novelraw Chapter 196 : Transaction, Degenerate Energy Enters the Meridians
Chapter 196 : Transaction, Degenerate Energy Enters the Meridians
Chapter 196: Transaction, Degenerate Energy Enters the Meridians
At the entrance of the Tiantong Xuan Treasure Store, a woman dressed in luxurious garments with a thin veil on her face stood. Behind her followed two young attendants and a maidservant. She turned and nodded politely to a middle-aged man who had come out to see her off.
“Manager Wu, I’ll trouble you to stay attentive. If there’s any news, please contact my Qiu Family at the first moment. The agreed-upon reward will not be short by a single bit.”
The middle-aged man wore a flattering smile, his posture exceedingly humble, and bowed slightly as he said:
“Immortal Qiu, please be at ease. I will notify all our branch stores here. The moment there is any news, we will certainly reach out to the Immortal.”
The woman nodded lightly.
“In that case, I’ll trouble the Manager.”
“It’s no trouble at all, no trouble at all. Immortal, take care!”
After the polite farewells, the woman took light lotus steps and, in no time, boarded a luxurious carriage pulled by a beast of another species.
Gu Fan watched this entire scene from the side. When the carriage departed from the alley, he immediately followed.
He tailed them across seven or eight streets.
At that moment, the coachman furrowed his brows and said in a low voice:
“Young Lady, someone is following us.”
After a moment, a clear and lively voice came from within the carriage.
“Do you know who?”
The coachman sensed for a while, his expression slightly strange.
“Unclear, but this person is acting blatantly, as if eager for us to discover him.”
There was no more sound from inside the carriage. After a short pause—
“Go find a suitable place ahead to stop.”
“This…”
While the coachman hesitated, the maidservant beside him spoke.
“When the Young Lady gives an order, just follow it.”
“Yes, Young Lady!”
Thus, the carriage proceeded until it reached a spot with a broad field of vision, chosen to prevent ambushes.
Then, a maidservant from within the carriage leapt out directly, striking in the direction from which Gu Fan had followed.
Gu Fan casually returned a palm strike, repelling the maidservant. He had come to build a connection, not to create enemies, so he hadn’t used much force.
After repelling the attacker with a single palm, he also stopped, maintaining a sufficient distance to offer a sense of security to the other side.
“Who are you, skulking around! Dare to follow the movements of my Qiu Family!”
Gu Fan said nothing, just stared straight at the carriage. His gaze seemed to penetrate the thick walls and directly face the one within.
“I have what you’re looking for!”
The atmosphere froze instantly. All the servants looked toward the carriage, not daring to make a sound.
“You know what I’m looking for?”
Gu Fan smiled and didn’t hide his intent.
“I’ve waited here for quite some time. I know what you’re searching for. Who in Tianyun City doesn’t know that Immortal Qiu of the Qiu Family had her meridians invaded by Degenerate Energy, causing her realm to plummet and making cultivation impossible?”
Silence returned within the carriage, as if weighing the truth of Gu Fan’s words.
Soon, the carriage swayed gently, and an extraordinarily beautiful figure stepped out.
Cold and noble, like a green lotus under the moon.
The woman wore a thin veil that concealed her face, but her exposed eyes stared directly at Gu Fan, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
Then, without the slightest pretense, she revealed a look of surprise.
As if she were astonished that something she so desperately needed would appear on such a person.
Gu Fan smiled cheerfully, his demeanor appearing bright and sincere.
“Shall we talk? Don’t worry about my motives. I’ve got serious business and need your help. There’s no such thing as a scheme here.”
Perhaps due to Gu Fan’s candid manner, the woman didn’t object. She waved her hand to dismiss those around her, then asked in a cold voice:
“You’re sure you have what I need? And what do you want in return?”
Gu Fan didn’t answer directly. Instead, he swept his gaze up and down the woman.
Such an invasive look made Qiu Hanyan’s whole body tense, and a trace of anger surfaced in her eyes.
That gaze made her deeply uncomfortable, as if she had been seen through.
Gu Fan noticed her reaction but paid it no mind, continuing instead:
“I don’t know exactly what the Immortal is seeking, but I do know your goal is none other than resolving the issue of Degenerate Energy entering your meridians, so you can restore your qualification for cultivation.”
Qiu Hanyan suppressed the urge to flare up. Over the past half year, she had tried too many methods, but all without exception had failed.
Now, this man before her not only knew that she had Degenerate Energy in her meridians, but dared to speak so confidently. Could it be that he really had a way?
With that thought, Qiu Hanyan calmed herself and said:
“Does Young Master have a solution?”
“Indeed, I do. However, I have conditions.”
Qiu Hanyan’s brows furrowed once more.
Conditions were normal, but the look in this man’s eyes just now seemed to have said it all.
Most likely, he was coveting her appearance.
At that moment, Gu Fan seemed to have seen through her thoughts and immediately waved his hand with a smile:
“Don’t worry, don’t worry. My condition absolutely has nothing to do with you as a person. I have no designs on you whatsoever!”
Qiu Hanyan didn’t know why, but after this explanation, she felt even worse.
What did that mean? She, Qiu Hanyan, one of the three great beauties of Tianyun City, was that lacking in charm?
Nevertheless, she quickly steadied her emotions and continued:
“Regarding the Degenerate Energy entering the meridians, to be honest, even my teacher personally acted but failed to remove it. You should know, aside from cultivation, my teacher’s greatest strength lies in the Dao of Medicine.”
Qiu Hanyan, eldest daughter of the prestigious Qiu Family in Tianyun City, had taken as her master Old Man Qingshun, one of the two Celestial Heart Realm experts in Tianyuan City.
The meaning of her words was clear—her teacher was a Celestial Heart Realm mighty one, one who specialized in medicine. Even he had no way, so if Gu Fan was trying to bluff, he’d best abandon that thought early.
But Gu Fan only sneered inwardly.
This so-called Degenerate Energy, in his eyes, was simply Spiritual Power. And all the Mysterious Power cultivated by this world’s cultivators repelled Spiritual Power.
Not to mention Celestial Heart Realm experts—even more powerful bigwigs couldn’t possibly treat Spiritual Power using medicines infused with Mysterious Power.
These two energies clashed whenever they met. Last time when Gu Fan returned to the Apocalypse World, he had almost been torn apart by the two forces within his body.
Now, Qiu Hanyan’s continuous decline in realm was most likely caused by repeated experiments with Mysterious Power, damaging her meridians and thus causing her cultivation to regress.
“Immortal, rest assured. Celestial Heart Realm experts are indeed powerful, but they might not be familiar with these intricate principles. Coincidentally, I have studied Degenerate Energy in considerable depth.”
“Mere Degenerate Energy invading the body—I’m confident I can handle it.”
After speaking, Gu Fan shifted the topic, unwilling to elaborate further, and instead brought up his own request.
“And my request is simple. I seek for the Immortal’s teacher to help heal a friend of mine. Doing his best will be enough.”
Qiu Hanyan was clearly stunned. Seeing Gu Fan’s confidence, she had thought he was a genius skilled in medicine.
But now, his request was actually to meet her teacher and ask him to save someone…
Still, for someone to go to such lengths for a friend, perhaps he wasn’t a bad person after all.
Thinking of this, Qiu Hanyan’s expression softened slightly as she said:
“That can be arranged. But you need to first prove your ability. Too many people have come to me speaking so assertively, claiming they could treat me. In the end, most sought wealth or had ulterior motives. I must confirm that you truly possess the skill.”
“Understandable. Immortal Qiu, please watch.”
Gu Fan smiled faintly, his expression very relaxed.
He then flicked his fingertip lightly. A wisp of golden Spiritual Power appeared, and before one could react, it shot through the air and entered Qiu Hanyan’s body right as her expression changed drastically.
“You!”
Qiu Hanyan’s face changed in shock, thinking she had been attacked.
But the next moment, she felt her previously blocked and heavy meridians suddenly loosen a little, as if a fine crack had appeared.
The Mysterious Power in her body, which had been immobile for so long, now stirred ever so slightly!