Li Shiyin and Zhao Yaqing

Xu Zhiye's mercurial and eccentric temperament was closely related to his long-term dwelling inside a volcano. The fire-poison accumulated inside his body, lingering in every corner, tormenting him ceaselessly. Yet to cultivate and forge swords, he couldn't leave the volcano.

Now, Qin Ran had offered a solution to eliminate the fire-poison for him and free him from the agony. So not only would Xu Zhiye be willing to help forge the sword, given his personality, he would even call Qin Ran his godfather.

Seeing Xu Zhiye agree, Qin Ran took out the Star Brilliance Stone he had auctioned and handed it to Xu Zhiye, saying, "This is the main material. As for the other ingredients, I'll have to trouble you to prepare them."

"Star Brilliance Stone..." Xu Zhiye weighed the stone and looked at Li Shiyin, "You really cherish your disciple and are willing to spend money to use such a precious material."

"Humph, fine. Since you have shown sincerity, I shall forge an unparalleled excellent sword for you!" Xu Zhiye laughed.

"Many thanks, Master Xu..." Qin Ran expressed his gratitude and asked further, "Please gather all the medicinal ingredients listed in the pill recipe. I can concoct the pill at the same time while you forge the sword so as not to waste any time."

"Sure!" Xu Zhiye replied and called over his tall, burly attendant, handing over the recipe, "Go to the cellar and gather the medicinal ingredients listed here for this young man."

"Yes!" The attendant acknowledged the order and left.

With the deal settled, Xu Zhiye would forge a sword for Li Shiyin while Qin Ran would concoct a detox pill for Xu Zhiye.

"How long will it take to forge the sword?" Qin Ran asked. "We'll come to collect it when it's done and deliver the pill at the same time."

This implied a simultaneous exchange - the sword for the pill. After all, Xu Zhiye's reputation was hard to trust.

And Xu Zhiye was well aware of his own notoriety. He gazed deeply at Qin Ran - this young man was adapting so quickly despite his mercurial changes in mood.

Xu Zhiye answered, "This Star Brilliance Stone isn't easy to melt. It will take two days just to heat up the furnace, not to mention inscribing the spell arrays...at least five days..."

"Five days?" Qin Ran nodded. "That's about how long it will take me to concoct the pill too."

"Hahaha..." Xu Zhiye laughed loudly for a while before his expression turned serious. He flew straight up the mountain, leaving behind a message, "In that case, I shall start firing up the furnace now. Please make yourself at home."

The evolving relationship between Qin Ran and Xu Zhiye had transformed from an initial junior and senior one to Xu Zhiye directly addressing him as "Sir" within a short span of less than ten minutes.

This change stemmed from Qin Ran's capabilities.

Li Shiyin still hadn't adapted to the elder's mercurial temper swings. They were chatting harmoniously just a second ago. How could he have vanished the next second?

But Qin Ran was used to it, mainly because he was constantly thinking ahead while keeping his external emotions in check.

Seeing Xu Zhiye disappear into the distance, Qin Ran turned around to face the two women still standing in the courtyard and asked, "Why have both of you been staring at us since just now? May I ask what's the reason?"

These two women weren't the shy type. Even when caught blatantly ogling, they showed no hint of awkwardness. The young lady smiled politely at Qin Ran and curtsied in greeting, "Greetings, Senior."

Qin Ran nodded back politely but didn't speak, waiting for her to explain herself.

"This junior is Zhao Yaqing from the Xuanqin Zhao Family. I'm acquainted with Senior's female disciple, Li Shiyin. We are old friends." The young lady continued smiling profoundly.

The Xuanqin Zhao Family? Qin Ran didn't recognize that name but could tell from this lady's composure and astuteness that she was no ordinary figure.

As for knowing Li Shiyin...

He tilted his head to glance at Li Shiyin, only to see her blinking confusedly at Miss Zhao Yaqing, clearly not recognizing her or rather, not recalling who this person was.

He turned back towards Zhao Yaqing.

"Miss Li has met too many people to remember clearly..." Zhao Yaqing still kept smiling as she explained, "Three years ago, during General Li Konghe's eightieth birthday celebration, I had accompanied my father there and had a delightful chat with Miss Li."

Li Shiyin stared hard at Zhao Yaqing, gradually recalling bits and pieces.

"Oh, I remember now! You were that snobbish young lady. You had a crush on my brother, and I beat you up because I didn't permit it."

"?" A question mark popped up in Qin Ran's mind. Something felt off but also vaguely fine at the same time.

"I'm sorry, I was young and foolish then..." Li Shiyin swiftly apologized to Zhao Yaqing.

"It's nothing. It was many years ago already. I've long forgotten about fighting with Miss Li. I only remember us chatting merrily." Zhao Yaqing was still smiling, but profoundly so.

This woman seemed a little terrifying. As Qin Ran observed Zhao Yaqing, she definitely hadn't forgotten. Otherwise, she wouldn't have remembered Li Shiyin or the birthday celebration visit. Yet she acted so nonchalant about it...

"Miss Zhao..." Still unable to recall her full name, Li Shiyin nevertheless deftly changed topics. "Why have you come here? Are you also forging your Natal Sword? Oh, so you've embarked on the path of cultivation too? Which sect have you joined? What's your current cultivation level...?"

Li Shiyin unleashed a barrage of questions. Zhao Yaqing patiently waited for her to finish before answering each query: "I joined the Cloud Heaven Sect last year to walk the path of the sword. My current cultivation base is at the Foundation Establishment middle stage. Indeed, I came here in search of Master Xu Zhiye, hoping to forge a suitable Natal Sword. Unfortunately, Master Xu turned down my request..."

She paused here and congratulated Li Shiyin, "Congratulations on getting Master Xu Zhiye to agree to forge a sword for you!"

"Oh, it's nothing much, just a sword!" Li Shiyin consoled, "If Master Xu refuses, you can always find someone else to do the job..."

Zhao Yaqing hid her emotions masterfully. She continued chatting idly with Li Shiyin for quite a while until the attendant brought over the ingredients and passed Qin Ran the Cosmic Bag. Qin Ran and his disciple then bade farewell and descended the mountain.

As Zhao Yaqing and her Guardian walked out of the side chamber, watching Qin Ran and Li Shiyin's retreating figures along the path, she felt the old wounds from three years ago throbbing once more. Her eyes narrowed malevolently.

"Star Brilliance Stone..." Her smile seemed rather creepy. "It will make an excellent sword!"

"My lady, do you mean..."

"This will be at least a top-grade Natal Sword. Although not exactly compatible with my attributes, I can make do..." said Zhao Yaqing. As she recalled the refined-looking youth taking out item after item from his Cosmic Bag, successfully persuading Xu Zhiye to forge a sword for Li Shiyin, the jealousy she forcefully suppressed still seeped out eventually. She asked, "What's that dummy's Master's cultivation level?"

"Looks to be at the Foundation Establishment Stage. However, his vital energy seems abundant, so he likely knows some methods to conceal his actual cultivation. Probably at the Golden Core Stage."

"Golden Core..." Zhao Yaqing murmured in contemplation briefly before continuing, "No matter. As long as he isn't at the Primordial Infant Stage, there's no issue. If the two of us join hands, it will be an even one-versus-one match. I can easily capture Li Shiyin while you can certainly gain an advantage over her Master. With some cunning schemes, victory will be ours."

"Understood." Her Guardian acknowledged with a nod.

When the road ends and waters run dry, another village comes into view.

"Hmph!" Zhao Yaqing sneered coldly. "What fools to deliver a sword right to us!"