Unmatched Valor

Forty spirit stones—a sum that would almost bankrupt any average Qi Refinement cultivator.

"Miss Chu is quite decisive," Yang Fan said with a smile, gesturing for Lin Zhong to collect the spirit stones. 

Lin Zhong's face showed a hint of disbelief—forty spirit stones, so easily acquired? He remembered a time, when he was just a wandering rogue cultivator, when all his assets combined couldn't amount to that much.

"Hmph! Yang Alchemist's medical skills are indeed extraordinary—so is the fee, far higher than any typical healer would charge," said Chu Yuyan, her beautiful face showing a trace of anger and a faint blush, clearly irked by Yang Fan's blatant extortion.

But Yang Fan ignored her discontent and, under the killing glare of Chu Yiyun, nonchalantly asked, "Miss Chu, I doubt you traveled all the way to our small town of Wuliu merely for medical treatment. Surely there's more to it?"

"Yang Gongzi, your wit is indeed remarkable," Chu Yuyan said, her tone softening, her eyes gleaming with a hint of admiration.

As Yang Fan stowed the spirit stones in his storage pouch, he raised a hand slightly, motioning toward the inner hall. "Please, Miss Chu, let's talk inside. As long as the price is right, I'm open to any request."

A strange glimmer flickered in Chu Yuyan's bright eyes, but without hesitation, she followed Yang Fan into the inner room.

"Both of you, stay where you are," Lin Zhong commanded, blocking Chu Yiyun and Hu Ren from entering.

"You two wait outside," Chu Yuyan said coldly.

"But… Miss, your safety—" Chu Yiyun asked with concern.

"In this small town of Wuliu, are you really worried about my safety?" Chu Yuyan retorted with a sarcastic smile.

Yang Fan laughed lightly. "You should be more concerned about my safety."

Indeed, with Chu Yuyan being a peak Qi Refinement cultivator, it was questionable who should worry for whom when it came to their safety.

Lin Zhong, watching the two disappear into the hall, felt uneasy. "Chu Yuyan is a peak Qi Refinement cultivator, the eldest daughter of the Rain Mist Manor, no doubt highly skilled. I hope Gongzi doesn't find himself in any danger…"

He was a worldly rogue cultivator and knew that outward beauty and purity, as portrayed by someone like Chu Yuyan, could often be deceiving.

...

As Yang Fan led Chu Yuyan inside, he could clearly feel the jealous gaze behind him—Chu Yiyun's.

Yang Fan smiled to himself, amused. So, it wasn't Chu Yiyun's concern for Chu Yuyan's safety that was driving him—it was jealousy. 

Yang Fan's demeanor and charisma had an undeniable effect on women, and Chu Yiyun could sense his junior sister's growing interest in Yang Fan. In the past, Chu Yuyan had rarely shown any inclination to be alone with men, but this time, she had agreed almost too willingly.

"Miss Chu, now that it's just the two of us, could you tell me the true reason for your visit?" Yang Fan asked after they had both sat down.

Facing his deep, dark eyes, a faint blush rose on Chu Yuyan's jade-like face, and the atmosphere in the room turned a little awkward.

"A few days ago, from both Alchemist Zheng and Lin, I heard of your exceptional medical skills, Yang Gongzi. Alchemist Zheng even spoke of you with great admiration, claiming himself inferior. Having witnessed your abilities firsthand today, I can see they were not exaggerating."

Chu Yuyan smiled, her bright eyes meeting Yang Fan's gaze with calmness. Her earlier nervousness seemed to dissipate. She wasn't some naive, innocent girl—she was a peak Qi Refinement cultivator, after all.

"Heh, a mere ** technique. Even if most healers can't immediately dispel it, they should at least understand its nature. So, Miss Chu's trip to Wuliu was merely to assess my abilities, was it?" Yang Fan said with a teasing smile.

"You're teasing me, Yang Gongzi…" Chu Yuyan replied, her tone somewhat uncertain, as she toyed with the edge of her blue crystal dress. She couldn't understand why she felt so unsettled in his presence. He was only a low-level Qi Refinement cultivator, yet she found it impossible to assert control over the conversation, and instead, found herself feeling off-balance.

What disturbed her more was the unsettling sensation that all her secrets were laid bare before him, as if she were a lamb exposed to the gaze of a predator.

Sensing her discomfort, Yang Fan quickly focused his mind, circulating the "Withered Wood Technique" to suppress his aura and appear more ordinary.

"The real reason I'm here is for the upcoming expedition to Ghost Corpse Mountain in three months," Chu Yuyan finally admitted. "Alchemist Zheng should have mentioned it to you."

The Rain Mist Manor had a long tradition of holding practical trials, and in three months, the third-generation disciples would embark on an expedition to Ghost Corpse Mountain. There would likely be injuries and possibly encounters with malevolent spirits, so the manor had invited several alchemists to help reduce casualties.

Yang Fan wasn't surprised. He nodded and calmly replied, "Payment."

Straight to the point!

Chu Yuyan's eyes widened, momentarily losing her composure. She was momentarily disappointed, thinking, *Have I lost my charm?*

As a noble young lady—beautiful, graceful, and highly esteemed—most men would be full of praise and respect, trembling in her presence, eager to please. Yet here was a man who didn't show the slightest deference, talking about money instead.

It wasn't just any man either—it was one of the most captivating and elegant men she had ever met. His scholarly demeanor, his warm, gentle aura—it was as if he could encompass everything.

Her pride took a hit, and she couldn't help but feel a bit resentful.

"Hmph! How much do you want?" she asked, her frustration spilling over.

Yang Fan held up five fingers. "Five hundred spirit stones."

"Five hundred?!" Chu Yuyan gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

Five hundred? That was a blatant rip-off. Even a Condensation Stage cultivator wouldn't expect such a price.

"No way! That's far too much. It's several times what Alchemist Zheng and the others are charging. I can only offer one hundred spirit stones, no more!"

A stern look crossed her delicate face as she released a powerful wave of spiritual pressure. Peak Qi Refinement—she was at the pinnacle of her stage, and with it, she asserted her authority over Yang Fan, whom she viewed as little more than an ant at the initial stage of Qi Refinement.

"Miss Chu, your valor is unmatched!" Yang Fan said, feigning admiration, though his lips curled into a mischievous grin.

"Unmatched valor!"

Chu Yuyan nearly choked on her breath. Her carefully cultivated aura of dominance collapsed completely.

She realized, in that moment, that she had utterly lost to this man.

"Yang Gongzi, five hundred spirit stones is excessive, really… it's far too much," Chu Yuyan said, now adopting a softer, almost pitiful tone, her demeanor once again delicate and fragile.

"How much did Alchemist Zheng and the others quote you?" Yang Fan asked coolly, sensing her sincerity through the subtle fluctuations in her heart rate and breathing.

"One hundred spirit stones, for three days of service," she replied honestly.

Yang Fan, feeling no deception, nodded. "Very well. I won't ask for more. Let's settle on two hundred spirit stones."

"Two hundred is still a lot… it might upset the other alchemists. How about one hundred and fifty?" Chu Yuyan suggested, her tone softening further. She suddenly found that haggling with him brought her an unexpected joy, a strange sense of satisfaction.

"Two hundred. That's my final offer," Yang Fan said firmly, rising from his seat, showing no sign of compromise.

"Fine… I yield to you," Chu Yuyan sighed, her eyes brimming with reluctant admiration. She took out ten mid-grade spirit stones and placed them on the table. "Here are ten mid-grade spirit stones, worth more than a hundred low-grade ones. Consider it a down payment."

Yang Fan was briefly taken aback by her sudden decisiveness.

"Yang Gongzi, if you ever have time, you are welcome to visit Rain Mist Manor. I would be honored to host you," Chu Yuyan murmured, casting him a lingering glance, her cheeks flushed like flowers in bloom, before quickly leaving.

Yang Fan understood her meaning immediately, and for a moment, he felt tempted. With her backing, he could accelerate his ascent in the cultivation world.

But the thought quickly passed, and another figure came to mind—**Xi. In the soft, fresh scent of jade-green woods, he saw the perfect face hidden beneath a white veil, with flowing black hair and rippling waters... He remembered the intoxicating fragrance of flowers and grass. Their one-year promise had ten months left.