhausted all her strength, only for it to come to nothing...

"Sure enough... I still couldn't..." Xue Mei watched sorrowfully as the object fell straight from the sky.

But how could Xiao Fan allow someone to be sad for him again? Purple wings abruptly emerged from his back, and with a light leap, he caught the item she had thrown.

Xiao Fan could not help sighing. "Sure enough, these wings are best suited for flirting with girls."

Opening his palm, he found a Peace Talisman. The writing on it was somewhat crooked, but Xiao Fan still recognized Xue Mei's handwriting.

"Xue Mei, thank you!" Xiao Fan shouted back to the girl. Even someone as dense as Xiao Fan understood the girl's feelings now.

"Mm!" Xue Mei nodded firmly and waved goodbye to Xiao Fan.

"Remember to come back!" Xue Mei gazed at those purple wings with shining eyes, her heart filled with anticipation.

Gute, who had been unconscious, slowly woke up as well. Looking at the room that had been emptied of everything, he was utterly bewildered.

But there was still a note in front of him.

"I'm very sorry for taking your things. As compensation, I added a few things to your alchemy notes. No need to thank me."

"Hmph! You stole my things, and I'm supposed to thank you?"

Gute angrily opened his Alchemist's notes, but the next second, he became absorbed in the unique insights within...