First Meeting with Nalan Jie

Little Fairy Doctor had left, but life had to go on. I drank some porridge and took the pills, and my body felt much better, though my mind was still somewhat groggy. I didn't know whether it was because of the Eagle Beast's lingering soul or some other reason...

After sending away the Guard Captain and the maidservant, I lay alone on the bed, looking around. The room was large, and the bed was wide, yet I always felt that something was missing.

Turning my head, I saw two Scrolls on the bedside table and reached out to pick them up. One was the Dou Technique, "Purple Cloud Wings." Looking at the eagle wings on it, still black as iron, my heart trembled!

I had been careless, proud, arrogant!

All my disgraceful shortcomings surged into my mind. How hateful that I had not noticed them before! I had actually been arrogant enough to cultivate it with merely the seventh stage of Dou Qi. Ridiculous—utterly ridiculous.

Just because I had toyed with Xiao Yan and whisked away Little Fairy Doctor, did I really think I was the protagonist?

"Ha ha ha..."

I gave a low laugh, filled with bleakness. But after I finished laughing, my face turned cold, and a trace of resolve surfaced in my eyes.

I grabbed the other Scroll and opened it. It was the "Seven Coloured Poison Scripture." I gently ran my fingers across it, as if I could still feel the warmth Little Fairy Doctor had left behind. I could not help but sneer and mutter, "Little Fairy Doctor, I've already changed your fate... Will you still meet Xiao Yan? Will you still be able to control the Calamity Poison Body?"

I put both Scrolls into my Ring of Holding and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, because of my condition, we did not set off for Gama City. Instead, we remained in Wu Si City to recuperate.

When the various factions in Wu Si City heard the news, they all sent people to pay their respects. None of them were important figures, only members of the younger generation.

Some small and mid-sized factions also came seeking an audience. I could not be bothered with them and had the Shop Manager receive them instead.

Over the following days, I settled down and began cultivating my Dou Qi. Even now, I was only at the seventh stage of Dou Qi. My strength was truly too low.

One day, after finishing my cultivation, I was just about to have dinner when Mo Mu rushed in and gave me a fright with his first words!

"Young Master, the Old Clan Leader is here!"

The Old Clan Leader—Nalan Jie? I frowned. Nalan Jie was Nalan Yanran's biological grandfather. He had also been the one to arrange her engagement with Xiao Yan's grandfather years ago, and it was said that he had always opposed breaking it off.

The reason we had managed to annul the engagement so smoothly this time was, first, the Yun Lan Sect's full support, and second... naturally, because the Old Man had not been home, having gone instead to the Monster Mountain Range.

But the Monster Mountain Range stretched for thousands of miles. Although I had previously gone to Green Mountain Town and wandered through the Monster Mountain Range for several days, I had never imagined I might run into the Old Man.

Who would have thought that I would encounter him in Wu Si City on the way back?

Facing this Dou Wang expert, one of the Gamma Empire's Ten Great Experts and the pillar of the Nalan Family, I dared not be careless. I hurried out of the courtyard and headed to the main hall.

Inside the plain, shabby hall, the Shop Manager stood humbly below without even a place to sit. At the head of the room sat a tall, powerfully built man with resolute features, seated with imposing authority.

Outside the hall, I straightened my clothes before entering. I then bowed and called out loudly, "Your grandson, Nalan Ye, pays respects to Old Man."

Nalan Jie was already advanced in years, but his eyes remained bright and sharp. He glared at me, snorted coldly, and barked, "Why are you shouting so loudly? I'm not deaf yet—I can hear you!"

My expression froze, and I did not know what to say. Fortunately, Nalan Jie had no intention of hearing me speak. He shouted again, "I heard that while I was away, you annulled Yanran's engagement? Heh, you've got some nerve!"

Then my body shook as a powerful pressure descended upon me! My face instantly flushed red, my breathing became ragged, and my legs trembled as I swayed on the verge of collapse!

I was horrified and struggled to shout, "Old Man, this matter is absolutely beneficial to the Nalan Family! Besides, we have already compensated the Xiao Family. Please calm your anger!"

Nalan Jie snorted coldly and ignored me completely, increasing the pressure by several degrees. My legs could no longer endure it, and I suddenly dropped to my knees.

"Yanran's engagement to that little brat from the Xiao Family was arranged by Old Xiao and me fifteen years ago! Now that Old Xiao is gone, this engagement cannot be annulled! Heh, you little brats are quite something. You actually dared to annul an engagement I arranged. You've got guts—real guts!"

A fierce aura rushed at me. For a moment, I actually felt as though the man before me was not Nalan Jie, but an ancient magical beast, savage and violent!

My heart trembled violently. I instinctively felt that this old guy, Nalan Jie, might truly kill me. I was so frightened that I nearly lost my wits. All I could do was grasp at my final lifeline and scream hoarsely, "Old Man, I—I have already entered into an engagement with the Xiao Family! I am engaged to Xiao Yan's cousin, Xiao Meier... Please, please calm your anger!"

Whoosh!

The powerful pressure vanished silently like a gentle breeze.

I was saved! The pressure of a Dou Wang was simply too overwhelming. I nearly collapsed onto the floor, clutching my throat with both hands as I coughed dryly, like a dead dog.

"Humph!"

Nalan Jie sat upright like a god who ruled over all things from on high. Looking down at me with utter disdain, he cursed, "If it weren't for the fact that you've become related to the Xiao Family by marriage, I would've slapped you to death long ago, you useless trash!"

After saying that, Nalan Jie turned to the Shop Manager, who stood nearby with his head lowered and did not dare utter a word. "Quit playing dead and get out there! Prepare dinner for me!"

The Shop Manager nodded repeatedly, answered in haste, and fled the hall.

I had already climbed to my feet. I did not dare look around, nor did I dare brush the dust from my silk robe. I simply stood with my head lowered in silence when I suddenly heard a sigh... Was that Nalan Jie?

I subconsciously raised my head and heard Nalan Jie ask, "How is that kid from the Xiao Family doing?"

I froze, then hurriedly replied, "Old Man, Xiao Yan is doing quite well. Although he and Yanran Jie annulled their engagement, I even went out of my way to counsel him. His mindset is quite good."

"I also heard that Canaan Academy's recruitment team will pass through Wutan City. Perhaps Xiao Yan will go to Canaan Academy to cultivate in the future."

To my surprise, Nalan Jie glared at me and cursed, "Idiot, who asked about that little brat? I'm asking about Xiao Zhan!"

Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan's father. I was rather embarrassed. Why hadn't he made himself clear? He kept calling people "that kid" and "that brat"—how was I supposed to know whom he meant?

I scratched my head and thought for a moment. "Xiao Zhan... Uncle is doing quite well too. With our Nalan Family as in-laws, the Xiao Family will naturally be able to make a name for itself in Wutan City. Perhaps one day, the Xiao Family may even monopolize Wutan City."

"So... that's good."

Nalan Jie let out a long sigh and muttered, "That girl Yanran... Cough!"

Suddenly, Nalan Jie coughed. My heart jumped, because I actually saw blood come out with his cough!

Blood? Nalan Jie was a Dou Wang expert. How could he be coughing blood?

I could no longer care about being afraid and rushed forward anxiously. "Old Man, were you injured in the Monster Mountain Range?"

The Monster Mountain Range stretched for thousands of miles, growing ever more dangerous the deeper one went. It was said that even seventh-tier magical beasts roamed its deepest regions! Since ancient times, even countless Dou Emperor experts had been buried there!

It was not strange for a Dou Wang like Nalan Jie to be injured. But for the Nalan Family, their pillar being injured was undoubtedly a matter of enormous consequence!

"It's nothing."

Nalan Jie wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth and waved a hand. "I killed a Branding Iron Poison Seal Python, but it injured me too. It's no big deal."

A Branding Iron Poison Seal Python? I had only just relaxed when a flood of memories suddenly surfaced in my mind, frightening me so badly that my heart trembled!

A Branding Iron Poison Seal Python? Branding Iron Poison?

If I remembered correctly, Nalan Jie had been afflicted by Branding Iron Poison. Then Xiao Yan had impersonated "Yan Xiao" and gone to treat him, causing Yanran Jie to fall in love with Xiao Yan... What the hell was this!

No, no. I frowned. The key was not the gossip between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, but... the Three-Year Agreement was gone!

Without the Three-Year Agreement, Xiao Yan naturally would not go to Gama City, much less treat Nalan Jie... So who would treat Nalan Jie?!

The Branding Iron Poison in Nalan Jie was extremely troublesome. Quite a few Dou Emperor experts had died from Branding Iron Poison, and it could not be completely cured without an Exotic Flame! Who? Who could cure Nalan Jie without Xiao Yan?!

My heart grew heavy. My relationship with Nalan Jie was not deep—in fact, there was no relationship at all—but everything about Nalan Jie concerned my interests.

Just like the visits from Wu Si City's various factions several days ago—did they come to pay respects because of me, Nalan Ye?

No, they came for Nalan Jie's sake!

If Nalan Jie fell, the Nalan Family might not collapse outright, but it would inevitably weaken. And if the Nalan Family weakened, my interests would naturally be affected!

"You... figured it out?"

At that moment, a deep voice startled me from my thoughts. I looked sharply over and saw that it was Nalan Jie. After hesitating briefly, I nodded. "Old Man, you... have been afflicted by Branding Iron Poison, haven't you?"

Nalan Jie's eyes widened as he snapped, "It's just Branding Iron Poison. What the hell is there to fear? Stop looking like your dad just died!"

I composed myself and nodded. I did not know whether Nalan Jie truly did not care or was merely trying to reassure me.

During dinner, however, Nalan Jie ate with great relish, drinking bowl after bowl of wine and devouring huge chunks of meat! I accompanied the old man with a dry smile, and this old guy even forced a great deal of wine down my throat.

After a long while, the meal finally ended. I returned to my room in a daze and hurriedly had the maidservant bring me some sobering pills along the way. The pills worked quite well. After taking one, I felt clear-headed again, no longer groggy.

After dismissing the maidservant, I stood alone by the window and gazed up at the night sky. The stars were sparse tonight, while the moonlight was brilliant and radiant. It was an excellent night for admiring the moon.

But I had no mood to admire the moon. I only wanted to look at the stars filling the sky. As I examined them one by one, I found that most were dim and without light. Yet some stars still flickered, striving to shine. Though tiny, they still wished to contend with the bright moon!

I could not help looking at the moon and murmured, "Azure Lotus Core Flame—I, Nalan Ye, will come claim it myself..."