Chapter 126 Chapter 127 Hybrid
After Xin Ji agreed to take Ji Ma as a disciple, the two discussed for a while. Ji Ma was very concerned about Xin Ji’s teaching pace; she didn’t want him to start from scratch, nor did she want her learning progress to be hindered by other apprentices.
She didn’t have much time, the shards of the Demon King Crown were still waiting for her.
Xin Ji stated that in two days they would start practical lessons where she would make her first potion. Since Ji Ma already had some theoretical knowledge, she could prepare at home. He handed her a piece of paper with an address and a list, telling her that she could buy the necessary alchemical tools at the store noted on the paper.
“When buying scented candles, be careful not to buy the little notebook the clerk tries to sell you,” Xin Ji said seriously. “That notebook contains a lot of strange prayers intended to sanctify herbs, which could lead to misfortune.”
“Is that a common occurrence?”
“Most of the time, nothing happens, but there are a few exceptions. Eight years ago, I had an apprentice who wanted to make a potion for longevity. He stood at an altar, reciting prayers, seeking blessings.”
This old story about seeking longevity was something Ji Ma had heard many times; it was a hundred percent likely the wish-maker would “live long” in a way they never expected. She asked:
“Did he turn into a long-lived vegetable after drinking the potion?”
“No, his head fell off immediately and smashed on the altar. When he was found, his upper body was just a bloody skeleton.”
“That’s really straightforward.” Ji Ma took the paper from Xin Ji and asked, “How much is the tuition?”
“Fifty gold coins, half paid upfront.”
Ji Ma paid the full amount and said, “I hope to have more opportunities for one-on-one guidance.”
“If you have that ability.”
Ji Ma turned to leave, but Xin Ji called out to her: “Wait.”
He turned around and handed her a book titled “Potionology.” “This introductory book is well written. You should go back and review it, but it’s best not to experiment alone.”
Ji Ma took the book; its edges were worn, and the pages were yellowed, but it had been well cared for. She flipped it open and saw a note that read: “This formula should be made during a full moon and should be prepared as an ointment rather than a tincture. Following the original formula will cause hair loss.”
These were valuable insights gained from practical corrections.
By the way, how did he know it would cause hair loss? Had he drunk it himself? Ji Ma wondered, glancing at Xin Ji’s head, which was thick and dark, even more so than that of a young man.
Ji Ma closed the book, feeling its weight significantly increased after realizing its value.
On the market, ninety percent of the books that could be bought with money contained useless knowledge; the authors had never even tried the formulas—they just jotted down what they had heard. The remaining ten percent were filled with various traps, such as inserting a ritual sacrificing to evil gods.
It was like in a martial arts novel; you couldn’t buy genuine martial arts manuals on the market; you had to find a master to learn.
This indicated that Xin Ji had high hopes for Ji Ma.
Having high charm was a good thing; with just a few abilities, the other party would foolishly hand over good things.
Ji Ma felt quite pleased and showed a polite smile, saying, “Thank you.”
Xin Ji said seriously, “Study well when you go back, and don’t lose the book. I only have one and can’t lend it out.”
Ji Ma also looked serious: “I promise I won’t.”
Upon returning, she planned to ask Mr. Dong Dong to find someone to copy the book, package it up, and sell it. After all, Le’an Port was so far from Marlin City; he wouldn’t know.
Ji Ma hugged the book and turned to leave. After pushing the door open, she saw a middle-aged woman with a yellowed face standing in the hallway. Her figure had already changed, looking like she had no waist; it wouldn’t be accurate to say she was very fat. Ji Ma looked at her and thought of the stone pillars in her Demon King’s palace.
The woman’s gaze fell on Ji Ma’s harmless face and instantly became sharp, asking sternly:
“What are you doing here at night looking for my husband on the second floor?”
The sun outside had clearly not set yet.
“Hello, ma’am, I’m here to study,” Ji Ma quickly realized that her beautiful appearance raised the alert of Xin Ji’s wife. She smiled, signaling her friendliness. “The exam went smoothly.”
“Exam? A one-on-one exam?”
“Xin Ji didn’t originally want to take apprentices, but he saw that I had talent.”
Xin Ji’s wife’s yellowed face leaned in closely as her eyes scrutinized Ji Ma, making her feel like she was being watched by a cobra. The woman’s serpent-like gaze assessed Ji Ma’s face, clothes, and legs.
“What did you test on?” her tone rose. “And why did he give you this book? He doesn’t even let me touch it when I clean up.”
Ji Ma’s small face went cold.
She thought she was explaining herself well, but was she being seen as guilty?
“Show some manners, old lady,” Ji Ma said. “I’m here to learn; if you and your husband are having conflicts, fight it out behind closed doors, it has nothing to do with me.”
Xin Ji’s wife was taken aback and instinctively stepped aside.
As Ji Ma passed by Xin Ji’s wife, she felt she had spoken too harshly. If this yellow-faced woman misunderstood and attacked her, it would be troublesome.
So she turned her face to Xin Ji’s wife, using her charm to smile, “Isn’t this fine?”
She felt as if she had drawn an invisible bow and shot an arrow that easily pierced through Xin Ji’s wife.
In Xin Ji’s wife’s eyes, Ji Ma suddenly became cute and innocent, adorned in a luxurious black dress, no longer carrying any hint of provocation.
Such a lovely girl; how could she be interested in her husband?
Xin Ji’s wife suddenly felt her previous actions were inappropriate and said, “Goodbye.”
“Goodbye, ma’am.”
Ji Ma didn’t look back, her lips curling slightly in a smirk of mockery towards mortals, her figure disappearing at the staircase.
By the time she reached the stairs, Ji Ma suddenly remembered that she hadn’t hired a servant yet. Thinking about her not-yet-tidy nest with a thick layer of dust accumulating on the table, she felt annoyed.
At the door, she saw a clerk next to her travel horse, feeding it and giving it water, while the travel horse munched happily on its feed.
The clerk saw Ji Ma and smiled, saying, “I saw your horse was too dirty, so I helped wash it.”
“Thank you.”
“How did the apprenticeship go?”
“Good.”
Ji Ma untied the reins, placed a foot in the stirrup, and gracefully sat sideways on the saddle—at this time, most women sat sideways on saddles, albeit the saddles were specially made.
Ji Ma relied on her superior agility to securely sit sideways in the saddle.
The clerk, seeing her concern, asked, “I know where to find good women’s saddles; I’m very familiar with this place.”
“No need,” Ji Ma replied, “I won’t be wearing skirts in the future.”
“You’re newly arrived, right? Where are you staying?”
“That’s not your concern.” Ji Ma retorted, tossing him a silver coin, “Your tip.”
With that, she gave the horse a smack on the rear and rode off under the clerk’s surprised gaze, facing the setting sun.
Twenty minutes later, after asking for directions, Ji Ma arrived at the entrance of the Servants’ Guild. Thank the heavens; the business was quite developed here.
At the entrance, a skinny girl who looked around twelve or thirteen years old was leaning against the door with her arms wrapped around her thighs, wearing a tattered straw hat.
Ji Ma glanced at her, and the girl timidly looked back at Ji Ma.
A beggar? An orphan? The city was not lacking such people anyway.
She withdrew her gaze and walked toward the counter.
The clerk, who had been idly leaning on the counter, perked up upon seeing her and greeted Ji Ma with a smile:
“Hello, miss. Do you need a servant? There are many honest and simple servants here.”
“Do you have maids? Ones who can wash clothes, clean rooms, and feed horses?”
“Yes, of course.” The clerk quickly began flipping through a name list. “They’re all listed here.”
“Younger ones.” Ji Ma specified, “Starting from twelve up to twenty-four, money is not an issue.”
The clerk frowned, visibly troubled, and said, “There are not many young ones; most are homemakers who have free time to help others.”
“Married women are fine, but they can’t be too old.”
For a moment, the clerk wondered if Ji Ma was running a brothel. But this black-haired girl in a soft hat looked pure and lovely; she must have been born into wealth. The clerk flipped through the list while writing on the paper, saying:
“There are not many, only twelve in total.”
“Okay, I’ll go through them one by one.”
“Only tomorrow, and you need to pay.”
“Sure, bring them all; the more the merrier.”
Ji Ma didn’t ask about the price. Earning money was for spending freely, after all. She decided she wanted one with a large chest.
“Alright.”
Ji Ma suddenly thought of something and asked, “By the way, are they all full-time? I mean, they serve only me and live in my house.”
“Well… no,” the clerk shook his head. “Most are part-timers; you might want to relax your requirements a bit.”
Full-time would be better; that way, if there were any signs of trouble, she could easily spot them. After all, safety first.
Just as Ji Ma was considering making a concession, she felt a light footstep approaching from behind. She immediately turned alertly, a flowing black skirt swaying. Behind her was the girl who had been squatting at the door, now standing with a timid voice, asking:
“Miss… could you hire me? I have no parents, and I’m willing to do anything just to have a place to stay and food to eat.”
Ji Ma reached out, pinching her chin to examine her. She looked pretty decent, but was just too hungry and thin.
What a deal; an orphan is unlikely to betray. Plus, living in her house, she would be readily available. Being a girl, Ji Ma thought that once she matured, perhaps she could be of use in bed.
However, this was quite dirty. She would have to clean her up when she got back, and since her hands and feet were so delicate and not professional, wouldn’t it be better to find professionals at a brothel if she was looking for something in that direction?
“Miss!” the clerk exclaimed suddenly, “She’s a hybrid!”
The girl trembled.
“Hybrid?”
Ji Ma suddenly thought of the Minotaur that was burned to death right after birth. In this magical world, children in the womb could easily be corrupted, so it was possible to be born with all sorts of strange features.
“N-no… I—”
The girl clutched her straw hat tightly. Ji Ma reacted quicker, snatched away the torn hat, revealing a pair of cat ears among her dirty red hair.
“By Sigma!” The clerk took a few steps back, waving his hands in front of his chest. “Hybrid cat!”
The girl lowered her head and started to back away, giving up on the hat.
Ji Ma placed the hat back on her head, asking, “Do you have a tail?”
“A tail… a tail?”
“Yes, a cat tail.”
The girl quickly shook her head: “I don’t have a tail.”
“How disappointing. Couldn’t this world be better?” Ji Ma sighed. “You’re hired; you get food and lodging while serving me.”
The girl looked surprised, her eyes widening, “Thank you!”
“My name is Xiao Qiao, and yours?”
“Li Anxi.”
“Alright, follow me; I’ll be your owner from now on. We need to buy some daily necessities to take back, and you’ll have to work hard for me once we get back. But first, go to the bathhouse and get cleaned up.”
