[Apothecary Skill: lv0(3/10)]
A flicker of confidence flashed through Ivan's eyes.
He first took a small glass dish, a slim measuring spoon, and a wooden spatula from the tool rack and went to the medicine shelf.
All the containers on the medicine shelf were labeled with the name of the medicine. He scanned through them, pausing briefly when he saw some of the more elegant script before moving on.
'Chilli pepper grain'
It was stored in an opaque black glass bottle of intermediate capacity, with the mouth only slightly narrower than the body of the bottle.
Ivan took a deep breath and held his breath, one hand pressing the bottle against the board, while the other gently pulled the cap ~ out.
He carefully scooped a spoonful and used the wooden spatula to level it, pouring it into the small glass dish, then scooped another spoonful.
After stuffing the cap back in, he only relaxed and slowly exhaled after moving away with the items. Even so, he could still smell the sharp scent, feeling a burning sensation in his nose.
This so-called 'chilli pepper grain' was a powder made from a type of chilli seed, over three hundred times hotter than regular chilli, with a potent smell that could even burn the nostrils if inhaled directly.
He had seen from a book that a potion made from chilli pepper grain could clean tools, which meant it was used for disinfection.
'Trying to trip me up? No chance.'
Ivan specifically weighed it on the scales on the tool rack before carefully handing it over to Old Orio.
A flicker of surprise flashed through Old Orio's eyes.
He instructed, "What are you doing for me, go mix it into chilli pepper water and clean the tools you just used."
Ivan followed his instructions meticulously, avoiding any issues.
Without giving him a break, Old Orio ordered him to fetch 'corydalis root' and 'stink bug tail scale.' Both were commonly used herbs, the former soaked in a glue solution, only to be picked with tweezers due to its slippery gelatinous nature; the latter had to be wrapped in damp paper after being taken out.
Luckily, they were all mentioned in the Fifty Commonly Used Herbs.
The book also recorded a special apothecary unit 'ounce,' with 1 ounce equal to 16 drams, and 1 dram equal to 30 grains.
An ounce was both a weight and a volume unit. An ounce-marked medicine's corresponding weight or volume could differ, typically around 31 grams or 28 milliliters, which was obviously complicated and easy for novices to mistake.
Ivan carefully checked and managed not to make any mistakes.
After giving him several directives and seeing that Old Orio couldn't stump him, he stopped giving random instructions and rarely bothered with him.
To this, Ivan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
For the rest of the time, he began the normal chores of a helper, lending a hand when instructed, otherwise standing by.
When Old Orio returned to the apothecary lab, Ivan silently followed.
"Go get 4 drams of green louse liquid."
"Okay."
"Wait, I'll go myself. You stay put."
Before he could leave the apothecary lab, Old Orio called out to him and quickly walked to the medicine shelf himself.
Ivan could only watch from a distance.
Being a helper was all about learning through observation, so how could he not watch closely?
[Apothecary Skill Experience Point +1]
[Apothecary Skill: lv0(4/10)]
After a while, Ivan watched Old Orio make four different potions in succession, greeting him with good news.
A slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Seeing this, Old Orio caught him grinning at his potions and said with a cool expression, "What are you still doing here, lad?"
"Huh?"
Ivan was clueless, thinking that since he came here to work, where else should he be?
Old Orio said, "No lunch provided at noon."
"Oh oh," Ivan dismissed it lightly, "then I'll come back after lunch."
He made a slight bow to Old Orio and turned to walk out of the medical clinic.
"Wait."
After taking just a few steps, Old Orio called out to him again and thoughtfully threw a book into his hands. The book was wrapped in beast hide, two fingers thick.
"Don't come over this afternoon, but remember to come back for a follow-up in three days."
Ivan was happy to see the book, but a bit reluctant about not coming in the afternoon, "I'm here to work off my debt, wouldn't it be bad not to come?"
"Get lost, don't get in the way here."
"Alright, I'll be here on time in three days for sure."
Ivan knew he couldn't force the issue, so he bid farewell and left.
Within a few steps from the clinic's entrance, he noticed a slim figure standing behind the wall, a brown-haired girl wearing a light green dress. When she saw him emerge, her gaze fell upon the books in his hand, staring intently for a second or two before looking at him.
She was a stranger to him, about his own age, with what appeared to be a hint of hostility in her eyes.
This left Ivan somewhat puzzled.
"Hmph!"
Noticing him looking her way, the girl instinctively straightened up, displaying her precociously prominent features even more. Without waiting for him to say anything, she gave a cold snort and stepped toward the clinic.
Upon reaching the entrance, her expression transformed into one of pitiable sweetness, and she walked in with practiced ease.
Ivan had just walked away when he overheard a conversation coming from behind, and he couldn't help but listen in.
"You've been fired by me."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Mr. Orio, I had issues at home before, which is why I slacked off on the tasks you assigned me. I'll work hard from now on, I'm begging you for one more chance, please."
"------"
Ivan heard everything clearly and realized he had a competitor who was not to be underestimated.
He shook his head and put the matter out of his mind.
A few minutes later, he arrived at another street — Interlock Street.
This was in the South City area, closer to the docks, the most commercially vibrant part of Flying Fish Port. The Cassia Swordsmanship Hall where he trained was located on Interlock Street, which also housed his father's Giant Shield Mercenary Group's headquarters.
He hadn't been to the Swordsmanship Hall for several days and now wanted to explain his situation.
He slipped through a side alley and entered the Swordsmanship Hall through the side door. What he saw was a large training ground.
"Hey, Ivan, you finally showed up."
Donnie, who had just finished training and was preparing to leave, waved hello upon seeing Ivan.
In the sunlight, his short and stocky figure resembled a bear with stumpy legs.
Just like Ivan, Donnie was one of the poor students in the hall, and the two had always had a good relationship.
"Did you get beaten up?"
Ivan rolled his eyes. "Accidentally injured."
"I get it," Donnie said, giving him a knowing look and leveraging himself off Ivan's shoulder, then added, "I'll tell you this, I've started learning the Gushing Breath Method, so from now on, please call me the knight's page, Donnie."
Ivan was 1.7 meters tall, and Donnie was a head shorter than him, making the gesture somewhat awkward.
Seeing him drenched in sweat, Ivan pushed him away with disgust and said, "Congratulations, Attendant Donnie."
"That sounds a bit odd to me, but I'll take your congratulations. You need to make up your mind soon, too," Donnie said.
"I've already decided."
"Have you come to a decision? That's great. In the future, we brothers will train the Gushing Breath Method together and make a name for ourselves in Flying Fish Port. But I can't talk anymore; I'm just too hungry," Donnie said, feeling the acidity in his stomach and hurriedly ending the conversation.
The Gushing Breath Method was one of the Breathing Methods taught at Cassia Swordsmanship Hall. Its name sounded grand and imposing, but in reality, it was only a foundational method.
Sorted by quality, the Knight Breathing Method was divided into elementary, intermediate, upper class, and the legendary supreme ranks. Without a doubt, the Gushing Breath Method was the lowest tier.
No matter the Breathing Method, its effect was to refine the Breath of Life within one's body.
Normally, one had to be at least 13 years old to start practicing; starting too early could damage one's potential and impair physical development.
The reason Donnie was famished was that training consumed a huge amount of energy and he urgently needed to replenish his nutrients and strength.
Like Ivan in his current injured state, his body certainly couldn't withstand the strain of Breath Method practice, so he would have to wait a few days.
'No wonder the previous occupant of this body was reluctant; the family's Goliath Frog Breathing Method was intermediate, two ranks above the Gushing Breath Method.'
Ivan sighed inwardly and continued walking into the interior of the Swordsmanship Hall.
It was lunchtime, and there weren't many people in the hall. He found Instructor Quincy and explained his situation, including his desire to learn a Breathing Method.
Seeing his injury, Instructor Quincy didn't scold him but instead told him to recover from his injury before returning.
He stayed in the Swordsmanship Hall for only a few minutes before returning to the streets of Interlock Street.
"Ivan!"
"Haha, we're so happy to see you."
Not far from the alleyway, two figures quickly intercepted him, adopting an overly familiar demeanor.
Seeing who it was, Ivan's face darkened. These were the swordsmen who had caused his predecessor's demise, his two 'good friends' from before.