Chapter Ten: The Formula

Not far from the materials market, at a small stall, a middle-aged man with the air of a steward, sporting a thin mustache, was engaged in a heated haggle with the owner—a scrawny little vendor.

“Three gold vits per stalk, that’s the lowest I can go, Mr. Garry,” the vendor said with a broad, squinting smile.

“Kiddy, I’m an old customer of yours. I’ll take all your blue pearlgrass at two gold vits each,” the steward replied, his tone firm and knowledgeable about local prices.

“Oh, that price is impossible! Do you want my wife to whip me when I get home?”

“Oh, come off it, Kiddy. Every time you get whipped by your wife, it’s because you sneak off with money to see your mistress. Don’t think you can milk me to fund your escapades,” the steward retorted with disdain, well aware of the tricks these mouse-like vendors played—selling at higher prices than their wives demanded to pocket the difference for their own indulgence.

The vendor glanced around furtively and leaned in. “If you want, I can knock off ten silver vits for you. You can still report the full price—three gold vits—when you get back. How about it?”

“No. That’s bribery, Kiddy.”

“Oh, Garry, you’re just a steward. No need to be so conscientious.”

“That’s precisely why I became a steward and not just another servant. Two gold vits a stalk, not a coin more.”

The vendor shook his head miserably. “You may not believe me, Mr. Garry, but I really can’t sell at that price. Right now, youth elixirs are all the rage—noble ladies are buying them up like mad. Blue pearlgrass is essential for making those potions. Even if you don’t buy, I’m not worried about finding buyers.”

The steward longed to grab this rascal and thrash him. Sometimes, knowing a vendor’s bottom line wasn’t enough—when the market was hot, sellers held the power. Some vendors weren’t afraid to wait for better offers.

But buying at such a price meant the cost of making the potion would almost equal its selling price. Worse, he was late today; there wasn’t much blue pearlgrass left, and other vendors were charging the same. Damn Kiddy—so greedy! Never again would he patronize him.

As he stewed over this, a young voice sounded nearby:

“As far as I know, blue pearlgrass isn’t strictly necessary for youth elixirs.”

Steward Garry turned abruptly to find a well-dressed youth standing behind him, flanked by two lovely young ladies.

Kiddy, the vendor, scowled. “Hey, kid, if you’re not buying, don’t meddle here.”

The youth shrugged and smiled at Garry. “Seems someone doesn’t want me to speak.”

Garry cast a disdainful glance at the vendor, then said to the youth, “You seem well-bred. Ignore him—he’s a low sort. I’m interested in what you just said. Are you suggesting there’s an alternative to blue pearlgrass for youth elixirs?”

The young man offered a graceful bow. “Many water-aligned magical plants of similar type can serve as substitutes.”

Kiddy squealed in his sharp voice, “Mr. Garry, you didn’t tell him—the Camel family never produces anything but premium potions!”

Garry smiled at the youth. “I’m afraid, sir, I can’t use your suggestion.”

The youth, Shuai, glanced at the two beauties beside him and smiled radiantly. “Extract the midsection essence from a red ling, add two drops of Aluba lizard fluid for blending, and you’ll have a youth elixir of the highest quality—no blue pearlgrass required.”

The steward and the vendor exchanged glances in surprise.

Garry looked at Shuai with disbelief. “Though I’m not an alchemist, years of procurement have taught me a thing or two. Strange—I’ve never heard of such a method.”

Shuai spread his hands. “Alchemy is the pursuit of universal principles, but the complexity of the world is beyond what man can fathom. Even the great Electra the Grand Alchemist would not claim to know all the laws of nature. The ocean of knowledge is boundless, and new discoveries are made every day. It’s no wonder you haven’t heard of it. What’s surprising is lacking the courage to try. And these two ingredients together cost less than one gold vit—a bargain compared to blue pearlgrass.”

The steward rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right, sir. I apologize for doubting you. Few alchemists are willing to share their exclusive formulas.”

“Indeed. The only reason I’m telling you is because, to me, it’s not much of a secret,” Shuai replied with full confidence.

He cut a dashing figure, brimming with assurance. If Clarice were here, she’d be convinced Shuai was up to his old tricks. But this time, it was Daisy and Lanty by his side.

Sometimes, one must admit, putting on a show in front of women is a sure way to win their hearts. Though this was not Shuai’s intention, he nonetheless succeeded in making the two girls’ eyes sparkle with adoration.

Steward Garry considered, then nodded. “I’ll buy some and have our family’s alchemist test it.”

Ignoring the vendor’s protests, he hurried off.

Kiddy glared at Shuai with venom. “Hey, kid, you wrecked my business!”

Lanty was about to retort, but Shuai stopped her. He tossed Kiddy a gold vit, scribbled a few words on a slip of paper, and handed it over. “Don’t worry. I guarantee he’ll be back for your blue pearlgrass. My name and address are on this note—if you can discreetly pass this information to that steward, I’ll give you another gold vit. What do you say?”

Kiddy eyed Shuai, then the gold vit, and nodded. “No problem, you little mischief-maker. But if you don’t give me that second gold vit, I’ll tell the steward everything you just told me—I’ll say you tricked him.”

“Deal,” Shuai replied calmly.

——————————————————————

“I thought the method you told him was correct,” Lanty nearly exclaimed on their way back.

“It was a correct formula,” Shuai replied.

“Then why will the steward come back to buy blue pearlgrass?” Daisy asked in confusion.

“Because I only told him how to substitute blue pearlgrass with other ingredients—I didn’t tell him the necessary post-processing technique. So he’s bound to fail.”

“Oh! Fink, you’re terrible!” the two girls cried, covering their mouths.

“But I don’t understand why you’re doing this. What good is it to make an enemy of a noble family?” Daisy asked anxiously.

“And how do you know how to make potions?” Lanty wondered, baffled by Shuai’s knowledge.

The two girls barraged him with questions.

Shuai sighed and stopped, looking at them gently. “Daisy, Lanty, you’re both wonderful girls. But I can’t stay with the troupe forever. I have things I need to do—everyone must have their own pursuits, don’t you think?”

Daisy stared at him in shock. “You mean you’re leaving?”

Lanty grabbed his arm. “No, Fink, you can’t just leave!”

Shuai patted her hand. “Don’t worry, I’m not leaving right now. I just need certain things, and they’re not easy to obtain—I’ll need help.”

Only then did the girls breathe easier.

“You mean you need help from the nobility?” Daisy asked.

“Yes.”

“From that steward, Garry?”

“Yes.”

The girls were bewildered. “But you just tricked him! If you’d told him the correct method, maybe he’d thank you. But now…”

Shuai cut them off, impatient. “Trust me, Daisy, Lanty—the world is far more complicated than it seems. A chief steward of a noble house won’t feel indebted for a few kind words from a stranger. They’re not the sort to repay every favor, no matter how genteel and courteous they may appear. You can’t expect a chance encounter and a few hints to earn their trust or have them grant your every request—that’s simply unrealistic.”

“But you…”

“So if you want to get someone’s or a family’s attention, sometimes it’s faster and easier to attract their enmity rather than their gratitude.”

The girls gasped, eyes wide. “Oh my goodness, you mean…”

“Yes. If they don’t use the correct technique, the youth elixir will be more than a failure—the potion in the cauldron will surge out like a raging sea…” Here Shuai grinned, showing his teeth. “I know most alchemists have terrible habits—they pile all their ingredients together for convenience. When the potion erupts from the cauldron, it’ll ruin countless materials—far beyond what they’d expect to lose.”

“Oh no! Fink, that steward Garry will kill you!” Lanty nearly screamed.

She had never imagined Shuai’s confident instructions would turn out to be so disastrous for others.

“Yes, unless I tell them the proper way to use those ingredients. Otherwise, that’s what’ll happen,” Shuai replied with a smile, pulling the girls closer. “But don’t worry, I’m not that easy to kill. I just need to make sure that steward Garry comes looking for me. After all, revenge is far more motivating than gratitude. Of course, he won’t be coming to thank me, but that doesn’t matter. What’s important is that he will come—that’s enough for me.”

The two girls were nearly faint with shock.