"I can only say, it smells really good."

"What I need to talk to you about is the Alchemist black market," the old man continued, unaware that Fang Hong was daydreaming, "where there is light, there is Shadow. Every Alchemist will find a time when they need to use the black market. Only there can you buy certain materials and blueprints controlled by the Alchemist's Guild."

"But those places are not a paradise for Alchemists," Ande took a book from the drawer and handed it to Fang Hong: "There, you may find some reliable merchants, but more often, there are scammers and other lawless individuals. Rather than selling you better things, they're more interested in how to fleece money out of your pockets."

He tapped the book's cover: "So be extremely careful when dealing with these people. This book was written by a renowned Alchemist and mainly covers how to interact with black market merchants and some famous scams."

The afternoon sun was slowly filtering through the window, casting the last hint of winter warmth into the living room. The legendary Alchemist meticulously laid out all the relevant precautions and then asked: "Did you understand?"

Fang Hong thought for a moment: "Not really, but I can ask Tianlan and Miss Atira to help haggle."

Ande gasped, almost tossing the book directly at his face: "...I said, the Alchemist black market is only accessible to Alchemists. Your Miss Atira and Tianlan cannot enter."

"Then I just won't go to the Alchemist black market, oh—"

Before he finished speaking, a thick book was slammed into his face, leaving him seeing Golden Stars. Ande's veins throbbed like a roaring Giant Dragon: "Get out of my sight, you hopeless fool! Memorize this book ten times over! If you can't remember any part of it, don't come to see me again!"

Fang Hong held the book, running for cover innocently.

However, in the end, he memorized the entire book with astonishing Memory—more or less.

As for how to apply the contents, well, only All Saints above would probably know. Fang Hong had already made up his mind to persuade Tianlan and Miss Atira to change careers to Alchemists. Wouldn't that be a wonderful way to solve the problem?

However, after that, Ande stopped discussing such 'Knowledge' with him, perhaps seeing him as an uncarvable piece of wood, and only discussed Alchemy-related Knowledge with him.

This made their interactions much smoother, and similar incidents never occurred again.

As their teaching went deeper, Ande found himself increasingly impressed by the young man's astonishing talent in Alchemy. Although he initially harbored some evaluation intentions, he eventually regarded Fang Hong as his true apprentice.

He never expected his previous joke with Old Copper Nose would come true, although he faintly suspected he was once again tricked by that girl from the Albert Family.

But this was an overt plot.

For someone like him, a legendary Alchemist, at this age, he only wanted a competent apprentice. He previously had no successor simply because his standards were too high.

And Fang Hong's arrival seemed like a fateful pleasant surprise. Consequently, the old man inadvertently became more meticulous in his teaching.

Fang Hong's grasp of 'Knowledge' naturally advanced by leaps and bounds.

In the last few days, he gained even more Experience—

A blizzard arrived as scheduled a few days ago, and after that, Fang Hong no longer returned to Dulun, but stayed in the manor. Coincidentally, there was another Guest at the manor—Golande Artisan Association's Chairman, but perhaps because their learning times and activities were staggered, Fang Hong only saw him once from afar in the yard.

Neither left much impression on the other.

Phales Copper Bay would never have thought that the young man he met that day would be the Alchemist youth from Fenris Isle he had been seeking.

Sometimes, Hilveld would also come and stay overnight in the manor—only this made things a bit awkward, because Ande assumed they were a couple and arranged for them to share a room.

With only one double bed inside.

In the cold of winter, Fang Hong certainly couldn't sleep on the icy floor, so they had to sleep back-to-back. Fang Hong repeatedly promised he would absolutely not turn over—but to this, the Noble Lady only gave a slight smile.

A pair of sea-like eyes gazed at him as if they could speak.

Outside, the bitter cold of the blizzard howled, its roar overwhelming the far and near sounds of the forest wails, only broken by branches occasionally hitting the window with a rustling sound.

But indoors, it was surprisingly quiet, only the clock ticking away softly. Fang Hong, staring into the darkness, could only feel the girl's warm back pressed tightly against his, as if they shared the only warmth amidst this cold.

He was wide awake, his mind filled with wild thoughts.

Both of them were actually not asleep, just silently maintaining a rhythm in the dark, neither wishing to break it, lest it became too awkward.

What Fang Hong didn't expect was that after a while, perhaps influenced by him, Miss Tata also crawled out from under the covers. In the dark, Miss Fairy sat kneeling on the pillow, looking at him curiously:

"Mr. Knight, your emotions are very unstable, is Miss Hilveld affecting you?"

Miss Tata asked calmly.

Fang Hong almost wanted to bang his head against the headboard.

"Miss Tata, don't say it out loud!" he screamed in his heart.

But Fang Hong clearly forgot that they shared a mental connection. Tata, puzzled, asked: "Why can't it be said?"

A soft chuckle.

On the other side of the covers came Hilveld's stifled laugh, though the Noble Lady managed to hold it in, her shoulders shook violently.

In that moment, Fang Hong felt he had met his social demise.

...

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