Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 168: Zora’s Special gift (Part-1)

Clarissa’s gaze lingered on Gabriel with barely concealed anticipation. As long as she obtained an Elixir of Tranquility potion, she was certain her strength would rise another level.

"You can leave first," Gabriel said lightly.

Silvan and Adrian were equally tempted by the potions, but they knew their place. Without hesitation, they nodded and withdrew from the room.

Clarissa, however, remained.

She leaned closer to Gabriel, her delicate face blooming with joy. "It’s been so long since I last saw you. I really missed you, Dear."

Gabriel glanced at her, the corner of his lips curving into a faint smile. "Without me around, life must’ve been lonely."

Clarissa nodded eagerly. "Every day I waited for you to return. While you were gone, Zora bullied me again and again. Now that you’re back, I can finally hold my head high."

At the mention of Zora, a cold glint flashed through Gabriel’s eyes.

That woman had not only killed his sister, but also dared to trample on the people around him. Clearly, she had never taken him seriously.

"Don’t worry," he said calmly. "Now that I’m back, that kind of thing won’t happen again."

Clarissa smiled sweetly, resting her head against his shoulder. Her voice softened.

"Dear... this Elixir of Tranquility potion... can you give me one?"

Her cultivation resources were already scarce.

After losing badly in her bet with Zora, her family’s support had nearly dried up. And she knew better than anyone that she would never have another chance to buy an Elixir of Tranquility potion from Zora.

Gabriel’s expression shifted subtly as he looked down at her. For a brief instant, a trace of mockery and disdain flickered through his eyes before vanishing without a trace.

"It’s not that I don’t want to give it to you," he said gently. "But this other Elixir has a different purpose."

Clarissa frowned slightly. "What else could you possibly need an Elixir of Tranquility potion for?"

"I met an important benefactor during my travels," Gabriel replied with a practiced smile. "My family’s standing has improved greatly because of him. Since I have this potion, it’s only right that I offer it to him.

"You know how hard it was for me to reach this point. I can’t afford to miss any opportunity."

Clarissa finally understood. Though a trace of dissatisfaction remained in her eyes, she forced herself not to complain.

Gabriel’s hand tightened around her slender waist. "I originally planned to take all three Elixirs of Tranquility. That way, the third one would’ve been yours. Who would’ve thought things would go wrong today?"

His gaze turned deep and apologetic. "Clarissa... you’re not blaming me, are you?"

Seeing the helplessness and affection in his eyes, Clarissa’s heart softened completely.

"Of course not," she said quickly, nestling into his embrace. "I understand how hard things are for you. As long as you have me in your heart, that’s enough."

Gabriel’s lips curled into a faint, sinister smile.

This kind of woman was the easiest to control.

To him, Clarissa was nothing more than a temporary diversion, someone to pass the time when boredom struck. How could he ever truly care for her?

Yet Clarissa, wrapped in what she believed was a warm and loving embrace, never saw that smile.

She only believed that Gabriel loved her deeply.

After Clarissa left, Gabriel’s gaze settled on the two jade boxes resting quietly on the table.

Elixirs of Tranquility potion.

A legendary medicinal potion that is strictly controlled by the Immortal guild.

He never imagined that such a treasure would end up in his hands, instead.

Although acquiring the two potions had cost a painful amount of resources, Gabriel wasn’t the least bit distressed.

Earlier, he had sold a rare medicinal ingredient to that noble figure for an outrageous price. Not only had the loss been covered, but the profit was more than doubled.

A perfect trade.

With great care, he stored the two Elixirs of Tranquility in his storage pouch. Without lingering another second, he stepped out of the dormitory. This kind of treasure could not wait. He had to deliver it to his benefactor immediately.

***

On the other side, when Cassian received the Elixir of Tranquility from Morgana, the aged man’s eyes lit up with uncontrollable excitement.

"Excellent! Beautifully done!"

Cassian laughed heartily, patting Morgana’s shoulder. "Once I successfully decipher the potion formula, our standing will rise to an entirely new level!"

For an alchemist, possessing a lost potion formula did not merely mean skill. It meant authority, influence, and reverence.

Morgana smiled obediently. "Master, I believe you will succeed."

A smug look crept onto Cassian’s face. "I’ll begin researching today. The formula of a rank-2 potion won’t be overly complex. You should return and rest."

Morgana nodded. She hesitated for a moment, wondering whether she should mention her cooperation with Clarissa, but quickly dismissed the thought.

By the time her master emerged from seclusion, Zora’s reputation would already be in ruins. There would be no need to explain anything.

After dismissing Morgana, Cassian hurried straight into the alchemy room, barely able to contain his impatience.

Once alone, he stared at the potion for a long time. Finally, he decided to split it into two parts. Understanding the medicinal effect firsthand would make research far easier.

Without hesitation, Cassian gulped half the potion.

At almost the same time, Gabriel also presented his Elixir of Tranquility potion to his benefactor.

That man paid ten times its value without blinking.

Gabriel was intoxicated with satisfaction. This deal alone was worth the entire trip.

*

Meanwhile, back at the special enrollment dormitory, Black and White were in a state of pure bliss.

Their mouths were smeared with oil, their bellies round, and their expressions dazed with happiness.

"Master," White asked while gnawing on a bone, "what kind of medicine did you sell to Clarissa?"

Ever since learning that the potions sold at the auction were fake, both little fellows had been dying of curiosity. They had held back earlier only because Emperor Beibei was present.

Zora curled her lips into a playful smile. "Laxatives."

The room fell silent.

Black and White froze, eyes wide and round.

"Laxatives... can be refined into potion form?" Black asked in disbelief.

Those were usually crude medicines, not something that looked anything like a refined elixir.

Zora blinked innocently, her smile turning more mischievous by the second. "Oh, mine come with a few extra side effects."

Both Black and White leaned forward instantly, even Shihtzu perking up with curiosity.

"What side effects?" they asked in unison.

Zora spread her hands lightly, her expression pure and harmless.

"Nothing serious. They just... release their cultivation while they relieve themselves."

Silence.

Then—

The room erupted into suppressed laughter.

*Pfft*

When Black, White, and Shihtzu watched Zora’s perfectly innocent expression, a single thought rose in their minds at the same time.

Black-hearted.

Utterly black-hearted.

This level of wicked brilliance could only come from their master.

Shihtzu silently took a mental note: anyone in this world could be offended, but offending the master was absolutely forbidden.

The black-and-white fur balls exchanged looks, their eyes glittering with admiration.

From itching powder to face-ruining concoctions, and now these "special" laxatives... such creations simply did not exist outside their master’s hands.