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One bottle, two bottles, three bottles… 

The Vela warrior, who had never uttered a sound even when flesh and bone were torn from her body, never imagined that one day she would feel guilty about drinking potions. 

Tessa’s mind was consumed with thoughts of how many gold coins that single sip cost her, and how many more she’d have to swallow in total to reach her goal. 

In many cases, healing potions are priceless, especially in remote places like the Winter Ice Plains. But there’s no denying that the power of gold is indeed formidable.

With Theo nearby, she wrapped herself in a blanket to avoid frightening the child, yet she could feel the flesh devoured by the monster gradually regenerating.

Fifty bottles of healing potions were gone in the blink of an eye. Tessa let out an uncontrollable belch. 

Qi Yu tapped the table: “These five bottles of intermediate healing potions should be a bit more effective.”

In the survival game, intermediate healing potions are three times as effective as basic ones, restoring 30 health points at a time. 

Tessa had stopped agonizing over it: What difference did it make to her whether she owed 50 bottles of basic healing potions or 50 bottles of basic healing potions plus 5 bottles of intermediate healing potions? 

Once again, she downed five potions in one gulp. 

Tessa looked lovingly at the child beside her: “Theo, Grandma’s a little thirsty. Could you go get me a glass of water?” Theo immediately stood up. 

Tessa gently lifted the blanket.

On her legs, where bare bones had once been exposed, flesh and blood had regrown.

She once again had two intact legs, and strength surged through her restored flesh and meridians. 

“Thank you, Master Mage,” Tessa said, fighting back the lump in her throat. “You brought me back to life and made me a warrior once again.” 

“You’ve always been an admirable warrior.” Qi Yu asked her, “Is your arm healed yet?” 

Tessa: “Not quite yet.”

Clatter.

Another 20 bottles of healing potions appeared on the table. 

Tessa: “……” 

Theo came over carrying a bowl of hot water and looked at Tessa in confusion. 

He didn’t understand—Grandmother had been drinking all along, so why was she still complaining of thirst?

This time, Tessa didn’t bother with polite formalities. With a defiant air—as if she had nothing to lose—she stood up, walked over to the table, and, using her uninjured right hand, picked up a potion and downed it in one gulp. 

Clang.

The bowl of hot water fell to the floor, and Theo’s mouth dropped open.

He was already six years old. Although Tessa had tried her best these past few days to keep him from seeing her wounds, a terrifying monster had invaded their home, and his grandmother—who had always been so strong—had grown increasingly frail. In recent days, she hadn’t even been able to stand up, wrapped as she was in a blanket.

Perhaps he didn’t fully understand what was happening, but a child’s keen intuition kept him glued to his only remaining relative, never straying more than an inch away. But now, seeing his grandmother stand up just fine, as if she’d become as strong as she used to be,

After that, she poured another bottle of potion down his throat.

Tessa pulled the blanket away from her.

She crouched down and smiled at Theo: “Theo, let Grandma give you a hug.” 

Qi Yu quietly looked up from the book in his hands and watched the grandmother and grandson hugging each other. 

The younger one was wailing loudly, while the older one held him close, one hand gently patting his back.

It was a beautiful scene. He thought to himself, this shouldn’t be disrupted. 

“Excuse me, Master Mage,” Tessa said softly as she stepped out of the adjoining room.

After a good cry, her grandchild had finally fallen asleep peacefully in the arms of a loved one. Qi Yu invited her to sit down; after all, Tessa looked quite elderly.

In the *Illustrated Guide to Magical Creatures of the Winter Ice Plains* he was holding, he had also come across some information about the Vela people.

This race possessed innate great strength and a longer lifespan than ordinary humans.

Even ordinary warriors in this realm can live for several hundred years; Vela warriors might live even longer.

She looked so old—most likely an elderly woman much older than Teacher Tranquility. 

He had just finished reading the entry on the Ice Demons.

This is a race that inhabits the deepest core of the Frozen Winter Plains—mutant creatures born from ice and snow, and natural ice mages.

Reading the description, Qi Yu felt that these Ice Demons bore some resemblance to the Swifts of the Star Forest.

However, while Swifts are numerous and of low level, Ice Demons are Level 3 mutated creatures from the moment they are born. 

However, the book also mentioned that Snow Demons thrive in extreme cold; they inhabit the innermost core of the Winter Ice Plains precisely because it is the coldest place there. That is a place ordinary people simply cannot reach.

“Hunters of the Ice Plains generally don’t venture into such dangerous areas,” he said, voicing his confusion.

Tessa replied immediately, “You’re quite right, sir.”

Ice Hunters usually operate on the outer fringes of the Winter Ice Plains, whereas the dangers of this vast ice plain are mostly found in its inner regions.

“This Ice Demon is different.”

Tessa spoke of it with a tone laced with hatred and fear: “Though I am advanced in years, I am still a Level 4 Martial Artist. Even if I were no match for it, I shouldn’t have been left in such a sorry state.” 

“This Ice Demon’s most formidable ability isn’t ice and snow magic, but… illusions.” 

“I was consumed by fear; my will couldn’t resist its will… When I faced it, I couldn’t even draw my sword.” Tessa’s fingertips trembled uncontrollably as she recalled that moment. 

“Illusions? Mental control?” Qi Yu’s tone was subtle. 

Tessa nodded. “Yes, Your Excellency. I know that you mages possess mental strength far greater than that of ordinary people. But this Ice Demon—its mental control far surpasses that of martial artists and mages of the same rank…”

Qi Yu:…

He seemed to understand why the message in a bottle had led him to accept this commission. 

After becoming a Level 3 Mage, his mental power attribute had reached 128. Counting the +3 from the jade necklace and the +6 from the Ring of Silence, his mental power totaled 137. 

The Mage’s Robe, when worn, increases the wearer’s Mental Power attribute by 100%. 

If this Ice Demon has undergone some kind of mutation and its primary attack method is mental magic—then that’s great. 

The *Field Guide to Magical Creatures of the Winter Ice Plains* in his hands detailed the information and weaknesses of this mutated creature: it excels at ice and snow magic, and in its environments. Likewise, as monsters born of ice and snow, they fear high temperatures and flames. 

Qi Yu already had a plan in mind.

He asked Tessa, “You said that monster has been coming around at dusk these past few days?” 

Tessa nodded. “Yes.”

Perhaps because darkness naturally induces fear, it deliberately chose this time of day.

“Well, that leaves us with most of the day still ahead.”

Qi Yu pulled out a sheet of parchment: “Now, I’ll start by drawing a magic circle.” A temperature-regulating magic circle.

He finished drawing the array on the parchment, instructed Tessa to place the magic crystals according to the marked positions, and told her to leave one behind as a counterweight. If all the crystals were placed, the array would be activated.

No rush.

Then, he took out a thick stack of parchment and began engraving magic scrolls.

Tessa watched in astonishment as Qi Yu inscribed magic scrolls one after another, as effortlessly as drinking water. 

She had seen magic scrolls before; here in the East, the caravans coming from the Winter Plains sold them for dozens of gold coins each.

According to the merchants, the materials for magical scrolls were expensive, and the success rate for inscribing them was less than ten percent, so the high price was only to be expected. She knew, of course, that merchants tended to exaggerate and that their words couldn’t be taken at face value. But no matter what, it couldn’t possibly be this easy…

Magic scrolls—is it really that simple?

She stared at it for a moment, then finally couldn’t help but ask, “A genius mage like you… why would you be willing to take such a risk and accept my commission?”

In fact, ever since she first met Qi Yu, she had been wondering when she had actually posted the commission.

After much thought, it must have been in a moment of despair, when she prayed in her heart to Heaven and to the gods of the four directions, hoping that a hero would descend from the heavens to help her drive out the demon. 

Could it be that the gods really heard her prayers and sent this great mage her way?

Qi Yu: “I told you, it’s fate.”

Perhaps the message in a bottle really was a gift from some deity after all? He handed a stack of magic scrolls to Tessa.

Tessa: “?”

“They’re all fire-based spells I’ve inscribed myself,” Qi Yu admitted honestly. “I’ve never faced a mutant creature this powerful before, so I’m really not sure what to expect. But since it’s afraid of fire, let’s be extra prepared.” 

“If we can’t beat it, just throw stuff at it.” 

Tessa looked at the “stuff” in her hand. 

Meanwhile, the Master Mage had already buried himself once again in inscribing fire-elemental spells. The stack in her hand contained at least several dozen scrolls. 

She had never fought such a “luxurious” battle in her entire life. Was this what a mage’s battle was like? She didn’t know that Qi Yu still had several hundred magic scrolls in his own backpack. 

He’d slowly accumulated them by picking up a few sheets of parchment and sketching on them whenever he had nothing better to do.

Having fainted once before, Qi Yu didn’t dare to get too absorbed in his work. After inscribing a few dozen scrolls, he’d set them aside to sense the magic within his body. During this time, he sampled Tessa’s cooking. 

Deliciously fragrant slices of grilled meat, along with a large pot of hearty stew.

It contained several kinds of mushrooms and several kinds of vegetables he didn’t recognize, with a subtle hint of cream. The centerpiece of this dish was a seasoning Tessa called “black coriander,” which had a slightly spicy and exceptionally fragrant flavor. 

Qi Yu polished off several bowls in one go.

“You’re such a great cook,” Qi Yu marveled. “Aside from a good friend of mine, you’re the best cook I know.” 

Perhaps older people simply have a soft spot for children who eat heartily; after the meal, Tessa seemed much less reserved around Qi Yu. The same went for Theo—when he first woke up, he hadn’t dared to approach Qi Yu.

By the time dusk was falling, he was already able to lie on the edge of the table, his big gray eyes fixed intently on Qi Yu as he engraved the magic circle.

If it weren’t for the appearance of the Ice Demon, this would normally be the time when Tessa’s family would be having dinner together.

Hearing Tessa say this, Qi Yu comforted her: “Once we’ve dealt with the Ice Demon, make me another pot of that soup you made for lunch. It was delicious.” Hearing the young man’s calm tone, Tessa’s heart gradually settled.

“Okay,” she replied with a smile. The sky grew darker by the minute.

With the Ice Demon on their trail, there was no safe spot in the entire house. Theo hadn’t hidden either; the two of them were protecting him, keeping him right in the middle. The moment the light faded completely, Qi Yu felt Tessa’s body tense up, and Theo clutched the hem of her shirt tightly.

“It’s coming,” Tessa said in a low voice.

She didn’t need to be reminded; Qi Yu knew it too.

Because an extreme cold had descended upon the house. Qi Yu could feel a slight numbness in his fingertips. 

“One… mage?” A halting, muffled voice rang out from outside the room.