A Gift

The gratitude for their help? Wu Mo, Fan Chunlin, and Li Baima glanced at Jiang Lanting, then glanced at Jiang Lanting again.

I never expected that Brother Ding would have helped "Young Master Mingxi".

This is the successor of one of the Nine Great Religions, and he himself ranks among the top fifty of the "Orchid Honor Roll." What could he possibly need Brother Ding's help with?

Ding Songyan chuckled to himself:

"Jiang Lanting, I don't like hearing that."

"We chivalrous heroes should help each other when we're out traveling. It's a matter of loyalty and righteousness. If you insist on calculating the debt of help, it means you look down on me, don't want to be my friend, and don't plan to help me when I'm in danger in the future."

Affection is priceless; how can something priceless be measured by vulgar gains?

Most friendships between young heroes are built up through mutual help and support.

Jiang Lanting paused for a moment, then smiled and said:

That's the logic.

"But you can choose not to mention it, but I cannot leave it unmentioned, otherwise it will make me, Jiang Lanting, appear heartless and ungrateful, and unworthy of being a son."

"Really don't want it? This is good stuff!"

Ding Songyan didn't ask what it was, he just smiled and shook his head:

"Don't want.

"I helped you because I acknowledge you as a person, ' Young Master Mingxi, ' not for any reward. If you truly feel indebted, then if we happen to meet again in the future and I am in dire straits, I hope you will help me out in the name of this favor."

"Alright, I'll consider you a friend." Jiang Lanting smiled broadly, making the entire courtyard seem a little brighter.

This left Fan Chunlin and the others speechless.

"Would you like to come to my room for a while?" Ding Songyan asked politely.

When someone comes to visit, how can you just send them away with a few words?

Jiang Lanting nodded slightly and followed Ding Songyan into the room.

This "Young Master Mingxi" was carefree and casual, looking around at the furnishings of the room, his gaze landing on the stack of papers on the desk.

"What is this?" Jiang Lanting asked curiously, her eyes sparkling.

"A story told in a traditional Chinese book." Ding Songyan did not hide anything.

"You also write storybooks?" Jiang Lanting looked Ding Songyan up and down, as if he were getting to know this person in a new light.

"Before I joined the Xiaoming Sect, I Storyteller for a while. My Senior Sister really liked the stories I wrote, so I would make up some whenever I had free time." Ding Songyan was telling the truth.

Jiang Lanting suddenly realized what was happening and pointed to the stack of papers, saying:

May I take a look?

"Suit yourself." Ding Songyan sat down next to the square table.

Jiang Lanting, carrying several thick stacks of papers, also came to one side of the square table. He didn't rush to read the story, but picked up a teacup, played with it, and asked with a smile:

Would you like to hear what good stuff I brought?

"I don't want to." Ding Songyan picked up the teapot and poured tea for Young Master Jiang.

"Are you afraid you'll regret it after hearing it?" Jiang Lanting chuckled. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be too afraid to even listen."

Ding Songyan poured himself a cup of tea and responded indifferently:

"Then tell me."

Jiang Lanting smiled and said in a teasing tone:

It's a "Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill."

His eyes shone brightly, filled with anticipation, as if he wanted to see Ding Songyan's regretful expression.

"What kind of pill is this?" Ding Songyan was completely baffled.

Jiang Lanting took a sip of light tea and said with a smile in her eyes:

"Our Yin-Yang Religion understands the Two Forms of Yin and Yang and is proficient in the Yin-Yang Art. We have accumulated knowledge in these areas for thousands of years. The ' Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill ' is a wonderful medicine that we have explored through our research in this field. It can make you energetic, full of Yang energy, and allow your genitals to regrow and become even stronger."

"The number of new pills produced each year is less than the Great Expansion, making them priceless to many. None of my male friends have ever refused this gift."

It can even promote secondary development? What a miracle drug... Ding Songyan almost speechless with astonishment.

This Yin-Yang Religion does have some real skills!

Seeing the slight change in his expression, Jiang Lanting's smile grew even more smug:

"The ' Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill ' is only effective the first time you take it, Ding Er. Can you answer again? Are you sure you don't want it?"

Ding Songyan's mind raced, and he shook his head seriously:

"Don't want.

I'm helping you out of loyalty, not for the elixir.

Jiang Lanting was stunned.

His eyes flickered as he looked Ding Songyan up and down again.

Before this "Young Master Mingxi" could utter the words "As expected of a disciple of the Xiaoming Sect," Ding Songyan suddenly smiled:

"Brother Jiang, are you selling these pills? Consider it a favor I owe you."

"..." Jiang Lanting was speechless for a moment, then burst into laughter, her body trembling with mirth. "You, haha, you're quite interesting, haha, I almost fell for your act, thinking you weren't interested."

Ding Songyan raised his gaze to the upper part of the beam, lest he be captivated by the other person's appearance.

If it were a peerless beauty from the martial arts world, it would be perfectly normal to be captivated by such a sight, but "Young Master Mingxi" is an exception.

After Jiang Lanting stopped laughing, Ding Songyan said in a normal tone:

These are two separate issues and should not be confused.

"Jiang Lanting, if you don't want to sell, that's fine. I won't use our friendship to blackmail you."

Jiang Lanting understood Ding Songyan's meaning, took out a white porcelain bottle from his inner pocket behind his elbow, and pushed it towards Ding Songyan:

"Not for sale, this is a gift from Brother Jiang."

"The water in Peach Blossom Pool is a thousand feet deep, but it cannot compare to the affection Brother Jiang bestowed upon me." Ding Songyan smiled as he accepted the poem and began to arbitrarily change it again.

He pulled out the stopper and saw a blood-red pill inside, with a strong, acrid fragrance.

"Are there any taboos associated with taking the ' Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill '? Will there be any adverse effects?" Ding Songyan asked cautiously.

This certainly cannot be eliminated by "Return All Things to One," as that would have no medicinal effect.

Jiang Lanting hummed in agreement.

"At your level of cultivation, you must abstain from sexual intercourse and ejaculation for seven days after consuming this elixir; otherwise, the medicine will be ineffective, amounting to nothing more than consuming a potent and dangerous drug."

"Fortunately, I'm chaste anyway..." Ding Songyan chuckled to himself.

He only wished that his dear sister would stop teasing him these days. Although she clearly had no romantic feelings for him and it was more like sibling playful banter, he feared that while she might be indifferent, he might be lustful. A young man full of vigor could control himself in person, but it was hard to say what would happen in a dream.

"What do you mean by 'with my level of attainment'?" Ding Songyan cautiously pressed.

"It takes seven days to the Perfected Dayan Realm and absorb the medicinal power to make it one's own, while it takes three days to enter the Initial Law Realm," Jiang Lanting explained simply.

Ding Songyan's expression remained unchanged as he asked in a probing tone:

"And what about the Perfected Law Realm?"

"It will only take two days." Jiang Lanting had no doubts.

That's good... Ding Songyan put away the "Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill" and asked curiously:

"What other miraculous medicines does your Yin-Yang Religion have that have extraordinary effects?"

Jiang Lanting's eyes flickered slightly as he recalled something and said:

"There are elixirs that help people reproduce, elixirs that invigorate yang, elixirs that nourish yin and beautify the complexion, elixirs that harmonize Yin and Yang..."

Harmonizing Yin and Yang... Ding Songyan Huo Ran suddenly recalled what Ji Hanyi had said before, "The union of Yin and Yang, the exchange of existence and non-existence."

This is most likely just something the demoness made up on the spot, but if it's just about balancing Yin and Yang energies, then perhaps there really is such a need.

Through Jiang Lanting's answer, Ding Songyan also understood why the Yin-Yang Religion Sect had a wide audience and a large number of believers.

A sect that claims to enhance male virility, improve complexion, and cure infertility—tell me, do you believe it or not?

The metaphysical principles of Yin and Yin and Yang are profound and mysterious, but how can they compare to the practical Yin-Yang Art?

After chatting for a while, Jiang Lanting lit Oil Lamp and began to look through the stacks of papers.

Ding Songyan drank his tea without disturbing him.

After a long while, Jiang Lanting raised her head, her eyes red-rimmed, her face streaked with tears, and said with a slight sob:

"The love story spanning three lifetimes between the Spirit-Communicating Precious Jade and the Jade Pool Crimson Grass is beautifully written..."

Miss Jiang, please don't do this. If someone sees this, they'll think I did something to you... Ding Songyan, watching as Jiang Lanting took out a handkerchief embroidered with plum blossoms and wiped away her tears. She truly looked pitiful.

"Hoo, I no longer suppress my feminine side. Sometimes I get too sentimental," Jiang Lanting said, calming herself down.

"A sensitive mind transcends gender," Ding Songyan replied aptly.

Jiang Lanting glanced at the sky outside the window:

"It's getting late, I have things to do, let's get together again another time."

Just as this "Young Master Mingxi" stood up, he suddenly smiled and said playfully:

"I won't bother you for the next seven days, so as not to interfere with your taking the ' Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill '."

"Brother Jiang is so kind and righteous!" Ding Songyan bowed respectfully in response.

After seeing Jiang Lanting off to the Side Courtyard, Ding Songyan turned around and saw Wu Mo and Fan Chunlin sitting around the stone table, neither of them speaking.

"What's wrong?" he asked, amused.

Wu Mo's expression wasn't too good, and after a while, he said somewhat blankly:

"I thought I only liked women..."

Ding Songyan burst out laughing:

"If Young Master Jiang were to dress as a woman and stand next to Miss Zhang, could you tell who is the man and who is the woman?"

"I can't recognize him." Wu Mo thought for a moment, then let out a long sigh.

Fan Chunlin also relaxed.

It seems the problem isn't with us; it's just that Young Master Jiang too much like a girl!

Back in his room, Ding Songyan took out a white porcelain bottle, poured the "Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill" into his palm, and swallowed it.

This kind of thing requires a burst of energy.

Two days later, after finishing her Night Market, Twelfth Madam Luo sat down beside the wine flag, holding a plate of winter dates. She ate them crisply while observing the people coming and going in the streets and alleys.

A cold wind blew by, and she frowned slightly as she saw a familiar figure approaching.

"It's only been two days since things calmed down," Twelfth Madam Luo muttered with considerable regret.

Ding Songyan stood in front of Twelfth Madam and said with a smile:

"I have some questions about Martial Arts that I'd like to ask."

He was always shameless when facing Twelfth Madam Luo, but he never made any lewd remarks.

These past two days, he has deliberately avoided beautiful women to avoid affecting the efficacy of the "Tiger-Leopard Hidden Dragon Pill".

It must be said that the Yin-Yang Religion is indeed top-notch in the Classic of Mountains and Seas World in this regard, and the results are quite impressive.

After two days of peace and quiet, Twelfth Madam Luo felt less resistant. Holding the plate of winter dates, she slowly rose and said:

Let's go to the Rear Courtyard.

Once they arrived in the Rear Courtyard and sat down, Ding Songyan earnestly inquired about the workings of the universe.

"The Void Aura is the wellspring of heaven and earth, constantly flowing and ever-changing," Twelfth Madam Luo said succinctly.

Her words were quite thought-provoking, causing Ding Songyan to fall into a long period of contemplation.

And so, the two continued their question-and-answer session, sometimes discussing, as the night deepened.

Huo Ran, Twelfth Madam Luo and Ding Songyan both turned their gazes toward the alley behind the Main Room.

There, a person suddenly collapsed, seemingly seriously injured.

P. S.: Requesting double Monthly Tickets at the beginning of the month!