No one speaks much till we reach the sect hall. Lena didn’t have to lead the way since there was virtually just one path to the place which was identifiable since it was the most well paved one.

That isn’t even an appropriate use for this.

Something here feels wrong.

There was pretty much no one here except the two of us. And the few guards outside this place.

“I was going to tell you before but around this time no one’s here.”

“Why?”

“The sect duties are finished early morning every day. We’re here too late.”

The system says that it’s barely 9:30, how early do these guys do their daily stuff?

“How late were we?”

“They finish the usual sect meetings by 8 or 7:30.”

So, we wouldn’t have made it in time anyways, good to know.

Since I’m already here might as well look around. It’s a giant hall with multiple pillars supporting it. There’s similar mattresses for sitting here as there were in the priestesses’ meeting room. It also has the similar ancient Buddhist temple aesthetic. There’s calligraphy decorating the walls. I walk towards it.

Unlike what I expected, I couldn’t understand a single word that was written. Hey, is the system working properly?

That makes sense. Since I learnt the Chinese in my world but it wouldn’t let me understand ancient text.

“I can appreciate it.” Even if I don’t understand what it is trying to say.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s like art, it’s not about what it’s showing but instead the emotions and thoughts the artist was trying to convey by making that art. That is why I really like it. Though at the same time why I don’t like it.”

“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. That is especially true for art. While it is true that the artist put emotion in his work. The one seeing it doesn’t see the emotions the artist had, he only sees a reflection of his own feelings. That would always be the downside of art for me. I’m not seeing what the artist wanted to convey, I’m only seeing what I want to see conveyed.”

“Anyways, let’s leave since there isn’t anyone here.” I say and look towards Lena who seems stunned. And perhaps she’s also blushing? I can’t really tell.

I walk outside without waiting for her and think of where to go next.

After a few moments she also walks outside.

“Where now?” I ask her, since the previous time it was about where I wanted to go.

“Let’s… Go to the garden and take a walk there.”

“Sure.”

I follow her towards where the ‘garden’ is. Honestly it doesn’t at all seem like a garden, maybe it has a different purpose. There were also guards here which makes it seem like a place not meant for just recreation.

After entering the ‘garden’ my suspicion only deepened. There weren’t any chairs or places to rest. Sure, a small portion of it did look like a garden from my world with short shrubs and flowers but the rest of it was practically the forest, filled with trees dense enough to block a clear view of sunlight.

We were calmly walking in the peace and quiet, as there was no need for words to revel in the nice atmosphere.

Like the calligraphy from before, I can’t understand a single word she’s saying. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the song itself, which seems quite suited for a walk in the forest.

As we’re walking, I spot the figure of a person crouching near a tree. That’s odd, is that person perhaps… Observing that shrub there? Lena seems so absorbed in whatever that is she was doing that she didn’t even seem to notice that, so I alone walk towards that person.

“Could you tell me what is so interesting about that shrub?”

“Eek!” She jumps up. “Ah, you startled me! But maybe it was me who was too concentrated while doing that.”

“Doing what really?”

“I was trying to decide which leaves are the best so that I could use them for my alchemy.”

With the girl’s light exclamation, Lena breaks out from her stupor and comes here.

10 out of 10, would song again. Would have been even better if I didn’t have to doubt my sanity every time I hear you.

The girl was wearing a dark green colored dress, her hair slightly disheveled and a few specs of dirt on her dress, she had been here for a while probably, but somehow, she didn’t seem tired at all.

“I haven’t introduced myself, I’m Patricia, the sect’s best alchemist or well, future alchemist.”

“I’m Gray, a disciple of the priestess.” Even though she didn’t teach me anything yet.

“Ah! The high priestess finally decided to accept another disciple. So, what do you specialize in?”

“He specializes in ranged combat.” Lena intervenes.

“So, you said you were an alchemist? What is that?” I ask.

There were ‘alchemists’ in my world too, they just instead studied chemistry.

No, but they found a much more valuable part of science.

“An alchemist is the one who makes all those cultivation pills and stuff. Though that isn’t nearly as interesting as trying to come up with new things, like a drink that causes hallucinations.”

Let’s rather not ask what that drink is,

“But you aren’t an alchemist yet?”

“Yeah, becoming an officially recognized alchemist requires giving a test held by the wind kingdom. I’ll be giving that in a few months, then I’ll truly be one.”

Quest added.

Side quest.

Research herbs and alchemy materials along with Patricia. Find out and understand at least 5 different types of herbs in the forest.

What is with this incredibly specific quest?!

Also, wouldn’t Lena feel bad if I start doing that in the middle of us being on a ‘date’?

Suddenly Lena takes out a stone tablet from within her clothes. That stone tablet is shaking and glowing in a bluish hue.

“There’s something I have to do, Gray. I’ll have to take my leave now. I’ll be back soon.” She says as she rushes towards the exit.

Wasn’t that incredibly convenient? How so?

“Ah, maybe you’re not aware of it since you didn’t receive the ID card yet. But that stone tablet serves as a proof of identity within the sect. Your teacher could also contact you using that as long as you’re within the sect. A blue hue means some duty of her has popped up, a red one would mean an emergency like an enemy attack, and there’s a few more.” Patricia explained.

That explains it I suppose.

What kind of intentions do you think I have?!

Also, isn’t it just learning about herbs? How bad can it go?

“Hey Patricia, if you don’t mind, would you teach me about a few herbs found here? I find it quite interesting.”

“I’ll be glad to! It’ll even help me prepare for the test.”

“Let’s start with the one I was looking at. The leaves on this plant help in calming the mind.”

She starts explaining with enthusiasm. So, it’s kind of like tea? Ah and she was picking the best of tea leaves.

She moves towards a nearby tree and points towards one of its branches which seems to have a different plant on it.

“That plant which grows on other trees. That plant’s seeds can help in people staying alert.” She explains in even more detail.

So, the coffee equivalent here is a parasitic plant? Good to know.

“The leaves of the plant there help disinfect wounds and heal injuries.”

She even picks a few leaves and gives them to me. I don’t really have much use for them right now but it could be useful later, so I store it.

“The moss growing on this tree is poisonous, so stay away from it for now. It could be used on weapons.”

She explains a bit about how the poison is extracted from the moss.

“This mushroom here causes a hallucination effect, but since it’s too strong it needs to be diluted in a drink.”

Let’s just ignore that.

No.

No.

Fine if you insist. I pick one of the mushrooms and drop it, transferring it to my items storage.

She explains about even more medicinal plants after that. And since she helped me complete the quest, and she clearly seems interested in them, the least I could do is listen to her.

Quest complete.

You are now slightly more knowledgeable about medicinal plants.

System feature added. You can now also inspect plants and be able to know a bit of their properties, depending on your discerning ability.

…

Lena arrives a while later as me and Patricia are now in the more garden-like part of this ‘garden’, the one with short shrubs and flowers.

It’s almost 11. But I wasn’t bored at all as I was listening to Patricia explain about the plants, we even discussed about a few of those.

“Let’s go, Gray. There’s a few more places you should see.”

“Okay.” I reply as I start walking towards the exit, but Patricia suddenly hugs me out of the blue.

“I really enjoyed talking with you, Gray. Do come by here again later, you would be a great alchemist.”

Friends, we’re only friends. Perfectly platonic.

“Sure.” I say as I start walking towards the ‘garden’ s exit.

As one last thing to do I look at her inspect view.

Name: Patricia ____

Level: 34 (5th stage Earth realm)

Race: Human

Hair color: Dark brown

Eye color: Dark brown

Skin tone: Fair

Height: 170cm

Weight: 58 kg

Body type: slender

Age: 21 years

Gender: Female

Likes: Herbs

Skills: Wannabe alchemist, Spear expert

Position: Exploding heavens sect leader’s daughter.

Weapon of choice: Spear

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Abilities

Alchemy talent

She is blessed by the god of alchemy, whoever that is. Performing alchemy is easier, and learning it is much faster. She might be able to know the uses of a particular plant even if it’s her first time seeing it.

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