Compared to Qing Tan's shock, Lin Yan seemed perfectly calm.
So when he heard Qing Tan's praise, he didn't let it go to his head. Instead, he chuckled and spread his hands. "It was just a little trick. If you trained, you could learn it too."
Qing Tan's eyes widened. "Really, Brother Lin Yan? You're not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?"
As she spoke, Qing Tan scratched her head, looking a little sheepish. "To be honest, Brother Lin Yan, I've been wanting to train, too."
"After all, you know what happened to my dad. A lot of the responsibility naturally fell on Brother Lin Dong, but I've always wanted to help him shoulder some of the burden."
Lin Yan smiled. "Mm, I know."
"But I wasn't just trying to make you feel better. Everyone has the right to train. Besides, you've never tried before. What if you're a genius? You never know."
Lin Yan's words seemed to give Qing Tan confidence. She pumped her little fists, full of enthusiasm.
Still, she knew he was mostly trying to encourage her. After indulging in a flight of fancy about what the future might hold, Qing Tan gave Lin Yan a grateful, silly smile.
"Brother Lin Yan, thank you."
"Even though we haven't known each other long, I'm always really happy when I'm with you."
Lin Yan smiled but said nothing.
Qing Tan was just about to say something when she suddenly furrowed her brow.
She began to tremble, and her delicate little face turned deathly pale.
"What's wrong, Qing Tan?"
Lin Yan noticed the change at once and asked with concern.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, streams of icy cold began pouring out of Qing Tan's body. The ground beneath her started frosting over, and even the firewood burning beside them was instantly snuffed out by the chill.
"What terrifying cold!"
Yao Lao's voice suddenly rang in Lin Yan's mind.
Then he began to analyze the situation for Lin Yan.
"This girl seems to have a special constitution. It'll make her incredibly powerful when she trains, but it also comes with an instability that's hard to control. Take the Woeful Poison Body on the Dou Qi Continent, for example. It's extremely domineering, but if it gets even a little out of control, it can kill its bearer."
Lin Yan's brows lifted slightly. He knew Qing Tan had a special constitution. In the original story, Lin Dong had used the Stone Talisman to control the cold inside her. But he didn't have the Stone Talisman now. Was he really supposed to just stand by and watch the girl suffer?
"Senior Yao Lao, is there anything we can do to help her?"
Lin Yan couldn't help asking. He wasn't heartless. Seeing the little girl who had been laughing and talking with him just moments ago now shivering from the cold made his heart ache.
"There is. Use the Cold-Dispelling Pill you refined."
"Although it's only a first-grade pill, when it comes to dispelling cold, many second- and third-grade pills can't compare to it."
"This girl hasn't started training yet, so the cold inside her is limited. For now, the Cold-Dispelling Pill should be enough to suppress it."
"But once her cultivation advances, she'll need the fourth-grade Great Cold-Dispelling Pill, or she'll have to learn how to control the cold herself."
Yao Lao was indeed well-informed. He quickly gave Lin Yan a solution, and even had a plan for helping Qing Tan deal with the cold in the future.
"Okay, I'll try it now."
Lin Yan immediately took out a pill.
He stepped forward, but Qing Tan feared the cold might hurt him. Enduring the chill, she said, "Brother Lin Yan, this happens to me all the time. I'll be fine in a little while. Don't come closer. The cold could hurt you."
Lin Yan smiled and shook his head. "It's all right."
He then activated the Flame Mantra, wrapping his hand in a layer of fire-element energy.
Warmed by the energy, Qing Tan felt the chill ease a little. Lin Yan held the pill out in front of her.
"Open your mouth and take this."
Qing Tan hesitated when she saw the pill, but then she looked at Lin Yan and decided to trust him.
She didn't hesitate any longer and swallowed it in one gulp.
Lin Yan placed both hands on Qing Tan's back and channeled his energy into her body. "Regulate your breathing."
Qing Tan quickly did as he said. With Lin Yan's help, the cold inside her gradually began to fade. At the same time, a warm stream of energy flowed along her meridians, circulating through her body.
Qing Tan's complexion steadily improved. At last, with the help of Lin Yan's fire-element energy and the Cold-Dispelling Pill, she returned to normal.
"I'm better?"
"Brother Lin Yan, you're amazing!"
"Even my dad couldn't do anything about this cold, but you actually managed to help me?"
She was overjoyed. Turning to Lin Yan, she stared at him in shock.
Lin Yan slowly withdrew his energy. When he looked at Qing Tan again, his vision blurred.
He knew he'd used too much energy. But he didn't say anything, only wiping the sweat from his forehead and pretending to be fine. "As long as you're all right."
Qing Tan noticed his change in complexion and couldn't help feeling guilty. "Brother Lin Yan, I'm sorry. This is all because of me—"
Lin Yan smiled and rubbed her head. "Silly girl, what's there to apologize for? It's nothing."
He then summoned a flame with a wisp of fire-element energy, but a wave of exhaustion swept through him, and he could barely hold on.
"Qing Tan, I'm going to rest my eyes for a bit. Call me if you need anything."
Lin Yan spoke to Qing Tan, then found a place nearby to lean back and sleep.
Qing Tan obediently nodded. But seeing Lin Yan sleep bare-chested, she worried he might catch a chill. After a moment's hesitation, she carefully went over and hugged him.
A ray of sunlight fell across Lin Yan's face. Stirred by its warmth, he couldn't help opening his eyes.
After that nap, he felt much better. His energy was still a little depleted, but at least he had recovered some strength.
Lin Yan was about to look for Qing Tan, but as soon as he turned his gaze, he found her fast asleep, clinging tightly to him.
"You're awake, young friend?"
The little girl hadn't saved you for nothing. Once she saw you fall asleep, she worried you'd catch a chill, so she hugged you while you slept. She made herself into a little furnace.
Yao Lao's voice soon rang out, teasing him.
"I see..."
Lin Yan replied flatly.
Then he let out a breath, feeling a little rueful.
"I'm still too weak."
"I only helped her regulate her breathing, yet that cold nearly drained me dry."
"I need to get stronger!"
Yao Lao sounded gleeful at his expense.
"But young friend, this time you came out ahead."
"After all, you could say you got to hold a beauty close. The girl's still young, but she's a beauty in the making. Once she grows up, she'll be absolutely stunning."
Lin Yan shook his head awkwardly.
"Please don't tease me, Senior Yao Lao."
He was about to say more when Qing Tan stirred in his arms like a little cat.
Yao Lao fell silent. Lin Yan looked down at Qing Tan, who opened her eyes and met his gaze. Her face instantly turned bright red.
"Brother Lin Yan, I... I... Let me explain."
Lin Yan laughed helplessly. "There's no need to explain. What's the big deal?"
"You were worried I'd catch a chill, right? You're such a kind girl."
Qing Tan gave an embarrassed, silly smile.
Lin Yan let go of Qing Tan and stood up.
"Fortunately, the rain didn't last long. It's getting late, so we can head back now."
Qing Tan nodded, but after glancing at the clothes she was wearing, she said, "Then, Brother Lin Yan, can I return your clothes after I wash them?"
Lin Yan nodded.
"Sure."
Qing Tan gathered her things, ready to leave.
But just as she was about to go, Lin Yan called out to her.
"Wait, Qing Tan."
"Take these pills with you."
Lin Yan handed her several bottles of pills.
"You should remember this one. It's the one I gave you when your cold acted up earlier."
"If it happens again, just take one."
Then Lin Yan took out another bottle of pills.
"These are Healing Pills. I happened to come across them, and they're very effective."
"I know about your dad's situation. If he's willing, you can have him try one."
"It might help his injuries."
Qing Tan stared at the pills, stunned. But she felt bad about accepting them. After all, she had nothing to give Lin Yan, and she didn't want to take something without earning it.
"Brother Lin Yan, these are too precious. I can't accept them."
Qing Tan refused.
Lin Yan pretended to be angry. "Take them."
"Didn't you say last time that you wanted us to be friends?"
"Why are you still being so formal? Or did you not mean it?"
Qing Tan quickly tried to explain, afraid Lin Yan might misunderstand. "No, Brother Lin Yan, I..."
Lin Yan seized the chance to press the pills into her hands. "Then there you go. Just take them."
"Don't be so formal."
Qing Tan had no choice but to accept them obediently.
After that, she soon parted ways with Lin Yan and headed home.
But as she thought back over everything that had happened between her and Lin Yan that day, warmth spread through her heart, and her cheeks inevitably grew hot.
"Qing Tan, you're back?"
"Why are you wearing a man's clothes?"
Back at home, Lin Xiao was helping Lin Dong train. When the two of them noticed how strange Qing Tan's clothes looked, they frowned.
"It's nothing! I went to the Back Mountain to look for herbs, but then the rain started pouring and soaked me through. My cold acted up, too. Luckily, Brother Lin Yan was there."
Qing Tan hurriedly explained to them.
"What happened?"
Lin Dong and Lin Xiao both knew that Qing Tan had a special constitution. Hearing that her cold had acted up made them even more worried, and their gazes filled with concern.
Qing Tan left out the part about sleeping and told them what had happened.
They were both shocked.
Lin Xiao in particular.
He had once tried to treat Qing Tan's cold himself, so he knew how difficult it was.
Yet, from what Qing Tan had just said, Lin Yan had managed to deal with the cold that even he couldn't control?
Was Lin Yan really that powerful?
Before you continue