Beep, beep...
After three or four beeps, Sky Communication connected.
A feeble and timid voice came from the other end, "Hello?"
"I am Mu Fan."
"Ah, Mu Fan, I'm in the lab. What's up? Are you coming to pick up your Heart Liquid? I have it prepared already," the shy voice regained a bit of energy, clearly Bai Guyue hadn't noticed the caller ID in her haste.
"Yes, not only that. I need a favor; my friend got hurt. Do you have a Biological Cabin in your lab?"
"Yes, just bring him over. Also, I am now a senior Medicinal Plant Master!" Bai Guyue seldom spoke with outsiders, and the rare inquiry excited the timid girl.
Then, on the Sky Communication, Bai Guyue sent Mu Fan an address, "If I don't finish this experiment, my grandfather will scold me. You guys come over, I'll continue my experiment."
Mu Fan hung up and looked at the address.
...
In Sector E, Shanyu Alley, stood an ancient and tranquil manor house.
The surrounding area was filled with old buildings, far from the bustling city center, nestled under lush, vegetative-covered mountains, forming a row of old homes in Zhongjing City.
At that time, Mu Fan was carrying Harry on one shoulder as the two men stood in front of a large wooden door.
The chubby man strained his eyes at the winding purple flowers on the door, along with blue and red ones—every color strikingly pure.
"How have I never noticed these flowers before? Can I pluck one to have a look?"
"It's best not to. I don't understand the methods of a senior Medicinal Plant Master."
Mu Fan cautiously shook his head. He had heard about Medicinal Plant Masters from Black and preferred to keep his distance from the profession.
It was an occupation completely outside Mu Fan's understanding.
In other words, it was quite an esteemed profession for Mu Fan.
With a creak, one of the wooden doors opened, revealing a pair of shy eyes. Upon seeing Mu Fan, her eyes lit up, then she also emerged.
She looked no different from when Mu Fan had first met her.
Through her clear eyes, one could see the usual innocence.
"Mu Fan~"
The feeble voice made the chubby man's swollen eyes widen slightly more.
"So... cute."
The voice startled Bai Guyue, causing her to quickly retreat behind the wooden door, her vine-questionably entwined braids swinging back in fright.
"If you scare her off, I'm taking you straight back to the academy," said Mu Fan, irritated.
The chubby man spoke sheepishly, his voice slightly off-key, "Haha, sorry, didn't mean to startle you just now, did I?"
Bai Guyue peeked out again, her clear eyes quickly scanning the chubby man's face, a mix of green and purple, showing no other expression, then tilting her head she asked Mu Fan, "The friend you mentioned for treatment, is it him?"
Mu Fan nodded.
"Let's start with the treatment then, I'll give you the Inner Wall Heart Liquid afterwards," Bai Guyue's voice sounded much more natural, evidently Mu Fan, having saved her once, was no longer a stranger in her eyes.
To her, the wretched-looking chubby man was merely a patient awaiting treatment.
"Okay."
Mu Fan nodded.
"Come in with me. This is my grandfather's courtyard; I live here, and you mustn't wander into other areas at random, it's very dangerous," Bai Guyue stepped aside, speaking very seriously.
"Understood."
He carried the arm and entered.
As they crossed the wooden door, Mu Fan felt as if he had entered a sea of plants.
Various exotic, colorful, and shaped plants were arrayed on both sides.
From tall to short, the plants formed a perfect complement to each other.
Some with no leaves but a flower the size of a face in full bloom at the side, some with clusters of clear, drop-like leaves, some bearing terrifying flowers intermingled in black and purple resembling human faces...
Both of them paused in shock.
The chubby one saw a gigantic, snowflake-like velvet flower gently bouncing among the branches and couldn't help but reach out for it.
"Don't touch it, that's Bone Corrosion Fluff. It dissolves upon contact. First, you'll lose all sensation in your hand, then your bones will start to rot," Bai Guyue warned as she turned her head upon sensing his movement.
She then noticed both of them flaring their nostrils, trying hard to catch the scent in the air along the winding cobblestone path—which was not the mixed aroma of various plants, but a faint, pleasant fragrance.
"The air here contains nerve anesthetics, composed of volatile substances from seventeen different plants. I have a counteracting medicine on me. Stay close and you'll be fine; otherwise, just one breath could put a highland yak to sleep for two full days and nights." Her stern gaze was fixed on the chubby one.
This caused him to freeze, his hand hanging in mid-air, sweat beads the size of beans forming on his face.
From the wolf's den into the tiger's mouth!
The hand quietly withdrew, and the chubby one decided to feign ignorance throughout.
Only upon entering the courtyard did they realize the path was surprisingly long. Now, the flanking plants seemed as dangerous as poison. The two tread carefully, following Bai Guyue along the length of the path until they reached a three-story stone house.
Upon opening the door, Bai Guyue held up a finger.
"Shh~ My grandfather is conducting an experiment. Be quiet, you must be quiet."
She cautiously informed them, the cuteness of her warning almost made the chubby one's eyes pop open.
Mu Fan nodded and followed Bai Guyue into a room filled with jars of all sizes and various potted plants.
"My laboratory is in the basement."
The two watched as Bai Guyue pressed her palm against a biometric scanner, causing the fireplace to recede and unveil a floating stairs.
"Why is it so high-tech?"
Mu Fan couldn't help but ask.
"Who says Medicinal Plant Masters have to be outdated?" Bai Guyue answered, frowning adorably as she led the way down.
Once in the basement, they discovered a remarkable transformation; the area was at least five times larger than the first floor!
Surrounded by advanced equipment, Mu Fan's confidence grew.
"Place him there," Bai Guyue pointed to a mechanical chair next to them.
With Mu Fan's help, the chubby one sat down; Bai Guyue quickly tapped a few commands, and the chair stretched out flat, shifting from a sitting to a lying position.
Mu Fan watched as Bai Guyue took a large glass jar filled with a green paste-like liquid from the side.
"Isn't it a Biological Cabin?"
Mu Fan asked curiously.
"I need to treat the wounds on his face first, otherwise the Biological Cabin would need at least 24 hours to repair them," Bai Guyue replied after dipping her hands in water and drying them.
"Uh, how long will it take for my face to heal?"
"Probably about an hour."
Bai Guyue flicked a droplet of water onto the chubby one's face.
Mu Fan actually saw the chubby one's eyes glaze over; within just ten seconds, he began snoring loudly, prompting Mu Fan to ask curiously,
"What is this?"
"It's an anesthetic. His face will itch a lot when it heals, and I feared he wouldn't cooperate."
Bai Guyue spoke more fluidly as she focused on her work, a unique confidence washing over her face.
"Does this work better than the Biological Cabin?"
Mu Fan gestured toward the jar of green liquid.
"This is called Green Soft Gel, and it's extremely precious. Its cell repair efficacy is more than ten times that of the Biological Cabin. If he weren't your friend, I definitely wouldn't have brought it out."
Bai Guyue had already opened the glass jar, spread her fingertips, and swiftly dipped them in before pulling them out.
Her fingers danced like a flurry of butterflies intertwining in shadows, dazzling onlookers.
Under Mu Fan's gaze, a crystal-clear green net began to form between her fingertips, growing larger as if alive, undulating in the palms of her hands.
*