The most shameless alchemist in history

"Little Black, I advise you to learn your lesson, or I won't be able to save you later." Du Lei sighed. He could clearly feel the egg's temperature rising, so he immediately fell silent and stopped blaming it, and also gave Little Black a friendly reminder.

“Learn a lesson? Kid, you’re getting more and more arrogant. You actually want me to learn a lesson? Who do you think I am? Do you think it’s my place to teach me a lesson? You should trust my judgment. I’m not like some guys who always deceive you… Ouch, ouch, ouch, it’s so hot, it’s burning me.”

Xiao Hei had barely uttered a few words of triumph when a scream rang out, and he was once again being baptized by flames.

"Didn't I tell you already? If you don't act recklessly, you won't die. But you just had to do it anyway. Fine, we've already come this far. No matter what kind of materials and magic cores we have, we still need to take them to Sherry's house and have the blacksmith uncle forge a blank. I don't know if we'll have enough time."

After saying something sympathetic, Du Lei walked alone on the quiet street. It didn't take long for him to walk from one end of the street to the other, and he could already hear the clanging of blacksmiths striking metal.

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367. Agree to the conditions.

Although knocking on someone's door in the middle of the night is very impolite, Du Lei had no choice but to do so. After all, Nono only gave him two days left, and Tie Xin, who was also Sherry's father, had told him that it would take three steps to complete the creation of the magic weapon.

The first step is to select materials, which he has already completed. The second step is to forge the prototype, which is to create the shape of the weapon based on the materials of the monster. Normally, this step would take several weeks or even months, but Tie Xin told Du Lei that it would only take one day.

Du Lei didn't know how Tie Xin was going to complete it, but he knew that time was running out. However, when he thought about how he had agreed with Tie Xin that it would be dusk, but now it was already late at night, he felt a little guilty. Even when he knocked on the door, his palms were sweaty, afraid that Tie Xin would not open the door for him.

Fortunately, the door was opened, but it wasn't Tie Xin who opened it; it was Sherry who opened it. She was overjoyed to see Du Lei visiting again.

"It's so late, I'm really sorry to bother you. Sherry, aren't you resting yet?" Du Lei asked. Sherry looked sleepy.

"No, no, I've been waiting for you here, Du Lei. I knew you'd come!" Sherry rubbed her eyes, as if trying to wake herself up, and patted her cheeks. She looked very cute.

"Huh? Did you know I'd come?" Du Lei repeated what Sherry had just said. Usually, she would already be asleep by this time, but looking at her sleepy appearance, it seemed as if she was really waiting for him, rather than being disturbed from her sleep and having to get up at the last minute to open the door.

"Of course! I'm so smart, I knew you'd be coming, Du Lei. Okay, let's go quickly, Father is waiting for you." Sherry led Du Lei toward the workshop. The further they went in, the louder the sound of hammering grew, which made Du Lei wonder how his neighbors could put up with it.

“But I clearly agreed with Uncle Tiexin that it would be before dusk, and now it’s late at night. I’m afraid he might…” Du Lei was still a little uneasy. He had seen Tiexin’s temper before. He always had a stern face and was only gentle when he spoke to Xue Li.

“Durey, it’s already quite remarkable that you were able to get something from Grandpa Laka. Why are you still fixated on such details? Besides, Father also…” Sherry was about to continue, but at this moment she seemed to realize something, immediately covered her mouth, and stopped talking with a smile.

"What's wrong with Uncle Tiexin?" Du Lei asked curiously, because in his impression, Sherry wasn't the kind of person who hesitated to speak.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Du Lei, you can go see your father now. I can't take it anymore, I have to go to sleep. I'm so sleepy. See you tomorrow." Shirley yawned. She was usually already asleep by this time. She pushed Du Lei all the way to the workshop entrance, then turned and left with a smile.

"Huh? Sherry, you... have you already left?" Du Lei felt a headache coming on just thinking about Tie Xin's face. If Sherry were here, it might be better, but Sherry wasn't here, and he was facing Tie Xin alone, which made him feel a lot of pressure.

"Did you get the item?" The sound of hammering in the workshop stopped, and the blacksmith, who was focused on hammering, asked Du Lei.

"Yes, I got it." Du Lei nodded, walked into the workshop, took out the box, and carefully handed it over.

"This is... the tendon of the Blackwater Python? But it doesn't quite look like it..." The blacksmith frowned after examining it carefully.

"It's the tendon of the Blackwater Python." Du Lei was certain of this, after all, it was Laka's collection, and what the person in charge said was definitely true.

"Really? The Blackwater Python is just a high-level magical beast. Laka should have many better things. How did you manage to get this?" The blacksmith frowned even more deeply, clearly dissatisfied with what Du Lei had brought back.

"Well... Grandpa Laka did give better advice, but I just liked this one, so I chose it. Is there a problem?" Dure said this without any confidence, and you could even say he was guilty.

"It would be difficult to create a prototype of a magical weapon using only that," the blacksmith thought for a moment and gave an answer.

"Huh? I thought you could handle anything, Uncle Tiexin..." Du Lei was a little surprised.

“You don’t need to provoke me like that. I promised to forge a blank for you, and I will definitely get it done. However, the tendons of the Blackwater Python alone are not enough. They can only be used as the main material; we are still lacking auxiliary materials.” The blacksmith shook his head, seeing through Du Lei’s thoughts at a glance.

"What else do we need? I'll think of something right now." Du Lei was a little anxious because time was running out.

"You don't need to think of a solution. I have some materials here, and I can help you forge a prototype of a magic-powered weapon," the blacksmith interrupted him.

"Is this really okay?" Du Lei asked, somewhat surprised.

“Of course, but you have to agree to one condition.” The blacksmith stopped what he was doing and looked at Du Lei.

"What are the conditions?" Du Lei immediately asked.

"Stay away from Sherry!" The blacksmith said, looking directly into Dure's eyes, enunciating each word clearly.

"Why is that? I won't hurt her." Dure didn't understand why the blacksmith would say that, which puzzled him.

"There's no reason why, these are the conditions. If you agree, I'll forge the blank for you; if you don't, you'll have to find someone else." The blacksmith simply made things clear, as he had an unconscious aversion to Du Lei.

"So it seems I have no choice but to agree?" Dure knew the blacksmith wouldn't give him a third option.

“That’s right.” The blacksmith nodded in affirmation.

"Alright, I apologize for the late visit. I think I should go now." Du Lei thought for a moment, reached for the box, and prepared to leave.

"Wait, kid, what do you mean by this?" The blacksmith was stunned; Du Lei's reaction surprised him.

“It’s nothing, Uncle Tie Xin, please forgive me for not being able to fulfill your request,” Du Lei replied firmly.

"Can't do it? Why can't it be done? You must really need magic-powered weapons, right?" Tie Xin didn't understand Du Lei's actions.

“That’s right, I really need to, and it’s not that I can’t stay away from Sherry.” Du Lei affirmed these two points.

"Then why..." Tie Xin felt that Du Lei's actions were illogical.

"Before I answer your question, may I ask you a question first?" Dure asked him in return.

"What's the problem?" The blacksmith gestured for Du Lei to continue.

"Have you really considered Sherry's feelings? I won't hurt her, and I can personally keep my distance from her, but what about Sherry? Are you sure your actions won't hurt her feelings?" Du Lei questioned.

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368 Competent Fathers

When Du Lei said those words, he was already mentally prepared to be kicked out by the blacksmith. After all, just talking to someone as eccentric as the blacksmith was stressful enough, let alone criticizing his family affairs in front of him.

In fact, Du Lei could clearly see that the blacksmith's face was extremely gloomy. Even though they were in the workshop, the forge next to the blacksmith was still burning with intense heat. The charcoal fire in the forge made the two men's cheeks glow red, which should have made it very hot.

But the moment he saw the blacksmith's eyes, Du Lei felt a shiver run through his body, and the temperature around him plummeted as if it were about to freeze. This oppressive, suffocating feeling was only prevented from freezing by the slight warmth coming from his chest.

"Do you know that by doing this, you're going to lose a very valuable opportunity?" After a long silence, the blacksmith finally broke the deadlock between the two. He solemnly reminded Dure of the consequences of his actions, and the so-called opportunity he was referring to sounded rather unclear.

But Dure knew that a blacksmith, someone even an eccentric old man like Raka praised highly, someone who forged iron at home every night and whose mercenaries living nearby dared not utter a sound of protest, was definitely not to be underestimated.

Furthermore, when it comes to forging magical weapon embryos, very few people dare to say they can complete it in just one day. If that got out, people would probably laugh their heads off, because it's just bragging and an impossible task!

“I understand, but I know that compared to this opportunity, Sherry’s personal wishes are also important. Although it’s a pity, and I might regret making such a foolish choice tomorrow, at least for now, my determination will not waver, so…”

Dure knew it was a very difficult decision for him, and he himself didn't know why he made it.

But he still did it without hesitation; perhaps this is what makes human nature so strange.

"Kid, do you think I'll fall for your tricks?" The blacksmith frowned after a moment of silence and said in a deep voice.

"You've been tricked?" Du Lei, who was about to leave, paused, turned around and looked at him in confusion.

"Damn it! If I let you go like this, wouldn't that confirm my guilt for not considering Sherry's feelings and disregarding her personal wishes?" The blacksmith was indignant, clearly very angry. Behind him was a blazing furnace, but it wasn't as intense as his gaze.

"Huh? I didn't think of any crime like that." Du Lei was a little confused by what the blacksmith said, suddenly being accused of a crime on his own.

“I’m a good father. You can go now. Leave your things behind and come back to me tomorrow at dusk.” The blacksmith spoke with great pride when he said the word “father,” and even though his eyes were fierce as if he wanted to devour someone, he still waved his hand, signaling Du Lei to leave.

"Leaving things behind...does that mean..." Du Lei had already prepared for the worst and left, but this sudden change left him unable to adapt in a short time, and he was still in a daze.

"Aren't you annoying? Hurry up and leave. I really don't see any redeeming qualities in you." The blacksmith impatiently urged Du Lei to leave, as if he were being chased away. This left Du Lei feeling rather bewildered. Only when the blacksmith took the box from his hands did Du Lei feel a surge of joy.

Because the blacksmith wasn't trying to steal his things; he was clearly taking on the task himself.

"I understand. I'll leave now. See you tomorrow!" Du Lei was overjoyed at his chance to escape a desperate situation, and he nodded heavily.

After the blacksmith chased him away, he impatiently closed the workshop door, and soon the clanging sound came from inside the workshop again.

"Is this how things are progressing? It feels a bit unbelievable, but... I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of blank we can forge by tomorrow evening." Du Lei looked at the tightly closed door, with sparks occasionally escaping through the cracks.

Although the process was a bit tortuous, he had at least completed the second step in making the magic-powered weapon. As for what the outcome of this step would be, it was still unknown. He carefully left the blacksmith shop and gently closed the door.

As he left, he looked up again at the attic on the second floor, where Sherry's room was located; she was already asleep.

"There are so many stars in the sky, tomorrow will definitely be a sunny day." Du Lei looked up at the dazzling stars and smiled as he spoke.

Meanwhile, near the west plaza of Maple Leaf Academy, someone was pacing back and forth timidly, looking somewhat flustered.

"What's going on? Everything looks pretty much the same. Which way is the way back? What should I do? I can't find anyone to ask for directions. Am I just going to have to stay here until dawn?" By the moonlight, one could see that this was a girl who looked very gentle and refined.

If Dure were to see her, he would certainly not feel unfamiliar, for he had met her not long ago. At that time, she was also troubled by getting lost, and it was Dure who led her to the academy's office building. Now, she was in trouble with getting lost again.

"Hey, there seems to be someone ahead. Are they students? Two kind people showed me the way before. There are so many good people here, Wenli. Don't be afraid. Just go up and ask for directions. People will definitely help you, just like those two kind people before..."

The girl named Wenli noticed a figure not far ahead. She took a deep breath, clenched her fists to encourage herself, and after making a great decision, she finally decided to go forward and ask for directions, walking towards the place where the shadow was flickering.

"Um... my name is Wen Li, I'd like to ask you something..." Wen Li finally mustered up the courage to ask the question. This was a major breakthrough in her life. If she hadn't met two kind people before, she would never have been able to ask for directions like this.

"What? Winry? Compare them, that's right, it's her, kill her!" When Winry got closer, she realized that the dark figure she had seen earlier was actually several men dressed in black night clothes. They were all armed and looked very fierce, holding a photograph in their hands.

After comparing the photos, they confirmed that Wen Li was the person they were looking for. At the leader's command, several knives were slashed down at Wen Li at the same time!

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369 Grab your weapon

Maple Leaf Academy prohibits students from leaving the academy grounds at night. This is for two reasons: firstly, it is for disciplinary reasons, as students going out late at night without permission is considered a breach of academy management; secondly, the area near the academy mountain is a gathering place for magical beasts and is not safe, and there have been many instances in history of students getting injured while going out without permission.

Even under these circumstances, the college organized students to form patrol teams to strengthen the college's management. However, even under these circumstances, there were always some people who would sneak out of the college. Some of these people ran away because they couldn't stand the life at the college, while others went out to have fun.

There are always people with various motives, and Durei only went over the wall for the sake of the magic power armor. Now that things are almost done, he has to go back the way he came. He is confident that he does things cleanly and efficiently, and no one will notice if he goes over the wall.

He knew the way back to his dormitory by the road from the West Square quite well. In the distance, he saw a figure flashing ahead. At first, he thought it was a patrol team passing by and he could avoid them. Moreover, even if he did run into them, given his friendship with Fei Yu from the patrol team, it wouldn't be difficult to get away with it.

But then he noticed something was wrong ahead. He clearly saw several flashes of light from the blades. It was impossible for the patrol team to be brandishing knives and guns in the academy in the middle of the night, so there was only one possibility he could think of: someone was in trouble!

"Um... I just wanted to ask for directions, why are you treating me like this? Waaah, are people all this scary these days?" Wen Li was startled by the scene. She assumed she had done something wrong to anger them, which was why they were attacking her so aggressively.

"Everyone, be quick and efficient! Don't dawdle. If we attract attention, especially from the academy, we'll be in trouble. Let's take her down now while no one's around!" The leader ordered his men, who continued their relentless attacks on Wen Li.

Although Wenli was frightened, she was not an idiot. She knew that there was only one thing to do in this situation: to run as fast as she could. She turned around, lifted her skirt, and ran, stumbling and looking quite disheveled.

"I didn't see it, I didn't see it. It's best not to provoke this kind of thing or show off." Du Lei, who happened to be in the West Square, saw someone chasing after them with a knife. He immediately turned his head to the side, pretending not to see it. He wasn't the kind of person who would shout for justice when he saw injustice.

"I can't go on anymore, I can't run anymore, ouch, it hurts!" After running for a while, the girl Wenli, who was holding up her skirt, was so tired that she couldn't run anymore and fell to the ground. And the place where she fell was right in front of Dure.

"Big brother, we've got her! Hey, there seems to be someone next to her." The group of men in black quickly caught up and surrounded the girl Wenli and Du Lei. They were sure that Wenli was an easy target and could be taken down easily, but Du Lei made them somewhat wary.

Although Du Lei is young, this is Maple Leaf Academy, where there are many experts among the students. Moreover, he is afraid of harming others. If it were just Wen Li, it would be easy to handle. But now that another person has appeared, if he shouts, it will attract more people, especially powerful figures, which would be troublesome.

"I was just passing by, please don't mind me, I really was just passing by... Oh, it's you?" Du Lei originally just wanted to be invisible and avoid trouble, but after he saw the person who had fallen to the ground, he realized that he couldn't avoid trouble no matter what.

“You are… oh, you are that kind person from before, what was your name again?” Wenli stood up, and she recognized Durei as well.