C10 The Chinese Cuisine That must be Cooked in the Traditional Way

The poisonous gas was scant but lethal; a single whiff could be fatal to an adult.

Only after confirming that the mice thrown into the bathroom had survived did Liang Mu re-enter, signaling for the Old Steward to take away the deceased rodents as he left. Approaching the wooden tub, Liang Mu observed the mercury-like liquid within, a stark contrast to its previous murky appearance. The scent of fresh grass confirmed the potion's success. Without hesitation, he disrobed and submerged himself in the liquid, leaving only his head exposed.

An hour had passed, yet the liquid retained a gentle warmth, perfect for soaking. The initial warmth gave way to a bone-chilling coolness, accompanied by a slight sting. Without a second thought, Liang Mu donned a breathing mask, closed his eyes, and plunged his head beneath the silvery surface.

As he soaked longer, the coolness intensified to an icy chill, blurring the distinction between hot and cold. The Five Poisons beneath his skin ceased their sluggish writhing, instead darting frantically just below the surface. The skin they touched darkened and wrinkled, losing its vitality. But the liquid worked its magic, slowly purging the black impurities and filling the voids with silver, rejuvenating and smoothing the skin.

Despite the excruciating pain caused by the Five Poisons, Liang Mu grew numb to it, his focus shifting to the wealth of knowledge unfolding in his mind. The characteristics and effects of each Magic Medicine ingredient were vividly clear, along with their respective formulas. While this information alone didn't captivate him, the method of acquisition did—it was akin to directly accessing the data from a jade slip. This long-missed sensation effortlessly lulled Liang Mu into a deep slumber.

Upon awakening, Liang Mu's gaze fell upon the familiar ceiling overhead. Instinctively, he knew the Old Steward must have carried him back. Glancing at the wall clock, he noted it was now two in the morning.

Glancing at Duobao, who was sleeping soundly beside him, Liang Mu abandoned the thought of rising and gently placed the gemstone that had fallen nearby into the little one's hands.

Staring at the ceiling, Liang Mu activated his panel.

Status:

Name: Liang Mu

Player Number: 1705117218

Level: 1

Occupation: None

Title: Invited Player

Status: Full Spirit, Poison Resistance (50% immunity to white-quality toxins, decreases with higher quality toxins)

Health: 600/600

Mana Points: 0/0

Strength: 10

Constitution: 11

Agility: 10

Intelligence: 11

Charm: 5

Luck: 5

Skill Column:

Active Skill: Divination LV4

Knowledge Skill: Potions LV2

Item Inventory: 3,000 Game Coins

Liang Mu was indifferent to his advancement in Potions; it seemed trivial to him. Despite his previously acquired abilities being sealed, he was confident that his knowledge would rank highly if converted to Potions levels—regrettably, only abilities gained through Paradise were officially recognized.

More intriguing than his rudimentary Potions skill was the newly added poison resistance and the altered stats that now held his attention. With this resistance, Liang Mu could use Magic Medicine with greater confidence and without fear of being poisoned by others.

The boost in constitution and the subsequent increase in health piqued Liang Mu's interest. He had considered enhancing his physical capabilities with body tempering medicines, but had been unable to find the necessary materials for the concoction.

Now, with the additional knowledge in his mind and the insights gained from reaching level two in Potions, he was sure he could create at least two types of body and spirit tempering potions. The effectiveness, however, remained to be seen.

Closing his eyes, Liang Mu tapped into his "Dream" ability. He could now simulate potion formulations within his dreamscape. Although his intelligence was modest, this method allowed him to minimize mental strain. The only drawback was that his dreams were far from idyllic.

In his dream, as Liang Mu completed the third batch of Magic Medicine, he felt as though someone was dancing on him, prompting him to abruptly exit the dream state.

Upon waking, Duobao was lively and energetic, hopping around on Liang Mu, who reached out and gently grasped the little guy by the scruff of the neck and placed him in a nearby gemstone box, ignoring his pitiful gaze.

Stretching his back, Liang Mu stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, basking in the warm sunlight and squinting his eyes in comfort.

Regrettably, there was no more time for sleep. With only twelve days left before his departure to Hogwarts, he needed to prepare the necessary potions promptly. If possible, Liang Mu wouldn't mind taking a few magical tools for self-defense.

However, a silvery gleam caught his attention.

It wasn't the reflection from a metallic object, but rather a glow emanating from his skin in the sunlight.

Recalling the silver potion he had soaked in the night before, Liang Mu wondered if his skin had absorbed the color. He quickly touched his chest and looked at his arm, relieved to see that the Five Poisons had vanished. He certainly didn't want to carry such an unsightly mark with him all the time.

While sipping the meticulously brewed oil tea, a sudden realization struck Liang Mu.

"Old Steward," he called out, turning to the old steward standing by.

"Does it not suit your taste, Young Master?" the Old Steward inquired with a straight posture and a slight forward lean.

"Does our family have investments in Hogwarts?" Liang Mu asked after taking another sip of his tea.

"Yes, Young Master, our family is indeed part of the Hogwarts Board of Directors."

"If only I could have Chinese food every day," Liang Mu mused as he finished his tea and wiped his mouth.

"I'll send a few Chinese cookbooks to the Family Elves there," he decided, nodding with satisfaction before heading to the study. He checked the time; the witch who had nearly exhausted her knowledge was due to arrive soon.

Watching Liang Mu ascend the stairs, the Old Steward pondered whether he should also learn a few Chinese dishes. Meanwhile, his efficient staff quickly tidied up after Liang Mu. This castle lacked a Family Elf, perhaps due to differing philosophies.

In the study, Liang Mu lit an aromatic candle and arranged several gems around the crystal ball. Unlike the Eastern practice of casting coins, the Western Wizard Realm also has its own divination methods, such as reading tea leaves in a cup. Unfortunately, these methods are not highly accurate. Liang Mu believed the only truly useful tools were the crystal ball, which allowed for remote surveillance, and the tarot cards, which offered various interpretations.

The nature of the occult is such that certainty eludes even the most knowledgeable.