Chapter 217: Cai Lin Arrives, a Marriage?
Yan Li snapped back to consciousness, glaring at the black-robed young man with a mix of anger, fear, and confusion. He didn't know what the mysterious mark in his sea of consciousness was, but he was certain it wasn't good.
"Don't worry, as long as you obey, it won't affect you," Xiao Bai said calmly, withdrawing his hand and glancing at Yan Li's bloodshot eyes.
Despair flashed across Yan Li's face, his energy drained, his expression miserable. After a long pause, he trembled, "What do you need from me?"
"Nothing," Xiao Bai waved, settling back into his chair. "I'll find you when I need you."
"You're controlling me because I'm an alchemist, to refine elixirs for you?" Yan Li's heart jolted, panic rising.
Alchemists were noble, but villains sometimes targeted talented, lesser-known ones, imprisoning them to refine pills in misery. He'd thought Xiao Bai was such a person.
"Refine pills for me?" Xiao Bai nearly laughed, eyeing Yan Li curiously. "You?"
"…!" Yan Li felt humiliated by the dismissive look. Flushing, he puffed out his chest and gritted, "What's wrong with me? I'm a fourth-grade alchemist, peak fourth-grade, one step from fifth! That second-grade alchemist beside you can't compare!"
"…!" Xiao Yan. Did I ask for this? He sneered, "Forget being fourth-rank at your age. Even if you were truly seventeen, you'd be nothing to Brother Bai! A true fifth-rank wouldn't faze him!"
Yan Li's face turned purple, glaring at Xiao Yan, rage boiling. As Izumo's Alchemist Guild vice-president, no second-rank alchemist dared speak to him like that!
"Haha. Lost!" Xiao Yan taunted.
"Fuck you!" Yan Li snapped.
Xiao Yan's eyes widened, turning to Xiao Bai. "Brother Bai, let's kill this shameless old bastard!"
Yan Li paled but calmed, eyeing Xiao Bai warily, fearing an attack.
"…!" Xiao Bai snapped his fingers, tossed the ring back, and stood to leave. "Alright! Do what you need to do. I'm leaving."
"Sir, may I still participate in the Alchemist Conference?" Yan Li caught the ring, surprised, and asked cautiously. If his original plan failed, the loss would be immense.
"As you wish!" Xiao Bai waved without looking back, disappearing through the door.
"Want to win the championship? Dream on!" Xiao Yan sneered, turning to leave.
"Haha!" Yan Li chuckled contemptuously at Xiao Yan's back but said nothing.
Pausing, Xiao Yan clenched his fists, suppressed his anger, and strode away.
By evening, back at the courtyard, Xiao Yan stormed in, glaring at Xiao Bai.
Xiao Bai laughed. This timeline's Xiao Yan seemed less bitter, more youthful and spirited than in the original novel.
"Nine-star Dou Shi, just shy of perfection," Xiao Bai said, sizing him up.
"Hmm!" Xiao Yan nodded, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Xiao Bai extended a hand, a wisp of transparent, milky flame flickering across it. Xiao Yan froze, his face reddening like hot charcoal, white mist rising from his head.
"Damn! So powerful!" Shocked, Xiao Yan looked inward, sensing a flame within him. How did it enter my body when it's still in Brother Bai's hand?
"The Fallen Heart Flame is invisible, manifesting through the mind. This strand will suffice for tomorrow's alchemy, maybe even pushing you to perfection. Your teacher will guide you," Xiao Bai said, passing the flame.
Xiao Yan, communicating with Yao Lao, enveloped the transparent flame with his green flames, catching it. "Hehe, thank you, Brother Bai!"
Beaming as he absorbed the Heart Fire, Xiao Yan delighted in its benefits. Xiao Bai chuckled, glancing at the black ring on his hand. "Yao Lao, we've gathered the herbs. I'll research the recipe tonight and refine it tomorrow."
"Alright! I'll wait for your good news!" Yao Lao's voice perked up. Ethereal and needing Soul Fluid to recover, he was wary of the Soul Palace's rats.
The night was quiet.
Xiao Bai sat alone, studying a beast-hide scroll—the recipe for the sixth-grade Panax Notoginseng Soul Liquid, as challenging as a Dou Zong elixir. With only one set of herbs, even he was cautious.
Yet, he seemed distracted, annoyance flickering in his eyes. Exhaling, he sheathed the scroll, stood, and walked out. With a shudder, he appeared on the rooftop.
Hands behind his back, he gazed toward a distant point, worry in his eyes. Energy wings emerged, ready to fly off.
"Huh? Xiao Bai, you going to see that guy too?" Hai Bodong's voice paused him.
"What guy?" Xiao Bai turned to the smiling Hai Bodong.
"The gray-robed one from the conference!" Hai Bodong joined him on the roof. "Jia Xingtian, Fama, and I planned to check on him tonight. Want to come?"
Xiao Bai waved, speechless. "No!"
"Then where you going?" Hai Bodong asked curiously.
Before Xiao Bai could answer, his eyes twitched, joy flashing across them. He turned toward a peak outside the Holy City. "Haha, go by yourself!"
He transformed into a streak of light, speeding off.
"So happy?" Hai Bodong muttered, intrigued by Xiao Bai's excitement, and followed.
"What are you chasing after?" Xiao Bai rolled his eyes as Hai Bodong caught up.
"Hehe. Your side seems more exciting. I'll tag along!" Hai Bodong grinned expectantly.
Xiao Bai gave a thumbs-up, joking, "Mr. Hai, you're brave, daring to see Queen Medusa's fun!"
"I…" Hai Bodong's breath hitched, nearly falling. Shock and fear filled his face. "She's here?"
"Still going?" Xiao Bai asked playfully.
"Go to hell!" Hai Bodong's face darkened. He reversed direction, muttering, "No! I can't go back. I'll hide at Old Man Jia's for a few days. Yeah, settled!"
He flew toward the city.
"…!" Xiao Bai. Cai Lin must've beaten him hard to scare him like this!
Shaking his head, Xiao Bai gazed outward, eyes brimming with joy. With a flutter of wings, he vanished into light.
Outside the city, atop a mountaintop, the night breeze caressed, mist drifting. An enchanting figure stood, head shrouded in moonlit clouds, casting a silvery glow.
Her golden-crimson robe fluttered, long hair cascading. The breeze stirred her hair, evoking grace and nobility. Her majestic eyes, shimmering with moonlight, were cold yet captivating, gazing at the city below with anticipation.
Her eyebrows lifted, lips curling faintly.
"Haha, Queen, you're finally here!" Xiao Bai's delighted laugh shattered the stillness, landing on the mountaintop.
He gazed at the slender figure on the cliff's edge, worry fading from his eyes.
"Hmph! Show some respect to this king!" Cai Lin narrowed her eyes, glaring at the man rushing to embrace her, her tone softly rebuking.
Xiao Bai ignored her, pulling her voluptuous figure into his arms, inhaling her fragrance. Leaning to her ear, he whispered, "Cai Lin, I missed you!"
Her heart skipped, cheeks flushing. She turned away, humming, "Very skilled! Besides me, how many others have you said this to?"
Xiao Bai's heart stopped. Does she know something? He chuckled, "Unjust! First time I've said this to you today!"
Yes, today's the first time, not before!
"That's better. If I knew you'd told anyone else, hehe." Cai Lin raised her chin, phoenix eyes meeting his, sneering.
"…!" Xiao Bai wiped cold sweat. This proud queen! Opening a harem will be tough! Thinking of the Yunlan Sect visit in three days, he felt reckless. Cai Lin hadn't mentioned this among the Serpent People. Why now, after a month apart?
"After the Yunlan Sect matter, come back with me to the Serpent People. The great elders want to see you!" Cai Lin rubbed her head against his chest, ears flushed.
"To see me?" Xiao Bai stroked her hair, surprised. "Weren't they in seclusion? I missed them twice before."
"They came out for the altar baptism. After hearing about you among the Serpent People, they asked, and I told them," Cai Lin said, a tender flicker in her eyes.
"So, why see me?" Xiao Bai asked cautiously, a bad premonition rising.
"Why so many questions? You going or not?" Cai Lin glared, flushing, waving impatiently.
"Isn't it okay if I go?" Xiao Bai spread his hands helplessly. "But give me some clues!"
Meeting the parents for the first time, even after two lives, made him nervous.
Cai Lin's eyes evaded, her head tilting. After a pause, her voice mosquito-thin, she said, "Discuss the marriage!"
"I'll go!" Xiao Bai's eyes widened, rubbing his ears in disbelief, his body nearly bursting. His premonition had come true! Marriage? Now? If Xun'er finds out, she'll bring Dou Zun to obliterate us!
"Then it's settled. After this, you come back with me!" Cai Lin's eyes sparkled with shy excitement.
"Wait." Xiao Bai's forehead sweated, mind racing at her misunderstanding.
"You don't want to?" Cai Lin's joy faded, her face chilling. Is he not sincere, never planning to spend his life with me?
"Yes!" Xiao Bai nodded hurriedly as the air grew cold, knowing her pride meant refusal would end their connection.
Cai Lin softened, rolling her eyes. "You grown man, why so shy!"
Xiao Bai wanted to cry. Shy? She'd blindsided him with this marriage talk!
No choice but to stall. As long as he delayed, he'd find a way.
"I'm tired!" Cai Lin glanced at him softly.
"Let's go! I bought a yard in the city. I'll take you home!" Xiao Bai took her hand, speaking gently.
"Yeah!" Cai Lin nodded, smiling.
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(End of Chapter)