Yang Yu didn’t expect to walk into the jewelry store and walk out with almost forty thousand coins for free. He had anticipated some resistance from the store owner, but he hadn’t expected the owner to pull out the big gun, claiming someone had already bought the glass bead. This saved him the trouble of persuading him.
Next, it was time to return and discuss the infiltration and escape plan with Bai Jin.
Back at the inn, Bai Jin and Hemeng were playing together in the lobby. Perhaps because Bai Jin was a curse mage, she seemed to understand some of Hemeng’s expressions. The human and the slime got along well.
Yang Yu led Bai Jin to a table and sat down, getting straight to the point, “Today, I asked around a bit about you.”
“I told you, my illness is my business. You don’t need to worry about it,” Bai Jin’s tone was obviously displeased, feeling that Yang Yu had ignored everything she said yesterday.
“You weren’t originally an adventurer here. You came because you heard about a nearby city with a cure-all potion,” Yang Yu continued, ignoring Bai Jin’s displeasure. “Many adventurers have seen you repeatedly looking at a flyer. That must be the potion you want!”
Having her secret exposed, Bai Jin didn’t bother hiding it anymore and gave a creepy smile, “Ahaha, yes! That potion can indeed cure my illness. I’ve been saving up for it, and now I’m only a little short.
Once I buy that potion, I can get rid of this vile disease. Over the years, I’ve completely understood the mechanism of this curse. Once I’m cured, I can mass-produce these curses, making them my new source of power, further enhancing my strength.”
Yang Yu pulled out a poster from his pocket and pushed it towards Bai Jin.
It was an auction flyer listing various items, the most eye-catching being a golden liquid in a crystal bottle.
“Unfortunately, it’s just a fantasy. The resurrection potion isn’t just marketing fluff. A general injured on the battlefield drank it and stood up again, more formidable than before.
That kind of proof is better than any advertisement. The price of resurrection potions, originally fifty thousand a bottle, skyrocketed.
Because the supply is extremely low, demand greatly exceeds it, and the price keeps rising. Eventually, it had to be auctioned.
The starting bid is five hundred thousand, often ending in millions. Only true nobles can afford it. I don’t think your meager D-class adventurer income can compete with those nobles.”
Bai Jin clenched her hands. Indeed, as Yang Yu said, even with her frugal lifestyle, she was getting further from her goal.
However, she hadn’t lost hope. If the technology to produce that potion were cracked, leading to mass production and a price drop, she’d still have a chance.
“I advise you not to be naive. Even if production increases, capitalists will throttle the supply for their profit.
They’ll continue the current production rate, driving prices sky-high to maximize profits before competitors appear. They have ways to absorb the extra supply internally, leaving none for you. That’s the harsh reality.”
Yang Yu’s words shattered Bai Jin’s illusions. Tears welled up in her eyes. Even hidden under her messy hair, Yang Yu could sense her sadness and helplessness.
“So, what should I do?” Bai Jin’s voice trembled. “Did you come here just to mock me and make me abandon my unrealistic dreams?”
Since her father left, she had wandered alone for a long time, finally seeing a glimmer of hope, but no matter how she reached out, it remained elusive.
She had to numb herself, clinging to any goal to keep going, to maintain the courage to live.
“I didn’t come to mock you,” Yang Yu smiled, his expression as bright as the sun. “I came to say I can help you get that potion and cure your illness.”
Help me get the potion? Bai Jin was incredulous. That potion costs millions. Can he really get it?
“Why would you help me? Do you have feelings for me?” Bai Jin chuckled darkly. “Cure me so I’ll be grateful and you can toy with my body, listening to my screams as you insert needles into me, getting more excited the more I cry.
Then, you’ll heal me again, conducting strange experiments on me until you’re bored and toss me aside. When I try to rebuild my life, you’ll reappear to destroy it. You really are a sadist.”
Yang Yu nearly choked on his water.
“Don’t have such strange victim delusions. Do I look like someone who would do that?”
Calm and confident, Yang Yu didn’t seem the type. Bai Jin hugged her staff tightly. “Then why help me?”
“To be honest, I’m tempted by your abilities.”
Yang Yu’s words left Bai Jin stunned. She hurriedly tried to smooth her messy hair, failing to tame the stubborn strands.
“So, you like me? No, that’s not possible.
Ahaha, I get it. You just want to use me as a tool. Even though I’m gloomy and say weird things, some people do like strange girls like me!
If you can cure my illness, I wouldn’t mind being your tool.
But you must treat me well, like a normal lover. If you try to hand me over to other men or send me to shady places, I won’t forgive you. Break my romantic dreams, and I’ll curse you with my life.”
Miss, your imagination is running wild.
Miss, I do covet your body, but it’s your intelligence over 200 point, your high magical talent, and your [Curse of Healing Prohibition] that I desire. Don’t misunderstand me.
[Curse of Healing Prohibition] is a divine skill. In the later stages, against zombies, vampires, and other strong creatures with healt regeneration, without her skill, it’s impossible to win. You’d lose more health than you inflict, causing despair and defeat. That’s why Yang Yu valued Bai Jin so much.
“I’m sorry, I lied to you earlier.”
“Is that so…” Bai Jin lowered her head in disappointment. “Was it all a lie? I knew it… That expensive potion could never be mine. I was ready to sacrifice myself…”
“But I wasn’t lying about helping you get the potion.”
“Huh?”
Bai Jin looked up, seeing Yang Yu’s serious expression through her messy hair.
“Also, love should be between two people who genuinely like each other, right? I won’t force myself to love someone, nor force anyone to love me. You can rest assured.”
“Then why help me?”
“Let’s say I’m on an unprecedented adventure and need reliable companions. From the beginning, I said you’re strong, and I hope we can team up.
That hasn’t changed.
If I get the potion and cure you, I hope you’ll become my true partner and join me on my adventure.”
Standing up, Yang Yu extended his hand to Bai Jin,
“I guarantee this will be an adventure like no other. So, will you join me?”