Forge a path to success.

Chapter 25 Lamenting Mediocrity
The night sky over Huilong City is devoid of stars and moon, save for the ceaseless flow of the water curtain. If the lights were turned off at this hour, there would be no light at all; everything would be pitch black, as if the city were dead.

Jie An lay in deathly silence, holding a pestle in his hand. The small, dark gold pestle was engraved with patterns of clouds and wind, and the handle was shaped like a half-open lotus flower. This was an exquisitely crafted work of art, meant to be solemnly offered in a ceremony, not held in the greasy hands of a cook.

Jie An also felt he shouldn't have held this thing; it was too sentient, even emitting light in the pitch-black night, its reflection illuminating his ugly face on the lotus petals. What a shameful expression! A grown man in his thirties looking like he was about to cry, yet an overwhelming sense of oppression welled up inside him, crushing his already dwindling dignity. He unconsciously loosened his grip. The pestle fell and struck his forehead. It hurt terribly. He opened his mouth wide, wanting to scream, but no sound came out; he silently screamed.

Then, after a few seconds, as if realizing his foolishness, Jie An gripped the pestle tightly again, put on his clothes, and went out. The headquarters building was always lit up. He hesitated as he walked towards the dormitory building, stopping as he passed the lounge.

The assassin stood in the doorway, silently watching him.

"Shall we chat?" Chu Hengkong asked.

“Okay,” Jie An said, “Let’s chat.”

On the table sat a half-finished bottle of liquor, the cheap kind Chu Hengkong had bought last time. It was originally half full, but now only a third remained. Ji Huaisu was huddled on the sofa, drinking it silently. Jie An was momentarily surprised; he hadn't expected the two to be so close that they would drink together so late at night. But he quickly realized the truth: they, like him, couldn't sleep, and had both decided to find someone to talk to.

Chu Hengkong poured a cup for Jie An as well: "Tell me about the situation?"

As he spoke, he looked at Ji Huaisu. The blonde girl finished her drink and whispered, "Actually, you can probably guess. Huilong City experienced a great battle, and my father was seriously injured as a result. We are committed to maintaining order in the city in order to restore Lord Huilong's power and hope to heal my father... But it seems that there is not enough time now."

Chu Hengkong nodded and asked, "What will happen if Mr. Ji dies?"

Ji Huaisu was momentarily enraged; she hadn't expected the other party's question to be so cold-blooded. Jie An spoke up before the conflict escalated: "Huilong City is doomed."

"why?"

“The enemy that started the war hasn’t left; they’re still waiting for their chance. You’ve seen many demons so far, but there are things outside the city that are even more terrifying than demons…” Jie An said softly. “After Mr. Ji died, they had no more scruples; they will turn the city into a living hell.”

"We also have the mithril."

"not enough."

So everyone fell silent, and the air became deathly still. But Chu Hengkong remained unchanged, his expression unreadable, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

“Then we need to think of a way to save Mr. Ji,” Chu Hengkong said. He spoke so naturally, as if he could do it himself. “You won’t rely solely on Huilong, Jie An, you must have a way too. I heard Youyou asked you to make medicine.”

“Yes, I can make medicine,” Jie An sighed, “but I can’t make good medicine.”

He gently placed the lotus-shaped pestle on the table and pushed it forward. Chu Hengkong noticed a glimmer of hope in the other's eyes. He took out the Silver-Eyed Book and placed the pestle on its pages. Silver characters rapidly appeared, and this appraisal text astonished him.

"this……!"

【Pure Treasury, Vajra for Eradicating Suffering】

[Rating: Level 5]

【Origin: Zhengxuan Temple, Longquan Township】

[Effect: The "Holy Reputation Cup" of the Pure Land Master's interpretation text. It can record prescriptions, pound medicine with a pestle, and greatly enhance the effects of all medicines during preparation.]

The first time a medicine is made, all the medicinal materials need to be gathered. The elixir that has been successfully made before can be generated from qi and blood.

Recorded prescriptions: 3187

This was the highest-level relic Chu Hengkong had ever seen—a level five relic! He now understood the grading standards for relics; the level corresponded to the corresponding particle level and power. A level five relic signified that it had once belonged to a particle level five ascendant, a powerhouse beyond their current comprehension.

Chu Hengkong eagerly grasped the book, about to say something, when his gaze fell upon the final, completed characters.

[Warning: Due to forced inheritance across 5 points, the currently available prescription is 1.]

[Missing you: Xiao An, have you found the last ingredient?]

Live well. He realized something was wrong. If he could truly make good use of the relics, Jie An wouldn't just be a cook. But the hope in Jie An's eyes vanished after reading the words. He lowered his head like a disappointed child.

“My father was a friend of Master Ji.” His voice was hoarse. “Years ago, he risked leaving the city to gather herbs, hoping to heal Master Ji’s injuries. But the world outside the city was too dangerous, and he himself was about to die when he returned. My father could only entrust the medicine pestle to me. I have his blood in my veins, and only I can inherit his mantle…”

"But I'm a complete waste! I don't have a single talent, and even if I inherited the medicine pestle, I'm just a mere 'foundation'. My father could make countless spiritual medicines back then, but I can't even make one properly... I can't even make one properly!"

Jie An covered his face and cried loudly. Chu Hengkong could understand this feeling; he believed it was all his fault. His father and elders were all upright men, while he, who had inherited the divine weapon, could only be a cook. This sense of powerlessness would break anyone.

“Jie’an, you haven’t done anything wrong,” Ji Huaisu said softly. “Uncle Wen’s prescriptions were never complete. For the past ten years, my father has relied on you to survive…”

"I should have been able to complete the prescription!" Jie An roared. "I am his son!"

The man abruptly stood up, his fists clenched tightly. His shattered self-esteem, years of self-torture, and endless self-blame were like nails driven into his heart. He knew it wasn't his fault; he knew it was all his fault. At that moment, Chu Hengkong understood where that hope came from. Jie An had pinned his hopes on the clues to the prescription in the mortar's identification document, but all he saw was a promise that could never be fulfilled.

That message crushed the incompetent son, and his ten years of forced smiles collapsed overnight.

Ji Huaisu wanted to offer some words of comfort, but her own heart was aching just as much. She noticed that Chu Hengkong still wore that detached expression, and couldn't help but feel angry at his indifference. But she knew in her heart that this was misplaced anger; this outsider had done so much for Huilong City, and he had no obligation to reciprocate emotionally.

"Let's go back." Ji Huaisu squeezed her eyes shut. "We have patrols tomorrow."

Chu Heng remained seated, still carefully reading the final appraisal report. He truly showed no emotion, for he was still pondering. What other options were there? What other means could he use to obtain more information?

"Jie An, make another pill," Chu Hengkong said slowly.

"...What are you doing?" Ji Huaisu asked blankly. Chu Hengkong didn't speak, looking into Jie An's eyes: "Since you can't sleep anyway, let's make another one."

The other two were stunned, not understanding what this man was thinking. "Okay." But Jie An nodded numbly. Perhaps it was because there was nothing else to do, or perhaps he still clung to a self-deceiving hope that the outsider's knowledge contained a solution. He went out for half an hour, and when he returned, his face was ashen, and he was holding a dark, shiny pill in his hand.

"Give me."

Chu Hengkong took the pills and placed them on the book. He swallowed hard, hoping he wouldn't have a chance to grieve.

Then, writing appeared on the silver-eyed book.

The silver lettering appeared leisurely, no slower than usual. It included the name, the effect, and, most importantly, the word "longing"!
[Basic Relic of Elixir Type - Healing]

[Rating: Level 4]

【Origin: Mysterious Realm of Senluo - Huilong City】

[Effect: Removes external contaminants of particle size 4 and below]
It has an inhibitory effect on the pollution of the outer passages below the Second Abyss.

[Longing: The only son of the Great Master Jingzang was of mediocre talent. He searched for ten years without success, unaware that the gold he so desperately sought was right there in the marsh.]

All three of them held their breath. The confusion in their eyes transformed into a belated understanding, which was then overwhelmed by a surge of hope. "What does this mean?" Ji Huaisu's voice trembled. "What is gold?"

"Yes, what is gold?" Chu Hengkong asked. "What would Jie An be so eager for?"

He couldn't help but laugh. There was definitely hope, because Jie Wen, the fifth-ranked physician, wouldn't be a fool who would make unreasonable demands on his son. He entrusted the unfinished prescription to Jie An because the last ingredient was in the city!

“I don’t know,” Jie An stammered. “There are too many possibilities. It could be the root of some kind of plant. Or metal. Animal scales. Or…”

His tears hadn't dried yet, but a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips. Everyone was laughing, as if they'd gone mad, their eyes gleaming. "We have to go find it! Gather intelligence!" "I'll go find the files related to gold." "I'll go get Youyou!"

Then they ran out of the lounge. There was no time to rest, no time to grieve. Hope appeared before them. From now on, it was a race against death.

"Let's get started, everyone." Chu Hengkong put away the large book. "Our next objective is to find medicine in the swamp!"

(End of this chapter)