Normally, a week has seven days, twenty-four hours each day, totaling one hundred sixty-eight hours.

And Jiang Yu has thirty classes a week, three hours each, adding up to one hundred fifty hours in total.

In other words, if you don’t count the ’Time Conversion’ duration, it means that in the one hundred sixty-eight hours of a week, the witch spends most of her time learning—Zheng Qing has calculated this number before, but every time he recalculates, he feels suffocated as if he calculated it for the first time.

Even with the addition of Time Conversion, it’s hard to completely ease the fatigue that comes from such high-intensity learning.

So, watching Su Shijun take away Jiang Yu, he hesitated repeatedly and finally suppressed the little unease in his heart. Not that he’s worried that Councillor Su will do anything to Jiang Yu, but he’s concerned that after the ’Ning-Han Confluence,’ some things might become more chaotic and unpredictable.

After finishing the ’Shi Cai Ceremony,’ coming out from Greenhill Mansion, it was already close to eight o’clock in the evening.

Of course, Zheng Qing didn’t leave empty-handed—considering he would visit Doctor Duzem later, he specially took a bottle of high-grade apple dew from Greenhill Mansion.

This magic-infused liquid can be used as a daily drink, also to concoct magic potions, and is a common material in alchemy. It made for a perfect gift.

Without Jiang Yu to lead him through shortcuts, Zheng Qing had to retrace his steps, taking a big detour around Beta Town to head to the East Zone. But without the witch by his side, he shed many concerns, using both an Invisibility Talisman and Armor Horse Charm, darting madly without worrying much and didn’t take too long.

Then, at the alley entrance, Zheng Qing ran into an unexpected acquaintance.

"Lin Guo? What are you doing here late at night instead of staying at Alpha Fortress?"

The captain of the Absolution Hunting Team raised an eyebrow, surprised as he looked at the little warlock hastily walking out of the alley, craning his head to see who might be accompanying Lin Guo—possibly a little witch playing along—but was disappointed to see a Black Mountain Goat with a vacant stare.

This was the alchemical sheep doll Lin Guo made for him last summer, its appearance, size, even horn shape and wool color are identical to the old Black Mountain Goat he had.

"Here to visit Doctor Duzem."

Lin Guo gave an answer that surprised Zheng Qing. But then again, given that Doctor Duzem was no longer a hermit, it was a natural logic that Lin Guo, a little alchemical genius, would visit this senior genius.

Lin Guo then very abruptly, yet politely, bowed to Zheng Qing, leaving the young student bewildered.

"What are you doing?"

Zheng Qing exclaimed, stepping aside to evade the little warlock’s formality.

"Thank you so much for this opportunity, allowing me to visit such an outstanding alchemy master. As a matter of fact, I’ve been troubled these days about the renovation plan for Big Black... When it was created last year, I was too hasty, the basic framework left insufficient redundant space, resulting in it being like a dog grabbing a hedgehog, unable to start when modification is needed now. Today’s visit, Doctor Duzem provided me with excellent advice and inspiration..."

The young warlock straightened up and began to talk non-stop, completely ignoring his captain’s puzzled expression.

Every word he said Zheng Qing could understand, but together they seemed a bit confusing.

"Wait!" Zheng Qing interrupted Lin Guo’s words of thanks, tentatively asking, "You mean, you came to visit Doctor Duzem because I helped?"

"Wasn’t it you?"

The little warlock blinked, reached into his robe, fumbled briefly, and took out an invitation that Zheng Qing found very familiar: "See here, Doctor gave it to me this afternoon, saying you got it from Doctor Duzem... Being able to enter the Abnormal Life Research Institute is a very precious opportunity for a wizard at my age, so thank you!"

He bowed solemnly again.

This time, Zheng Qing did not avoid but held up that invitation, sighing rather emotionally.

Indeed, this was the laboratory invitation letter Doctor Duzem handwrote when Zheng Qing visited here last night. It was intended to invite the author of the Sprites Observation Report, which was Xiao Xiao. But apparently, Xiao Xiao did not accept this invitation and instead passed it on to Lin Guo.

After all, apart from clearly serving as a laboratory assistant, the recipient’s name, meeting time, etc., were left blank in this invitation, allowing the invited person to fill it in themselves.

"Since you’ve entered Doctor Duzem’s laboratory..."

Zheng Qing said this sentence but was momentarily at a loss on how to continue.

Initially, he wanted to encourage Lin Guo to learn more of Doctor Duzem’s exclusive alchemical skills, but immediately remembered the cruel refining methods of the ’Dushi Philosopher’s Stone’ which were too harsh to recommend to a not yet fully developed juvenile wizard; then wanted to remind Lin Guo to pay attention to guests who interact with the Doctor, to see if any resemble a Raven, but it seemed too dangerous for him; after which, he thought of the collaborative project between Doctor Duzem and the Edge Academy, Lin Guo might potentially could learn some inside details.

Several thoughts flashed through Zheng Qing’s mind, only to be extinguished one by one.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, shook his head lightly, and placed his hand on the small white robe’s shoulder: "...Becoming a laboratory assistant means you have matured and can take on more responsibility. So, follow your heart, work hard, and strive to become a formally registered alchemist soon." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Lin Guo chuckled.

"Li Meng said, since you became a teaching assistant, you changed into a pedant, which I was curious about. So that’s what a pedant means! Hmm, feels like the Principal’s speech at an opening ceremony, really dull and boring."

Saying that he patted Zheng Qing’s shoulder in return, meaningfully blinking: "I know what the Absolution Hunting Team is busy with; after all, I am the team manager and a backup hunter! Rest assured, I won’t rashly act... but having an extra pair of eyes isn’t a bad thing for the hunting team."

With that, he did not wait for Zheng Qing to respond but turned around, pulling his alchemical sheep doll away.

The Black Mountain Goat followed the little warlock in lockstep, its beard under the jaw quivering slightly, the bell around its neck tinkling clearly, its hooves tapping on the ground, weaving into the little warlock’s pace showing a sense of harmonious beauty.

Zheng Qing perked up, nudged Lin Guo at the shoulder, escorting him out a few steps while joking: "Off you go, stop blocking the alley and getting in people’s way... In the future, listen less to Li Meng’s blabbering, chat more with Zhu Si, or even Su Ya. Su Ya’s words are more credible than Li Meng’s!"