34. The City of Extreme Cold

"No, I have to attend the Apothecary Competition training camp. I've already agreed with Dean Wang to participate next year. You must take me back right now!" Ning Xuan commanded with firm resolve.

"My Contracted Master, I have already sent a letter to Dean Wang in your name, informing him that you have urgent matters to attend to and have requested a one-month leave," Chen Nan replied, holding up her clothes and insisting on helping her put them on.

Ning Xuan stared at him in silence. She channeled her mental energy, opened a psychic link, and surged into Chen Nan's mind, churning and roiling with fury. Chen Nan’s expression stiffened for a moment before he offered a helpless smile. "My Contracted Master, if you wish to vent your anger, I will not resist. However, the flight vehicle is low on energy; we must descend."

Once he finished speaking, Chen Nan pulled Ning Xuan into his arms, helping her lift her arms and pull on her sleeves to get her into the transparent thermal suit. He then draped a thick, black, fur-lined hooded cloak over her, wrapping her up completely. Ning Xuan was boiling with rage. Her mental energy was significantly lower than Chen Nan's, meaning even with the psychic link established, she could not fully control him. Still, seeing his strained expression, she knew he was suffering as well.

"My Contracted Master, ever since I was a child, I have wanted to escape my family's control. After I came of age, I began making secret preparations. This is my hidden base; neither my father’s men nor the mastermind behind the attempt on your life can find us here." After landing the vehicle, Chen Nan waved his hand, retracting it into a specialized spatial device.

As soon as she stepped out, Ning Xuan felt a bone-chilling cold, as if she were standing in an ice cellar. She channeled the energy within her blood and, after a moment, began to adapt.

Ning Xuan kept her face cold and remained silent. It was true that she wanted to see the world, but she wanted to do it according to her own plan, not by being kidnapped without warning. Especially by someone who was close to her and whom she thought she could trust.

Being backstabbed by such a person made her feel foolish. She couldn't help but reflect: what had made her trust Chen Nan so easily? Was it because he had saved her multiple times and served her every whim, or was it the system of the contract, where the contracted were bound to total obedience? Or perhaps, was she simply too confident, failing to recognize her own true strength?

"Chen Nan, today you defied my wishes, betrayed me, and took it upon yourself to kidnap me. Do you feel so secure in your position that you believe I can do nothing to you?" Ning Xuan looked at him with unfamiliar eyes.

"My Contracted Master, I have not betrayed you, and I would never do anything to harm you. I did not wish to act on my own, but I mentioned several times that you should skip the training camp, and you refused. For your safety, I had no choice but to take this extreme measure," Chen Nan whispered, as if he could read her thoughts.

"Please rest assured, once we have weathered this immediate crisis, you may beat me to death if you wish, and I will have no complaints." Chen Nan was of a high level with excellent physical stamina; even in this frigid climate, he stood tall and unyielding.

After walking for a few hundred paces, a silver gate nearly ten meters high appeared before them. The words "City of Extreme Cold" were carved into the metal. The gate was connected to cold, white walls, and a squad of guards stood watch. Chen Nan flashed a metal token, the guards stepped aside, and he led Ning Xuan inside.

Beyond the gate lay a wide avenue with scattered pedestrians. Wrapped tightly, Ning Xuan peeked out with only her eyes, observing the environment.

Chen Nan, clearly familiar with the area, led her through several turns until they reached a platform. Two strange figures with lizard tails stood guard. Chen Nan swiped his metal token against a scanner, and with a "beep," a mechanical voice rang out: "Welcome to the Hyper-Speed Portal. Positioning complete. Please enter."

The doors slid open, and they stepped inside. Seven others were already there—five men and two women, all young. They looked at Chen Nan and Ning Xuan with curiosity but remained silent.

After a few minutes, three more people joined. An electronic voice echoed: "Passengers, the Hyper-Speed Portal is about to launch. Please prepare."

"5, 4..." As the countdown began, Chen Nan pulled Ning Xuan into his arms. She reached around his waist, and under the cover of the cloak, she slipped her hand beneath his clothing. Three vines emerged from her right hand, tracing his waistline—one snaking upward toward his neck, one wrapping tightly around his waist, and one sliding downward to coil against his sensitive inner thigh, waiting to strike.

When the portal launched, they felt a sudden sensation of weightlessness, like a drop tower. "Ah!" a woman screamed. Startled, Ning Xuan instinctively gripped Chen Nan tighter. The thorns on the vines pierced his skin, and a drop of blood seeped from his neck. He hissed in pain, yet he held her firmly, never pushing her away.

Five minutes later, the portal came to a halt. "Passengers, you have arrived at your destination. The transport is complete. Please exit."

Chen Nan and his group stepped out onto a bustling, leveled street. The air was filled with shouts from vendors and the presence of all sorts of people; it seemed to be a market.

Ning Xuan had retracted her vines and released Chen Nan. As she surveyed her surroundings, her gaze was drawn to the exotic plants at a stall. There stood a vibrant, thorny plant topped with a single flower. Ning Xuan recognized it as "Five-Colored Caltrop," known for its detoxifying and tissue-regenerating properties. On the Star-Net, a single specimen cost 50,000 star coins. Nearby were Frost Grass, Ice Orchid, Snake-Skin Fruit, and Bear-Gall Flower. The sight was dazzling; these real specimens felt far more vivid than any image.

"My Contracted Master, there are many markets here for exotic plants, much cheaper than those on the Star-Net. If you buy in bulk, the prices are even better. If you like, you can take a look around."

"There is geothermal energy here. I have rented a core-fire alchemy room for you; it is far more efficient than ordinary flames. Many apothecaries choose to come here to cultivate in seclusion."

"I have brought all the necessary alchemy materials from the training camp for you. I will ensure your studies are not delayed."

As he spoke, Chen Nan began purchasing the very plants Ning Xuan had been admiring.