102: Chapter 102: The Future is Long

Three days later.

Xiao Ran was practicing a newly comprehended poison technique in the courtyard when his brow suddenly twitched.

Outside the courtyard gate, a familiar poisonous fragrance wafted in once again.

"Is Junior Brother Xiao in?"

A charming voice rang out, carrying a faint hint of a smile.

Xiao Ran withdrew his poison technique, straightened his robes, and said indifferently.

"Senior Sister Poison, please come in."

The courtyard gate pushed open.

Poison Lady had changed into a dark green long dress today, which complemented her snow-white skin and made her figure appear even more enchanting.

The colored mist swirling around her was denser than last time; clearly, she had gained much in the past few months.

Xiao Ran's gaze swept over her, and the corners of his mouth curled up.

"Senior Sister Poison looks well. It seems you've reached the initial stage of the Ten Thousand Poisons Heart-Devouring Great Method?"

A strange light flashed in Poison Lady's eyes.

"Junior Brother Xiao has a good eye. Thanks to you, I have already mastered the first layer."

She walked up to Xiao Ran and looked up at him, her eyes filled with fanaticism and longing.

"That's why I came to find you."

"To share this joy with you at the first Opportunity."

Xiao Ran smiled upon hearing this.

"Share the joy?"

"I think Senior Sister Poison wants to continue learning the second layer, right?"

Poison Lady raised an eyebrow, a flash of boredom in her eyes.

"There's that too."

"You promised that once I mastered the first layer, you would pass on the rest."

Xiao Ran nodded but didn't answer directly.

He only said, "Senior Sister Poison, why don't we sit inside?"

Poison Lady looked at him, her eyes flickering.

After a moment, she let out a soft laugh.

"Junior Brother Xiao, it's broad daylight!"

Xiao Ran smiled calmly.

"Daytime has its own ways to play..."

What else was there to say!

The two immediately walked into the inner chamber, one after the other.

...

This time, Poison Lady stayed for an entire day and night.

The following evening.

Only then did she walk out of the inner chamber, her expression complex.

Xiao Ran escorted her to the courtyard gate and handed over a Jade Slip.

"The cultivation method for the second layer is all inside. Come find me again once you've mastered it."

Poison Lady took the Jade Slip and looked at him.

"Junior Brother Xiao, you trust me that much?"

"What if I take the item and never come back?"

"After all, two layers are enough to significantly increase my power."

Xiao Ran laughed.

"Senior Sister Poison, I don't care whether you keep your word or not."

"What I care about is you as a person."

Poison Lady was stunned.

Xiao Ran didn't explain, only waving his hand.

"Moreover, to Master the second layer, you need my secret technique for assistance; otherwise, you'll only stay in place."

"Senior Sister Poison, we have plenty of time."

"Go on, and remember to bring something new next time you come."

Poison Lady looked at him and remained silent for a while.

"Junior Brother Xiao, by the sound of it, are you trying to win me over?"

Xiao Ran was taken aback.

"Win you over?"

Poison Lady nodded.

"That's right. There are also alliances between Demon Sons."

"The White Bone Scholar approached me before, but I chose you."

Xiao Ran immediately became interested upon hearing this.

"Then do you know why I chose you specifically?"

Xiao Ran shook his head.

Poison Lady leaned in close and whispered in his ear.

"Because you're ruthless enough, smart enough, and... you have something I want."

She took a step back and winked at him.

"See you next time."

She turned and left.

Xiao Ran watched her departing back, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile.

Ruthless enough, smart enough...

Was she praising him or reminding him?

He shook his head and turned back into the courtyard.

Through the Soul link, Li Changsheng's voice came through:

"Xiao Ran, what's going on on your end? The Soul link was cut off for another day."

Xiao Ran laughed, "It's nothing, just giving Senior Sister some pointers on her cultivation."

"You f*cking slept with another one?"

"What do you mean 'another one'?"

Xiao Ran was dissatisfied.

"It's clearly the same one, just several times."

Li Changsheng fell silent.

"Xiao Ran, are you toxic?"

Xiao Ran laughed heartily.

"I'm not, but she might be."

"Alright, enough of that. How are things on your end?"

Li Changsheng sighed.

"Don't even mention it. Things haven't been peaceful at the Dao Palace lately."

Xiao Ran frowned.

"What happened?"

...

Supreme Dao Palace.

Li Changsheng sat cross-legged in his cultivation room, communicating with Xiao Ran through the Soul link.

His brow was furrowed, and his eyes held a hint of fatigue.

"In the past half month, several things have happened in the Dao Palace."

"First, Ling Jianxin has gone into seclusion to attempt Soul Transformation."

"As soon as he went into seclusion, all those troublemakers he was suppressing started crawling out."

Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow: "For example?"

"For example, the True Disciple Zhou Yuantong."

"He's a Junior Brother from Ling Jianxin's peak, but he's never accepted Ling Jianxin's authority. Now that Ling Jianxin is in seclusion, he's started recruiting people, trying to expand his influence."

Li Changsheng's tone was complex.

"Did he try to recruit you?"

"He did."

"Did you agree?"

"Of course not. I'm the f*cking Saint, and he's just a True Disciple. There's a difference in our status. On what basis does he think he can recruit me?"

"If it weren't for the fact that the prick is at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection, I would have punched him long ago."

Li Changsheng's expression was full of curses.

This was what made him unhappy.

"And I feel like there are eyes everywhere in the Dao Palace. Many people are watching me; one wrong move and I'll fall into a trap."

Xiao Ran was silent for a moment.

No wonder they were brothers!

One in a demon Sect and one in a Daoist Sect, yet both encountered similar problems.

However, compared to Li Changsheng, Xiao Ran had already won over a Demon Son.

The two chatted for a few more minutes, discussing strategies.

By the time they cut the link, a long time had passed.

Xiao Ran stood up and looked at the moon in the sky.

He had just received some news from Li Changsheng.

After Su Qinghan returned, she was taken away by her Master.

She hadn't shown her face for several months.

"Su Qinghan..."

Xiao Ran whispered, the name causing a ripple in his heart.

He thought of the first time he saw Su Qinghan, and the scene of their battle...

Why is my blood boiling again?

"It's a pity Poison Lady left..."

Xiao Ran murmured softly to himself.

Just then, soft footsteps came from behind him.

Xiao Ran turned and saw that Poison Lady had returned at some point.

She stood at the courtyard gate, looking at him with a half-smile.

"Junior Brother Xiao, who are you thinking about?"

Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow.

"Why did Senior Sister Poison come back?"

Poison Lady walked to his side and looked up at the moon.

"Couldn't sleep, wanted to find you for a chat."

Xiao Ran looked at her.

Under the moonlight, her profile lost a bit of its enchantment and gained a bit of reality.

"Chat about what?"

Poison Lady was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked:

"Junior Brother Xiao, do you know why I'm so obsessed with the Dao of Poison?"

Xiao Ran didn't speak.

Poison Lady said to herself:

"My mother was an Elder of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect. Because she offended the Sect Master, her cultivation was crippled, and she was expelled from the Sect."

"Later, she took me on the run and eventually died in front of me."

"Before she died, she told me, Yanzhi, only by mastering the most poisonous power can you protect yourself."

Xiao Ran's heart stirred.

Yanzhi?

Poison Lady's real name was Yanzhi?

Poison Lady didn't pause and continued:

"I later entered the Eternal Night Demon Sect by chance and cultivated poison techniques desperately. I wanted to become the most poisonous person so that no one would dare to bully me."

She turned to look at Xiao Ran.

"But you are different."

Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow.

"You clearly have the Legacy of the Ten Thousand Poisons Demon Venerable, yet you didn't keep it for yourself; instead, you were willing to pass it to me."

Her gaze was complex.

"I'm wondering what you're after?"

"Simply my body?"

Xiao Ran was silent for a moment, smiling but not quite.

"You've guessed it all, so why ask?"

Poison Lady was stunned.

Xiao Ran didn't explain, but simply reached out and put his arm around her waist.

The moon is dark and the wind is high, perfect for cultivation.

Poison Lady looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"Junior Brother Xiao, you are truly hard to see through."

"If you can't see through me, then don't."

Xiao Ran lowered his head and whispered in her ear.

"Use your body to feel it."

The courtyard gate.

Slowly closed once again.

...