Chapter 26

Chapter 26

As her words fell, Huo Wuyan was silent for a moment.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Huo Wuyan slightly lowered his eyes, looking at Lu Yuanyin with a cold expression. He stared at her for a long moment before saying coldly, "Whatever."

With that, he walked past her shoulder and straight out the door.

Lu Yuanyin raised her head slightly, her gaze lingering on the direction Huo Wuyan had disappeared, watching his tall figure vanish into the crowd.

His face still had that usual cold, aloof expression, showing no sign of anything amiss, but she inexplicably felt that Huo Wuyan seemed somewhat displeased.

Lu Yuanyin tugged at her sleeve, but at the thought of the upcoming Four Directions Alchemy Assembly, her spirits lifted again. She ran back to her room, putting aside the extra spiritual herbs from her storage pouch and sorting all the pills into groups, preparing to trade them for other varieties of herbs later.

The sun rose higher.

In the past few days, alchemists wearing the common robes of various major sects had visibly increased in number. Lu Yuanyin's gaze lingered on the passing crowd for a moment, and she suddenly felt a bit wistful.

If her parents had not met with misfortune back then, she might have joined a sect full of alchemists as well. She wouldn't have met Gu Lingqiu, nor those people from the Lu family, and she wouldn't have had so many worries...

Lu Yuanyin sighed, leaning on the windowsill as she idly watched the crowd pass by. Suddenly, her gaze froze. She noticed that, at some point, a drop-shaped jade bracelet had appeared on her wrist.

The bracelet felt cool to the touch, suffused with spiritual energy, as if flowing with watery light. It was clearly no ordinary item. Looking at this jade piece, Lu Yuanyin instinctively glanced toward Huo Wuyan's room, feeling somewhat puzzled.

In this inn, only Huo Wuyan could have silently placed this bracelet on her wrist without her noticing...

Lu Yuanyin's gaze at the jade bracelet became thoughtful.

Perhaps because of the upcoming Four Directions Alchemy Assembly, Lu Yuanyin had been working unusually hard on her cultivation these days. She was already poised to form a golden core but had been deliberately holding back her cultivation to avoid a breakthrough.

Lu Yuanyin knew that the rapid increase in her cultivation from absorbing Huo Wuyan's energy earlier was not firmly grounded. If she rushed forward, problems would surely arise later. Seeing her so diligent, Qing Nong did not disturb her but simply followed a recipe he had found somewhere, hunting down delicacies from everywhere and nourishing tonics to bring her.

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

As Lu Yuanyin waited eagerly, a deep, muffled bell suddenly echoed across the entire city. Brilliant spiritual energy exploded as countless blazing horses, clad in golden armor and pulling fragrant carriages, galloped across the sky.

Beautiful maidservants sat among the carriages, smiling as they scattered spiritual pills and spirit stones. The thick medicinal fragrance spread throughout the city.

In an instant, the entire city erupted in excited cheers. Lu Yuanyin walked out and saw a group of children, faces flushed, chasing the carriages into the city, happily picking up the scattered spirit stones.

A luxurious carriage sped past overhead, and when a bottle of spiritual pills landed in front of her, Lu Yuanyin instinctively reached out and caught it. Upon seeing the words on the bottle, she couldn't help but fall silent for a moment.

"Golden Indestructible Pill - Strong Version"...

Lu Yuanyin didn't have to guess what that crap was... She immediately felt the small jade bottle was burning hot in her hand.

Holding back the urge to swear, she silently tucked the bottle of pills into her sleeve. What crappy luck she had.

Qing Nong was already waiting outside the door. Seeing that she came out alone, he raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Isn't the master coming with us?"

He just saw that Huo Wuyan hadn't left and had assumed he would accompany them to the Four Directions Alchemy Assembly.

Lu Yuanyin shook her head. "He's probably busy."

Of course, even if he did, Huo Wuyan wouldn't go.

They were staying in the same inn, seeing each other every day, yet she hadn't seen him at all for many days. Even as slow as Lu Yuanyin was, she could tell that Huo Wuyan was deliberately avoiding her.

Qing Nong looked at Huo Wuyan's room and rubbed his chin. "Wait for me."

With that, he quickly ran back into the inn.

Qing Nong hurried upstairs and saw Huo Wuyan sitting expressionlessly by the window, staring coldly at the crowd outside. The dazzling sunlight fell between his brows, blurring the emotions in his eyes.

Half his face was in shadow, and for a moment, Qing Nong couldn't quite see his expression clearly. He stepped forward and said with a smile, "Do you want to come with us?"

Huo Wuyan only stared blankly out the window.

Qing Nong instinctively followed his gaze and paused. He saw a slender figure standing under a tree, idly kicking the hem of her skirt. The silver bells at her waist jingled with her movements.

Today, Lu Yuanyin had abandoned her usual plain and simple style. She wore a form-fitting red dress, her long black hair cascading down, with only a small piece of jade on her forehead. She was like a blazing flame, bright and dazzling, her fair skin, black hair, and red lips complementing each other in a remarkably beautiful and radiant way.

Even the bustling, ornate streets and pavilions behind her seemed to pale in comparison.

Sensing his gaze, Huo Wuyan lifted his eyelids and glanced at him coldly. "Not going."

Looking at his expression, Qing Nong deliberately raised his voice. "Then Lu Yuanyin and I will head off now. I'll bring you some local specialties tonight or something?"

Huo Wuyan frowned slightly, his face turning even colder. "Shut up."

Qing Nong shook his head helplessly, and once outside, he couldn't help but laugh. Others might not understand Huo Wuyan, but he knew him inside out. Huo Wuyan had been absent for days, but today he suddenly stayed at the inn and deliberately let them see him.

Just by his awkward manner, Qing Nong could guess that Huo Wuyan was waiting for the young girl to come find him and invite him along.

That old dragon was always proud and weird, his temperament awkward. Others, because of his power and cultivation, would shamelessly flatter and appease him. But Lu Yuanyin was still young, not yet steeped in the ways of the world, and inexplicably seemed a bit afraid of him...

Qing Nong clicked his tongue. This elder dragon was bound to be frustrated.

Qing Nong walked out of the inn, patted Lu Yuanyin on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Let's go."

The two went with the crowd and gradually disappeared into the throng.

Seeing Lu Yuanyin really just leave like that, Huo Wuyan was silent for a moment. His face turned even colder, and then he stood up expressionlessly and strode out of the room.

The city was particularly crowded today, almost to the point of stepping on each other's heels. By the time Lu Yuanyin arrived at the alchemy assembly venue, it was already packed solid.

As the wealthiest group in the cultivation world, alchemists were known for their riches, and the Wandan Sect was filthy rich. Everywhere you looked, the beams and pillars were inlaid with expensive jade and spiritual treasures. Beaded curtains cascaded down, and pale golden light sparkled in the sunlight.

Lu Yuanyin stood in the crowded throng, looking up at a stone tablet dozens of feet tall. It was etched with hundreds of names, all outstanding disciples from past alchemy assemblies. Her eyes stopped on two names: Lu Rong and Yuan He.

The two names sat together, bearing the marks of time. Lu Yuanyin's nose stung a bit, and she looked away silently, refusing to think about it.

On the high platform stood elders from all the big sects, figures rarely seen normally, now all gathered together. After a moment, her gaze stopped on a few people stepping onto the platform. Among them was Lu Sisi.

Lu Sisi, who'd been pale and weak before, as if she might fall at any moment, was now rosy-cheeked and bursting with energy, standing confidently among the crowd. She tilted her head, speaking softly to a female cultivator beside her, while several disciples hovered around her eagerly. Behind them, Lu Yuan and his wife puffed out their chests.

Chongyao Sect Master tilted his head, looking at her with doting affection.

She still looked like that dazzling genius girl of the Chongyao Sect.

Lu Yuanyin's gaze lingered on her for a moment. She sensed that Lu Sisi's cultivation hadn't decreased at all, but actually increased, showing signs of a breakthrough.

In just a few days, she had cleansed her bones, washed her marrow, and reshaped her spiritual root.

Lu Yuanyin tightened her grip on the storage pouch, her mind swirling with thoughts. She had long sensed that Lu Sisi was like the world's favored daughter, the world's luckiest child. No matter what happened, she always found a way to survive every danger, always getting help from powerful people.

Lu Yuanyin’s gaze shifted, and then she saw a man in black robes standing beside Lu Sisi. Her eyes lingered on his face for a moment. She saw tiny black scales growing on his cheeks, his features sinisterly handsome, and his entire body seemed shrouded in thick black mist.

If she wasn’t mistaken, that man in black robes should be the legendary Black Flood Dragon.

Lu Yuanyin frowned slightly. The next moment, she saw the Black Flood Dragon suddenly lift his eyelids and stare directly in her direction. In his bright yellow vertical pupils were undisguised scrutiny and desire.

The Black Flood Dragon curled his lips and gave her an enigmatic smile.

Lu Yuanyin felt a jolt of surprise.

Lu Sisi had been extremely excited about her reforged spiritual root, but as she walked, she could occasionally hear people talking about what happened that night at Chongyao Sect.

Previously, even though the Chongyao Sect Master and Chang Ye had quickly locked down the news and ordered the disciples not to spread it, the truth couldn’t stay buried. Ultimately, many rumors about the matter circulated outside, including some harsh gossip.

Sensing the strange looks from the people around her, Lu Sisi felt fidgety. She bit her lower lip, a hint of grievance flashing in her eyes. Back then, it was clearly the Sect Master who took the initiative to propose swapping spiritual roots for her. She had done nothing. She didn’t understand why those people cursed her so harshly.

In the cultivation world, strength is paramount. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Lu Yuanyin for not being strong enough…

However, seeing the Black Flood Dragon beside her, she silently straightened her back. She had already forged a bond with Senior Heijiao. She was still the lofty heaven’s favored daughter, and those insignificant ants would never affect her one bit.

Lu Sisi followed behind the Black Flood Dragon, silently walking towards the adjacent private room. When she saw the person inside, her eyes lit up. “Master!”

She tugged at the Black Flood Dragon’s clothes and said with a smile, “This is the Senior Heijiao I mentioned to you earlier!”

Chang Ye’s gaze lingered on the person behind her for a moment, and his expression gradually darkened.

The Black Flood Dragon, however, seemed not to notice the coldness in his eyes. He casually picked up the teacup on the table and gave Lu Sisi a faint smile. “Go out first. I need to have a word with your master.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Sisi was a little surprised. She pouted, her gaze shifting between the two of them. Half coaxing and half complaining, she said, “What secret is there that I can’t hear?”

Chang Ye said coldly, “Go out first.”

Lu Sisi faltered. She looked at Chang Ye sitting by the window, saw him lift his eyes and gaze at her coldly, as if she were an ant on the roadside. She suddenly felt that she had never truly known him.

Lu Sisi was dazed for a moment. Chang Ye usually seemed to treat her very well, like a mentor and father figure. He taught her swordsmanship, taught her the top-tier secret arts, fulfilled every demand she had for ten years without fail, and even was willing to extract Lu Yuanyin’s spiritual root for her sake.

Yet he could also, after Lu Yuanyin escaped, callously abandon her, severely injured and left to fend for herself. Lu Sisi gently bit her lip and walked out of the room feeling wronged.

With her departure, the room fell into dead silence again.

The Black Flood Dragon took two steps forward. Looking at the icy Chang Ye, he said softly, “Long time no see. I didn’t expect to meet you here. What a coincidence.”

Chang Ye only stared coldly at the closed door. He interrupted him coldly, “Just say what you want to say.”

The Black Flood Dragon smiled lightly while playing with the teacup in his hand. The black scales on his cheeks flickered with an eerie gleam. “How about a collaboration?”

“I’ll help you get back that little disciple of yours.”

Chang Ye’s fingertips paused. He lifted his eyes and looked at the Black Flood Dragon with an icy gaze, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes. The longsword resting on the table seemed to sense his inner emotions; it trembled faintly, emitting a low hum, and sword aura overflowed.

The Black Flood Dragon leaned against the pillar behind him as if boneless, saying casually, “You’ve been following her for so many days. It’s hard for me not to notice.”

Chang Ye was silent for a moment. After a long while, he finally said in a low voice, “What do you want?”

The Black Flood Dragon licked his scarlet lips, a fanatical gleam in his eyes.

“The dragon fetus in her belly.”

Author's Note:

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