The door of the Black residence stood wide open, with a sign reading “Black Clinic” hanging on it. Lai Yi walked straight in.
A freckled teenage boy was organizing various herbs.
“Who are you looking for, sir?” he asked.
“Is Dr. Black in? I’m Lai Yi Victor.”
“Ah! Young Mr. Victor, I know of you. My respects to your parents.”
The boy made a fist with his right hand and tapped his left shoulder twice, then called for Black who was preparing potions on the second floor.
“Lai Yi, is your head bothering you again?” Black asked warmly.
Never had anyone seen Dr. Black be anything less than enthusiastic with guests—he liked all customers who could bring him copper coins, yet was remarkably stingy.
The boy curled his lips.
“No, I’m fine. I just wanted to ask you some questions.”
“No need to be so formal, Lai Yi. Come with me.”
“And,” Black continued, “Jack, the broken potion bottle today will be deducted from your salary.”
Jack froze, staring resentfully at Black’s retreating back as he went upstairs.
Black took Lai Yi to the reception room on the second floor.
Besides tables and chairs, there was a single bed inside. Occasionally, seriously ill patients would stay here.
The two sat down.
“What’s your question?”
Lai Yi didn’t beat around the bush, directly conjuring a green light sphere to show him.
“Oh, beautiful Wood-type magic.”
Black didn’t seem surprised.
“Can humans acquire magic through acquired means?”
Black’s eyes flickered.
“Theoretically, no. If it were possible, you should believe that for this extremely slim possibility, humans would do many terrible things. Never underestimate human greed, isn’t that right?” Black said sarcastically.
“Actually, I discovered you had magical talent during your first treatment. After all, your mother was once a fifth-tier junior magician.”
This was something Lai Yi genuinely didn’t know.
Father was a knight, mother was a magician—it seemed this family wasn’t as simple as it appeared. This also explained why there would be a wood element stone in an ordinary rural household.
Lai Yi’s mind was racing a bit too much, though he soon learned that junior magicians were commonplace in larger cities…
There was still some flattery in Black’s words.
“I’m not entirely clear about your magic threshold. You could go to the Mage Association in the town center to get tested.”
“Magic threshold largely determines how far a magician can go,” Black thoughtfully added.
Lai Yi thanked Black, paid some consultation fees, bought some common potions, and then set off on the road to the Mage Association.
The Mage Association was a four-story building with totems of five elements carved on its exterior walls, more majestic than other surrounding structures.
Opposite it stood the church, with a fountain separating the two buildings.
Lai Yi entered the Mage Association’s hall, where a few people sat scattered in the resting areas on both sides. Against the middle wall stood a large solid wood desk, behind which sat a drowsy old man.
“Hello,” Lai Yi greeted politely, startling the old man awake.
“Here for a mission or something else?” The old man opened his mouth wide in a yawn.
“To test my level and threshold.”
“Seven silver coins.”
Lai Yi felt a slight pang of heartache but still paid the money. He had only brought a dozen or so silver coins with him and hadn’t expected the test to cost anything.
Upon receiving the silver coins, the old man’s attitude visibly improved. He picked up a set of keys and led Lai Yi to a locked room.
“Magic is primarily divided into five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. It’s rare to see someone your age coming for a test. Even with exceptional talent, advancing ranks becomes difficult after adulthood.”
The old man opened the door.
In the center of the room sat a transparent spherical crystal, connected to intricate machinery that seemed out of place with the era’s aesthetic.
“Never seen anything like this, have you?”
The old man boasted proudly.
“This is a magical device crafted by a Gnome master.”
“Indeed, I haven’t. Such sophisticated equipment must be affordable only for a powerful guild like the Mage Association.”
Lai Yi flattered.
“Hmph.”
The old man, clearly pleased by Lai Yi’s words, began the test while explaining.
“Wipe your hands clean and place them on the detection sphere.”
Lai Yi followed his instructions, and the old man activated the device.
The moment it started, the detection sphere began to glow.
Lai Yi felt a stream of energy transmitted through the crystal sphere into his body.
The old man gradually increased the energy output. At first, Lai Yi could barely maintain balance, but soon, beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, and his hands began to tremble.
“Prepare to release the magic. I’m shutting off the energy flow. Three! Two! One!”
The device turned off, and Lai Yi released his magic following the sphere’s pull. The detection area turned a tender green.
“Done.”You’re at Wood element, Level 3, Beginner.” Your maximum potential is Intermediate Level 2.”
The old man shook his head as he spoke. This aptitude was slightly better than average but still quite ordinary in the wider world.
Lai Yi thanked him, took a test certificate stamped with the seal of the Rosen Town Mage Association, and a wooden plaque carved with a Wood-type totem before leaving the Mage Association.
The old man told him he could use the plaque to accept bounty tasks here in the future.
Lai Yi had no specific plans.
The result was within his expectations. Even during the apocalypse, his ability level hadn’t been very high.
As a person, it’s better not to be too greedy.
He had no desire to become some great figure who would change the course of history. He just wanted to farm peacefully in the village and, if possible, own a piece of land.The beginner’s third level was enough.
For the rest of the day, Lai Yi went to the market.
The place was crowded with townsfolk running businesses and farmers from various villages selling their goods.
He bought three pounds of salt and some spices.
Then he went to the grain section and purchased thirty pounds of rye flour, ten pounds of wheat flour, and two pounds of oatmeal, along with an assortment of seeds.
Rye flour cost ten copper coins per pound, while wheat flour was twenty copper coins per pound. The wheat flour here had a slightly yellowish tint, appearing creamy white.
Buying flour alone cost him over five silver coins. Seeing his large purchase, the shopkeeper kindly delivered it to the docking area for free.
With the major purchases done, Lai Yi began exploring the market as recommended by passersby.
Each merchant had a wooden stall displaying various goods, while villagers laid their items on the ground, using parchment or animal hides as mats.
There was everything from food to daily necessities. The items weren’t exquisite but looked sturdy and durable.
Strolling from one end to the other, Lai Yi noticed people of other races also buying and selling goods. Most of them were beastfolk.
A beastman had set up a simple wooden rack supported by sticks, from which several bloody Gulu Beasts hung upside down—each plump and sturdy. The Gulu Beast’s structure closely resembled that of a pig.
Wild Gulu Beasts, constantly evading predators, developed leaner meat with less fat, a stronger gaminess, and tougher texture. The oil rendered from them carried a similarly potent flavor—this was the very oil Lai Yi’s household currently used.
The meat at this stall, however, was fatty with little lean, likely from domesticated or tamed Gulu Beasts.
Compared to the wild variety, it tasted much better, hence the crowd of buyers.
Lai Yi bought fifteen pounds as well, specifically requesting some caul fat.
The stall owner was a two-and-a-half-meter-tall beastman wearing a leather apron, bare-armed, with two semicircular ears standing erect on his head.
He deftly twirled a half-arm-length pointed knife, swiftly slicing the requested meat with two clean strokes and effortlessly shaving off the black-haired skin.
“Want the skin?” the stall owner asked, his voice rough and muffled.
“Yes.”
The stall owner gave Lai Yi a puzzled look.
Gulu Beast skin, with its coarse, hard-to-remove hair and unpleasant taste, was usually discarded by most people.
He couldn’t quite grasp why this frail human wanted it, but he wrapped the skin for him anyway, tossing in an extra piece that looked relatively clean from the ground.
Lai Yi raised an eyebrow.
“On the house,” the stall owner said before turning away to attend to other customers.
Carrying the meat, Lai Yi left the stall and bought some miscellaneous items. Checking the sun, he saw it was about time and hurried to the pickup point with his basket.
Everyone returned with a full load, but fortunately, Haggard’s ox cart was spacious enough.
After organizing their purchases, the group set off on the return journey.
Several hours of bumpy travel later, they reached the village just in time for dinner.
Hearing the commotion, Neil dashed out of Haggard’s house like a little cannonball.
“Brother, you’re finally back!”
“Yes, we’re back.”
The two women were also greeted by their families. Lai Yi and the others divided the goods, paid for the ride, and headed to their respective homes.
When Lai Yi tried to pay, Linda shot him a glare, making him sheepishly put his money pouch away.
“Lam, help Lai Yi carry his things back!”
“Coming!”
A young man rushed out energetically.
He had the same reddish-brown hair as Linda, with unruly, shoulder-length curls and faint freckles on his cheeks.
He was Linda’s third son, just eighteen years old—two years younger than Lai Yi.
Neil eagerly reached for the heaviest bag but got a light knuckle rap from Lam.
“With me here, you think a shorty like you gets to carry the load?”
Lam hoisted the bag, slung the heaviest flour sack over his shoulder, and strode out without a backward glance.
Neil, feeling unconvinced, went for the basket, but Lai Yi intercepted it, leaving him with the smallest bag.
“Aunt Linda, Uncle Haggard, we’re heading off.”
After bidding farewell, Lai Yi left Haggard’s house with Neil.
Lam hadn’t gone far, and Neil ran to catch up.
Lai Yi watched from behind as the two bickered playfully all the way home.
Back at the house, the three unloaded everything in the living room.
Lai Yi dug two apples from his basket and tossed them to Lam, who caught them with a grin.
“Brother, I heard you hunted a Longtooth Beast in the woods. Take me along next time you go hunting, I’m really strong!”
Lam wiped an apple and took a crisp bite.
Lai Yi hesitated. With his current abilities, he could barely protect himself – taking another person along would stretch him too thin. But he didn’t refuse outright.
“Maybe next time.”
“Alright! You must take me next time, brother!”
Lam happily headed home. Neil made a face at his retreating back before turning expectant eyes to Lai Yi.
“Brother, I…”
“Don’t even ask.”
Neil’s head drooped like a puppy’s. Lai Yi chuckled and ruffled his hair.
“Help me organize these things.”
“Sure thing!”
Neil immediately regained his energy, arranging items one by one with the seriousness of a little adult.
“Brother, why did you buy Gulu Beast hide?”
Pork skin jelly, fried pork rinds, pickled pepper pork skin… various delicious dishes floated through Lai Yi’s mind.
“To make food, of course.”
Neil looked at his brother, then at the dusty hide in his hand.
Big brother is always right.
If any doubts arise, refer to the previous rule!
Neil chose to firmly believe in his brother.
After tidying up, Lai Yi used a knife to cut the potatoes and sweet potatoes he’d taken out yesterday into chunks, making sure each piece had at least one eye. He coated all the exposed surfaces with wood ash.
“Brother, what’s this for?”
Neil watched curiously.
“You’ll find out in a few days.”
“Oh.”
Neil obediently helped Lai Yi tend the fire without further questions.
Lai Yi began preparing tonight’s dinner.
What should I make?
An idea suddenly popped into his head.
Author’s Note:
A saying circulates among gnome master smiths: “Never expect to gain any advantage from humans!”
Golden Oak, about to be promoted to senior smith, paid no heed to this saying. He was soon to become the youngest senior smith in all gnome-dom! Of course, this was conditional on him forging a sixth-grade masterpiece.
Golden Oak wandered everywhere seeking inspiration.
He came to the territory of the beast-folk.
He asked, “What difficulties do you need solved?”
The beast-folk told him, “We’re busy preventing Magical Beasts from stealing our livestock.”
So Golden Oak forged warning bells that could actively alert them.
The beast-folk were delighted and gave Golden Oak hundreds of pounds of fresh beef.
“By Merlin’s beard! These brainless brutes who only know fighting and herding!”
(In gnome culture, cattle symbolize diligence and creativity, and they forbid eating beef.)
Golden Oak left the beast-folk territory while grumbling complaints.