Chapter 110: Miss, Have You Heard My Story?

Rustle rustle rustle~

Outside the door, rain pattered softly; inside the old shop filled with musical instruments, only the faint sound of the Shopkeeper repairing a zither could be heard.

Nangong Ye held a bamboo flute, examining it; her heart-mind seemed untroubled by this sudden visit from an idle stranger. After all, since her tender years she had been famous throughout the land; whether serving as sect master or moving incognito through the martial world, there were far too many vulgar people who approached her presumptuously, and she had never paid them any heed.

By normal logic, the other party, having been rebuffed, would usually take the hint and leave; if they felt their face had been lost and dared to cause trouble, she would not mind granting them two sword strokes.

But this white-robed Young Master who had abruptly approached today was indeed somewhat special; not only was his skin thick enough, but his ability was also somewhat greater than those idle people.

After being ignored, Xie Jinhuan was actually quite embarrassed; he had intended to take the hint and leave, but A-Piao was also studying this Black-clad Heroine, and now whispered advice in his ear:

"Judging from her breathing and cultivation, this Heroine has excessive Yang energy; she seems to have been poisoned by some kind of Yang poison."

Oh?

Xie Jinhuan blinked his eyes, thought for a moment, then moved to the other side of the shop, speaking in a low voice:

"Miss, you seem unwell; are you poisoned?"

"?"

The eyes beneath Nangong Ye's veil narrowed slightly; she set down the bamboo flute, first scrutinizing the white-robed Young Master once, then stepping closer:

"How did you see it?"

Her voice was clear, cold, and ethereal, like ice that had never melted in ten thousand years, containing a hidden three-tenths of oppressive force.

Hearing just one sentence, Xie Jinhuan knew this Miss was a high-performance racing car; not only did it consume fuel, but ordinary people could not even drive it. His expression remained normal as he replied:

"My master once taught me some techniques for observing Qi. Miss, your Yang energy is excessive; you must have been poisoned by an utmost-Yang poison."

Nangong Ye appeared unmoving as a mountain, yet her eyes were quite surprised:

"Does Young Master know how to detoxify?"

Xie Jinhuan smiled: "My master once taught me some. However, we are mere chance acquaintances; I do not even know the Miss's name, so it is improper to speak deeply when our acquaintance is shallow."

Nangong Ye, having long traveled the martial world, could see at a glance that this Young Master was attempting to flirt with her.

A weakling of early-stage Rank 3 coming to flirt with a pseudo-Super Rank female sect master; truly, ignorance breeds fearlessness.

But this time, the flirting happened to hit the mark.

If Nangong Ye could find a method to detoxify, she could immediately cross into Super Rank on the spot and crush that Wu Sect demoness; having a lead naturally required investigation. Thinking it over, she still nodded in a bow:

"Qingming Sword Manor, Mu Mu Yun Hong. Pleased to meet you."

Qingming Sword Manor...

This was a small sword seed of the south, one generation of three or five people...

However, its inner disciples were said to be very powerful; some even served as Immortal Officials in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. No wonder they could carry a magical artifact capable of concealing heavenly secrets...

Xie Jinhuan pondered slightly, then smiled:

"What a fine name: 'Autumn winds grow desolate, maple leaves turn red; frost-dyed forests are entirely Mu Mu Yun Hong.' This is a short poem composed by Su Boyu, a great master of music from the previous dynasty, while traveling through Jiangzhou Maple Lake. Miss, you seem to have a great fondness for musical laws."

?

Nangong Ye took a light breath, feeling that this not-so-young child's foundation for flirting with Misses was truly somewhat domineering.

If her Dao-heart were not as iron, she would have been drawn into conversation from the very first move.

Even though she deliberately maintained distance, after two or three exchanges, her name, preferences, and even her current predicament had been drawn out...

If this were an ordinary Heroine, she would soon be led away to be taken home...

Could it be that she failed to consult divination before leaving home today and encountered a calamity?

To prevent her Dao-heart from wavering, Daoist sect members should leave immediately, severing this karmic connection.

But whether it be fate or calamity, once it arrives, one cannot escape even by running.

Nangong Ye indeed needed a method to detoxify; thinking it over, she responded calmly:

"Young Master's knowledge is truly extensive; your master's lineage must be extraordinary. May I ask who is your revered master, that great expert from where?"

"My master hides in the mountains and wilds; his name is inconvenient to reveal, and I hope Miss will forgive me. However, I do know a little about this detoxification method."

As he spoke, Xie Jinhuan's surrounding Qi circulation shifted, causing the curtain beside him to sway.

Nangong Ye initially thought this low-cultivation young man was merely putting on airs.

But she soon discovered that wisps of icy cold Qi were emerging from the other party's Bai Xi palm.

She had been poisoned by the Immortal-Burning Gu; even without the poison erupting, her physical sensation was extremely hot and restless.

But upon contacting this Qi, her physical sensation was like a cool, gentle breeze blowing beside her in the height of summer; or like being wrapped in a small padded jacket during the dead of winter...

Nangong Ye's eyes grew increasingly surprised; she asked curiously:

"You are a proper martial artist; how do you emit icy cold Qi? What cultivation technique is this?"

"Reverse Dragon Splits the Sea; it is a miscellaneous cultivation technique I researched myself."

"Reverse Dragon..."

Nangong Ye felt that this name and cultivation technique indeed matched quite well.

Because the icy cold Qi blowing was indeed quite comfortable, and wasting it would be a loss, she raised her slender right arm, leaving a gap of an inch or so between herself and Xie Jinhuan, and began to absorb the essence transmitted from Xie Jinhuan.

However, she had obviously overestimated this Young Master's tolerance!

Nangong Ye was already straddling the threshold of Super Rank; although her inner elixir was not yet perfect, she did not strictly qualify as a Daoist Super Rank, but she could already barely master supernatural abilities such as hovering and controlling objects. The breadth of her meridians could be described as a surging river.

As she actively sought to draw it in, even without exerting force, Xie Jinhuan still felt the terrifying suction force in his palm; the sensation was like 'an unparalleled giant carriage violently sitting down, triggering ultra-high-speed vacuum suction,' as if it intended to squeeze his very soul out.

"Aiya-ya-ya-ya~..."

Xie Jinhuan had originally just been showing off his skills to flirt with a girl; sensing a sharp pain in his arm, his cold and innocent expression instantly collapsed. He quickly lifted it up:

"Slow down, slow down! Why are you in such a hurry?!"

Nangong Ye was already being very careful, but with her cultivation level, facing Xie Jinhuan's meager Qi, it was truly a giant carriage crushing a child.

Discovering that Xie Jinhuan simply could not withstand it, Nangong Ye could only turn active into passive, letting Xie Jinhuan play with it slowly himself, and asked:

"This method can only temporarily alleviate the condition; it cannot eradicate it. Is the solution you mentioned this?"

Xie Jinhuan only relaxed slightly when the other stopped pressing, and asked:

"Miss, what poison exactly have you been struck by?"

Nan Nan Gong Ye pondered for a moment: "Earlier this year, while traveling near Huzhou, I encountered bandits from Queyue Shanzhuang and accidentally contracted the Burnt Immortal Poison. Does Young Master know of this poison?"

"Burnt Immortal Poison…"

Xie Jinhuan frowned inwardly, sensing something was off, but aloud explained:

"The Burnt Immortal Poison is said to be Queyue Shanzhuang's exclusive killing technique. It draws upon extreme yang energy; if the victim's own qi is pure yang, attempting to suppress it is like pouring oil on fire—nearly incurable. The only cure is Queyue Shanzhuang's own sinister yin energy."

Nan Nan Gong Ye, surprised that this child knew so much, gave a slight nod:

"Young Master is truly well-versed."

Xie Jinhuan had studied everything since childhood and naturally knew a bit about Queyue Shanzhuang's signature technique—he also knew that deploying the Burnt Immortal Poison meant a fight to the death, so he asked curiously:

"What grudge does Miss hold against Queyue Shanzhuang?"

Nan Nan Gong Ye's reply was blunt:

"A feud of mortal enmity."

"…"

Xie Jinhuan felt like he'd just connected live wire to neutral.

After all, Wan Yi was from Queyue Shanzhuang—if this female hero was their sworn enemy, and he got involved, he'd get hammered from both sides!

But Queyue Shanzhuang's grudge likely had little to do with Wan Yi, a lowly undercover agent.

Qingming Sword Manor was a reputable orthodox sect; if he now cultivated a bit of goodwill, he might later help Wan Yi extricate herself if trouble arose. After thinking it over, he replied:

"Hmm… Normally, there are three ways to cure the Burnt Immortal Poison."

"Oh?"

Nan Nan Gong Ye's icy eyes flickered slightly as she turned to look at the man's profile:

"What three?"

For some reason, even through the curtain, Xie Jinhuan felt the pressure of her gaze—as if she'd stepped on his chest with a high heel and demanded answers:

"The first, naturally, is 'to untie the bell, you must find the bell-ringer'—have the one who cast the poison use yin-cold energy to remove it.

"The second is 'dispelling qi heavily, then re-cultivating and replacing blood and marrow'—as long as the poison isn't anchored to anything, it will resolve itself, but the cost is too great.

"As for the third, it's yin-yang… yang… uh…"

Nan Nan Gong Ye, listening intently, noticed Xie Jinhuan stumbling, and frowned inwardly:

"Yin-yang what?"

What yin-yang nonsense could that ghost-wife's idea possibly be?

Xie Jinhuan knew saying this aloud would earn him a chase through the streets, but A Piao had given this answer—he could only speak delicately:

"It's just some unsavory methods."

Nan Nan Gong Ye was no fool: "Is it the yin-yang union technique? How does it cure the poison?"

Xie Jinhuan, seeing she had guessed it, no longer hid:

"The Burnt Immortal Poison is fiercely yang; it requires extreme yin-cold energy to neutralize. Miss simply needs to find a Queyue Shanzhuang disciple, draw out their yin-cold qi, and use it to counterbalance the poison. Though disciples of low cultivation may not fully eradicate it, they can suppress it indefinitely—technically, the poison will never flare again."

Nan Nan Gong Ye found the theory plausible, considered it briefly, then shook her head:

"Queyue Shanzhuang's cultivation technique is unique. Men, being inherently yang, cannot cultivate pure yin-cold energy—they struggle to reach mastery and mostly do menial tasks within the sect.

"Women, being yin, cultivate it with half the effort, but their yin-cold energy is trapped within their yin gate. To extract it, one must use the 'plucking yin to replenish yang' technique. If I were male, this might work—but I am female, so this method is impossible."

"And since women belong to Yin, cultivating this technique yields twice the result with half the effort, but the Yin-cold Qi compresses within the Yin Pass; to seize it, one can only use the 'Harvesting Yin to Supplement Yang' cultivation technique. If I were a man, this method would still be viable, but I am also a daughter, so this method is not advisable."

Xie Jinhuan raised his hand and patiently explained, following A Piao's logic:

"Miss only needs to find a 'middleman'—first draw out the woman's yin-cold qi and store it within yourself, then transfer it into Miss's body to suppress the yang poison."

"Miss only needs to find a 'middleman' to first draw out a woman's Yin-cold Qi and store it within themselves, then deliver it into Miss's body, which will suppress the Yang poison."

Nan Nan Gong Ye blinked, quickly understanding—the idea was to find a two-headed dragon to link her with a Wu Sect demoness!

Nangong Ye blinked his eyes and quickly understood the meaning—let her find a double-headed dragon to connect her and the Wu Sect demoness!

How could she possibly commit such a depraved, heretical act?

Xie Jinhuan also thought A Piao's "dual-flight qi transfer" was even more absurd than Wan Yi's hundred schemes. Seeing the female hero fall silent, fearing he'd be crippled on the spot, he added:

"I'm merely proposing a method—whether it's viable, Miss may consult your elders. Treat it as idle talk if you wish. Hmm… where do you stay? If I learn of other cures, I'll inform you."

Nan Nan Gong Ye knew this method might work, but she couldn't endure it—she'd rather compromise and give the Fengyu herb to the demoness than resort to such an absurd scheme.

Considering the man had genuinely offered advice, she did not grow angry:

"Fengyi River, Suyun Studio. You've spoken so much—yet Young Master hasn't revealed your name."

"Fengling Valley, Xie Jinhuan."

"?"

Xie Jinhuan was about to speak further when he noticed the woman's veil-curtain had visibly swelled—she had drawn a deep breath. He blinked, surprised:

Xie Jinhuan wanted to continue speaking when he suddenly noticed the veil-helmeted knight before him had a noticeably swollen lapel, likely having taken a deep breath. He blinked his eyes and said in surprise:

Nan Nan Gong Ye wanted to make Xie Jinhuan's face write out his whole story!

In Danyang, she had heard tales of Xie Jinhuan and held high hopes—she even heard Linghu Qingmo was close to him, and had entertained thoughts of becoming a mother-in-law.

But she never imagined this young nobleman before her was the same righteous hero who sacrificed himself for the people, the "perfect man" the Danwang spoke of as a once-in-a-millennium rarity!

After this brief encounter, she sensed Xie Jinhuan's reputation was well-deserved—his knowledge was vast, his insight broad, his abilities considerable—but he was not as upright as legend claimed. Quite the opposite—he seemed rather lecherous.

He dared to flirt with women without knowing their background, and did so with uncanny skill—each move struck straight at a woman's heart. He must have no shortage of romantic confidantes.

How could such a youth be trusted as a husband for her precious disciple?

Yet Xie Jinhuan had performed righteous deeds before—she could not judge his entire character on a single meeting…

However, Xie Jinhuan's chivalrous act came first; one cannot deny Xie Jinhuan's entire character based solely on one-sided words...

Is it normal for a man to hit on a woman? She went out incognito; Xie Jinhuan does not know who she is. If he knew she was his mother-in-law and still wanted to hit on her, that would truly be turning the heavens upside down...

So I must observe a bit more...

If I reveal my identity now, Xie Jinhuan will surely put on an act and won't expose his true nature like he is now...

Besides, the news that I am afflicted with the Immortal-Burning Gu cannot be revealed lightly...

Thinking thus, Nangong Ye replied:

"Young Master Xie's heroic reputation in Danyang is renowned; how could I have never heard of it? I have other matters to attend to, so I take my leave. We shall meet again when fate allows."

Having spoken, he left the shop and walked into the misty rain.

Xie Jinhuan watched the cold woman with the sword on her back depart, feeling that this female knight was indeed somewhat indescribably special, and pondered silently:

Mu Mu Yun Hong...

Could she be Mu Yunling's daughter...

No, by birth order she should be an older or younger sister. This female knight sounds no more than in her early twenties; that is unlikely...

Meanwhile, the Shopkeeper, who had been tuning the zither strings, raised his head only after the female knight had gone and praised:

"Young Master, you have practiced the art of flirting for quite a few years, haven't you?"

"Hehe, I have practiced it for sixteen years."

After tossing off a casual joke, Xie Jinhuan did not linger. He opened his umbrella and arrived outside the Yang Medicine Shop in the Eastern Market, waiting for Yang Sichen and that gullible Ancestor who was about to be tricked by him into giving up the Sixty-Year Lotus with nothing but an empty hand...

Thinking of it, he felt a little nervous...

(End of this chapter)