Lian Que casually tossed a red-hot iron piece into the bucket, causing a fierce sizzle: "It’s so hot, how can it stay calm?"

"Once this official exam is over, I’ll close my doors to guests." Jiang Wang said, then asked, "After studying for so many days, have you discovered anything?"

"I’ve said before, the Great Yan Lian clan is no more. Any heritage or honor, it’s all like a mirage." Lian Que was quite open-minded: "The water in Chi Pool is very suitable for quenching, perhaps one of the best. It reacts differently at different temperatures. Finding this out, I’ve already gained something."

Jiang Wang smirked: "Still carrying hopes of seeing you ascend overnight. Awakening some reincarnated body of yours... Like that Xie Ai from Snow Country, who became the Winter Emperor directly."

Lian Que laughed heartily: "I wish too. Unfortunately, I wasn’t diligent enough in the past life, didn’t plan things well."

"Then work harder in this life, plan early for the next." Jiang Wang knocked gently on Chu Yao’s forehead: "Focus with a calm mind, don’t get distracted."

It was really challenging to ask a lively nine-year-old child to stand still in focus, especially with incessant chatter around and the clang of iron striking, it was a bit difficult.

But Chu Yao persevered, even though it was hard, never uttered a word of complaint.

Lian Que continued: "But since the Qi Xia War, I’ve been cultivating much faster, not sure if it’s related to the Great Yan Lian clan... When you subdued the Saint Water, what did you see?"

Jiang Wang pondered: "I saw the silhouette of a Chiwen with a dragon head and fish body, sobbing towards the east, like in the legend. On your fate plate, I felt the responsibility and commitment of the Great Yan Lian clan. Your cultivation speed increasing might be connected to your fate plate shouldering part of the responsibility."

Lian Que was thoughtful: "Then should I try the Saint Water too?"

"...At least wait until God Arrives."

"God Arrives, God Arrives, it’s not so easily attainable. Do you think everyone is like you?" Lian Que picked up the cooled iron piece and tossed it onto the anvil, then shouted: "Chu Yao, can you achieve God Arrives?"

"Of course I can!" Chu Yao, without understanding the concept of God Arrives, responded loudly.

With that opening, his energy was drained, unable to maintain his stance, he fell flat onto the ground.

Lian Que laughed heartily, as if a furnace was boiling inside him, heaved a large hammer, and slammed it down hard—

Clang!

The iron piece was instantly flattened into an iron sheet.

...

...

"Forging iron, alchemy, cooking, all require careful control of heat, and living life is even more demanding."

"Have you ever walked the night road?"

"I mean, on a deserted path with no lights, no moon, no sound, and no matter which direction you look, it’s pitch black... What does it resemble?"

The speaking woman sat upright on a bench, yet her voice floated around, never finding a ground.

"Like a monster with a gaping mouth, ready to devour you anytime." She answered herself.

She flicked her fingers lightly, a little spark dropped into her pipe.

Her dark luscious lips held a white jade mouthpiece, presenting a peculiar contrast, uniquely beautiful.

She inhaled a few quick puffs, igniting the dry tobacco. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Hoo~"

She exhaled a long puff of smoke.

She raised a finger, gently swirling it.

"No, no, no, you have no power, you’re just an ordinary person."

"Alone, without the ability to resist the darkness, walking the night road. And coincidentally, a group of rough men approach you with a clamor, what would you think? Are you afraid?"

The smoke she exhaled dispersed.

Then a man’s bloated, slightly greasy face appeared opposite.

A smile squeezed onto his face: "Why walk the night road then? Why go to desolate places? You could just go home earlier."

The man’s arms widely stretched, tied to an upright wooden pole with ropes soaked in tung oil, unable to move.

The woman took another puff, glanced at the silk clothing on the man: "Have you ever worked late into the night? Can’t afford a house in the bustling areas, and can only live in the sparsely populated outskirts? Have you lived in a hut made of straw, with just a shaky door that would fall at a light push... Have you had such experiences?"

"No..." The man shook his head: "Never..."

"Therefore you can’t understand."

"But isn’t such a situation rare? Who works late at night... Uh, I mean, we can impose a curfew, banning people from going out at night."

"You are a rare talent."

"I sincerely care for the people."

"Alright, maybe I wasn’t clear before. It wasn’t a deserted path, it was a bustling street. Not a night devoid of moonlight, the scene was vibrant with lights and drinks. It wasn’t nobody watching, many people passed by nearby..."

At this point, the woman’s face could be seen.

She tied her hair with a jade ring, her cold distant brows and eyes gave a sense of detachment, with a beauty tinged with world-weariness.

She tapped the ash from the cigarette and said: "But that powerless you was real, the group of men approaching were real too. What happened afterwards... you were devoured, that was real too."

"How, how could it be." The man’s expression was strained: "In public view, how could it happen, the Court wouldn’t allow demons to run rampant."

"Of course, of course." The woman nodded, lifting the corners of her mouth into a polite smile: "Let’s formally introduce ourselves. My surname is Zhao, I am called Zhao Zi. ’Zi’ of Best Time First. Yes, just one character."