Chapter 25 Lamenting Mediocrity
The night sky of Huilong City was devoid of stars or moon, only the ever-changing tide of water. If you turned off the lights, there would be no light at all; everything was pitch black, as if it were dead.
Xie An lay in the dead silence, holding a medicinal pestle in his hand. The small, dark gold pestle was engraved with patterns of clouds and wind, and its handle was shaped like a half-opened lotus. It was a meticulously crafted work of art, meant to be solemnly enshrined in rituals, not held in the greasy hands of a cook.
Xie An also felt he shouldn't be holding this thing. It was too spiritual, emitting its own light in the pitch-black night, his unsightly face reflected on the lotus petals. What a shameful expression! A man in his thirties looked like he was about to cry. But the repressed feeling welled up inside him, crushing his already limited dignity. He accidentally relaxed his grip. The pestle fell and hit him on the forehead. It hurt. He opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out, a silent cry.
Then, after a few seconds, as if realizing his own folly, Xie An tightened his grip on the pestle again, threw on his clothes, and went out. The lights in the headquarters building were always on. He walked hesitantly towards the dormitory building, pausing as he passed the lounge.
The killer stood at the door, looking at him quietly.
"Chat?" Chu Hengkong asked.
"Okay." Jie An said, "Let's chat."
On the table sat an unfinished bottle of wine, the inferior stuff Chu Hengkong had bought last time. It had originally been half full, but now only 30% remained. Ji Huaisu slumped on the sofa, drinking sullenly. Jie An was momentarily surprised; he hadn't expected these two to be so close as to drink together late at night. But he soon realized the truth: they, like him, had been unable to sleep, and so they had both decided to go out and talk.
Chu Hengkong also poured a glass for Jie An: "Tell me about the situation?"
As he spoke, he looked at Ji Huaisu. The blonde girl drank the wine and whispered, "You can guess it. Huilong City once experienced a great war, and my father was seriously injured. We are committed to maintaining order in the city, hoping to restore Lord Huilong's strength and heal my father... but now it seems that time is running out."
Chu Hengkong nodded and asked, "What will happen if Mr. Ji dies?"
Ji Huaisu was momentarily furious; she hadn't expected the other party's question to be so cruel. Jie An spoke before the conflict escalated, "Huilong City will be doomed."
"Why?"
"The enemies who started the war haven't left yet. They're still biding their time. You've seen many demons so far, but there are things outside the city that are even scarier than demons..." Xie An said softly, "When Mr. Ji dies, they'll have no more concerns. They'll turn the city into a purgatory."
"We still have the dragon."
"not enough."
Everyone fell silent, the air as if dead. But Chu Hengkong remained his usual self, expressionless, his thoughts unrecognizable.
"Then we have to find a way to save Mr. Ji," Chu Hengkong said. He spoke so naturally, as if he could do it himself. "You won't just rely on Huilong. Jie An, you must have a way too. I heard Youyou asked you to make medicine."
"Yes, I can make medicine," Xie An sighed, "but I can't make good medicine."
He gently placed the lotus pestle on the table and pushed it forward. Chu Hengkong noticed a glimmer of hope in the other person's eyes. He took out the silver-eyed book and placed the pestle on the page. Silver handwriting quickly appeared, and this appraisal report surprised him.
"this……!"
[Pure Treasury Pestle to Eliminate Suffering]
【Rating: Level 5】
[Origin: Zhengxuan Palace, Longquan Township]
[Effect: The "Holy Honor Cup" of the Bodhisattva Jingzang's interpretation of the text. Can record prescriptions, use the pestle to pound medicine, and greatly enhance the effects of all medicines when making medicine.
The first time you make medicine, you need to gather all the medicinal materials. The elixirs that have been successfully made can be made with Qi and blood.
Recorded prescriptions: 3187]
This was the highest-level relic Chu Hengkong had ever seen—a Level 5 relic! He now understood the relic rating system; the level corresponded to the level and power of the corresponding Sephiroth. A Level 5 relic signified that it had once belonged to a Sephiroth-5 Transformer, a power beyond their current capabilities.
Chu Hengkong eagerly grabbed the book and was about to say something when he caught a glimpse of the last words being written.
[Warning: Due to the forced inheritance across 5 points, the current number of available prescriptions is 1.]
[Missing: Xiao An, find the last medicine.
Live well. 】
He realized something was wrong. If he could truly utilize the relic, Jie An wouldn't just be a cook. The hope in Jie An's eyes vanished after he read the handwriting. He lowered his head like a frustrated child.
"My father was a friend of Mr. Ji." His voice was hoarse. "Back then, he risked his life to go out of the city to collect herbs, hoping to heal Mr. Ji's injuries. But the world outside the city was too dangerous, and he was about to die when he returned. So, my father could only entrust the pestle to me. His blood flows in my veins, and only I can inherit his legacy..."
"But I'm a loser! I don't even have any talent. Even if I inherited the medicine pestle, it's just a 'foundation'. Dad was able to make countless elixirs back then, but I can't even make one... Not even one!"
Jie An covered his face with his hands and burst into tears. Chu Hengkong understood this feeling; he felt that everything was his fault. His father and elders were both men of integrity, but he, having inherited a once-powerful weapon, could only become a cook. This feeling of powerlessness would wear anyone down.
"Jie An, you didn't do anything wrong." Ji Huaisu whispered, "Uncle Wen's prescription was incomplete to begin with. Dad has only been able to survive these past ten years thanks to you..."
"I should have been able to complete the prescription!" Jie An roared, "I'm his son!"
The man stood up abruptly, clenching his fists. Shattered pride, years of self-abuse and endless self-blame pierced his heart like nails. He knew it wasn't his fault; he knew it was all his fault. Then Chu Hengkong understood where his hope came from. Jie An had hoped the identification document on the pestle might hold clues to the recipe, but he saw only a promise that could never be fulfilled.
That message crushed the incompetent son, and the forced smile he had maintained for ten years collapsed overnight.
Ji Huaisu wanted to offer some comforting words, but her heart ached just as much. She noticed Chu Hengkong still had that indifferent expression, and couldn't help but feel angry at his indifference. But she knew in her heart that this was just venting her anger. This outsider had done so much for Huilong City; he had no obligation to return the favor emotionally.
"Let's go back." Ji Huaisu closed his eyes tightly. "We still have to patrol tomorrow."
Chu Hengkong sat motionless, still carefully reading the final appraisal document. He was indeed emotionless, for he was still thinking. What other options were there? What other means could he use to obtain more information?
"Jie An, make another medicine." Chu Hengkong said slowly.
"...What for?" Ji Huaisu asked dully. Chu Hengkong said nothing, looking into Jie An's eyes: "Since you can't sleep anyway, just make another one."
The other two were stunned, not understanding what this man was thinking. "Okay," Jie An nodded numbly. Perhaps because there was nothing else to do, or perhaps he still clung to a self-deceiving hope that the outsider's knowledge might hold a solution. He was gone for half an hour, and when he returned, his face pale as gold, he held a black pill in his hand.
"Give me."
Chu Hengkong took the pill and placed it on the book. He swallowed, hoping that he would not have the opportunity to be sad.
Then, writing appeared in the Silver Eye Book.
Silver writing slowly formed, no slower than usual. It contained the name, the effect, and, most importantly, his "missing"!
[Elixir-type Basic Relic - Healing]
【Rating: 4】
[Origin: Senluo Secret Realm - Huilong City]
Effect: Eliminate external pollution of particles 4 and below
It has an inhibitory effect on the external pollution below the second abyss.
Thoughts: The only son of the great master Jingzang was of mediocre talent. He searched for ten years in vain, unaware that the gold he longed for lay hidden in the marsh.
All three of them held their breath. The confusion in their eyes gave way to belated understanding, which was then drowned out by a surge of hope. "What does this mean?" Ji Huaisu's voice trembled. "What is gold?"
"Yes, what is gold?" Chu Hengkong asked, "What could Jie An be dreaming of?"
He couldn't help but laugh. There must be hope, because Sephiroth Jie Wen wouldn't be a fool to demand too much from his son. He entrusted the unfinished prescription to Jie An because the final ingredient was in the city!
"I don't know." Xie An stammered, "There are too many possibilities. It could be the root of some plant. Or metal. Animal scales. Or..."
His tears hadn't dried yet, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up. Everyone was laughing, as if they had gone crazy, their eyes gleaming. "We have to find it! Gather information!" "I'll find the files related to gold." "I'll go get Youyou!"
Then they ran out of the lounge. There was no time to rest, no time to be sad. Hope appeared before their eyes, and from now on it was a race against death.
"Let's get started, everyone." Chu Hengkong put away the big book. "Our next goal is to go to the swamp to find medicine!"
(End of this chapter)
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