Yun Yun's stern shout startled Nalan Yanran; it had been a long time since she had seen her teacher with such a serious expression.
"Teacher, is it dangerous?" Nalan Yanran asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Yun Yun didn't answer directly, her gaze distant. "If everything goes smoothly, we'll be back soon."
Nalan Yanran bit her lip, sensing that there was more to the situation, but decided not to press further.
Chen Mo, who knew how things would turn out, kept his thoughts to himself. Smoothly? That's wishful thinking. The Serpent Tribe isn't something you just walk in and out of.
Yun Yun, her back turned to them, said quietly, "You all must be tired. Go and get some rest."
Chen Mo was the first to leave, his steps quick and purposeful.
Nalan Yanran, who had been staying with Yun Yun in the main hall these past few days, noticed the subtle dismissal. She's sending me away.
As she left the main hall, Nalan Yanran paused, watching as the doors to the side hall were about to close.
Wait… I almost forgot something important. She turned back, one foot already inside the hall.
"Nalan Senior Sister, what's on your mind?" Chen Mo's thoughts wandered as he observed her. Could tonight hold unexpected surprises?
"Tomorrow? You want me to visit your home tomorrow?" Chen Mo's expression shifted to hesitation as Nalan Yanran extended an invitation.
If he hadn't just accepted a mission, he would have said yes immediately. The idea of a leisurely day in the capital was tempting.
But the mission came first. The journey to the Serpent Tribe's territory was a long one, and he couldn't afford distractions.
And no, he wasn't excited just because of the thought of meeting Queen Medusa.
"Nalan Senior Sister, could we reschedule?"
"If you're busy tomorrow, the day after is fine too," Nalan Yanran suggested, her tone gentle and understanding.
Chen Mo hesitated, then sighed. "The day after… I'm afraid I'll still be busy. There's something urgent I need to take care of, and it might take a while…"
Nalan Yanran's smile faltered, but she tried again. "Can I come with you?"
Chen Mo paused, genuinely torn. He knew the dangers ahead, and taking her along wasn't part of the plan. "Well…"
"It's okay," Nalan Yanran said, turning away, her disappointment evident. "I wish you a safe journey, Junior Brother."
As she started to walk away, Chen Mo felt a pang of guilt. Am I really going to let her go like this?
"Nalan Senior Sister, wait!" he called out, unable to resist. "If you don't mind the early start, meet me at the alchemy room tomorrow at dawn."
The words were out of his mouth before he could think them through. What am I doing? I'm setting myself up for trouble.
He mentally scolded himself. You already have Sister Yun Yun. Why are you getting involved with Nalan Senior Sister?
But Nalan Senior Sister is just so… irresistible.
Are you trying to juggle two relationships?
It's not just two…
"I don't mind at all! I'll go pack right away!" Nalan Yanran's voice was bright, her mood lifted as she hurried off.
Great, just great, Chen Mo thought, feeling both excited and apprehensive. What have I gotten myself into?
…
The next morning, Chen Mo awoke to find the main hall empty—Yun Yun was already gone.
He made his way to the alchemy room, his mind racing with thoughts of the day ahead.
As expected, Gu He wasn't there either. After packing a large supply of healing and Qi-restoring pills, he stepped out, only to find Nalan Yanran waiting for him. She wasn't alone; Liu Ling was there as well, practicing his alchemy.
Nalan Yanran looked different from usual. She was dressed in a tight-fitting disciple's robe, her long black hair tied up in a neat bun. Her eyes, usually soft, now held a cool, detached glint, likely because of Liu Ling's presence.
At that moment, she looked every bit the part of a wandering swordswoman.
Liu Ling, on the other hand, was still clad in his alchemist's robe, a symbol of his status that he clearly cherished.
When Chen Mo appeared, their reactions couldn't have been more different.
"Good morning, Senior Brother!" Chen Mo greeted Liu Ling politely before turning to Nalan Yanran with a smile. "Senior Sister, shall we go?"
"Mm," Nalan Yanran replied, her earlier disappointment gone, replaced by a warm, almost playful smile.
"Where are you two going?" Liu Ling asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.
Neither of them answered, leaving the alchemy room together, side by side.
To avoid drawing too much attention, Chen Mo had taken a task of appropriate difficulty at the mission hall. But their combined notoriety made it impossible to go unnoticed. Before long, they were surrounded by a group of disciples, all eager to tag along.
It took some effort, but they finally managed to slip away. However, just as they were about to leave the sect, a deacon stopped them.
"For talented disciples like yourselves, the elders have ordered that your departures must be reported," the deacon explained.
After completing the necessary formalities, the deacon finally allowed them to leave.
Meanwhile, in the Elders' Hall…
"What? Chen Mo and Nalan Yanran left the sect together?"
"Yes, they took on a task before leaving—gathering a fourth-tier herb."
"I see."
"What should we do, Grand Elder?"
"Send Old Six to follow them. Make sure they're protected."
…
At the foot of the Yunlan Sect's mountain lay a vast, dense forest, a sea of green that stretched endlessly into the distance.
Above the forest, the sky was a clear, vibrant blue, and across this expanse, two large figures sped through the air.
They were flying magic beasts.
These flying magical beasts, raised by the Yunlan Sect, weren't large—each could carry only one or two people. Their temperaments were mild, and they were incredibly fast, but they required significant resources to maintain and had a limited flight endurance. Only wealthy, powerful sects could afford to use them as part of their transport fleet.
The two flying magic beasts soared over the endless forest, covering the distance in less than half an hour.
The journey from Yunlan Sect to the Tagore Desert would take two days.
But due to the limited endurance of the flying magic beasts, they would need to stop and rest at least twice to replenish their strength. If all went well, the journey would take three days.
The Tagore Desert lay on the eastern border of the empire. Chen Mo's first stop was a city along the eastern route called Black Rock City.
As they flew eastward, Nalan Yanran noticed something off. "Isn't the Wild City to the north? Why are we heading east?"
"That mission is just a cover. Our real destination is the Tagore Desert."
"The Tagore Desert? Isn't that where the Serpent Tribe resides? Junior Brother, you're not planning to enter their territory, are you?"
Chen Mo responded with a noncommittal "Mm," but his thoughts were more complex. Not just entering. I'm going to their stronghold, and I'm bringing back their queen.
Nalan Yanran's brow furrowed with concern. This isn't just a sightseeing trip; this could be life-threatening.
"Junior Brother, why didn't you tell me earlier? We should have requested an elder to accompany us in such a dangerous situation," she said, worry evident in her voice.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Nalan Yanran regretted them. He took on this mission quietly to avoid attention. Asking for an elder now just makes me look foolish.
Chen Mo chuckled, offering no explanation.
His silence only deepened Nalan Yanran's anxiety.
In the central regions of the empire, the Yunlan Sect's reputation was formidable. On their journey, whenever they encountered individuals stronger than them, the sight of their Yunlan Sect robes was enough to deter any trouble.
But as they neared the empire's borders, things would be different. In these remote, poorly governed areas, the Yunlan Sect's name might only mark them as valuable targets.
Of course, in territories controlled by large factions, they might still find some respect for the Yunlan Sect, but there were no guarantees.