Chapter 233: Shy Xio
"I don't know what 'digestion' means." Looking at the identical bewildered expressions of the two people opposite him, Luo En instantly realized a problem he had overlooked.
It turns out they… still don't know about the 'acting method.'
This was indeed his oversight. All along, Luo En had subconsciously assumed that the 'acting method' was common knowledge among Beyonders. This was related to his own experiences; he had only grasped the theory of the 'acting method' after verifying his own understanding of the potion with the knowledge from Rosell's Diary.
And the Beyonders he encountered at sea, whether it was Roy King or others, basically knew this. Even a thick-headed guy like Danitz had understood this theory early on under Edwina's guidance, not to mention someone as learned as Admiral of the Stars Cattelya.
Accustomed to being a knowledge-seeker, this was his first time standing in a position where he knew more than others in the field of mysticism.
The first time he encountered people even more illiterate than himself—
"Hiss… This feeling… is quite novel." "Don't worry about that for now," Luo En temporarily suppressed the urge to explain, his gaze sharpening. "Answer me first, how long have your out-of-control symptoms been ongoing?"
"For—for a while now." Fors hesitated for a moment, then roughly recounted how she had often heard the full moon's whispers since using the teleporting bracelet. Of course, she concealed the true origin of the bracelet and the potion formula.
"So that's it, a side effect of a Mystical Item." Luo En nodded slightly, lost in thought.
He knew that many Mystical Items came with strong negative effects, but this was the first time he had heard of one that caused full moon whispers.
Perhaps he could write to the Captain later to inquire about the situation.
"That—" "What exactly does 'digestion' mean?" Fors keenly sensed that this was likely extremely important information and quickly pressed for an answer.
Luo En put on a profound expression, deliberately drawing out his words: "That is a—very important piece of information."
"How important?" Fors's curiosity was thoroughly piqued.
"Hmph." Luo En pursed his lips and said in an almost seductive tone, "It's knowledge that every person who embarks on the Beyonder path urgently needs—perhaps it can answer many of the confusions you currently face, and even prevent some terrible consequences."
'Every Beyonder needs it…' Fors and Xio repeatedly mulled over this sentence in their hearts.
"Can you tell us? We can offer appropriate compensation." Xio, following the usual practice among Beyonders, earnestly made a request for a trade.
Luo En, however, shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of frivolity, but his words were undeniable: "In terms of value, this information is priceless—"
"Priceless." Both Xio and Fors felt a shock.
Although Luo En's tone sounded a bit unserious, they could feel that he wasn't trying to inflate the price.
"However—" Just as the two were disappointed, Luo En suddenly changed the subject.
For some reason, he suddenly felt like teasing them. He extended a finger and pointed in Xio's direction from a distance: "Kind lady, you haven't told me your name yet~"
"Name?" Fors was the first to react, her eyes lighting up. She asked excitedly, "Does that mean if I tell you her name, you'll tell us that 'priceless' information?"
"Mhm." Luo En smiled and nodded.
"Xio!" Fors excitedly covered her mouth, looking at her friend with eager anticipation, "Hurry up and tell him! It's just a name!"
"Ah? This—"
Xio's cheeks flushed instantly.
This is flirting, right?! This is absolutely flirting!
Exchanging a "priceless" secret for all Beyonders for my name… this kind of flirting is too… too unfair!
Should I say he's a gentleman or a bandit? It makes it impossible to refuse!
Fors was surprised to find that her usually resolute and decisive friend was now acting shy. She lowered her head, her fingers intertwined, her lips moving several times, but not a single syllable came out.
"My name is… is—"
'No—this is so embarrassing! Why couldn't he ask me in private? Fors is still watching—' Xio buried her head lower and lower, not daring to meet Luo En's gaze.
'So! So cute!' Fors, on the other hand, was watching her friend's rare awkwardness with sparkling eyes.
Xio had always tried to act mature and reliable; this pure maiden-like demeanor was something she had never seen before.
If she had a camera, she would absolutely take a picture without hesitation, to be treasured forever!
'Xio… is quite interesting.' Watching this scene, this thought suddenly flashed through Luo En's mind.
To be honest, he wasn't sure why he suddenly felt like making a joke.
'Have I been too repressed lately, so I want to have some fun—'
'No, I can't think like that.' He suppressed his emotions and calmly analyzed the situation.
These two people don't have any ill intentions, and they are very familiar with the wild Beyonder circle in Backlund. He will inevitably have to deal with them in the future, and he will also need to gather information from them. Giving them a favor now is completely worth it—
He admitted that he simply wanted to make a joke and, incidentally, make this favor even more thorough. Although, they already owed him enough favors—
"Alas—it seems this young lady is not very willing." Luo En sighed, feigning disappointment, "Since that's the case, let's part ways here."
"Wait!" Hearing this, Xio immediately became anxious.
He had helped her so many times, and now he was just asking for a name, but she was being so evasive. What kind of behavior was that? She wasn't that kind of ungrateful bad woman!
"My name is Xio, Xio Derecha!" She seemed to have exhausted all her strength, quickly rattling off her name in one breath.
"Xio—" Luo En seemed to savor the name, then praised, "A good name."
Upon hearing this, Xio felt her face flush even more, and she became completely uncomfortable.
"By the way, don't you want to know my name?" Fors also asked curiously.
"Aren't you Fors? Xio called you that as soon as she came in." Luo En replied as a matter of course.
'Oh, well, it seems that was indeed the case—' Fors suddenly felt a bit awkward.
She cleared her throat and brought the topic back on track: "Now, can you tell us what 'digestion' actually means?"
"Alright," Luo En nodded, "Before understanding 'digestion,' you must first know what the 'acting method' is."
"The acting method?" The two asked in unison, another unfamiliar term.
Luo En's expression became serious and solemn. He spoke in a tone as if expounding a truth, reciting the passage he had once seen in Rosell's Diary:
"For potions, it's not mastery, it's digestion. It's not excavation, but acting. The name of the potion is not just a symbol, but also an image, and even the 'key' to digestion."
He didn't explain it too clearly, because he believed that for Beyonders, these few sentences themselves contained enough information.
"Digestion, acting… Digestion, acting… Digestion, acting, key—"
Fors murmured these words over and over again, her eyes growing brighter, as if she had discovered the door to a new century.
And Xio, beside her, had the same expression, a mix of shock and realization on her face.
After a long time, the two finally recovered from their deep contemplation. They looked up and said to Luo En in an unprecedentedly solemn tone: "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Luo En smiled and nodded. Then, he looked at Xio, his tone suddenly shifting back to his playful demeanor: "Alright, Miss Xio, now, it's time for you to pay me."
"Payment?" Xio was a bit confused. "Didn't I already tell you my name?"
"Your name was merely the payment for explaining the 'acting method'." Luo En wagged his finger.
He leaned forward, lowering his voice, and said meaningfully:
"I remember, when we were at the door, you said that if I helped your friend, you would do anything, right?"
"I—" Xio's memory was jogged. She had indeed said something like that.
"A lady as upright and kind as you," Luo En's smile held a hint of teasing, "wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"
"I—" Xio felt like she was about to catch fire, her whole body once again falling into that state of awkwardness and helplessness.
She stammered, answering in a voice as faint as a mosquito's:
"I—I won't go back on my word."