As the sun reached its peak in the sky, Nalan Yanran and her father, Nalan Su, stood waiting outside the mansion where Xiao Hua was resting.
"It seems we owe Lady Ya Fei a favor for requesting his help. Otherwise, I wouldn't know where to find such an extraordinary alchemist with a Heavenly Flame..."
"That's true, Father. After witnessing such a spectacle, I have no doubt that Master Xiao Hua will be able to cure Grandfather!"
Nalan Su nodded at his daughter's enthusiasm but couldn't help feeling a tinge of caution. He was well aware of Ya Fei's cunning nature—like a sly fox with a calculating mind. Owing her a favour was not something to be taken lightly.
Still, that was a matter for the future. Once his father was cured, there was no doubt that Ya Fei would not demand an unreasonable price, if only for the sake of his father's dignity.
Before long, the door creaked open, and Xiao Hua stepped out.
Having taken a moment to rest, he had already sensed the presence of the father-daughter duo. Without delay, he walked toward them, knowing it was time.
"Master Xiao Hua, my father and I will escort you to the Nalan Clan's residence."
Upon seeing Xiao Hua, Nalan Yanran's expression brightened, her beautiful eyes shimmering with joy. She hurried forward, greeting him with excitement.
Xiao Hua remained silent and merely nodded in response. Without hesitation, he strode forward toward the carriage that Nalan Su had prepared.
Noticing his indifferent attitude, Nalan Yanran felt a slight headache. In all her years, he was the first man to treat her with such cold detachment. She wasn't sure how to feel about it…
'Honestly, the Nalan Clan truly owes Elder Sister Ya Fei a great favor. If not for her, I doubt we could move this man no matter what rewards we offered him…'
With a bitter smile, she shook her head helplessly. A sense of relief filled her heart, knowing that Ya Fei had managed to secure his help.
Upon arriving at the Nalan residence, they passed through the vast front courtyard and headed straight for the side room.
"Young Master Xiao Hua, my grandfather is resting in the side chamber of the main hall. Please, this way."
Nalan Yanran walked beside Xiao Hua, keeping a respectful arm's length between them as she spoke in a soft voice. Meanwhile, Nalan Su stepped away to instruct the servants to prepare everything necessary for the treatment.
As they neared the side room, warm candlelight spilled through the slightly open doors. Inside, several female servants moved swiftly in and out, their hurried steps echoing through the corridor as they attended to their tasks.
As they stepped into the room, a beautifully carved circular doorway greeted them. Delicate blue curtains draped gracefully on either side, adding an elegant touch while offering the option of privacy.
Beyond the doorway, a large bed rested in the center of the chamber. An old man with a shriveled face lay motionless upon it, his frail body seemingly devoid of vitality. Around him, a few female servants busied themselves, carefully tending to his needs.
At the sound of approaching footsteps, they turned their gazes toward the newcomers. Upon recognizing Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran, they quietly resumed their tasks, attending to the unconscious elder with utmost care.
Xiao Hua stepped forward, his expression calm and composed. As his gaze swept over the bed, he immediately noticed a faint gray-black patch on the old man's face. Though the elder's countenance appeared peaceful in slumber, a subtle aura of death lingered around him.
"Master Xiao Hua, how is my grandfather?" Nalan Yanran asked anxiously, her face tense with worry.
"At present, his condition is not as dire as you imagine," Xiao Hua stated coolly, his tone flat and factual.
Just as relief began to show in her eyes, his indifferent voice continued, extinguishing her fleeting hope.
"However, in a few years, his condition will undoubtedly deteriorate. If left untreated, he will not survive. His current unconscious state is his body's desperate attempt to suppress the sudden eruption of the poison."
"Indeed. It is just as Master Xiao Hua has said."
A voice suddenly broke the silence just as Xiao Hua finished speaking. Nalan Yanran turned calmly to see her father standing at the circular doorway, holding a pamphlet listing the treasures stored within the Nalan Clan's treasury.
Xiao Hua did not turn around, having already sensed Nalan Su's presence approaching. His gaze remained fixed on the unconscious Nalan Jie.
Nalan Su, unfazed by Xiao Hua's indifference, understood that the young alchemist was focused entirely on his father's condition. Stepping closer to his daughter, he continued speaking about the poison.
"I'm afraid the 'Searing Poison' is no ordinary toxin—it is something even a Dou Huang would hesitate to touch. Though my father can withstand it for now, it does not mean he can endure it forever."
"Master Gu He said the same thing… In a few years, Grandfather will inevitably reach his limit."
Nalan Yanran's body trembled slightly, her beautiful eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She turned toward Xiao Hua, her voice breaking with desperation.
"Master Xiao Hua, can you cure my grandfather?"
"It's simple." Xiao Hua nodded with confidence. However, his expression suddenly turned sharp as he commanded, "I will begin the treatment. Make some space."
Raising his right hand, a brilliant emerald-jade flame burst forth, dancing elegantly around his palm. Instantly, the room's temperature surged, the air thick with scorching heat.
If one looked deeper in the elegant and graceful flame, traces of ember-like fire seedlings and flickering lightning sparks danced in the air.
He had learned his lesson from the Seren Sea Scaly Beast incident and chose to use the gentlest flame at his disposal. After all, given Nalan Jie's fragile condition, using any other flame would be nothing short of an invitation to hell, ensuring his demise.
Thus, he had to use the Life Execution Flame to treat Nalan Jie and purify the Searing Poison within him. Moreover, this flame could also infuse life force into Nalan Jie, accelerating his recovery and rapidly healing the injuries left by the Searing Poison.
'Even so, I must be careful… This old man could die if I'm not precise. After all, my flame is even fiercer than a Heavenly Flame…'
Xiao Hua's gaze lingered on the frail old man, assessing his fragile condition.
The emerald-jade flame in his hand was undeniably mesmerizing. Its ethereal beauty captivated the women in the room, their eyes locked onto the graceful flickering of the flames as if entranced.
"How beautiful..." Nalan Yanran couldn't stop herself from murmuring softly, her gaze drawn to the flame's hypnotic dance.
"The rest of you, leave the room."
Unmoved by the flame's allure, Nalan Su swiftly ordered the dazed female servants to vacate the chamber. He then hurriedly pulled his daughter a few steps back, ensuring she remained at a safe distance.
With a gentle wave of his hand, Xiao Hua released a stream of controlled energy, carefully lifting Nalan Jie from the bed without aggravating his condition.
His gaze swept over the unconscious old man, noticing the faint traces of defiance and unruliness still etched onto his weathered face—traits that remained even as the poison slowly consumed him.
'What a shame this old man has such a nature…' Xiao Hua scoffed inwardly, feeling a flicker of disdain. He knew of Nalan Jie's future—of the man's unwillingness to take even a single step for Xiao Yan, someone he owed a great debt to. He even hoped for Xiao Yan's demise.
Xiao Hua lightly tapped Nalan Jie's shoulder with his left hand. A controlled burst of force surged forth, and in an instant, the old man's clothes disintegrated into dust, revealing his skeletal frame.
Despite the shocking sight, Xiao Hua's expression remained unchanged. However, standing at the side, Nalan Yanran's eyes reddened, mist forming within them. The rare sight of tears made the usually dignified young lady appear unexpectedly fragile and pitiful.
Xiao Hua slowly extended his hand, pressing it against Nalan Jie's frail back. As his palm made contact, the emerald-jade flame shot into the old man's body, swiftly coursing through his primary Qi Paths before coiling tightly around his blackened bones.
Through the keen control of his Spiritual Strength and perception, Xiao Hua could vividly sense the condition inside Nalan Jie's body. The poison had already seeped deep into his marrow, corroding his very foundation.
Loosening his restraint over the flame, Xiao Hua allowed its temperature to surge. The once-numb face of Nalan Jie contorted, a painful grimace replacing his previous lifelessness. His shriveled hand clenched tightly, and the veins on his thin arms began to pulse violently.
"Ah…"
On the bed, Nalan Jie's tightly shut eyes suddenly snapped open as a hoarse, pain-filled roar escaped his lips. A surge of fierce energy erupted from his body—like a final flash of strength before death, awakened from deep within him.
"Grandfather…!"
Alerted by the roar of the now-conscious elder, Nalan Yanran and Nalan Su swiftly stood up, their faces filled with alarm.
Just as Nalan Jie was about to resist the foreign energy surging through his body, a faint yet firm voice stopped him.
"I'm expelling the poison from your body. You must endure the pain—if you can't withstand it, I won't be able to remove it."
Hearing these words, Nalan Jie gradually calmed. Tilting his head slightly, he turned toward the voice behind him—a young man he had never seen before.
Inside him, a searing flame blazed, steadily incinerating the poison deeply embedded within his bones and marrow. The fire's strength was terrifying, its heat unbearable. His frail body could hardly withstand a single treatment.
Yet, rather than fear, a steely resolve filled his gaze.
"Thank you, Young Master. Use your full strength! This old man can endure any pain that comes his way. Even if death is the result, none will blame you!"
Despite the agony, Nalan Jie let out a heroic laugh, enduring the torment with a fearless smile.
"Grandfather, what nonsense are you saying?!" Nalan Yanran cried out in shock, her heart tightening at the sight of her once-unconscious grandfather.
Nalan Jie's gaze snapped toward her, his expression darkening.
"You little rascal! You actually dare to return? After publicly announcing the annulment of the marriage I arranged with my sworn brother's grandson—did you think I wouldn't be so enraged that the 'Searing Poison' within me would erupt violently?!"
His furious glare bore into her, his anger palpable. Just as he was about to lash out further, his trembling lips quivered, and another dry howl escaped him.
He turned his head again, his gaze falling upon the unfamiliar young man standing nearby. Seeing the stranger's sudden frown, Nalan Jie let out a bitter chuckle.
"Young Master… why all of a sudden…"
"Quiet down and stop agitating the damn poison."
Xiao Hua's voice carried a trace of imperceptible anger, causing the three people in the room to momentarily freeze in surprise. A moment later, they could only fall silent, unable to argue.
Nalan Yanran stole a glance at the expressionless yet strikingly handsome young man, then secretly stuck out her tongue. Turning back to her grandfather's bitter expression, she couldn't help but find the situation amusing.
'After all these years, Young Master Xiao Hua is probably the only one bold enough to speak to the irritable and grumpy old man in such a manner,' she mused inwardly.
She understood that Xiao Hua had deliberately spoken harshly to stop her grandfather from scolding her. After all, he had agreed with her decision to annul the engagement, though he had lightly reprimanded her for making the announcement before discussing with the others.
Indeed, Xiao Hua had done this on purpose, feeling it was unfair for Nalan Jie to place all the blame on Nalan Yanran. Thus, he had allowed a trace of his impatience to slip, just enough to keep the old man quiet.
As the room fell into silence, the atmosphere became strangely still, as if even the air dared not stir.
After a short while, Xiao Hua halted the treatment upon noticing that Nalan Jie's face was growing increasingly pale by the second—a clear sign that his endurance had reached its limit.
"I'll stop the poison-expelling session here and continue at a later date. If I push any further, the Nalan Clan might as well start preparing a burial ceremony for you."
With that, he swiftly withdrew the Life Execution Flame from Nalan Jie's body and returned it to his own. Rising to his feet, he stepped away from the bed and turned to face Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran.
Xiao Hua could assess Nalan Jie's condition and knew the old man needed rest. However, the good news was that his Life Execution Flame was rapidly removing the Searing Poison, and one more session would be enough to completely eliminate it.
Of course, he could give a medicinal pill to restore Nalan Jie's vitality and immediately begin another session, but there was a risk—the Searing Poison might absorb the pill's medicinal strength and recover, prolonging the treatment and wasting even more of his time. That was a risk he could not afford to take.
A wry grin appeared on the faces of the three generations of the Nalan family upon hearing Xiao Hua's harsh words. Yet, none of them showed any sign of offense, knowing that he had halted the treatment to prevent Nalan Jie's condition from worsening—any further, and it could have cost him his life.
"Ke ke… Master, I cannot thank you enough for this." Nalan Jie hurriedly nodded, letting out a hoarse chuckle. "May I ask for my benefactor's name?"
Nalan Yanran and Nalan Su flinched slightly at the unexpected question. They had intended to reveal Xiao Hua's name only after he had left, yet Nalan Jie had asked outright.
"…Xiao Hua." Xiao Hua responded casually.
Nalan Jie was momentarily stunned upon hearing the name. He turned to his son and granddaughter, seeking confirmation.
Seeing them nod in response, disbelief flickered across his aged face. The one treating him was none other than Xiao Hua—the most talented genius of the Xiao Clan…
Even the thickest-skinned individual would find this situation undeniably awkward. And for someone as stubborn and grumpy as Nalan Jie, it was especially so.
"This…"
"Do not worry, Elder Nalan." Xiao Hua's voice was calm, his expression indifferent. "The matter of Nalan Yanran's annulment was settled amicably thanks to Sect Leader Yun's efforts. There is no need to concern yourself with me harboring a grudge."
Understanding Nalan Jie's unspoken concerns, Xiao Hua simply offered a faint smile, showing neither displeasure nor resentment.
"In the first place, the agreement was between you and the old Clan Head, Xiao Lin. It was a personal matter and has nothing to do with me. There is no need for an apology."
Nalan Jie felt a wave of relief wash over him, knowing that Xiao Hua bore no resentment toward Nalan Yanran for annulling the engagement.
With Xiao Hua's status and strength, a single command from him could erase the Nalan Clan from the Jia Ma Empire. Now that the matter was settled, it was as if a massive stone had finally been lifted from his heart.
"Anyway, one more session will be required to completely eliminate the Searing Poison from his body." Xiao Hua glanced at Nalan Jie, whose complexion had visibly improved, as he calmly stated his conclusion.
"Master Xiao Hua, thank you very much. As long as you can cure my father, you may take anything from our treasury."
Seeing the newfound vitality on Nalan Jie's aged face, the heavy weight pressing on Nalan Su's heart finally eased. Nalan Jie's importance to the Nalan Clan was immeasurable. Even if his fall wouldn't completely cripple them, the gap between their clan and the other two major families would only widen over time.
With a respectful gesture, Nalan Su handed Xiao Hua a pamphlet detailing the treasures within their treasury. "In the meantime, this is a list of the items in our collection. Master Xiao Hua may choose anything, and we shall prepare it for you tomorrow."
Xiao Hua took the pamphlet and stored it in his Storage Ring without even glancing at it. As his gaze shifted toward the darkening sky outside, he turned to Nalan Jie and spoke indifferently.
"I will return tomorrow to complete the treatment. I'll take my leave for today."
"Young Master, why not stay at the Nalan estate? I would like to properly express my gratitude." Nalan Jie hurriedly smiled and extended an invitation in a warm tone.
"There's no need, Elder Nalan. My accommodations have already been arranged elsewhere." Xiao Hua shook his head, politely declining.
He understood well that Nalan Jie's gratitude was nothing more than a façade. Should Xiao Hua or the Xiao Clan ever fall into trouble, Nalan Jie would undoubtedly distance himself without hesitation.
"Uh… since that's the case, girl, go see our guest off." Seeing Xiao Hua's decisiveness, Nalan Jie was momentarily at a loss. After a brief pause, he could only give a helpless order.
"Ok." Nalan Yanran nodded slightly before turning her gaze toward the lean figure walking ahead. Without another word, she quietly followed.
...
As Xiao Hua walked forward with a calm and expressionless face, the princess of the Nalan Clan quietly observed his side profile.
She still found it hard to believe that such a young man possessed a Heavenly Flame—a power so fearsome that even Dou Huang experts dreaded it. He was a Dou Zong, the only one in the entire Jia Ma Empire, and an eighth-tier alchemist who had already surpassed the renowned Pill King, Gu He.
His talent and achievements not only crushed the pride of the so-called young geniuses of the Jia Ma Empire, but they also left them so far behind that they couldn't even glimpse his shadow.
Yet, despite all this, he showed none of the arrogance that many young prodigies carried. His casual and composed demeanor made it easy to forget that he was one of the strongest experts in the entire empire.
And yet, what troubled her most was his cold and indifferent attitude toward her. She could tell that Xiao Hua bore no grudge against her, yet his distant behavior left her utterly perplexed. She struggled to find the right words, unsure of how to start a conversation with him.
This left Nalan Yanran feeling both stifled and puzzled despite the admiration and respect that she held for him.
Unable to endure the silence any longer, Nalan Yanran finally spoke in a soft voice.
"Young Master Xiao Hua, I appreciate you saving me from my grandfather's scolding. If not for you, he would have been much harsher…"
"I simply disagreed with your grandfather's approach. There's no need to thank me for such a trivial matter." Xiao Hua's response was cold and indifferent.
Nalan Yanran didn't take his tone to heart and continued trying to engage him in conversation. However, each attempt was met with either a brief, curt reply or a dismissive response.
Before long, the two arrived at the main gate of the Nalan Clan's residence.
"Young Master Xiao Hua, we will await your arrival tomorrow morning," Nalan Yanran said with a polite smile. Though her expression remained calm, a faint sense of disappointment lingered in her heart.
No matter what she said, the young man before her responded with nothing but indifference.
Xiao Hua simply nodded, offering a faint smile, before turning around and walking away without hesitation.
Nalan Yanran gazed at Xiao Hua's departing figure with a distant expression, lightly biting her lower lip. Her mind drifted into deep contemplation.
As one of the most talented women in the Jia Ma Empire, she had never experienced such cold and indifferent treatment from a peer of the same generation. This was truly at first.
Yet, the more aloof Xiao Hua was, the more intrigued she became.
Just as heroes are drawn to beauty, beauties are drawn to heroes. With his unparalleled talent, strength, and status, Xiao Hua naturally commanded the attention of countless young maidens—including her.