Chapter 225

  Legend of the Sage Alchemist (VII)

  We actually walked on foot, crossing the narrow alleyways and emerging onto the main street within a few moments. Oddly enough, though, nobody paid attention to us, almost as though they couldn't see us. Either that, or everyone in the city knew well enough not to look at these two when they were out and about.

  Sort of like an understood thing.

  Regardless, the journey across was smooth and relatively quick, with us coming upon a massive pavilion towering over all the neighboring buildings within less than ten minutes. Instead of going in, however, she shuttled to the side, and Gu Zhao followed, with me right behind.

  We went into one of the decrepit buildings, rundown beyond belief, as though no human hand had touched it for over a century. Luckily, we didn't stay amidst the rubble, as she headed to the stairs that led downwards.

  As we walked, I felt something overcome me for a moment, realizing it was likely a barrier of sorts--just in time for the world to change. The rundown, cracked walls turned smooth and well-kept, and even the stairs that just looked like they'd give in at any moment became sturdy and enduring.

  They wound into a spiral for a little while before we emerged into a small yet clean and presentable room. There wasn't much in the way of decor, only the bare necessities.

  My eyes were immediately drawn to the bed, where I finally saw the legendary young woman from the quest. Okay, I'm being a bit pissy because I never quite picked up on whether to call her a 'girl' or a 'woman'. Judging by her looks, she was closer to 'girl' than to 'woman' in my eyes, though that might just have to do with the fact she was practically skin and bones.

  Her cheeks had sunken so deep I could practically see the imprint of her teeth bulging from the inside. Honestly, if not for the minute movements of her chest going up and down, I'd have simply assumed she was a remarkably well-preserved mummy.

  We walked up slowly as the old woman sat on the bed and grabbed the girl's hand; the latter's fingers were literal toothpicks with no meat on them whatsoever. I almost frowned; even if Long Tao destroys the vine and severs the parasitic relationship, what kind of a life can she expect?

  No, maybe they have ways of restoring muscle mass relatively quickly. And even if not, with proper nutrition and a lot of care and time, she should eventually go back to normal.

  "She's my everything, old Gu," the woman said. "Remember her? How lively was she?"

  "I do," he nodded. "Whenever she'd find a hurt puppy or a kitten, she'd come running to the sect and beg disciples for some healing pills. She'd cry right at our doorstep until somebody gave in."

  "Ha ha ha. It does sound like her. I spoiled her too much, I realized."

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  "Hmm. Looks like my words have flown over your head, Madame," A newcomer's voice was cold and full of hostility, startling practically everyone--even the other two in the room.

  Looking back, I saw an old man--no, wait, I saw a young, handsome man leaning against the wall near the staircase, his arms crossed at his chest, his face scrunched into a look of abject derision. It was as though he were looking at the most disgusting thing in the world and doing so against his will.

  He stood at about five-eight, give or take, yet his stature and manner of carrying himself made him seem much taller than that. Draped in black robes with emerald-green embossing, he made me really want better robes for the kids. Yes, for the kids. Definitely not just for me.

  His hair was tied up into a ponytail, black like obsidian, and hanging loosely to the side, while his eyes were almost as green as the robe's embossing.

  "M-Master Luo, I didn't hear you come in..." The old woman's smile was strained as she stood up and bowed to the Alchemist. "These are--"

  "Do I look like I give a damn?" He interrupted harshly, bearing literal zero care for any of us. Wow. Will I ever get to the point in my life when I can just so casually discard everyone and everything around me? "I've come to this rundown hellhole because you have begged our Tower for months." Didn't you come here because you were promised some insane wealth? "Hm? Do you think the pittance you are offering me matters? Hah. Self-assured swine. This is why I abhor coming to the lowlands. You all obsess with wealth, thinking the gold can buy the firmament. Not only have you discarded my advice, spat in my face, and insulted me, but you are now accusing me of being materialistic." Nah, dude. Nobody said a word. No, correction--nobody can get a word in because of you.

  "Master Luo, I truly apologize!" The old woman bowed. "But my daughter's life--"

  "Shut up," he said--no, he practically growled. "There is no point to speaking to you anymore. Our contract is null and void. But... I am curious, curious how these two ingrates can heal that skeleton over there. What grand magic, pray tell, do you two have that I do not?"

  Wow.

  Honestly... I liked it.

  I mean, call me a prejudiced asshole, but this, well, this is what I expected to see a lot more ever since coming into this world. And, sure, I've seen flashes of it--but, by and large, most of the 'senior' figures I've met in my time here have been oddly cordial. Even downright polite.

  I'd started thinking that the unabashedly haughty and dismissive sort didn't even exist in this world, so I'm happy to be proven wrong! Seeing that both the Madame and old Gu turned as silent as cicadas in the winter (I don't actually know if this is true; I just know that I've never heard those assholes sing in the winter...), I suppose I should brave this front.

  With the trusty tortoise mirror firmly grasped in my palm, of course.

  "Are you done?" I asked, my tone as impolite as his.

  "Huh?"

  "I'm asking if you're done pretending you care even the slightest bit about any of this."

  "... ho ho. Of the three vermin, the child speaks. Very well. From now on, the other two should act as though your lips are sewn shut. So, child--you are bold. I wonder, what gives you the courage to be so bold?"

  "You didn't come here to put on a show of arrogance and just leave," I shrugged.

  "And why did I come here? Please, enlighten me."

  "Because you're curious."

  "... I am curious?"

  "The word has already spread that the Madame has invited an exalted alchemist to help save her daughter," I said. "And yet, here come the two of us--despite knowing that--claiming to be able to do it, too, and do so without the ginseng. If we were any two random charlatans, neither you nor Madame would have cared, but Master Gu is a respected Alchemist--even if he is not as experienced as you--and he would not utter nonsense just for the sake of it. Thus, you are here because you are curious--exactly what will we do, and is it possible for you to learn it, too?"

  Aah, Long Tao, I wish you could see what I have to do just because we need more Spirit Stones. Couldn't you have just taken us to some nice, ancient tomb so we can rob--I mean, so we could honor the deceased by continuing their legacy?

  Haah.

  It truly is woe is me.