Purging the poison

Meanwhile, in the Nalan Family's main hall!

A tall, imposing middle-aged man sat in the seat of honor.

He wore a brocade robe and exuded the bearing of a man accustomed to authority.

In the Nalan Family, those qualified to sit in that seat were few.

Aside from Lionheart Marshal Nalan Jie, only the family's current head, Nalan Su, had that right.

Yet as Nalan Su faced the woman in a plain dress seated to his lower left, his expression was full of respect.

For no other reason than that this woman was the current sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect, as well as his daughter Nalan Yanran's teacher!

The Dou Emperor, Yun Yun!

Naturally, Nalan Su treated her with great respect.

As for why Yun Yun had come to the Nalan Family today, it was rather embarrassing.

She had come in person to apologize!

After all, she had agreed to let Nalan Yanran visit the Xiao Clan to break off her engagement to Xiao Yan, only for word of his genius to spread all the way to the Imperial Capital.

Not only was he suspected of possessing the strength of a Da Dou Shi, there were even rumors that the teacher backing him was very likely a Fifth-Rank Alchemist.

Yet instead of cherishing a genius like him, Nalan Yanran had actually gone to break off their engagement!

And as if that were not enough, he had turned the tables and repudiated her instead.

As a result, many people among the Imperial Capital's major factions were secretly laughing at Nalan Yanran and the Nalan Family.

As one of the instigators behind all this, Yun Yun naturally had to come and apologize to the Nalan Family.

Yun Yun cupped her hands toward Nalan Su and said somewhat awkwardly, "Family Head Nalan, I failed to think things through when I agreed to let Yanran go to the Xiao Clan to break off the engagement."

She paused, then took a scroll and a jade bottle from her Storage Ring.

"I also know this matter has caused the Nalan Family immeasurable losses, so please accept these two items, Family Head Nalan."

With that, she asked a maid beside her to carry the scroll and jade bottle over to Nalan Su.

Nalan Su examined them. The scroll contained a High Xuan Tier cultivation method that matched his attribute.

The medicine in the jade bottle was a fourth-rank pill, Qi Gathering Powder.

Looking at the two gifts, and hearing Yun Yun's sincere apology, the last little knot of resentment in Nalan Su's heart unraveled completely.

He had indeed privately blamed Yun Yun for meddling.

But as Nalan Yanran's father, he knew her temperament all too well.

Even if Yun Yun had refused, she would probably have sought out another elder, or even gone to the Xiao Clan alone to break off the engagement.

So although Yun Yun bore some responsibility, Nalan Yanran was the main cause.

But Nalan Yanran had failed to break off the engagement, been repudiated instead, and even been defeated in a single move. She had truly lost every shred of face.

She had already suffered so badly that, as her father, Nalan Su could hardly say anything more.

Still, he could not help feeling some regret.

Xiao Yan-what a fine son-in-law he would have made!

And just like that, he was gone!

Alas!

It hurt!

Just then, a guard jogged into the hall.

Nalan Su's expression soured at the sight.

Hadn't I told them I was entertaining an honored guest?

Why did this guard have no sense of propriety at all?

Still, with an outsider present, Nalan Su did not vent his anger on the guard. He merely asked coolly.

"What is it?"

The guard bowed and replied, "Reporting to the family head, a mysterious man has arrived, saying he can cure the former family head's Brand Poison. The steward has already taken him to see the former family head."

"What!"

After hearing the guard's report, Nalan Su's expression changed, and he sprang to his feet.

"Is that mysterious man really confident he can purge the Brand Poison? Did he say how certain he was?"

The guard replied solemnly, "Reporting to the family head, the man said he was one hundred percent certain."

At those words, not only Nalan Su but even Yun Yun was shocked.

The Brand Poison afflicting Nalan Jie was extremely troublesome. Even Gu He had been helpless against it.

It was said that only someone possessing Heavenly Flames could purge this poison.

Naturally, the mysterious man's alchemy could not surpass Gu He's, leaving only one possibility.

This mysterious man possessed Heavenly Flames!

Although Nalan Su had also guessed that the mysterious man possessed Heavenly Flames, he gave it no further thought. His face showed only excitement and elation.

At the thought that his father's Brand Poison would soon be purged, Nalan Su turned to Yun Yun with an apologetic expression.

"Sect Master Yun, this concerns my father, so I need to go and see how things stand. Please forgive me for leaving you."

Yun Yun smiled calmly. "There's no need to worry, Family Head Nalan. Let's go together. I would also like to meet this extraordinary expert who can treat Brand Poison."

Nalan Su immediately smiled. "In that case, let's go together!"

"After you, Sect Master Nalan!"

Meanwhile!

Under the steward's guidance, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian had also arrived in a side room.

The moment he entered, his brows furrowed slightly as he caught a scent that seemed to reek of decay.

An emaciated old man lay on the bed, looking as though he already had one foot in the grave, as if even the slightest movement was difficult.

Xiao Yan approached and took a look. Nalan Jie's condition was clearly not yet as severe as it had been in the original story; he could still remain fully conscious.

Only...

As he looked at the grayish-black vapor seeping from Nalan Jie's body, Xiao Yan could not help marveling.

Nalan Jie truly lived up to his military background. The Brand Poison had already corroded his body to this state, yet he could still hold on through sheer will for nearly another two years?

After all, in the original story, he had held on for two more years before receiving treatment.

When the door opened, Nalan Jie's half-closed eyes widened slightly. As he looked toward the visitors, he forced himself to sit up in bed, seemingly unwilling to let anyone see his weakness.

Even Xiao Yan had to admit that the old man before him refused to concede defeat and cared deeply about saving face.

Had he not been afflicted with Brand Poison, he would probably have beaten Nalan Yanran to death rather than allowed her to visit the Xiao Clan to break off the engagement.

Uh...

Of course, that wasn't certain either!

The steward's expression changed drastically at the sight. He hurried forward and said, "Marshal, why have you gotten up?

"Lie down quickly. With Mr. Yan Xiao here, he will surely be able to purge the Brand Poison from your body."

The steward had once been an officer under Nalan Jie. Only after retiring from the military due to an injury had he come to serve as the Nalan Family's steward.

"It's fine. Let this gentleman treat me right away!"

Although Nalan Jie looked weak, his voice still sounded full and strong.

The steward could only turn toward Xiao Yan behind him.

Xiao Yan smiled calmly and said confidently, "No matter. Leave the rest to me!"

As he spoke, he called out to Yao Lao in his mind.

"Teacher, it's time for you to act!"

"Haha, leave it to your teacher. It's merely Brand Poison. I can purge it with a flick of my hand."

Once Yao Lao finished speaking, he instantly took control of Xiao Yan's body.

Heaven Tier Dou Technique: Possession!

In an instant, "Xiao Yan's" entire aura changed.

The steward and Nalan Jie both stiffened slightly at the sight.

At that moment, Mr. Yan Xiao suddenly seemed like a different person, his bearing completely unlike what it had been before.

As Xiao Yi Xian looked at "Xiao Yan," her eyes were likewise full of wonder.

Although Yao Lao had never met Xiao Yi Xian, she knew of his existence. The Amethyst Winged Lion King had mentioned him once as well.

Thus, when she saw Xiao Yan's aura change abruptly, Xiao Yi Xian guessed that the mysterious elder within him must now be controlling his body.

Walking up to the bed, "Xiao Yan" suddenly raised two fingers together.

A wisp of white flame immediately leaped from his fingertips, looking full of life.

Yet the instant it appeared, the temperature throughout the room soared.

Seeing the wisp of white flame and sensing the violent energy contained within it, Nalan Jie and the steward felt shock and delight flash through their eyes.

This wisp of white flame was unquestionably a Heavenly Flame!