For a moment, bamboo leaves danced chaotically in the air as the dense forest shook with the aftermath of shattered bamboo. Fragments splintered through the air like razor-edged needles.
"Peak of the Wind – Wind Propulsion!"
Dressed in a moon-hued robe, Nalan Yanran formed a strange hand seal with her slender fingers. With a crisp cry, a fierce, azure tornado surged to life in front of her, then howled outward like a living beast.
All the scattered bamboo leaves were instantly sucked into the vortex.
In the blink of an eye, the azure tornado dissipated. The captured bamboo leaves shot out in every direction like sharp arrows.
Dozens of thick bamboo stalks were sliced clean in half.
Now unobstructed, the bamboo leaf projectiles continued their deadly flight—heading straight for Chen Mo, who had just stepped into the bamboo grove.
"Watch out!" Nalan Yanran's pupils shrank as her expression changed dramatically. She hadn't expected anyone to appear now—especially not Chen Mo.
She only knew Chen Mo as an alchemist and had no idea of his true strength. Out of instinct, she cried out.
But Chen Mo's gaze remained calm. With a mere thought, the oncoming leaf-arrows exploded into harmless dust midair.
"Soul power?" Nalan Yanran gasped. She quickly withdrew her sword and walked over to Chen Mo, cupping her fists apologetically. "Forgive me. I didn't expect anyone to be nearby."
"No harm done. I heard swordplay and thought I'd come have a look." Chen Mo smiled casually—just as Yun Yun approached.
"Was that the Wind Propulsion technique from the Cloud Mist Sect? It's truly profound." Chen Mo praised sincerely.
Ding! Affection +1. Gained 2 Affection Coins.
Yun Yun, dressed in simple but elegant robes that couldn't conceal her noble grace, offered a faint smile upon hearing Chen Mo's words.
Yet with Nalan Yanran nearby, she could only feign unfamiliarity. Her voice soft, she said, "You flatter me, Master Chen Mo."
"You practice swordsmanship too, Master Chen?" Nalan Yanran asked with curiosity.
"I know a little," Chen Mo replied calmly.
"You're being modest," Yun Yun thought silently. She had witnessed Chen Mo's swordsmanship—it was far superior even to her own.
"To think Master Chen is both a skilled alchemist and swordsman…"
After a moment's contemplation, Nalan Yanran saluted respectfully, one hand gripping her sword downward, the other forming a palm over her fist. "I have an impolite request. I hope to spar with you in swordsmanship."
"Yanran, no! That's inappropriate," Yun Yun cut in immediately. She thought, This isn't a spar—it's asking for humiliation.
Chen Mo blinked. "That might not be a good idea…"
"Master, I'll use a wooden sword!" Nalan Yanran insisted, misinterpreting Yun Yun's objection.
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"
Yun Yun frowned slightly and was about to speak when—
"All right then," Chen Mo nodded.
Since she was practically challenging him with a wooden sword, it would seem cowardly not to respond. Besides, this was a golden opportunity to show off.
"Let's keep it friendly," Yun Yun said, though her gaze was clearly directed at Chen Mo.
"Yes, Master. I understand," Nalan Yanran replied, thinking her teacher was warning her. "Master Chen Mo, just a friendly spar. Nothing else."
In her view, the more talented an alchemist, the less time they had for personal cultivation early on—thus their battle prowess tended to lag. They would eventually catch up with the help of medicinal pills, but by then, they'd have missed the prime years for cultivation.
Elder Gu He was a prime example. Though a Dou Wang, he was rarely a match for others at the same level.
Of course, there were exceptions—rare geniuses who excelled both in alchemy and in combat. But they were extremely few.
Chen Mo nodded.
Seeing this, Nalan Yanran smiled slightly and reached into her storage ring to retrieve a sword for Chen Mo—but her smile froze.
Chen Mo simply broke off a bamboo branch nearby, tested its balance briefly, then placed one hand behind his back and pointed the bamboo stick at her.
"Let's begin."
"You—!"
Nalan Yanran puffed up with indignation. She was a naturally proud person, and being challenged one-handed with a bamboo twig felt deeply humiliating.
"You're not allowed to use your Heavenly Flame!" she added quickly, knowing she'd stand no chance otherwise.
Chen Mo nodded.
"Very well—please be careful then, Master Chen!" she said with gritted teeth. I'll teach this arrogant guy a lesson!
She discarded the wooden sword idea and drew her real weapon, slashing toward him.
"Careful!" Yun Yun couldn't help warning.
"Don't worry, Master. I'll control my strength."
Yun Yun: "…"
The bamboo grove erupted with wind and flickering sword shadows, blade energy hidden in the air, hard to detect.
As her sword thrust forward, it burst with dazzling light, its speed suddenly increasing—almost too fast to see.
Chen Mo, however, remained calm. Though powerful, her technique was riddled with flaws—and, in his eyes, painfully slow.
He decided to teach her a gentle lesson.
Just as her blade neared him, he struck. The bamboo stick in his hand lashed out like a venomous serpent, piercing through her defense.
Smack!
Smack!
Two crisp snaps echoed.
Chen Mo retreated gracefully. Nalan Yanran cried out as pain shot through her wrist and rear—her sword clattered to the ground.
"Ow…" She ignored the fallen blade, clutching her aching backside. Tears welled in her eyes.
He had struck her butt.
Worse yet, she hadn't even seen the strike. In less than a second, she had been hit twice—on the wrist and the rear.
Most shocking of all: he hadn't used a shred of Dou Qi.
That meant—pure sword skill and speed.
By both counts, she had been completely outmatched.
Yun Yun narrowed her eyes, then closed them, replaying the precision and elegance of Chen Mo's movement.
"What exquisite swordsmanship…" she murmured.
"My thanks for the bout." Chen Mo tossed the bamboo stick aside and offered a polite salute.
"You… you did that on purpose!" Nalan Yanran accused, still rubbing her sore spot.
"I did not," Chen Mo replied flatly.
She didn't believe him—but had no proof. Just as she was about to argue further—
Yun Yun spoke up after a brief hesitation, "Master Chen Mo, your swordsmanship is truly exquisite. Might you be willing to spar with me one-on-one sometime?"
Yun Yun had long hit a bottleneck in swordplay. She needed a breakthrough.
If her technique had been better, her strike in the Magic Beast Mountain Range wouldn't have hit the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's horn.
"It would be my honor to spar with Sect Master Yun," Chen Mo replied, noting the word one-on-one with interest.
He'd been looking for an opportunity to spend time alone with her.
Nalan Yanran, stunned, couldn't believe her teacher—a Dou Huang and master swordswoman—wanted to spar with Chen Mo.
Still, a thought crossed her mind: "Teacher… could I watch from the side during the spar?"
Yun Yun frowned, but as her direct disciple, she couldn't refuse. Watching might indeed help her improve.
Just as she was about to respond—
Chen Mo interjected, changing the topic, "Miss Yanran, your grandfather's Fire Poison still hasn't been fully dispelled. Might I see him now?"
At the mention of her grandfather, Nalan Yanran refocused immediately. All thoughts of Chen Mo spanking her were forgotten. Instead, she felt a new wave of gratitude toward him.
Later, in a spacious room—
As the black Undying Demon Flame receded, Chen Mo withdrew his hand into his sleeve. Looking at the pale-faced Nalan Jie, he said calmly:
"Old Master, the Fire Poison in your body has been completely removed. You just need rest and recovery now."
He wiped sweat from his brow with a handkerchief from his storage ring.
Only then did he notice multiple gazes on him.
"What is it?" he asked, unaware that the handkerchief was the one Nalan Yanran had given him yesterday.
Nalan Yanran blushed.
Yun Yun felt… oddly uncomfortable.
Nalan Jie broke the tension with a hearty laugh. "Thank you, Brother Chen Mo. If there's anything you need, just say the word. The Nalan Clan will never refuse so long as I remain its head."
Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran nodded in agreement.
"There is something, actually…" Chen Mo handed over a list of rare herbs—originally meant for Ya Fei.
Nalan Jie glanced at it and handed it to Nalan Su. "Go to the stores and fetch everything on this list for Master Chen Mo."
Nalan Su didn't hesitate, his attitude generous and direct.
"Come, Brother Chen Mo. Let's sit in the hall while the herbs are gathered," Nalan Jie offered.
Chen Mo nodded and took a seat beside Yun Yun.
This time, Nalan Yanran also sat next to him, uninvited.
The conversation soon turned casual. Nalan Jie tried to learn more about Chen Mo—but he responded either vaguely or evasively.
Still, Nalan Jie, a seasoned old fox, caught the hidden meanings behind Chen Mo's words and didn't press further.
Soon after, Chen Mo left with the herbs.
Nalan Jie personally saw him off. "You're welcome here anytime, Brother Chen Mo."
"I'll definitely come again," Chen Mo said.
In fact, Chen Mo began visiting the Nalan Clan nearly every day—not to see Nalan Jie, but to spar with Yun Yun.
News that Chen Mo had cured Nalan Jie's Fire Poison spread like wildfire through the imperial capital.
That even Pill King Gu He couldn't cure it—but Chen Mo, a Tier 3 Alchemist, could—shocked everyone.
There had been plans to throw a celebration for Nalan Jie's recovery, but due to a recent military defeat and forced territorial concessions, it would have been inappropriate.
So nothing came of it.
Chen Mo continued his daily visits to the Nalan Clan.
Using his "sparring" with Yun Yun as an excuse, he found more chances to be alone with her.
But Nalan Yanran, lacking tact, followed Yun Yun everywhere like a shadow.
Even worse, she began showing interest—asking Chen Mo questions about swordsmanship and his personal life.
But because she was a third wheel, Chen Mo only responded coldly or vaguely, leaving her frustrated.
Finally, one day—
With Nalan Yanran called away, Chen Mo finally had time alone with Yun Yun.
Earlier, he had gained 2 affection points from her, earning him only Affection Coins.
Yun Yun, dressed in a flowing green dress, was practicing her swordplay in the courtyard.
Chen Mo spotted a flaw and his eyes lit up.
He walked over and said, "Yun Yun-jie, that move's still not fast enough. You need to increase your speed. Here—let me demonstrate again. Watch the details."
"Thank you," Yun Yun said gratefully.
Chen Mo demonstrated once more.
Yun Yun watched intently, occasionally frowning and nodding as she tried to understand—but when she tried the move herself, something still felt off.
"Faster!"
"Yun Yun-jie, you're still not fast enough. You have to be more like me. Watch—see how quick I am?"
Eventually, Chen Mo stepped behind her and—hand over hand—guided her sword movements himself.
Ding! Affection +2. Gained 4 Affection Coins. Intimacy Bonus Triggered: Gained Beast Flame of the Tier 8 Magical Beast—Frostflame Demon Jiao.
As Chen Mo embraced Yun Yun from behind, her body stiffened—trembling slightly. Her face turned crimson.
Imperial Palace – Royal Library
"Black and blue Heavenly Flame…" Princess Yao Ye gazed out the window, gently touching her fair chin. She turned and said, "I remember—only one Heavenly Flame can be refined per person. The one in the Snake-people's capital was blue. So that's not Chen Mo."
"You're absolutely right, Your Highness," the soldier confirmed.
"Inform the Inner Treasury to prepare a generous gift. I'll meet Chen Mo myself."
"As you command." The soldier saluted and departed.
****
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