Ling Wu City's Main Boulevard
Chen Jiang jolted awake, meeting Lan An's piercing silver eye. A shiver ran through him, but his cunning kicked in. Instead of questioning his sudden blackout, he grinned slyly. "Young Master, was the deal with Duo Bao Pavilion satisfactory?"
"Quite impressive. You did well," Lan An nodded. Chen Jiang was tactful and sharp, though his Qi Refining Late-Stage cultivation was pitifully low.
Among Ling Wu City's youth, Chen Jiang's cultivation was decent, but Lan An, having crossed paths with saintesses and heiresses of mighty clans, had loftier standards.
"Here's your reward. Now, lead me to a reputable inn," Lan An said, patting Chen Jiang's shoulder and slipping 10 Upper-Grade Spirit Stones into his hand.
Chen Jiang's hands trembled as he stared at the radiant stones, brimming with spiritual energy. Stammering, he looked up. "Y-Young M-Master… t-too… p-precious… I-I…"
"Quiet. You earned it," Lan An cut him off, kicking his backside with a chuckle. "Get moving. Find me an inn."
"Leave it to me!" Chen Jiang beamed, pocketing the stones—his greatest windfall ever. Chest puffed, he led the way as dusk settled.
Lan An followed, soon arriving at an inn built in classical style. A fence stretched dozens of miles, enclosing countless rooms. The grand entrance, adorned with two massive lanterns, glowed invitingly. Patrons bustled through, rivaling Duo Bao Pavilion's traffic.
Lan An's gaze fell on a bold sign, its calligraphy fierce and soaring: Jun Lin Inn.
"Regal name," he murmured. "Clever, too. The owner's no ordinary figure." Jun Lin—Ruler's Descent—implied every guest was an emperor, the inn their dominion.
"Heh, Jun Lin Inn's backing is no joke," Chen Jiang smirked knowingly. "Without serious clout, naming it this would've drawn a powerhouse's wrath long ago."
Lan An nodded. To liken an inn to the heavens required audacity and strength. Ling Wu City grew ever more fascinating, a cauldron of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
"This inn is an architectural artifact," Jin'er's voice chimed in his mind.
Lan An's heart skipped. "An artifact?" he asked, staring at the sprawling complex.
"Like your Spirit Blossom Orb, it can shrink or expand at will," Jin'er explained. "Its grade likely surpasses the Orb, possibly Supreme Heaven-Grade or Lower Spirit-Grade."
Lan An inhaled sharply. To flaunt such an artifact openly for business spoke volumes of the owner's terrifying power.
Approaching the entrance, Lan An and Chen Jiang stepped inside. Unlike Duo Bao Pavilion, no maids greeted them, fostering a homely ease.
The grand hall buzzed with noise, countless eyes turning to the newcomers.
"Haha, fresh faces!"
"Interesting, interesting."
"Isn't that Chen Jiang? He dares show up here?"
The hall was vast, a lively tavern-like scene. Tables groaned under meat and wine, patrons carousing raucously. Above, elegant lofts overlooked the chaos, their occupants exuding superior aura and cultivation compared to the rowdy crowd below.
Yet, all—from loft to floor—eyed Lan An with amusement, mockery, or anticipation, Chen Jiang included. Lan An's brow furrowed, sensing something amiss.
"Honored guest, welcome to Jun Lin Inn!" a spry waiter dashed over, grinning. "We boast Ling Wu City's finest chefs, exotic delicacies, and lavish rooms. You look travel-worn—care to dine?"
"Any specialties?" Lan An asked, his White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye subtly activating.
Thousand-Mile Insight.
His gaze drifted to a central loft, locking onto a solitary, graceful silhouette leaning against a pillar.
Her figure stole his breath. Clad in a purple palace gown, a sheer shawl draped her shoulders, hinting at creamy skin. Her delicate ears and cascading violet hair exuded enchantment, stirring a primal heat in his chest.
But the crowd's odd demeanor sharpened his focus. Intensifying Thousand-Mile Insight, he sought her face.
Damn it, he cursed inwardly, grasping the crowd's game.
Her visage was jarring—thick lips, slanted eyes, a freckled face, and a broad, flat nose. The patrons awaited his shock, hoping to see him falter.
"Think I'll embarrass myself? Too naive," Lan An sneered inwardly.
As if sensing his gaze, the woman turned, her face revealed to all.
The crowd watched Lan An, some poised to laugh, expecting dismay.
One… two… three…
No laughter came.
The patrons choked on their mirth, stunned as Lan An remained unruffled, his silver eye meeting her gaze with a flicker of empathy for her marred beauty.
Disgruntled, some turned back to their drinks, their jest spoiled.
Lan An smirked inwardly, nodding politely to the woman, his expression serene.
"What's that look?" she wondered, her sensitivity catching the nuance. "No disgust, no pity, no scorn—just empathy. Who is he?"
Perched in her loft, Qin Meng Ying often turned to gauge new guests' reactions to her face. Without fail, they showed revulsion, regret, or envy, deeming her unworthy of her flawless figure. Yet this youth defied her expectations, sparking her curiosity.
"Who is she?" Lan An wondered, equally intrigued. Even his Heaven-Grade White Moon Soul-Seizing Eye couldn't pierce her cultivation or discern if her face was a disguise—a first for the artifact.
"She exceeds Void Refining," Jin'er said casually, making Lan An gasp.
"Any specialties?" Lan An began, but a sudden premonition halted him. Rising, he said, "Chen Jiang, order what you like—I'll cover it. Waiter, get me your best room, now."
"No problem!" The waiter, puzzled but compliant, led the way.
"Does Young Master need the latrine?" Chen Jiang muttered, baffled by Lan An's haste.
In her loft, Qin Meng Ying watched Lan An's retreating figure, her thick lips curling into an uglier smirk.
Within a lavish room, Lan An dismissed the waiter, locking the door. Ignoring the opulence, he vanished into the Spirit Blossom Orb, now a speck hidden in the bedding.
Inside the Spirit Blossom Orb
The serpent-skin egg trembled violently, Lan An's heart racing with anticipation. The White Star Serpent stirred after refining the Form Transformation Herb. His urgency stemmed from this moment.
Seconds ticked by, his nerves taut as the egg shook fiercely.
Crack.
A fracture split the silence, his pulse surging.
Crack.
The shell shattered, and Lan An's jaw dropped, his breath quickening.
A woman, perhaps twenty, emerged, her skin radiant with vitality. Snow-white hair flowed to her rounded hips, her arched brows and lashes pure white. Sapphire eyes sparkled like stars, her delicate nose and full lips framed a celestial face. Her curves were proud, her thighs soft as a babe's, her legs a sculptor's dream. A tuft of white hair adorned her sacred grove, pristine as fresh snow.
Purity. Sanctity.
These words filled Lan An's mind. She was a divine gift, a snow plum blooming in the night. Save for her rosy lips and ruby-tipped peaks, he might've mistaken her for an albino, her whiteness so ethereal it left him awestruck, loath to taint her perfection.
Lan An stood frozen, captivated.
She moved.
Slender arms encircled his waist, her head nestling against his chest, inhaling his scent greedily.
Caught off guard, Lan An watched as she seized his finger, her pearly teeth drawing a drop of blood. She pressed it to her brow.
"A high-tier beast's voluntary contract," Jin'er whispered in his mind.
A bloodline bond surged, their souls intertwining. Lan An felt a new presence, a kin born anew. With a thought, he held her life in his hands—she was wholly his.
"You saved me, and I've chosen you. Please, never forsake me… Master," she said, her voice a soft orchid's breath, her starry eyes brimming with hope.
Lan An gazed at her, savoring their primal connection. His hand caressed her angelic face, his voice low. "Do you have a name?"
"Master, grant me one," she said, her heart pounding.
Lan An's hands gripped her silken waist, drawing her bare form close. His lips brushed her delicate ear, declaring, "You are Bai Su Mei, my Su Mei alone."
"Yes, your Su Mei," she whispered, her voice trembling with devotion.