"Xiao Yan" gazed calmly at Nalan Jie before him and said evenly:
"The Brand Poison in your body has long since seeped into your marrow. To remove it, I must send heavenly flames into your body and burn away the poison clinging to it.
This process will inevitably cause you excruciating pain. If you cannot bear it midway through, feel free to cry out. There is no shame in it."
Nalan Jie forced a smile onto his skeletal face and declared boldly, "Please, sir, do whatever you must. A little pain is nothing to this old man."
Seeing this, "Xiao Yan" said no more, though inwardly he was unconvinced.
You'll find out soon enough whether it hurts.
"Xiao Yan" raised his hand and struck Nalan Jie's back with his palm. In an instant, a surging torrent of soul power poured from his palm, carrying a wisp of Bone Spirit Cold Flame into the old man's body.
"This soul power!"
On her way there, Yun Yun's gaze suddenly sharpened, and she looked toward the side room at the end of the corridor.
Nalan Su asked curiously, "Sect Master Yun, is something wrong?"
Yun Yun shook her head and said evenly, "Patriarch Nalan, it seems the person removing your former patriarch's poison is no ordinary figure.
I have only ever witnessed such astonishing soul power in Gu He."
Nalan Su's expression changed in shock.
"What? Could the person who came to remove my father's poison be a sixth-grade master alchemist?
But I have never heard of my father being on friendly terms with any sixth-grade master alchemist.
Even Master Gu He only came to treat my father out of respect for you, Sect Master Yun."
Yun Yun thought for a moment, then said, "They may not necessarily have any personal connection. Perhaps he wants something.
Last time, I heard Gu He mention that Old Master Nalan Jie had a treasure called seven illusory azure spirit saliva in his collection. It helps strengthen soul power and is remarkably effective for alchemists."
Nalan Su nodded and let out a long sigh.
"If he can remove my father's Brand Poison, what harm is there in giving that treasure to the master alchemist?"
As the two spoke, a beautiful young woman suddenly hurried over from the distance.
She was tall and slender, dressed in a White Cloud-Patterned Outfit, with beads of sweat still dotting her forehead.
She was none other than Nalan Yanran.
Compared with a year ago, Nalan Yanran looked much more mature. The pampered air she once wore had vanished from her face, though the stubbornness in her nature still showed between her brows.
She had been practicing Dou Techniques at the family's training ground when she suddenly heard that two mysterious people had arrived at the Nalan Family, apparently intending to remove Old Master Nalan's poison.
Upon hearing the news, she immediately stopped training and hurried over.
"Yanran, you're here."
When Yun Yun and Nalan Su saw Nalan Yanran, the former gave an elegant, faint smile, while the latter wore a stern expression and merely nodded to her.
"Teacher, Father!" Nalan Yanran bowed slightly to them in respect, then asked with some concern, "Is there hope of curing Grandfather's Brand Poison this time?"
Yun Yun smiled and nodded. "There should be no problem."
At those words, delighted surprise immediately lit up Nalan Yanran's lovely face.
"Wonderful!"
Meanwhile, inside the side room.
As "Xiao Yan" sent a wisp of Bone Spirit Cold Flame into Nalan Jie's body, the old man, who had seemed so iron-willed, suddenly underwent a drastic change in expression. A low, muffled groan escaped him despite himself.
His body, little more than skin and bones, began to tremble violently, and his skeletal face looked as though he were struggling desperately to endure something.
It hurts. It hurts so much!
At that moment, Nalan Jie had only one thought.
I really spoke too rashly just now.
Who could have imagined that using heavenly flames to remove poison would hurt so damn much?
It's practically killing me!
But he had failed to consider that heavenly flames were among the most violent forces in the world.
To remove the Brand Poison, those flames had to enter his body and even cling to his bones.
How could it possibly not hurt?
Still, he had already made his grand declaration. If he screamed now, how humiliating would that be?
Thus, even though Nalan Jie's pain had reached an unbearable extreme, he kept his teeth clenched, refusing to cry out even if it killed him.
Even "Xiao Yan" had to admire such endurance.
As time passed, the pitch-black bones inside Nalan Jie's body gradually returned to their normal color. Meanwhile, after holding on for so long, Nalan Jie had reached the limit of his endurance.
"M-Master... is it not done yet?"
Nalan Jie's voice trembled slightly, and without realizing it, he had begun addressing "Xiao Yan" as "Master."
At the same time, he kept praying inwardly, Please hurry. This old man really cannot hold on much longer.
"Xiao Yan" glanced at him and saw cold sweat streaming down his forehead and veins bulging. He understood immediately.
"Don't worry. Almost done!"
"Xiao Yan" smiled faintly. Sensing the bone most severely corroded by Brand Poison inside Nalan Jie's body, he suddenly exerted more force and increased the flow of Bone Spirit Cold Flame.
"Raaagh-!"
Nalan Jie's pupils suddenly dilated, and a beastlike roar tore from his throat.
Compared with the original story, "Xiao Yan's" detoxification process was more violent and much swifter. His aim was to finish everything in one go.
Behind "Xiao Yan," the steward, as well as Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran, who had arrived later, all had their hearts lodged in their throats.
Just as everyone's nerves were stretched taut, "Xiao Yan" suddenly withdrew his hand.
Seeing this, they hurried forward and asked, "Master Yan Xiao, how is the former patriarch?"
"Xiao Yan" said evenly, "Rest assured, he is fine now! However, he was poisoned for too long and will still need a period of quiet recuperation."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Looking again at Nalan Jie on the bed, they saw that the deathly gray pallor had vanished from his aged face, and his once-clouded eyes now shone brightly.
Although he had failed to hold back his cry earlier, he had been at the final stage by then. It was understandable that he could no longer endure it.
Being healthy was what truly mattered.
Thus, Nalan Jie felt deeply grateful to Master Yan Xiao before him.
He solemnly cupped his hands and said in a low voice, "Master Yan Xiao, I owe this to your help. If there is ever anything the Nalan Family can do for you, you need only ask."
Xiao Yan said evenly, "Former Patriarch Nalan, there is no need to be so courteous. I am being paid for this."
Nalan Jie laughed heartily. "Hahaha! How could a single stalk of seven illusory azure spirit saliva compare to my life?"
As he spoke, Nalan Jie looked toward the steward nearby.
"Go and bring the seven illusory azure spirit saliva to Master Yan Xiao."
Seeing that Nalan Jie looked well, the steward immediately turned and bowed slightly to Xiao Yan.
"Please wait a moment, Master Yan Xiao. I will fetch the medicinal herb for you right away."
Xiao Yan nodded in acknowledgment.
Meanwhile, standing behind the others, Yun Yun drew her delicate brows together slightly.
Master Yan Xiao before her gave her a very strange feeling, especially after he finished removing the former patriarch's poison.
It feels... as though he has become a different person.
After thanking Xiao Yan, Nalan Jie also noticed Yun Yun behind the others. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Sect Master Yun, I did not expect you to be here as well."
Yun Yun gently raised her slender hand and said, "Former Patriarch Nalan, you have only just recovered from a serious illness. Simply rest and recuperate. There is no need to concern yourself with me.
I came today to apologize. Had it not been for me back then, Yanran would not have gone to the Xiao Clan to break off the engagement."
Nalan Jie said gravely, "Sect Master Yun, you cannot be blamed for this. We spoiled that little girl Yanran too much."
Hearing the Xiao Clan mentioned, Xiao Yi Xian could not help glancing at Xiao Yan beside her.
Xiao Yan, meanwhile, noticed how Nalan Jie had addressed her and looked curiously at the woman behind him, dressed in a plain gown and carrying herself with graceful nobility.
So she is Yun Yun!
Before you continue