C12 Ouyang Youhuang Nazi

Shortly thereafter, the contract was inked.

It was a solid agreement, binding both parties.

Once the virtual contract was in place, neither side could breach it without facing serious consequences, including potential jail time.

"So, Brother Yipao, what level of pills are you capable of refining now?"

"None, to be honest. I've only just begun acquiring pill formulas and ingredients. Aside from taking on an apprentice alchemist, I'm starting from the ground up and need to level up. I'm entering in three days, correct?" Wang Yipao asked with a nonchalant air. Three days should suffice for him to advance his alchemy skills to the Qi Refining stage, provided he had ample medicinal herbs.

"Just getting started!" Immortal Sword Jiulong couldn't hide his slight frustration but nodded in response to Jian Yipao's inquiry.

Yet, Immortal Sword Jiulong quickly came to terms with the situation.

He had dueled with Jian Yipao on several occasions.

Despite a lower level, Jian Yipao's prowess was undeniable.

Moreover, with the virtual contract in place and knowing Jian Yipao's genuine alchemist credentials, Immortal Sword Jiulong felt the gap between them close.

This successful collaboration paved the way for future partnerships.

Immortal Sword Jiulong couldn't predict when someone from the Immortal World would take up an alchemist subclass.

"By the way, since you, Brother Yipao, need to level up, my sister will be going out soon too. She hasn't yet reached the Perfection of Qi Refining. How about you two team up? I also know of an excellent leveling spot," Immortal Sword Jiulong suggested, thinking of his sister.

"That sounds perfect. Plus, I'll need your Immortal Sword services to transport materials for pill refining. It's a deal, as long as it's on the house," Jian Yipao agreed enthusiastically.

Leveling up with the club would certainly expedite his progress.

"Why would I charge you? Since we're agreed, I'll escort you there. I'm also preparing for my breakthrough to the Foundation Stage, so I've got some time to spare," Immortal Sword Jiulong said with a slight smile.

He then led Wang Yipao to a monster-infested region along the Plum Dragon River.

"Brother? Why did you bring someone with you? Who is this guy...?"

The woman who had been playfully tormenting wild monsters by the water's edge caught sight of her brother approaching, his steps causing ripples and splashes. But then, her gaze landed on Jian Yipao.

"Wang Yipao?"

"Eh?" Wang Yipao was taken aback.

His gaming alias was Jian Yipao, and within the gaming community, not many referred to him as Wang Yipao. He was more commonly known as Sword Immortal, Mr. Pao, among other nicknames.

"Who are you?" Wang Yipao asked, certain he didn't recognize the fierce woman before him.

Seriously!

Wang Yipao scrutinized the player, Immortal Sword Shui Jing, with a thoughtful gaze.

"Pfft! Just like Nannannu described, a total creep. Brother, how can you associate with such a creep?" Immortal Sword Shui Jing crossed her arms, her initial surprise quickly morphing into indignant fury.

She was on the verge of unleashing her wrath on Wang Yipao.

"Nannannu? Holy crap! Now I remember. You're Beiming Nunu's bestie from school, aren't you?! You are! Ouyang... Fierce?!" Wang Yipao's eyes bulged as he blurted out her real name.

Immortal Sword Shui Jing: ...

Immortal Sword Jiulong: ...

Who names their kid 'Fierce'?

Could you not stare at me like that?

You've got the wrong person!

"Oh, my bad, it's Ouyang Jing." Wang Yipao seemed to catch his slip-up and nonchalantly corrected himself.

Yeah, way too nonchalant.

So much so that Immortal Sword Shui Jing was stomping her feet in frustration.

"Do you two know each other?"

"She's my best friend from childhood."

"And she's the best friend of my childhood friend."

Immortal Sword Jiulong: ...

Can we speak plainly here?

Am I the only one feeling overwhelmed?

Whatever, I'll just assume you two are acquainted. I'm done here. I brought the person, and now I'm out.

You two don't seem like...

Wait, maybe I should stick around.

Immortal Sword Jiulong thought about leaving but hesitated and turned back.

He couldn't shake off his concern for Jian Yipao.

Hmm, I admit I'm a bit uneasy. I'm worried this guy might charm my adorable sister.

"Let's focus on leveling up first."

Surprisingly, Wang Yipao was all business.

"No, I've got a question. Beiming Nunu told me you're the Divine Wind Sword Immortal. Why are you here leveling with us?" Immortal Sword Shui Jing demanded, hands on her hips.

"I was kicked out by Divine Wind."

"What?"

Wang Yipao's nonchalant response left Immortal Sword Shui Jing speechless.

This seems like a big deal, right?

How can you talk about it so casually?

"Look, little sis, that's enough. We're not here to scrutinize your life," Immortal Sword Jiulong interjected, trying to defuse the tension.

"Brother, back off!"

Immortal Sword Jiulong: ...

Back off?

Seriously?

Sis, you're not falling for him, are you?

Please, no!

This guy's toxic! Haven't you seen his matches? He's dangerously toxic!

"Does Beiming Nunu know about this?"

"Nope."

"You haven't told her?"

"If I did, you think she wouldn't be at my doorstep in five minutes, demanding I become her sidekick? Please, with her capabilities, she expects me to tag along?"

Immortal Sword Shui Jing paused, realizing there wasn't really a problem.

Her bestie became a cop, and it seemed this guy had a significant hand in that.

"Wow, I never expected the esteemed Sword Immortal to be so considerate of his little girlfriend's feelings," Immortal Sword Shui Jing teased, her voice dripping with curiosity.

Wang Yipao rolled his eyes. "Don't read too much into it. That girl and I grew up as close as two peas in a pod. And why are you so nosy about her business? I'm starting to think you're the lesbian everyone's whispering about!"

"Is that true?" This time, it was Immortal Sword Jiulong who chimed in.

Only to be promptly kicked away by his sister.

Are you sure you're my brother?

Why are you egging him on like this?

The conversation abruptly ended with Wang Yipao's intervention. Immortal Sword Shui Jing had no intention of probing further, but couldn't help asking, "So, how did Divine Wind manage to kick you out?"

Wang Yipao found himself at a loss for words. "Sis, are you really going to dig that deep?"

"If you don't spill the beans, I'll just sneakily spill them to Nannan."

"Wow, you're actually blackmailing me!"

"Should I make a call over the internet?"

"Sis, I admit my mistake. Isn't that enough?"

Without further hesitation, Wang Yipao laid out the gist of the matter.

His candidness made Immortal Sword Jiulong wonder if there was something more between his sister and Yipao. Why else would Yipao be so open?

Meanwhile, the head honcho of Immortal Sword was all ears, eagerly soaking in the juicy details.

Once Wang Yipao finished, both of them regarded him with a new sense of mystery. Despite Wang Yipao being evasive about key details, like the Demon Light, claiming they were confidential, it was clear that he wasn't as inept as they had presumed.

Divine Wind's real mistake was in allowing other pros to put too much pressure on Wang Yipao, squandering a potential opportunity.

In the grand scheme of things, the incident was neither here nor there.

But now came the crucial question:

"How about joining Immortal Sword?"

In that moment, Immortal Sword Shui Jing extended an olive branch.