IWYTBW - Chapter 16

 Chapter 16

A Prank That Falls Short of Standards Can Only Be Called Embarrassing.

During the long wait, Yi Zhen redistributed the dosage, reducing the potion’s volume by a quarter, and fed the other bloodworms.

This time, it didn’t roll as much as its predecessor but still ended up stiff on the table, unresponsive.

Seeing this, Yi Zhen didn’t dare to make any rash moves. The number of Bloodworms he had was just ten, while his target was a group of six people. His margin for error was not very high.

He smoothed out the cracks on the wax block, closed the stone box again, adjusted the room temperature to 26℃, which was suitable for the survival of the bloodworms, and then used a protective cover to cover the table, ensuring that the sunlight after sunrise would not disturb the two experimental subjects. Finally, he picked up one end of the sealed glass bowl, walked out of the training room, and officially ended the day’s lesson.

“Let’s wrap up for the day,” he sighed, “We’ll see how they are in the morning.”

That day had been truly grueling, so after returning to his room, Yi Zhen ordered a bowl of hot, steamed rice dumplings. He devoured them in one go, then finished his meal, washed up, and fell into a deep sleep that lasted until dawn.

The moment Yi Zhen opened his eyes in the morning, he couldn’t be bothered to wash his face and jumped straight out of bed. Weaving his way through the house, he headed to the training room to check on the two bloodline worms.

“Huh?” He moved his eyes close to the protective shield. “Things... don’t look so bad!”

Last night, they were still alive and kicking, but after several hours of waiting, the bloodworms’ bodies had already condensed into thin, white, cocoon-like objects. The thin lines were fixed on the table. The medicinal properties of the second one were slightly weaker. At this moment, there were already signs of cracks on the outer shell.

Yi Zhen was finally relieved.

Once he had tidied up and finished his breakfast, he turned back to see that another Bloodline Worm had broken out of its shell. It was perched on the shards, its bloody hue considerably diluted, transformed into a shade akin to rosy clouds.

Yi Zhen gently probed with his spiritual tendrils and sensed that the life signs of the bloodline worm were stronger than before, and its body had also become much tougher.

“Alright! We can move on to the next step.”

He turned around and carried out a pot of carmine flowers with exuberant foliage. The leaves and petals hung down in clusters like fluttering butterflies.

[This is a variant of the Impatiens balsamina flower, also known as the garden balsam, nail flower, or touch-me-not, which is an herbaceous annual flowering plant in the Balsaminaceae family, order Sapindales, class Dicotyledoneae, genus Impatiens.] Tai’a explained.

“Hmmm...” Yi Zhen observed for a moment. “I bought it on the Star Net because it has an ancestor that was originally from Earth. This flower is incredibly expensive; it cost me a full 2600 starcoins. I don’t even know if it still retains any of the ancestral functions...”

[What funtions are you referring to?]

“Dyeing your nails!” Yi Zhen explained. “If it weren’t for the fact chemical agents aren’t very compatible with conceptual extraction, why would I have gone through so much trouble? It would be much easier to just buy nail polish. A bottle of Fantasalon Great Wall color is only five StarCoins....”

He picked off a string of impatiens flowers and mashed them in a porcelain mortar. When the flowers gave up all their juice and became a paste-like mixture, he added snowy flakes of crystal-clear alum, which melted and mixed uniformly into the mash.

The crimson flower paste was stirred into a lump and placed in a small dish. Yi Zhen extended his mental tendrils, muttering, “You are nail polish, you are nail polish, you are nail polish... Ah, found it! The concept of color!”

This time, he didn’t perform a concept extraction. Instead, he guided the mental form of the bloodline worm to come into contact with the concept, allowing them to slowly merge together.

Afterward, he delicately dipped his pinky finger into the floral ointment, then lightly dabbed it onto the table.

As if by conditioned reflex, the bloodline worm suddenly twisted on the table. He increased the force of his tapping, causing the bloodline worm to roll more vigorously.

“Success!” Yi Zhen raised both hands high and cheered. “Sure enough, there are no difficult tasks, only persevering people who know how to adapt!”

·

On the appointed date, Anji accompanied Yi Zhen.

Ai Ling rushed back from school at noon. Two days had passed since the incident, yet she still looked haggard, and her eyes were dull. However, thanks to the professional makeup team, she didn’t look too bad after putting on makeup.

The makeup artist carefully took out an exquisite little enamel and gold-inlaid box. With a gentle stroke of the brush dipped into the box, she swept it lightly across Ai Ling’s cheekbones. Instantly, a shimmering galaxy appeared on her face.

“The Galactic Diamond Highlighting Powder,” the makeup artist said with satisfaction, “is made primarily from the diamonds exclusive to the Pegasus Constellation, known for their celestial beauty. There are still three days until its official release. Miss, you are the very first esteemed guest in the world to use it for adornment. Please, have confidence!”

Ai Ling gave a forced smile, “...Alright.”

Yi Zhen also changed into formal attire. He was already strikingly handsome, but now the timidity that once lingered around him had completely vanished, replaced by an aura of serene confidence. As he walked in, his imposing presence captivated the room, his brows and eyes radiating a jade-like brilliance. It was as if, for a fleeting moment, he had illuminated everyone’s gaze.

“All packed… Why are you still wearing that yellow?” Yi Zhen looked at Ai Ling strangely, “Does that color look good on you? Why not go change into a red one?”

“Because the youngest granddaughter of Grand Duke Norst Rauðr Dreki, Natalia Rauðr Dreki[ e/n: Their surnames are 赤红龙 / Chìhónglóng / Crimson Dragon, I decided to mix things up and used Old Norse], who is the central figure of this small circle, loves to wear red. In the entire university, there aren’t many girls who dare to appear in front of her wearing red dresses,” Anji softly reminded him from behind, “This noble scion is a direct descendant of the Azoth royal family. If all goes as expected, on the day she ascends to become an A-level mecha pilot, she will inherit the title of ‘Valkyrie of the Red Dragon.’”

“I know,” Yi Zhen said. “I read the materials you sent me yesterday afternoon.”

Anji was taken aback, “Ah, then why did you...”

“So what, does her favorite color have anything to do with anyone else?” Yi Zhen coldly retorted. “I like breathing too, but it would be best if she doesn’t breathe in front of me anymore. What do you think?”

Anji immediately shut his mouth, not knowing what to think for a moment.

In a way, this little boss of his was rather similar to his superior——this sudden, inexplicable thought arose in his mind.

“Go change into the red dress.” Yi Zhen said to Ai Ling, “You have red hair, and your chosen spiritual manifestation is the Blood Lion. I refuse to believe that you don’t like the color red.”

Ai Ling glared at him, her stubborn, wide eyes gradually filling with tears.

She stood up and silently made her way through the empty audience hall. Her tall figure, draped in an orange-yellow dress, disappeared behind the tall stone pillars, presence fading like a wisp of smoke.

“I don’t mean to pry,” said Anji, “but I’ve noticed that you seem to have a strong distaste for… people of the upper class.”

“I do not hate them.” Yi Zhen said, “For a person to live, they must distinguish between the superior and the inferior. No one can deny this. Furthermore, I live in a mansion and have no worries about food and clothing. In the eyes of some people, I might as well be an upper-class person. I simply detest this kind of behavior.”

Anji seemed to be lost in thought: “Is that so...”

“Perhaps some people, after climbing to a high position, develop an illusion along the lines of: ‘I am special, I cannot be offended’ — like this Miss Natalia Rauðr Dreki you mentioned.” Yi Zhen turned and said to Anji, “To maintain this specialness, they often enjoy using wordly power to suppress the actions and hobbies of others, demonstrating their superiority over mortals and proudly boasting their uniqueness.”

Yi Zhen displayed a serene smile. “Therefore, in my eyes, unique flora and fauna need to be protected, while such unique individuals are fit for extinction.”

Anji was horrified.

The person before him was merely an ordinary man with physical abilities barely reaching grade C, not even a mecha pilot. Yet, Anji had an instinct, a gut feeling, that even he couldn’t help but fear.

—When Yi Zhen spoke, there was no doubt he would follow through. It was as if he had sat upon the throne, with the world beneath his feet, and any resplendently dressed monarch would have to bow their head low before him.

At this time, Ai Ling slowly walked out.

She changed into an even more dazzling and well-fitting red dress, eliciting gasps of admiration from everyone in the room. The layers of red fabric cascaded like a never-dying flame, radiant and vibrant. Deep crimson sashes flowed gracefully along her waist, draping down to the hem of her skirt.

She pinned up her crimson hair, a blood-red gem glistening against the white expanse of her slender neck, as though forged from fire, destined to return to the flames.

“Absolutely perfect,” Yi Zhen complimented, “It just needs a little more decoration. Come, let me paint your nails.”

Her broken fingernails had long since healed, and were now slightly longer, like an unmarred full moon, white as jade.

Ai Ling was both shy and delighted. The earlier despondency was replaced by a mix of excitement and slight unease. She asked, “Paint my nails?”

“A touch of natural rouge, come here.” Yi Zhen asked her to sit down, and lifted the lid of a small porcelain box, “A long time ago, when nail polish hadn’t been invented yet, young ladies would use impatiens flowers to dye their nails.”

As he applied the ointment, he casually said, “By the way, at dinner tonight, if I say something inappropriate, or if you feel that I’ll come off as rude or offensive, just tap your fingers on the table, okay?”

Ai Ling pursed her lips and said with a smile, “Okay.”

Anji was a bit suspicious.

Really? A man-eating flower can be so polite? The scene before him was bizarre as a beast setting out knives and forks before devouring its prey.

The makeup artist leaned in, joining the discussion with great interest. “Ah, it’s the impatiens flower! A friend of mine is a pharmacist, and once he told me that women in ancient times on Earth used this very flower to dye their nails. Besides that, they would also use crushed malachite and gold to draw eyeliner and eyeshadow. Truly, it was a simple yet elegant era.”

Yi Zhen borrowed a small brush, and carefully applied the vermillion-red nail polish to Ai Ling’s nails, then wrapped her fingertips with reed leaves, and secured them with hemp twine.

“Exquisite, exquisite!” The make-up artist exclaimed with admiration. “This is almost like some kind of ritual, is it a ritual to summon the God of Nail Polish? Yes, it must be?”

Yi Zhen then turned on his light-brain, set the alarm for two hours later, and reminded Ai Ling not to forget to untie the hemp rope when the time came.

“Retro, retro!” The makeup artist clicked her tongue in admiration. “Though, I could also achieve this in five minutes using this bottle of Supernova Red nail polish.”

Yi Zhen: “If you could just speak a bit less, then I...”

The makeup artist quickly stepped back. “Alright, I won’t say another word!”

Yi Zhen: “......Thank you so much.”

“I see you’ve grown your nails out,” Yi Zhen turned his head and continued to say to Ai Ling, “Very good. They look even better after being painted, and they’ll make a louder sound when tapped… Ah, I forgot to add, if I don’t hear you, am too nervous, or don’t notice your reminder, could you tap me with your fingernails? Would that be okay?”

Ai Ling, unaware of the situation, continued to nod softly, agreeing to the request without any hesitation.

“Alright,” Yi Zhen stood up and smiled at An Ji. “Shall we pick out our transportation now? Rong Hongxue promised to provide, so I intend to borrow Gram.”

Gram! Anji cried out bitterly in his heart. Riding Gram to see Natalia Rauðr Dreki? If this wasn’t a clear sign of ill intentions, he truly couldn’t imagine what could be more ominous![e/n: Using Old Norse for her name was an even better choice than expected! Tune in next chapter for some Norse Mythology explaining this, if you’re patient enough to not google it immediately aha. I feel like I should have figured this out, considering my love of Odinsphere.]

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