Chapter 6

Days were passing after that event from the library. Qi's search for the pills recipes and ancient knowledge was showing a result.

After that meeting with Shen Xiu, Ye Qi had gone back to the City Lord Mansion. He didn't talk with anyone, as he was deeply sinking in his thoughts.

Ye Qi went to his mother, who got him some books from the family library. Although she doesn't know old languages, she knows few words about them. At least, she could tell the topic, which gave him the benefit of the research.

Ye Qi, in the library, had managed to get some of the experience of the inscriptions master. He had thought of giving her the inscriptions. But that would be left later.

He sat in his courtyard, took a deep breath, and started using his soul force, reading the books without opening them.

The advantage of this method, not only it would teach him the knowledge, but he would get the experience of the writer. When he reads about pills and how to make them, he would have some of the experience of the alchemist who made that book.

That's how powerful were the eyes that can see into the past.

Ye Qi spent the night learning until his soul force almost reached zero. He then spent the rest of it cultivating, getting his soul force to its peak, before reading more books. When he was done, reading 20 books, his stomach growled in pain.

"Geez, when would I reach the level where I don't need food."

When hunger got in his way, he couldn't help but feel annoyed.

Ye Qi had asked a near maid to prepare him a meal before he sank into long cultivation until the dawn.

Luckily, the process of meditation can replace sleeping, so he didn't need to worry about the lack of sleep.

By the morning, a couple of hours after dawn, Ye Qi opened his eyes.

He quickly got his crystal and poured his soul force there, to see that he has 230, meaning that he is a second Star Bronze Rank Spiritualist.

Remembering how Shen Xiu could tell his level when he had been in the library, Ye Qi made a note not to cultivate publicly in front of the outsiders.

Although it would be a good sign that a genius would rise in the ranks of the family, Ye Qi had some wariness that the Dark Guild may clash with him, seeing how fast he's growing.

Nie Lie had been dumb for someone who's 300 years old — provoking stronger enemies, insulting them before they do anything to him. If not for his plot armour, he TDG would have ended within the first 100 chapters.

Ye Qi, on the other hand, finds that it's not only necessary to learn from his own mistakes, but the others.

Stretching his back on his way to the Orchid Institute, Ye Qi had his class as usual.

Shen Xiu was there, as always, beautiful. He didn't forget to take the chance to talk to her after the class. Ye Qi felt lucky this time to have a topic to talk with her about other than studying — her nephew… a topic which would lead her to talk more about her personal life. She seemed to enjoy the flattering, though and was giving him longer glances than the last three days.

Ye Qi only smiled at her face.

"Don't worry, I will take care of him." He said.

Shen Xiu smiled at his face and put her hand on his. He almost exclaimed shock when she did that. That was fast, even for him.

"I know you would, thank you."

"I will do anything for you, teacher."

"If so, go back and cultivate harder. I want to see where you would reach when the yearly test comes."

"Mm."

With that node, Ye Qi prepared to leave to the library.

On his way, he met Xiao Ning'er.

"Ye Qi."

"Ning'er."

They said each other name as they met on their way to the library.

Xiao Ning'er looked at his eyes, thinking of what to say.

"Thanks for your advice." She said. "I'm no longer cultivating in the night, and the pain isn't getting worse." She gave a slight bow. It amazed her that Ye Qi only looked at her face, not even to her cleavage as other boys would do. Although, she missed that moment.

She then stood up. "But the thing is, the bruises aren't vanishing soon." She said as if waiting for advice… or a solution.

"Mm… try to mix the herb of the dragon eye and the purple haze, with ice, then apply them on your bruises." Ye Qi said. "Though they won't heal you, they would at least act like pain killers."

"How do you know that?"

"Obvious. Does anyone read a book nowadays?"

Ning'er felt shocked. Not even the modern doctors claim to have a painkiller with two herbs as he says. She had this disease for a long, and she tried different things. Non worked. However, he was someone who knew her problem. So, he must be a genius in disguise.

Ye Qi shrugged his shoulders and walked to the library.

"We are heading to the same place." Said Ning'er walking aside with him.

"Mm… what a coincidence."

"Do you want to look with me?"

"I'll tell you if I find something."

Then, they entered the library. Mo Xin was there, as usual, sleeping. Ye Qi went to a shelf, while Ning'er went another one. Ye Qi, this time, because he can understand most of the languages, could pick up more focused books on the topic he is looking for.

He picked up books about alchemy, turning the pages, and seeing what they are about.

"Jackpot," a smirk appeared on his face. Books about pills recipes from some ancient era.

If he isn't wrong, Nie Lie, in the other timeline, had picked up pills recipes from the old books of this world and not the higher realm. Since, in a higher realm, they don't bother themselves with recipes for bronze rank and Black Gold rank pills.

Ye Qi licked his lips as he picked up more books. With his cultivation getting advanced to 2nd Star Bronze Rank, he could use his Time-Space skill for a longer period.

Ye Qi sat and started using his technique. Meanwhile, Mo Xin was observing him. Ye Qi was only flipping pages, not really reading. But he was nodding, showing shock sometimes.

"I need more sleep." She didn't want to bother herself and went to sleep again.

——

Ning'er came and sat next to Ye Qi. She was curious to see what he is reading about while having a group of books on her own side of the table.

Ye Qi was fast reading, as it seems. When she stole a peep at what he is reading, she was shocked.

"You can understand these languages!" she said, seeing Ye Qi taking a brush and marking some words in a paper that was placed on the table...

"Mm… you, what are you reading."

"I'm trying to learn."

Ye Qi closed the book. He then looked down, following her slender beautiful arm, which ended up with her slender fingers on a certain book with Ice Empire era.

"This book is talking about the Demon beasts you can find in swamps. I advise you not to read it." Ye Qi said. That book has disturbing details.

Ning'er narrowed her eyebrows. She then flicked the pages to see some of them have drawn of beasts and swamps.

"Wow, you really can!" she said, astonished looking at him.

"I would appreciate it if you keep this information a secret." Ye Qi said.

Ning'er last days had memorised very few words about massage, healing. So she could use them to search for books. It took her a lot of efforts to remember them.

But Ye Qi here seems to know the language of an ancient empire. Looking at the book that he is holding now, she saw it was another ancient era and another language. Was he always a genius!

Ye Qi turned his face and flicked the pages. "Finally," after a minute or so, he said, before placing the book on the table. He looked pale a bit though, as he was a bit tired.

"Wow," Ning'er said. "You should be able to help me now, right." When Ye Qi looked at her, she said, "Please." Making the last word sound longer in his ear.

The way she said it, and how cute she looked, made Ye Qi finally sigh, and say. "I have a minute or so."

Ning'er saw that he was in a good mood and didn't want to question it.

Ye Qi was only in a good mood because he found recipes, cheap recipes to cultivate the body, and the soul, starting from bronze rank to silver rank and above. He also found a meridian technique that helps him forcefully to break through to Silver Rank when it comes to the last rank of Bronze rank.

He was happy with this evaluation that he didn't mind helping Ning'er now.

Ye Qi picked up a big group of books that talked about Yin energy and some healing massage techniques, then they went to the table.

The two of them had a small chat.

"By the way, why are you avoiding Ye Ziyun." Ye Qi asked all of the sudden.

Ning'er stopped all of the sudden. "That's… we are rivals."

She said what's in her mind.

Ye Ziyun has everything, from better talent to full control over her fate.

Ning'er, on the other hand, has a disease, and a forced marriage upon her.

"Listen, I understand that you may be angry, jealous. But I would appreciate it if you act less like a rival with her." Ye Qi, who likes his cousin and think of her cute, said. "I mean, she's trying to make friend with you, but you avoid her."

"Ye Qi…" Ning'er forced a smile in the face of the genius. "I respect people like you, who work hard to get what they want. But I have my pride as well."

It's understandable, given how Ning'er is living in the shadow of marriage. Although he knew that she is a good, yet sad person, Ye Qi felt that he has to stand with his family side.

Closing the book, he said, "If you avoid my cousin any longer, you can help yourself."

"Hey." Ning'er opened her eyes widely. "Wait… it's just a rivals thing. It's my business ."

"Yeah, I've already helped you with enough clues with your disease." Ye Qi gave his back to her and shook his finger. "I'm not a good person who does things for free."

"What's your price." Ning'er looked at his back, her big brown eyes were shaking.

"Have a talk with Ye Ziyun, stop avoiding her." Ye Qi said. Seeing that Ning'er fell silent with her head down, he said. "Think of it. It's my price." He then walked away.

When Ye Qi left, she looked at his back and murmured.

"Not a good person?" Who is he trying to fool? The way Ye Qi talked made Ning'er feel like she is the bad person. Ning'er felt her eyes turning cloudy all of the sudden. In her eyes now, he became like a saint, a person so good that he is almost perfect.

-x-X-x-

Ye Qi had left the library and went away. Meeting Ye Ziyun in the market, he felt a bit pity for her.

The first thing she had done was to ask about her friend Ning'er and if they met in the library.

Ye Qi gave a bitter smile, placing a hand on her shoulder,

This girl was just too timid.

"Don't worry. She's just hard work. Other than that, she seemed to ask about you, and how are you doing."

"Really?" Ye Ziyun smiled.

Ye Qi bit his lip as he lied.

"Don't you believe me?" He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pushing her to his hug, as she was too cute looking.

"Hey, that's not proper." She said, embarrassed and her cheeks turning red. Although she tried to push herself from his hug, he was strong physically for her.

"Come on, you are my family. I should take care of you." Ye Qi shook her as her face was on his chest.

"We're cousins, not blood siblings." She said as his hug became stronger. "Something can happen between us!"

Ye Qi seemed to enjoy teasing her and just laughed.

Ye Ziyun, by this point, had her cheeks turn completely red.

Frustrated, she opened her mouth widely.

"Ouch."

Ye Qi cried.

Ye Ziyun's sharp teeth sank deep in his chest, and he couldn't help but scream in surprise.

"Fine. I won't tease you, just leave me."

"No," she growled as she was only repaying the favour by bitting his chest. Finally, after some minutes, she let him, with an angry expression.

Ye Qi was looking for some ice to put on his chest and stared at her from a far distance.

"Ziyun. You are no fun to tease."

"Then don't tease me," she turned and said, hiding her smile.

After that, it was time to go back to the mansion.

Days were passing like usual.

Ye Qi spent his time translation the knowledge he had got from the library and the family's books.

Ye Qi, as he is now, was more knowledgeable about herbs and medicines than ever.

As the next day came, Xiao Ning'er seemed to be waiting for him. She gave a slight bow and told him.

"Thank you. The medicine you gave me. It made my pain fade." Her face looked brighter. When she smiled at Ye Qi, with her white pearl teeth and pretty face, he almost took a step back. That smile was too bright for him.

"Sure." He nodded and didn't say another word. Ning'er, after waiting, decided to talk. "I've thought about what you've said."

"And?" Qi raised an eyebrow.

"You are right. Ye Ziyun and I were close friends. I shouldn't just see things from a point of view. "

This time, she stared at his face for a minute. Her cheeks started to turn red, and Ye Qi was taken back by how pretty she looked when she blushed. Seeing him raising eyebrows, she smiled wryly and bowed down again.

"If you excuse me, I'll be looking for the keywords in the library now."

"Sure…"

Ning'er left then and walked to Ziyun's direction. "Ye Ziyun." Ye Ziyun turned, almost surprised seeing that Ning'er was approaching her with a friendly demander.

Ye Qi watched this while pointing to himself. "It worked?"

'I guess I'm good at fixing relationships.' He nodded in pride of himself.

Xiao Ning'er and Ye Ziyun were talking now. Ziyun's purple eyes looked at Ye Qi's as she talked with her friend, drawing a smile. But when she saw Ye Qi rubbing his chest and frowning when he looked at her white teeth; she quickly turned her head. Ye Qi was thinking of how sharp her teeth were that day. Who would think a cute girl like Ziyun has such a hidden weapon in her sleeves.

Ye Qi decided to leave the school early today. He went to his courtyard as fast as possible and continued. Finally, after some hours, he managed to translate some recipes about elixirs and pills that would enhance his cultivation speed.

He planned to give them to his family, as they had their own alchemists. With this, the Snow Wind would concoct pills and Elixirs for him. At least, this should increase the power of the family in total.

Ye Qi took a deep breath and ran toward his mother's courtyard. "Mom!"

Hearing his repeat yell, Ye Luo got out of her courtyard. She yawned. "What's it, Ye Qi." She said as she noticed the papers in his hand.

"I managed to get them back!" Ye Qi was acting as the innocent child she likes to spoil.

"What them?"

"Pills, Elixirs. Their recipes. They are here." Ye Qi quickly went to her. Luo lifted her eyebrows and took the papers from his hand. As a golden rank spiritualist, she could tell if he was lying or not.

Reading the papers, she read a group of recipes and was shocked. What shocked her, not only the recipes were there, but the precise method to concoct them was described in the utmost detail.

"You, you read them from the books!" She knew he must be. But that was impossible. Learning a language like that was something she wouldn't believe.

Unless…some monster possessed her son's body.

"How can you understand ancient content!" Seeing that she looked at him with a mix of surprise and threatening gaze. "Answer me or I'll beat you." That was a threat that you wouldn't want to hear from someone who was a golden rank.

Luckily, he prepared for an excuse already.

"Relax." Ye Qi forced a smile, he said. " After I broke through to Bronze rank. I found that I have a special ability. I can understand the intent behind the words, not the words themselves." He clicked his tongue at her.

Ye Luo sighed in relief before giving him a hug to her chest.

"That scarred me, you know." She patted his head. She then paused and let him. "What!"

Ye Qi was drawn out of his good mood.

She yelled. "Bronze Rank!"

"Yes ." He nodded with a yawn. "I'm a genius." He then unleashed the little soul force he has. 1-star bronze rank has 100 soul force, then once he reaches 1000, they could be called a Silver rank. And once it's 10.000, it would be the first star of the Golden rank. Which was the reason his soul force was too little.

Ye Qi, because of the few days he spent looking in the library and cultivating, was near to get to three stars bronze rank. He realised his needs to elixirs more than even.

Now, what he was unleashing only a hundred.

Ye Luo was shocked because this progress was too fast for someone who has a talent like his.

She didn't focus on how much he had, to be honest.

But it was bronze rank, no wrong about that.

She told him as she placed a chair out of her spatial ring. "I'm too shocked to start feeling pride all of the sudden."

Ye Qi seemed upset all of the sudden. "You can take your time… But you know, that wasn't nice. I'm talking about that threat about beating me if I don't talk."

He wanted to call the child service. But there wasn't. That's why he is upset.

She shook her head. "I am sorry about that. I just have you to know that there is an evil technique that can be used on children, to be possessed."

"Those who experience it would have very pale skin, with lifeless aura. And before you ask me, I read about it, and it's like in our library, written in the common tongue." Qi sighed as if he was sad. He misses the child service.

"Good to know that." She grabbed the papers he had written. "We need to tell the family that you are a great genius. This worth celebration." She said. "But first, tell me about your talent. Can you understand the intent behind any words, anything. Really, like anything."

"All about feelings."

"And you trust that feeling."

"Soul force is a mysterious thing." Ye Qi shrugged his shoulder.

As he told her and nodded, her heart beat faster. With this scary surprising talent, he would be able to get back the ancient inscriptions arrays masters books. That would raise the family strength.

"Now Ye Qi," she placed "before we tell the family. Tell me, does anyone know about this."

When he shook his head, no, she nodded.

"Now, can I get my pills?" Ye Qi said.

He only helped the family because it will help him back.

"Oh, don't worry about that. Just a piece of advice. Besides your blood-relatives, don't trust the servants and maids here. They whisper too much."

"I know that."

"Let' go to the City Lord."