Volume One, Chapter Two: Casually Rescuing a Handsome Stranger

“Let’s make a deal. I’ll help you detoxify, and you help me lift the seal on my body.”

Mo Chenlan remained silent, his deep eyes fixed on the dark-skinned girl before him, seemingly weighing the truth of her words.

“If I’m right, you’ve been poisoned by the Yellow Spring Intoxication for nearly two years now. This injury has accelerated the toxin’s spread. The Snow Cherry Fruit only bears fruit once every hundred years. If you don’t find one within two days and consume it, death is inevitable. Conveniently, I happen to have a Snow Cherry Fruit.”

In short, if you want to survive, your only choice is to trust her.

Mo Chenlan’s profound gaze darkened slightly. The woman spoke convincingly, revealing herself as an alchemist to justify her request, then cleverly mentioned possessing the Snow Cherry Fruit to assure he wouldn’t kill her.

Hm.

She was rather clever. A faint spiritual energy emitted from his hand into Zhao Yan’s body. Squinting, he confirmed the existence of a seal—no wonder she was a spiritual wastrel without any power. A trace of disdain flashed in his eyes.

Yet, what she said was indeed tempting.

“Though I’m poisoned, killing you would be as simple as snapping my fingers. If you dare deceive me—”

Before Mo Chenlan could finish, he spat a mouthful of black blood, a hint of reluctance glimmering in his eyes.

Indeed, if he couldn’t find another Snow Cherry Fruit within two days, death was certain.

Seeing his face grow paler, Zhao Yan couldn’t help but worry. Brother, can you hurry up? If you dawdle any longer, you won’t even have the strength to break my seal.

Just as Zhao Yan was about to speak, Mo Chenlan appeared behind her, his warm palm pressing against her back.

A gentle current flowed into her meridians, surging toward her spiritual bones.

Suddenly, the temperature of that current shot up sharply. An inexplicable heat engulfed Zhao Yan. Soon, droplets of sweat the size of mung beans slid down her face, her clothes soaked through.

“I can’t take it anymore. I’m burning up.”

She wanted nothing more than to strip off her clothes—and she did just that.

Noticing the scars that marred her body, Mo Chenlan frowned. Whether it was her behavior or the marks themselves, he felt a trace of displeasure. Several spirit stones flew out as he freed one hand to swiftly condense his spiritual power. A ripple-like barrier enveloped them both.

Time passed unknowingly. The heat on Zhao Yan’s body gradually faded. As Mo Chenlan withdrew his hand and performed a cleansing technique, her slipping garment instantly wrapped her tightly once more.

Zhao Yan froze slightly. Before she could speak, Mo Chenlan’s voice came through.

“With your current constitution, you can only endure breaking two seals at once. As for the last one, when you become a Grand Spirit Master, bring this jade pendant to Snow Domain City.”

Both the Four-Star Continent and the Sacred Domain Continent cultivate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, but their rank systems differ.

In the Four-Star Continent, the ranks begin with Spiritist, then Spirit Master, Grand Spirit Master, Spirit King, Spirit Monarch, Spirit Venerable, Spirit Saint, and Spirit Emperor—eight levels, each subdivided into early, middle, and peak phases.

Zhao Yan accepted the jade pendant in her hand. A character meaning “ink” was engraved on it. Snow Domain City... So this man was from Snow Domain City. In the original owner’s memories, Snow Domain City was a floating city in midair, its location ever-shifting, mysterious and powerful. Beyond that, she knew nothing.

“Now, hand over the Snow Cherry Fruit.”

Mo Chenlan’s complexion paled further. Pretending to reach into her sleeve, Zhao Yan withdrew the Snow Cherry Fruit from the Linglong Tower.

The fruit exuded an enticing fragrance. Mo Chenlan narrowed his eyes. Poisoned by Yellow Spring Intoxication, both his body and soul were extraordinarily sensitive to the scent of the Snow Cherry Fruit. He was certain he had never detected even a trace of it on her before.

Yellow Spring Intoxication was no ordinary poison. He had consulted many alchemists, most of whom conspired to claim he was not poisoned. Only the Ghost Doctor knew that what afflicted him was the long-lost Yellow Spring Intoxication.

Like the Yellow Spring, the Snow Cherry Fruit was impossible to find throughout the Four-Star Continent. Unexpectedly... hm!

This woman was not as simple as she appeared.

Reading the expression in his eyes, Zhao Yan placed the Snow Cherry Fruit before her chest and said, “You must first lift the binding beneath my feet and swear you won’t kill me.”

A sharp glint flashed in Mo Chenlan’s eyes. Few dared make such demands before him.

Yet Mo Chenlan still lifted the binding at Zhao Yan’s feet. His slender fingers lightly touched his brow as he quickly traced a pattern in the air. “I, Mo Chenlan, swear by my soul that as long as the Snow Cherry Fruit is genuine, I will not kill you.”

A golden mark formed beneath her feet, instantly dissolving into golden light and vanishing into Mo Chenlan’s brow.

Swearing by soul meant cultivators formed a pact with the Way of Heaven through their soul; if broken, Heaven would punish them by annihilating their soul, leaving no chance for reincarnation.

Mo Chenlan was cautious, understanding that the oath hinged on the fruit’s authenticity.

Zhao Yan didn’t mind. She decisively handed over the Snow Cherry Fruit.

If the Snow Cherry Trees she planted in the Linglong Tower with spiritual spring water were fake, then no true Snow Cherry Fruit existed in this world.

Half an hour later.

“Why did you take off your clothes?”

A male voice sounded from the woods, tinged with displeasure and scrutiny.

Zhao Yan’s face was serious. “If I don’t cooperate with my unique golden needle technique, how will the residual poison deep in your lungs be expelled?”

“You could do it through your clothes.”

“Your clothes are so thick, and my needles so fine—how could I pierce through? Besides, I can’t even see your acupoints…” Seeing his silence, Zhao Yan frowned. “Don’t be stubborn when you’re sick. Why be so fussy about detoxification? Hurry up and take off your clothes.”

At her words, Mo Chenlan quickly removed his shirt. Zhao Yan’s eyes flickered; she swallowed nervously, then pressed the golden needle into his shoulder. Her other hand rested in a place it shouldn’t have.

The thin calluses on her hands rubbed against his skin. Mo Chenlan’s eyes showed a flicker of surprise, and his expression turned strange.

From his vantage, all he saw was a small upturned nose and two curved eyelashes. He couldn’t discern her emotions. He wanted to speak but thought better of it since she was still administering the needle. His ears flushed involuntarily.

Judging by her needle technique, she was more professional than most alchemists he had met. He had to admit, the silver needle was quite comfortable.

“All done. The poison has been driven out. Given your current state, excessive needling would do you no good.”

Huh?

Mo Chenlan was startled, feeling somewhat played with. “Only one needle in the shoulder. Why did you make me take off my clothes?”

“Because, because…” Zhao Yan met his deep gaze, hurriedly explaining, “Just trust my excuse—actually, my eyesight isn’t very good!”

Mo Chenlan’s expression darkened. He turned and pulled his shirt back on.

“Since that’s settled, I won’t bother you any longer, Mr. Mo. If fate allows, we shall meet again!”

With that, Zhao Yan dashed away, occasionally glancing back to see if he was following. When she saw he wasn’t, her pace slowed, gazing at her left hand as she grasped at the air, inwardly delighted.

That devil is handsome enough, his chest muscles well-defined—most importantly, he’s easy to fool. Slurp.