The news of two Grandmaster-level beings clashing became a hot topic across the entire country immediately—not just in Village Beneath the Clouds. The whole situation was captured by Director Wang's skilled team and broadcast almost in real time.
This made Bai Fanxian's reputation and identity a topic of discussion once again. But this time was different—beyond her name, images of her appeared as well!
The picture of a beautiful and sublime young woman floating mid-air with the soft golden moonlight as backdrop became the most beloved image. Many people even saved it as their phone or computer wallpaper.
Beyond that beauty and elegance, the topic people discussed was her strength.
What kind of being was Xie Suyao?
She was a Grandmaster of the Xie Clan, one of the four great clans with tremendous influence in the northern region. Her power was genuine. Yet Bai Fanxian could defeat her without sustaining any injuries—didn't that mean her power exceeded Xie Suyao's?
This was what people were debating. Besides this, no one knew the reason why these two ended up fighting, and in Village Beneath the Clouds of all places.
Village Beneath the Clouds had strict rules in place because it was a location where only people from the cultivation world traveled. Fighting within the village was absolutely forbidden.
Normally, if there was a fight in the middle of town like this, the village authorities would have to intervene and punish those who disturbed the peace. They might even ban them from entering this village and the Alchemists' Association for life.
But this time, the troublemakers were Grandmaster-level beings!
Two Grandmasters at that!
If two Grandmaster-level beings went on a rampage without caring for consequences, even if the military mobilized, they'd probably need all four generals to handle it.
So they could only pretend not to know and let the matter pass.
Moreover, despite how fierce the battle was, not a single building or property in the village was damaged—remarkably so. Aside from a few small holes and craters along the roads, not one person was injured.
The events of that night concluded with mutual consideration from all sides.
But who would know? After causing such commotion that left outsiders reeling, the two instigators were now relaxing in a hot spring bath in the private pool in their room!
Two beautiful young women with bare bodies looked like masterpiece artwork. Bai Fanxian sat leaning against a rock while letting her body feel the warmth of the hot spring water. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes in relaxation. Beside her were fine tea and sake that Uncle Huang had prepared before entering.
Not too near, not too far away was Xie Suyao, both sides of her face flushed red. She used a small towel trying to cover her body, but it was meaningless. Her eyes were extremely furtive as she tried to sneak glances at Bai Fanxian's figure.
"...Are you unwell?"
Though Bai Fanxian's eyes were closed, she was perfectly aware of her surroundings. Xie Suyao's restless behavior was naturally within her perception.
The image of the sublime young woman opening one eye while asking that question could easily make Xie Suyao's heart pound.
"I'm... I'm fine, Elder Sister!"
After Bai Fanxian didn't refuse, Xie Suyao boldly called her that on her own.
"I've... I've just never bathed in a hot spring with anyone else before." When Xie Suyao finished speaking, half her face sank beneath the water in embarrassment.
But this couldn't be blamed on her. Her cultivation method and physical problems over these past ten years meant she'd never had the chance to do something like this.
Moreover, her bathing required extreme concentration to control things, because if she let poison from her own body leak out, the water she bathed in would definitely become a poison pool immediately.
This made bathing together with someone else like this feel like a dream to her.
And her first bath was with her "Elder Sister" too!
She was so happy she didn't know what expression to make anymore.
"Your body has developed another stage... Now if you don't want to, the poison in your body won't spread on its own anymore."
Bai Fanxian explained in a languid voice, but it made Xie Suyao extremely happy.
"Does that mean I can touch other people's bodies without worrying anymore!?"
She asked with hopeful eyes.
"Mm..."
Upon receiving confirmation, Xie Suyao sighed with relief. Perhaps this was another reason why people feared her.
Having to control the poison in her body at all times made her rarely interact with anyone normally. She wouldn't let anyone come close. Sometimes she even frowned and scowled. Her reputation was thus never very good.
All of this—she had to thank the young woman before her.
She came to help her despite just meeting. She even solved the problem that had haunted her for decades in one go. Moreover, she made her feel... strange.
Xie Suyao stared at Bai Fanxian in a daze until Bai Fanxian, no matter how much she didn't want to pay attention, still had to turn and look.
"...Are you going to keep staring at me?"
The young woman seemed to just realize it. She quickly shook her head until water splashed, then said:
"S-sorry! It's just... what do you think about older women, Elder Sister?"
Xie Suyao held her breath while asking this question.
But it made Bai Fanxian turn back to look in surprise.
She swept her gaze over Xie Suyao's body, then made an "oh" sound as if understanding something.
Just like common young women in that era—for cultivators, they often forgot about time until they realized their age was no longer young, even if their outer appearance still looked like someone not very old.
She must be worried about this as well, right?
She sighed and suddenly stood up, causing Xie Suyao to quickly cover her face with her hands in shock. Bai Fanxian's beautiful figure walked until stopping right in front of the young woman, close enough for her to see the water droplets beading and flowing down her body.
Xie Suyao's sanity was about to explode. Her face was flushed. Her eyes peeking through her fingers were stunned by the sight before her.
"For beings like you and me, age has never been a problem..."
When she finished speaking, she used those slender hands to pat Xie Suyao's head like comforting a small child. Xie Suyao's thoughts scattered immediately from the unexpected touch. She forgot she was using her hands to cover her eyes.
Bai Fanxian still thought to herself—in the past, there were many young women in the palace older than her who came to consult with her about this problem as well.
As palace mistress, she could only console them awkwardly.
This time was the same.
She wasn't skilled at anything like this at all, so she could only raise her hand to pat her head like she occasionally did with Hui'er.
When she finished speaking, she stepped out of the water. Fine towels were prepared ready at the door. Before leaving the room, she turned back to say one more thing:
"Besides, you may not know—if we count birth years, my age is much greater than yours..."
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.
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Tang Tianjie didn't know what was happening.
After Grandmaster Bai asked him for a few coins earlier in the evening, he took both children out to walk around the festival. Since Huang Zihan went out to handle business, he was also happy to spend time with his grandchildren.
Whatever they wanted to eat, he bought without hesitation.
Though Hui'er was very reserved at first, after he urged her for a while, the little one accepted the snacks to share happily with Tang Yeye.
They strolled along until nearly reaching the end of the village.
Though Tang Tianjie was having fun, that meant he missed Bai Fanxian and Xie Suyao's earth-shaking battle.
Though he hurried back after hearing the news, because he had to look after both children, he didn't make it in time. The two's fight kept escalating and moving locations, so Tang Tianjie couldn't catch the conclusion.
When he heard that Grandmaster Bai could win overwhelmingly, Tang Tianjie's heart swelled with joy. If even Grandmaster Xie couldn't fight her, didn't that mean the Tang Clan had gained an incredibly strong backing?
But despite being happy, Tang Tianjie still lived up to being the Tang Clan head. This news would definitely reach the northern Xie Clan. To prevent unexpected events, on the way back he called to order his people to come prepare outside the valley early.
Because if the Xie Clan got angry and couldn't accept it, with the power of a great northern clan, there would certainly be many cultivators willing to mobilize for them.
Tang Tianjie's face showed stress. When he returned to the hotel, he found Huang Zihan had already prepared tea and fine food in their room.
"Huang Zihan, is there an extra meal set?"
Tang Tianjie asked in surprise, in contrast to the children who came to look at the delicious-looking freshly cooked food with interest.
"This is just right for everyone, Clan Head." Huang Zihan laughed with a meaningful smile.
"Wait just a moment. Grandmaster Bai is bathing in the hot spring in another room. She should return soon." Besides telling his master, he also informed both children with this sentence.
"I want to go bathe too!"
Tang Yeye raised both hands. Her eyes sparkled as she rushed to open the door to another room. Since they just came back from going out, her whole body was sticky, so she wanted to bathe as well.
But due to carelessness, when she slid open the hotel door, Tang Yeye collided with a young woman in a hotel robe and nearly fell down.
But that young woman reacted quickly. With just a slight movement, she grabbed the little one's waist before she could fall on her bottom.
"Are you alright?"
The young woman set Tang Yeye on the floor and bent down to ask with concern. Her manner was awkward, as if unaccustomed to touching other people's bodies. Tang Yeye looked at that young woman in confusion—she just came out the door from my lady's room, didn't she?
Who was this woman?
Not just the little one—Tang Tianjie who turned to look was so stunned he staggered to his feet. He never imagined this woman would be here!
The Red Widow Queen—Grandmaster Xie Suyao!
"Hui'er! Come back to Grandpa!" The Tang Clan head called his granddaughter urgently. What he worried about happened so suddenly he couldn't prepare!
Was the Xie Clan coming for revenge this quickly!?
"...What are you all making a fuss about?"
But before Tang Tianjie could rush in to pull his granddaughter out, a familiar flat and sublime voice sounded from outside the door. Xie Suyao quickly made way while staring at the young woman entering the room with a shy, tilted face.
It was Bai Fanxian!
Tang Tianjie looked between both of them left and right in shock! Why did they look so close when they just fought until the village nearly collapsed? The old man turned to his trusted butler with a confused gaze.
What he received in return was Huang Zihan's smile and soft laughter without a hint of worry!
This left the old man completely confused!