Chapter 185: Elixir

  "So how should I address you?" Li Chengfeng asked.

  Han Ming thought for a moment and replied, "Just call me Elo."

  "I can tell you really like that girl," Han Ming asked casually.

  "You mean Kulo?"

  Li Chengfeng's face turned red for the rare occasion.

  Han Ming nodded slightly.

  "Hehe, how should I put it, I do have a fondness for her, but I also understand that she won't like me," Li Chengfeng said with a self-deprecating smile.

  Han Ming's heart twitched. He said, "There's nothing absolute in this world. If you like her, just be brave and pursue her. As the saying goes, every girl has many suitors. It's normal."

  Han Ming's heart was bleeding. He really didn't know how to face Kulo.

  This fateful love made him feel very conflicted.

  On one hand was his master Li Xiaotian's deep-seated hatred, and on the other was his first love.

  He couldn't convince himself to continue associating with Kulo, and now he could barely restrain himself from taking action against her.

  The idea of actively letting Li Chengfeng pursue Kulo was undoubtedly twisted.

  Han Ming's mind was in chaos; he didn't know what to do. It was just at the moment he saw Li Chengfeng looking at Kulo affectionately that Han Ming suddenly had this thought.

  Perhaps if Kulo could be with his second brother, due to his and Li Chengfeng's identities, he might be able to refrain from touching her. At the same time, it also signaled the end of his feelings for Kulo.

  This way, he wouldn't have to be entangled anymore.

  When it came to matters of the heart, Han Ming was undoubtedly inexperienced, even childish.

  He could only think of this least effective method.

  He understood how absurd his decision was, even finding it hard to believe himself. But at least he knew now that this was better than picking up a weapon to harm Kulo.

  "Master, if you were here, how wonderful it would be. Could you tell me what I should do now? Should I seek justice and cut off ties with my benefactor, or defy the teacher-student bond and be with my master's enemy?"

  Han Ming was in great sorrow, but at this moment, no one could answer his question.

  "You don't understand, Miss Elo. Kulo... she has someone else in her heart. I've spent some time with her, and I can see that her heart only holds that man, who she regards as more important than life itself," Li Chengfeng sighed softly.

  "Let's go, there's always a turn of events. Remember, never mention the name Han Ming, not even in front of me and Miss Kulo," Han Ming said as he walked towards the inn and then turned back to instruct once more.

  The two returned to their seats.

  "Miss Kulo, why aren't you eating? Are you not feeling well?" Li Chengfeng asked, noticing that the food in front of Kulo hadn't been touched.

  "Is it not to your liking? I can change the table for you," he offered.

  Kulo shook her head gently, stopping Li Chengfeng's action, "No need, I just can't eat."

  Han Ming sat next to them, head bowed, quietly eating, occasionally glancing at Kulo.

  Kulo was so perceptive; she immediately noticed Han Ming's scrutiny.

  "What's your name?"

  Kulo didn't know why she suddenly took an interest in this girl in front of her. Lately, she had been living in despair and grief, as if everything in her world had died.

  Perhaps it was because the girl in front of her looked very much like Han Ming.

  Han Ming lowered his head and replied softly, "Elo."

  "Eh? Miss Kulo, don't you think their names sound a bit alike?" Li Chengfeng noticed this and curiously brought it up.

  Elo, Ailo. This was a name Han Ming had created based on Chinese grammar. Naturally, people like Kulo and Li Chengfeng, who had lived in the Monten Empire since childhood, couldn't immediately figure this out.

  "Yeah, it does sound a bit alike," Kulo nodded slightly.

  Li Chengfeng gently touched Han Ming's arm and whispered, "She hasn't spoken more than ten sentences these days. But she spoke to you as soon as you came. I hope you can help her, talk to her more. She's very unstable emotionally right now."

  "You two eat, I'll go back to my room first," Kulo stood up and went upstairs.

  Looking at the untouched food in front of Kulo, Li Chengfeng sighed.

  "Han Ming, you eat first, I still have some things to take care of. I might not be back for about ten days."

  Han Ming also stood up to leave.

  "Eh? Miss Elo, you're leaving? You've just arrived, where are you rushing off to so urgently?" Li Chengfeng was very curious about this girl he had just met less than an hour ago wanting to leave.

  "It's nothing, you don't need to ask too much."

  After saying that, Han Ming lowered his head, wiped his mouth, and left the inn.

  "Everyone's gone, damn it! I'll eat by myself!" Li Chengfeng grumbled moodily and stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth.

  A few days later.

  Outside Norad City.

  "Quick! Hurry up! Put in more effort! You must rebuild my castle within these few days, or else all of you will be sent to the borderlands!" Chilard sat on a wooden chair, glaring as he watched a group of soldiers sweating profusely building his castle.

  Ever since Han Ming's accident destroyed his castle, Chilard had been living in the Mage Guild.

  But after decades of living alone, he couldn't stand the noisy environment of the Mage Guild.

  During the time Han Ming was unconscious, one day Chilard mysteriously approached Berman.

  "Do you want to pursue that girl?" Chilard asked with a sly smile, poking Berman.

  Berman nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I dream about it every night!"

  Chilard chuckled sinisterly, "That girl has deep feelings for me. If you want to pursue her, you must first pass through me."

  Although Berman was big and sometimes slow to react, he wasn't stupid and quickly asked, "What do you want me to do?"

  Chilard smiled maliciously, "Organize a group of soldiers to build a castle, just like the original."

  "Hmm? But you're the vice president of the Mage Guild, can't you just order someone to do it? With a wave of your hand, there would be plenty of people eager to build it for you."

  "Stop talking nonsense! I hate owing people favors. Besides, I've spent most of my money on medicinal materials. If you build the castle for me, I won't have to spend money, will I? Soldiers are also more efficient."

  "Um..."

  "Not agreeing, huh? Then I'll leave, and you won't see that girl again."

  "Don't, don't, I agree!"

  The following events unfolded smoothly.

  "You! Dare to slack off!"

  Chilard scolded a soldier who was standing and wiping sweat, "Get back to work immediately!"

  "I'm tired, just catching my breath," the soldier said plaintively.

  "Oh? Tired? Well, I happen to have some stimulant elixirs here, here, take one. Drink it down."

  Chilard said, taking out a small bottle from his bosom.

  Seeing Chilard wanting him to drink medicine, the soldier was terrified. Chilard's reputation was well-known; everyone knew this old guy liked to test his potions on people. Drinking his potion meant death or at least severe pain.

  "No... no need, I suddenly feel invigorated, I'll get back to work right away, haha, haha."

  The soldier forced a laugh and hurriedly resumed working.

  "That's more like it," Chilard chuckled sinisterly.

  While everyone was busy working feverishly, a figure quickly ran over from a distance.

  Chilard looked up and burst into laughter.

  "Han boy! I thought you had left Norad. I knew you wouldn't be so inhumane as to leave without saying goodbye."

  Seeing that the newcomer was Han Ming, Chilard was delighted. Han Ming was one of the few people he respected.

  Han Ming arrived like the wind, grabbed Chilard's arm.

  "That transformation elixir, hurry up, give me some more!"

  "What? Did I hear that right?" Chilard stared at Han Ming in disbelief.

  "Didn't you always want to restore your original appearance? Why are you suddenly asking me for the transformation elixir now? What are you up to?"

  Han Ming waved his hand impatiently, "You don't need to know, I have an urgent matter now, I can't change back yet, are you going to give it to me or not!?"

  "No! And I don't have any left either."

  Chilard turned his head away with a pout.

  Han Ming nodded, turned to look at the castle that was almost completed, and sneered.

  "You... what are you looking at my castle for? What do you want to do?" Chilard immediately panicked.

  "Nothing, just hurry up and give me the elixir, don't say you don't have any. Do you really think I'm a three-year-old kid? I was just too lazy to expose you before. Are you willing to drink all the elixirs yourself? Go lie to the ghosts!"

  Chilard's face turned red, and he said, "What if I don't give it to you?"

  "Well, if you don't, that's fine too. Your castle looks good, just like the original, but I wonder if it's stronger than the previous one. How about this, I'll help you test it," Han Ming said, rolling up his sleeves and heading towards the castle.

  "Hey? No, no, no, let's talk this over, I'm really scared of you."

  Chilard was really afraid that Han Ming would destroy the castle he had just built, and quickly pleaded with a tearful face.

  "Give..."

  Chilard carefully took out a small bottle from his bosom, was about to hand it to Han Ming, but quickly withdrew his hand.

  "Let's make it clear first, this is what you asked for. If you can't change back to a man later, don't blame me for not warning you."

  Upon hearing this, Han Ming thought for a moment and asked, "If I drink this bottle, how long can I maintain the transformation?"

  Chilard puffed up his chest proudly and said, "With this bottle down, you'll be a woman for the rest of your life."

  Han Ming gritted his teeth; he had already despaired of love. What was the difference between being a man or a woman? However, the principle of "the body is given by the parents" and those men who always looked at him lecherously really disgusted Han Ming.

  "What if... I change for a year or two, how much would I need to drink?"

  Chilard looked at Han Ming sideways, "I'm really impressed by you, not knowing the basics at all. No matter how much you drink, you'll be a woman for life. The effect of the potion is the same; it's just a matter of how quickly it takes effect. If you only want to maintain a female body for a short time, I'd have to dilute this potion."

  "Then hurry up!"

  Han Ming urged repeatedly.

  "Alright, I'm scared of you."

  Half a day later.

  "Here..."

  Reluctantly, Chilard handed a small bottle of transformation elixir to Han Ming.

  "This is a specially diluted potion. I really don't understand how long it can maintain the transformation, after all, this potion has just been successfully developed. You know that. But don't worry, if you find yourself turning back into a man, just drink a little bit, and it should last for a while."

  Han Ming asked with some worry, "What if... I can't change back?"

  Chilard chuckled and took out another small bottle.

  "This is another bottle of potion, the same as the second one you drank. How to use it, you should understand by now. If you find you can't change back, drink this one."

  "I understand, thank you!"