Chapter 48: Curious Characteristics

Chapter 48: Curious Characteristics

As I come back to the area, the women are all still bowed, but many appear shocked and puzzled, from the little I can see of their faces. Even the boss lady appears to be confused.

Im sorry Senior, did you still need something from us?

I give a sigh.

I um

I cant help, but rub the back of my neck awkwardly.

I Ive seen the pain that this disease causes. I dont think any of you deserve that. I give a quick look at the alchemist.

If you have a sheet of paper, something to write with, and some ingredients, Id like to show you all how to make the cure for yourselves.

Dead silence.

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAH

And then suddenly barking laughter erupts far to the opposite side of the group. My eyes look to there, where the crowd has essentially parted, revealing an average looking woman practically rolling on the ground in laughter.

Everyones eyes look fearfully to her, partly in fear of what she is doing and also of what might happen to her.

Hahaha. I-hahahaha. Im sorry, ahaha. Plea- please go ahead. The woman has a huge refreshing smile on.

The boss lady is looking at her with an enormous glare, but then turns her attention back to me.

Im so very sorry about that, Ill make sure to discipline her later regarding this. The woman freezes up and tries to slink back into the crowd. The boss lady catches her, like a mother cat to her kitten.

Okay, this lady is clearly someone special if she can get away with that.

Or maybe this was all part of some test? I dont even know anymore.

I should probably <u>IGNORE</u> that.

Focusing back on the issue at hand, let me try to show them how to make it.

Strange, my mind seemed to get away from me for a moment. I cant seem to remember exactly how.

From this point, I call over the alchemist and begin writing each step with her. As some other people look interested, I call them over and begin teaching them as well.

As I go through the distinct steps of how things should react and combine, many of the people, other than the alchemist look confused. Not wanting them to be confused, I help to explain why you perform certain actions, using the low tier intuition scanning.

I zero into how different chemicals interact and the nature of certain plants. There are a variety of different plants, many of which share similar qualities with the ones from earth. However, all have qi in varying amounts. Things like the similarly named plant called sage, still have same characteristics. When mixed with an extremely common plant called spirit grass, its natural characteristics are wildly enhanced. If mixed with other ingredients, such as salt, it could possibly flip the characteristics on its head.

Within the alchemy system, it is a combination of Qi and chemistry. Different enough that you cant rely on chemistry knowledge, but close enough to make sense.

Like with the salt example. Only for those ingredients will it flip. And that is only if you grind them up together. It doesnt even include if you add heat, put it under pressure, or other variables. The less qi in the ingredients, the more likely it will follow the laws of chemistry and/or logic. Even with that though, there is something about the nature of qi that has randomness baked into it.

Alchemy is about reducing the randomness through iteration, even if it cant be eliminated. Sounds familiar.

After my explanation, there seem to be much fewer confused faces. Which, based on the content and my desperate high school chemistry teachers effort, is a tough feat.

Surprisingly, even the alchemist seems to have gotten some insight from this.

I finish with, As a general rule, with many exceptions, you want to pay attention to the Qi density, distribution, and reactivity of the ingredients you use. Remember, DDR. Otherwise, youll be the one dancing around.

I have a quick chuckle at my own inside joke.

Some of them look lost at that comment, but just brush it off.

It is at this point, one of the women comes running back with ingredients.

They seemed to have come back much quicker last time, but maybe that was just a coincidence Probably not.

My eyes search out the woman who was laughing earlier, though I cant seem to find her. On a whim, I search for the boss lady to see if she found her. Almost immediately, as I find her, I can see her yelling at a different looking woman.

I was extremely frustrated by my incompetency regarding this situation. Especially, since we were having quite some trouble finding the solution to this.

Not even a cricket could be heard after that statement. The impression I get from her is someone who truly cares about her group. Obviously, I cant tell since I dont truly know her but she definitely seems to truly care.

However, you managed to solve this issue, with almost no problem. Not only that, but with ingredients that are easily found for this area. Very easily found, in fact.

If you werent with Gongs group and allied to Sister Cranes organization, I would be curious to know more.

Her eyes lock onto mine with a fiery passion.

Very curious.

Ah, so thats what the kid was probably telling her. Thank goodness for Gong. And Big Sister Crane, apparently.

She stands straight up, confidently.

It seems your group is currently in a bit of a tight spot, right now. Especially after displaying such a strong show of force against the Vermillion Stripes.

I stay silent. Its better for me to hear her out and her intentions.

She continues, after a pause. We already had discussed giving our support, in some fashion to her group. But now with this

Raising her voice, she continues, I declare that the Yellow Sashes are in a full alliance with Gongs gang, the Maroon Spiders!

Oh shit. Maroon Spiders?

What did Gong do? Hell, what have I done?

The young demi-human sprints away, I assume to share the news. As loud conversations and even some cheering erupt all around us, Wu Qing has a cocky smile on her face, but leans in quietly.

It seems you dont know what had happened earlier today. I promise, this will be good for you personally as well. Ill make sure you are rewarded regarding this.

She licks her lips and for the slightest of moments, I can see someone far, far, far more gorgeous than the average faade that is being shown to me now. My body begins to shake, but then immediately calm down almost against my will.

I cant help, but gulp at this series of reactions from myself. A snicker comes from her. Heh. Didnt think you were so innocent. Ill make sure you get a good recommendation, as well. I truly do appreciate what youve done here today I wish I could do more, but we are in a pretty tight spot, because of many factors.

She bites her lip in thought, almost as if she isnt sure if she should say something.

Her eyes flash at something in the distance. Before I can look, her eyes catch mine.

Almost like an illusion, I can see a shadow of her move in even closer, her eyes locked onto mine. They are sharp and holds a strength that I barely fathom hidden beneath.

Know, that I wont forget what youve done here. Ill make you ours someday. At any cost.

The illusion dissipates, and she gives me an innocent smile. No one else has seemed to see this happen.

Or if they have they have distinctly ignored it.

Ah shit. I get the feeling that if I dont stay away, I could become slav

I can see a glint and cant help, but blink.

It is at this point; I can sense that three Gong-sized spiders crawling over the top of the nearby rooftops. With a tiny flood of regular sized spiders, flowing around them. The arachnids are here.

Wait. What was I thinking about again..?

Huh.

Must not have been important.