Chapter 190
At the tip of the tower, several branches extended out, with the highest branch adorned by a clock that was more captivating than the moon itself. The citizens of Jiyue City could see the time simply by looking up, for its hour, minute, and second hands resembled three shimmering galaxies, radiating brilliant light as they met again and again.
Compared to other main cities, Jiyue City felt like it existed in a different dimension. People lived their lives freely, indifferent to day or night, as if the moon had chosen to follow Jiyue City, making it impossible to escape the embrace of darkness.
Moreover, the silver moon hanging above Jiyue City created an illusion, as if it were perpetually suspended directly overhead.
Yu Xunge had felt this way during her previous visit to Jiyue City. This time, while searching for Xiao Xiangxiao to inquire about Lucia's whereabouts, she seized the opportunity to ask about this phenomenon.
Xiao Xiangxiao explained that anyone who came to Jiyue City would experience the illusion of the moon following them. "That's just how the moon is," she said. "It loves all living beings. Only the Moon Fox foolishly believes that the Moon Goddess loves only them."
Yu Xunge: "...How did we end up here?"
Once accustomed to this feeling, it was actually quite romantic.
Yu Xunge kept track of time by the number of potions she consumed. When she drank her sixth bottle of "Melting Time," she suddenly felt a chill emanating from the pocket watch at her chest.
It felt as if what hung there was not a pocket watch, but a block of ice.
Yu Xunge didn’t touch the watch. Instead, she calmly walked to a secluded spot, ensuring with her Hunter's Eye that no one was nearby before taking it out. To her surprise, the source of the cold was not the watch itself, but a tiny "Irritable Moon" inside it, no larger than a grain of rice.
What did this mean? Was it in a good mood?
Yu Xunge glanced up at the silver moon in the sky. Was it because she had found its true form?
She had previously brought the lantern out at night, but those times were always for mischief—either while invisible or quickly returning indoors.
Of course, it was also possible that the moon of Blue Star and this Irritable Moon were not the same; perhaps the Irritable Moon only fed on local moonlight.
Yu Xunge closed the pocket watch again. Although she didn’t know what good it would do if the Irritable Moon was in a good mood, it was certainly better than it being irritable.
After searching for another potion, Yu Xunge finally found Lucia at an open-air tavern in Jiyue City.
[Lucia Level 100 100%┃100%]
Even without her detection skills, Yu Xunge wouldn’t mistake her.
Long before, while reading Lucia's autobiography, Yu Xunge had seen her photograph. Lucia was someone you couldn’t forget after just one glance.
Though she belonged to the Undead race, Lucia had been transformed into an undead by the Undead Monarch after abandoning all her beliefs upon death. In life, she had been a siren.
Sirens lived in the deep sea, able to switch between fish tails and legs at will. Every movement they made was a workout for their entire body, which is why sirens were generally fit, muscular, and beautiful.
Lucia was no exception. She appeared to be just a bit older than He Qipa, with smooth muscle lines visible on her arms and abdomen, a stark contrast to the frail, reclusive He Qipa, who spent all day in the shop, smoking and drinking. Lucia radiated strength; one punch from her could leave He Qipa crying for a long time.
Lucia also bore the traits of the undead. Her skin was pale, devoid of any color, and her every gesture carried a chilling aura of death. Her once deep blue hair had transformed into a mix of blue and white, and her legs could no longer turn into the beautiful, shimmering fish tail upon contact with seawater.
Yet, despite the deathly aura surrounding her, her gaze and smile brought a sense of lightness to those who beheld her. When Yu Xunge entered the tavern, she found Lucia chatting with the tavern owner, laughing heartily at something amusing he had said.
Lucia was nothing like Yu Xunge had imagined. She wasn’t disheartened or melancholic, nor was she wary of those around her. In fact, her demeanor was not the gentle and loving one Yu Xunge had envisioned.
This was a being whose very smile was filled with strength and vitality.
Surrounded by many, Lucia was the center of attention, with various beings engaging her in conversation. Whatever topic she brought up became the focal point of their discussions.
Yu Xunge chose not to interrupt her. Instead, she found a corner against the wall to sit down, ordering a cup of ice cream for Tu Lan to hide between herself and the wall while she quietly enjoyed it. She patiently waited.
After listening for a while, she realized there was little useful information to be gleaned—most of it was just amusing anecdotes from children and students, which didn’t interest her. Not wanting to waste time, she took out the second notebook He Qipa had given her and began to read.
This notebook was much thinner than the first, but the content was more complex. Yu Xunge’s thoughts about a low-tier version of "Melting Time" became clearer, and she decided to take out her own notebook to jot down these speculations.
Ever since she had seen a genius like He Qipa keeping alchemical notes, she had developed the habit of recording all her thoughts and insights, even if they seemed fanciful.
As Yu Xunge was writing, she suddenly felt Tu Lan return to the pet space. The next moment, a melodious voice broke the silence beside her, greeting her like a beautiful song—“Are you a student of He Qipa?”
Yu Xunge paused her pen, immediately standing up and respectfully saying, “Lady Lucia.”
Lucia stared at the bull-headed figure before her for a few seconds, then shook her head. “That’s not your true appearance.”
He Qipa wouldn’t teach a Minotaur. If she dared to, that Minotaur, still infatuated with He Qipa, would surely chase her down in the Shadow City to ask if she had finally recognized the beauty of Minotaurs.
Yu Xunge didn’t deny it. In fact, she didn’t even admit to being He Qipa’s student. That identity was too special; aside from the two of them, only Xiao Maqi knew, and she didn’t intend to let more people find out.
She said, “He Qipa asked me to bring you something.”
As she spoke, she took out the three notebooks, holding them with both hands and offering them to Lucia.
Lucia flipped through a few pages before sitting down across from Yu Xunge, lifting her finger. A small jellyfish, the size of a flower, appeared out of thin air, quickly transforming into a large shadow that enveloped their table.
“Sit. They can’t see us or hear what we say.” With that, three bottles of juice appeared on the table. Lucia added, “I bought these in Yalan City, not from Jiyue City. Drink up.”
Yu Xunge didn’t quite understand the implication of her words at first, but she grasped that Lucia wasn’t letting her leave just yet. She even realized that Lucia had noticed her bringing a pet, but she didn’t let Tu Lan out and didn’t touch the juice. Instead, she respectfully said, “I’m just helping Lady He Qipa complete a task. Once I confirm you’ve received the notebooks, I will take my leave.”
Lucia looked at the open notebook in front of Yu Xunge. “You want to study the low-level version of ‘Melting Time’?”
Yu Xunge’s eyes lit up. She didn’t miss the signal Lucia was sending. How could she pass up the chance to receive guidance from an epic alchemical master?!
After struggling for a few seconds, she ultimately succumbed to her thirst for knowledge, quickly sitting back down and, suppressing her excitement, said as calmly as she could, “Yes, may I have the honor of receiving your guidance?”
Lucia couldn’t help but laugh at Yu Xunge’s rapid change in demeanor. He Qipa had been just like this back in the day.
When Lucia first spoke to little He Qipa, the latter had been all too wary, despite the strong scent of herbs surrounding her. She had tried to act disinterested in alchemy, treating Lucia, the alchemical master, with cold indifference, even hiding whenever she saw her outside of class.
Once, while Lucia was basking in the sun on a swing in the backyard, she caught a whiff of the herbal scent from He Qipa and recognized her mistake. So, with her eyes closed, she muttered to herself, “Why does a basic healing potion start to emit a bitter taste halfway through brewing?”
After a while, a youthful voice emerged from the bushes behind her, asking, “Excuse me, why is that?”
Lucia stifled a laugh. “The way you’re processing the root grass is problematic. If the quality is poor, it will affect the potion. You can spray a bit of calming flower juice on it, let it sit for five minutes, and then use it.”
After a long pause, the voice from the bushes replied, “Thank you.”
Lucia looked at the… strikingly handsome Minotaur before her, who had just moments ago been on high alert, bristling with caution. Yet, upon receiving her signal of willingness to guide, they had briefly struggled before choosing to defy their cautious instincts, willing to take the risk to learn more.
There was no need to question her relationship with He Qipa any further; it was clear. This was He Qipa’s student, the kind of student who would make He Qipa willing to take time to teach. Naturally, Lucia was equally willing to invest some time in her.
Generously, she began to guide Yu Xunge, even after answering her questions, using the herbs needed for "Melting Time" as a topic for an hour-long lesson. Yu Xunge listened, entranced.
If He Qipa’s teaching level was akin to a college student working part-time to make ends meet, then Lucia was a gold-star lecturer—though, of course, anyone teaching this alchemical novice would be more than sufficient.
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