Chapter 4: Why Does This Development Feel Off?

Chapter 4: Why Does This Development Feel Off?
Fluffgrass was common, one of the cheapest herbs growing freely in the meadows near Rulin’s home.
Masked Mushrooms were a bit trickier, requiring searches in the nearby woods, though Rulin knew a few reliable spots.
Curly Leaves posed more of a challenge. Curly Trees were rare; even vast forests might not contain one. But once you knew a tree’s location, collecting a leaf was simple, pluck and go.
Despite his experience as an herb gatherer, Rulin had never been tasked with collecting Curly Leaves. People typically sought Curly Trees for their valuable Curly Fruits, which ripened every few weeks.
Curly Leaves…
He had never heard of any use for them.
Still, the task demanded it. Rulin located the nearest Curly Tree, found no fruit, and casually plucked several leaves. The task only required one, but better safe than sorry.
Next, he ventured deeper into the woods for Masked Mushrooms, again gathering more than needed. Finally, he returned to the meadow near his home to collect Fluffgrass.
With three Fluffgrass in hand, the task marked itself Complete. Instead of immediate rewards, a “Collect Rewards” option appeared logical. If rewards dropped in the wild, one would have to haul them back.
Carrying his haul home, Rulin eased the door open and glanced toward the girl. She remained under the table, head resting against the wall, vacant eyes now closed. She had fallen asleep.
Relief washed over him. Sleep meant no madness, and no risk of encountering a “dream-murdering Boss Cao.” Still, he’d need to tread carefully.
Creeping to his bed, Rulin set down the bamboo basket and selected Collect Reward. A symbol matching the design of the delivery scroll glowed on his palm, summoning a half-meter wooden box.
Inside lay nearly ten tools; grinders, pestles, distillation equipment, everything needed for alchemy. To his surprise, simply glancing at the tools unlocked their usage in his mind, as if he’d been trained for years.
This had to be the effect of the Beginner Alchemist Ability.
“Not high-end gear, but definitely serviceable. A full set like this would cost dozens of silver coins,” he muttered with a grin. After a hundred days of grueling labor, he knew exactly how hard-earned those coins were.
As excitement surged through him, his consciousness flickered. The task menu updated again:
[The Path of the Wise: First Alchemy · Stage 2]
[Task Objective: Process Materials]
[Obtain 10 milliliters of Fluffgrass Juice (0/1)]
[Obtain 50 grams of Masked Mushroom Powder (0/1)]
[Obtain 100 milliliters of Curly Leaf Solvent (0/1)]
[Task Reward: A Black Vine Alchemy Staff]
This simple materials processing task required the exact herbs he’d just gathered. All necessary tools had come with his newly acquired equipment set.
The task truly lived up to its name, guiding him step-by-step through his first alchemy attempt.
Though the steps were straightforward and the stage rewards generous, Rulin had never heard of the Black Vine Alchemy Staff. Still, he knew that even apprentice-level staff typically cost at least thirty silver coins.
“Finally, a normal task,” Rulin exhaled.
He had endured enough hardships to reach this moment.
The sweet relief that followed the bitter struggle was indescribable.
He glanced at the sleeping girl, then around his small home.
Hmm…
He didn’t have a proper work table for his alchemy equipment. The dining table might have worked, but the girl had claimed it for herself. He’d need to visit town tomorrow to buy a new table.
No matter, he had enough coins for a decent one now. For tonight, the floor would suffice. Rulin laid out his equipment and began processing the materials.
Being his first attempt, he expected complications.
Yet once he started, his hands moved with practiced ease, as if he’d done this hundreds of times. Not a single error marred the process.
Limited by his Beginner Alchemist ability, the results met standard requirements but lacked refinement.
Better quality would require deeper knowledge and more advanced techniques, things beyond his current capabilities.
Within an hour, Rulin had produced all three required materials.
When he mentally selected Collect Reward, the familiar mark glowed on his palm. A jet-black alchemy staff materialized in his grip.
The staff appeared woven from dark twigs, measuring 1.56 meters. Lightweight yet sturdy, it tapered from a whisk-like branched tip to a slender base.
“Unfamiliar material, but it fits well,” Rulin murmured, admiring his first proper tool since arriving in this world.
Though clearly meant for stirring cauldrons rather than combat, the whisk-shaped end made practical sense.
His task list updated immediately:
[The Path of the Wise: First Alchemy · Stage Three]
[Task Objective: Refine 1 Beginner Plant Extract Poison (0/1)]
[Recipe: 10ml Fluffgrass Juice, 50g Masked Mushroom Powder, 100ml Curly Leaf Solvent]
[Task Reward: Complete Guide to Beginner Alchemy Recipes]
As expected, having processed the materials, the next step was actual alchemy. Yet… he hadn’t imagined his first potion would be poison.
A nervous chill crept down his spine.