Matt had his misgivings and dared not speak his mind, so he did his best to steer clear of his earlier slip of the tongue. His conversation with Mulan became more of an academic discussion, naturally focused on alchemy.
Although Matt tried his utmost to act more naturally, his attempts to conceal his feelings clearly could not escape Mulan's notice. More importantly, on another level, Mulan could faintly sense something unusual in Matt's mental state: a trace of unease and fear. Though deeply hidden, it was fairly obvious to Mulan's senses.
This Alchemist might not be particularly strong in actual combat, but his mental strength was quite substantial. His thoughts ran far deeper than Mulan had imagined, however, and he was very prone to overthinking. That was Mulan's preliminary assessment. He did not probe Matt further or attempt anything else on that other level, so their subsequent conversation remained largely an academic exchange.
Though it was not an absolute rule, a person's environment truly had an enormous influence on them. Before becoming Mulan, Li Xiu had actually been rather laid-back. At the very least, he was unlikely to take the initiative to study anything.
But the Mulan of today was different. Whenever a suitable opportunity arose, he earnestly expanded his knowledge. This made up for his limited understanding of the world and built up his own reserves, which, on some level, also meant building up his strength.
It was nearly dinnertime when Mulan finished discussing an alchemical hypothesis with Matt. He checked the time, then said to him,
"It's getting late, and I still have some work to take care of. I've really enjoyed discussing alchemy with you for so long. Thank you for being so patient with an outsider's questions."
Matt hastily offered a polite reply.
"You're too modest,