Sequence Beyond: My Wife is a Mysterious Boss

Lin Bai sat imposingly in the chair, his gaze sweeping over Gu Canglan.

Alchemy? No way!

He can't bite off more than he can chew; those three techniques he just got are enough for him to learn for a while.

Besides, without this old man teaching me step by step, I don't know how much time I would have wasted learning on my own.

"Since that's the case..."

"Let's get practical then." Lin Bai settled for second best, his eyes fixed intently on Gu Canglan:

"You have alchemical equipment, right? I'm not picky. Anything that can withstand a nuclear explosion, or a cannon that can kill a Sequence 7 in one shot, will do."

Upon hearing this, Shen Shu, who was tightening screws on the broken leg, trembled and almost bent the wrench.

She rolled her eyes and sneered, "Ha, why don't you just ask for a Gundam? Dream on."

Gu Canglan was even more embarrassed.

His face was etched with embarrassment.

"cough......"

The old man coughed lightly, his hands instinctively tightening around his sleeves:

"Kobayashi, to be honest, you know what we alchemists are all about."

"It looks glamorous, but it's actually a bottomless pit."

"I also wanted to get you a couple of pieces of equipment for self-defense, but what I have on hand are either spare parts from Shen Shu or core components for maintaining this safe house."

"There's really no one at your level that can use this!"

As he spoke, in an attempt to prove his innocence, he even turned both of his pockets inside out, revealing them to be cleaner than his face.

"How about... next time? Next time for sure!"

"I'll definitely do it next time!"

Lin Bai sighed.

So, after I risked my life to save your daughter, all I got in return was a terribly dismissive response?

Next time for sure?

Ha ha!

"Alright, then I'll owe you this favor for now." Lin Bai waved his hand, not really expecting to rise to the top overnight.

Although this old and young duo are incredibly stingy, their skills are undeniable.

This debt of gratitude is like a fixed-term bank deposit.

Although it can't be retrieved now, in this cannibalistic wasteland, it might be a lifeline someday.

Moreover, after this experience, he has come to see through everything.

Those two are incredibly resilient.

Even if I were to die in the street one day, these two would probably still be alive and kicking in the wasteland, owing money and refusing to pay it back.

But, are we really going to go back empty-handed this time?

This isn't like me!

Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed in Lin Bai's mind.

No stock available?

How about processing the raw materials?

If you can't get the finished product for free, you can at least get the skill for free, right?

He quickly pulled the backpack off A-Ya's back, rummaged through it, and finally pulled out a half-meter-long metal piece.

This is an extraordinary material that was dropped by the [Iron Soldier] in the Ghost Realm.

The parchment is a certified good product, but he never knew how to use it.

"Old Gu, this..." Lin Bai tossed the piece of iron around, "Could you make me some equipment?"

Gu Canglan reached out and took it.

His previously casual gaze sharpened the moment it touched the sheet of metal.

"This is... an extraordinary material?"

He quickly moved closer to examine it carefully.

My fingers rubbed against the rough metal surface.

"Great stuff! It contains a very stable curing circuit. Although the material itself isn't top-tier, it's extremely malleable!"

"Can you do it?" Lin Bai pressed.

"Yes! Absolutely!"

With a wave of his hand, Gu Canglan swept away his previous dejection, replacing it with the confidence befitting a master alchemist:

"Give me two hours... no, an hour and a half! Wait!"

After saying that, Gu Canglan grabbed the iron sheet and swept into the inner laboratory like a gust of wind.

......

An hour and a half later.

When Gu Canglan came out again, he was carrying a dark gray trench coat.

At first glance, it looks no different from a linen trench coat sold on a street stall, but upon closer inspection, the fabric texture subtly reveals a metallic sheen.

"Here you go." Gu Canglan tossed the trench coat to Lin Bai, his face showing satisfied exhaustion, along with a hint of heartache.

"I personally contributed quite a bit to this."

"The main material is your sheet metal. I drew it, recast it, and fused it into high-strength bulletproof fiber."

"The passive effect is toughness. It can't be cut by ordinary swords and blades, and it can even block most small-caliber bullets."

"The most crucial thing is this—"

Gu Canglan pointed to a silver button on the collar of his trench coat:

"I've engraved a one-time charging array here. In a situation where death is inevitable, tear off this button to activate a one-way kinetic energy shield that lasts for 3 seconds."

"Although it's only 3 seconds, in a battle between experts, it's like a second life."

Lin Bai took the trench coat; it felt slightly heavy in his hand, yet had an extremely comfortable weight to it.

That's more like it!

With constant high defense and a life-saving trump card, isn't this exactly the "riot control set" that a fragile mage (pseudo) like him desperately needs?

"Thanks!" Lin Bai accepted the gift without hesitation.

The size is perfect; it's clear that although Old Gu is stingy, his craftsmanship is impeccable.

"And these too."

Perhaps to save face after claiming to be "too poor," Gu Canglan took out three light blue crystals, each about the size of a fingernail, from his pocket.

He stuffed the two brick-thick books into Lin Bai's arms.

"This is a memory stone. The models and techniques for the three alchemy spells you chose—[Corrosion], [Cat Paw Pads], and [Sharpness Enchantment]—are all inside."

"The method is very simple: stick it on your forehead, touch it with your spirit, and knowledge will flow into your brain like water."

"Although the process is a bit painful, it's convenient."

"As for these two books... 'A Brief History of the Cataclysmic Era' and 'Basic Alchemy Material Science'."

"To make it in this alchemist circle, talent alone is not enough; you also need to study more."

Holding this heavy pile of gifts, Lin Bai felt a rare warmth welling up in his heart.

In a world where knowledge is more valuable than gold, the value of these three crystals and two physical books even surpasses that of the trench coat.

"I'm gone."

Lin Bai stopped being coy, put the things away, and waved to Shen Shu, who was still pretending to be aloof in the corner.

"Little girl, take good care of your injury. Next time we meet, I hope you'll have a more powerful replacement for that leg, so that no one can remove the bearings again."

Shen Shu snorted coldly, turned his head away, and said stubbornly, "Get lost. Just don't die out there next time and I have to collect your body."

Although her tone was still harsh, Lin Bai could clearly see that her slender little hand was gripping the armrest of the chair tightly, her knuckles turning white.

Gu Canglan sighed, walked to the door, and formed a hand seal.

"Get ready, the spatial displacement isn't a pleasant experience, but it should be quick."

Om-!

A blue light shone, engulfing Lin Bai's figure.

......