Today was another day brimming with hope.
After clearing his name, Gu Qinghan felt the whole world had grown lighter.
First, he’d visit a street-side breakfast stall and buy sweet treats to reward himself.
Then head home for a refreshing shower.
Finally, sink into bed for a blissful nap.
—None of that happened.
He truly wished for a lazy, peaceful day.
But deep inside, a tiny figure with a megaphone kept shouting: *This is no time to relax.*
In truth, after watching Liana leave, Gu Qinghan began reflecting on everything.
In the Kingdom of Pure Love, the crime of impure love stood as the highest law—dense with brutal clauses.
Pursuing married women or stealing another’s lover? Maximum punishment.
Chained daily, forced to lick beautiful girls’ toes like a dog.
Candles, whips—every torture tool deployed while muttering “So good…” on loop.
Then a parade of energy-draining beauties would take turns draining the offender dry, forging a physiological dread of impure love.
Utterly cruel.
Gu Qinghan’s expression tightened.
*Must not get caught.*
Hohenheim was notoriously flirtatious—who knew what else he’d done?
This world might not follow the game’s original path.
Liana might not even be the first victim.
One thing became urgent:
Strengthen his power.
Turning slowly, Gu Qinghan gazed at Hohenheim’s alchemy workbench.
Yesterday’s clash with Katarina had laid bare his helplessness.
If exposed, escape would be impossible—only cold iron awaited.
Unacceptable.
To survive, he needed new strength.
And this was the Grand Enchanter Hohenheim’s study. Treasures had to remain.
He took a deep breath. Heartbeat quickened. Eyes scanned the room.
Soon, his gaze locked onto a suspicious object.
On the wide desk’s right side stood a two-meter bookshelf crammed with volumes.
Front and center: a thick, hardcover tome bound in jet-black leather.
On the cover, bold characters swirled like a black hole, pulling at his vision.
—*Arcane Secrets of Hypnosis.*
Just looking sent a chill through him.
A light touch revealed subtle wrinkles. His scalp prickled.
*Human skin.*
The word flashed cold in his mind.
Given this was the Grand Enchanter’s collection… Hohenheim likely committed unspeakable acts.
A revolting villain.
But irrelevant to Gu Qinghan.
He sought this knowledge only for survival.
Evil lies in the wielder, not the magic. A weapon used rightly is a shield.
Staring at the cover again, his palms tightened.
Undoubtedly, potent hypnosis secrets lay within.
Only one rule mattered—
Under no circumstances use this magic on innocent girls.
Important things are said three times.
Under no circumstances use this magic on innocent girls.
Under no circumstances use this magic on innocent girls.
Heart pounding, Gu Qinghan reached out a trembling hand and flipped the heavy cover.
Messy, cryptic script seized his attention:
*“Hey, the fiancée next door is so juicy—her husband has no idea what I did!”*
Snap!
He slammed the book shut, face blank.
*Burn this trash already?*
*Would learning this just make things deadlier??*
*Magic really does have light and shadow!*
He nearly cursed Hohenheim’s ancestors—then remembered: *he was Hohenheim.*
He let it go.
Ten minutes later.
Gu Qinghan stood before the deep-black book again, reverent yet resolute.
*Must not hypnotize innocent girls.*
*Must not hypnotize innocent girls. Must not hypnotize innocent girls…*
Important things are said three times.
He breathed deep and reopened the cover.
*“Hey, the guy next door paid three hundred thousand gold as dowry!”*
*“I’d swap your three-hundred-thousand-wife for two hundred coppers… one night.”*
Face pale, right hand shaking, he forced down the urge to close it and flipped past the page.
*Just endure.*
*“The boy across the street gives his girlfriend three gold daily for gifts—money ends up in my pocket.”*
*“There’s a hole in his wall. Gotta peek through.”*
…
After over a hundred pages of the Grand Enchanter’s twisted monologues and mental torment,
the content finally shifted.
First: unnatural blank pages.
Jet-black paper. Utterly bare. A fingertip brush revealed slight warmth.
Residual magic.
No ink. No marks.
Gu Qinghan’s expression turned grave. Hohenheim left these blank on purpose. He slowed his turning.
Ten pages total.
With each flip, fatigue crept deeper.
Stamina draining.
As if the paper siphoned his life force.
By page ten, sweat drenched his back, breath ragged.
Then—the next black page.
Bold gray letters blazed:
—*Hypnosis does not exist.*
Gu Qinghan froze. Heart skipped.
*Does not exist?*
He never expected this in Hohenheim’s notes.
What was the enchanter saying?
Was this book just a cruel joke?
Brow furrowed, lost in thought—he turned another page.
*“All who are hypnotized do so willingly.”*
Doubts swirled. He almost grasped something… then lost it.
Next page:
*“A true master hypnotizes only himself.”*
His gaze turned icy.
Ordinary words, yet heavy with meaning—washing over Gu Qinghan’s The Cortex.
A flicker of realization.
*Maybe hypnosis magic isn’t what I imagined.*
Apprehensive, he turned the page.
Finally—cultivation text.
Warning: Once a profession is chosen, it cannot be changed.
Crimson letters bled across the pale page like fresh surgical wounds.
A premonition stirred.
If he didn’t close this book now…
there would be no turning back.
