No delay.
Gu Qinghan began brewing the potion exactly as the notes instructed.
But trouble arrived faster than expected.
The Hypnosis Nullifier demanded complex ingredients and carried a crafting difficulty of LV.2.
To make it, he first needed its catalyst—the Tranquilizing Potion.
Ingredients: two Frost Mint leaves, one cup of dawn mountain spring water, two drops of Yimeng Beast’s blood.
Thankfully, the Tranquilizing Potion was only LV.1. All materials were easy to find—five copper coins covered everything at the apothecary.
Half an hour later.
Gu Qinghan reached the shop and quickly gathered the herbs.
“Boss, check out,” he said, lining up five copper coins.
The apothecary owner was a burly, bald man in his forties with a scruffy beard.
Taciturn by nature, he’d run this shop for twenty years—renowned for quality herbs, never a counterfeit sold.
“Huh? These herbs… You’re self-studying potion brewing?”
The shopkeeper’s sudden question made Gu Qinghan pause mid-motion.
“That’s right. Problem?” Gu Qinghan frowned slightly.
“Nah. Just… you remind me of my younger self.” He scratched his gleaming scalp and flashed a grin.
“I once dreamed of becoming a skilled alchemist too.”
Gu Qinghan’s brows tightened. *Too familiar.*
Better wrap this up and leave.
“Say, kid—how long’ve you been practicing? A month?”
Gu Qinghan stayed silent, swiftly stuffing the herbs into his bag.
“Took me three years,” the shopkeeper added, tossing the bundle over with a sigh. “Alchemy drains coin fast. Don’t pour too much in.”
“Some dreams… aren’t meant for folks like us. Quit while you’re ahead.”
This time, Gu Qinghan froze.
The words struck home.
Since transmigrating here, he’d never felt money pressure.
But alchemy? A costly path.
Staring blankly at the humble herb bundle, an unfamiliar weight settled on his chest.
Fail to succeed soon, and he’d end up like Richard—juggling odd jobs and brewing practice.
By then, Miss Liana would likely already be enslaved.
He took a slow breath. His expression turned grave.
“It won’t take me that long. Wait for my good news.”
Calmly spoken, he placed the coins neatly, snatched the bundle, and walked out without looking back.
Under the shopkeeper’s stunned gaze, Gu Qinghan vanished into the crowd—resolute, unwavering.
…
Half an hour later.
Back home, Gu Qinghan began his first attempt.
The Tranquilizing Potion recipe was simple: drop Frost Mint leaves and Yimeng Beast’s blood into dawn spring water simultaneously, stir until dissolved.
One of the easiest potions to brew.
Yet difficulty struck fast.
Five minutes in—the Frost Mint leaves were charcoal. Total loss.
First attempt: failure.
Gu Qinghan frowned, staring at the mess. *The Yimeng Beast’s blood.*
On contact with water, it erupted heat—shattering the beaker.
Exothermic reaction.
Splattered blood ignited the herbs.
Only ash remained.
He’d never imagined ingredients could clash so violently.
But this wouldn’t stop him.
Freeing Liana from hypnosis was non-negotiable.
Even if alchemy proved grueling, determination burned in his chest. He gritted his teeth and tried again.
Half an hour later, he returned with herbs—three extra sets this time.
Smart move.
Second attempt: he added Frost Mint first.
Result? Water froze solid. Expansion cracked the beaker.
Failure again.
He studied the glass shards, then launched attempt three.
Blood and leaves dropped together.
Heat and cold clashed—then balanced.
The beaker held.
Two seconds.
When it shattered, Gu Qinghan’s eyes sparked with excitement. *This method works.*
Only hurdle: perfect blending.
If heat from dissolving blood precisely countered the mint’s chill… success was possible.
Then it hit him—
Magic.
No hesitation.
Guiding magic through a glass rod, he stirred gently.
Magic wrapped the opposing forces, softening their clash.
Ten seconds this time.
*Pop.* Shattered again.
But so close.
Breathing hard, Gu Qinghan glanced at the glass pile in the wastebasket—a flicker of excitement in his eyes.
His theory was nearly perfect.
Magic made brewing feasible.
*No wonder the shopkeeper failed for years.*
“Again!”
Finger control refined with each try. Small successes mounted.
A strange fascination took hold—like an invisible pull.
Soon, the three herb sets were gone. Time to restock.
Dusk settled.
The wastebasket overflowed. Glass shards and failed potions littered the table.
Thirty-six failures.
Exhaustion weighed heavy—magic capacity was the true limit.
Yet progress was clear.
Two more tries.
By morning, magic restored, he’d succeed.
What took the shopkeeper three years? He’d finish in two days.
Then… no more fear of Liana’s loyalty meter rising.
Gu Qinghan wiped sweat from his brow, exhaling quietly.
The shopkeeper would never guess his motive—not mastery, but rejecting another man’s fiancée.
Just as he steeled himself for one last try—
Thump thump thump!
The dull knocks yanked him back to reality.
“Who is it?”
Frowning, he cleared the remnants.
Ever since gaining the passive ability *Golden-haired Affinity*, visitors made him wary.
One misstep… and he might “accidentally” steal someone’s fiancée. Trouble guaranteed.
*Creak.*
He opened the door.
“Richard?”
Surprise flickered. He’d expected Liana.
Instead stood her fiancé—shy, hands clasped.
“So late? Urgent matter?” Gu Qinghan’s brows knitted tightly.
Richard offered a bashful smile. “Work’s been busy… I’ve wanted to thank you properly. Couldn’t find time. Truly sorry.”
“Tonight, please join me for a drink at my place? Liana also wishes to thank you in person.”
Watching Richard’s warm, earnest smile, Gu Qinghan’s expression slowly darkened.
