C69 A Suspicious Item That He Carried with Him

The very next moment, Chu Yan realized that the call for mercy wasn't meant for him, but for the young man with the thick lips.

Suddenly, Chu Yan sensed an overwhelming aura erupting from the youth, as if a colossal wave had burst forth from the ocean, lifting his small vessel into the air and shattering it to pieces.

Bang!

Chu Yan felt as if his chest had been struck by a palm, and his body was sent flying backward uncontrollably.

Yet, before he was flung away, his fingers had grazed the thick-lipped youth's cheek.

"So smooth—" he thought, catching a glimpse of surprise fleeting across the youth's eyes.

Then, he was airborne, darkness enveloped his vision, and he passed out.

Chu Yan hit the ground with a thud, and the room fell into a profound silence that lingered without a stir.

The middle-aged man and the genuine dragon watched, dumbfounded.

The woman's eyes sparkled with sharpness as she scanned Lin Miaoran and Chu Yan, her gaze finally resting on the empty hourglass.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she whispered to herself, "Thirty breaths..."

Lin Miaoran remained still, her hand softly caressing her cheek where Chu Yan's fingertip had made contact.

Despite his weakened state, his touch had left no harm, not even a trace of pain.

But Lin Miaoran knew for certain that she had been struck.

Within the span of thirty breaths, not only had he endured, but he had also managed a counterattack in the final moments.

Thoughts rippled through Lin Miaoran's eyes, her mind a mystery to those around her.

Half an hour later, in a room suffused with a light medicinal scent on the upper floor of Langya Pavilion.

Lin Miaoran watched over the still-unconscious Chu Yan, with the woman and Fu Rui standing beside her.

On a small table next to Chu Yan lay six tiny bottles, each no larger than an adult's middle finger.

Through the clear glass of these bottles, one could see the remnants of a blood-red liquid.

Just a short while ago, Fu Rui had poured all six bottles of blood essence into Chu Yan's mouth.

After a brief wait, the woman turned to Lin Miaoran, her expression tinged with concern. "The six vials of blood essence haven't roused him yet. There's no problem, is there?"

"Relax, Sixth Sister. All is well," Lin Miaoran assured her with a confident shake of her head. "During our bout, I could tell his physique is far superior to the average person, and his vitality is exceptionally robust. Despite taking several hits from me, he managed to stand up each time."

"Could it be that you were holding back, Miss?" Fu Rui whispered from the side.

No sooner had she spoken than Lin Miaoran gave her an unceremonious rap on the head.

"Ouch!" Fu Rui yelped, clutching her head and pouting at Lin Miaoran. "Miss, that was really hard!"

"Indeed," Lin Miaoran retorted with irritation. "If I don't spare little Fu Rui, why would I go easy on a stranger?"

"So, did you beat this guy to death, Miss?" Fu Rui gasped in shock.

"Beat to death? Nonsense!" Lin Miaoran snapped back. "He was meant to be my training partner. After our fight, it seems he's had some sort of breakthrough."

"His current state... could it be that he's..." The woman trailed off, uncertain.

"Exactly, he's recuperating," Lin Miaoran huffed. "The fight with me pushed his energy and stamina to the limit. Now, he's like someone who's worked all day and is starving—this is the prime time for nourishment. Giving him the blood essence now will help him replenish his vitality. It's a rare chance to forge his body."

With that, Lin Miaoran cast a glance at Chu Yan. "He's made quite a fortune this time."

"When will he wake up, then?" Fu Rui inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"It shouldn't be much longer," Lin Miaoran pondered briefly before continuing, "Sixth Sister, what exactly happened today? This person isn't really a dragon, is he?"

The woman's face was a mix of amusement and exasperation as she explained, "I've gotten to the bottom of it—there was indeed a mix-up. The person I was supposed to connect you with is a dragon, and I only told them to look for a scar on the dragon's neck and bring the person straight to us. But who could have predicted such a coincidence today?"

"Sixth Sister, you don't recognize this man either?" Lin Miaoran asked, gesturing towards Chu Yan.

"I've never seen him before," the woman replied, shaking her head.

"Miss, I found these items on this fellow. Maybe they can help us determine who he is," Fu Rui said, presenting a hefty money pouch and a small booklet to Lin Miaoran.

As Lin Miaoran took the pouch, a curious look flickered in her eyes.

The woman paused, taken aback.

Fu Rui exclaimed in astonishment, "This guy is loaded! All this Spirit Money put together must be worth seven or eight thousand."

"Mhm," Lin Miaoran murmured, distractedly nodding as she reached for the booklet.

The booklet, once casually tucked into Chu Yan's clothing, now bore a small palm print from a recent encounter with Lin Miaoran's hand.

Upon inspecting it, Lin Miaoran's gaze landed on the bold calligraphy: "Elegant Son-in-Law, Beautiful Wife."

The title struck a nerve, and a twitch appeared at the corner of her eye.

She flipped through the pages, and after a brief scan, her face turned crimson. Spitting in disgust, she tossed the booklet aside.

Despite her reaction, the storyline she glimpsed made her heart race.

Curious, Fu Rui picked up the booklet, peeked inside, and shrieked, "Pervert!"

She quickly covered her eyes, but her fingers were splayed, betraying her continued peeking through the gaps.

Lin Miaoran, both irritated and amused, snatched the booklet back and tossed it aside, saying firmly to Fu Rui, "Kids shouldn't be snooping around."

"But you looked too, Miss!" Fu Rui protested, though a stern glance from Lin Miaoran silenced her. She simply rolled her eyes, her mind clearly wandering.

Turning to the woman, Lin Miaoran said, "Sixth Sister, even though we don't know this man's identity, he's proven to be an excellent sparring partner. I can sense that practicing with him greatly enhances my ability to control my power and attune to spiritual energy."

"What are you suggesting?" the woman pondered aloud.

"Let's just roll with the punches. It's not every day you come across such a formidable opponent," Lin Miaoran remarked. "It's a shame, though, that he's still somewhat underpowered. During our sparring session, I barely had to exert thirty percent of my strength. If he were a bit more robust, he could be of greater assistance to me."

"Understood, I've got a plan," the woman replied with a nod, her gaze settling on Chu Yan, who was now breathing steadily. "Once he's awake, I'll have a heart-to-heart with him."