The black-cloaked woman seemed to have no guard against Chen Mo and Yue Ruyan, sitting in the corner of the opposite wall at the post station, seemingly indifferent.

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, feeling puzzled. This woman indeed had a unique style; generally, women tended to be more concerned with cleanliness. Like when he and Yue Ruyan came in earlier, they cleaned the dust off a long bench before sitting down, but the woman just sat down directly.

Furthermore, there were few Upper-Grade Martial Artists in Central State, and even fewer were women. At least Chen Mo only knew Yue Ruyan. Of course, it couldn't be ruled out that she might be some hermit, as judging by the woman's attire and behavior, she indeed had the traits of a hermit.

However, having just arrived at the border of Chongzhou and encountering this situation, Chen Mo felt it was somewhat peculiar.

In any case, there was nothing to do while sheltering from the rain.

Just as he was about to speak.

The black-cloaked woman raised her eerie gaze and glanced at Chen Mo a few times before speaking first: "Are you with the Great Song military?"

"Oh? How did you determine that, Miss?" Hearing her voice and seeing the half of her face that was exposed, she seemed young, so Chen Mo decided to address her as "Miss."

The black-cloaked woman did not correct the title nor answer his question, merely glancing at Chen Mo's shoes.

Although Chen Mo wasn't wearing armor, he was wearing military boots.

"Indeed. But hearing you speak, Great Song military? Surely, you're not a Song person?" If she were Song, by habit, she wouldn't say the Great Song military but just the military, leading Chen Mo to suspect she wasn't from Song.

The black-cloaked woman gave a light hum and immediately spoke: "Since you are from the Great Song military, do you know Duke An, Chen Mo?"

Chen Mo's expression paused, and even Yue Ruyan beside him slightly furrowed her brows. Although she couldn't discern the black-cloaked woman's strength like Chen Mo, her intuition told her that the woman's power was likely not inferior to hers.

Chen Mo didn't immediately answer the black-cloaked woman's question but instead smiled: "Miss, you're quite daring, traveling alone to a foreign country. The Great Song is quite chaotic now."

"Hiss..." The sound of a venomous snake flicking its tongue echoed, and a snake with blue-red patterns slithered out from the woman's sleeve, curled in her palm, its head lightly rubbing against her thumb.

If it were a kitten or a puppy doing this, it might evoke affection from onlookers, but being a snake, it only made people uneasy.

The woman's hands were beautiful, with long, slender fingers and nails painted with black rouge, matching the complexion of the half of her face she revealed.

The black-cloaked woman touched the snake's head with her fingers, then said lightly: "I don't provoke others, but those who provoke me have already turned to white bones. Since I can remember, I've always been daring..."

As she spoke, a black poisonous bee, about the size of half an adult's fist, flew in from outside the post station, landing on the woman's head, buzzing "intensely."

Following her nod, the black poisonous bee crawled into her cloak along the sleeve.

The woman's other hand emerged from the sleeve, feeding the snake in her right hand while speaking: "My bee discovered a large number of troops outside the county town, some of them wearing boots similar to yours. And I cannot see through you; you didn't answer me earlier. Could it be you are Chen Mo?"

After speaking, the black-cloaked woman lifted her head, staring directly at Chen Mo.

"My bees..."

Chen Mo, somewhat surprised, raised his hand in salute: "Indeed, I am Chen Mo. From what the young lady says, do you have business with me?"

"I've come specifically to find you." The woman's smoky voice carried a hint of levity, and like magic, her left hand that fed the snake suddenly revealed a white jade porcelain bottle, which she tossed to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo caught it but not with his hands, using the innate spiritual Qi from within, and asked doubtfully: "What is this?"

"Immortal Powder. See if it's the same as what you saw in Jiangnan." The woman replied.

Chen Mo used his innate spiritual Qi to open the bottle stopper, then walked to a ventilated area and poured some out.

Being colorless and odorless, Chen Mo could not distinguish it and handed it to Yue Ruyan to examine.

Yue Ruyan looked at it, her eyes revealing astonishment: "Are you from Poison King's Valley?"

"Poison King's Valley, Nalan Yiren." The woman said.

"Your surname is Nalan?" Yue Ruyan's astonishment deepened.

"What's wrong?" Chen Mo asked.

"I've heard all successive Valley Masters of Poison King's Valley bear the surname 'Nalan.' Her status there must be high." Yue Ruyan said.

"I see..." Chen Mo rubbed his chin, though her name is "Yiren," her attire is quite the opposite.

"It seems to be the same." Nalan Yiren's gaze grew more sinister, the snake sensing her mood, raised its body fiercely, flicking its tongue repeatedly at Chen Mo and Yue Ruyan.

Yue Ruyan quickly assumed a ready-to-act stance.

"Return." Nalan Yiren lightly whispered to the snake, which obediently slithered back into her cloak.

Nalan Yiren stood, cupping her hands in salute to Chen Mo: "Saintess Nalan Yiren of Poison King's Valley, greets Great Song's Duke An."

Seeing the woman become courteous, Chen Mo raised his hand to return the gesture.

"I've come to Great Song to inquire a few things from Duke An. If Duke An answers truthfully, Poison King's Valley will reward generously." Nalan Yiren said.

"Concerning Immortal Powder?" Chen Mo asked.

"Yes." Nalan Yiren nodded then directly asked: "Where did the Immortal Powder you saw in Jiangnan originate?"