Happiness isn't some one-size-fits-all emotion.
For Cloud Retainer, happiness was crafting mechanisms. Every time she brought a design from blueprint to reality, that moment filled her with joy.
For Ying'er, it was creating perfumes. Whether inventing a new fragrance or recreating an ancient formula from old texts, she always felt a rush of fulfillment.
Both of them felt happy whenever they ate a meal made by Xia Zhi, or lay back and enjoyed one of his massages...
And for some people, happiness could be as simple as seeing the one they liked.
That's exactly how Cloud Retainer felt at this moment.
After swallowing the pill, she shut her eyes and found herself engulfed by a strange sense of bliss.
It felt warm, like a flame—yet soft and gentle, like water flowing through her entire body. As if she were nestled inside a cloud spun from pure sweetness.
It was a completely new sensation for her.
As the pill's effects took hold, that strange happiness in her heart intensified, and with it came changes in her body.
Her heartbeat sped up. Her blood flowed faster.
Her body heated up. Her cheeks flushed red.
Even the signature fragrance that clung to her—subtle, floral, musk-like—grew stronger.
Then a sudden desire surged within her.
[Open your eyes and look at him.]
It was so sudden, so overwhelming—and yet, it made perfect sense.
Before she could resist or even process it, her eyes opened and she looked straight at the man sitting across from her: Mr. Xia.
Even though it was nighttime, the moment she saw him, it felt like her entire world brightened.
That strange flutter in her chest calmed.
Her racing pulse slowed.
Her body returned to normal...
And all that was left was an overwhelming, indescribable happiness that swelled to its peak.
So happy.
So very happy.
Blissfully, ecstatically happy.
Ying'er felt exactly the same.
Both women looked at Xia Zhi in a dazed sort of way, as if his face was the only thing they could see anymore.
Xia Zhi, of course, noticed immediately that something was off.
His brows furrowed ever so slightly.
That tiny gesture made both Cloud Retainer and Ying'er's hearts skip a beat. At the same time, one identical thought flashed through both their minds:
Mr. Xia even looks good when he frowns...
It had to be those Happiness Pills they'd just taken.
Xia Zhi raised a hand and cast [Dispel] on the two of them.
A radiant light enveloped them, instantly washing away all abnormal status effects.
Their gazes cleared.
"Ah?"
"Hmm?"
But with the disappearance of that strong surge of happiness, both of them felt... strangely disappointed.
Xia Zhi asked, "You two alright?"
"We…"
They spoke in unison, glanced at each other, then both stopped, turning away with a trace of embarrassment.
"We're okay…"
Xia Zhi pressed, "Really?"
Cloud Retainer looked at him and said, "Don't worry, Mr. Xia. We're fine."
"What did the pill feel like?"
She thought for a moment. "Feel like...? It felt… very happy."
"Nothing else?"
She hesitated. "Well... I also felt like you looked even more handsome than usual."
Xia Zhi turned to Ying'er. "And you?"
"I… also felt very happy," she said.
"Anything else?"
She grinned. "I suddenly thought, wow, Boss, you're so charming. I couldn't get enough of looking at you."
Xia Zhi chuckled, picked up the now-empty test tube from the table, and asked, "By the way, who blew into this [Breath of Joy] tube?"
Cloud Retainer blinked. "I think… it was Shenhe."
"I see… Got it."
Xia Zhi fell into thought.
According to what he knew of alchemy, gases infused with emotion like this were only supposed to push someone's emotional value past 90.
That alone shouldn't have triggered such extreme effects—so the issue must lie with the [Yin-Yang Medicine Furnace].
It must've done something strange during the process, adding extra effects to the pills.
Like letting the one who took the pill directly experience Shenhe's exact feelings of happiness in that moment.
"That was my oversight."
Ying'er tilted her head. "Boss, what was?"
Xia Zhi picked up the medicine furnace. "I probably shouldn't have used this one to demo it for you."
"Really?"
"I'm still getting used to it. Just started working with it. That's probably what caused that little... hiccup. But enough of that. Let's get back to the lesson. I want to introduce you to a special alchemy material."
He pulled out a black mushroom.
Cloud Retainer's eyes narrowed slightly. "That is…"
Xia Zhi nodded. "A [Twilight Mushroom]. It grows in the world of dreams, and contains a trace of dream energy. You can eat it directly—it's non-toxic—but it will make you fall into a deep sleep. You'll only wake up once the dream energy inside the mushroom has fully dissipated."
Ying'er, seeing one for the first time, lit up with interest. "That's so cool!"
Xia Zhi continued, "The dreams induced by the [Twilight Mushroom] aren't necessarily good or bad. But if you combine it with [Breath of Joy], you'll only have happy dreams."
There was still one test tube left on the table, filled with that breath.
Xia Zhi picked it up, pulled the stopper, and placed a [Twilight Mushroom] over the opening.
Under the watchful gaze of Cloud Retainer and Ying'er, the gas inside was gradually absorbed into the mushroom.
He removed it. The surface of the mushroom had changed—no longer just black, it now shimmered faintly with a lavender hue.
"As you can see, this [Twilight Mushroom] has now absorbed the [Breath of Joy]. If someone eats it, they'll have a blissful dream. There's also a flower that grows in the dream realm—[Dream Flower]. If you water it with [Breath of Joy], it'll bloom faster."
Cloud Retainer nodded. "So, emotion-based materials pair well with dream-based materials…"
"Exactly," Xia Zhi said.
"And not just dream materials. Many others can be enhanced with emotional components. Take incense, for example—if you infuse it with [Breath of Joy], the scent it releases will make people feel happy."
Ying'er's eyes sparkled. "Boss, I want to learn how to make that!"
Xia Zhi handed her the mushroom. "It's simple. Just dry the [Twilight Mushroom] that's absorbed the [Breath of Joy]—they lose their dream energy when exposed to light too long—then grind it and add it to your incense formula."
Ying'er looked like she'd been handed a treasure.
Xia Zhi gave them each a dozen more [Twilight Mushrooms]. He had plenty—he gathered them every night.
Cloud Retainer could enter dreams as well.
If she'd stop playing games and go explore more, she'd probably collect a fair few too—though without the [Treasure Compass], her efficiency was lower.
After seeing them off, Xia Zhi returned to the table, gazing at the [Yin-Yang Medicine Furnace]. Remembering their earlier reactions, he decided to test his theory.
He opened the [Shop]—it sold the black iron-tier [Happy Test Tube] as well as higher-tier silver [Emotion Tubes].
[Emotion Tube]
Quality: Silver
Type: Alchemy Tool
Trait: None
Effect: Collects emotion-based gases and displays them in corresponding colors
Hidden Effect: None
Price: 15 Points
Xia Zhi bought one. It looked just like a regular test tube, but functioned as an upgraded, all-purpose version of the [Happy Test Tube].
It could gather more than just [Breath of Joy]—it could collect [Breath of Sadness], or any emotion.
He went next door. Shenhe and Ganyu were lying on the bed, chatting.
Xia Zhi walked over and handed the tube to Shenhe. "Blow into this, please."
She did. Just like before, the tube filled with that same pale purple-pink gas.
Xia Zhi poured the gas into the [Yin-Yang Medicine Furnace].
Shenhe and Ganyu watched the yin-yang fish swirl inside the furnace, fascinated.
Before long, two more pale purple pills formed.
He stored them in his inventory and checked the item info.
[Perfect Happiness Pill]
Quality: Black Iron
Type: Consumable
Trait: None
Effect: Infused with someone's [Breath of Joy], created via the Yin-Yang Medicine Furnace. Taking it allows one to experience that person's happiness.
Hidden Effect: Happiness experienced +30%
Recyclable: 1 Point
So it was the furnace.
He'd overlooked that earlier.
Next time, better to check with the system first.
While he was studying the pill, Ganyu asked, "Something wrong with it?"
"Not really. There was just… a slight mishap earlier."
"Mishap?"
Xia Zhi explained everything that had happened.
Shenhe and Ganyu exchanged odd looks.
Shenhe blinked. "So… Master experienced my happiness at that moment?"
Xia Zhi nodded. "Yep."
"And then?"
"She stared at me for a few seconds. I dispelled it right after."
"That's it?" Ganyu asked, disappointed.
Xia Zhi laughed. "Yeah. What else were you expecting?"
"I thought Master would, you know… do something."
Xia Zhi reached out to pet the horns on her head. "That's your master. You're hoping she'd… what, pounce on me?"
Ganyu instantly went limp. "Ugh… don't… touch… my horns…"
And then—well, there was no "then."
Except maybe to note… Ganyu's coconut milk scent was really pleasant.
Combat power? Yeah, not her strength.
She turned away, mumbling, "Shenhe… I…"
Shenhe, watching nearby, nodded. Then her gaze landed on the test tube on the table.
After a moment of thought, she picked it up and brought it to Ganyu's lips.
Her senior's rapid, flustered breaths filled the tube—not with the usual charming pink, but an enticing crimson hue.
Shenhe held it up. "Boss, look. The color's different."
Xia Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Pinkish means emotional value over 90. This crimson… must be over 100."
"Boss, can this also be made into a pill?"
"It can… but who are you planning to give it to?"
"Master."
"…Huh?"
Xia Zhi was a little stunned.
Ganyu even more so—and immediately embarrassed. "Shenhe, no! That's—! That's me—!"
The breath provider determined whose happiness the pill would convey.
So if their master ate it, she'd be feeling Ganyu's current… utterly blissed-out, deeply satisfied…
Shenhe tilted her head. "You don't want her to?"
"Of course not!"
Shenhe thought a moment. "Then I won't."
She released the breath.
Ganyu sighed in relief.
Only to hear Shenhe say—
"I'll just make one with mine instead."
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