"Mr. Bai, may I stay? I promise… I won't disturb your treatment!"
In a guest room of the Miteer family, Na Lan Yan Ran gazed at the black-robed youth who had asked them to leave, her eyes pleading.
"Go. Wait outside," Xiao Bai pointed to the door, his face as calm as a still pond, unshaken.
Na Lan Su, seeing this, knew staying wasn't an option. With a soft sigh, he waved a hand, his voice low. "Let's go, Yan Ran. Listen to Mr. Bai."
Na Lan Yan Ran reluctantly followed, but at the door, she glanced back at the frail, elderly figure on the bed, her eyes tinged with worry.
As she turned, she noticed the masked man standing still and asked, surprised, "Mr. Bai, doesn't he need to leave?"
Before Xiao Bai could respond, Xiao Yan puffed out his chest, the alchemist badge on it glinting under the light streaming through the window.
"…" Na Lan Yan Ran.
Xiao Bai, amused by the strutting peacock beside him, shook his head with a chuckle. "He's my assistant."
"Then we entrust this to you, sir," Na Lan Yan Ran said, clasping her fists in a salute. As she rose, her eyes flicked with a subtle glare at the masked youth before she closed the door and left.
"Hmph, little miss wants the same treatment as me? Dream on!" Xiao Yan's eyes crinkled with a mocking smirk as he saw Xiao Bai set up a soul barrier.
"Alright, esteemed second-grade alchemist, get to work!" Xiao Bai settled into a chair, glancing at the proud youth with a teasing grin.
"Brother Bai, you really want me to do this?" Xiao Yan's confident expression crumbled, his voice tinged with nerves as he swallowed hard. "Guiding a Heavenly Flame into someone's body is no joke. If I mess up and—"
"No 'ifs'!" Xiao Bai cut him off, blunt. "If you kill him, you might as well tuck away that alchemist badge. It'd be an embarrassment!"
"…" Xiao Yan.
Silence hung for a moment.
Just as Xiao Bai thought the kid was wrestling with his fears and considered offering some encouragement, a cautious voice whispered, "Brother Bai… you're not jealous because you don't have a badge, are you?"
Xiao Bai's face darkened, his fist clenching. Damn it, I shouldn't have given this kid the benefit of the doubt. Struggling? He's struggling with nothing!
"A gentleman uses words, not fists!" Xiao Yan, seeing the storm brewing on Xiao Bai's face, jolted and raised his hands, laughing nervously. "Haha, Brother Bai, just kidding! I'm a bit tense, that's all. I'm good now—let's start!"
With that, he darted to the bedside like a skittish black rat, his face settling into focus, though a glint of amusement flickered in his eyes as he stole a glance at Xiao Bai's darkened expression.
"…" Yao Lao.
Question: My disciple loves dancing on the edge of death. What do I do? Urgent!
"Brother Bai, forget splitting it into sessions. Even if you drain me dry, I can't cure him in one go!" Xiao Yan said, shaking his head with a wry smile after examining Na Lan Jie's condition.
"No matter. Keep him alive and show them results. The rest can wait until after the Yun Lan Sect trip," Xiao Bai said, lounging in his chair, unbothered.
"Forget it! I'd rather wrap this up before then. I don't want to be tangled with their family after the three-year agreement!" Xiao Yan replied, a wisp of green flame coiling around his fingertip as he shook his head.
His gaze, complex, lingered on the bedridden elder, said to have once been close friends with his grandfather.
A moment later, his expression hardened, and he flicked his finger.
Whoosh!
The green flame, under Xiao Yan's control, burrowed into the elder's body.
The unconscious old man's withered frame shuddered violently.
Xiao Yan ignored it, his eyes half-closed, meticulously guiding the Heavenly Flame through the elder's frail body.
"Ah!"
At one point, Na Lan Jie's closed eyes snapped open, a hoarse roar escaping his throat.
A ferocious aura erupted from his body, spreading outward.
Caught off guard, Xiao Yan's flame wavered, nearly losing control, which made the elder's pain worse, his roars growing fiercer.
"Calm down, I'm trying to—urgh!" Xiao Yan's words cut off as the roars abruptly stopped. The room fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"You talk too much," Xiao Bai's calm voice broke the stillness.
Xiao Yan, looking up at the shadow looming over him, rolled his eyes in exasperation.
This guy's gentle with his own, but to strangers? Always so blunt and brutal!
Xiao Bai glanced at Xiao Yan, calmly withdrawing the finger he'd pressed to Na Lan Jie's brow, and returned to his seat.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up. The two outside are probably losing their minds!" he said.
"…" Xiao Yan.
Tch, what's the rush? You do it if you're so great! And what do I care if those two are anxious?
Swallowing his unspoken retorts, Xiao Yan shifted his gaze from the black-robed figure to the sweat-drenched Na Lan Jie, shaking his head with pity before resuming the detoxification.
The room grew quiet, time slipping by. Half an hour later…
"Phew."
Xiao Yan exhaled deeply, his body relaxing as he wiped the sweat from his brow, muttering, "Finally done!"
He looked at Xiao Bai, lowering his voice. "Brother Bai, he should be able to move normally now. The Heavenly Flame aura in the room… I'll leave that to you."
Xiao Bai nodded, raising a hand. His long, strong fingers clenched the air, and the scorching heat that had filled the room vanished instantly.
With a flick of his sleeve, the dry air turned moist, infused with the fresh scent of rain.
"Wood qi, water qi?" Xiao Yan, breathing in the refreshing air, felt invigorated. A sudden realization hit him, and he looked up at Xiao Bai in astonishment.
His eyes scanned Xiao Bai up and down, then, with a hesitant tone, he ventured, "Brother Bai… do you know about cultivating immortality?"
His eyes sparkled with anticipation, his heart racing, staring intently at Xiao Bai's face as if searching for confirmation.
Xiao Bai's eyes blinked with feigned confusion, his head tilting slightly. "Cultivating immortality? What's that?"
Only the fleeting smirk at the corner of his eye betrayed him.
This kid… trying to claim me as a fellow countryman, huh?
"N-Nothing!" Xiao Yan's eyes dimmed with deep disappointment, waving a hand dejectedly.
What was I thinking? My own experience is already bizarre enough. How could there be a second one, and in the Xiao family, no less? he cursed himself bitterly.
"You're tired. Rest. I'll handle the rest," Xiao Bai said, shaking his head inwardly. He patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, his voice warm.
"Yeah, I'm beat. You take over!" Xiao Yan stood, glancing at Xiao Bai preparing to wake Na Lan Jie, a flicker of reluctance in his eyes.
"Brother Bai! Odd changes, even stays!" he blurted.
"…" Xiao Bai.
Turning, he crossed his arms, stroking his chin, eyeing the tense Xiao Yan like he was sizing up a fool, his brows furrowing. "What's this about changing or staying? You drive out some poison, and now you're babbling nonsense? Does this Branding Poison mess with your head too?"
Xiao Yan, scrutinizing Xiao Bai's every move, found no hint of anything unusual. His eyes dulled completely, his hopes dashed. Waving a hand, he shuffled to a chair, his steps heavy with disappointment. "Nothing. Probably just tired."
"Phew." Xiao Bai let out a silent breath, relieved.
That was too close. This kid doesn't play fair, pulling a sneak attack! I nearly answered the next line!
If he'd let even a single word slip, no matter how he denied it, Xiao Yan would suspect him forever!
"Teacher, do you think anyone on the Dou Qi Continent could master so many attributes and cultivate them to Brother Bai's level?" Xiao Yan murmured to Yao Lao, sitting in the chair, his gaze fixed on the black-robed figure, memories flashing through his mind.
Without that sudden spark of intuition, he might not have cared, but once the seed of doubt was planted, it took root in his heart.
In this world, he had his father, brothers, and family, but how could he fully erase his past life's memories?
He'd buried them deep, too fantastical to share with anyone.
But now, realizing he might not be alone—and that the person could be his closest brother—how could he not be thrilled? If there was another transmigrator, he hoped it was Brother Bai.
Then, he could boldly share the secrets buried deep in his heart.
"Little Yan, what's with you today? You've known about that kid's abilities for ages. What are you doubting?" Yao Lao's voice replied. "This world is vast. Even at the Dou Di realm, no one could claim to know all its secrets."
"The Dou Qi Continent has endured countless ages, birthing countless prodigies. The Dou Di powerhouses I know of alone number more than ten. Xiao Bai has his own fortune—it's not that strange."
Feeling the gaze on his back, Xiao Bai rolled his eyes inwardly, ignoring it.
Claim a countryman? Maybe when I'm invincible in the Great Thousand Worlds. But now? With eyes possibly watching from above? No way!
His thoughts churned, but his hands didn't falter. He tapped Na Lan Jie's brow, and moments later, a pair of cloudy eyes opened, dazed at first, then sharpening as a hoarse voice rasped, "Young man, who are you?"
"Your savior," Xiao Bai said, standing. "Feel your body. Isn't it less painful than before?"
Na Lan Jie closed his eyes, sensing for a moment before snapping them open, incredulous. "The Branding Poison… it's lessened?"
"Don't get too excited. The poison's deep. It'll take several sessions to fully expel," Xiao Bai said.
"It can truly be completely removed?" Na Lan Jie's face lit with joy, fixating on the last sentence, heedless of the rest.
"Indeed."
"Haha, excellent, excellent! Your medical skill is truly miraculous, young friend!" Na Lan Jie laughed heartily, his voice vibrant. "I'll trouble you further!"
Nearby, Xiao Yan rolled his eyes.
"Father!"
"Grandfather!"
Xiao Bai waved, and the door swung open.
Two figures pacing anxiously outside froze, then turned, their faces lighting up at the sight of the awake elder.
"You wretched girl, you dare show your face? If you hadn't recklessly gone to the Xiao family, would I have been so furious I faltered in my cultivation, ending up like this?" Na Lan Jie's eyes blazed, glaring at the approaching girl.
"Grandfather…" Na Lan Yan Ran, noticing the room's gazes, blushed and stomped her foot, pouting. "Look around! This is the Miteer family, not ours!"
"Er…" Na Lan Jie glanced at the unfamiliar surroundings, puzzled.
Xiao Bai had no interest in their family drama—unlike the youth nearby, whose fists were clenched tight.
He turned to Na Lan Su, calm. "You've seen the results. I've kept my promise. Now it's your turn."
"Uh…" Na Lan Su hesitated, glancing at Na Lan Jie on the bed.
"Promise? What promise?" Na Lan Jie tilted his head, confused.
"Grandfather, here's what happened…" Na Lan Yan Ran stepped forward, explaining in a low voice.
"Did you bring the Seven Illusions Green Spirit Saliva?" Na Lan Jie asked Na Lan Su, his tone grave.
Na Lan Su nodded, and with a flick, a jade pot appeared in his hand. A soothing fragrance filled the room, calming the mind.
Its leaves were like green jade, its seven flowers each a different hue, their colors shifting in a mesmerizing, dreamlike dance.
"Young friend, I, Na Lan Jie, always keep my word. Since it was agreed, this is yours now," Na Lan Jie said from the bed, his gaze complex as he looked at the plant.
It was harvesting this very herb that had poisoned him, yet now, it was the key to his survival.
Taking the pot from Na Lan Su, a flash of joy crossed Xiao Bai's eyes. With this, his confidence for the Yun Lan Sect trip grew.
"I have matters to attend to. You may leave. If you want a swift recovery, come back tomorrow," Xiao Bai said, storing the plant in his ring with a wave. He smiled politely, ignoring the Na Lan family's hesitant expressions, and left the room.
"Uh, this…" Na Lan Jie turned to Xiao Yan, about to speak, but the masked youth merely nodded curtly and walked out.
"…" The Na Lan trio.
If not for the undeniable reduction in his poison, Na Lan Jie might've thought he'd been scammed!
___
Back in the courtyard, Xiao Bai had barely sat down when Xiao Yan stormed in.
"Brother Bai, where's the benefit you mentioned?"
Xiao Bai glanced at the youth, whose eyes lit up at the mention of cultivation. Pouring a cup of tea, he said slowly, "Cultivate with your Green Lotus Core Flame, and you'll see."
Without a word, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged, hands forming seals, slipping into cultivation.
As time passed, Xiao Bai sipped his tea, watching Xiao Yan's face flicker with joy, knowing he'd discovered the Dou Qi energy within the Branding Poison.
"Phew, no wonder it's the energy of a Dou Wang. So rich! Just a fraction, and it's this immense!" Xiao Yan opened his eyes, a glint of brilliance in his pupils, his aura surging noticeably.
Standing, he sat at the table, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Xiao Bai. A peak Dou Wang, right here!
"Dou Qi energy carries a person's essence and spirit. Only what's refined through your own technique builds the steadiest foundation. Stop chasing shortcuts!" Xiao Bai said, glaring at Xiao Yan, reading his thoughts from that look. "The energy from Na Lan Jie, refined by your Heavenly Flame, can help with a minor breakthrough. But a major one? See if your teacher doesn't skin you!"
This wasn't some energy-absorbing cheat!
"Heh…" Xiao Yan, his scheme exposed, rubbed his nose awkwardly.
Suddenly, his hand froze, his expression shifting, his face paling dramatically.
____
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