Eternal Life: My Talent Increases by 1 Point Every Day

Chapter 262: Chapter 180: Helping Each Other Eliminate the Opponent (Part 2)

Sure enough, there wasn’t a woman in the world who didn’t enjoy hearing a compliment.

Just a few words were enough to make Wen Lan’s heart flutter with delight.

But even as she felt a flicker of joy, Wen Lan suppressed the urge to reveal her true identity to Wu Wende, saying instead:

"Oh, stop teasing me. The Wen Family is one of the four great families of Yujing City. Even a woman from a branch family would be a heavenly beauty. How could a simple country girl like me possibly compare?"

She was, of course, singing her own praises.

"They can’t compare to you. Not at all." Wu Wende didn’t use flowery language, but his tone was so firm and earnest it felt utterly sincere.

"Well, if there’s nothing else, young lady, I’ll be on my way."

With that, Wu Wende turned to leave, only to suddenly pivot back. He glanced at Wen Lan, then produced a small, exquisite pouch from within his robes.

"This is just a small token of my esteem. Please, young lady, accept it."

Seeing this, Wen Lan quickly waved her hands in refusal.

"This... I couldn’t possibly accept a gift from you. Besides, we’ve only just met by chance. It’s not right for you to go to such expense."

Truthfully, Wen Lan did find the delicate, beautiful pouch quite appealing, but how could she accept a gift from someone she had just met?

"Please, don’t refuse. You treated me to a meal today, so it’s only right I return the gesture. If you don’t mind, please take it."

As he spoke, Wu Wende pressed the pouch into Wen Lan’s hand.

"Well... alright then. Thank you."

Wen Lan accepted the pouch and replied.

"In that case, I’ll take my leave." Wu Wende cupped his fists, then turned and left.

Once Wu Wende was a safe distance away, Wen Lan casually tossed the pouch onto the table.

’Hmph. What a character. Trying to fool me with such a paltry trick. Does he think I was born yesterday?’ Wen Lan scoffed internally.

It seemed she had seen through Wu Wende’s seduction tactics from the start; everything that just happened was simply her playing along with his performance.

Now that Wu Wende was gone, there was no longer any need to pretend.

’He’s so smooth. I wonder how many other young girls he’s fooled with this act.’

Wen Lan mused, then took Nu and left.

What Wen Lan didn’t know, however, was that shortly after she left, a man dressed in black rose from a corner of Zhenwei Restaurant’s main hall. He walked over to the table where she had been sitting and picked up the pouch.

’Heh heh. The young master said my methods were old-fashioned, but it looks like his plan didn’t work either. The women of the Wen Family certainly live up to their shrewd reputation. Tricking one of them is no easy feat.’

Then, Wu Wende’s Scholar’s Attendant departed with the pouch in hand.

~~~~~~

Meanwhile, as dusk fell.

Wen Lan and Nu returned to their private villa in Xinyi Square.

As soon as the two of them stepped into the courtyard, they saw Widow Yu waiting for them.

Seeing them, Widow Yu hurried over.

"Nu, were you mischievous today? Did you cause any trouble for Lan?"

Wen Lan heard this and quickly shook her head, signaling that there had been no trouble.

Then she secretly made a face at Nu, a silent bargain: ’Don’t you dare say a word about seeing Fang Yue, and I won’t tell your mother how you ran off and almost got lost today.’

Nu saw this and blinked in return, seemingly agreeing to the terms.

But the very next moment, Nu threw herself into Widow Yu’s arms. "Mama, guess who I saw today! You’ll never guess! I saw Yue! So you were all lying to me! Yue is here too!"

"What!"

Hearing this, Widow Yu froze completely.

~~~~~~

At that same time, Fang Yue was returning from his trip into Yujing City.

He had just arrived home when Ms. Chen stopped him.

"Zhi’Er, you have to tell me. Between those two girls, Bai Li and Hong Ling, which one have you taken a fancy to? Or perhaps you like them both? Just give me a nod, and Mother will go have a word with them for you."

Ms. Chen said earnestly, holding onto Fang Yue’s arm.

Hearing Ms. Chen’s words, Fang Yue couldn’t help but frown.

’Great. Ms. Chen is getting more and more insistent about my marriage. It’s like she can’t go a single day without lecturing me about it.’

"Mother, this isn’t something to worry about right now. There’s no need to rush. If I meet the right person, I’ll let nature take its course." Fang Yue rubbed his head. Ms. Chen’s nagging was more exhausting than fighting ten Martial Masters of his own level.

’I don’t know how Father puts up with it.’

"You brat! Look at me! I’ve gotten so many gray hairs just waiting for you to get married. Don’t you feel the least bit sorry for your poor mother?" Seeing that her son was impervious to her nagging, Ms. Chen grew even more anxious. When forcing the issue didn’t work, she switched to playing the victim.

"Alright, alright, Mother, don’t be sad. I promise, three years at most, and I’ll bring home a beautiful, obedient daughter-in-law for you."

Fang Yue quickly tried to placate her.

"Then tell me, which one have you chosen?" Ms. Chen stared at her son with hopeful eyes.

"Whoever you choose, I won’t have any objections."

"Um, well, I’ll... I’ll think about it and get back to you."

Before he could even finish his sentence, Fang Yue fled to his room as if escaping a disaster.

He shut the door, and finally, there was peace and quiet.

’I can’t believe the Observatory Examination Pavilion actually has items like blood ginseng for exchange. It’s a shame my Merit Points were only enough for two stalks.’

Fang Yue immediately took them out: two stalks of blood ginseng with their root systems fully intact. By the looks of them, they were at least thousand-year-old Ginseng Kings.

With these two Ginseng Kings, Fang Yue believed he could increase his Talent Points by at least another year’s worth.

By then, cultivating the Earth Element True Skill should become much easier.

’Alright, I’ll start by performing Refinement on the blood ginseng.’

With that thought, he tossed one of the Ginseng Kings into his mouth, then circulated the Earth Element True Skill to begin absorbing its essence.

He felt the blood in his body begin to boil. This was immediately followed by a cool sensation that spread through him, and then a warm current surged from within, flowing into his Dantian.

’Huh? My cultivation level is slowly rising too? This blood ginseng is much more effective than I expected.’

Fang Yue marveled as he continued his cultivation.

’This was a pretty good haul.’

Fang Yue reflected inwardly as he meditated. He waited until the medicinal power of the blood ginseng had gradually dissipated before opening his eyes.

He let out a long, turbid breath.

’It seems the Earth Element True Skill is a high-grade technique. Compared to the Qi Refiners described in the books, my cultivation speed is much faster. It must be a high-level Cultivation Technique,’ Fang Yue mused.

Of course, the dual enhancement from his Qi Sensing Talent and Earth True Body Talent was what truly made his cultivation speed so astonishingly fast.

’Alright. I’ll spend the next few days consolidating my cultivation realm and raising my strength as quickly as possible. I need to be ready for the challenges to come.’

Fang Yue resolved, then began to cultivate once more.

Time trickled by, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed.

The time for his departure was drawing ever closer.

~~~~~~~

On this day, Luo Wei, who hadn’t been seen for several days, reappeared to tail Fang Yue, a clear, unspoken threat in his actions.

The message was clear: Luo Wei was definitely going to make a move against Fang Yue, or perhaps his entire family.

Only after Fang Yue had left Earth City did Luo Wei turn and head back.

A quarter of an hour later, inside Zhenwei Restaurant.

"Luo, what a pleasure!" Wu Wende stepped forward with a wide grin, clasping his fists in greeting to Luo Wei.

"Heh, you’re too kind, Wu," Luo Wei replied with a faint smile. He had just finished tailing and threatening Fang Yue and had run into Wu Wende on his way back.

An idea immediately struck Luo Wei, and he invited Wu Wende here to Zhenwei Restaurant.

In a private room.

Wu Wende personally poured Luo Wei a cup of wine before speaking. "Luo, if there’s anything you need, you have only to ask. There’s no need to go to all this expense."

Luo Wei chuckled. "My apologies, then. Wu, there is a small favor I’d like to ask of you."