--- Chapter 39 ---
"What?!" Hai Bodong's aura violently exploded when listening to Baek Ain's replies. His Dou Qi filled the room and froze everything quickly.
Baek Ain isn't affected by this because of his Gnome's beast flame and reacts calmly, melting some ice here and there. He watched Hai Bodong's expression turn grimly dark as if he was stealing something precious to him.
"You? A hairless brat is my niece's fiance? It must be a joke."
"Tell me it was a joke."
"It's not..." Baek Ain replied helplessly. "The elders of the Miteer Family approved my qualifications a month ago."
"And you can confirm with Rou here. She is a witness of that."
Hai Bodong glanced at Lan Rou and hoped for her opposite reply. Still, the beautiful shadow guard casually bobbed her head slightly.
"What Ain said is true, Ice Emperor." Lan Rou answered calmly.
"He's, in fact, Lady Fei's Fiance."
"Even though you might dislike Ain because of his green appearance, he's the most talented young man I ever see... He will be fifteen soon and has already reached 4-Stars Dou Spirit."
"Not only that but he's also gifted with a great talent for alchemy."
"Don't you see how your Ice Dou Qi didn't affect him?"
"..." Hai Bodong was speechless. He looked at Baek Ain from top to bottom, frowning because this brat didn't show any of that quality.
What's so special about this kid's face?
Why did Yafei choose this bland-looking kid?
Feeling the questioning gaze from Hai Bodong, Baek Ain shrugged and summoned Gnome's beast flame to its peak form. The ice around them immediately melted and left Hai Bodong speechless.
Baek Ain pulled some ingredients from his inventory and started to make a pill before Hai Bodong's eyes, shocking him to the very core. He swiftly purified every material and 5-rank magical beast cores, condensing them into a blue-green patterned pill.
The pleasant herb scent swept over the library, and Baek Ain clasped his hand, finishing the product that would help Hai Bodong's current situation.
[Ding! You have created a 6-Tier Destruction Pill]
[You were so lucky, host]
Baek Ain smiled inside because his success rate on creating 6-tier pills sucks. This pill-making process consumes his Dou Qi energy to the very brim, but the material cost is also pricy.
And his success rate on creating a 6-tier pill sucks. When Alicia commented he was lucky, he was "extremely." lucky.
'This thing consumed all my Dou Qi to make...' Baek Ain thought while sighing internally.
Baek Ain wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at Hai Bodong's surprised face. This middle-aged man is shocked by Ain's abilities, which shouldn't be possible.
"How?"
"You're just fifteen."
"Fourteen, technically." Baek Ain returned with a chuckle.
Hai Bodong looked at Baek Ain as if he was a monster and said, "That makes it sound more absurd."
Baek Ain didn't have to explain everything and put the Destruction Pill on Hai Bodong's hand. "Here, Uncle-in-law. It's nothing compared to taking Yafei's hand in marriage, but I hope my little gift pleases you." He said with slight sarcasm.
"It's a Destruction Pill, which should help with the seal placed by Queen Medusa."
Hai Bodong stared at the pill on his palm and felt Baek Ain light smack him across the face. His pride told him to refuse, but the Destruction Pill was one thing he needed the most.
With this pill, he could return to the Dou Emperor Realm.
"Kuugh."
"T-Tha..."
"Tha?" Baek Ain tilted his head cluelessly.
"Fuck." Hai Bodong cursed in annoyance.
"I said thank you!"
Baek Ain was "actually." amused by Hai Bodong's tsundere reaction and replied, "Oh? You're welcome."
"Don't be shy, Uncle-in-law..."
"Haha, We gonna become a big family in the future, so this small gift is nothing."
"Anyway, recover your strength. We'll be back at noon." Baek Ain turned around and waved his hand casually. Lan Rou giggled and followed him, leaving Hai Bodong alone in the library.
Hai Bodong couldn't accept that his niece has a fiance now, but he can't do anything about it. He sat on the floor and laughed bitterly, "Even if I wanted to criticize him, that brat never blinked his eyes in my presence."
"A 4-Stars Dou Spirit, who is 14 and a genius alchemist."
"My Miteer Family is blessed."
"However... Becoming my niece's fiance isn't a joking matter."
"I give you a pass for now."
Baek Ain and Lan Rou stepped out of the library in a great mood. They finally discovered the Ice Emperor, who shall help the Miteer Family if something horrible ever happens. After all, Hai Bodong's strength as a Dou Emperor will be a great asset.
"You look awfully pale. Are you okay?" Yi Xian worriedly asked when seeing Baek Ain and Lan Rou walk out of the library.
Baek Ain waved his hand dismissively and responded, "I'm just tired after using all my Dou Qi. Let's have breakfast first as I recover my energy back."
Lan Rou patted Baek Ain's shoulder and proudly commented, "You were doing a good job."
"Convincing the Ice Emperor is the hardest thing one could do in the Miteer Family. Unless you are Lady Fei and the elders, the Ice Emperor will usually freeze anyone into an ice statue."
"He humbled me in the past..." She smiled weakly.
"You should be proud."
"No. I can only be proud when my strength is rivaling the Ice Emperor." Baek Ain responded solemnly. "What's so great about convincing Ice Emperor when my strength will soon become rat-like before him."
"At least the Ice Emperor isn't an enemy. He's sensible enough to see my potential."
Growl~!
Qing Lin's stomach grumbled and made Baek Ain laugh amusingly.
"Sorry, Boss..." Qing Lin blushed in shame.
"Haha~! It seems Qing Lin is hungry." Baek Ain said while patting the girl's head. "Let's grab a quick breakfast at a nearby restaurant."
...
...
Baek Ain's group went to the restaurant and had a buffet basically for breakfast. His stomach is like a black hole because making a 6-tier pill consumes his energy.
Qing Lin sat on the chair with a blissful look and moaned, "Mm~! How can rice be so tasty~!"
Yi Xian smiled and commented, "Everything tastes good when you are hungry, Qing Lin."
"Right, Senior Lan? I bet you enjoy some meat in your mouth?"
'Woah, hold up.' Baek Ain stopped midway, eating his spare ribs.
'You can't say that so blatantly, Yi Xian!'
Lan Rou accepted the provocation and returned, "Well, I do enjoy meat in my mouth. Ain is such a great cook. And I have good taste, unlike someone still inexperienced after passing her marriage age."
Yi Xian and Lan Rou stared at each, having a small banter full of sarcasm for a few minutes. Qing Lin didn't understand what they were arguing about, but she knew Lan Rou liked meat and Yi Xian adored sucking on food.
Burp!
Baek Ain placed his chopstick down and felt Hai Bodong's presence approaching them. The middle-aged man appeared out of nowhere and grabbed a chair beside Baek Ain.
"That was fast." Baek Ain said lightly.
Hai Bodong rolled his eyes and replied, "Who do you think Am I? I'm the great Ice Emperor."
"So, anyway... What are you planning, brat?"
"You're helping me for a reason, right?"
Baek Ain nodded and stated, "We need your help, Ice Emperor. From Yafei, I know you were searching for a cure for Uncle Tengshan's illness."
"I know a way to help, but..."
"But?"
"But I need Green Lotus Core Flame from the Tager Desert."
Hai Bodong's expression darkened as he shook his head, "That would be impossible."
"The heavenly flame you are searching for has been taken by Queen Medusa. Unless you want to suicide, I recommend you to give up."
"Coward." Baek Ain suddenly commented. "Don't tell me the great Ice Emperor is afraid of Queen Medusa."
"WHAT? WHO SAID I'M AFRAID!" A violent reaction came from Hai Bodong. "FUCK IT, LET'S GO AND FIND THAT DAMNED HEAVENLY FLAME!!"
'Hehe, So Easy.' Baek Ain smirked wickedly.