Supreme Alchemist-Chapter 2398 - 2388: The Deal

"What is it?"

The place where the two of them stood was a secluded area within the bustling city, one where few people would ever tread. Initially, Long Yan assumed that the old lady avoided crowded places due to her health, but now it seemed that wasn’t the full story.

To the side, Lingxi seemed completely oblivious to the old lady’s words. She was intently examining the mask in her hands, as if she had found a rare treasure, turning it over and over in her grasp. However, if one paid attention, they would notice that Lingxi’s pupils were entirely unfocused, as lifeless as those of a corpse. Unfortunately, Long Yan, now bereft of True Qi, hadn’t noticed anything amiss with her.

"A heart of someone who loves you."

The old lady smiled at Long Yan, looking completely unconcerned about how terrifying her words were. She spoke as if discussing something as mundane as eating or drinking, yet her casual tone sent shivers down Long Yan’s spine.

"Don’t joke about such things."

Long Yan’s face hardened, but the old lady maintained the same expression, her eyes narrowed in amusement, saying nothing more. She seemed entirely unwilling to change the terms of her proposal.

"Lingxi, let’s go."

Long Yan took Lingxi’s small hand, intending to leave. Without True Qi, he figured it was safer to stay far away from this peculiar old woman. Yet, despite Long Yan exerting all his strength, Lingxi stood unmoving, rooted in place. She didn’t even glance at Long Yan, her attention solely on the mask in her hands.

"You..."

Long Yan opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words. Something was undeniably off. Gradually, the scenery around him began to drain of color, turning black and white. At the alley’s entrance, passersby froze in place, as if time itself had stopped.

"What’s wrong? It seems you’re unsatisfied with my offer. But this is the cheapest price you’ll ever get. If you were to deal with someone else, offering up everything you have might still not be enough. You need to understand, without power, there’s nothing you can protect."

The old lady’s lips stretched into an unnaturally eerie grin. Now, only Long Yan and the old lady could move. Even Lingxi—who had previously murmured faint praises—had gone utterly still.

"This Azure Dragon’s Mysteries is truly something extraordinary," she said sincerely, her admiration apparent. Long Yan sighed in frustration. He knew the distinct feeling that came with wielding the Azure Dragon’s Mysteries. His suspicions were correct: the old lady was using his power. Yet, her true identity remained a riddle, although Long Yan’s mind was piecing together some possibilities. The only people capable of wielding the Azure Dragon’s Mysteries were him and members of the Azure Dragon Clan.

The Azure Dragon’s Mysteries weren’t just some commonplace Domain. In the entire Holy Domain, only a select few could wield them. But as if reading his thoughts, the old lady simply chuckled and shook her head.

"I am not part of the Azure Dragon Clan," she said.

Without giving Long Yan a chance to respond, she continued.

"If I were to put it plainly, I should be what you call a god."

Long Yan snorted in disdain at her proclamation. A god? To him, so-called gods were nothing more than cultivators of great power, nothing deserving of reverence.

When stripped of their essence, gods were no better than people. They tied themselves to cause and effect, karma and retribution, and still dared to speak of transcendence.

"You may not believe it, but it’s true. I am a god. Though, I only exist within the confines of your consciousness."

The old lady smiled warmly. She was unbothered by Long Yan’s disbelief, merely here to present a choice to him.

"So, is that a rejection?"

Despite Long Yan’s evident refusal, the old lady remained unperturbed.

"All it would take is this young girl’s life, and you could gain control over so much."

The old lady’s withered hand brushed gently against Lingxi’s cheek. Long Yan’s heart clenched with worry, but no matter how he strained, he lacked the means to stop her. All he could do was watch, helpless.

"Don’t fret—I am only your first choice, not your last. And I will never harm you. This is merely a transaction."

Despite the lightness of her tone, Long Yan grew more guarded. He wasn’t naïve enough to believe her so easily. freeweɓnovel-cøm

"Let’s leave it at that for now. Someone else will come along to make the deal in time."

The old lady waved her hand dismissively, her figure dissolving into the darkness. The once-frozen flow of time resumed. The lively clamoring of the marketplace returned, and Lingxi’s eyes regained focus. However, the mask in her hands had vanished.

"Big Brother Yan, what just happened?"

Lingxi’s eyes were filled with confusion. It seemed she hadn’t heard any part of the exchange between Long Yan and the old lady.

For some reason, looking at Lingxi’s pretty, worried face caused Long Yan’s tension to dissipate. He couldn’t come to any immediate conclusion, so he decided to brush it off, telling Lingxi, "It’s nothing."

"Alright then,"

Lingxi replied, still a bit doubtful, but since Long Yan didn’t seem to be lying, she chose to let it go. The two of them stepped out of the alley and merged into the bustling crowd.

"Big Brother Yan, look at this!"

Lingxi’s sweet, radiant smile lit up her delicate face. In the lively market, she flitted about like a little sprite, pulling Long Yan along. After running around and having their fill of fun, they each held a skewer of candied haw as they quietly sat by the small lake.

Long Yan didn’t know where they were, but there was a strange sense of familiarity. Still, he was certain he had never been here before. The tranquil nighttime scenery, however, left him thoroughly amazed.

The calm lake rippled gently with the breeze. Nearby, several canopied boats drifted on the water, their cabins glowing with warm light. The stillness was punctuated only by the occasional chirping of cicadas.

Though Long Yan knew many ancient poems, the words deserted him at that moment. He could only remain silent, resigned.

Lingxi, noticing, covered her mouth and laughed softly. Long Yan’s face grew slightly embarrassed.

"Big Brother Yan, you know something?"

"Hmm?"

As Lingxi suddenly stood up, Long Yan turned, lying back against the soft lawn. The night breeze was cool against his face. It had been so long since he’d felt so relaxed.

"Beautiful scenery like this doesn’t really matter—it’s all about who you’re seeing it with."

Lingxi’s cheeks turned bright red, even her delicate neck flushing with warmth.

Hearing the maiden’s almost confession-like words, Long Yan casually plucked a blade of grass, placing it in his mouth. His face remained composed.

"Is that so?"

Though his response was only two simple words, Long Yan couldn’t suppress the tumultuous emotions swirling in his chest. Their relationship had long been clear, yet hearing such words filled him with an indescribable excitement.

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