Chapter 22: Fhtagn''s Whisper


    Under normal circumstances, one''s Medical skill can substitute for Pharmacy skill in checks, but depending on the specific situation, the Medical skill might suffer a penalty or one may have to undertake a difficult or even an extremely difficult check.


    At present, KP004 thus spoke, "Alright, since the yer''s Medical skill has reached 78 points, it is barely eptable to use medical knowledge to perform a pharmacology check. However, it must pass a difficult check."


    Medicine, 47/39, failed.


    "Although you desperately want to identify the essence of this herb''s fragrance, you can''t make a determination because you have never encountered this scent before," KP004 said with a sinister chuckle, and continued, "At the same time, you feel a wave of dizziness, and your thoughts slow to a crawl, muddled in confusion. As a result, your inspiration will drop to 10 for the next hour!"


    As soon as KP004''s voice fell, Liu Xing''s vision blurred. He involuntarily copsed onto Isabe''s bed, his head throbbing painfully. His mind felt like mush, cluttered with haphazard thoughts, rendering him incapable of coherent thinking.


    It was clear to Liu Xing that the herbal scent he had just inhaled was very likely a hallucinogenic substance affecting human cognition, which exined his current predicament.


    Isabe noticed Liu Xing''s distress. She grew anxious, for Liu Xing was one of the rare individuals willing tomunicate with her. She hade to regard Liu Xing as a friend, and now to see her friend in such agony on her own bed was distressing for Isabe.


    Suddenly, Isabe remembered Grandpa Wayne—that is, the old butler Wayne—who had once given her some painkillers to take when she had a headache. Observing Liu Xing''s pained expression and his hands clutching his head, she deduced he must be experiencing a headache and thought it appropriate to offer him those painkillers.


    Therefore, Isabe retrieved a small, ubeled bottle from beneath her pillow, poured out a capsule, and hurriedly handed it to Liu Xing.


    Liu Xing, having lost the capacity for thought, did not ponder the nature of the medicine Isabe handed him and swallowed it directly.


    As he swallowed the capsule, thest vestiges of Liu Xing''s rationality prompted a grim thought—if this capsule was poison, his life would be over.


    Fortunately, the capsule was not toxic and effectively alleviated Liu Xing''s painful symptoms. While a faint headache lingered, he was at least able to think clearly again.


    "Because the yer has taken the painkiller given by Isabe, the symptoms of headache and dizziness were immediately relieved. However, there''s still some mental confusion, so the yer''s inspiration is now at 60 and will continue for an hour," KP004 stated with a hint of regret.


    Having regained his cognitive abilities, Liu Xing managed to summon a weak smile and thanked Isabe, "Thank you, Miss Isabe, for your assistance. Otherwise, I would''ve been in pain for much longer."


    Seeing Liu Xing return to normal brought relief to Isabe. She smiled and responded, "It''s good to see you''re alright. I''m grateful that Grandpa Wayne had prepared this bottle of painkillers for me."


    Proudly, Isabe picked up the small bottle, unting it yfully in front of Liu Xing.


    It was only then that Liu Xing noticed that the bottle bore nobel, which led him to suspect that this so-called "painkiller" might hold some hidden secret.


    After all, Liu Xing was well aware that his headache was due to the peculiar scent of some herb, and he was certain that it was a herb with a potent hallucinogenic effect.


    Isabe, who had been living here for a long time, had shown no adverse reactions like his own, which suggested she might have developed a resistance to this hallucinogenic herb. However, the painkiller Old Wayne provided to Isabe hinted that she might also suffer from frequent ailments.


    With this in mind, Liu Xing decided to inquire about this hallucinogenic herb from Isabe herself.


    "Miss Isabe, what kind of incense are you burning in your room? It smells quite soothing," Liu Xing asked with a smile.


    Isabeughed softly and pointed to a strange-looking nt in the corner of the room.


    The nt was about half a meter tall, somewhat resembling a diolus, but it bore only a single red flower at its tip.


    "This flower was a gift from my father; I believe it''s called Fhtagn''s Whisper, and it''s supposed to have a calming effect," Isabe exined to Liu Xing.


    Liu Xing nodded silently, recalling that the full name of this ''Kurt'' was Cthulhu·Fhtagn! So, might as well call this nt Cthulhu''s Call!


    As for the calming effect, Liu Xing could only scoff. Just moments ago, he might have inhaled the pollen of this nt, resulting in a rapid decline in his creative inspiration, not to mention a splitting headache and aplete loss of the ability to think. Could such effects truly be described as calming?


    But since Liu Xing currently had no knowledge of the Cthulhu mythos, he had no way to counter this and could only respond with a chuckle, "I see, the fragrance is indeedforting, it eases my mind quite a bit."


    Isabe, with a proud smile, nodded and said, "Of course, it''s a birthday gift from my father; how could it not be wonderful?"


    Liu Xing echoed Isabe''s words with ttery, yet his mind was filled with questions. Still, due to the ongoing influence on his inspiration, he couldn''t settle down to ponder them thoroughly.


    Therefore, Liu Xing decided to discuss this information and his questions with Chen Ling and the others when they met upter.


    Liu Xing wanted to chat more with Isabe, but he suddenly heard a series of urgent and loud coughsing from downstairs.


    This was the signal agreed upon with Chen Ling and the others; if they spotted Old Wayne or the Lord of the Castle returning to the main building, they would cough like this, and Liu Xing would have to leave the second floor immediately.


    Thus, Liu Xing said to Isabe, "Miss Isabe, it seems my friend visiting the Castle with me is ill again; I must go down quickly to help him take his medicine. So, I must take my leave from you for now, Miss Isabe. Let''s meet againter."


    Isabe nodded understandingly, smiling as she said, "Then Mr. Liu Xing, please go ahead with your matters, but if you could, would youe back and chat with me a little moreter?"


    Liu Xing nodded without hesitation. How could he refuse an opportunity to chat with such a beautiful girl?