--- Chapter 59 ---
"This place is bigger than I thought. Nalan Clan is quite rich, huh?"
"No, not really. It's all thanks to my ancestor's hard work in accumulating this wealth. My grandpa contributed immensely since the Imperial Family trusted him as the Great General."
"We are declining, though. That's why we stayed low profile for a while."
"My goal is to train my cultivation and revive my Ancestor's prestige."
Baek Ain and Nalan Yanran talked in a grassy field, approaching the peak behind Nalan Clan's Mansion. A waterfall appears majestically, running down river water rich with Dou Qi.
Nalan Yanran explained how the Nalan Clan started from a family focused on swordsmanship. They are small, with fifteen members, but the Nalan Clan slowly grew into a powerful clan.
Jia Ma Empire's 1st Emperor recognized Nalan Clan's worth, authorizing them to enter the Jia Ma Imperial City and live as one of the Three Noble Clans.
That was several hundred years ago.
Baek Ain listened to the story well and understood why he gained the sword-based Dou Technique from the Sign-In's reward now.
"No wonder."
"No wonder what?" Nalan Yanran tilted her head.
Baek Ain smiled and replied, "Nothing."
"Looks like we have arrived."
They arrived at a firm-looking cliff with grassy lands, seeing a tall tower with pine trees around it. Baek Ain scanned the area with his Sixth Sense and discovered someone waiting for them.
Baek Ain noticed a pink-haired man standing near the castle.
He appears to be around his early thirties with a muscular build covered by a neat-looking white suit. He's Nalan Yanran's father and has the cultivation of 3-Star Dou King.
Nalan Su, the Patriarch of Nalan Clan.
As they approached him, Nalan Su smiled and greeted, "Welcome to Nalan Clan, Baek Ain."
"I heard a lot of great things about you."
Baek Ain cupped his hand and replied humbly, "It's nothing much."
"I still have many things to learn."
Nalan Su nodded in appreciation of the young man before him. Such a humble yet talented youngster, Nalan Su rarely met someone like Baek Ain.
"I'm sure my daughter has explained the situation. And to be honest, I thought you'd come here much later."
"General Nalan's situation could worsen if not treated quickly." Baek Ain shook his head. "Given the time of corruption, I'm afraid the poison has penetrated his body's internal organs..."
A solemn expression appeared on Nalan Su's face. He sighed inside and escorted Baek Ain inside the castle, telling Nalan Yanran to wait outside because it could be dangerous.
"Are you confident with your Flame?" The Patriarch of the Nalan Clan suddenly questioned while they were walking down the spiral stairs.
Baek Ain smiled and returned, "You're asking that question to an alchemist?"
"Haha~! True." Nalan Su laughed awkwardly.
They arrived at a cold underground, where Nalan Jie locked himself to suppress the poison. Baek Ain touched the gate and added, "Even if I couldn't cleanse General Nalan's poison, I'd try to improve his condition."
"Wait for me. It wouldn't take long."
Baek Ain entered the cold underground and walked around to find Nalan Jie. As he stepped into a deeper part, Baek Ain spotted a frail-looking elderly with long white hair and a beard.
He wore nothing but a black robe covering his skeleton-like physique.
"Who are you, boy?" The frail grandpa opened his eyes.
Baek Ain didn't show any nervousness and replied confidently, "Baek Ain, a decent alchemist hired by your granddaughter. I'm here to help you."
"An alchemist? This young."
"You didn't scam my granddaughter, right?"
Facing such questions, Baek Ain chuckled and answered, "If I scam your granddaughter, do you think the Nalan Clan's Patriarch would let me enter this place?"
Nalan Jie was stunned by his replies.
"Hmm, you do have a point."
"Still, you're suspicious..."
Baek Ain wryly stared at this frail grandpa. He picked something from the pocket and showed Nalan Jie the Miteer Family's badge, widening his dim black eyes slightly.
"Oh? You're from the Miteer Family." Nalan Jie reacted in a relaxed manner.
"Yeah." Baek Ain walked to Nalan Jie.
"Let's stop talking and start cleansing your poison first."
Baek Ain stretched his right hand and summoned Gnome's Four-Colored Heavenly Flame at medium intensity. The cold underground experienced a sudden rising temperature, melting some rock ice near Nalan Jie.
'Huh?!' Nalan Jie was speechless.
Baek Ain controlled Gnome's Flame as his Pyrokinesis(S) activated automatically. He tapped Nalan Jie's forehead and said, "Endure the pain for a few seconds, Senior."
"Don't fight my Gnome's Flame, or you'll experience backlash."
As Baek Ain finished his warning, Nalan Jie groaned slightly and felt excruciating pain.
Nalan Jie gritted his teeth and stared at Baek Ain's hazel-gold eyes, witnessing the absolute confidence of the young man. He sensed the poison in his body moving anxiously and trapped in extreme heat.
Baek Ain's left hand released a dim White Aura as he gently tapped Nalan Jie's stomach, pulling out a water-like black substance.
Cough!
Nalan Jie coughed a mouthful of black blood and dropped on the floor, breathing roughly. Baek Ain threw a recovery pill into Nalan Jie's mouth and warned, "Don't lose consciousness yet, Senior."
"Recover your Dou Qi and condition first."
Cough! Cough!
"What about you?" Nalan Jie wiped the black blood from his mouth.
"That poison is dangerous for a 5-Star Dou Grandmaster like you?"
Baek Ain smirked, "Please keep this secret, okay?"
A sudden burst of Dou Qi erupted from Baek Ain's body, revealing his actual cultivation to Nalan Jie.
"Y-You!" A surprised shout escaped Nalan Jie's mouth. His face looks like someone who had swallowed "extremely." spicy food.
...
...
"Miteer Family has raised another monster..." Nalan Jia solemnly stared at the meditating young man.
"And you're just, how old are you again?"
Baek Ain shrugged and replied, "Fifteen."
"FIFTEEN?!!"
"When I was fifteen. I'm still stuck on 9-Star Dou Master!"
"Well, don't compare yourself to me." Baek Ain stretched his shoulders slightly. Unknown to Nalan Jie, Baek Ain actually absorbed the poison and raised his White Poison Art Mastery.
The poison within Nalan Jie's body is called Searing Poison, and it was quite a dangerous poison that shaved off one's life to zero. It's a miracle how this frail-looking grandpa resists the poison with sheer will alone.
[Ding! White Poison Art has reached level 33]
[Ding! The "White Poison Aura." has become stronger]
Standing up, Baek Ain extended his hand to Nalan Jie.
"Need a hand, Senior?"
"..." Nalan Jie.
"Hah."
"HAha."
"HAHAHA!"
Nalan Jie couldn't help but laugh like a madman.
This young man.
This young man before him is indeed a Dragon among men.
No, he might even be Dragon King among Dragons.
'If only I didn't promise Brother Xiao about engaging our grandchildren together. Little Yanran might have a chance to become Baek Ain's fiancee.' Nalan Jie suddenly recalled his old promise.
Nalan Jie sighed in defeat because that promise happened out of gratitude.
He grabbed Baek Ain's hand and said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Baek Ain responded calmly.
"Can you walk? Maybe I should support you until we reach the door."
Hearing Baek Ain's offer, Nalan Jie's heart becomes even more worried for his granddaughter's good. 'No, let's not be pessimistic. Xiao Clan is still doing well around this time, right?' He convinced himself with an empty promise.
Baek Ain supported Nalan Jie to the gate, where Nalan Su waited for them. He looked at the Patriarch of the Nalan Clan and reported, "Mission success."
[Ding! You have completed "Nalan Yanran's Request." quest]
[Rewarding Nine Magical Rainbow Spirit Saliva(SS), 1x Random Weapon, and Nalan Yanran's Affection +25%]
'Open that random weapon.'
[Right away, host]
[Opening reward...]
[Ding! Congratulations, host!]
[You have obtained Imperial Arms: Cross Tail(Replica)]