"1st-tier Black Flame Potions and Rejuvenation Potions." Old Sun gave a brief introduction. "You should know what they do, brother."
"But the pink ones — those are something else entirely. Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if you're secretly the Chief's illegitimate son." He spoke with a conspiratorial air, envy practically dripping from his words.
Su Chen's curiosity was well and truly piqued. Old Sun didn't keep him in suspense. "3rd-tier potion — Glazed Blood. It's also Nanfeng City's signature product."
"3rd-tier? Signature product?" Su Chen's heart skipped. Intrigue flickered in his eyes. Old Sun, ever attuned to such reactions, elaborated, "Why do you think Nanfeng City exists where it does? Why not further south, or further north?"
"It's because of the Glazed Blood ore. The ore came first, then the city. This stuff is supplied to Yingfeng. Even Inspector Yuan only gets a fixed annual quota — money alone can't buy it."
"Its uses are numerous. It enhances potion absorption — for example, a Black Flame Potion normally takes two to three days to fully absorb, but with Glazed Blood, that drops to one."
"It also provides pure nutrition, rapidly repairs both physical and mental fatigue, and — most crucially — its properties are gentle enough for 1st and 2nd-tier professionals to use."
"That really is valuable." Su Chen was genuinely impressed.
"I'm entrusting these to you, brother. Even without the Glazed Blood, these two types of potions combined are worth close to ten thousand gold..." Old Sun reminded him. The value far exceeded what the Shadow Evasion Cloak was worth.
'Old Yuan really is generous.' Su Chen silently marveled.
Then, like a magician, Old Sun produced a silver wristband from inside his coat and handed it over.
Su Chen raised an eyebrow. He'd seen devices like this project virtual screens before — this was top-shelf hardware.
"A Smart Bracelet," Old Sun explained. "Nanfeng City can't manufacture these. They're all sourced from Yingfeng and require an allocation quota. Communication range and signal strength are vastly superior."
He handed it over while walking Su Chen through the controls. Beyond enhanced communication, the device's real value was its ability to link into the city's various departments — emergency services, the Supervision Department, the City Patrol, and more.
But it didn't have the internet forums Su Chen had imagined. Too few people in Nanfeng City owned one — there simply wasn't the user base.
"Also, the Chief sent a last-minute order — I'm to prepare a Mimicry Mask for you. Logistics has been notified. It should arrive shortly." Old Sun added.
"For disguises?" Su Chen asked. After receiving confirmation, he mentally tipped his hat to Old Yuan's thoroughness.
Once Old Sun left, Su Chen couldn't wait to test the 3rd-tier potion.
It wasn't a liquid — more like gelatin. Su Chen chewed it experimentally and immediately felt as stuffed as if he'd eaten a banquet. He quickly downed the Black Flame and Rejuvenation Potions as well, then rushed into the gravity room.
The stimulation assaulting his body from every direction was far fiercer than usual. Rapid absorption meant concentrated potency. Su Chen's skin flushed crimson, and his sweat hissed and evaporated into white steam the moment it appeared.
A full day and night passed. The next evening, as the sky darkened, Su Chen finally emerged from the training room.
"Incredible..." he muttered, stretching his limbs. Thanks to the Glazed Blood's assistance, his training efficiency had outstripped anything before.
[Void-Rending Warrior: 55%]
[Body Sharpening Forging Method — Proficiency: 30%]
[Hellfire Meditation Method — Proficiency: 50%]
Every metric had improved markedly. And Mystic Artificer, still in its early phase, had surged to 30% development.
After freshening up, Su Chen heard a knock at the door.
Jiang He had arrived. Bewitching as ever, she wore a purple bodycon dress that ended above the knee, tracing the contours of her figure. Her slender calves gleamed like polished jade.
Jiang He leaned against the doorframe, posture provocative, voice silky. "Waited up just for me?"
"Come in." Su Chen gave her a glance and spoke evenly.
He'd emerged from the training room precisely because someone had informed him Jiang He was here to see him.
Jiang He's expression settled, a complicated feeling stirring within. How long had it been? And the boy had already climbed this high.
Yuan Chenyang's student, no less...
Even though her own father theoretically held the same rank as Yuan Chenyang, the Supervision Department was one of the three armed factions.
She'd known full well that Qi Chuan was up to no good, but couldn't act rashly. Su Chen, on the other hand, had simply marched in with a squad and arrested the man.
She stepped inside with a feline sway of her hips, her calf hooking the door shut behind her.
"What do you need?" Su Chen asked calmly.
"So cold, little brother." Jiang He settled on the edge of the bed, breathing in theatrically. "Can't a girl come by just to catch up?"
"We don't have anything to catch up on." Su Chen shook his head. "If there's nothing else, you can go."
"Heartless..." Jiang He gazed at him with a look of wounded affection. "There is one small thing. I'd like your help — I want to dissolve my marriage with Qi Chuan."
"You want a divorce?" Su Chen frowned. "Why come to me about it?"
"Qi Chuan's in your custody, isn't he? Naturally, I come to you. All you need to do is make him sign this." Jiang He drew a brown parchment scroll from her bodice and unfurled it, revealing a dense page of cryptic symbols.
Indeed — in this world, marriages were formalized through a "Marriage Contract," created by a professional Contract Maker.
With information exchange between cities so difficult, this document served as the ironclad proof.
"Why should I?" Su Chen looked at her.
Jiang He explained, "My father says Qi Chuan may be entangled in certain matters. Between that and the earlier assassination attempt, it's best to cut ties. The longer we wait, the messier it gets."
"What I meant was — why should I help you?" Su Chen clarified.
Jiang He leaned backward, arching her body even more prominently. Her hands pressed into Su Chen's bed behind her. "He can only be held for so many days. This is a simple favor."
"If need be, I'm willing to pay a price." Jiang He gave a coy little shiver, feigning vulnerability.
She watched Su Chen approach, his shadow gradually falling over her, looming as he looked down.
Jiang He was deeply uncomfortable with this dynamic. She didn't enjoy being played — she only enjoyed playing others.
"Just teasing." she said awkwardly, shifting backward. From inside her dress, she produced a photocopy. "The advancement requirements for Mystic Scholar. Father says Inspector Yuan should find this interesting."
Su Chen's eyebrow twitched. He took the paper and scanned it.
[Discovered 2nd-tier superior class: Mystic Scholar. Upon completion of requirements, advancement will be possible.]
[Mystic Scholar Advancement Requirement 1: Endure five minutes in the Trial of Whispers.]
[Mystic Scholar Advancement Requirement 2: Raise three F-grade meditation methods to Master level.]
'Five minutes?' Su Chen recalled the Trial of Whispers and grimaced inwardly.
"Just for a divorce, you're willing to hand over something like this?" He looked up.
"Call it a goodwill gesture. You're not the same person you used to be." Jiang He brushed a strand of hair aside.
Su Chen studied that refined, exquisite face. An inexplicable impulse surged within him. After a moment of frowning scrutiny, he understood where it came from.
Then he raised his hand.
Slap!
The strike landed squarely on Jiang He's cheek, scattering her hair. On her porcelain skin, a vivid red handprint slowly bloomed.
Su Chen exhaled, a weight lifting from his chest — as though he'd been carrying a burden all along. The residual bitterness from the original owner's memories — the humiliation of having been toyed with by Jiang He — evaporated entirely.
Jiang He stared in disbelief. A flash of fury blazed in her eyes. The room's lights flickered wildly as some force gathered within her.
"What are you doing!" she hissed.
"I'll make him sign it." Su Chen snatched the parchment scroll and walked straight out the door.
Jiang He watched his receding back, chest heaving for several long breaths before she gradually calmed. Her delicate fingers touched her right cheek. The lingering sting infuriated her — yet stirred something else beneath the anger, something she couldn't quite name.
"Qi Chuan..." Su Chen hadn't forgotten about the man. Parchment in hand, he made his way to the detention cell.
"How's he been?" he asked the guard.
"Hasn't said a word. Just sits in the corner. Eats when it's time." The guard recognized the young VIP and responded readily.
Su Chen studied the prisoner through the one-way glass. Qi Chuan was visibly thinner, cheekbones jutting, eyes vacant and unfocused — a hollowed-out shell.
A 2nd-tier physical professional's metabolism burned fast. Those bland ration slurries weren't even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.
"Has anyone come to see him?"
"Both the patrol section chief and deputy chief stopped by. Asked a few casual questions." The guard recalled.
The arrest had been made by the patrol section, so it was normal for the brass to follow up.
Su Chen deliberated. "When's dinner?"
"About fifteen minutes." The guard checked the time.
Su Chen waited. Before long, the sealed plastic dinner tray arrived. He took it and popped it open — watery broth, a pale milky porridge. The kind of slop his predecessor used to eat.
Asking the guard to block the camera's view, Su Chen dipped his index finger into the gruel. A tiny shard of green metal materialized from his fingertip, lingered for a moment, then dissolved.
It was a fragment he'd chipped off the assassin's dagger.
"Deliver it." Su Chen replaced the lid, glancing down the corridor at the surveillance camera. Appearances had to be maintained.
The guard took the tray and carried it inside, inwardly rolling his eyes. 'If you're going to spike his food, at least try to be subtle about it.'