[Arcane Scholar] A Slap

"First-tier Blackflame Potion, Revitalizing Potion." Fatty Sun gave a simple introduction. "You should know what they do, little brother."

"But this pink potion is no ordinary thing. I'm even wondering whether you're the minister's illegitimate son." He spoke mysteriously, with envy in his voice.

That truly piqued Su Chen's curiosity. The other man did not keep him hanging and explained in detail, "A third-tier potion—Glazed Blood. It's also Southwind City's specialty potion."

"Third-tier? A specialty?" Su Chen's heart stirred slightly as he looked inquisitive. Reading his expression, Fatty Sun explained further, "Why was Southwind City built here instead of farther south or farther north?"

"It's because of the Glazed Blood Mine. Without it, there would be no Southwind City. This stuff has to be supplied to Ying Feng. Even Minister Yuan only gets a fixed quota every year. You couldn't buy it even with money."

"It has many uses. It assists with potion absorption. For example, a Blackflame Potion might normally take two or three days to absorb completely, but with this, it only takes one day."

"It also provides refined nutrients, quickly repairing physical and mental fatigue. More importantly, its medicinal properties are mild. First-tier and second-tier professionals can both use it."

"It really is good stuff." Su Chen could not help sighing.

"I'm handing these over to you, little brother. Even without counting the Glazed Blood, these two potions together are worth nearly ten thousand gold..." he reminded him. That was far beyond the price of the Shadow-Hiding Garment.

Old Yuan was really generous, Su Chen thought to himself.

Then, as if performing a magic trick, Fatty Sun pulled a silver bracelet from his clothes and handed it to Su Chen.

Su Chen raised a brow. This thing seemed capable of projecting a virtual screen. It was high-end gear.

Fatty Sun explained, "A smart wristband. Southwind City can't make these; they're all supplied by Ying Feng, and you need to apply for a quota. The communication range and signal strength are greatly increased."

He handed it to Su Chen while explaining the controls. Beyond more convenient communication, its more important function was connecting to the various departments in the city, such as the Emergency Response Department, Inspection Department, Patrol Department, and so on...

But it did not have anything like the online forums Su Chen had imagined. Too few people in Southwind City owned one of these; there was no foundation for it.

"Also, the minister notified me at the last minute to prepare a mimetic mask for you. Logistics has already been informed, so it should arrive soon," Fatty Sun added.

"For disguises?" Su Chen asked. After receiving a definite answer, he could not help praising Old Yuan's thoroughness.

After seeing Fatty Sun off, Su Chen eagerly began testing the effects of the third-tier potion.

It was not liquid, but more like jelly. As Su Chen savored the taste, he immediately felt as though he had eaten too much. He hurriedly downed the Blackflame Potion and Revitalizing Potion as well, then quickly entered the gravity room.

The stimulation coursing through every part of his body became even more intense. The downside of rapid absorption was that the medicinal effects erupted all at once. Su Chen's skin turned crimson, and his sweat sizzled into white vapor.

An entire day and night passed. Only when the sky gradually darkened the next day did Su Chen emerge from the training room.

"This is seriously powerful..." he muttered. Stretching his body, he found that, with Glazed Blood's assistance, his training efficiency was even higher than before.

[Sky-Rending Warrior: 55%]

[Body-Strengthening Training Method—Proficient: 30%]

[Hellflame Meditation Method—Proficient: 50%]

All his stats had improved noticeably, while the Mystic Artificer was still in its early stages, its development progress surging to 30%.

After tidying up a little, Su Chen heard a knock at the door.

Jiang He had arrived. She was as alluring as ever, her purple one-piece dress ending above her knees and outlining her graceful figure. Her slender calves were smooth as jade.

Jiang He leaned against the doorframe in a seductive pose and said softly, "Were you waiting especially for me?"

"Come in." Su Chen gave her a glance and replied flatly.

The reason he had left the training room was that someone had informed him Jiang He was looking for him.

Jiang He's expression grew restrained, and her feelings were inevitably complicated. How long had it been? Yet he had already risen to such heights.

Yuan Chenyang's student... tsk, tsk...

Even if her father was theoretically Yuan Chenyang's equal in rank, the Inspection Department was one of the three major armed institutions.

Just like how she knew Qi Chuan harbored improper intentions but could not act rashly, while Su Chen had dared to bring people directly to his door and arrest him.

Walking inside with catlike steps, she hooked the door with her calf and shut it.

"What is it?" Su Chen asked calmly.

"So cold, little brother." Jiang He sat on the edge of the bed and deliberately sniffed. "Can't I come reminisce with you?"

"We have no past to reminisce about." Su Chen shook his head. "If there's nothing else, you can leave."

"Heartless..." Jiang He looked at him resentfully. "There's a small matter I want your help with. I want to dissolve my marriage with Qi Chuan."

"You want a divorce?" Su Chen did not understand. "Why come to me?"

"Isn't Qi Chuan in your hands? Of course I had to come to you. You just need to make him sign this." Jiang He drew a brown parchment scroll from her cleavage. When she unfolded it, it was covered in incomprehensible markings.

That was right. In this world, the proof of a marriage was a "marriage contract," created by the Marriage Contract Master profession.

Information was difficult to exchange between cities. This was the only hard proof.

"Why?" Su Chen looked at her.

Jiang He explained, "My father said Qi Chuan might be involved in certain matters. Combined with what he did before, it's best to cut ties with him. The later it is, the more troublesome it will become."

"I mean, why should I help you?" Su Chen emphasized.

Jiang He leaned back, making her figure even more prominent, and braced both hands against Su Chen's bed. "He won't be locked up for more than a few days anyway. It's an easy favor."

"At worst, I can pay a little price." Jiang He gave her body a little shake, pretending to be aggrieved.

As Su Chen gradually approached, his shadow slowly covered her as he lowered his head to look down at her.

Jiang He was extremely uncomfortable with this feeling. She did not like being played with; she only liked playing with others.

"Just kidding." Jiang He awkwardly shifted back and pulled out a photocopied sheet from her clothes. "The promotion requirements for Arcane Scholar. My father said Minister Yuan should be interested."

Su Chen raised a brow, reached out to take it, and glanced down at it.

[Second-tier upper profession discovered—Arcane Scholar. Complete the requirements to advance.]

[Arcane Scholar advancement requirement one: Remain in the "Whispering Trial" for five minutes.]

[Arcane Scholar advancement requirement two: Raise three F-rank meditation methods to Master level.]

Five whole minutes? Su Chen recalled that so-called Whispering Trial and muttered to himself inwardly.

"Is it really necessary to offer this just for a divorce?" he looked up and asked.

"Just currying favor. You're not who you used to be anymore." Jiang He brushed back her hair.

Su Chen looked at her lovely, delicate face. For some reason, an impulse rose within him. After frowning and pondering for a moment, he understood where that impulse came from.

Then he raised his hand.

Smack!

His palm struck Jiang He across the face. Her hair fluttered down, and a bright red handprint gradually emerged on her fair cheek.

Su Chen let out a breath, feeling relieved, as though he had cast off some burden. The resentment left behind by his predecessor's memories, from having once been toyed with by Jiang He, completely vanished.

Jiang He stared in stunned disbelief. Anger flashed through her eyes, and the lights in the room flickered incessantly as some kind of power gathered.

"What... are you doing?" she snarled in a low voice.

"I'll make him sign it." Su Chen snatched the parchment scroll and walked straight out.

Jiang He stared at his departing back. It took several breaths before she gradually calmed down. Her delicate hand stroked her right cheek. The lingering sting made her angry, yet it also stirred an unfamiliar feeling within her.

"Qi Chuan..." Su Chen had not forgotten this guy. Carrying the parchment scroll, he headed to the detention room.

"What's his condition?" he asked the guard.

"He hasn't said a word. Usually, he just sits in the corner and eats when it's time to eat." The guard recognized this second-generation heir and explained.

Su Chen examined him through the one-way window. Qi Chuan had clearly lost a lot of weight. His cheekbones protruded, his eyes were unfocused and vacant, and he looked haggard.

A second-tier physical profession's metabolism was rapid. Those ordinary liquid meals were not even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

"Has anyone come to see him?"

"The director and deputy director of the Patrol Division both came by and asked a few questions in passing," the guard recalled.

The Patrol Division had made the arrest, so it was normal for their superiors to come ask about it.

Su Chen considered it. "When is dinner?"

"In a little over ten minutes." The guard checked the time.

Su Chen waited there for a while. Soon, dinner arrived sealed in a plastic container. He took it and opened it. It was bland and watery, a milky-white liquid meal—the sort his predecessor used to eat.

With the guard blocking him from view, Su Chen dipped his index finger into the soup. A small green metal fragment appeared at his fingertip, only disappearing a moment later.

This was a small fragment he had chipped off the attacker's dagger.

"Take it to him." Su Chen closed the lid and glanced at the surveillance camera at the end of the corridor. He had to put on a show, at least.

The guard took it and carried it inside, utterly speechless. Your method of adding ingredients is way too crude.