--- Chapter 58 ---
Baek Ain avoided the Alchemist Association for now.
He did so because the Pill King Gu He is "directly." affiliated with Mystic Cloud Sect. And who is Pill King's mentor? Yes, Fa Ma himself.
Even Liu Ling, the Pill King's Disciple, is monitored by Baek Ain through the system's map.
Baek Ain believed the Mystic Cloud Sect has a connection with the Hall of Soul, the main antagonist of Battle Through the Heaven. Even though this world is an alternative universe, some big things stayed the same.
To prove that, Yan Li from Chu Yuan Empire still entered the Alchemist Grand Meeting and caused a problem.
Baek Ain couldn't see into the future, but he at least could anticipate horrible events.
As Baek Ain walked out of the Alchemist Association's building, he saw a carriage strolling into the field. He briefly caught Nalan Yanran entering the carriage and wondered if her grandfather still had the same problem as the canon story.
He shook his head gently and commented, "Seven Magical Green Spirit Saliva from Nalan Clan is a good medicinal ingredient, but getting it was hard without direct contact."
"And the three-year promise between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran will start soon."
"Maybe I can take advantage of Nalan Yanran's problem?"
"Nah, she's also from the Mystic Cloud Sect." Baek Ain whistled, summoning Heavenly Gryphon.
He jumped onto the 5-Rank Magical Beast and disappeared into the horizon, unaware of Nalan Yanran's gaze. The pink-haired young lady actually noticed his presence as well but decided to stay quiet.
"Baek Ain..." Nalan Yanran grazed the glass window of her carriage, reaching the spot where Baek Ain disappeared into.
"How could you grow stronger so fast? We haven't met for four months, but you have reached 5-Star Dou Grandmaster."
"If only Teacher Yun Yun could see this, she'd be flabbergasted."
"Unfortunately, Teacher Yun Yun is on a journey right now. I didn't even know when she would return."
"1st Alchemist of the 8th Alchemist Grand Meeting. He also possessed an unknown Heavenly Flame." Nalan Yanran smiled wryly. "I might have to visit the Miteer Family soon. Grandfather's symptoms became worse lately."
A sad sigh escaped Nalan Yanran's mouth as she recalled her moment with Baek Ain. A few days in the Mountain Beast Forest were intense and memorable. A young man defeated Amethyst Winged Lion with his genius intellect would never leave her mind.
"I wish my fiance were you instead, Baek Ain."
"Victory or Loss will get decided soon."
...
...
The next day.
Baek Ain yawned on his bed and cuddled with Lan Rou, giving her a few pecks on the cheeks. The young woman squirmed while purring in his embrace, enjoying his company.
After finishing her closed cultivation, Lan Rou breaks into the 1-Star Dou King Realm. She becomes more cuddly and requires more attention than usual, which Baek Ain likes.
Lan Rou, frankly speaking, is a strict woman.
And being an Elite Shadow Guard doesn't make it any better. That's why Baek Ain hoped she could become more relaxed around him.
"Ain, what do you think about babies?" Lan Rou suddenly asked.
Faced with such a serious question, Baek Ain opened his mouth awkwardly and returned, "Uh, do you want one?"
"If you don't mind." She smiled beautifully, leaving Baek Ain speechless.
"Just be honest. It's just a question that went through my mind a minute ago."
Baek Ain cleared his throat and answered, "Ehem... Well, I don't mind having a child in the future."
"However."
"However?"
"However, having children is such a big responsibility. I couldn't even protect you from people like Queen Medusa. And there are more powerful powerhouses out there." Baek Ain added calmly.
"I'm fifteen, Lan Rou."
"We still have a lot of time..."
"That's true." Lan Rou giggled in realization.
They cuddled for thirty more minutes, and Lan Rou told him she had to go again. Reaching Dou King means her position as Shadow Guard Leader is "actually." decided.
Lan Rou doesn't have to do middle to high-grade missions unless no one can finish that specific mission. Her current job is to monitor all Shadow Guards.
"See you soon." She vanished into the mist.
Baek Ain smiled weakly and stared at his bedroom's ceiling silently, shaking his head a second later because he had never thought about making children.
He's a carefree guy.
Let's not even talk about children. Baek Ain didn't have a proper relationship with women before his transmigration.
A bitter laugh comes from Baek Ain's mouth as Baek's Bloodline should get passed on one way or another. Still, that's far way into the future.
Knock! Knock!
Someone is knocking on Baek Ain's bedroom, making him tilt his head slightly.
"Who?"
"Um, it's me. Qing Lin." A sweet voice responded.
"Someone is searching for you, Boss. She said her name is Nalan Yanran, and it is urgent."
Baek Ain couldn't help but sigh inside and replied, "Okay, just tell her to wait for a few minutes."
Baek Ain grabbed his trenchcoat and some tools. Walking to the living room, He sensed Nalan Yanran's presence and jokingly greeted her, "Oh, the young lady Nalan Clan. What purpose do you have in visiting me personally?"
Nalan Yanran giggled helplessly and answered, "This young lady needs a little help from the Genius Baek Ain."
"Don't call me that. I'm no genius." Baek Ain sat on the sofa.
"If you weren't a genius, then all talents on this surface of the world are trash. Being humble doesn't justify your heaven-defying ability to refine the 5-Tier Pill at fifteen." Nalan Yanran commented with her keen eyes landing on Baek Ain.
"It's hard to believe you are three years younger than me. I felt worthless, you know?"
'You'll feel more worthless if I told you my cultivation is at 6-Star Dou King. Also, 5-Tier Pills aren't my limit.' Baek Ain thought to himself.
"Well, let's go straight to the topic."
"What do you want from me, Young Lady Nalan."
"Yanran." Nalan Yanran stated calmly.
"Pardon?"
"Yanran alone is fine. You can call me that. There is no use of honorifics between the two of us."
"Uh... Okay?"
Nalan Yanran draped her hand over her lap and explained her purpose for visiting him today. Since she wasn't the type to make a fuss over a serious problem, she immediately requested Baek Ain to help her grandfather.
She also listed the symptoms that happened to her grandfather, which led Baek Ain to believe the Chu Yuan Empire was involved with it.
"Did your Grandfather visit the Chu Yuan Empire in the past?" Baek Ain asked calmly.
Nalan Yanran nodded and answered, "He did."
"The reason is unknown, but my father told me my grandfather fought two Dou Kings who were Poison Masters. He defeated them but sustained critical injury."
"Even though he healed the injury, the poison was "deeply." trapped within his body."
"I've asked Pill King to help, but he said my grandfather's case needs Heavenly Flame."
[Ding! You have triggered a quest]
[Name: Save Nalan Yanran's Grandfather]
[Objective: Cleanse the Searing Poison from Nalan Jie's body]
[Time Limit: A day]
[Penalty: Nalan Jie's Death]
[Reward: Nine Magical Rainbow Spirit Saliva(SS), 1x Random Weapon, Nalan Yanran's Affection +25%]
[Do you want to accept the quest?]
[Yes/No]
Baek Ain's mouth twitched when reading the third reward of this quest, but whatever. "Sure, I'll help. Remember to give me a bountiful reward, though." He smirked at Nalan Yanran.
Nalan Yanran's cheeks flushed as she responded, "W-Will do."
It seems the young lady mistook the reward for other things.
"When can you visit my Nalan Clan?"
"Right now." Baek Ain answered firmly.
"I'll treat your grandfather as quickly as possible."
"I heard you would fight someone soon."
Nalan Yanran frowned and returned, "You know?"
"Just a little." Baek Ain shrugged casually.
"A better state of mind will help you win, no?"
"Haha~! True." Nalan Yanran giggled when hearing such a reply.
Nalan Yanran and Baek Ain went to Nalan Clan fifteen minutes later, arriving at a high-end mansion no less than Miteer Family Mansion.
[Ding! Do you want to Sign In to the Nalan Clan's Sky Mansion?]
'Yes.'
[Congratulations, host!]
[You have received Two Peak Xuan-Grade Dou Technique: "Sky Sword." and "Azure Sky Flash."]
'Nice. Let's treat the old man now.' Baek Ain grinned inside. After all, the Nalan Clan will be a decent support to dominate Jia Ma Empire.