novelraw Chapter 14 : . Guidance
Chapter 14 : . Guidance
The so-called "master" was actually fabricated by Xiao Han. To be cautious, she didn't plan to reveal her true abilities. Thus, apart from Nalan Yanran, no one else knew her real strength.
"By the way, there's something I need your help with," Xiao Han habitually tapped the table with her index finger, her mind contemplating numerous possibilities.
Yafei smiled alluringly: "Tell me. If I can help, I certainly won't refuse."
"Help me acquire a decent-grade medicinal cauldron," Xiao Han considered for a moment, then added, "But it doesn't need to be too good, just suitable for a beginner."
Yafei knew Xiao Han had a lightning attribute, so she was quite surprised: "You want to learn alchemy? But aren't you lightning-attributed?"
Lightning attributes can practice alchemy too.
But Xiao Han couldn't say this. Saying it would require a lengthy explanation, which was troublesome. So she simply said: "It's for my Junior Sister. Master recently accepted a new disciple."
Yafei understood: "I see. Well, you've come at the right time. This morning's auction just received a medicinal cauldron made from Flame Essence, forged by the renowned Master Hol of the Jia Ma Empire. Not only does it enhance Dou Qi flames to some extent, but the rare metals mixed in also increase the success rate of pill refinement, making it especially suitable for beginners."
Xiao Han nodded, thought for a moment, and said: "Also, please prepare some medicinal ingredients for me. Five hundred Bloodclot Grass, six hundred Bone Growth Flowers, five hundred Poppy Flowers, five hundred Vitality Fruits..."
Yafei noted everything down. After Xiao Han finished speaking, she teasingly said: "It seems you're quite attentive to this little Junior Sister."
Xiao Han avoided such topics: "Deduct the expenses from my 30% commission."
These medicinal ingredients were common, but the large quantities made them costly. It would take at least 100,000 gold coins to acquire them. Adding the medicinal cauldron Yafei mentioned, the total might reach 200,000 to 300,000 gold coins. Her 30% commission would be sufficient to cover this.
Given their relationship, Yafei wanted to simply gift these items to Xiao Han. After all, Xiao Han had helped her tremendously; without Xiao Han, she wouldn't be in such a prominent position now, and those family competitors jealous of her business acumen certainly wouldn't have spared her. However, the current auction house wasn't solely hers, and most profits had to be submitted to headquarters. Privately allocating 300,000 gold coins, while not impossible, would certainly be noticed by superiors.
Once discovered, those competitors would surely exploit the situation. Even with a fourth-grade alchemist's backing, she might not benefit and could even be seen by the higher-ups as abusing her connections, disregarding the family's interests.
At that point, her ambition to gain the support of the higher-ups and seize the position of family head might become quite challenging.
Seeing through Yafei's thoughts, Xiao Han shook her head: "I can afford this amount. Besides, there will be more occasions in the future when I'll need your help."
Yafei pulled back her thoughts and smiled. It was impossible not to be moved: "In that case, Yafei will always be ready for little Xiao Han's summons."
Having obtained what she wanted, Xiao Han stood to leave. Of course, before exiting, she put on her hood.
After Xiao Han left, Gu Ni, the auction house's second-grade alchemist, arrived: "Yafei, what pills did the old master bring to auction this time?"
Yafei smiled and handed the porcelain bottle to Gu Ni.
Gu Ni carefully opened the bottle, and a subtle medicinal fragrance wafted out. Upon seeing the contents, Gu Ni exclaimed joyfully: "These are Spirit Refining Pills?! A full ten of them, my goodness! Yafei, it seems our Miteer Auction House is about to receive another massive profit."
Yafei smiled: "Grandpa Gu, I'll trouble you to spread the news that the Miteer Auction House will auction three Spirit Refining Pills in three days."
Gu Ni nodded: "No problem."
As for why only three were being auctioned... Scarcity increases value. Auctioning all ten at once might yield far less profit than selling them in batches.
Xiao Han was only responsible for delivering the pills to Yafei. How they were sold was Yafei's business, and she never concerned herself with such matters.
"System, can you check on Gu Xun'er's progress with the Flame Mantra?"
[Please wait a moment, Host.]
[I have the information. The female protagonist has broken through the first layer of the Flame Mantra and is currently in her room consolidating her cultivation.]
Xiao Han nodded. If that was the case, teaching her alchemy needed to be prioritized soon.
Sure enough, early the next morning, Gu Xun'er knocked on Xiao Han's door.
"Senior Sister, Master said to find you once I broke through the first layer of the Flame Mantra."
Faced with Gu Xun'er's smiling face, Xiao Han merely nodded lightly: "Follow me in a moment."
With that, Xiao Han went inside to change clothes, then led Gu Xun'er to the back mountain.
At the peak of the Xiao Family's back mountain, in a dense small forest, sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting small spots on the leaf-covered ground, like scattered stars.
Xiao Han found a relatively flat area and turned to Gu Xun'er: "Master said your combat ability is too weak and asked me to guide you in practical combat first."
Gu Xun'er was slightly startled, then smiled: "Does this mean Senior Sister will be guiding me until the coming-of-age ceremony?"
Xiao Han neither nodded nor shook her head, just beckoned to her: "Attack."
"Is Senior Sister asking to spar with Xun'er?"
"Mm, I need to gauge your general combat level."
Gu Xun'er took her stance and chuckled lightly: "Then Senior Sister... please go easy on me."
As soon as she finished speaking, she stomped her foot and charged towards Xiao Han.
Xiao Han stood as if rooted to the ground, motionless until Gu Xun'er's palm was less than three feet away. Only then did she slightly shift her body.
In the small forest, two figures suddenly intersected, their palms clashing, creating waves of gentle wind that sent nearby dead leaves swirling.
Arms crossing sharply in front of her, Xiao Han blocked Gu Xun'er's attack with a muffled sound. The next second, Gu Xun'er's form slightly twisted as she raised her palm to attack Xiao Han again.
The attack seemed gentle, but when the two made contact, that soft force suddenly became full of aggression.
Xiao Han remained impassive. Her originally explosive fist transformed into a palm just before touching Gu Xun'er's hand. She slightly rotated her wrist, palm facing outward, brushing past Gu Xun'er's wrist, gently yet resiliently deflecting Gu Xun'er's arm.
Using softness to overcome hardness.
Seemingly not expecting Xiao Han to so easily neutralize her attack, Gu Xun'er was momentarily surprised. Then, her body followed her hand's movement, spinning once before quickly distancing herself from Xiao Han.
Xiao Han wouldn't miss this opportunity. The moment Gu Xun'er landed, she stomped on the ground forcefully, her form rushing forward rapidly.
As a lightning attribute user, Xiao Han's speed was formidable. However, considering she was only testing Gu Xun'er's combat level, she didn't use any battle techniques or even Dou Qi. Despite this, her speed was still very fast, closing a significant distance in just one breath.
Seeing Xiao Han's approaching attack, Gu Xun'er's beautiful eyes focused, the pale golden light on her small hands intensifying.
Xiao Han seemed to step lightly on the soil, yet left a deep footprint. Her rushing form suddenly stopped about a meter away from Gu Xun'er.
Seeing Xiao Han's masterful control over her speed, Gu Xun'er's autumn-water eyes couldn't help but reveal a trace of admiration.
But now wasn't the time to appreciate her opponent. Through their brief exchange, she clearly felt that the other's combat experience far surpassed her own.
Facing Xiao Han's incoming attack, Gu Xun'er was very cautious. Her fair small hands traced a small semicircle in front of her, the pale golden light in her palms suddenly flaring brightly. Her small hand curved into a strange half-arc, then struck towards Xiao Han's incoming elbow.
Just as Gu Xun'er was about to touch Xiao Han, Xiao Han's footsteps suddenly slid downward. Gu Xun'er's attack almost grazed Xiao Han's hair but caused no harm.
Due to inertia, Gu Xun'er's body was carried forward two or three steps. At this moment, Xiao Han pressed her hand on the ground, twisted her body, raised her hand, and pointed her index and middle fingers towards Gu Xun'er.
Gu Xun'er turned and froze in place. Those clearly defined fingers were pointing at her, the two slender fingers less than a centimeter from her. Gu Xun'er was certain that if this were a life-or-death duel, her throat would have been pierced by these two fingers long ago.
Meeting those still indifferent eyes, Gu Xun'er felt a chill down her spine for the first time, cold sweat breaking out.
It's worth noting that this person hadn't used any battle techniques or even mobilized Dou Qi from start to finish!
Yet she still lost, lost decisively. Even with Xiao Han deliberately holding back, she only lasted about five minutes.
Xiao Han withdrew her hand. Although her expression remained unchanged, the sudden shift in her aura indicated she was not satisfied with Gu Xun'er's performance.
Gu Xun'er stepped back twice, her face somewhat pale.
Although she had long guessed her Senior Sister was extraordinary, she never imagined Senior Sister was this powerful.
The power here doesn't refer to cultivation level, but solely to combat experience and skill.
In the previous battle, Xiao Han's movements were fluid, without any unnecessary actions. Every move had its purpose. Moreover, the control over her own body that she demonstrated twice already spoke volumes.
Xiao Han shook her head: "Not good enough. Your combat ability is too weak."
Gu Xun'er gave a rare bitter smile and remained silent.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, Xiao Han asked: "What was that battle technique you used just now?"
"Xuan-rank high-grade battle technique: Swallow Return Strike. At higher levels, it can reflect the opponent's attack back. I'm still at the initial stage, only able to reflect about one layer of force," Gu Xun'er explained.
"Using the opponent's force against them..." Xiao Han pondered for a moment.
Gu Xun'er thought she wanted to learn it: "If Senior Sister wants to learn, Xun'er can give you the technique scroll."
Xiao Han shook her head. She didn't want to learn it; she just had an idea. In her world, the renowned Tai Chi used softness to overcome hardness, using the opponent's force against them. Clearly, Gu Xun'er's technique could only use the opponent's force, and if the borrowed force far exceeded what she could handle, this little girl would surely be severely injured.
If that was the case, could she possibly modify this technique based on the Tai Chi theory from her previous life?
Xiao Han immediately shook her head inwardly. This idea was still too distant. The urgent matter at hand was to improve Gu Xun'er's combat ability.
"Let's do this. Every morning at Mao hour (5-7 am), come to the back mountain promptly. I'll guide your practical combat. Your combat level is far too weak. I'll explain the alchemy matter to Master and postpone it until after the coming-of-age ceremony."
Seeing Xiao Han's serious face, Gu Xun'er smiled and nodded, but inwardly felt somewhat emotional.
The days to come would likely be intense and challenging every day.