[Arcane Scholar] A Slap

"Tier 1 Blackflame Potion and Revitalizing Potion." Fatty Sun gave a simple introduction. "You should already know what they do, little brother."

"But this pink potion is no ordinary thing. I'm starting to wonder if you're the minister's illegitimate son." He spoke mysteriously, with envy in his tone.

This truly piqued Su Chen's curiosity. The other man did not keep him in suspense and explained carefully, "A Tier 3 potion—Glazed Blood, also Southwind City's specialty potion."

"Tier 3? A specialty?" Su Chen was slightly shaken and looked inquisitive. Reading his expression, Fatty Sun elaborated, "Why do you think Southwind City was built here instead of farther south or north?"

"Because of the Glazed Blood Mine. Without it, there would be no Southwind City. This stuff has to be supplied to Yingfeng. Even Minister Yuan only gets a fixed quota each year. You can't buy it even if you have the money."

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

"It can also provide pure nutrients and quickly repair physical and mental fatigue. More importantly, its effects are gentle enough that both Tier 1 and Tier 2 Professionals can use it."

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

"I've handed everything over to you, little brother. Even without counting the Glazed Blood, these two potions alone are worth nearly ten thousand gold..." he reminded him. That was far more than the Shadow-Hiding Garment had cost.

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

Then, as if performing a magic trick, Fatty Sun pulled a silver wristband 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 equipment.

Fatty Sun explained, "A smart wristband. Southwind City can't make these; they all come supplied from Yingfeng. You need to apply for a quota, and its communication range and signal strength are vastly improved."

He handed it to Su Chen while explaining the basics of operating it. Besides more convenient communication, its more important function was connecting to the city's various departments, such as the Emergency Response Department, Inspection Department, Patrol Department, and so on...

However, there were no online forums or anything like Su Chen had imagined. Too few people in Southwind City owned one of these, so there was no foundation for it.

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

"For disguise?" Su Chen asked. After receiving a definite answer, he could not help giving Old Yuan's thoroughness silent praise.

After seeing Fatty Sun off, Su Chen eagerly began testing the effects of the Tier 3 potion.

It was not liquid, more like jelly. As Su Chen savored the taste, he immediately felt as if he had overeaten. He hurriedly swallowed the Blackflame Potion and Revitalizing Potion as well, then quickly entered the gravity room.

The stimulation from all over his body grew 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 hissed into white vapor as it evaporated.

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 really powerful..." he sighed, stretching his body. With Glazed Blood's assistance, his training efficiency was even faster than before.

[Sky-Rending Warrior: 55%]

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

[Hellflame Meditation Method—Proficient: 50%]

Every stat had improved noticeably, while [Mystic Artificer] was still in its first half, and its development progress had surged to 30%.

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

Jiang He had arrived. She was still as alluring as ever, her purple one-piece dress ending above her knees and outlining her graceful figure, her slender calves 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 come out of the training room was because someone had notified him that Jiang He was looking for him.

Jiang He's expression tightened, and her feelings became complicated. How long had it even been? Yet he had already risen this far.

Yuan Chenyang's student, huh...

Even though her father was theoretically on the same level as Yuan Chenyang, the Inspection Department was one of the three major armed institutions.

Just as she knew Qi Chuan harbored ill intentions but could not act rashly, Su Chen had dared to lead people directly to Qi Chuan's door and arrest him.

Walking in with feline steps, she hooked a calf back, and the door shut.

"What is it?" Su Chen asked calmly.

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

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

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

"You want a divorce?" Su Chen was confused. "Why come to me?"

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

That was right. In this world, the proof of a marriage was a "marriage contract," created by professionals known as marriage contract masters.

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

"Why?" Su Chen looked at her.

Jiang He explained, "My father said Qi Chuan might be involved in certain matters. Combined with his previous attempt on my life, it would be best to cut ties with him. The later it happens, the more troublesome it will be."

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

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

"At worst, I can pay some kind of price." Jiang He gave her body a little shake and pretended to look aggrieved.

Seeing Su Chen gradually approach, his shadow slowly covering her as he looked down at her.

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

"I was teasing." Jiang He awkwardly shifted back and took out a photocopied sheet from her clothes. "The advancement 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.

[Discovered Tier 2 superior profession—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.

"Consider it a gesture of goodwill. You're no longer who you used to be." Jiang He brushed back her hair.

Looking at her lovely, delicate face, Su Chen suddenly felt an inexplicable urge. After frowning and examining it for a moment, he understood where it came from.

Then he raised his hand.

Slap!

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

Su Chen let out a breath, feeling refreshed, as though he had put down some kind of burden. The resentment in the previous owner'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 room's lights flickered continuously as some kind of power began to gather.

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

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

Jiang He stared at his retreating back. Only after taking several breaths did she gradually calm down. Her soft palm caressed her right cheek. The lingering sting irritated her, yet also stirred an unfamiliar sensation within her.

"Qi Chuan..." Su Chen had not forgotten about that man. Carrying the parchment, he went to the holding room.

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

"Not a word from him. Usually he just sits in the corner, then eats when it's time." The guard recognized this second-generation heir and explained.

Su Chen observed through the one-way window. Qi Chuan had clearly lost a great deal of weight, his cheekbones protruding, his eyes vacant and unfocused, his appearance haggard.

Tier 2 physical-type professionals had fast metabolisms. That ordinary liquid food was not even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

"Has anyone come to see him?"

"The Patrol Division's chief and deputy chief both came by and asked a few questions," 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?"

"About ten minutes from now." 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 thin and watery, a milky-white liquid meal—the sort the previous owner had once eaten.

After asking the guard to block him from view, Su Chen dipped his index finger into the soup. A small green metal fragment emerged at his fingertip, only disappearing moments later.

This was a tiny fragment that had broken 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. They had to put on a show, after all.

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