Chapter 40: The Potion’s Effects
The spacious training ground was empty except for Qin Chu. He knew he wouldn’t be disturbed for the rest of the afternoon. Still, he left behind an illusion of himself diligently meditating, diligently cultivating his Battle Qi.
With a snap of his fingers, his figure vanished.
Invisibility.
No need for the Phantom Demons’ crude shapeshifting. This was one of the dozens of spells Candice had taught him.
He had deliberately revealed Angelica’s whereabouts, her vulnerability, to Loseweisse, anticipating her actions.
This was Angelica’s final test.
If she passed, she would be freed from her magical shackles and earn his complete trust.
If she failed…
Despite possessing knowledge from his previous life, Qin Chu remained cautious. He carefully considered each person’s personality, their motivations, using his experience to anticipate their actions.
Loseweisse was a clever woman. Though she yearned to kill Angelica, she would restrain herself. She would manipulate Angelica, using her as a tool to indirectly control him, the Hero.
He knew how much she hated him, how much she loathed Angelica.
But resurrecting Jie Luo was her ultimate goal, a goal that overshadowed even her personal vendettas.
The Hero Squad’s plan was simple.
Based on his experience from his previous life, they would befriend him, make him fall in love with one of them, treat him like a cherished comrade, and then, once he had eliminated the Demon threat, they would strike him down.
They hadn’t killed him immediately because his talent surpassed Jie Luo’s. They needed a tool, someone capable of defeating the Demons. Otherwise, even if they resurrected Jie Luo, he would face Nagath and likely meet the same fate.
But now, his bond with Angelica was even stronger.
While killing Angelica would be the easiest solution, he had revealed her whereabouts to Loseweisse. Given their animosity, if Angelica died, Loseweisse would be the prime suspect.
Even if she could clear her name, the seed of doubt would be planted, making it nearly impossible for her to gain his trust, to manipulate him.
Therefore, Qin Chu concluded that Loseweisse would use mental magic, transforming Angelica into a puppet, controlling her to indirectly influence him.
Very few people knew about Loseweisse’s mental magic abilities.
He was one of them.
…
At the Roblensa Market, Angelica hummed a cheerful tune as she strolled through the stalls, her basket overflowing with fresh produce.
Her master was now the most important person in her life, even more precious than her own life.
She wanted to serve him with all her heart, to please him in every way. He had expressed a desire to sample her cooking, so she had to do her best.
The Roblensa Market, despite its high prices, offered the finest ingredients. The tomatoes, plump and juicy, resembled glistening rubies. The steaks, marbled with fat, were a vibrant red. The vegetables, freshly picked, were a vibrant green.
“This should be enough,” she murmured, her basket overflowing.
She had been serving her master for three days now. These days had been a paradise compared to her previous life. No more beatings from Loseweisse, no more physical or emotional abuse. Her body and soul were healing.
She had almost forgotten the task the Pope had assigned her.
The Holy Maiden!
It was the first time in days that she had thought of those words.
It had been her dream for over a decade. The thought of abandoning it filled her with a strange sense of loss.
Her smile faded, her steps becoming heavier. She didn’t notice the dark figure approaching silently behind her.
As she turned a corner, a sharp blow struck her back. Darkness swallowed her.
…
When Angelica regained consciousness, she found herself lying on the ground, surrounded by trees. The setting sun cast long shadows, its light stinging her eyes.
She struggled against her bonds, but the collar suppressed her magic, rendering her powerless.
“Save your energy,” a mocking voice said.
She looked up, her gaze meeting the eyes of two women dressed in black robes, their attire similar to the Holy See’s nuns’ habits but in a starkly contrasting color.
Their figures, outlined by their form-fitting robes, were athletic and alluring, a blend of strength and grace.
Their faces were beautiful, their features delicate, their eyes sharp and almond-shaped, their gazes tinged with a hint of cruelty. A strange symbol, resembling a large eye, adorned their foreheads.
A tattered sack lay discarded nearby. This was how they had transported her.
“Who are you? What do you want?” Angelica asked, her voice steady despite her fear.
She calmed herself quickly. She had endured hardships before, faced dangers far greater than this. She had been tied to a pyre, almost burned alive.
She scanned her surroundings, searching for an escape route.
But she knew it wouldn’t be easy. These two women, despite their strange attire, possessed considerable power. Her magic was suppressed, rendering her helpless.
“I am the Hero Qin Chu’s personal maid,” she said, hoping to intimidate them. “Have you considered the consequences of kidnapping me?”
The two women laughed, their amusement tinged with disdain.
“You’re relying on that fool to save you?”
“Hah! The Hero just started his training with Ekaterina. Even if he was here, what could he do?”
One of the women stepped closer, her pale finger lifting Angelica’s chin, forcing her to meet her gaze. “Do you truly believe the Hero will come for you?”
Angelica’s heart sank. These women knew more about her master than she did. She hadn’t even known he had begun training with Ekaterina.
Who were they?
What was their connection to the Holy See?
“What do you want?” she asked again, her voice tight.
“It’s simple,” the woman said, her smile widening. “We need you to do something for us.”
“You’re the Hero’s maid, responsible for his well-being. We need you to add… a little something to his food.” She produced a vial filled with a shimmering pink liquid.
“It’s not bitter. It actually smells quite sweet.”
Angelica’s eyes widened. “What… what is that?”
“It’s not poison. It’s just… something to make the Hero a little more… obedient.”
They wanted to control the Hero. Angelica understood instantly.
She shook her head vehemently. She would never betray her master, the man who had shown her kindness, the man who had offered her a chance at a new life.
…
“Did you hear that? They called you a fool! Can you endure such an insult?”
Neither the two women nor Angelica noticed the two figures perched on a tree branch above them.
Shaye, sitting on Qin Chu’s shoulder, couldn’t resist taunting him.
Qin Chu’s face darkened. “How dare they! They’re dead…”
He paused, his brow furrowing. “Do you know what that is?” he asked, gesturing towards the vial in the woman’s hand. “Loseweisse… she’s trying to control me with that.”
“You’ve come to the right person,” Shaye said, her voice laced with pride. “Among all the Witches, my skill in potion-making is second to none.”
“That’s an incomplete version of Stunning Love…”
She emphasized the words “incomplete version,” her tone laced with disdain for Loseweisse’s crude craftsmanship.
“If you consume one vial per week for seven consecutive weeks, you’ll fall hopelessly in love with the potion’s creator, Loseweisse. You’ll obey her every command, even if she orders you to kill yourself.”
The potion’s potency shocked Qin Chu. He hadn’t known Loseweisse possessed such a dangerous weapon.
Could this potion be the reason he had fallen for her in his previous life?
“You weren’t affected by Stunning Love in your previous life,” Shaye said, her voice a mixture of amusement and scorn. “I fought you. I would have sensed it. You were just a pathetic simp, groveling at her feet until you had nothing left.”
Perhaps something had happened to disrupt Loseweisse’s plan. But he had still fallen for her. How pathetic he had been.
“What about the complete version of Stunning Love?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Well, Loseweisse’s technique is crude. Her version requires seven weekly doses to take effect. But the complete version…”
“Each dose increases the target’s affection for you. And there’s no time limit. You can use one dose this week and another next year. The end result is the same: overwhelming love and devotion.”
“Interesting,” Qin Chu said, a smile spreading across his lips.
It was similar to his “Arrogant Domination” Ability, but perhaps not as potent.
“Stunning Love’s effect is more like… a gradual forgetting, a replacement, a transfer of affection!”
“Compared to Arrogant Domination and other powerful potions, its effect isn’t as drastic.”
“It works by making the target slowly forget their loved one, transferring their feelings to the potion’s creator. The creator becomes a substitute, a replacement for their true love… Once they consume all seven doses, they’ll be hopelessly devoted to you, their will completely subservient to yours.”
“But its effect can be broken. A powerful emotional shock, like witnessing their true love’s death, can shatter the potion’s influence, restoring their original feelings.”
Shaye’s explanation sparked a wicked idea in Qin Chu’s mind.
A plan, cruel and cunning, began to form.
“Say, Shaye, could you teach me how to brew Stunning Love?”
His plans were changing.
The appearance of Stunning Love had given him new ideas. It was time to accelerate his plans.
Shaye, as his parasitic companion, could sense his thoughts.
She didn’t object. She was curious to see how much chaos he could unleash upon this world.
“I could… but…”
“The ingredients are incredibly rare.”
“Why not just take the potion from that nun?” she suggested.
Qin Chu frowned. “But Loseweisse created it…”
“Don’t underestimate the Dark Witch. I can modify it. It’s not difficult.”
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