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"If there's anything improper, Shopkeeper Sylvester, please speak plainly."
Lingsha suspected nothing and did not place particular weight on Sylvester's warning.
She thought inwardly.
Before coming here, she had certainly done her homework. The only black trash can capable of causing great calamity emitted black mist—something she clearly had not opened.
As for green trash cans, although they sometimes produced negative Curios, anything involving conceptual power could not possibly be some random nonsense.
Therefore, this awkwardness most likely stemmed from the concept clashing with the iron crutch, making it inconvenient to use.
But why would she need to use it personally? With so many people in the Xianzhou Luofu, could she not find someone perfectly suited to it?
That would be laughable.
Lingsha declared openly, "Whatever the circumstances, this humble one naturally has ways to adapt to its flaws."
Her tone was soft, yet the confidence behind it was unmistakable.
But what she never expected was that the tiny space between Sylvester's two pinched fingers and the actual magnitude of the "awkwardness" differed like heaven and earth.
"Good!" Sylvester clapped his palms together and said with a smile, "Then I'll be direct. This iron crutch was the walking aid of a legendary lame immortal. Because it was influenced by immortal qi, it became infused with conceptual power."
"As for its effect—it paralyzes one leg of anyone who uses it."
…
"Ah?"
After a moment of silence, Lingsha's eyes reflected pure confusion. "That's the whole introduction?"
Why only mention the downside? Where was the conceptual power?
Could it be that turning someone disabled was its conceptual effect?!
Sylvester spoke with a solemn expression that allowed no hint of jest: "Yes, that is the conceptual power granted by the iron crutch."
"Drop the crutch, and you walk as spryly as before; lean on the crutch, and you're lame on the spot!"
Which brainless person created this Curio? Did they drink too much seawater, gulping until their mind turned into mush?!
Lingsha's gaze slowly froze.
In her mind, one version of herself with a little white flower on her head was telling her to stay calm, while another version with flames on her head was already hurling curses.
Yes, the Luofu was vast, and one could indeed find countless eccentric individuals capable of matching even the strangest Curios to a proper owner.
But this Curio was too strange!
It was entirely negative, and had zero combat utility.
A pure combat limiter? What was it for? Training a person's will under desperate circumstances?
Hoo~~ stay calm, stay calm, anger brings illness no one can cure…
Lingsha gently patted her chest, silently reciting her calming incantation, hoping to soothe her emotions.
But she still felt unwilling.
Opening a Curio containing conceptual power should have been a joyous occasion—yet it turned out to be such a bizarre object.
The drastic swing from surprise to shock was truly maddening.
Seeing Lingsha silently rebuilding her mental defenses, Sylvester felt a touch of sympathy, yet at the same time found her reaction quite amusing.
So, he spoke with a smile: "Miss Lingsha, there's no need to be like this. Though this Curio is a bit peculiar, it's not without value."
Lingsha rolled her dragon-slit pupils at him.
I believe nothing you say, you wicked young man.
It was because she trusted that little gesture of yours that she ended up this furious. Had you said outright it was a negative Curio, she would've only pitied her wallet!
Claiming you weren't being intentional—who would believe that? And now you want to sweet-talk her again?
Maintaining her dignity with difficulty, she replied reluctantly, "This humble one listens attentively."
Sylvester, thick-skinned as a shield, ignored her disdain and raised his hand with a smile. "Miss Lingsha, I did not lie."
"Though the iron crutch's effect is strange, there is a loophole. Its concept is to guarantee that one leg becomes numb."
He lifted both arms, speaking with sincerity: "Meaning that for someone whose both legs are already paralyzed, it can allow them to experience independent walking again!"
"It may not be nimble, but for someone who has completely lost the ability to walk—and as a doctor, you have surely seen such cases far more than I have…"
Speaking of patients, Sylvester's heart grew somber as well. He set aside his smile and spoke with solemnity:
"To lose one of humanity's innate abilities—their pain, their struggle. You may not have personally experienced it, but with your kindness, you must surely empathize and worry for them often."
Hearing this, Lingsha grew silent—heart and mouth alike—and sorrow clouded her eyes.
Indeed, he was right. When she became a doctor, it was not because she ignored people's cries, but precisely because she felt for those who cried in pain, which drove her to pursue medicine to its height.
The recovery abilities of the Xianzhou people varied. Many who were forced to spend their lives in wheelchairs fell into despair, their spirits dimming, even hastening their Mara-struck episodes.
Every time she heard of such cases, she felt dissatisfied—hating both the enemies that caused such wounds, and herself for being unable to regrow severed limbs.
Seeing she now understood the meaning of the iron crutch, Sylvester's voice rose once more.
He met her gaze directly, letting the word sincerity burn into her mind, saying: "And to them, this iron crutch is nothing short of rebirth! To lose and recover—that joy surpasses anything else!"
"Exactly!"
Lingsha met his eyes and, feeling the truth of his words, clapped repeatedly.
For Sylvester's explanation indeed matched her beliefs.
To lose and recover… People often took what they had for granted, and only upon losing it did regret dawn.
Desire fulfilled brought happiness, yes—but it was fleeting. Only regaining what had been lost revealed what the heart truly sought!
"To lose and recover…"
Lingsha murmured the four words repeatedly.
Just as Sylvester said, nothing in the world touched the human heart more deeply.
Her eyes now held no dissatisfaction—only recognition. She said, "I did not expect Shopkeeper Sylvester to not only possess world-shaking Curios, but also harbor such a compassionate heart."
"Ha, Miss Lingsha flatters me."
Sylvester smiled modestly. "I merely wish to speak fairly for the Curio. Though all are priced the same, I cannot bear to let it be misunderstood."
Indeed, a shopkeeper praising his own merchandise was normal.
But instead, Lingsha did not believe this explanation.
To sell such varied Curios all at the uniform—and low—price of a million Credits said enough: Sylvester was nothing like a profit-obsessed merchant.
Thus, giving up profit of this magnitude—what could explain it besides a grand wish to aid the world?
In any case, Lingsha was now certain:
Sylvester was a good man.