Blood-Boiling Potion
1113 Words
Eat, practice the Golden Light Incantation.
Continue eating, continue practicing.
The entire day was devoted to Klaun's relentless pursuit of skill proficiency.
With each passing hour of practice, he felt the debilitating sense of emptiness gradually dissipate, until it finally vanished.
It wasn't an issue with the incantation; something must have transpired last night.
As he consumed his rice, Klaun arrived at this conclusion.
After dinner, he completed his cleansing rituals and began studying potion-making.
On the experiment table, a crucible bubbled with the essence of bupleurum, cinnamon twig, kudzu root, scutellaria, and white peony.
This was a formula for treating fevers, surprisingly reminiscent of a traditional Chinese medicine recipe from his past life.
This revelation astounded him; the proficiency wall's power exceeded his expectations.
Perhaps this golden finger connects to a foundational database spanning two worlds!
Regardless, this was tremendous news for Klaun.
He retrieved a mortar and pestle, tossing in two cicada skins, and ground them skillfully before adding the powder to the crucible.
Gripping a glass stirring rod, he mixed gently and periodically withdrew the rod to observe.
When he removed it once more and noticed the liquid's stringy consistency, he swiftly extinguished the alcohol lamp with a lid.
A surge of delight welled within him as he moved his thoughts, revealing the golden wall before his eyes.
[Herbology: 6/5000; Tier Three] (You have begun to delve into potion-making; your success rate for standard potions is now 100%)
With the advancement in herbology, knowledge flooded his mind as if it had always resided there.
Black sage, one of the ingredients for the blood-boiling potion, stimulates blood circulation.
Blue tulip petals, another ingredient, raise blood temperature.
The blood-boiling potion is not meant for ordinary use. Claron grinned broadly; if he secured the right channels, his income could escalate significantly.
The following evening, he completed his practice of the Golden Light Incantation, quickly devoured his dinner, and set out with a small backpack, heading straight for the church.
He certainly wasn't going to pray; he merely sought to negotiate a business deal with the priest.
...
Upon meeting Nick, Claron noticed the priest's furrowed brow and tight lips.
"Praise the Lord of Flames," he said respectfully, then inquired, "Do the servants of the divine also experience worry?"
"Praise the Lord of Flames," Nick replied solemnly as he rose.
"My distress stems from the fact that the Lord's lamb has been harmed again, and I am unable to apprehend the evil lurking in the shadows."
How increasingly unstable had little Zack Town become? Klaun mused inwardly, then asked, "What has transpired now?"
"The blacksmith Smith and his neighbor have departed from us. The gruesome fate of the deceased mirrors that of previous occurrences linked to malevolent spirits. That demon continues to roam the town, hiding in filthy, dark corners, poised to spread death."
Nick's voice was laced with anger and frustration.
The evil spirit's power was growing stronger, yet he could do nothing to prevent this dire situation as he had no clue where the culprit was concealed.
He had no fear in a direct confrontation; his exorcism abilities had improved in recent days.
But if the spirit engaged him in a game of hide-and-seek, he would be left blind.
It was imperative to have the church dispatch a tracking exorcist to stay in Zack Town; at the very least, they should send someone to assist in dealing with that filthy spirit.
Am I a harbinger of misfortune?
Klaun fell into self-doubt. In less than ten days since arriving in this world, and counting the incident that claimed his predecessor's life, four supernatural evils had already occurred nearby.
"What brings you here?"
The priest's words jolted him back to reality. Klaun quickly articulated his purpose:
"I have developed several potions for public use and hope you could assist in promoting them."
In this world, medicine was underdeveloped; the holy water sold in various churches could indeed cure ailments, often with remarkable efficacy, though its high price was a notable drawback.
This led to a scenario where the less affluent would endure their illnesses until they could no longer bear them, at which point they would offer money to the church in exchange for holy water.
There were no true healers in this world; the divine light overshadowed that profession.
Klaun's intention was to fill this void.
"Hah," Nick scoffed, "aren't your potions meant for livestock? Besides, why would I help you? Helping you means reducing the church's income."
Without countering, Klaun nodded and awaited Nick to finish speaking before he solemnly replied:
"Let’s be candid, Father. Holy water is costly, and its monthly sales volume is limited, correct? In contrast, potions are much more affordable. Ordinary people experience ailments like headaches and digestive troubles. Moreover, why would you work for free? You would receive ten percent of the sales."
Nick leaned back in his chair, squinting as he contemplated. "Ten percent is too little; I want twenty. How will you prove you’re genuinely giving me that percentage?"
Twenty percent was acceptable; Klaun had already reserved room for negotiation.
"Deal," he replied cheerfully, leaning closer to the priest:
"I don't plan to sell these potions myself; I can leave them at the church for you to sell."
"That won't do," Nick interrupted, "the church cannot be directly involved. I have a brother, Niel, whom I’ll send to assist with this matter. You’ll produce the potions at home, and he will handle the sales."
"That's agreeable, but he’ll only be responsible for sales within Zack Town."
Nick scrutinized Klaun for a moment and remarked, "You are quite confident and ambitious."
"I aspire to become a weapon in the church's hand; if I can't quickly amass sufficient funds, will you still be willing to teach me, Father?"
"You need to act swiftly; ten days have already passed."
...
With the details finalized with the priest, Klaun returned home in high spirits.
Nick’s brother would take time to arrive from Senna City.
In the days that followed, Klaun practiced the Golden Light Incantation during the day and immersed himself in herbology at night, utilizing every moment except for meals, sleep, and herb procurement.
Five days passed.
One morning, Klaun stared at his pale reflection in the mirror, deep-set eyes and tightly pursed lips.
As his proficiency in the Golden Light Incantation grew, his energy levels surged; how could he possibly be experiencing such a sickly state?!
Something must have occurred at night that remained hidden from him.
Could he seek help from the priest?
Claron shook his head; after all, he was an otherworldly traveler, strictly speaking, a malevolent spirit that had taken over this world's inhabitant.
- Writer
