Systemless Villain

225  Reunion

Lin Fan examined the recently acquired herbal plants, his expression reflecting a touch of bewilderment. "How do I extract all of these into medicine?" he mused quietly.

Despite possessing a solid understanding of medicine, he considered himself a novice when it came to the intricate process of crafting medicines.

After contemplating for a moment, he promptly returned to the herbal medicine store.

The bell chimed as the elderly man turned towards the door, his gaze unwavering as Lin Fan approached.

"Can I assist you?" he inquired.

"Yeah, Mr.?" Lin Fan asked.

"I go by Lu Bo," the elderly man replied.

Lin Fan nodded, "Alright, I'm Lin Fan. Pleasure to meet you. Now, let's dive into the main topic I'd like to discuss. How do I transform these herbal plants into medicine?" he inquired, revealing the bag containing the purchased herbs.

Lu Bo smiled, "I can provide guidance, but it certainly won't be without a cost," he mentioned.

"No problem; I'm willing to pay," Lin Fan responded.

Lu Bo nodded, "Very well, then follow me to the lab," he directed, leading the way out from the cashier area.

Lin Fan followed Lu Bo without hesitation, entering through a sturdy steel door.

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Back within the portal, standing at the base of a mountain, Long Tian found himself surrounded by the mutilated remains of numerous monsters.

His countenance hardened, a furrow forming on his forehead. This wasn't his handiwork; someone else had ruthlessly dispatched these creatures.

"I'm certain Lin Fan lacks the power to render these monsters shapeless. Could it be someone else?" he pondered, his brow furrowing in thought.

Since their initial encounter, Long Tian had been aware that Lin Fan's strength hadn't reached the level of flowing qi. It could be qi foundation or perhaps body tempering.

After reflecting for a moment, Long Tian shook his head. His gaze sharpened as he asserted, "I need to locate this individual!" his tone resolute.

With that determination, he embarked on tracing the mysterious figure who had preceded him.

His first move involved following the trail of monster carcasses and the overpowering scent of blood. Additionally, there were footprints leading into the depths of the forest.

Without hesitation, he ventured into the forest, staying on the path of those footprints.

Each of Long Tian's steps was deliberate and cautious as he navigated the thick woodland. Even though the footprints were no longer visible, the trail unmistakably led him here.

His mind brimmed with curiosity about the person who had arrived before him. Undoubtedly, such an individual was extraordinary.

---

More than ten minutes had elapsed with no shifts in the weather. Inside the portal, where there was no sun, the only illumination came from the evenly dispersed light emanating from balanced clouds.

In this instance, Long Tian found himself standing on a substantial tree branch within the heart of the dense forest. His gaze, filled with suspicion, scrutinized the unfolding scene.

Amidst the foliage, a woman clad in modern tactical cultivator attire, sporting blonde hair, engaged in combat with a tiger of gargantuan proportions, complete with three formidable horns.

From her facial features and physique, it was undeniably Liu Qian.

Long Tian's expression deepened, caught off guard by her presence.

Rather than rushing to her aid immediately, he opted to observe from a distance. He harbored a keen curiosity about Liu Qian's prowess.

Entering the fray, the tiger launched an assault with its razor-sharp claws, yet Liu Qian deftly evaded by leaping into the air.

In mid-air, wings resembling a phoenix, ablaze with blue fire, manifested on her back, casting a dazzling radiance visible even to Long Tian from afar.

On the opposing side, the colossal tiger seemed to retract, steering clear of the luminous display that threatened to singe its fur.

Liu Qian showed no signs of relenting. Unfurling her wings, she directed them towards the tiger, causing its razor-sharp feathers to dislodge and cascade towards the massive creature.

Swiftly, the feathers erupted into a brutal blaze, enveloping the tiger in a blue inferno. Its very form became indiscernible within the flames.

Seizing the opportunity, Liu Qian swiftly advanced towards the inferno, a dagger clenched in her hand.

Her velocity cut through the air like a blade. However, as she drew near, her eyes widened in disbelief – the tiger appeared impervious to the encircling flames.

In an unexpected move, the tiger leaped, skewering Liu Qian from chest to back with its horn. Her eyes remained wide in shock.

The tiger, as if smirking, observed Liu Qian now sprawled on its head, impaled by its horn.

Witnessing this, Long Tian's eyes also widened in surprise. The tattoos on his arms glowed as if ready to erupt, yet abruptly recalling something, he halted his intentions, opting for silence. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The tiger swung its head, causing Liu Qian's body to tumble to the ground, blood spraying in all directions. Her eyes retained their shocked expression.

The tiger seemed to revel in its triumph, leisurely approaching her. This time, it exuded a sense of relaxation, having vanquished its adversary.

As it drew near, it opened its maw, revealing menacing fangs and a cavernous mouth seemingly capable of devouring Liu Qian whole.

However, its eyes suddenly widened, a realization dawning.

A surge of blue energy erupted from Liu Qian, hurtling upwards directly towards its head, rapidly penetrating its skull from below.

The tiger immediately collapsed, taking its final breath.

Liu Qian grinned; her stratagem had proven successful.

Radiant wounds on her body emanated a blue flame, slowly regenerating. Swiftly, her injuries vanished, leaving behind unblemished skin.

She stood upright, brushing off the dust from her clothes. The torn middle section of her attire exposed some skin, unveiling a flawless and fair complexion.

"Ugh, seems like I'll need to head home quickly after this," she murmured.

Navigating the city in her current state wasn't practical, especially without spare clothes in her spatial ring.

Liu Qian sighed, redirecting her focus to the lifeless body of the enormous tiger.

Her hand gently touched the tiger's nose, as if checking something. Suddenly, her reflexes kicked in, and she turned into a combat stance, alertness etched across her face.

However, her expression shifted to surprise upon seeing a man of her age approaching.

"Long Tian, is that you?" she asked, lowering her guard.

Long Tian smiled and materialized instantly in front of Liu Qian. "It's me," he said.

Liu Qian's expression still held a hint of surprise. "But how did you get here? I remember this place is underground. How did you find it?" she inquired.

"Well, I was flying over the Beijing border forest and accidentally spotted some kind of hole. So, I dove in and ended up here," Long Tian explained.

Liu Qian nodded, finding Long Tian's explanation reasonable.

"Come on, no hug? Aren't you glad I'm here?" Long Tian teased.

Liu Qian couldn't contain her smile, "You silly," she said, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around Long Tian's neck.

Long Tian smiled and responded by holding her waist.

"Actually, I missed you too," Liu Qian confessed. Without waiting for Long Tian's reaction, she kissed him on the lips.

Long Tian responded with his hands exploring the exposed part of Liu Qian's back, caressing it gently.

The two indulged in a heated kiss, and eventually, Long Tian's hands moved downward.

Liu Qian broke the kiss, giving him a teasing look, "Seriously, Long Tian? We're inside a portal, you know. Who knows if there's any danger lurking," she said.

Long Tian just grinned widely, "That won't be a problem," he assured.

Liu Qian's cheeks started to blush. However, she didn't have time to respond as Long Tian kissed her again.

She had no other choice but to embrace him as well.

The serene and shadowy ambiance in the forest's core intensified their fiery connection. Yet, nearby, beside a towering tree, Zhang Jun stood paralyzed, exuding fury in his frozen stance as he bore witness to Liu Qian passionately embracing Long Tian.

There, the woman he longed for so ardently surrendered to another man's kiss!