Moreover, this was currently the only plan that could save Lawson while also allowing him to obtain more mutation data.
"Let's begin."
Lu Yuan skillfully set up the crucible and added the raw materials one by one.
As the flames rose, the silver medicinal liquid began to boil.
"I can't use holy water as a catalyst this time..."
Lu Yuan carefully controlled the heat, stirring quickly with a glass rod. "I have to use mercury as a stabilizer instead."
He dripped in two drops of mercury.
"Sizzle—"
The medicinal liquid instantly became viscous.
"Finally..."
Lu Yuan took a deep breath, picked up a small pinch of dark green corpse moss powder with tweezers, and sprinkled it in.
Since Lawson's soul was already linked to the deep sea, he shouldn't try to sever it, but rather deceive it.
If he converted Lawson's characteristics from human to Eerie... could he reduce the harassment of the Strange Dreams?
As the powder blended in, the liquid in the crucible instantly settled, turning into a dull, lifeless deep gray.
It emitted an unsettling fishy smell.
Lady Luck seemed to be on his side; the liquid didn't explode or turn into waste, but stabilized.
【Medicinal Herbology triggered, you have discovered an ingenious way of combining medicinal materials...】
【Crafting successful!】
【Obtained Item: Deep Sea Sedative (Improved/Hidden)】
【Pharmacology: +5, 8/50】 (Medicine Crafting)
【Medicinal Herbology: +2, 2/30】 (Medicinal Material Understanding)
"It's done."
Lu Yuan poured the medicinal liquid into a bottle, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as he looked at the dull gray fluid.
Returning to the first floor, Lawson sat upright in a chair with a somewhat dazed expression.
"Drink it."
Lu Yuan handed over the potion, which looked like muddy gray water.
Lawson looked at the medicine, which had a terrible appearance and even a fishy smell, hesitating for a moment.
"Are you sure this thing works?" he asked tremulously.
"Do you have any other choice?" Lu Yuan didn't explain further.
The feeling of suffocation, as if he were about to drown, deep within his body left Lawson with no choice.
He grabbed the bottle and tilted his head back, draining it in one gulp.
"Ugh—!!!"
The moment the liquid hit his throat, Lawson's eyeballs bulged out.
He felt as if he hadn't swallowed medicine, but a block of bone-chilling ice.
After the ice fell into his stomach, it instantly exploded into countless cold currents, frantically boring into his entire body.
"Aaaaaah!"
Lawson collapsed to the floor, his hands frantically clawing at his neck and arms.
"Endure it." Lu Yuan watched coldly, holding holy water in his hand, ready to sprinkle it at any moment.
But Lu Yuan didn't act, because the change had begun.
As Lawson clawed, the hard white keratin covering his neck and the backs of his hands actually began to peel off in large chunks.
It was like a snake shedding its skin.
Bright red, tender flesh was exposed to the air.
Immediately afterward, a layer of fine, fish-scale-like gray-black patterns emerged under the skin.
They didn't grow out but quickly vanished beneath the surface.
A few minutes later, Lawson stopped screaming and fainted.
At this moment, though his skin appeared an unhealthy pale and felt somewhat rough to the touch, those terrifying white keratins had completely disappeared.
From the outside, he just looked like an ordinary person who was seriously ill.
"It actually succeeded?"
Lu Yuan checked Lawson's pupils, confirming they hadn't dilated, then dragged him to the empty hospital bed.
The next morning.
The mist in Gelimu Port was still thick, and the cries of seagulls came from outside the window.
Lawson snapped his eyes open and sat up in bed.
He subconsciously touched his neck and looked at the back of his hand.
No keratin, no scales, only slightly pale skin.
"I... I'm still alive?"
He turned his head and saw Lu Yuan sitting at the table, holding a piece of bread and quietly watching him.
"How do you feel?" Lu Yuan asked.
Lawson took a deep breath.
The constant feeling of suffocation, as if someone were strangling his neck, had disappeared.
In its place was an unprecedented clarity and a... cold calm.
"The water is no longer pouring into my nose..."
Lawson's voice sounded distant, his gaze becoming deep and hollow. "I've floated up... Doctor Lu, I'm no longer a drowning man in my dreams."
"I saw a magnificent city sunk at the bottom of the sea, where the buildings were tilted, but I heard bells..."
"Those bells were very pleasant..."
The moment he heard these words, the piece of bread Lu Yuan was about to put into his mouth stopped.
On the edge of his vision, grayish-white text danced wildly:
【Listening to deep sea accounts, Sanity check in progress... check passed.】
【Sanity II: +1, 39/43(-1)】
Lu Yuan's heart jolted with shock.
Just listening to Lawson describe a dream could actually increase Sanity experience? And it even reduced his Sanity limit??
Lu Yuan instantly realized the gravity of the situation.
The pollution level of the Strange Dreams was even more terrifying than he had anticipated.
"Enough."
Lu Yuan bluntly interrupted Lawson's mutterings.
He didn't want Lawson to notice anything unusual, nor did he want his Sanity limit to continue eroding.
"I'm not interested in your dreams. As long as you don't lose control, I don't care if you dream you're a fish."
After being interrupted, Lawson's dazed expression quickly faded.
He blinked, and the confusion in his eyes vanished, replaced by a familiar shrewdness, even colder than before.
He stood up, straightened his expensive, crumpled suit, and touched his smooth neck.
The fear and despair of facing death were gone.
"Doctor Lu, your medicine... is very effective."
Lawson didn't fall to his knees in gratitude; instead, he regained his dignity and even offered a polite smile. "It seems the return on this investment of mine is quite high."
"This is only a suppression." Lu Yuan didn't care about Lawson's change in attitude at all, saying indifferently, "If you don't want to turn back into what you were last night, you have to come to me for medicine every three days."
"I understand."
Lawson nodded, walked to the door, and put on his top hat.
"Thank you for your handiwork, Doctor Lu."
He turned around, his eyes flashing with a light of reason. "If you have any needs, you can contact me at any time. I will do my best to provide assistance."
"As for the previous raw materials, I will provide double the amount here."
"Keep an eye out for any other tenants like yourself nearby, and try to get me some materials from mutated creatures if possible," Lu Yuan replied.
"Rest assured, you will get what you want."
Lawson pushed open the door and walked into the morning mist.
His back was very straight, and his pace was steady, not looking at all like someone who had just crawled back from death's door.
Lu Yuan watched his receding back, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Lawson might have stepped into transcendence in a bizarre way...
Although it wasn't certain yet, one thing was for sure: Lawson's 'status' in the Strange Dreams had significantly improved.
Lu Yuan didn't know if this was good or bad, but collaborating with him wasn't a bad thing.
In the future, information from the port district could be obtained continuously, and the exploration of the Strange Dreams could also be accelerated.
After all, in the past few days, Lu Yuan found himself pinned to the beach again, and he still didn't know why he could suddenly move before...
Lu Yuan closed the door, looked at the Sanity limit that had reverted to 44, and stuffed the remaining bread into his mouth.
"Tastes pretty good."
Rate on N.U.
