Lin Chen left Elder Mo's pavilion with his thoughts swirling like a storm.
"One thousand spirit stones…"
"And only three days to gather them. No pressure, right?" he muttered to himself, a faint smirk curling at his lips.
The mountain winds tugged at his robes as he descended toward the outer sect quarters, his mind already racing through options.
"I can't waste time. Missions… maybe I can hunt a few bounties. Or gamble—hah, no. Too risky."
"I need one big haul."
---
By midday, he found himself standing before the dark stone walls of the Outer Sect Mission Hall.
The air inside was thick with ambition and desperation.
Disciples jostled around the wooden boards where hundreds of missions hung — some routine, others marked in crimson ink: dangerous but rewarding.
Lin Chen's eyes flicked past the low-reward errands.
He wasn't here to pick herbs.
---
His gaze settled on one mission:
"Eliminate the Scarlet-Fanged Venom Wolf."
Reward: 300 spirit stones.
Danger level: High. Recommended for Qi Condensation 3rd Layer and above."
"Perfect," Lin Chen thought, lips curling faintly. "Dangerous enough to be worth my time. And if I do two or three like this…"
"I'll have my thousand."
---
Just as he reached for the mission scroll, a soft, rich voice cut through the murmuring crowd.
"Taking that mission, young man?"
Lin Chen turned—and for a heartbeat, his world stilled.
---
She stood a few paces away, her presence radiant and impossible to ignore.
A woman draped in deep crimson robes, embroidered with faint golden phoenix patterns.
Her hair, the color of ink with streaks of silver at her temples, was pinned up with an intricate jade hairpin.
Her face held the mature beauty that only years of cultivation and experience could grant — sharp yet soft, dignified yet alluring.
But what caught Lin Chen's attention wasn't her beauty.
It was the pressure she emitted — deep, controlled power.
"Qi Condensation… no. Foundation Establishment realm," Lin Chen's instincts whispered. "And polished."
---
"You're brave," the woman in red continued, her lips curving into a faint, knowing smile. "Or desperate. That wolf has slain stronger men than you."
Lin Chen's gaze sharpened, but he bowed politely. "Disciple Lin Chen greets senior. Thank you for your advice."
Her amber eyes, sharp and playful, studied him. "Polite… and yet I see no fear in your eyes. Interesting."
She stepped closer, and Lin Chen caught the faint scent of sandalwood and spices.
"I am Mu Qinglan," she said, voice like velvet. "An elder from the sect's alchemy division… though I wander more than I should."
---
"An alchemist?" Lin Chen noted. "That explains the aura control. A seasoned one."
"You have a plan to kill that beast, young man?" Mu Qinglan asked, tilting her head slightly. "Or are you relying on youthful arrogance?"
---
Lin Chen's lips quirked. "I always have a plan, senior."
"Arrogance is for people who can afford failure."
---
For a beat, Mu Qinglan simply stared at him.
Then—
She chuckled. Low and melodious.
"Sharp-tongued too. I like that."
---
She reached into her sleeve and flicked a small vial toward him. Lin Chen caught it instinctively.
A pale blue liquid swirled inside.
"Antidote for the Scarlet-Fanged Venom," Mu Qinglan said casually. "You'll need it."
Lin Chen blinked. "Senior… this—"
"Consider it a loan," she interrupted smoothly. "If you return alive, come see me. We'll discuss repayment then."
Her eyes glittered. "Perhaps with interest."
---
For a flicker of a moment, Lin Chen felt an old, almost forgotten sensation stir in his chest.
Excitement… and caution.
"Another dangerous woman," he thought wryly. "Just my luck."
But aloud, he bowed deeply. "Disciple Lin Chen thanks Senior Mu. If I return alive, I shall repay this favor."
---
"Good."
Mu Qinglan smiled — a smile that made even passing disciples pause and stare.
"I'll be watching you, Lin Chen."
"Don't disappoint me."*
With that, she turned, her crimson robes fluttering like flames as she vanished into the crowd.
---
Lin Chen stood there for a long moment, staring at the vial in his hand.
The liquid shimmered faintly in the light.
"A powerful backer? Or another chain around my neck?"
"Either way…"
His lips curled faintly. "…life just got a little more interesting."
---
He pocketed the vial and turned back to the mission board.
"Time to hunt a wolf."
But in the back of his mind, the image of Mu Qinglan's smile lingered.
Warm. Dangerous. Alluring.
"…and repay a debt."*
---
Far away, across the cold void of space…
A woman sat upon a throne of black jade, her eyes closed in meditation.
But suddenly, her eyes snapped open—golden and fierce.
"Chen'er…" she whispered, voice trembling. "Your flame… it flickered again."*
---
[End of Chapter 7]