"They are edible. I just improved some of their traits—strengthened their best qualities—without changing their essence."
Talking about her research made Sucrose much less nervous.
"For example, this Sweet Flower—it's the Type-9, Variant 19, bud-specialized version. I enhanced its genetics so the bud is much larger, and it can store even more nectar."
Jiang Bai's eyes lit up instantly.
A Sweet Flower with more nectar!
"Can it be planted?"
Although Sucrose didn't know why Jiang Bai got so excited all of a sudden, she couldn't help but feel a bit proud about her work.
"Yes, you can plant it just like a regular Sweet Flower."
"Do you have other types? Like… sweeter ones? Bigger? Or with a shorter growth cycle?"
"I do!"
Sucrose led Jiang Bai to her lab's test plot, where she'd cultivated a whole variety of plants. Each specimen had its own sign, detailing its unique traits.
"Wow!" Seeing a row of neatly planted, yet strikingly different Sweet Flowers, Jiang Bai felt as if he'd discovered a new continent.
"This is the Type-9, Variant 28—specially bred for a rich fragrance, the nectar is extra thick… Here's the Type-7, Number 12—four times the size of the regular flower… And here, Type-5, Number 47—a three-headed, multi-stemmed version…"
Once she started talking about her research, Sucrose completely forgot her shyness, introducing all her Sweet Flowers in detail.
Jiang Bai nodded at each one, thinking this trait is great, that one's pretty good too…
When Sucrose finally finished, Jiang Bai looked at her hopefully. "Do you have seeds? Could you spare me a few?"
Coming down from her excitement, Sucrose blushed again. "Yes… Sorry, I got a little too into it and rambled…"
Faced with someone who possessed so much expertise in Sweet Flowers, Jiang Bai was as polite as could be.
"You're incredible! I can't believe you've bred so many different Sweet Flowers! And all these other plants too—that's an amazing achievement!"
The more he praised her, the redder Sucrose's face got. She started unconsciously rubbing the floor with the back of her shoe.
It's just ordinary research… he's going way overboard…
Jiang Bai kept it up until Sucrose looked like she'd bury her head in the ground, then finally revealed his true intention.
"Could you give me a few seeds? I really love Sweet Flowers."
"No problem… Which type do you want?"
"The Type-9, Number 28—oh, and some of the Type-7, Number 12 if you have any."
"Okay, okay…"
Jiang Bai walked back into the lab, happily clutching a small vial of Sweet Flower seeds.
Even sweeter Sweet Flowers—what a treasure.
Albedo had already returned. Spotting Jiang Bai, he looked up from his notes.
"I heard about the Stormterror incident. Need my help?"
Even though he'd been busy with experiments the past few days, the Stormterror crisis was big news, and he'd already helped out quite a bit himself.
Originally, he'd planned to go home after his work was done to keep an eye on Klee, but after hearing from Kaeya that Jiang Bai was around, he'd stayed busy with his own projects instead.
Jiang Bai grinned, "There's a brave hero from afar here, so our Chief Alchemist can rest easy for now."
Albedo paid little attention to the flattery and nodded. "Seems things aren't too serious, then."
"Are you busy right now? Let's eat—I've got something I want to ask you."
"Mm. Sucrose, you join us too." Albedo glanced at his assistant, who was still standing shyly to one side.
"Okay, Professor!" Sucrose replied.
Jiang Bai snapped his fingers, conjuring a table and chairs on the spot.
He unpacked the lunch, set out bowls and chopsticks, and as they ate, he asked, "The energy pouring out of the dragon's heart in Dragonspine—what exactly is it?"
Albedo looked a little surprised. "Why do you ask?"
"Stormterror's been corrupted by that same energy."
Albedo's brow furrowed. "So it's true…"
"You knew?"
"I had my suspicions."
Jiang Bai looked at him, confused.
Instead of answering, Albedo asked his own question.
"Do you know why that dragon's skeleton is on Dragonspine?"
"Why?"
"Because the mountain's needed to purify the foul energy leaking from the corpse."
"Purify? But how does the mountain purify anything? With snow?"
"Did you forget what's on Dragonspine?"
Jiang Bai's eyes went wide. "You mean… the Skyfrost Nail?"
Albedo nodded. "My research on the Nail has progressed—it's a powerful purifier. It can gradually cleanse that corrupted energy. And it also seems to suppress something, but I haven't figured out what it's suppressing."
Jiang Bai frowned. "Then the Nail didn't fall to destroy everything? But if it was to purify the disaster five hundred years ago… the timing doesn't quite add up…"
Why the Nail descended is still a mystery; the ancient kingdom on the mountain always thought it was a punishment from Celestia, so that's what everyone believed.
But hearing Albedo say it might be a purifier or a seal…
If it's to purify or suppress—what, exactly, is it holding back?
A trace of worry crept into Jiang Bai's expression. "If it's suppressing something, and we blew it up… wouldn't that mean it can't do its job anymore?"
He realized, a little late, just how reckless he'd been back then.
But it was also true that he hadn't known enough, and acted without thinking.
Klee looked anxious, too. "Did Klee do something bad?"
Seeing their concern, Albedo gave a gentle smile to comfort them.
"Don't worry—it's just my theory. There may not be any suppressing function at all."
"We didn't remove the Nail completely, so the ley lines on Dragonspine are just as before—nothing's really changed. It could be the Nail isn't tied to the ley lines at all. It's all just speculation."
"And besides, Durin's poison has already been nearly purified after five hundred years. Destroying the Nail shouldn't have any real effect."
Jiang Bai let out a small sigh of relief. "Let's hope so."
He'd learned his lesson: next time, he'd never act rashly on such a big decision just for sentiment's sake.
The Nail was already destroyed—no changing that now.
If something really does go wrong on Dragonspine because of what they did, they'd just have to deal with it. Guessing and worrying solves nothing.
Once the Stormterror business was over, maybe he should ask that not-so-reliable Anemo Archon about it.
If anyone would know what the Nail was really for, surely a god would.
"Stormterror's corruption and Durin's share the same source. I have some fragments of the Skyfrost Nail here—maybe they'll help purify things." Albedo handed over a few fragments, the blue crystals from the Nail's core, radiating pure energy.
"Thanks." Jiang Bai tucked them away.
Who knew if they'd help—but better to have them just in case.
Sucrose listened silently to the conversation.
As Albedo's student, she already knew what her mentor had been researching, and she'd even gone to Dragonspine herself to study the Nail's fragments.
She sneaked a look at Jiang Bai.
So this is the one who helped Albedo blow up the Nail…?
---
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