Strongest Scammer: Scamming The World, One Death At A Time-Chapter 199: Taking Some Drastic Measures

Han Yu’s lips curled slightly. "That’s more than enough."

He bowed once more and left the pavilion, the mission rune now tagged to his identity token. He would have five days to prepare, train, and possibly push himself toward the Peak of Qi Refining.

And in one month’s time, he’d head for Slumbering Caldera.

Not only for the merit.

Not only for the materials.

But because some part of him—small but undeniable—wanted to see what was hiding at the edge of Mist Eye’s domain... and perhaps, send a quiet message in return.

The moment Han Yu stepped out of the Mission Pavilion, the weight of his decision settled heavily on his shoulders.

He had just secured one of the most dangerous solo missions available—one that could very well kill him—and he’d done it by lying.

There was no gentle way around it. He had claimed to be close to the Peak of the Qi Refining Realm when in truth, he was only at the start. He had been lucky that the disciple had not checked his cultivation base directly with their spirit sense.

They didn’t normally did it since most disciples didn’t fake their cultivation base as they wouldn’t want to take a life threatening mission. But if anyone looked into it seriously, they’d revoke the mission slot from him immediately.

And then, all of this effort would be for nothing.

’I need to at least get close to it,’ Han Yu thought grimly. ’In two months time... I need to make a leap.’

But how?

He had already refined his Soul Core, consumed powerful pills during his previous pill tests with Li Mei, and cultivated diligently under the Twin Leaf Peak’s superior spiritual conditions. Yet the jump from Early to peak Qi Refining was not something that could be rushed through conventional methods.

He needed something... drastic.

And there was only one person who came to mind when it came to drastic alchemical solutions.

Li Mei.

The Little Demon Alchemist.

Han Yu didn’t hesitate.

’She should be in the Alchemy division at this point and not at her home.’ Han Yu thought.

He made his way to the alchemy division, navigating through the walled gardens and stone corridors until he reached the familiar set of glass-paneled doors that led to her personal laboratory in the division separate from her personal house.

The air around the building was always fragrant, tinged with herbs and a faint metallic sharpness, and today was no different.

Han Yu knocked three times.

A muffled voice replied, "Come in... unless you’re exploding again."

He slid the door open and stepped inside. The lab was as chaotic as ever. Baskets of herbs lay stacked in odd arrangements, bubbling cauldrons of green and gold liquids simmered unattended, and a few spiritual birds sat in tiny cages by the windowsill, chirping out ingredient names they had been trained to repeat.

Li Mei was at the center of it all, wearing a thick apron over her robes, her hair tied in a messy bun that stuck out in every direction. She was holding a smoking vial with tongs and had a goggle-like visor flipped down over her eyes.

When she saw Han Yu, she blinked once and raised the visor.

"Back for another pill test? I thought you wanted to live a little longer this time."

Han Yu stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"I need your help."

Li Mei stared at him for a few seconds, then slowly placed the vial onto a cooling platform. "I don’t like that look on your face. It’s serious. It’s always bad when you’re serious."

Han Yu remained silent for a moment, then looked her in the eye.

"I’ll test all your pills. Everything you need for the next two months. Every single one. As long as you can make me stronger."

Li Mei blinked. "Stronger... as in?"

"As in... boost my cultivation. I need to reach the peak of the Qi Refining Realm. Or at least get close enough that no one can tell the difference."

Her brow furrowed. "That’s not something you can just ask for like a steaming bun from the kitchens, Han Yu."

"I know," he replied. "But I’m asking anyway."

She crossed her arms, gaze narrowing. "Why are you so desperate?"

Han Yu hesitated. He looked down for a moment. "I can’t tell you."

Her stare sharpened. "If you’re asking me to risk your life by accelerating your cultivation using experimental pills and dangerous reagents, then I need to know why."

Still, he didn’t speak.

Li Mei reached out and poked him in the forehead. "Hey. What are you hiding?"

"I’m going on a mission," Han Yu muttered, almost too quietly.

Li Mei blinked again. "A mission? What kind of mission?"

"...A reconnaissance mission near the Mist Eye Sect," he said after a long pause.

The vial she had just placed on the table exploded.

Thankfully, the barrier talismans around the lab activated immediately, containing the blast into a harmless shimmer of spiritual energy. But Li Mei’s expression was far more volatile than any alchemical mishap.

"Are you insane!?"

Han Yu winced. "Probably."

She stormed closer, fists clenched. "The Mist Eye Sect? Do you have a death wish? That’s not a reconnaissance mission, that’s a suicide note written in elegant calligraphy!"

"I know."

"You know!? Then why—"

"Because I need to get stronger," Han Yu cut in. "And this... this is the only opportunity I have. I know it’s dangerous. I know it might kill me. But it also might make me strong enough to survive what’s coming."

Li Mei fell silent.

For a long time, she just stood there, looking at him. There was something stormy in her eyes—worry, frustration, perhaps even a trace of fear.

Han Yu saw several wisps of Eight Emotions Energy rising from her and being absorbed into him.

"...There’s more to this," she finally said. "Isn’t there?"

Han Yu looked away.

She didn’t push. After a few seconds, she sighed heavily and turned back toward her cauldron.