As Nalan Ruoshui's figure disappeared outside the courtyard gate, Chen Nan's head went blank.
"What if I had a distinguished background? What if I possessed unparalleled martial arts skills? Yes, either way, it could change your destiny."
"What a blockhead! He's not stupid or dull most of the time, but when it comes down to it..." The old poison monster poked his white head out from the wall.
"Damn it, you old geezer, this is the Nth time you've spied on me." With that, he picked up a bamboo pole from the ground and poked the old man who had just climbed up the wall.
"Damn it! Kid, you actually prepared a bamboo pole all along..."
"Thump!" The old man was stabbed.
"Ouch... Oh my god, my poor little green one has been knocked unconscious again..."
"Feeling sorry for that toad again!" Chen Nan turned and went into the house.
He remained unsettled for a long time, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts. Finally, he slammed his fist on the coffee table, shattering it into pieces with a flash of golden light. He abruptly stood up, muttering to himself, "I can't just watch Ruoshui walk into the lion's den and force myself to take action!"
However, in the days that followed, Chen Nan never saw Nalan Ruoshui again, and she never came to Qishi Mansion again.
Chen Nan was secretly anxious, restless and uneasy. The old poison master sat atop the wall, adopting a deep expression, and sighed, "Wood, you shouldn't have let her leave alone that day. Happiness is something you have to fight for; once it's gone, you can't hold onto it anymore. I hope you still have a chance, and don't regret it for the rest of your life! Alas, why do people always try to make amends only after they've lost something?"
Chen Nan ignored his ramblings and left the Qishi Mansion. He went back to the Royal Library, hoping to try his luck and run into Nalan Ruoshui. But he was disappointed; the librarian told him that Nalan Ruoshui hadn't come for the past few days. Frustrated, he randomly picked a book from the shelf and began to flip through it aimlessly.
Suddenly, a hoarse sigh sounded behind him: "Alas!"
Chen Nan was so startled he almost jumped up. He turned around and saw the old man who had led him into the underground tomb.
The old man, his body hunched over, walked unsteadily to him.
"Hehe, young man, don't worry. As I said, I mean you no harm, so don't overthink it. I really admire you. At such a young age, you possess spiritual roots and were even able to draw the sealed Houyi Bow. Your future is limitless!"
"Do you know who I am?"
"Although I am old, I am not senile. I still know a little about what is happening in the capital, but I am too lazy to bother with those mundane matters."
Chen Nan was taken aback.
The old man said, "In this life, some people are destined to be just fleeting passersby. As time goes by, these people will gradually fade from our hearts without leaving a trace."
"Ah..." Chen Nan was truly stunned. The old man's words were cryptic, seemingly alluding to Nalan Ruoshui's affair. He felt as if his inner world had been laid bare before the old man. He thought to himself, "This old man is truly a cunning and unfathomable monster."
Chen Nan said, "Yes, some people are destined to be just passersby in our lives, but I won't watch my friends who have crossed paths with me suffer misfortune!"
The old man chuckled and said, "Hehe, don't get excited, we're just having a casual chat."
Chen Nan felt a little uneasy, wondering why the old man had come to him again.
The old man suddenly said, "Young man, tell me, are you leaving the State of Chu?"
"This..." He was shocked.
"As I said, I admire you. I'm very interested to see how far a promising junior can climb in his cultivation. So don't be afraid, I won't harm you."
Chen Nan was only now convinced that, whatever the old monster's purpose, he would not harm him at present.
The old man said, "At my age, although I haven't completely let go of worldly affairs, I'm almost there. My heart is only focused on cultivation, seeking only to transcend life and death. However, when you leave, I hope you won't do anything too outrageous."
Chen Nan was torn between nodding and shaking his head.
"The capital city is full of hidden talents and experts; young people, please don't act rashly!"
Chen Nan broke out in a cold sweat. As he finally got up to take his leave, the old man's voice came from behind him: "I may travel to the mainland soon, and perhaps we will meet again someday."
As Chen Nan passed by the Imperial Garden, he stopped. Through the green trees, he vaguely saw two familiar figures. He looked around and, seeing no one passing by, used his supreme lightness skill to transform into a faint shadow and float into the Imperial Garden.
The garden is adorned with verdant pines, cypresses, and bamboos, interspersed with uniquely shaped rocks, and ancient vines entwining the trees, making it a verdant and lush place. The gurgling spring water and the golden scales floating in the clear lake add a lively touch to this lush and beautiful scenery.
Amidst the bamboo shadows, a delicate and exquisite pavilion comes into view. Two beautiful figures stand in the pavilion: one is stunningly beautiful and peerless, while the other is elegant and refined, with unparalleled grace.
Chen Nan's heart skipped a beat. He had already recognized the two people's faces. The former was Princess Chu Yue, and the latter was none other than Nalan Ruoshui, whom he hadn't seen for several days. Having witnessed the princess's extraordinary cultivation, he dared not get too close for fear of being discovered, and could only listen intently from a distance.
Chu Yue, holding Nalan Ruoshui's hand, said, "Actually, Sima Lingkong is already very outstanding. How many young people in the capital can compare to him?"
Nalan Ruoshui was somewhat displeased and said, "You actually spoke up for that lewd fellow?"
"Ruoshui, you've misunderstood me. I was just stating the facts. All men are like that; which man doesn't lust after beautiful women?"
"But I really have absolutely no feelings for him."
Chu Yue smiled bitterly, "In the eyes of the world, we are born into wealth and honor, living a life of luxury and carefree happiness. But is that really the case? I think we both know the answer in our hearts. Our status has cost us a lot. For example, we cannot have a romantic relationship before marriage. This is the tragedy of being a noblewoman."
Nalan Ruoshui sighed softly, "What if I've already developed even a little bit of feeling for someone?"
Chu Yue looked directly at Nalan Ruoshui and said, "I've heard about what happened at Qishi Mansion that day. I suspected you were just using Chen Nan to reject Sima Lingkong. You didn't actually develop any feelings for him, did you?"
Hearing this, Chen Nan's heart skipped a beat.
Nalan Ruoshui looked at Chu Yue and said, "What if it's true?"
Chu Yue was somewhat surprised and said, "How could you and him be together? This can't be true, can it? In terms of appearance, he is far inferior to Sima Lingkong. In terms of skill, needless to say, he has lost all his power. Even you, a master, couldn't revive him. He has no hope left. Moreover, he can't start cultivating again. To put it bluntly, he is now a cripple. I have given up all hope for him."
These words reached Chen Nan's ears without missing a single one. Although they were true from another perspective, Chen Nan still found them extremely grating.
Nalan Ruoshui turned her face away and said, "You don't understand..." but she didn't continue.
The eldest princess said, "Ruoshui, you're playing with fire. It's impossible for you and him to be together."
"I know, that's why I haven't gone to Qishi Mansion these past few days."
"It seems that sending you to Qishi Mansion to treat him was a mistake. Fortunately, you didn't get too involved. Time heals all wounds, and it won't be long before you forget about him."
Nalan Ruoshui turned around abruptly and said, "You're not going to kill him, are you?"
A cold glint flashed in Chu Yuefeng's eyes, then she laughed, "How could that be? If killing him could make you forget this experience, I would kill him without hesitation. But I know that would be completely useless; it would only make you hate me for the rest of your life. Don't worry, I won't touch him. In three days it will be my father's sixtieth birthday. After my father's birthday, I will give Chen Nan an official position and send him away from the capital. This will be better for you, for Sima Lingkong, and for Chen Nan."
Chen Nan saw the cold glint in the eldest princess's eyes. He knew that Chu Yue harbored murderous intent towards him. She would never give him an official position and would keep him far away from the capital. Now he was a "useless person" with no "value." Just for the sake of the little princess's reputation, she would not let him continue to live. Moreover, it involved the children of two important officials in the court.
A chill ran through him. He hadn't expected the stunningly beautiful princess to be so cunning. He had never truly seen through this incomparably beautiful woman until today, when he overheard her conversation with Nalan Ruoshui and realized how terrifying she was. Although, from another perspective, Chu Yue had no choice but to do this, it also revealed a glimpse of her ruthless methods.
The eldest princess and Nalan Ruoshui talked for a long time. Chen Nan observed coldly, seeing everything clearly. Throughout the conversation, Chu Yue was trying her best to persuade Nalan Ruoshui to marry Sima Lingkong. Discord between the general and the prime minister is detrimental to the country; for the sake of the nation, she abandoned friendship.
Chen Nan saw a faint resemblance to Tantai Xuan in Chu Yue; both were stunning beauties, both were intelligent, and both were ruthless in their methods…
Finally, Chu Yue said, "Let's go to my room, don't stand here."
Nalan Ruoshui said, "No, I want to be alone for a while. You should go back first."
Helpless, Chu Yue turned and left.
Nalan Ruoshui stood alone in the pavilion, murmuring, "If you had a distinguished background, if you possessed unparalleled martial arts skills..." Tears welled in her eyes as she sadly departed.
Chen Nan saw all of this, clenched his fist, and turned to leave.
Upon arriving outside the palace, he boarded a sedan chair, flanked by two rows of warriors, and proceeded towards the Qishi Mansion. Only now, having discovered Chu Yue's terrifying cunning, did he understand the true purpose of these two rows of warriors: to protect him, but primarily to prevent his escape. He also thought of the powerful warriors guarding his courtyard; Chu Yue's arrangements were truly meticulous.
Upon returning to Qishi Mansion, Chen Nan faintly heard the little princess's voice.
"Uncle Poison, please give me one."
The old poisoner said, "No way, these treasures of mine aren't raised to eat. I haven't even settled the score with you for capturing Little Gold and Little Green last time, and you've come again today."
"Because... the food made with your little snake is really delicious, much better than that made with ordinary snakes."
Old Poison was so angry he was almost spitting blood. He shouted, "I'm not a zookeeper, my darling isn't a delicacy! If you don't leave, I'm going to call that old hag who studies magic!"
"Uncle Poison, look what this is?"
"Oh, firecrackers! What are you doing? Don't light them! My babies will be terrified! How about I give you a little snake?"
"No, ten."
"Ah, just kill me! These are rare species, extremely precious... Ah, don't set them on fire, I'll give them to you."
After a while, the old poisoner said, "Look, they're all in this bag."
"Uncle Poison, you're so kind, hehe."
"Ugh...you little brat, hurry up and go."
"Hehe, goodbye Uncle Poison. Don't see me off, I'll come to visit you often."
The old poison monster let out a mournful howl.
...
Chen Nan was dumbfounded. The little princess actually liked to eat snakes, and to satisfy her cravings, she even threatened the old poison monster. She was truly a little devil.
After a while, the old poison monster appeared on the courtyard wall, looking as if he had just recovered from his anger. He said, "Just now, that wicked little witch came to deliver an imperial decree. In three days, it will be the Emperor's sixtieth birthday. All the extraordinary talents in the Extraordinary Talents Mansion are invited to attend." Then he changed the subject and said, "It is said that it will be very lively. A small country has sent three young dragon knights. Rumor has it that they will show off their skills at the banquet and gather the young heroes of Chu."
Chen Nan asked, "What? What happened?"
The old poisoner said, "That small country was originally a vassal state of Chu, but in recent years its strength has grown, and it has secretly received support from an unnamed force, wanting to break free from Chu's control. This time they sent three young dragon knights to show off to Chu. If these three outsmart the younger generation of Chu, it will be like giving Chu, the hegemon, a resounding slap in the face."
Chen Nan, seemingly indifferent, said, "Fine, let's fight for the freedom of our country and support these three national heroes."
The old poison master nervously looked around and said, "Boy, do you have a death wish? How can you say something like that? According to secret but reliable sources, these three were already famous when they were cultivating in the Western Continent. Then they suddenly disappeared for three years. It is estimated that they have been secretly cultivating for three years, and they must have already achieved great success in their cultivation, which is why they have come to our door. It is speculated that these three have reached at least the level of second-tier cultivators. Such terrifying strength is rare among the younger generation. Among the young geniuses of the Qishi Mansion, I'm afraid only that muscular man, Sima Lingkong, can stand up to one of them."
"That wicked little witch just said that if anyone can withstand those three Dragon Warriors, the Emperor will bestow a great reward. If your power has been restored, this is a rare opportunity! Imagine, if you wield Hou Yi's bow and shoot down the dragons in the sky, what a glorious and magnificent scene that would be! Just thinking about it is exciting. At that time, you will not only have made a great contribution, but you will also be famous throughout the continent. How could the Emperor not want to win over such a genius? If you want to... hehe."
The old poison master climbed over the courtyard wall to study poison techniques.
Chen Nan stood in the courtyard, his heart filled with turmoil. Finally, he clenched his fist and made a decision: he would no longer conceal his formidable strength. He already knew that Nalan Ruoshui harbored feelings for him, but he couldn't forget Yu Xin yet and couldn't start a new relationship.
However, he also had a good impression of Nalan Ruoshui. When he thought of how she carefully treated his body every day and patiently taught him to read and write, he felt a sense of gratitude. He could not bear to see Ruoshui suffer misfortune.
He opened the courtyard gate and said to the guards outside, "Please inform Her Highness the First Princess immediately that I have urgent business with her."
The warriors exchanged glances, and one of them quickly left. About half an hour later, he heard the eldest princess greeting the extraordinary men in the palace, and he knew that his time to shine had come.
Chen Nan entered the house and took out the Houyi Bow. He gently stroked the dark bow back with his hand, feeling the subtle fluctuations emanating from the divine bow. He then began to circulate his family's secret technique. Instantly, a powerful force surged forth from his body, causing the bamboo grove in the courtyard to tremble violently with the fluctuations of this force, scattering fallen leaves across the ground.
Golden light emanated from his body, and Chen Nan exuded powerful confidence. His entire demeanor changed in an instant, making him completely different from before.
He nocked a white-feathered arrow onto the bowstring, stepped forward with his left foot, stepped back with his right, held the bow to the sky with his left hand, and pulled the bowstring taut with his right. A myriad of golden rays and auspicious streaks appeared as the Houyi Bow emitted a dazzling light, so brilliant that even the sun in the sky paled in comparison. Chen Nan and the Houyi Bow seemed to be connected by flesh and blood, their bodies also radiating golden light.
The Houyi Bow was surrounded by a misty haze, and golden light flowed towards the white-feathered arrow like water. Thunder and lightning roared, and the world lost its color.
A powerful surge of energy emanated from Chen Nan and spread throughout the entire Qishi Mansion. All the Qishi within the mansion sensed this overwhelming power, and each was utterly astonished. The immense power Chen Nan unleashed, aided by the might of the Houyi Bow, was undoubtedly at the level of a fifth-tier peerless master.
The eldest princess also sensed it, her face showing disbelief as she muttered to herself, "Could it be him? How is this possible? He's really recovered?"
After reaching his maximum power, Chen Nan easily released his fingers, and the white feather arrow, like a dazzling rainbow, shot through the air, accompanied by thunderous roars above the Qishi Mansion.
The golden arrow rose above the white clouds and suddenly exploded, unleashing a dazzling burst of light in the sky above the capital. The afterimage left by the golden arrow, like a bolt of lightning, connected the beam of light from the sky to the Qishi Mansion.
Everyone in the capital saw the strange phenomenon in the sky, and gasps of surprise rang out.
All the extraordinary individuals within the Qishi Mansion were stunned, each displaying an expression of disbelief. Various snakes and insects slithered everywhere in the Old Poison Monster's courtyard, creating chaos. The flying dragon in Sima Lingkong's courtyard trembled with fear, prostrating itself on the ground.
Chen Nan roared to the sky, his voice shaking the heavens. He nocked the second white-feathered arrow onto the bowstring, and the wind and thunder rose again, with powerful energy waves once more sweeping across the entire Qishi Mansion.
This time, the golden arrow flew towards the ground, its radiant light cleaving through the earth like a golden dragon, disappearing deep underground. Huge cracks, half a meter wide, spread outwards from the arrowhead, causing the entire Qishi Mansion to shake violently. Houses within the mansion collapsed in large sections, accompanied by incessant rumbling sounds.
At that moment, people within a radius of several miles felt the earth tremble, and everyone was shocked.
After a long time, when everything returned to calm, more than half of the houses in Qishi Mansion had collapsed. The people standing on the ruins were stunned. Finally, everyone's eyes were focused on Chen Nan.
This once ordinary young man has undergone a complete transformation, now radiating a powerful and awe-inspiring aura that commands respect.
The old poison monster was the first to regain his senses, and couldn't help but wail, "Oh God! My darling, boohoo... What did I do to deserve this... It's bad enough to be stuck next to a damn old woman who demolishes houses all day, but I never expected another seemingly honest and law-abiding fellow to be even more despicable, actually demolishing the whole house! Boohoo... Darling..."
Sima Lingkong's face was ashen; his flying dragon had been smashed, its right wing a bloody mess. Seeing that the culprit was Chen Nan, he was filled with rage, but also with shock and envy at Chen Nan's terrifying power.
Chu Yue's eyes flashed with light. She was first deep in thought, then overjoyed. Today, she had witnessed the power of Hou Yi's bow with her own eyes. Its immense power shocked her. Such power was even greater than that of a fifth-level expert. Now, the Chu Kingdom had undoubtedly gained another peerless expert.
Amidst the old poison monster's cries and curses, the old witch crawled out of the ruins with a piece of rubble on her head.
"Which bastard destroyed my house? How dare he plot against me like this? It's outrageous! If you've got the guts, let's have a showdown!" With that, the old witch floated into the air, but when she saw the scene before her, she suddenly plummeted back down.
"My God! That's comparable to a fifth-tier archmage, that's terrifying."
A large number of troops rushed here, and Qishifu was thrown into chaos.
Chu Yue immediately ordered the army to block the news from this place, and then moved the residences of the extraordinary talents to a new one, and sent people to rearrange the accommodations for each of them.
After dealing with the immediate problems, Chu Yue took Chen Nan into the palace and questioned him in detail about the entire incident in a secret room.
"Chen Nan, have you recovered your strength?"
"Yes, it's fully recovered."
"Excellent! Our Chu Kingdom has gained another outstanding talent. Is this why you sought me out?"
"Yes, I want to tell the princess this good news."
"Why did you fire two arrows with Hou Yi's bow in quick succession, not only astonishing everyone in the capital but also destroying the Qishi Mansion?" Chu Yue's face showed displeasure as she said this.
Chen Nan sneered inwardly. He had already prepared his lie. He said, "After my power recovered, the true energy within my body continued to grow stronger, eventually losing control. I just wanted to vent it, so I drew Hou Yi's bow. The first arrow was shot into the sky, but strange phenomena appeared in the heavens. Fearing it would cause unnecessary trouble, I shot the second arrow into the ground. I didn't expect the golden arrow to be so powerful, actually destroying half of Qishi Mansion. Please punish me, Princess."
Chu Yue's displeasure vanished, replaced by a smile. She said, "What's a mansion? As long as your power recovers, you can destroy another one without any problem."
After asking about what had happened, Chu Yue told him about the three dragon knights and told him to prepare in advance. If no one could withstand the three of them in three days, he would be sent to fight with Hou Yi's bow.
Upon hearing this, Chen Nan said, "If I do this, won't my reputation as a reclusive master be brought into the open and known to everyone?"
Chu Yue said, "In the past, the reason I made you a hidden master was to conceal your strength and make it impossible for others to guard against you. Now it's time for you to turn the shadows into the light and make sure to greatly enhance the prestige of my Chu Kingdom."
Chu Yue and Chen Nan talked for a long time, and Chu Yue's attitude was much warmer than before.
Chen Nan sneered inwardly. Finally, he stood up, bowed to Chu Yue, and said, "There is something I would like to ask the princess for her permission."
"Oh, what is it?"
"I wish to marry Miss Nalan, and I beg Your Highness to grant my request." Chen Nan had no better option than to step forward and compete with Sima Lingkong. If he could stop the Sima family from proposing marriage now, things would be much easier later.
"This..." Chu Yue frowned, feeling troubled. If Chen Nan had made such a request before, she would have refused without hesitation. But Chen Nan was no longer the same. With the Houyi Bow in hand, he was equivalent to a fifth-tier peerless master, and it was foreseeable that he would become famous throughout the world in three days.
She could only try to win over and appease such a prodigy, but if she were to marry Nalan Ruoshui to Chen Nan, she would undoubtedly offend the powerful Sima family. She was caught in a dilemma.
"General Sima is arranging this marriage for his eldest son and has already petitioned my father, the Emperor, for a marriage decree. However, nothing has been decided yet. I will report your matter to my father and ask him to make the decision."