"...I refuse."
Tang Tianjie didn't expect to be rejected so immediately. He quickly looked up to ask Bai Fanxian with curiosity about the reason.
Bai Fanxian maintained the calm, icy attitude of a high-ranking person. She took small sips of tea and enjoyed the evening atmosphere.
"Grandmaster Bai, could you tell me the reason?"
"...I don't accept male disciples."
Like lightning striking his face. Tang Xiuhan who at first was thinking frantically even felt somewhat hurt because he thought the reason was because he was too old.
Who would think her reason would be this!
"I understand."
Tang Tianjie accepted with regret. For an existence who could concoct Tier 5 elixirs by herself like this, becoming her disciple would be quite wonderful.
He no longer cared that she looked like a young woman many decades younger than himself. Because he respected people by power and ability. Both of which the young woman before him exceeded him by who knows how many times.
"I must truly thank Grandmaster Bai for giving such a precious elixir to the Tang Clan."
Tang Tianjie, worthy of being a great clan leader, was only immersed in regret for a moment before being able to move forward. Both old men bowed their heads in thanks until almost parallel to the floor when saying thank you.
"Mm."
Bai Fanxian nodded simply. Tang Tianjie couldn't continue seeing the young woman's attitude like this.
"Is there anything Grandmaster Bai desires? The Tang Clan will fulfill that wish to the best of our ability."
Tang Tianjie looked up to ask. If they could become close friends with Bai Fanxian, it would tremendously benefit the Tang Clan.
"Didn't I already say?"
Bai Fanxian raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"About the one house, of course the patriarch knows. But the pill you gave has tremendous value and is a separate matter, Grandmaster Bai."
Uncle Huang explained to Bai Fanxian. Tang Tianjie nodded in agreement.
"Mm... then make it a slightly larger house."
Bai Fanxian's answer nearly made Tang Tianjie who was listening trip over himself. He didn't think the young woman would be this simple!
But from Bai Fanxian's perspective, she really didn't want anything right now!
Because she'd crossed eras ten thousand years. Places where she'd lived had all disappeared with time. Or even valuable ingredients or mystical items—just in her dimension alone, there were so many she couldn't use them all.
What she lacked most now was a residence.
Her asking for one house therefore wasn't strange at all in her thinking.
"Then I will prepare the best house for Grandmaster Bai myself." Seeing the young woman had no signs of changing her mind, Tang Tianjie confidently agreed.
"Thank you."
Bai Fanxian simply said thanks. But Tang Tianjie who heard was so pleased his body trembled.
Because he felt he could narrow the distance between Bai Fanxian and the Tang Clan a little!
"Then Grandmaster Bai, I'll disturb you only this much. Good night."
Tang Tianjie bid farewell to Bai Fanxian. Because after this, he still had to bring the medicine he received to Yeye.
"Uncle Huang, will that child be alright?" Hui'er who followed to send off both old men at the door asked with a worried expression.
"She must be fine. This is medicine from Grandmaster Bai after all."
Uncle Huang bent down to answer at eye level with Hui'er. Seeing the little girl's worried gaze, he smiled affectionately.
"If so, would Hui'er like to go see together?"
Uncle Huang's question made Hui'er's eyes widen.
"May I?"
"Of course, right Patriarch?" Uncle Huang turned to ask Tang Tianjie beside him. The Tang Clan patriarch himself must feel quite affectionate toward this little girl. He raised his hand to gently stroke Hui'er's head and said:
"Of course. But you must ask Grandmaster Bai's permission first?"
Tang Tianjie's answer made Hui'er nod vigorously. She ran back into the room to ask her lady happily.
"She's truly an adorable child."
"Yes, Patriarch. Most importantly, it's because this child asked Grandmaster Bai that she agreed to help and gave that pill."
"Oh, really?" The Tang Clan patriarch asked with surprise.
"She's a good child, isn't she? If she could become close with the young miss, that would be good." Uncle Huang spoke with a smile.
"Indeed."
While both old men were conversing at the room entrance, Hui'er's small head poked out from the door. She was smiling widely and ran out.
"My lady permitted it."
"Then let's go." Tang Tianjie smiled while nodding lightly and began walking. But Hui'er was still standing waiting at the room entrance, not moving.
This surprised the Tang Clan patriarch.
"My lady said she'll come see too."
.
.
.
"...Yeye."
In Tang Yeye's room, it now seemed to be the room with the most people gathered in the house. Because both the mistress and young master were all staying close to watch the little miss. The caretakers therefore had to be here helplessly as well.
Tang Xiuhan, after being certain his daughter would be safe for at least one day, stood exhausted outside the room. He was thinking of possibilities to treat his daughter with full capability.
He knew about Grandmaster Lu Qing disappearing as well. Of course, what his father said was just to reassure his wife.
So what should he do?
The Tang Clan owned several hospitals. Of course Tang Yeye had already received treatment according to modern medicine. But no place could treat the disease the little girl had.
And this time was because of the Vitality Restoration Elixir's side effects. Making Yeye's condition so severe they had to use the Life-Sustaining Elixir to prolong it.
While stressed, Tang Xiuhan sensed a group of people walking up the stairs. He turned to look with surprise because leading the way was a young woman with the bearing of an empress.
Bai Fanxian!
And behind her were little Hui'er and his father Tang Tianjie. There was also Uncle Huang following from afar.
"Miss Bai?" Tang Xiuhan spoke habitually. But that made his father frown.
"You foolish son. How can you address Grandmaster Bai like that?"
Before Tang Tianjie could continue reproaching his son, Bai Fanxian calmly raised her hand to stop him. She nodded lightly to Tang Xiuhan and pushed open Tang Yeye's room door.
Tang Xiuhan looked at the group entering the room without understanding. He held back Uncle Huang who was following last to ask confusedly:
"What's happening, Uncle Huang?"
"Good news, master. Grandmaster Bai will help the young miss herself."
"...What does that mean?"
Tang Xiuhan was surprised. But Uncle Huang pulled him into the room without explaining further. For him, wasn't Bai Fanxian a cultivator with supreme power level?
Then why would she treat his daughter?
But before he could stop her, Bai Fanxian had already walked to the bedside.
Tang Xinlan and Tang Luotong felt someone approaching. Seeing it was Bai Fanxian, the young man frowned without quite understanding.
Actually, Tang Luotong was currently in an extremely disturbed mental state. He blamed himself for being the one who gave that medicine to his sister until she nearly died.
He looked at Bai Fanxian with a look of utter despair.
"Move back a bit."
Bai Fanxian spoke to the mother and son. Both looked without understanding. Madam Tang was still gripping her daughter's hand, unwilling to let go.
"What are you doing, Miss Bai?"
Tang Xinlan asked the young woman. For her, Bai Fanxian was her husband's guest. Making her not pay much attention. Until she'd even forgotten what title Uncle Huang used for her.
When a young woman she didn't know asked her to separate from her daughter, Tang Xinlan's heart was extremely unwilling.
"Xinlan, step back first."
Tang Tianjie was about to explain to his daughter-in-law. But Bai Fanxian was faster. She merely waved her hand once and the Tang mother and son floated up from the floor uncontrollably. And with another wave, Tang Xinlan fell into her husband's embrace. As for the young man Tang Luotong, she was too lazy to care. Making him fall awkwardly to the side instead.
Tang Luotong, shocked back to his senses, looked at the young woman standing gracefully by the bedside unbelievingly.
Not just him—everyone in that room as well.
Getting to see a Grandmaster-level using power this closely was something that didn't happen often. Tang Tianjie and Uncle Huang's level wasn't much, because with their age they'd experienced much. But for the rest in that room, they were staring at Bai Fanxian with fearful eyes.
"Bring out that elixir."
Bai Fanxian held out her hand to the side without turning to look at Tang Tianjie. That ashen pill shot out from the old man's chest pocket. It floated straight into Bai Fanxian's hand gently.
Tang Xiuhan and those who hadn't yet seen looked at this ashen elixir uncertainly. Because from its color it looked more like poison than an elixir. And it had no aura whatsoever that high-level elixirs should emit.
Tang Xinlan, seeing Bai Fanxian about to put that suspicious pill into her daughter's mouth, broke free from her husband's embrace. She tried to run in to stop her without caring about anything.