Upon hearing this, both Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran showed visible excitement.
"Only half the poison can be removed today, and the rest will require another session tomorrow."
Didn’t that mean... the Imprinted Poison could be completely cured?
Nalan Yanran covered her rosy lips with a delicate hand, eyes shimmering with tears of joy.
She had witnessed firsthand how her grandfather suffered under the torment of this poison. Each time, it tugged painfully at her heart. Now, hearing that it could be cured, her heart overflowed with gratitude toward Chen Mo.
Yun Yun, too, looked at Chen Mo with surprise in her eyes.
Old Master Nalan Jie was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NoveI-Fire.ɴet
"Hahaha! Then I must thank you, young man! I’ve suffered under this poison for far too long. If you can really cure it, you will be a great benefactor to me, Nalan Jie!"
He had stopped calling him "youngster" and now addressed him as "little brother."
"Aaagh!" Before he could enjoy the moment, a pained groan escaped Nalan Jie’s lips, his mouth twitching uncontrollably. Chen Mo spoke calmly:
"The most painful stage is about to begin. Bear with it."
Nalan Yanran quickly folded a handkerchief and gently offered it for her grandfather to bite down on.
"No need for that—bring me wine," Nalan Jie growled, grimacing through the pain as he turned to Nalan Su.
Not daring to disobey, Nalan Su hurriedly retrieved a jug of strong liquor from his storage ring and handed it over.
Nalan Jie uncorked the bottle and began gulping it down in large mouthfuls, gritting his teeth as he endured the fiery sensation of his bones being scorched from within.
Seeing his agony, no one else in the room spoke again. The atmosphere gradually fell into a quiet, tense stillness.
After some time, perhaps feeling the silence was too heavy—or maybe unable to contain his awe—Nalan Su spoke up:
"Who would’ve thought someone so young would possess a Heavenly Flame that even Master Gu He doesn’t have? A nineteen-year-old Tier-3 Alchemist... even Master Gu He couldn’t compare!"
"Mmm, it really is amazing," Nalan Yanran added. "I heard that the last time Elder Gu He went to the Tagor Desert in search of a Heavenly Flame, he returned empty-handed... even losing several powerful allies in the process."
She lowered her voice, realizing the topic was a bit sensitive.
"Elder Gu He also mentioned a young human alchemist among the Snake-People Tribe who possessed a green Heavenly Flame... I wonder how Chen Mo compares to him?"
"No need to wonder," Nalan Su said, clearly flattering. "Master Chen Mo is obviously stronger! A nineteen-year-old Tier-3 Alchemist? There can’t be more than a handful like him across the entire continent."
Yun Yun coughed twice, as if to break the atmosphere.
Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran quickly realized the timing was a little inappropriate and fell silent once more.
The stillness of the room was broken only when Chen Mo finally withdrew his black-blue flame.
Nalan Jie was soaked in sweat from head to toe. His aged face was contorted in pain, and he hissed through clenched teeth.
"L-Little brother... is it done?"
His fists were clenched tightly, blue veins bulging across his arms like small snakes. His voice was hoarse and trembling.
Meanwhile, Chen Mo looked hardly fatigued. With his now vast Dou Qi reservoir, such a detoxification procedure barely consumed any of his strength—unless he used one of his high-level techniques, it was no burden at all.
He stood up from the bedside, adjusted his robes, and let out a long breath.
"Your body’s too frail right now. Otherwise, I could’ve cleared the poison in one session. As it stands, I’ll need to return tomorrow to finish the treatment."
Hearing someone call his body frail made Nalan Jie smile bitterly. But as he looked down at his own bony frame, he had to admit—wasn’t it the truth?
Sitting upright on the bed, he cupped his hands in gratitude.
"Thank you, little brother, for saving my life. So young, yet so capable... truly astonishing."
After a long string of praise, he finally asked:
"May I ask your name, young man?"
"Chen Mo," he replied.
Just as Chen Mo reached up to wipe the sweat from his brow, a slender, fair hand extended toward him. In it was a delicate white handkerchief, embroidered with an unknown floral design.
It belonged to Nalan Yanran.
"Thanks," Chen Mo said, accepting it and wiping his forehead. When he tried to return it, Nalan Yanran pulled her arm back and gave him a sweet smile.
Yun Yun frowned slightly.
Chen Mo was briefly stunned, and as the air grew a bit awkward, Nalan Su chuckled and spoke:
"Master Chen Mo, it’s getting late. Why not stay the night here at the Nalan Estate?"
Nalan Jie also chimed in enthusiastically.
"I’ll have the chefs prepare a grand feast. Little brother, how about a few drinks with this old man later?"
Chen Mo glanced at the sky outside—it was indeed getting dark—but he declined politely:
"No need. I’ve still got something to take care of."
After all, no matter how comfortable the Nalan Estate was... it couldn’t compare to holding Ya Fei, that gorgeous woman, in his arms for the night.
He tucked the handkerchief into his storage ring and turned to leave.
"Ah... well then, Yanran, go see the young man off," Nalan Jie said with a start as Chen Mo casually made for the door.
"Mm," Nalan Yanran nodded with a gentle smile and was about to follow—
But Chen Mo’s peripheral vision caught the frown on Yun Yun’s face. He waved her off:
With that, he left without another word.
"Hmph!" she stomped her foot in frustration.
Beside her, Yun Yun gently pressed her fingers to her forehead, looking exhausted.
"Yanran, I’m feeling a bit tired. I’ll go rest now."
Leaving the Nalan Estate, Chen Mo walked down the quiet streets.
He strolled slowly through a few alleys before stopping at the entrance of a secluded dead-end.
The dim moonlight barely lit the space around him—but even that was enough to illuminate the stunning figure of a woman wrapped in a flowing azure gown.
She stood silently, her features calm and serene. With a slender, graceful frame, an air of elegance and refinement seemed to follow her. Her beautiful eyes shimmered with intelligence, and her aura was like that of an orchid blooming in the still night—a snowy lotus on a mountaintop, pure and noble.
And then, almost at the same time, they both smiled knowingly.
Chen Mo feigned ignorance.
"Sister Yun Yun, what brings you here?"
With her hands behind her back, Yun Yun took graceful steps toward him. Her every movement was fluid and light, and as she drew closer, the moonlight glinted off her pale, snow-white calves.
Chen Mo’s heart skipped a beat.
There was something about Yun Yun—an elegance no other woman could imitate.
Though calm and gentle on the surface, the soft robe she wore couldn’t fully hide the dignified allure beneath.
"You tell me," Yun Yun replied, raising one graceful hand. "Didn’t you say you had a gift for me?"
Chen Mo chuckled, then reached into his bag and retrieved a Beauty Retaining Pill. He held it behind his back and said:
"Close your eyes, Sister Yun Yun."
"What are you playing at now?" she asked, amused but curious.
"It’s a gift. Don’t you think it’s more exciting to close your eyes first and only see the present when you open them again?"
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