Asher didn't have the elixir and didn't need one.
And in case you hadn't caught the hint already—yes, readers, this is for you—he was already one of the strongest enlightened.
Okay, fine, fine. Calm down. His ranking in the world wasn't officially registered even today, but that hadn't stopped online theorists, raddishers, qutube essayists, and your cousin who thinks he's a genius, from speculating that he was around number two too.
You couldn't really blame them. The guy did come from the underworld with no proper ID, and countries had this adorable obsession with background checks while publicly villainizing people like him.
So, never registering his strength level and always entering the Tower illegally via some... methods had been what kept him fed. In the past, anyway.
Hence, no one knew exactly how strong he was. And frankly, no one really dared to measure him either.
Which made it all the more ironic that now, of all times, he got this random offer from Lim Miao—daughter of the official number two. Juicy.
Back to the Ang Elixir itself.
Yes, it might be suuuuuper rare, but it wasn't the only way to gain enlightenment, okay?
It wasn't even the most popular way. That title obviously belonged to the classic route, gaining enlightenment yourself through climbing the Tower. You know, the hard way. Because people are broke, remember?
There were other paths too, like, learning from enlightened masters, getting suitable (and frankly less wallet-melting) items, or just sheer dumb luck and grit.
Countless ways. Choose your poison.
But it was tempting, alright?
Normal people wouldn't go for it. Not because they had self-control, but because they simply couldn't. And the effect from its enlightenment? Wildly inconsistent. You might become instantly, terrifyingly strong, or need a few years and a lot of crying before anything kicks in.
But mind you, people who didn't drink it could also become instantly strong depending on what enlightened them.
Tower trauma? Master's slap to the face? Near-death spiritual awakenings? Take your pick.
Still… it was tempting, alright?!
Well, now, these crime lords who heard everything, finally understood why Lim Miao had spoken in a normal voice. She was letting them hear. She was giving them an opportunity.
If they could bring the Ang Elixir to Asher, they could win his favor, because Asher would gain favor from her.
That Asher.
It was mostly political, but still tempting, alright?!
Depending on the situation, the elixir versus Asher's favor could be the difference between dirt and gold. And this Asher wasn't just anyone. He was someone who had retired and walked away from every single social entanglement, power circle, and public stunt like it all bored him to death. His favor could be more precious than any favor in the world.
And now Miss Lim's favor was involved.
DOUBLE FORTUNE.
But… one important question, though.
Would Asher even want to get involved in this?
That was the problem.
This god-tier, underworld-scorching, top-of-the-food-chain retiree, nothing had managed to make him budge in five years. Not threats, not money, not glory, not even divine-tier scandals. Nothing.
But Miss Lim could. She was, after all, the daughter of the second strongest ranker, right?
So when Asher just shrugged and asked…
"Only from me?"
She nodded.
Then he asked, "You want me as insurance?"
She nodded again.
Then he asked, "And what do I get?"
She answered, "One favor from me."
He replied, "Forget i—"
She cut in, "Two favors from me."
And he finally said, "Deal."
...everyone collectively lost their damn minds.
You get it. You GET it.
That convo alone was enough for the underworld to stir itself.
…
Anyway, Lim Miao got her room.
***
"Ah, the hot bath needs me to reset it. Tell me whenever you're about to have one and I'll fix it for you."
"Thankies."
"This way."
After the two went upstairs, those criminals (or just people around), big and small, biggest and smallest, ran outside to do their job. You know, like obedient roaches when the light turns on. Except this time, they were scrambling toward glory, not away from it.
Asher led her upstairs. He could hear her qixiong ruqun's hem glide across his humble inn's floor. Her smile, hidden behind the round fan of transparent silk, was captivating.
Despite the commotion downstairs, here, in the hallway, everything was quiet. Yay for the soundproof walls he installed last year. Five years in this industry had taught him many things. One of which was, never underestimate drunk swordfighters or honeymooning assassins.
I'm so proud of him. For only 50 solen per ni—
"May I ask why do you want Ang Elixir?"
Oh, come on, Asher, I'm promoting your inn here!
But of course. Mr. Retired Crime Lord decided this was the perfect time to get nosy, now in a more private setting. Well, not so private since this was literally a hallway. So, just, classic small-talk?
Still, I digress. Ahem. Only for 50 solen per night, you can enjo—
"It's for my dowry."
…what the actual fuck?
CAREFUL. Careful, my boy. Even Asher almost tripped. On air.
But, again...
Wot?
"You see, I'm engaged to Young Lord Namgoong. Normal dowry wouldn't cut it for me, so I went to find something decent," she said with a gentle, natural smile. Yeah, as if she just asked for sugar in her tea. No big deal. Just, you know, fiancé. Legendary elixir. Entire underworld mobilized. In-laws business, right?
Damn, lady.
Silence.
In front of the inn room, Asher distractedly opened the door with the skeleton key. After such a nuclear detonation, he ushered her inside without words.
You see, what could words possibly do right now, genius?
She walked past his gentleman's gesture unhurriedly, admiring the room like a queen touring a modest cottage. He stood there like a stunned landlord.
Until he suddenly spoke out…
"The favor. I've decided on the first one."
Inside the room, the two faced each other. Tension? Nah… (nervous chuckling)
"Yes?" she asked. "What do you want?"
Asher closed the door behind him in long, slow silence. Their eyes kept contact. Their laid-back aura had this strange current under the surface. Like someone put an entire scandal into a still frame and hit pause.
"Have dinner with me."