He changed Tiwat

As for the workshop, it's not much different from what Han Fulai saw in the "Liyue Academy of Arts and Sciences". It looks like a chemistry laboratory, with various flasks, beakers and test tubes in addition to alchemy tables. It's just that the scale and manpower are not as good as the Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Timaeus stayed in the lab for quite a while before coming out. Normally, drawing a route map shouldn't take this long, but Han Fulai understood why after Timaeus came out—Timaeus not only drew the route map for him, but also prepared a "cold resistance potion" for him.

Timaus handed the map and a small, ice-blue glass bottle to Han Fulai.

"This is a 'cold resistance potion' made from the crystal core of the 'Ice Crystal Butterfly' and the Ice Mist Flower. If you've never been to the snow mountain before, you probably don't know how cold it is there—mortals like us who don't have the 'Eye of God' or elemental power can easily freeze even if we're dressed in the thickest clothes."

"After you reach the snowy mountains, drink this medicine. You will feel a tingling sensation on the tip of your tongue. Once this sensation spreads throughout your body, you will no longer feel cold. Our Mondstadt adventurers always carry this medicine with them when they go to the snowy mountains."

This was actually based on Timaus's experience. Abedo was renowned, and alchemists from various countries often sought him out for exchanges. Some were impatient and didn't have time to wait for Abedo's return in the city. Some scholars, lacking proper precautions against the cold, suffered frostbite in the snowy mountains, requiring considerable effort to treat afterward. Therefore, when Timaus heard that Han Fulai urgently needed to see Abedo, he prepared a potion for him to protect against the cold.

"Thank you so much for your help, Mr. Timaus. You are such a kind person." Han Fulai accepted the map and medicine with some gratitude.

He and Timaus had never met before, yet Timaus not only warmly welcomed him and helped him with directions and maps, but also, considering that he was from out of town and had never been to the snow-capped mountains, specially concocted a "cold-resistance potion" for him. Although his current physique was no longer affected by heat or cold, and he could find the snow-capped mountain laboratory in Abedo on his own using his memories from the game, he still had to accept this kindness.

Timaus smiled somewhat shyly: "No need for thanks, it's nothing, sir, you don't need to be so polite. By the way, I haven't yet asked you about your..."

Only then did he belatedly realize that the two of them, after saying so much, hadn't even exchanged names: "...Huh, you actually know me?"

"I had heard of Mr. Timaus's reputation before I came here. You provide alchemy services to the residents free of charge and help them operate the alchemy tables. You are well-known in the city. As Mr. Abedo's assistant, your talent is also quite outstanding." Han Fulai smiled. "By the way, my surname is Han, and I belong to the 'Liyue Academy of Arts and Sciences.' I am indeed here to see Mr. Abedo for academic exchange."

Han Fulai was telling the truth, of course; he was the founder of the "Liyue Academy of Asmodian Arts." Although the dean was Lord Liuyun, and Han Fulai himself did not participate in the academy's research work, no one could object to him claiming to be a member of the academy.

The information about Timaus is also true. The alchemy table in Mondstadt's fountain square was originally Timaus's personal property, which he kindly lent to the residents. Although players jokingly call him the "Master of Obstruction of Synthesis," without Timaus's generosity, there wouldn't even be an alchemy table to be found in Mondstadt.

Timaeus was a true native Mondstadt alchemist, and his academic level was actually quite excellent; he could have earned a degree even at the Sumerian Academy. Moreover, he had always been dedicated to promoting alchemy for the benefit of the residents of Mondstadt. Timaeus was the one who usually took on the tasks that residents asked him to do at the alchemy workshop, such as repairing things.

Timaus shook his head: "I'm not Professor Abedo's true assistant yet, Sugar is. They are both rare geniuses. Compared to them, I only know some trivial skills. I haven't yet... gained Professor Abedo's approval."

"Professor Abedo's alchemical theories are, in terms of current academic development, simply fantastical, yet they can be verified in practice. In his eyes, my research is probably like a child playing with toys... Miss Sugar's research direction and interests are somewhat... eccentric, so much so that there are very few results that can be truly applied, but she is Professor Abedo's only assistant whom he appreciates."

He sighed as he spoke, "Sigh, what if I had such good research resources...?"

Some time ago, Timaus, feeling that the current alchemy technology consumed too many raw materials, had too many impurities, and was too expensive, designed and built an "Elemental Furnace" that could allow pure elements to react inside, using elemental force condensation as the driving force—then during the experiment, the machine exploded.

Abedo's assessment was: "This is your 'latest design'? Hmm... it certainly deserves praise. In another twenty years, maybe I can replace the textbook you're using with the one Sugar is using now."

This might not sound like a compliment—but for Aberdo, it truly was a compliment to Timaus.

To draw an analogy, in this alchemy workshop, Abedo is an academician and doctoral supervisor, Sugar is a doctoral student, and Timaus is an undergraduate student doing odd jobs in the lab...

Timaus is currently holed up in the alchemy workshop, unable to go to the snow mountain laboratory with Sugar and Abedo, because he's writing a report summarizing the lessons learned from the failure of the "Elemental Furnace." Until he can produce a design that won't explode, he probably won't be qualified as a lab assistant.

Han Fulai couldn't help but recall the Mondstadt alchemist Kritov he had encountered in the Abyss of the Rocks.

When Kritov told them his reason for joining the treasure-hunting group, it was just as heartbreaking as Timaus's:

“Sigh… When I was studying alchemy in Mondstadt, I still believed that dreams were fair to an ordinary kid like me. I thought that as long as I worked hard, I could also become a master alchemist… But later I realized that some gaps can never be crossed… and some people can never be caught up with.”

"After meeting Master Abedo, I realized that alchemy is a discipline designed for exceptionally gifted geniuses or those with vast amounts of learning resources. Compared to them, even the colors of our dreams are different."

In the eyes of ordinary people, both Timaus, who could independently develop alchemical machinery, and Kritov, who could concoct alchemical explosives, were already very capable individuals. However, talent is a cruel and unforgiving thing.

Han Fulai himself had also experienced failing the college entrance examination, so he understood Timaus's feelings quite well.

The "top students" study hard every day and work their hardest to get a perfect score, while the "genius students" just write something casually and get a perfect score, and then complain about how there are only 100 points to be earned on this test... When the "top students" see such a gap, the blow to their hearts is probably much greater than that to the "underachievers".

He gently patted Timaeus on the shoulder and said, "Mr. Timaeus, please don't be discouraged. If you need some help with academic resources, you can consider coming to Liyue for an exchange for a while. Our 'Liyue Academy of Asmodian Arts' is currently recruiting talents and warmly welcomes exchanges between international scholars. We believe this will be beneficial to you."

Timaus nodded with a wry smile, thanking Han Fulai for his comfort.

To be honest, Timaus didn't take these words to heart at the time. He was just thinking that he might as well go to Liyue to relax sometime. He never imagined that a few months later, during the Lantern Festival, when he went to Liyue for "academic exchange," he would meet a "Master of Alchemy" named Ying'er, and from then on, he would stand guard next to the alchemy table in Liyue Harbor... Of course, that's another story.

Chapter Sixty-One: Mona Lisa

Next, Han Fulai consulted Timaus about precautions for visiting Longji Snow Mountain.

Timaus, having worked odd jobs in the snow mountain laboratory before, was far more familiar with the environment than Timaus, a transmigrator who had never personally experienced the snow mountain environment.

Mondstadt and the Dragon Ridge Mountains are hundreds of miles apart, with almost all of the area in between being hilly and difficult to traverse.

There are generally two entrances to Dragonspine from Mondstadt: the North Slope and the East Slope. The North Slope entrance is a long and circuitous route, requiring you to go from Springvale through Dawnbringer Winery and then around to the Salt Flats, which is almost like going back to Liyue from Mondstadt. The East Slope entrance, on the other hand, goes from Windrise through Dadaupa Valley to the junction of Windrush Hills and Dragonspine—this is the route Timaus recommended to him.

Although Dadaupa Valley is teeming with monsters and is far more dangerous than taking the long way around, the Adventurers' Guild in Mondstadt accepts escort missions year-round. As long as the money is right, plenty of adventurers will be eager to do the escort missions. Since Han Fu said he had urgent business, Timaus naturally recommended that he use Mora to buy time.

Timaus specifically reminded him about the "cold-resistance potion," warning him not to think he would be immune to wind and snow just because he drank it. The potion's actual effect was similar to drinking a bowl of spicy soup before climbing a snow-covered mountain, helping one to temporarily ignore the harsh cold and prevent freezing to the point of immobility.

The Adventurers' Guild of Mondstadt has left numerous supply points along the main trails of the snowy mountains, with signs erected and items such as charcoal, dry rations, and thermal blankets packed in sealed boxes for climbers and adventurers to use. With the help of "cold resistance potions," the chances of making it to a supply point are much greater.

Of course, these are just precautions, and Timaus said it would be best if they weren't needed. According to Timaus, once they reach the snow mountain camp, they can find Miss Sugar and ask her to help them into the mountains; with Sugar taking care of them, everything will be fine.

Sugar is not only Abedo's assistant, but also a full-fledged knight of the Knights of Favonius. Although she is petite and wears a pair of round glasses that give her a very student-like appearance, making her look like a frail, literary girl, Timaeus confidently asserts that Sugar is very capable in combat, even using "terrifying" as an adjective.

In Sugar's "bio-alchemy" project, all sorts of strange materials are often needed, and these materials obviously can't all be kept in the laboratory's warehouse, so Sugar must be able to collect the necessary alchemical materials by hand—for example... the flesh and bones of living beings...

Timaus had personally witnessed Sugar enter a Hilichurl camp in the wild in order to obtain "fresh, bloody bones," and emerge carrying a bloody Hilichurl thigh bone...

Ever since seeing Sugar's excited expression and gleaming eyes as she looked at the mangled monster corpse, Timaus has listed Sugar as one of the people he absolutely cannot offend.

Of course, the main reason Timaus suggested he look for Sugar was that Sugar had the Eye of God.

Those with the Eye of the Gods possess "Elemental Vision," enabling them to identify elemental marks left on the snow. Abedo, in his quest to collect "Star Silver Ore," often disappears into the mountains for days at a time. Ordinary marks are easily obscured by the wind and snow on Dragon Ridge Snow Mountain. Therefore, Abedo and Sugar agreed to use elemental marks as a tracking method. If there is any urgent matter requiring their contact, Sugar can follow the elemental marks he leaves behind to make contact.

It can be said that only Sugar, the "liaison," could find Abedo on the snow-capped mountain.

After thanking Timaus for his advice, Han Fu returned to the first floor of the Knights' headquarters and headed to the library to find Mona.

He needed to discuss the upcoming itinerary with Mona. A round trip to Longji Snow Mountain would take at least a week, so they had to make a plan.

As soon as Han Fulai entered the library, he saw a strange sight—two witches wearing pointed hats were sitting side by side behind the library's reception desk, drinking tea.

One was Mona, and the other was naturally Lisa, the librarian.

If Aberdo were to see these two in their current dignified state, he might just paint the world-famous Mona Lisa.

The way the two witches elegantly held their teacups was quite similar to the legendary "witches' gathering".

However, although the two were sitting together drinking tea, the atmosphere was not harmonious at all, and they did not exchange a single word.

Han Fulai quickly glanced at the expressions of the two witches and immediately understood the current atmosphere—

Mona's face was full of helplessness; just looking at her face gave you the feeling of "I hate her so much but I can't do anything about it," while Lisa's smug face was full of "I love how you can't stand me but can't do anything about it."

Upon seeing Han Fulai, Mona felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She immediately put down her teacup, stood up, and greeted him, "You've finally arrived!"

When Mona entered the library earlier, she immediately spotted the librarian sitting at the table—Lisa Mintz.

More importantly, there was Lisa's pointed hat adorned with a purple rose.

"So you're also a successor to the witch!" Mona blurted out.

At first, when Fischl mentioned the "librarian witch," Mona simply thought it was another childish gimmick Fischl added on the spot. However, she now realized that Fischl was telling the truth; this Miss Lisa Mintz was definitely a real witch.

Mona's ever-present pointed hat represents the witch's legacy, and not just anyone is qualified to wear such a hat.

Lisa, who was operating the "special heating kettle," looked up and glanced at the young girl standing in front of her.

“Witch? What’s that? I’m just a librarian,” Lisa replied with a smile.

"Hmph, lies can't hide from astrology." Mona curled her lip. "You are indeed the successor of 'M,' Lisa Minci!"

Andersdotter, a veteran member of the Witches' Guild, codenamed "M," has no "M" in his name.

According to the naming rules of the Witches' Guild, she should have been "A". However, "A" has already been taken by the founder, Alice. So where does this "M" come from?

It wasn't until she saw Lisa's witch's hat that Mona suddenly realized—

The witch codenamed "M" from two thousand years ago did indeed have an "M" in her name: Anderstower Mintz. That was the witch's real name.

The evidence was that purple rose.

Chapter Sixty-Two: The Rose Witch

Mona took a book out of her pocket.

The book is called "The Wild Boar Princess".

This is a fairy tale book that is widely circulated in Mondstadt. The author of this book is none other than the witch "M", Andersdorf.

Three days ago, when Mona saw Claire, Claire dumped everything out of her backpack on the floor. Mona had already collected it all and was about to return it to Claire. However, Mona's expression of utter despair terrified Claire, who, thinking she had committed a terrible crime, ran away as fast as she could, without even taking her things.

Aside from the old woman's embarrassing diary, all of Klee's stationery, textbooks, her mother's Teyvat Travel Guide, and this extracurricular reading, The Boar Princess, were abandoned by Klee.

Mona was too preoccupied with the meteorite incident a few days ago, but now that the meteorite issue has been resolved, she naturally has to return it to its rightful owner.

Despite her poverty, Mona was still a woman of principle; at least she wouldn't find someone's lost property and not return it—especially since these things weren't worth much money.

Apart from the diary, Mona had packed up everything else and was ready to return it to Klee.

Luminous had mentioned to Mona Klee's guardians in Mondstadt, including Jean, Captain Kaeya, her "brother" Abedo, and this "Aunt Lisa".

Mona had planned to hand the things over to Abedo when she went to see him today, so she brought all of Keli's books with her. Now that she had run into Lisa, she remembered the book.

The book Mona held in her hand, *The Wild Boar Princess*, was the first volume. Judging from the content, it was just an ordinary fairy tale, but what Mona pointed out to Lisa was the cover of *The Wild Boar Princess*—

The book cover features the author's logo, which is exactly the same rose as the one on Lisa's hat.

Just as Alice has many nicknames such as "the great adventurer of all worlds," the members of the Witch's Guild also have their own titles in addition to their code names. When the old woman reminisces with Mona about the past, she mentions how famous she used to be, and one of the titles that "M" has is "Rose Witch."

All of her works have the symbol of "Rose Witch" printed on the cover, which is the rose flower.

If Mona had inquired further, she would have learned that Lisa also held the title of "Rose Witch," though she never referred to herself as such.

“Since you have inherited the identity of the ‘Rose Witch,’ you must also be a member of the ‘Witches’ Guild,’ right? Do you dare to have a match with me?” Mona said aggressively.

Her initial purpose in coming to Mondstadt was to meet the successor of "A" and test her occult skills. Although "A's" daughter, Klee, did not understand occultism, the successor of "M" before her was clearly an expert.

Lisa yawned lazily. "Are you Fischl's friend? You have just as vivid an imagination as she does."

As she spoke, she casually accepted the copy of "The Wild Boar Princess".

"If you're returning books, just register here. Although I really enjoy chatting and drinking tea with you lovely ladies, unfortunately, the tea isn't ready yet."

This book, "The Wild Boar Princess," was a children's book that she brought to Claire from the library.

Although the final volume of the series, the seventh volume, is completely unsuitable for children—the ending is practically a "children's cult classic," so Lisa kept it in the "forbidden book section" of the library—the first six volumes are actually quite gentle adventure stories.

In addition, this set of books was actually one of the traditional ways for the "Witches' Guild" to hold meetings and communicate. The successors of witches would insert secret letters into this set of books that only fellow witches could understand. However, this method of communication has not been used for many years.

Mona, of course, was unaware of the intricacies involved and retorted angrily, "Who, who is 'cutie'! Don't confuse me with Fischl! My name is Astrologis Mona Megistus, the successor of Barbiros, and the greatest astrologer of the future!"

She thought Lisa would react when she heard the old woman's name, but Lisa just shook her head: "I can't remember so many names."

Mona was furious.

Ignoring Mona, Lisa continued operating the machine on the table.

From its appearance, the machine looked like a crucible commonly used in alchemy laboratories, usually used for heating and refining substances, but the one in front of Mona was a little different.

It is a "special heating vessel," a custom-made product with a design that the Mondstadt people cannot understand. It has the functions of delayed heating, semi-automatic addition of auxiliary materials, and limited heat preservation. It is a "special equipment" that Lisa used a large budget and two weeks of work time in the alchemy workshop to create.

With it, all precise heating operations can be completed with no more than two lever movements.

However, its most common use is to brew tea and maintain its optimal taste while Lisa is organizing books.

After all, the most important part of Lisa's day is her leisurely and enjoyable afternoon tea.

If Lisa were to travel to China, the dialect she would probably learn the fastest would be, "What time is it? Let's have some tea first! What's the point of doing all this?"

Although it's not noon yet, as long as you have a leisurely mindset, any time can be afternoon tea time.

Those familiar with Lisa will know that if she doesn't invite you to tea but starts fiddling with the tea set in front of you, it means she wants you to leave.

But Mona and Lisa weren't close.

So she took out the "water plate".

Upon seeing the water plate, a serious look finally flashed in Lisa's eyes.

“Miss Mona, right? You seem to be a very excellent mage, but please listen to me, I am not a member of the so-called ‘Witches’ Guild’. Ancient tree surveys and organizing tea parties sound like troublesome things, don’t they? I just like drinking tea, and I’d rather not participate in tea parties.”

“Your concealment is meaningless in the face of astrology. Just wait and see!” Mona began to spin the water divination plate.

But gradually, a pattern appeared on the water divination plate—Lisa's "Seal of Fate," the hourglass constellation.

“Let me see… an hourglass, symbolizing knowledge, time, and equivalent exchange. Hmm, Lisa Mintz, the Sulun school of Thosata from Siddham Academy—graduated from the Faculty of Arts in just two years and received a full academic degree? After that… she declined the position of captain of the 8th Squadron of the Knights of Favonius and became a librarian…”

Mona couldn't help but click her tongue as she looked at the water plate. No one in academic research was unaware of the Academy of the Order. The Academy of the Order was even more famous for its rigorous standards than for its academic achievements. Just graduating from the Academy was already a difficult thing. There were plenty of academic elites from various countries who had been struggling from their teens to their thirties without graduating, not to mention those who graduated within two years and became Tuosha.

Although she also considers herself a genius, Lisa is clearly a genius who is no less than her.

If Mona could see more clearly, she would also discover that Lisa is not only a genius, but a genius among geniuses.

Because Lisa almost became the youngest "Habantha" in the history of the Faculty, if she had been willing to stay in the Faculty, she would almost certainly have been recorded in history books and become the embodiment of the word "genius".

Chapter Sixty-Three: The New Assistant

Lisa is most famous in Mondstadt not for her beauty or her lightning, but for her erudition.