Chapter 10 Audrey Style

"Big sister, aren't the fire-breathing courses and tools quite expensive?"

Xia Zhou, leaning against her embrace, asked with a worried frown, not wanting Audrey to overspend.

"Don't worry, little guy. I've been saving points for many years and have never used them. After the circus started making an income, there was hardly any need to spend points. They're just piling up."

Audrey held the boy tightly, unwilling to let go, as if he were an invaluable treasure.

"After we finish the performances here, I'll make a trip to the Warrior Guild's outpost in town. Hmm...you won't be able to hide your fire-breathing training from people. I'll have to inform Farns and prepare him to pack up and leave in three years. There can only be one fire-breather in a circus, that's the rule."

Audrey spoke the first half lightly but her tone changed as she mentioned Farns, determination and coldness lined her words.

"B-B-Big sister, there's no need to rush to tell Farns, is there? I may not even be able to learn."

Xia Zhou is afraid of getting on the wrong side of a potential rival, especially the insidious kind.

The opponent had much more experience, better physique, and attributes. He had to tread carefully.

Audrey thought that Xia Zhou was worried about Farns' future livelihood and gently reassured him, "You don't have to worry. With his current fire-breathing skills, he would have no trouble earning a living in the more prosperous cities up north."

"That's not what I meant. Big sister, that day, I was actually awake just couldn't open my eyes..." Xia Zhou expressed his knowledge of the internal matter and his wariness of Farns.

At the end of his words, he solemnly assured, "I promise, I haven't told anyone about Farns stealing money."

Audrey's expression shifted from initial shock to admiration. A full-fledged smile rose on her face, her satisfaction and fondness for the boy stepped up:

"Little guy, you're more mature than I imagined. I'll handle it. As long as you're within my sight, Farns wouldn't dare to do anything to you. Who knows, maybe he's planning to leave our circus for a better place."

The two talked beside the ticket wagon until night fell. After sending Xia Zhou back to his room, Audrey went to find Farns for a talk.

Xia Zhou was wary of Farns playing dirty, but the big sister didn't fear such.

Having been in the circus business for so long, she had her share of wits.

Furthermore, for Audrey, Farns' act of theft was the best leverage.

...

The next morning, before the circus's performance started.

The members gathered around the big sister.

Audrey, smiling, said: "Farns plans to reinforce his new fire-breathing skills, then go to the big city in the north to develop. Is that right, Farns?"

The surprise news caught Sneck, Clown Siblings, and the big guy, Bo Pai, off guard. They were happy for their companion but also worried about the vacancy left by the fire-breather's performance.

"Congratulations, Farns. Have you been in touch with the new circus?" Sneck's dark complexion revealed complex emotions as he idly stroked the green snake on his shoulder.

Who wouldn't want to perform in a big city?

More audience, bigger fame, more wealth, better stages, and costumes.

No need to follow the caravan around, but to perform on the grand stage of the theatre. To have a stable residence, marry, start a family, and enjoy a life better than average people.

In the entire circus, only Audrey and Farns could possibly transfer. Compared to the strongman and the clowns, dagger throwers and fire-breathers are much rarer.

The former requires acute visual acuity and excellent power delivery skills, the latter needs to endure the toxicity of the fire-breathing potion and face the threat of flames.

Farns, the baldhead, was the center of everyone's attention, still with a poker face which totally fits a prodigy in the circus.

He nodded slowly and gestured: Found a new home. I still need a few more years of practice to meet their requirements.

Sneck understood his hand signals and his worried look faded greatly.

As long as Farns was not about to leave immediately, the booming business of the circus would not suffer a setback.

Big guy and Clown Siblings, showing the same expression, broke out in a reassuring smile.

"Everyone, I have another piece of good news."

Audrey's smile grew brighter, "Our ticket seller, Xia Zhou, has a talent for fire-breathing. I've decided to help him redeem fire-breathing courses and tools from the Warrior Guild after this performance. Meanwhile, I will guard him personally during his training and teach him how to do fire-breathing."

"Oh-ho~ Is this true?!"

Sneck was startled at first, then he hugged the boy beside him, shaking his arm joyfully.

Bo Pai opened his mouth wide, stroked his large hand back and forth over the boy's head, messing up his hair. The Clown Siblings let out strange shrieks, hopping excitedly around the boy.

Xia Zhou was the one whom all the members had rescued personally. His relationship with everyone was much closer than that of Farns.

Even a fire-breather who could only spout sparks was indispensable to the circus. Having someone to fill Farns' place was definitely better than having a vacancy.

Most importantly, Xia Zhou was still young and just starting to learn fire-breathing.

He would stay in the circus for a long, long time. The circus would thus move onto a long and stable period of development.

The members, who were just worried about the circus's business, suddenly found in the next moment that a wonderful and comfortable life was just around the corner.

Surprised by the change, their joy was intense and enduring.

"Yes, big sister tested me twice last night. Sneck, stop shaking me, I'm feeling dizzy. Clown sister, your voice is so sharp. My ears hurt."

Barely amidst everyone's enthusiastic celebration, Xia Zhou found the time to speak, casting a pleading look towards Audrey.

"Alright, everyone. Get ready for the performance. The audience is waiting."

Audrey clapped her hands, calming the members' restless mood.

Everyone started to work.

Bo Pai and the elder Clown Sibling checked the seesaws and safety ropes, while Sneck adjusted his special flute, and Farns quietly prepared the fire-breathing potions.

The younger Clown Sibling applied exquisite makeup to Xia Zhou and adorned his fluffy green wig with some star stickers.

Xia Zhou put on clown shoes with tips pointing upward, donned a brightly colored scarf, and appeared multicolored, bright, and eye-catching.

He stood in front of the ticket carriage, blowing a comical horn at the queued audience members.

"Beep boop~ Audrey's Circus Troupe's show begins!"

If the circus does well, so do I. Once I become a fire-breather, money and experience will come rolling in.

Hehe.

...

In the blink of an eye, five days had passed.

The circus's performances in this small city came to an end.

With the experience gained from selling tickets and the 10 points from elastic ball grip training, Xia Zhou easily leveled up, gaining a new free attribute point, having a total of three attribute points waiting to be spent.

[Level] LV.4

[Experience] 0/50

It only needed 20 points to level up from level 3 to 4.

This time it requires 50 points...

Somewhere in his mind, Xia Zhou felt as though he was leaving the beginner's benefit phase. In the future, leveling up would likely require significantly more experience points.

On the last day of the circus troupe's stay, the members had free time to do their own things.

Early in the morning, Xia Zhou couldn't wait to arrive at Audrey's door.

"You're more anxious than me." Audrey pinched the boy's cheek, "Wait for me in my room. I'll be back soon."

About half an hour later, Audrey came into the room carrying a suitcase.

She took out a book, a small potion bottle, and a jar of oil from the box, placing them on the table.

Xia Zhou casually cast a "Detection Spell."

"'Fire Breathing Training Essentials,' memorizing this book will grant 10 experience points and increase mental attribute by 0.08 points. Upon completion of memorization, the host's knowledge reserve will automatically be filled with the content of the entire book."

"Weak Effect Fire-breathing Potion, formulated by the Warrior Guild. Consuming it will cause physical damage, deducting 60 health points within the predicted 60 minutes. Keeping it in the mouth will cause a loss of 20 health points per hour. Successful consumption or fire-breathing will grant experience."

"Edible Fire-proofing Oil, when applied to the body's surface, can reduce external flame damage for up to 30 minutes. When consumed, it can reduce internal flame damage for up to 30 minutes and is predicted to decrease health by 1 point within 60 minutes. Experiencing fire damage during its effect duration will grant experience."

Xia Zhou flipped open the 'Fire Breathing Training Essentials.'

Half of the book was dedicated to teaching people how to protect their bodies.

From daily routines to exercise methods, dietaries, and medicinal guidelines, it even detailed how to drink water postures and frequency, as if it was a lifestyle manual.

The remaining content was introductions, usage instructions, and formulation methods of various fire-breathing potions.

The last few pages contained illustrations, demonstrating common fire-breathing positions, diagrams showing the relationship between environmental wind direction, breath flow, and flame, and emergency situation self-rescue methods.

Uh-huh~ Very detailed.

Xia Zhou nodded to himself, closing the book and watching Audrey fiddle with her alchemy tools in her suitcase.

Audrey was quite skilled at throwing daggers, and her hands were very nimble. She was a natural at handling glass bottles, her movements fluid and adept, even more so than Farns.

She used the weak effect fire-breathing potion and fire-proofing oil, along with other protective potions, to formulate a new fire-breathing potion.

Xia Zhou casually cast a Detection Spell.

"Audrey's Style Weaker Mixed Fire-Breathing Potion, combines fire-proofing and fire-breathing effects.

"Three seconds after being held in the mouth, a fire-proof film will form in the mouth due to the fire-proofing oil in the potion.

"Five seconds after being held in the mouth, the weak fire-breathing potion will be completely separated from the fire-proofing oil, at which point it can be expelled.

"Consuming it will cause physical harm, deducting 30 health points within the predicted 60 minutes. Holding it in the mouth will cause a loss of 3 health points per hour. Successful fire-breathing will grant experience."

Wow~ Mixing multiple potions not only reduces the blood loss caused by toxicity but also doesn't weaken the fire-breathing effect at all.

Xia Zhou smiled, realizing having Audrey as a fire-breathing teacher seemed pretty reliable.

The fire-breathing potions she formulated seemed a lot better than Farns'.

"Little guy, let's start learning fire-breathing." Audrey sat next to the table, inviting the boy to sit next to her so they could read the 'Fire Breathing Training Essentials' together.