269 - Reappearance

Li Yun ignored much of the speculation online about his cooking ability. Instead, he focused on finalizing the formula that the system had given him inside the laboratory. For the past months, he had been experimenting with various methods to bind all the chemical elements together into a stable substance but none had lasted more than a second. Even with his ability to see the molecular structure, it hadn't been successful so far.

After watching the baking episode, it gave Li Yun the idea of heating the compound at the threshold of the melting point for a long period of time with two other substances that had hydrophobic and hygroscopic properties. Eventually, the compound stabilized.

Congratulations for Comprehending Alchemy to Small Perfection.

Golden Elixir Awarded.

Li Yun could not believe such a simple task was able to recreate the formula. He had overthought the process, believing the method to be much more difficult than it actually was. In order to complete the formula, he simply had to use a simple cooking method. He named the compound the Unknown as he had yet to understand its effects and functions.

The first step was to review the formula under the microscope. Strangely enough, the strange compound seemed to have a life of their own. The movement was like a virus or bacteria with the way it was moving about. Yet, it was entirely in liquid form.

After jotting down his notes, he set them aside and turned his attention to his reward. The liquid in the flask wasn't gold, but a slightly cloudy grey mixture. His first thought was to avoid testing it on himself. Golden Elixir was often referenced as a way for humans to attain immortality. However, there was no description of what the elixir could do. For all he knew, the golden elixir could give him invulnerability like the golden monk but at the loss of his movability and freedom.

His eyes scanned around the laboratory toward the different animals. He didn't want to sacrifice any creature, but if the formula had mystical property, the creature could become an immortal beast. If a wild beast gain superpower, it might attack him.

"Maybe a friendly pet?" Li Yun looked at the cat Diyu. "I've been looking after you for almost a year, would you like to become an immortal?"

"Meow," Diyu responded.

"That sounds like an affirmation to me," Li Yun said. He was joking, but it was the only option he had. What if the formula kills it? Or what if the formula puts it in a coma and it enters into another realm?

If there was an elixir, Li Yun had to wonder how much of it can be used. There were dire consequences if humans could live forever. It wasn't a fantasy world where their were countless realms, planets, and dimensions. There was already population and resource problems on Earth. If immortality was attained, Li Yun couldn't imagine the amount of waste and pollution that would be generated.

There was also a question of whether he truly wanted to be immortal. He had joked about it before and told the monk Luba that it was his end goal. However, it was only mentioned because he never thought it was achievable.

"Maybe it's just a formula to increase fertility," Li Yun thought. With the way the system worked, no way it would provide him with something as powerful as immortality. He turned back to Diyu. "You're either going to have many children, live forever, and turn into a giant mythical beast. Whatever the result, you will likely be in the history book."

Li Yun didn't want to inject it into Diyu and spiked the tab water for the kitten to drink. He felt a moral dilemma. Qi Sho was going to kill him if the cat died. The cat sniffed at the water for a moment. It was suspicious, but the owner hadn't killed him yet. Maybe it would be all right. After the first sip, it continued licking its tongue into the water.

Li Yun petted Diyu afterward but didn't see anything that was different. "The formula is either damaged, or the effect isn't detectable?"

He decided to wait. In the meantime, Hun Lun came into the laboratory to notify him that someone named Zhang Shuyi was there to see him.

"He's here waiting in the lobby?" Li Yun asked in a surprised tone. The one person he was looking for had found him first. The problem was, there were very few people who knew that Li Yun was actively looking for Zhang Shuyi. "Send him into the conference room."

Li Yun headed toward the conference room on the lower floor and saw the skinny young man looking around the conference room. He looked like the skinny man he had saw when he had used Qivi on the Zhao Mengfu's forgery.

"Zhang Shuyi?" asked Li Yun.

"Li Yun?" Zhang Shuyi asked without replying.

"Yes, have a seat, are you here to ask me about calligraphy?" Li Yun asked.

"I bought a copy of the Tao Te Ching," said Zhang Shuyi without sitting down. "You have a perfected version?"

"I do have one in my clinic," Li Yun responded. "I can show it to you, but before that. You have to answer a few questions."

Zhang Shuyi wasn't in the habit of answering other's people questions. The way he spoke was short, curt, and always to the point. To many people, it sounded rude. However, it was just the only way he knew how to speak.

"Okay," Zhang Shuyi replied. If it would allow him to see the perfected version of Tao Te Ching, answering a few questions was worth it.

"Do you know your master filed a missing person report?" Li Yun asked.

"Yes," Zhang Zhuyi replied, but provided no follow-up to his answer.

"The mercenary who was scheduled to pick up the forgery, were you at the scene when he was murdered?"

"Yes."

"Do you know who killed him?"

"No."

"Did the killer try to kill you?"

"Yes."

"Do you know who tried to kill you?"

"Yes, my master."

Li Yun had already assumed that Chi Ling hired someone to kill his student. "Do you know why he wants to kill you?"

"I don't know."

"What have you been doing all this time?"

"Painting."

It was painful to question Zhang Shuyi. The young man seemed a have a few loose screws and although his life was in danger, he was still interested in calligraphy.

"You have been living off of cash and hiding out?" Li Yun asked.

Zhang Shuyi nodded. Although he didn't have much common sense, he knew enough that he should hide away from the public eye to avoid danger. The only thing he enjoyed in life was calligraphy, and he wouldn't be able to enjoy it if he was dead.

"After showing you the Tao Te Ching, you should head to the police station to make a report," Li Yun suggested.

"Will I still be able to paint afterward?"

Li Yun didn't know if he should feel pity for someone who had absolute devotion to a singular subject that lacked everything else in life. But how was it different from how he had lived his life following all the guidelines from his system? His skills were diverse, but only because it was encouraged by the system. If he didn't have friends or families like Zhang Shuyi, how different would his path be?