Capítulo 37: Chapter 37

Back at the shop, Zhu Zi lit up the new square lantern, and the interior immediately brightened.

"Boss, are you taking a bath today?"

"Mm."

"Then I'll go boil some water in the kitchen."

"Okay."

Xia Zhi sat in his chair, watching Zhu Zi walk into the kitchen in the back. Soon after, he could hear the sound of running water.

Private residences were different from inns. Inns usually had centrally heated water that was piped to each room, but private homes weren't so convenient – you had to boil your own hot water.

Fortunately, Liyue now had running water, so they didn't have to go through the trouble of drawing water from wells.

While Zhu Zi was boiling water in the kitchen, Xia Zhi remembered the Slime Condensate dish he had eaten at Wanmin Restaurant that evening.

Though it was an alchemy material, it could be used as a cooking ingredient.

This made Xia Zhi realize how lacking his knowledge of alchemy materials was. Even when he saw them, he wouldn't recognize them without the system's prompts.

If this continued, he would surely miss many alchemy materials that could be collected.

Now that he had the golden-grade alchemy tool "Blazing Incense Burner" in his possession, and had discovered that self-made items of extraordinary quality could be exchanged for points, he needed various alchemy materials more than ever. Missing such opportunities would be particularly regrettable.

Xia Zhi pondered for a moment before opening the [Shop] and searching with filters. He found two items.

[Basic Alchemy Knowledge Primer]

Quality: Iron

Type: Book

Properties: None

Effect: This is a textbook introducing various basic alchemy techniques.

Hidden Effect: None

Price: 1 point

[Basic Alchemy Materials Guide]

Quality: Iron

Type: Book

Properties: None

Effect: This is a guide collecting various alchemy materials.

Hidden Effect: None

Price: 1 point

Both items were very suitable for Xia Zhi's current needs, and the prices were reasonable.

However, they were just ordinary books that would require Xia Zhi to spend considerable time and effort studying them.

Xia Zhi looked further and found experience book versions of these two items.

The price was doubled to 2 points.

Xia Zhi now had 2 points left.

If he bought the book versions, the points would be just enough. If he bought the experience book versions, he would be short 2 points.

Although he had no treasure chests to recycle, he could use [Calming Pills] to make [Calming Incense] for recycling.

And one pill could make about 10 portions of incense.

With this in mind, the choice wasn't difficult.

Xia Zhi first bought the experience book version of [Basic Alchemy Materials Guide] and chose to use it.

Moments later, his mind was filled with knowledge of various low-level alchemy materials. Some were from Teyvat, others from different worlds, with strange appearances and effects.

"Slime Condensate... Whopperflower Nectar... Flaming Flower Stamen... Mist Flower Corolla... Crystal Core... Qingxin... Horsetail... Glaze Lily... Silk Flower..."

Xia Zhi mumbled a long string of alchemy material names. Most of these materials he had never seen in Liyue's markets. Besides gathering them himself in the wild, he could only rely on posting collection commissions at the Adventurers' Guild.

Like when he first came to Liyue, he had accepted a commission to deliver five Slime Condensates at the Adventurers' Guild.

The Glaze Lilies and Silk Flowers did grow in Yujing Terrace, but that area was where important people lived and was strictly guarded by the Millelith. He couldn't just go there and pick them freely.

However... Xia Zhi glanced towards Bubu Pharmacy outside the shop. With this guide knowledge, he could try collecting materials in the mountains outside the city, and perhaps coincidentally meet Qiqi.

"Boss!" Zhu Zi came out from the kitchen. "The water's ready, you can go take your bath now."

Xia Zhi stood up and said, "Alright."

After getting his sleepwear from upstairs, Xia Zhi walked into the bathroom. Steam was rising, and the wooden tub had already been filled with hot water by Zhu Zi.

Xia Zhi dipped his hand into the tub to test the water temperature, which felt just right.

At this moment, Xia Zhi heard Zhu Zi standing outside the bathroom door, gently knocking and saying, "Boss, leave your clothes in the bathroom later. After I finish my bath, I'll help wash them together with mine."

"No need..."

"It's fine, your eyes can't see well, so it's inconvenient for you to wash clothes. You won't know if they're clean or not. I need to wash clothes anyway, so it's no trouble."

"Then... thank you."

Xia Zhi fell silent for a moment before expressing his gratitude.

Zhu Zi smiled and went back to the kitchen to boil water for her own bath.

While bathing, Xia Zhi couldn't help but marvel to himself.

Were all girls from Inazuma this gentle and thoughtful?

How wonderful.

For such a considerate employee, even 10,000 Mora per month seemed too little.

After his bath, Xia Zhi left his clothes in the bathroom, only taking his underwear with him – he wouldn't trouble her with washing that, to avoid embarrassment.

"Boss, are you done?"

"Yes, I'm going upstairs now. Remember to lock the shop door later."

"Okay."

"There's not much to do at the shop tomorrow, so you can sleep in a bit."

"Alright!"

"Good night."

"Good night!"

Xia Zhi returned to his room, closed the door, took out the [Blazing Incense Burner] and incense materials, and following yesterday's experience, made two portions of [Calming Incense].

He put them in his inventory, and sure enough, they showed the recyclable option.

Choosing to recycle, he gained 2 points.

Xia Zhi then bought and used the experience book version of [Basic Alchemy Knowledge Primer].

His mind was immediately filled with much knowledge related to alchemy techniques.

Steaming, mixing, calcination, elemental reactions...

Xia Zhi rubbed his temples, digesting this complex knowledge, feeling that this purchase was well worth it.

If he had saved 1 point by buying the book version, relying on his own ability to understand and comprehend, he probably couldn't have finished the book even after several months.

Now with this alchemy knowledge, he had new insights into making incense. He wouldn't just throw all the mixed materials directly into the incense burner like before.

Although that method could still produce incense, and even force perfect results thanks to the burner's hidden effect, it actually involved some waste and luck.

Xia Zhi prepared another batch of materials, this time changing their order of addition to the burner. He added [Slime Condensate] first, leaving the [Calming Pill] components for last.

When the [Blazing Incense Burner] finished processing, Xia Zhi lifted the lid and poured out a regularly shaped, crystal-clear incense.

He put it in his inventory and found its description had changed.

[Perfect Calming Incense]

Quality: Iron

Type: Consumable

Properties: None

Effect: A special incense made with the Blazing Incense Burner, incorporating Calming Pills. Can calm people's hearts and please spirits.

Hidden Effect: Burning duration increased by 30%, calming and stabilizing effect increased by 30%.

Recycling price: 1 point

The new incense had "Perfect" added to its name and gained a nice hidden effect.

But it was still just iron grade...

Could it be that any "Perfect" extraordinary item, regardless of quality, could gain hidden effects?

Xia Zhi thought for a while, took the incense from his inventory, and lit it in the ordinary incense burner on the table.

Wisps of fragrance spread out, quickly calming his mood.

Xia Zhi took out paper and pen, continuing to write his novel manuscript.

After some time, he heard someone climbing the stairs outside.

It was Zhu Zi.

She seemed to be deliberately treading lightly, afraid of disturbing him.

Then came the soft sound of a door opening, followed by the sound of it being locked from inside.

This Inazuman girl was quite cautious.

Xia Zhi shook his head and continued writing his manuscript.

When it got late and Xia Zhi felt drowsy, he finally put down his quill and went to bed.

At some point, a slender white phantom phased through the wall from next door, floating directly to the table and eagerly inhaling the fragrance from the incense burner.

"Delicious... even better... than yesterday's... incense..."