The forest around Glory City is teeming with life. There are numerous demon beasts prowling about as well but none of them can harm him, Luo An. Unlike his eight year old self when he first made his great escape from the Dark Guild, he now has the power to protect himself against most threats.

Luo An decided to take a slow walk along the forest, enjoying the sights. He is in no particular rush for anything. He had held off finding out his position relative to the canon timeline for seven years, he can afford holding it off for a few more days if need be.

Although, if he really is born far too early or far too late into the timeline, what should he do? It's not like he plans to do anything drastic to interfere with the plot but things will be less interesting this way. He is indeed curious about the three protagonists that left the deepest impression on him. He kind of forgot about the rest of the side characters after fifteen long years, only having a very vague impression of them.

Nie Li, Ye Ziyun, Xiao Ning Er. Those are the three protags that he still remembered to this day. Are they even born yet? It's a question that he cannot help but wonder from time to time.

He made a stop every now and then when he spotted herbs that caught his eyes. Holy Dark Grass, Spirit Core Grass, Black Pool Grass… even the Misty Leaf Herb! It's a very rare find even if this one is nowhere near maturity. But no matter, he will find a way to allow it to grow to maturity before using it for alchemy. Heh, wonder what the folks back at the Toxic Forest would say if they knew he actually found a Misty Leaf Herb?

Crossing the mountains and descending down it to enter the forest sure did bring back memories during his great escape. Glory City is in view now from where he is standing on the edge of a mountain side with tall trees growing all over it. He still wonders how a forest is able to grow on a mountainside but eh, he had seen weirder things.

Time to move on.

Deciding that he should maybe pick up his pace, Luo An started to walk a little faster. It wouldn't be long before he reaches the fabled Glory City, the place where everything first started.

He's excited.

He ended up partaking in an impromptu alchemy challenge right in the middle of the forest. Yes, you heard that right. In the middle of a forest.

All because of him being unable to control his stupid mouth when he first saw how that lady is performing alchemy. If the folks back from the Toxic Forest saw how she performed alchemy she would be a laughing stock. Compared to his unimpressed scoff, the treatment he gave her was a lot more lenient.

Of course, the lady ended up taking offense to his dismissive behaviour and challenged him to a battle of alchemy to nurse her wounded pride. Needless to say, the end result was that her already wounded pride got wounded even further. One does not simply challenge someone who had learnt alchemy from the people of the Toxic Forest to an alchemy battle.

"H-How?! Who are you?!"

"None of your business." Luo An replied lazily as he stored his alchemy equipment back into his interspatial ring now that their purpose is done. He walked on ahead, giving the woman another lazy wave without looking back at her.

"See you when I see you."

"Hold it!" The woman all but demanded as she ran up to him and blocked his way forward. She gulped nervously before blurting out her next words.

"Teach me!"

"Wha?"

"T-Teach me!" She repeated her words once again, this time with much more determination.

"No way." Luo An brushed her off as he moved past her to continue walking forward. "Why would I waste my time-"

"I-I will be a good student!"

"Pass. I don't want to be a teacher."

"I-I am the director of the Alchemy Association of Glory City! I'm sure I can be of use!"

That made Luo An take a pause in his steps. Director of the Alchemy Association? That sure does ring more than a few bells in his head. This woman has to be relevant to the plot somehow, right?

He turned around to take another look at her, this time with a more appraising eye. She is a damn good catch and easy on the eyes as far as appearance goes. Curvaceous and voluptuous body with big, soft breasts. Long silky dark purple hair with a slight wave to it. All in all a woman that he wouldn't mind staring at all day long if staring at her isn't an act labelled as a creepy one.

However, that is not what he is looking for. He had seen many beautiful women during his second life, each more otherworldly than the first. What he's looking for are signs that might provide him clues to help him deduce if she is indeed a canon character.

"If you are a director of an Alchemy Association, I cannot bring myself to imagine what the alchemy standards are like in Glory City."

The woman's facial expression turned into a slightly shocked one.

"Wait, you are not from Glory City?"

"Duh. I thought that much was obvious?"

"There are other settlements other than Glory City?"

"Definitely."

"All the more reason for you to teach me!" The woman is near hysterics at this point. "It's like you said, if even my alchemy skills as a director pales so much in comparison to someone who comes from outside the city… My pride as an alchemist would not be able to take it! I have to learn everything I can to improve Glory City's alchemy standards!"

Luo An scratched the back of his head in slight frustration. Damn, this is turning into a headache.

Then again, she could probably help him pull some strings in Glory City if she is indeed director of Glory City's Alchemy Association. That will undeniably be useful.

"Fine, we got a deal. As long as you are not lying about the fact that you are the director of the Alchemy Association."

"You mixed it wrongly, brat!"

"I'm sure I followed every single step you had written down to the letter."

"You added too much Poison Newt Venom!"

"I added only this much! Just as you said!"

"You fool! It's three drops too many!"

"Wha- Who on earth can tell it's three drops too many in the first place?!"

"Every alchemist worth their salt would be able to! Listen here, little An. We alchemists of the Toxic Forest are very particular about the details when it comes to alchemy. Every single ingredient that we add, it must be exact. Down to the quantity, weight, and even the number of drops of any liquid agent that we add in, you hear me? Sometimes, a single drop is what differentiates an excellent product from a mediocre one. This is the kind of science we are dealing with right here."

"Just admit that you are just being anal-"

"Get to work, brat!"

"Ow! Stop hitting me- OW!"