NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 27: Ji Fan
A stunning young woman stepped into the hall. She bowed politely to Victor, then straightened and calmly swept her gaze across everyone present.
Her eyes fell upon Victor, Evelyn, Selena… but then, all at once, they stopped—fixed directly on Han Fi.
For a moment, she looked genuinely startled, as if she hadn't expected Han Fi to be there. Han Fi, too, remained seated silently, her gaze locked with the young woman's.
That woman was none other than the disciple of the Alchemy Sect—Ji Fan.
As soon as Adrien saw her, he felt neither impressed nor moved by her beauty. Without delay, he activated his Golden Eye, wanting to see her details:
Status:
Name: Ji FanCultivation Realm: Soul Fusion Stage – 2Fate Points: 200 (Blessed by Destiny)Profession: Disciple of the Alchemy Sect / ????Relationship: UnknownScope: Cannot be seen
Adrien's heart gave a faint jolt. The last time he'd seen such unreadable information was when he'd tried to assess Han Fi. And now, again—Ji Fan.
Adrien asked the system in his mind, "What is this? Why are there question marks everywhere?"
The system replied in its neutral tone: "Everything is the design of fate. In time, you will understand."
Ji Fan looked at Adrien with a faint, poised smile."It's been a long time since we last met, Adrien."
He returned her gaze evenly, his tone calm but questioning:"Who are you? And what have you come here for?"
His blunt question made Ji Fan falter slightly, as though she could not believe Adrien truly did not recognize her.
Ji Fan lowered her lashes and answered politely,"My name is Ji Fan. I am the disciple of Elder Luo Bai of the Alchemy Sect… Do you really not remember me even now?"
Adrien's eyes remained cool."I don't know you. Nor do I know any Elder Luo Bai. State your reason for coming, please."
She opened her mouth to speak again, but Victor raised his hand to signal Adrien to be quiet, then addressed Ji Fan himself:
"You… you are Luo Bai's disciple?"
Ji Fan smiled respectfully."Yes, Clan Leader Victor. I am indeed Elder Luo Bai's disciple."
Then she turned back to Adrien."Young Master Adrien, do you truly not remember my master at all?"
Adrien was about to answer when Victor quietly interjected:
"Disciple Ji Fan… some time ago, Adrien suffered a grave accident. He lost much of his memory because of it. Right now, he remembers very few people."
Ji Fan's eyes widened, her expression an uneasy mix of surprise, sadness, and something like unspoken worry. She said nothing for a moment.
After a pause, Victor spoke in a gentler tone:
"Still… Disciple Ji Fan, may I ask—why exactly did you wish to meet Adrien?"
Ji Fan gathered herself, then answered calmly:
"My master sent me to the Green Forest Mountain to look for the Spirit Nectar Fruit. That is why I came to the Thorne Clan—I had hoped to recruit a few capable people to accompany me. And… to ask Young Master Adrien's assistance as well. But I did not know he had suffered such an accident."
Victor's face grew solemn."The Spirit Nectar Fruit is exceedingly rare. Even if you search every inch of Green Forest Mountain, there is no guarantee you will find it. And as for the deeper regions… they are home to beasts of the Gold Core rank. With your current cultivation realm, venturing there is nothing less than courting death."
Ji Fan inclined her head slightly, smiling in that same composed way.
"Clan Leader Victor, I understand. My purpose is only to survey the area. If I perceive any extraordinary danger, I will withdraw. I have no intention of throwing my life away so easily."
During this exchange, Adrien checked his store interface. There, a Pure Spirit Nectar Fruit was available — price: 60 shop points, equivalent to about six million low-grade spirit stones.
Adrien looked steadily at Ji Fan and asked in a serious tone,"If someone were willing to sell you the Spirit Nectar Fruit, what price could you offer for it?"
Ji Fan considered a moment and replied,"The normal price for a Spirit Nectar Fruit is around one million low-grade spirit stones… But if the fruit is older and purer, we could go up to 1.5 million."
Adrien smiled faintly."You are quoting me quite a low price. How about this instead — give me any two of these three things, and in exchange, I will provide you with a pure Spirit Nectar Fruit."
He took a small slip of parchment, quickly wrote down three items, and handed it to her:
Dragon Heart Lotus
Star Essence Crystal
Zero Flame Essence
"Dragon Heart Lotus I will secure at the auction. If you can bring me the other two, I promise you'll receive a pure Spirit Nectar Fruit," Adrien said with calm confidence.
Ji Fan studied the parchment in silence for several moments before she finally spoke."Zero Flame Essence is stored among my sect's treasures, but it is extremely precious and tightly guarded. As for the Star Essence Crystal… I don't have detailed information about it. I'll need to consult my master before I can agree. But, Adrien, can you truly say with certainty that you possess a pure Spirit Nectar Fruit?"
Adrien replied without hesitation,"Absolutely. If you wish, you can ask my father to confirm it."
Ji Fan lifted her gaze to Victor, her expression questioning, as if to silently ask, Do you vouch for this?
Victor met her look with composed, unshaken confidence."If my son says he will provide you with a pure Spirit Nectar Fruit, then without question, he has the means to do so. That is the only reason he has proposed this deal."
Victor's assurance finally eased the tension in Ji Fan's expression.
"Very well, Adrien," she said evenly. "Please allow me some time. I will speak to my master and give you an answer by this evening."
Adrien didn't reply further. He simply rose and started walking out of the hall. Han Fi quietly stood as well and followed behind him without a word.
Ji Fan's eyes lingered on them as they left. When she saw Han Fi walking away beside Adrien, her brows subtly drew together, and a faint shadow of unease crossed her face.
After a moment, she turned to Victor, offered a respectful farewell, and departed the Thorne estate to return to the same inn she had come from.
Meanwhile, Han Fi had silently followed Adrien all the way into his room. At first, she was calm, but when she realized she was alone in a private chamber with the young master, her cheeks abruptly turned pink.
Her heart began to pound faster, and a light nervousness stirred within her chest.
Adrien closed the door behind them, then spoke in a quiet voice,"Han Fi, sit down. There is something important I need to discuss with you."
The sound of the door closing made Han Fi's anxiety spike higher. She hesitated, but then slowly lowered herself into a seat.
Adrien could clearly sense her unease, and he smiled gently."Why are you so tense? I only need to check your condition."
Hearing that, Han Fi let out a small breath of relief, as though a great weight had just lifted off her shoulders. And yet, deep in her heart, she also felt a strange, quiet sense of loss—something precious she couldn't name had just slipped away.
Adrien immediately spoke to the system in his mind."System, analyze Han Fi's physical traits."
The system replied,"Take both her hands in yours. Then channel your qi into her body."
Adrien looked at Han Fi."Extend your hands to me. I'm going to send a bit of qi into you, all right?"
She hesitated again, then gave a shy nod and slowly lifted her delicate hands toward him.
As soon as Adrien took hold of her hands, a subtle tingling sensation shivered up his arms. Han Fi's heartbeat leapt faster still. She stared up at his face—silent, but with eyes that looked as though she were gazing upon the most priceless treasure in the world.
For an instant, Adrien raised his own gaze to hers, and the two of them just looked at each other, unmoving.
Then the system's calm voice sounded in his mind:
"Scan commencing… Scan complete… Body type: Pure Yin Body—extremely rare and highly sensitive constitution."
But in that moment, Adrien's entire consciousness felt caught up in Han Fi alone.
Wordlessly, he leaned forward, closer… their lips were almost touching—
Then—
A sudden jolt of awareness snapped him out of it. He pulled back at once, steadying his breath."Han Fi, forgive me… That wasn't my intention."
Han Fi also blinked as though waking from a dream. She looked shaken, then quickly composed herself and said,"Young Master… you don't need to apologize. It was my fault—I should have been more mindful of propriety."
Adrien gave a small, wry smile."It's nothing like that, Han Fi…"
—
Meanwhile, Ji Fan had left the Thorne estate and returned to the inn where she was staying. She went straight to her room and took out a white spiritual crystal. Whispering several incantations over it, she activated it—this was no ordinary messenger crystal; it was faster and far more secure.
A moment later, a clear, authoritative female voice rang out:"Little Fan, why are you contacting me now? You know how busy I am!"
Ji Fan answered in a calm, careful voice,"Master, there is something very important."
On the other end, Elder Luo Bai replied,"Then speak. What is it?"
Ji Fan took a slow breath."Master… I've found the Spirit Nectar Fruit, but—"
Before she could finish, a sharp command cut across the link:"Return to the sect immediately. I will send someone to escort you—this must be kept secure."
Ji Fan felt her heart skip in alarm."Master, please—just hear me out…"
The older woman's tone softened a fraction."Very well. Speak quickly."
Ji Fan drew in a steadying breath, then recounted every detail of her conversation with Adrien—the terms of the exchange, and the agreement regarding the Dragon Heart Lotus.
And then she fell silent.