Yi Chen smiled at her. "Yes, talent. Before you even reached adulthood, an enormous amount of Soul Power had already accumulated inside your body. That power has even begun to crush your bones, sinews, and internal organs, which is why your body is so terribly weak."
A Nan looked anxiously at A Yun. Both of them wore worried expressions.
Still smiling, Yi Chen continued explaining to A Yun, "But this kind of talent is extremely rare, and yours is especially perfect. You may have the physique best suited for cultivation in a thousand years, or even ten thousand. What you need now is an even greater abundance of powerful energy. That is why your body is in such a terrible state."
A Yun stared blankly at Yi Chen. He continued with a smile, "I know of a pill that can quickly replenish your body once you take it. Then your cultivation talent can slowly recover. Once your body has fully healed, you'll be formidable."
A Nan hurriedly said, "Grandmaster, how can we help you? As long as you're willing to save my sister, we'll pay any price."
Yi Chen waved a hand, smiling. "I have no shortage of money or gold coins, so I don't want payment. I only want you to promise not to spread word of what happened tonight. Otherwise, it will bring disaster upon you."
A Nan drew a deep breath and answered firmly, "Rest assured. No one else will ever know about this."
Yi Chen nodded approvingly and bestowed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's soul ring upon A Yun.
A Yun's body trembled violently, and a strange symbol appeared on her forehead. Then a faint silver glow enveloped her entire body. Her skin grew ever fairer and more translucent, as though she were a work of art carved from snow-white jade, beautiful beyond compare.
Yi Chen happily patted her shoulder. "All right, all right, little girl. There's nothing wrong with your body for now, but you'll need to rest quietly for a while. Once your cultivation recovers, you'll be able to move about just like an ordinary person."
A Yun joyfully hugged Yi Chen and cried out in a sweet voice, "Uncle, you're so kind!"
Yi Chen coughed awkwardly a few times and ordered in a low voice, "A Yun, let go of me. Remember, your cultivation is still nowhere near sufficient. You haven't even learned how to cultivate yet. You need to train diligently."
A Yun blinked and said, "Big brother, are you leaving our home?" Suddenly, tears rolled down her cheeks, and she clutched Yi Chen's sleeve and began to sob.
Yi Chen stared at the weeping A Yun in surprise, unable to keep his heart from softening a little. He reassured her, "Of course not. We aren't leaving. We're only going out to take care of a few things. You don't need to worry."
A Yun wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and shook her head. "No, Uncle. I'm scared. I want to go with you."
She gripped Yi Chen's sleeve and shook it hard. "I'm scared. I'm scared..."
She pressed her head against Yi Chen's arm and rubbed against it desperately a few times, whimpering, "I don't want to leave you."
Heart aching, A Nan embraced A Yun and held her without a word.
Yi Chen frowned and thought for a long while before saying, "All right. If you don't mind, I'll take you both in and teach you cultivation methods. But you'll have to come with me."
A Nan abruptly raised his head and stared at Yi Chen in astonishment, then nodded in wild delight. "Of course! We're willing to go with you, Uncle... Uncle, thank you so much. Please accept my bow..."
Yi Chen hurriedly caught A Nan and shook his head. "There's no need for such formalities."
After a pause, he said, "My name is Yi Chen, not Uncle."
A Nan and A Yun exchanged a glance, then hurriedly bowed. "Mr. Yi Chen, we understand. We'll go pack our things right away and set out tonight. Please wait a moment."
A Yun also stood up and bowed obediently to Yi Chen. "I'll work hard at cultivation... I don't want to become like I was before ever again. So when can we leave?"
Yi Chen considered for a while, then said, "Tomorrow afternoon. Pack your luggage and everything else. I'll come get you then."
A Nan hesitated before saying, "Mr. Yi Chen, since my sister's condition has been taken care of, why don't I escort you out? After all, there are quite a few people in our village who harbor sinister intentions."
Yi Chen shook his head. "No need. I can handle it myself. Just get your things ready and don't worry."
Yi Chen turned and left the dilapidated house, flying toward the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
By then, the sky had gradually darkened. Everything around him was pitch-black, and only beneath the streetlights could he faintly make out a winding alley.
In high spirits, Yi Chen stepped lightly onto a rock. A wisp of blue smoke rose beneath his feet, and his body shot forward.
Over the boundless sea, an enormous silver moon slowly rose, shedding a hazy, cool radiance.
At that moment, the members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had gathered to discuss Yu Yuanzhen's disappearance.
Yi Chen stood soundlessly outside the courtyard and peered through a window at the scene within.
A group of well-dressed men and women sat around a long table, discussing something. One old man held a cane and pounded it against the floor, roaring, "Everyone, what should we do now?"
A cold voice rang out. "Naturally, we should find the culprit. Otherwise, if our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan loses face, won't we become everyone's laughingstock?"
A gruff voice spoke up. "Then who will investigate this? Yu Yuanzhen has disappeared. We wouldn't dare send people out carelessly."
Another voice cried shrilly, "We can deploy our clan's guards."
The old man sighed. "The guards? Do you think our clan's guards can handle powerful experts? If anything happens to them, we can't bear that responsibility."
The person with the shrill voice faltered, then muttered, "Then what should we do?"
An aged voice said slowly, "I think we should simply go ourselves. After all, Yu Yuanzhen's disappearance is a disgrace to our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
A burly man who had remained silent until then said in a deep, muffled voice, "Then how many people should we send out to search for Yu Yuanzhen?"
The shrill voice clamored, "Whatever happens, we must bring Yu Yuanzhen back this time. Hmph, he was the clan head's personally chosen candidate. Now that he's disappeared, don't we owe an explanation?"
The burly man said in his deep, muffled voice, "I think we can contact some people in the nearby cities. Perhaps they can provide some clues."