Chapter 68 Swan Castle (Second Update Combined)
Yu Naixin led the werewolf rider and the ghost wizard to the third floor of the central round tower.
Many rooms in Neuschwanstein Castle are purely decorative, especially those in the long corridors on both sides. However, among the five floors of the central round tower, apart from the perfunctory fifth floor, each floor has a very distinct function.
For example, there's the banquet hall on the first floor, the study on the second floor, and the princess's residence on the fourth floor.
On the third floor, there is a fairly well-equipped laboratory.
The moment Yu Naixin stepped into the laboratory, she began her last chance to use the simulator in this episode of the show.
The Vampire Duke took Yu Naixin quite a bit of time.
After negotiating with the werewolf knight and the elf prince who had sneaked into Swan Castle beforehand, she even went to her princess residence to make simple preparations for the procession. In total, it only took her an hour.
When Yu Naixin arrived at the banquet hall on the first floor, it took her almost an hour just to properly train the vampire duke.
At this moment, it was already 5 p.m. inside Swan Castle, with only two hours left until 7 p.m.
The chat in the live stream had pretty much guessed it: 7 PM was the deadline for this episode.
[My God, does this mean this entire dungeon show only lasts four hours from start to finish?!]
[After all, it's a mutated fusion challenge, so the difficulty is definitely not low. These four male guests are already among the weakest of the guests in the same level of challenge, so it's normal that the program requires a high completion time for the guests.]
[I was initially amazed by the female guest's speed and efficiency, but seeing that she only had a tiny bit of time to win over the male guest and solve the mystery, she had to hurry!]
Two hours have passed now, exactly halfway through. The female guest has already won over the werewolf's favorability quite a bit, possibly even 80% or 90%. If she can find a way to survive the indiscriminate elimination before the deadline, she can successfully end this episode!
[She probably has some goodwill towards the elf too, right? And now she's clearly going to make her move on the ghost, so she should be able to gain even more favor. The final result will definitely be good, which is quite impressive for a new guest on the show.]
The werewolf knight and the ghost wizard followed closely behind Yu Naixin into the laboratory.
The laboratory's decor was consistent with the entire Swan Castle, luxurious and spacious. The ghost wizard couldn't help but look around and feel envious the moment he entered.
This laboratory is far superior in every way to the underground laboratory he used in "Moonlight Town"!
The ghost wizard had already begun to consider whether he could take over this place.
He desperately wanted to have a laboratory like that!
However, the ghost wizard soon realized that his wish was impossible to fulfill.
In the "Swan Castle" segment, none of the four guest participants had their own home turf because they distorted and altered the original segment rules. As a result, the "Heartbeat 1000%" production team imposed strict restrictions on them.
Not only do they lack a home ground to enhance their strength, they don't even have a place to live of their own.
When the show's guests enter, the entire Swan Castle belongs to them. They can only formally enter the banquet hall on the first floor and are restricted there until the deadline before they can move freely within the castle.
Back then, everyone was busy hunting down show guests; who had the time to come to the lab?
If the show's guests hadn't entered yet, the four guest characters would have been forced to fall into a deep sleep at the end of the red rose sea outside the castle. Finding a loophole to enter the castle in phantom form ahead of time was already an unexpected bonus.
Given the way the production team of "Heartbeat 1000%" operates, this loophole will definitely be fixed after this episode ends, and they will never have such an opportunity again.
The ghost wizard felt both regretful and frustrated.
The show "Heartbeat 1000%" is targeting these guest stars everywhere. Why don't they just kill them outright? Why force them to play these fake dating games with the other guests?
Thinking of this, the ghost wizard suddenly seemed to sense something and looked at the werewolf knight who had entered even earlier than him.
Unlike the ghost wizard who was still lingering at the laboratory entrance, the werewolf knight had already run into the laboratory, following Yu Naixin around like a puppy.
Yu Naixin was observing with the instruments, and the werewolf knight didn't disturb her. He just circled around Yu Naixin, his eyes never leaving her.
It looks just like a clingy and obedient pet dog.
Wow, I really didn't expect a werewolf to be this cute when I first saw him.
[The little witch's dog-training skills... whether it was the paper doll in the last round or the werewolf in this round, they were always the first to fall for her, and completely unable to extricate themselves!]
[It seems the Demon King is just a little short of maxing out the werewolf's affection level, but I don't know what that little bit is.]
[A sweet princess with a seemingly innocent but ruthless exterior and a heartless, beastly werewolf—this combination is really appealing!]
[Congratulations to the female guest on the show "Heartbeat 1000%"! You have received 6 Sweet Coins from a viewer with the ID "Black Wind and Drizzle"!]
Ghost Wizard: "..."
The ghost wizard is simply unbearable to look at.
He felt he needed to correct what he had just said; not all the guests on the show were normal people like him who knew that this so-called dating game was all a sham.
Take the werewolf knight, for example, that idiot. He really wants to date this guest on the show!
The Ghost Wizard couldn't help but seriously recall whether this physically strong but simple-minded creature had ever behaved similarly in the many shows he had with the Werewolf Knight in Moonlight Town.
The answer is no.
In the "Moonlight Town" episode, the werewolf knights are always covered in blood and constantly fighting to take the female guests' place. I've never seen a female guest make him put away his fangs and claws.
Only Yu Naixin, through some unknown means, made the werewolf knight suddenly become obsessed with her, losing himself in her infatuation.
Yu Naixin...
The ghost wizard didn't dare to actually look at the female guest now, only daring to secretly lower his head and use his eyes to catch her shadow in order to confirm Yu Naixin's exact location.
This female guest deliberately brought herself to this laboratory and even had a werewolf knight guarding her side; it's quite clear what she wanted to do.
After all, Yu Naixin had clearly stated, "Come with me, I have some things to ask you."
What did he have that this female guest could learn from? The only thing Yu Naixin had specifically asked him about was his knowledge of making potions.
Yu Naixin wanted him to teach her how to make magic potions.
To be honest, the Ghost Wizard couldn't understand why this female guest was so interested in this matter.
Making potions requires a considerable amount of time and effort; it's not something that can be done overnight.
The Ghost Wizard himself was hailed as a genius potion master, a talent that was "once in a century," yet it took him a full sixteen years just to get to the basics.
Before being forced into "Heartbeat 1000%", the Ghost Wizard had over ninety years of experience in potion making and had become a renowned potion master.
After arriving in Moonlight Town, he would also set aside time during the dungeon runs to continue studying potions, and his research has continued intermittently for more than ten years.
All of this, combined with nearly 110 years of effort, allows the Ghost Wizard to create a variety of potions within his own show's episodes, most of which can have an effect on the show's guests.
However, as a guest on the show, Yu Naixin could only stay in "Swan Castle" for a maximum of four hours. Even if she could hold on for a while after the deadline, she couldn't hold on for very long. In just a few hours, what could she possibly learn?
The Ghost Wizard admitted that Yu Naixin's ability to ask those three questions in the banquet hall was enough to show that she had a certain knowledge of potion making, but those questions sounded like something an apprentice who had never actually done the work would ask.
The written knowledge of potions and the actual practice are two completely different things!
What puzzled the ghost wizard the most was what use Yu Naixin was for learning this stuff.
The various props with spiritual power that the guests on the show can use are basically monopolized by the system of the "Heartbeat 1000%" program team. Only in very rare cases can they receive special spiritual artifacts as gifts from the guests on the show.
In addition, even if the show's guests learn special skills, such as making potions or drawing magic scrolls, they cannot produce magical items that can be used.
As a potions master, the Ghost Wizard has encountered female guests who wanted to learn from him to make potions for healing and restoring their spiritual power.
However, all the female guests were inexperienced newcomers who didn't know much about "Heartbeat 1000%", which is why they had such expectations.
The ghost wizard could easily hunt and devour them by feigning agreement; such a windfall had only happened a handful of times.
How could Yu Naixin, a female guest sent by "Heartbeat 1000%" to participate in their mutation fusion challenge, possibly make such a basic mistake?
She must have had a hidden meaning!
Just as the Ghost Wizard was trying to figure out Yu Naixin's true purpose, Yu Naixin called to him: "Mr. Ghost, come here."
The ghost wizard tensed up instantly, every cell in his body tensing, and he walked over with extreme caution.
It felt like standing on the edge of an abyss, walking on thin ice, or being pricked by thorns.
[Pfft, what kind of walking posture is that ghost? It's as stiff as a zombie! Aren't ghosts supposed to be very flexible and agile?]
[Hahahaha, this is so funny! Even though it's just a few short steps, the ghost manages to walk with an air of fearless determination!]
[You can tell he's terrified of the little witch, hahaha!]
When the Ghost Wizard arrived, the Werewolf Knight reacted even more strongly than the viewers in the live stream.
The werewolf knight kept in mind his identity and duty as Yu Naixin's guardian knight. The infatuated look of wagging his tail and sticking to Yu Naixin disappeared in an instant. Instead, he straightened his back and stared at the ghost wizard with a serious and vigilant expression.
When it comes to understanding ghost wizards, no one knows more than the werewolf knight.
He knew only too well how much this seemingly fragile and easy-to-beat ghost really liked to use sneaky tricks.
For Yu Naixin's sake, he must be on guard at all times!
Sensing the change in the werewolf knight's aura beside her, Yu Naixin glanced at him and gave him an approving smile: "Mr. Werewolf is indeed as reliable as I thought."
Bringing the werewolf knight to the lab served two purposes: to further enhance his favor and to have him supervise the ghost wizard.
This supervision not only refers to keeping an eye on whether the ghost wizard is making any underhanded moves to frame her, but also to guarding against whether the ghost wizard is deliberately concealing or misleading her during the teaching process.
Of all the guests and NPCs at Swan Castle, only the werewolf knight, the ghost wizard's nemesis, had any knowledge of potions. Even if he wasn't even a beginner, he was still much better than the others who were completely clueless.
It can, to some extent, prevent ghost wizards from causing trouble.
Moreover, as longtime rivals, the werewolf knight has always completely overwhelmed the ghost wizard in terms of combat strength. If anything unexpected happens, the werewolf knight would be a very good henchman.
It's a win-win situation, so why not do it?
Yu Naixin's smile and those words instantly made the werewolf knight overjoyed, wishing he could grow more eyes to keep a close watch on the ghost wizard.
The werewolf knight maintained his upright stance, arms crossed in front of his chest, looking majestic, while his furry wolf tail began to sway slowly and involuntarily from behind.
[I knew it! Large dogs are still dogs! So cute!]
Why do some dogs have two different personalities?
If I were a female guest, I really couldn't resist wanting to pet his tail!
[This werewolf's loyalty level is off the charts! I love him! Wishing him and the female guest a 99-year relationship!]
[Congratulations to the female guest on the show "Heartbeat 1000%"! You have received 9 Sweet Coins from a viewer with the ID "I'm a Dog Party"!]
After Yu Naixin summoned the ghost wizard, she didn't waste any time and immediately began having him demonstrate how to make a basic healing potion.
Although the Ghost Wizard was completely baffled as to what Yu Naixin was trying to achieve, the female guest already had a strong intimidating presence over him, and with a werewolf knight watching him closely, he could only suppress all his confusion and bewilderment and obediently do as Yu Naixin asked.
There's a huge difference between having someone guide you and figuring it out on your own.
Yu Naixin has always been good at learning. She had carefully studied the Ghost Wizard's notes during the second simulation. Now, watching the Ghost Wizard's demonstration, she asks questions directly about anything she doesn't understand. She feels that knowledge is flowing into her mind like a river at a very fast speed.
Yu Naixin even had a moment to spare and observe the situation in the banquet hall on the first floor.
With Yu Naixin's permission as the "princess," the two male guests, the Ghost Wizard and the Werewolf Knight, are no longer restricted by the rule that they can only stay in the banquet hall. However, the remaining Vampire Duke and the Elf Prince are still trapped inside and unable to leave.
Then Yu Naixin discovered that the vampire duke was still unconscious, lying motionless on the ground, like a slender corpse.
The Elf Prince remained seated in his VIP seat, his right elbow resting on the table, his right hand supporting his forehead, staring blankly at the table, lost in thought.
Yu Naixin silently lifted the restrictions on the Elf Prince as well, and then focused all her attention once again on the Ghost Wizard's explanation.
The ghost wizard was initially quite cautious in his teaching, but he was soon astonished by Yu Naixin's learning speed.
Is there really someone in this world with such extraordinary talent for potions?!
It took him a full sixteen years to even get to the basics, and Yu Naixin did it in less than an hour?!
Even if Yu Naixin already possessed a considerable amount of written knowledge, it shouldn't be this terrifying, right?!
This is something that completely overturns the Ghost Wizard's worldview.
How is that possible?!
This made the ghost wizard, who had always heard from everyone that he was a "once-in-a-century genius," completely doubt his life.
It's not that he can't accept that someone is more talented than him; after all, there are always people better than you, but Yu Naixin's talent is so high that it's on a completely different level from his own!
Do such people really exist?!
When Yu Naixin skillfully concocted a flawless basic healing potion in front of him, the ghost wizard was so dumbfounded that he lost all ability to speak and think.
Yu Naixin gently shook the test tube, judging the level by the changes in the bubbles inside, and finally nodded with some satisfaction.
“Mr. Ghost,” Yu Naixin said, “now please demonstrate to me how to make a basic energy-restoring potion.”
After saying that, Yu Naixin went to find the tools and materials needed for the basic energy-restoring potion, but she realized something was wrong halfway through. She glanced at the ghost wizard and found that he was just standing there dumbfounded, showing no intention of taking any action.
Yu Naixin: "...?"
Didn't the Ghost Wizard immediately do whatever she said before?
What, you've only held out for an hour and you're already thinking of causing trouble?
Yu Naixin frowned slightly, her tone becoming more forceful: "Mr. Ghost?"
The werewolf knight followed Yu Naixin's wishes and took a few steps closer to the ghost wizard, clasping his hands together and cracking them.
We are ready to take action against the ghost wizard at any time.
In any case, the werewolf knight was both very skilled at and extremely happy to beat up the ghost wizard!
The ghost wizard seemed to snap out of a daze and hurriedly started frantically grabbing his tools: "Ah, ah, okay, right away! Just a moment!"
[Hahahaha! The ghost's disheveled appearance is hilarious!]
[The ghost teaching the female guest how to make potions was so boring and tedious, it almost put me to sleep...]
Be content; at least they move a little here. I just checked the vampire and elf perspectives, and one was playing the role of a corpse while the other was playing the role of a statue—they didn't even move!
[Can anyone tell her that even if she learns it, she can't make potions at all! I'm so anxious! Could the female guest please look at the comments? She should know the common knowledge that the show's guests can't make items containing spiritual power, even if she's a beginner! She should be able to see the relevant comments!]
[She even has a fan that can explain things scientifically, why didn't she consult someone a little before taking action? It's such a waste of effort!]
[The little witch wouldn't make such a basic mistake, would she? I think her main purpose in learning to make potions is to gain favor with the ghosts.]
I also feel that Ghost's attitude towards the female guests has changed significantly!
The Ghost Wizard has indeed changed his mindset a lot.
He had been shocked for too long and too long, and gradually became numb. Instead, he was able to focus more intently on discovering Yu Naixin's seriousness and understanding.
Whether it was the more than one hundred years he spent "outside" or the intermittent and cyclical years in "Heartbeat 1000%", the Ghost Wizard spent most of his time researching potions alone.
Wizards are a very small group, and wizards who specialize in potions are even rarer. Apart from his teacher who died early, the Ghost Wizard has never met a second person who knows potion making as well as he does.
Yu Naixin was the first person he had met in over a hundred years.
Having persisted in making potions for so many years and spent so much time together, it's impossible for the Ghost Wizard to have no feelings for it.
Yu Naixin's appearance did, to some extent, slightly touch his joy at meeting a kindred spirit, as well as a very shallow appreciation for talent.
Just like the spiritual power contained within the head maid Rosluna, it is infinitely close to zero, but it still exists in the end.
Without even realizing it, the ghost wizard had become more patient and meticulous in his teaching of Yu Naixin.
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Author's note: This is the second update. I'll definitely write the third update tonight, even if I don't sleep!
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2024-08-19 23:51:00 and 2024-08-20 23:47:18!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Twilight Glass 10 bottles; Egg is not Hammer 5 bottles; Da Dou Dou, Yao Yao Yao, L_x.ying, and Bai Lan Zhong 1 bottle each;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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