The most shameless alchemist in history

He should have been an unknown figure in the crowd, but before he boarded the carriage, several girls on the street pointed at him, covered their mouths, and whispered among themselves. This made Du Lei, who always prided himself on his thick skin, feel a little uncomfortable and uneasy.

"It's alright, not too expensive. So, what exactly are you trying to say?" Nono was getting a little impatient.

"How can I use your money to buy clothes? How much is it? I have to pay you back." Du Lei thought for a long time and still felt that he should make things clear. Even though he had taken advantage of others in the hot spring village since he was a child and was a kind of person that everyone hated, he would never take advantage of women in this way.

"Ha, seeing how serious you look, I thought you were going to say something, but it turns out it's just 'No need, no need,' this is a gift for you. Your hometown is like that, how could you have the money to pay me back?" Nono originally wanted to say that Du Lei's family was not well-off, but realized that it might hurt him.

Even someone as willful as her willful nature sometimes considers other people's feelings and immediately changes her mind.

“Even if I don’t have the money to pay you back now, I will remember it,” Du Lei said seriously, his expression not like he was joking.

"You idiot, didn't I already tell you this is a gift for you? You don't need to return it. How can you, a man, be so petty?" Nuonuo was a little angry. Those who know her well know that she is always generous and hates stingy people, especially men.

"This isn't about being petty, it's a matter of principle, okay? Anyway, you have to tell me how much it costs, or I'm not going." Du Lei usually gave in to Nono, but this time his attitude was very tough, he was not going to budge an inch, which surprised Nono.

"You're really getting cocky, aren't you? You dare not go? If you don't go, I'll beat you to death, you believe me?" Nuonuo raised her hand, trying to threaten him.

“I always give in to you, do you think I’m afraid of you? Come on, hit me then.” Du Lei retorted sharply, not backing down at all.

"You...you really want to drive me crazy, huh? Fine, you've got guts now." Nuonuo sneered, her words dripping with mockery.

"Actually, when I was little, I was really envious of those kids who had new clothes." Du Leiming knew that Nuonuo was really angry, but instead of taking the initiative to apologize or soothe her emotions as usual, he said something out of the blue.

"What?" Nono was surprised that Du Lei would suddenly bring up things from her childhood. She had thought that this was a scar on Du Lei's body and that he would avoid it.

“Every year during the hot spring festival, which is also the most important festival in my hometown, all the children can receive clothes sewn by their mothers. Some children will even go with their parents to Snow Eagle Town at the foot of the mountain to buy a lot of brand-new and beautiful clothes.” Du Lei does not shy away from his past at all.

Or rather, he wouldn't shy away from these things in front of Nuonuo. He would never mention the hot spring village in front of others, but for some reason, he always felt a sense of trust when facing such a fierce girl as Nuonuo.

"Is that so? Then you must be very happy and blissful, right?" Nono changed her usual scolding attitude towards Du Lei and nodded gently.

"Yes, they looked so happy and joyful in their new clothes, while I could only wear tattered old clothes that no one wanted, and in the cold winter, I could only huddle in the warehouse by the fire." Du Lei sighed at the past, his face showing some vicissitudes.

This shouldn't be what someone his age should be like; in fact, he himself doesn't want to become like this.

"Why is it a warehouse?" Nono thought it should be in the house or the kitchen.

"Because the warehouse is where I live, there's no comfortable bed. I just lay down a layer of animal hides that I've skinned while hunting, then light a charcoal fire, and the night is over." Du Lei shook his head with a wry smile. His life after coming to Maple Leaf Academy was completely different from before.

"It must have been a very tough life." Nono had never experienced that kind of life, which could be seen from the luxurious silk dress she was wearing; one dress could cost as much as an ordinary family's food, clothing, and daily necessities for a year.

"I don't feel it's tough at all, because at least it's warm in the warehouse. But you can only sleep in the warehouse for a while. You have to lie down in the snow and wait for the prey to appear, or go to the snow-capped mountains to collect medicinal herbs and sell them to the herb dealers."

Dure is not usually a talkative person, but he was unusually talkative today, and the carriage continued to move along with a "clatter".

"You're only a teenager now, but you were only a teenager before..." Nono suddenly thought of this question and compared it with her own childhood.

"Whether it's good or bad, that's how it goes. We've gone a little off-topic; we were talking about the new clothes." Du Lei smiled sheepishly, which Nono understood.

"You just said you envied the children in the village for having new clothes, and they were smiling so happily. What happened next?" Nono reminded Du Lei of what he hadn't finished saying. Usually, she had very little patience, but today she was surprisingly patient and listened quietly to Du Lei.

"Later, I could only watch with envy from the sidelines. But then one day, a child showed off his new clothes in front of me and said I was a bastard without parents." Du Lei said these malicious words that were meant to hurt him.

"How could this be? This is too much!" Although Nono wasn't there at the time, she could easily imagine the frail little boy suffering all sorts of injustice.

"Is it excessive? I think it's normal. This isn't the first time they've done this. It's nothing new to them." Du Lei shook his head with a smile, speaking as if it were nothing new, but Nuonuo knew very well that he was definitely not feeling good inside.

"Are you just going to swallow this?" Nuonuo frowned. She was never someone to be trifled with, and if she was wronged, she would definitely retaliate immediately.

"Of course not. I tied him up and gave him a good beating, and I tore his clothes to shreds. His new clothes, which he had only worn for one day, were ruined like this. He kept crying and crying." Du Lei shook his head and smiled as he recalled the events of long ago.

"Sigh, were you really this fierce when he was little? You even tied up a kid his own age and whipped him. But he only has himself to blame." Nono stood on Dure's side, believing that he hadn't done anything wrong.

“That’s what I thought too, but the teacher didn’t think so. He scolded me severely and made me apologize to the other person. I knelt in the freezing cold all night before I finally got the child’s forgiveness. Actually, his parents kept trying to persuade and scold him, but he just wouldn’t budge.”

Du Lei felt a little melancholy. These things should have been locked away in his memory, and he would never have told anyone about them.

"How could that be? He's clearly in the wrong. Why should you apologize? And how old are you? Making you kneel all night is too much! Wait, you just said 'teacher'..." Nuonuo felt indignant for Du Leiming, and even she got angry, but she quickly noticed the details.

“Yes, teacher, he was a man I dug out of the snow. He only stayed in the village for three months before leaving, but he taught me a lot.” Du Lei nodded. He wouldn’t have told anyone about the man’s existence, but he told Nono anyway.

“Even if he’s your teacher, he shouldn’t treat you like this. How could he bear to watch you suffer?” Nono didn’t have much affection for the “teacher” that Du Lei was talking about; in fact, she was full of malice.

"Of course, the teacher couldn't bear it, but he said that I had done something wrong and I should make amends. He originally said he would sew me a new dress." Du Lei had a deep longing for that man, and all of this was written in his eyes.

"Wait, isn't your teacher a man? He can actually sew clothes?" Nono was a little dumbfounded.

"Yes, the teacher knows a lot of things. It's just a pity that he said he would sew clothes, but he left in a hurry and never came back." Du Lei sighed deeply.

"Does leaving mean death?" Nono wasn't quite sure what Du Lei meant by that.

"No, I had to leave for some business and went to a faraway place." Du Lei chuckled, not expecting Nuonuo to interpret it that way.

"It's good that he's not dead." Nono nodded.

"What?" Du Lei didn't understand why Nono would say that.

"He's not dead. When I get a chance to see him, I'm going to give him a good beating. How can he teach like this? He's clearly misleading the children!" Nuonuo said angrily.

230 Who upset her?

As a major southern town in the Snow Kingdom, Maple City is not only the magical and commercial center of the Snow Kingdom, but also the southern gateway of the Snow Kingdom to the Mountain Kingdom. It is heavily guarded year-round and its status in the Snow Kingdom is second only to Frost City, the capital. It is a bustling metropolis with a high level of commerce.

In the city center of Maple City, due to the highly developed magic energy, the magical and steampunk style is particularly strong. There is the Crystal Tower, which is the symbol of the Magic Energy Association, soaring into the clouds, and the Gear Tower, the symbol of the Mechanic Association, which assaults people's visual senses and always startles outsiders.

Besides the Magic Power Association and the Mechanic Association, other associations were not to be outdone, each creating magnificent buildings in the city with their own iconic symbols. The city bears the styles of different schools of architects and was once known as the architectural capital.

However, this title changed hands with the emergence of Gear City, but this does not affect Maple City's status in architectural history. Among so many magnificent buildings, the one that can serve as a permanent landmark still belongs to Maple Tower.

Although it cannot compare with other buildings in terms of height or shape, it has a unique historical significance. It once existed as a beacon for mankind to fight against monsters. As long as the light enshrined at the top of the tower was not extinguished, the human city would not fall.

Throughout its long history, it has carried the hopes of countless people and served as a symbol for soldiers looking back at their hometowns. So even though it has been surpassed in scale and magnificence by later generations over the years, its place in people's hearts remains irreplaceable.

Maple Tower stands in the heart of Maple City. As more and more strongholds are occupied by humans, the Breeze Fortress to the south of Maple City has replaced Maple City's strategic position, becoming the first line of defense against monster attacks and invasions from the Mountain Kingdom to the south. Maple Tower has gradually lost its ancient function as a beacon.

Given its historical significance, it exists as a gathering place symbolizing power. It is a symbol of wealth and power, and all important meetings and banquets are held at Maple Tower. Countless people are proud to be able to cross the threshold of Maple Tower.

Today is no exception.

Before night had completely fallen, the Maple Tower was already lit up. Of course, these lights were no longer flames of hope, but symbols of extravagance and debauchery. All sorts of carriages, decorated with luxurious and splendid ornaments, were parked outside the Maple Tower.

If it were a newcomer to Maple City for the first time, they would be absolutely astonished. Just one decorative gem hanging on a random carriage would be enough to cover the food, clothing, and daily necessities of an ordinary family for a year. As for the locals, they were used to it, since it was a gathering of noble lords and had nothing to do with them.

"Euphoria, Euphemia, don't rush off like that. I haven't seen you in so long. Where have you been all this time?" At the entrance of Maple Tower, a richly dressed young nobleman stopped a girl who had just gotten off a carriage and was about to enter Maple Tower.

"Where I go is none of your business. I'm telling you, you're like a piece of chewing gum, sticking to me wherever I go." It was Yuffie, a girl who had just returned from Maple Leaf Academy, who glared at the noble young man who had stopped her. Clearly, she didn't have a good impression of this man, and her attitude was stiff.

"Euphoria, you can't say that. This should be seen as a sign of our destiny. I wasn't originally interested in attending this party, but when I heard you were coming, I immediately dropped everything and rushed over. It's all for you." The young man smiled warmly.

If anyone else had spoken to him like that, he would have already lost his temper. Anyone who knows him knows that the consequences of his outburst are extremely serious. But when faced with the girl in the black evening dress, he was exceptionally patient, letting her ridicule him without getting angry at all.

"Boro, who has any connection with you? One after another, it's so annoying! It's like this at the academy, and it's the same when I come back. Can't you find a quiet place?" Yuffie didn't even look at the noble youth and stormed into the Maple Tower in a huff.

"Euphoria, Euphemia, wait, wait! Why are you so angry? I didn't do anything to you. But what about that academy thing you were talking about?" The noble youth named Boro tried to stop Euphemia, but she quickly disappeared. Boro clenched his fists, feeling somewhat unwilling.

But he still recalled what Euphemia had just said and pondered for a long time.

"Isn't this Boro? Long time no see." Just then, someone next to Boro greeted him. It was a young man who was about the same age as Boro, maybe a year or two younger. He and Boro were both well-dressed, had an impressive appearance, and exuded an aristocratic air.

"What? I thought it was someone else, but it's Leo. By the way, where have you been all this time? I haven't seen you for a while." Boro was familiar with this young man; the two had known each other for a long time, and they immediately exchanged pleasantries.

"I went to Maple Leaf Academy. Did you talk to someone just now? You don't look too well." Leo walked over and patted Boro on the shoulder. The two seemed to be on good terms.

"You can actually stand staying in a place like Maple Leaf Academy? Only you have that kind of patience. I don't like being tied down in one place. You mean the person who was talking to me just now? It was Euphemia. Euphemia, besides her, what other woman would dare to give me attitude?"

Boro knew the reputation of Maple Leaf Academy, which was understandable, as Maple Leaf Academy was one of the most famous institutions in Maple City. His family had originally asked him to attend Maple Leaf Academy, but he had firmly refused.

"So it's Miss Yuffie. If I had known she was going back to Maple City for the party, I would have gone with her," Leo said with a light laugh.

“Leo is with you, but her home is in a different place than yours, and didn’t you go to Maple Leaf Academy?” Boro couldn’t understand.

"Hey Boro, don't you know? Euphemia is also at Maple Leaf Academy. We're classmates." Leo said, somewhat surprised.

“Oh right, classmate. No wonder I haven’t seen her lately. So she went to Maple Leaf Academy. By the way, Leo, do you know what happened to her at Maple Leaf Academy? She seemed really angry. Could it be that some idiot at the academy offended her?” Boro nodded.

He quickly connected Yuffie's behavior with what she had just said.

"You mean this isn't a big deal?" Leo hesitated, then stopped himself from speaking.

"So something must have happened, Leo. You're my brother, so don't hide anything from me. Tell me right now," Boro saw Leo's predicament and immediately pressed for details.

231 What grudge do you have against me?

Du Lei looked up at the Maple Tower. This wasn't the first time he had seen this landmark building of Maple City. When he first arrived in Maple City and hadn't even gotten off the bus yet, Bai Ye, who had briefly accompanied him, had pointed to the Maple Tower and given him a detailed account of its history.

At that time, Du Lei was only thinking about getting to Maple Leaf Academy as soon as possible. Moreover, for him, this tower with great symbolic significance was too far away, so he didn't pay much attention to it. But who knew that not long had passed.

The fact that he was about to visit the tower as a guest made Du Lei feel uneasy, as he noticed that all the guests entering the Maple Tower were well-dressed and wealthy, which made him suspicious of Nono's background.

"So, the mysterious place Nono brought me here is actually this kind of place? I heard Bai Ye mention it before. The Maple Tower only exists as a symbol of status for the powerful and wealthy; ordinary people have absolutely no chance of stepping into it. Who exactly is Nono?"

Du Lei had only been at Maple Leaf Academy for a few days, or even just two days if you count the time since his formal enrollment. His information was extremely limited, and he knew nothing about Nono's background. He had originally thought that Nono was just a beautiful girl with outstanding talent.

But now it seems that her background must be extraordinary to be able to come to Maple Tower.

"Forget it, there's no use thinking about it now. Once we're inside, we'll find out what we need to know. But she said she had to leave for a bit and told me to wait here and not go anywhere. She's been gone way too long. It's already so late and she's still not back."

Du Lei looked around anxiously, trying to find Nono's whereabouts. She had been gone for more than ten minutes. Without Nono to lead the way, he had no way to enter the Maple Tower. He had observed that everyone who entered the tower had received an invitation.

"Hey kid, your name is Du Lei, right?" Just as Du Lei was hesitating, someone suddenly called out to him from behind.

“Yes, I am indeed Du Lei. May I ask what brings you here?” Du Lei noticed someone walking towards him and subconsciously turned around to look. He saw that the speaker was a young man who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old. He was tall, handsome, and exuded an aristocratic air.

Dure didn't believe that such a person existed among the people he knew, and the other party seemed to have ill intentions. Besides his own anger, there were several equally wealthy and noble young men behind him, all of whom were looking at him with ill intent.

"What is it? Since you haven't come to the wrong person, then..." After closing the distance with Dure, the aggressive young nobleman suddenly swung his fist at Dure's abdomen. He was very fast and his attack was very sudden, making it difficult to dodge under normal circumstances.

"Hmm, what do you want? I don't know you. Why are you attacking me all of a sudden?" Du Lei reacted quickly. He had already sensed that the other party was up to no good and was prepared to defend himself. He was originally very confident in his ability to deal with the other party, but the other party was faster than he had expected.

His attack was even more ruthless than he had imagined. Du Lei thought his reaction was quick enough, but he only managed to dodge the punch aimed at his abdomen. The noble youth's follow-up attacks were relentless. In the instant he dodged, the youth grabbed his arm and pulled him down forcefully.

Dure managed to dodge the blow by taking advantage of his smaller stature, but his shoulder still took a heavy hit. If that punch had landed on his stomach, he probably wouldn't have been able to stand up on the spot. The opponent's fist was more ferocious than a wild beast's; it was clearly aimed at killing him.

"Don't you recognize me? I do recognize you, hehe, not bad, you've got some skills. But do you think you can dodge this time?" The noble youth chuckled and immediately made his next move.

"Even if you say that, you might as well say it directly if you've offended someone. There's no need to be so sneaky and disappear." Du Lei considered himself to be quite careful in his actions, and he wouldn't provoke others unless absolutely necessary.

But the fact that the other party attacked him without any explanation infuriated him. Just as Du Lei was on high alert to guard against the other party's next attack, he suddenly discovered that the other party had completely disappeared in an instant, and even the aura had vanished. This left Du Lei in a state of shock.

"Here it is!" Just as Du Lei was looking around for the other person, a voice came from behind him. Du Lei had a premonition and bent down to touch his trouser leg in a defensive motion, but he was much slower than the other person. His hand had just landed on the trouser leg.

The noble youth who had just vanished from thin air reappeared behind him, and even launched a flying kick from high above. His attack was extremely fierce, and Du Lei was forced to raise his hands to block in front of his face, trying to offset some of the force of the attack. Even so, he was still kicked more than ten meters away.

He rolled several times on the ground before regaining his balance, looking quite disheveled.