Night of the Broken Gliph

The youths on the upper floor raised their cups and toasted before starting to chat, medicine and alchemy being the main topics discussed.

They were in Southern Ping, the holy land of alchemy and medicine. Both the South and even the North acknowledged the city as the sacred land of medicine. From medicine to alchemy, they were the best; Southern Ping was the dream of many glipheons and alchemists. 

Amidst the liveliness, one table remained silent. A youngster sat at the table drinking tea alone. If one were to take a closer look, all the youths present were only drinking tea, abstaining from liquor. 

As a glipheon, one wasn’t allowed to consume liquor which slowed one’s thinking; being drunk wasn’t an option for glipheons. Any mistake would have grave consequences due to the utmost precision required for both medicine and alchemy. 

The arrival of Mo-Yung Kit caught the attention of many of the youths present. They went up to greet him while most girls stared at him in admiration.

The silent boy opened up his eyes too. They were full of energy, just like stars at night. Despite his age, he seemed reliable. 

The youths were split into two groups. One surrounded Mo-Yung Kit, while the others surrounded the quiet boy. The boy was none other than Ping Ching of the Ping Clan. 

Ping Ching didn’t stand, only waving his hands. “Mister Mo-Yung, please sit.” 

“I’ll gladly join you.” Mo-Yung Kit replied politely and sat across from Ping Ching. 

Hearing their conversation, the frequent diners couldn’t help but praise him. “Mister Mo-Yung is definitely a genius with manners. He’s indeed a worthy competitor to the Ping Clan.” 

“The Outstanding Talents Society gathering starts now. Everyone can openly voice the difficulties and challenges they have faced in medicine or alchemy,” Ping Ching said emotionlessly. He might look cute, but he carried the air of an elite clan disciple. 

“The Southern Ping’s Outstanding Talents Society gathering aims to allow everyone to improve together as the future leaders of Southern Ping. Brilliant friends sharing their accomplishments in medicine and alchemy are welcome, but if anyone tries to drive a wedge between us…Then it doesn’t just affect this gathering, but all of Southern Ping.” 

Hearing Ping Ching, Mo-Yung Kit kept gently smiled and agreed. “Mister Ping is right. As the younger generation, it’s our responsibility to bring glory to Southern Ping.”

Ping Ching made so much sense that even Mo-Yung Kit’s supporters agreed.

“Let’s start,” Ping Ching said as he waved his hands. 

Not just commoners, but many gliphists and glipheons had gathered on the ground floor to watch. Like its name suggested, this was the gathering of all talents within Southern Ping. Despite the age limit of twenty, everyone present was among the most talented in Southern Ping. They may be young, but they all had their own comprehension and understanding of medicine and alchemy. This atmosphere brought many scholars to the city.

Half an hour passed. Besides the queries and challenges raised, some youths also spoke to test others. They were separated into two groups; team Ping and team Mo-Yung, and they were happy to faze the other team with their questions. 

Ping Ching frowned at this, but he didn’t stop them even though it went against the basis of the gathering; he stayed silent as it would push them to improve.

Just then. Mo-Yung Kit smiled and stood up. “I have a question about alchemy to ask Mister Ping.” 

“Sure.” Ping Ching glanced at him. After hearing Mo-Yung Kit’s voice, the entire restaurant turned silent, listening carefully. 

Here he comes!

“Some time ago, I was enlightened, and I refined some elixirs. However, the product turned out to be a single odd elixir. Still, since it was a product of my enlightenment, I was filled with curiosity yet dared not act on it. I would like Mister Ping to help me take a look.” 

The entire restaurant was taken aback by this. 

Elixir enlightenment! 

It was a process of enlightenment, just like what gliphers and gliphists could experience, just that gliphers would be enlightened on gliphilities or battle-related knowledge while gliphists would comprehend more about gliph related topics. Like its name, elixir enlightenment would help an alchemist understand alchemy better. 

Enlightenment couldn’t be forced. It was something that one couldn’t ask for or control. When alchemists were enlightened, they would get strange and creative ideas, usually creating special elixirs. These elixirs had no recipe and were developed solely through their enlightenment, thus were usually unique throughout the world. 

Mo-Yung Kit patted his clan’s jade badge as a palm-sized wooden box appeared in his palm. Ping Ching took it casually and opened the box. 

Whoosh…

An aromatic scent diffused through the entire restaurant. Everyone who smelled it was captivated. What elixir is so aromatic? 

Some gliphists and elders smiled and shook their heads on smelling it. They knew it was a difficult question for Mister Ping. They might have only smelled it from afar and not know the elixir’s effects, but they could tell that this g-elixir was nearly grade three. Ping Ching could barely refine grade two elixirs and mostly refined grade one elixirs. How could he tell what this g-elixir was when it was nearly grade three? 

Ping Ching ignored everything around him and looked at the elixir in the box. “It’s pink and has a nice, round shape. There is some fog on the outer layer too.” 

He took a deep breath as if trying to suck in the fog. “I can detect some hallucinative powers. It seems to have a strong power to take over someone’s mind. This should be a hallucination elixir.” 

Everyone that was ready to laugh at Ping Ching had a serious expression. Hallucination elixir?