Chapter 95

People must live, no matter what happens in life, such as the aftermath of the Wangli Central Academy incident.

When the streets returned to prosperity and pedestrians and merchants were busy again, perhaps there was no apparent abnormality on the surface, but the reality was something that could not be explained.

The seemingly calm atmosphere might conceal hidden currents, but what did it have to do with them?

What they cared about was always themselves.

Being scolded and dismissed by bosses or superiors, conflicts between husbands and wives, and concerns about daily sustenance... this was the life of ordinary people, fragmented and trivial. Perhaps only when danger directly threatened them would they feel panic and concern, but in normal times? Those things might just be worries that they paid no attention to.

In the Kingdom of Adria, especially in the capital, nearly four hundred years of peaceful and stable rule had numbed people, making them drunk in the false prosperity. Perhaps when King Gare VII ascended the throne, it caused some chaos, but as time passed, these events became memories of the older generation. Why should the people of today care?

At the Golden Rose Inn.

Xiaolan stood in front of the mirror, tidying up his clothes. The longer he maintained his disguise, the more he became invested in his false identity.

He was a nobleman's son, which was false.

He was an assassin, which was true.

A nobleman's son being an assassin was a very interesting thing, something that ordinary people would never associate. Therefore, such an identity was even more worth maintaining.

Opening the door, Xiaolan left the inn under the wary gaze of the attendant. Sometimes he considered whether he needed to change to a different inn, but when he thought that as long as he did not leave the capital, wherever he went would attract the attention of certain people, this idea was discarded.

When he went out, he wandered aimlessly until he found no strange abnormalities, such as being followed or monitored, and then he disappeared from people's sight.

Two days had passed, and during this time, Xiaolan had not left the inn. Perhaps he was waiting for someone, someone to come and confront him, but unfortunately, no one came in these two days.

Perhaps this was an expected outcome.

Every morning, Wen妮 would go to Grina Street, which was the largest herbal center in the capital. As an alchemist going to the herbal center, this was a very normal thing.

However, unlike most alchemists who would purchase enough materials in advance for their experiments, if they had to buy materials every day, it would undoubtedly waste a lot of their time.

Wen妮 used to be such a person, but since meeting that young man at the teahouse, she had changed. She knew he would come to her again.

She did not know when he would come or where he would find her, so she could only use this clumsy method, the purpose being to make it easier for him to find her, like the last time.

Because she had what he needed most.

"Wen妮, have you been very busy these past few days?"

Kuro looked at Wen妮, who had dark circles under her eyes and looked exhausted, and asked with concern.

"It's nothing, just the experiment lasted a bit longer last night." Wen妮 yawned and said listlessly.

"Ah, I've advised you several times. Since you have enough money, just buy enough herbs in advance. Why waste extra time every day..." Kuro shook his head and said.

"Uncle Kuro, I have my own plans. Thank you for your concern..." Wen妮 waved her small hand and smiled.

"Is that so? Do you still need the same amount as yesterday?" Kuro asked.

"No, no, today I need these—" As she spoke, Wen妮 extended her white, delicate hand from her wide cloak, holding a list of the herbs she needed.

Kuro took the list from Wen妮 and glanced at it, seemingly surprised, and said, "There are quite a few more items. It seems your experiment has yielded results?"

"Of course—" Wen妮 proudly lifted her small head and said.

"Ha ha... No wonder you're the little genius of the Alchemy Association. I'll send the herbs to you shortly. How about it? Would you like to have dinner with Uncle today? Since you always come here, I'll treat you this time. You can have whatever you want." Kuro said with a generous look.

"I—"

Wen妮 was about to refuse when a cold voice suddenly interrupted her.

"I'm very sorry, but she belongs to me for the rest of the day."

Wen妮 turned around and looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar person, covering her mouth in surprise. "It's you?"

"Why can't it be me?" Xiaolan glanced at Wen妮 and said.

"Nothing, nothing..." Wen妮 quickly waved her small hand and said, "Just a bit surprised."

"Surprised? You haven't forgotten our agreed time, have you?" Xiaolan said calmly.

"Of course not!" Wen妮 lowered her head and said timidly.

"Then that's fine. Follow me."

As he spoke, Xiaolan turned and left without looking back.

"Uncle Kuro, I'm very sorry, but Wen妮 has something to attend to and needs to leave. Thank you for your kindness. Oh, and remember to double the amount of each material on the list." With a look of apology, Wen妮 hurriedly followed Xiaolan's back.

"Che—That小白脸 again!" Kuro's face immediately turned gloomy after Wen妮 left.

...

"I suggest you don't buy herbs from that merchant again next time." On the way, Xiaolan said without turning his head.

The little Wen妮, who was following behind him, seemed a bit confused and asked, "Why?"

"Just a suggestion. The decision is yours." Xiaolan said indifferently without explaining.

"Oh." Wen妮 nodded, not sure if she agreed or disagreed.

In the teahouse, at the same spot as last time.

Xiaolan sat in the chair, quietly sipping tea, looking at the timid Wen妮 in front of him, as if the last scare had left some shadow on the little girl.

But he knew that she, like him, had a deceptive appearance.

"How did the task I assigned you go?"

"I did not disappoint you. The potion to treat body corrosion and the poison strong enough to kill a high-ranking swordsman are both completed." Wen妮 sat across from Xiaolan and lowered her head to say.

"Oh?" Xiaolan put down his teacup, his expression showing surprise. "Both completed?"

"Yes!" Wen妮 raised her head and looked at Xiaolan seriously, as if she was dissatisfied with his lack of trust. "If you don't believe me, I can test the poison for you again."

It seemed she was still holding a grudge over her actions last time.

Xiaolan dismissed this meaningless thought and said, "If you want to test it, I have no reason to stop you."

Wen妮 opened her mouth, seemingly shocked. She had thought it was just a spur-of-the-moment remark, but she did not expect the other party to take it seriously. However, now that it had come to this, she could only go along with it.

Xiaolan opened his hand, and a ring flashed, producing a large bag of money that he slammed heavily on the table. "There are 1000 gold tols inside, as your payment."

Wen妮 looked at the tempting money bag on the table, her white, delicate hand trembling as it reached out. But just as she was about to grab the money bag, she pulled her hand back.

"If I take this money, will you not contact me again in the future?" She looked at him with a serious expression.

"Yes." Xiaolan nodded.

"Then I don't want this money." She pushed the money bag back to Xiaolan and said softly.

"Why?" Xiaolan's voice suddenly turned cold.

Feeling the bone-chilling killing intent in the young man's words, Wen妮, who was like sitting on pins and needles, suddenly found the courage to look him in the eye.

"If I take this money, it will indeed allow my experiments to continue for a while, but what about after that? At first, you didn't believe I could make the potion to treat your body, but I did. However, most people wouldn't take the same risk as you; they trust high-level alchemists more... Without your sponsorship, I would probably return to my old life. This is not the life I want!"

"Are you threatening me?" Xiaolan's voice softened.

"No, I didn't mean it that way. I just want to suggest a collaboration." Wen妮 said fearlessly.

"Collaboration?" Xiaolan stared at the little girl, as if trying to see through her, and laughed coldly.

"Yes—" It seemed the sharp gaze made Wen妮 feel a sting, and her eyelids drooped slightly. "Killing someone is not difficult for you, but you can't always kill them smoothly. Sooner or later, you will have an accident like this one. You value secrecy, so you don't want too many people to know your whereabouts. Even treating your injuries requires caution. I am different—"

As she spoke, Wen妮 looked at Xiaolan bravely, her eyes wide. "I am someone who can keep your secrets. I don't care who you kill or what you want to do! But I can provide you with good help when you are injured, and even give you the means to kill... My goal is continuous experimental funding! This is a win-win collaboration. I think you wouldn't refuse an assistant!"

Xiaolan played with the teacup on the table, his eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at the stubborn girl in front of him.

What she said was true. As an alchemist, she could indeed bring significant benefits in certain aspects, not only in killing but also in healing, which he desperately needed.

He had once been forced to abandon many tasks due to injuries and even faced capture and pursuit because of his injuries.

He knew that those who kill will eventually be killed.

He could not guarantee that he would not be injured or even die unexpectedly one day.

He could see that the girl in front of him was not an ordinary person, at least not in the conventional sense.

She had her desires, her ambitions, and she was more eager than anyone to fulfill a certain wish in her heart. However, because of these, she was also more likely to betray.

Trust had never existed from the beginning.

Therefore, he pushed the money bag back to the girl and said, "I will continue to find you."

Wen妮's tense nerves relaxed at his action. She knew he had agreed to their collaboration.

"I won't trust you."

The sudden words made Wen妮 tense again.

"But I will try to trust you."

The ups and downs in his words made Wen妮 lower her head helplessly, a bitter smile appearing under her wide cloak.

Yes, how could someone like him easily trust anyone?

"Delanque Xiaolan, your name."

"Blanchia Wen妮."

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