“I never expected that the Yunlan Sect still has a living Yun Shan… This is truly beyond my expectations.” Nalan Yanran’s face changed with Xiao Yan’s calm words. After a long while, her willow eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes, as she said softly, “Indeed, it’s quite troublesome.”
Xiao Yan sighed lightly, “If it weren’t for Yun Shan, the Yunlan Sect wouldn’t have been able to chase me out of the Jia Ma Empire.”
Xiao Yan glanced at the dark corner behind him, hearing the faint footsteps gradually fading away. He then turned his head to look at Nalan Yanran, his expression serious. “Nalan Yanran, there’s something I need you to tell me honestly, because it’s very important!”
“Oh?” Nalan Yanran was taken aback. Seeing Xiao Yan’s serious expression, she nodded slightly, “If it’s something Xiao Yan gege wants to know, and if Nalan Yanran knows it, I won’t hide it.”
“After I managed to leave the Yunlan Sect the first time, I was worried that they would vent their anger on the Xiao family. And indeed, when I returned to Wu Tan City, the Xiao family had already been retaliated against by the senior elder of the Yunlan Sect,” Xiao Yan’s voice was somewhat cold.
Hearing this, Nalan Yanran’s expression changed. Her willow eyebrows stood up, and her eyes filled with a bit of anger, “This Yunlan Sect is too bold, isn’t it? Is the family heavily damaged?”
“Some losses, but not severe. However, Father was chased out of Wu Tan City by three elders of the Yunlan Sect, and his whereabouts are now unknown,” Xiao Yan’s voice was extremely calm, but the slight tremor in his hands revealed his inner rage.
“Unknown whereabouts?” Nalan Yanran was stunned for a moment, then her face turned grim. She understood the importance of Xiao Zhan in Xiao Yan’s heart, and she finally realized why Xiao Yan, after successfully leaving the Yunlan Sect, would risk going back again.
“I think Uncle Xiao Zhan must have fallen into the hands of the Yunlan Sect, right?” Nalan Yanran mused.
“No,” Xiao Yan stared straight at her, shaking his head. “The elder who pursued my father has been killed by me. Before he died, he said that Father suddenly disappeared in a strange way during the pursuit…”
“Disappeared?”
“Yes, he disappeared right under the senior elder’s watchful eyes…” Xiao Yan’s eyes fixed on Nalan Yanran’s face, speaking slowly, “I guess Father didn’t disappear on his own, but was captured by a mysterious strong individual!”
“A mysterious strong individual?” Nalan Yanran’s willow eyebrows furrowed even deeper. Looking up at Xiao Yan, she asked, “What does Xiao Yan gege want to ask Nalan Yanran?”
“Nalan Yanran, I know you’re not part of the Xiao family, and your background is very powerful. I don’t know what kind of connection your backing has with the Xiao family, but I have my sources. So, I suspect that Father’s disappearance might be related to your backing. I trust you; it has nothing to do with you. But I need to find out where Father is, or I’ll be unable to rest.”
Xiao Yan’s words made Nalan Yanran’s face change slightly. After a while, she shook her head, saying calmly, “It’s impossible. It definitely wasn’t them. They have a rule with the Xiao family, so they wouldn’t forcibly capture someone! The constraint of this rule is not as simple as you imagine. Even if someone among them wanted to do such a thing, they would face fierce opposition. Moreover, if they could secretly take Uncle Xiao Zhan away from a Dou Wang, then the one who did it must be at least at the Battle Emperor level. But during this period, I haven’t received any related information.”
“Not them? Besides me, no one else in the Xiao family has come into contact with a Battle Emperor. What use would it be for other strong individuals to capture Father without reason? Only your backing has some connection with the Xiao family, and they also have the strength to do it!” His suspicion overturned, Xiao Yan’s grip on Nalan Yanran’s hand tightened, his voice tinged with anger.
“Xiao Yan gege, Nalan Yanran really isn’t lying to you. My backing is indeed connected to the Xiao family, but the detailed reasons can’t be told right now. If I did, it would be bad for you. But regarding Uncle Xiao Zhan, Nalan Yanran dares to guarantee that it wasn’t them!” Seeing Xiao Yan’s slightly angry face, Nalan Yanran’s calm expression crumbled, and she felt a bit wronged.
Looking at Nalan Yanran’s slightly wronged face, Xiao Yan gradually regained some composure. He grabbed his head forcefully, took a deep breath, and muttered, “It seems there are some secrets in the Xiao family that I don’t know. Alright, since you don’t want to say, I won’t force you. If it’s not your backing, then the Yunlan Sect might be involved… This sect seems more complicated than I thought.”
“Alright, go rest. There’s the selection tomorrow. We’ll put aside the matter of Father for now. Though we don’t know his current condition, at least he’s not in mortal danger. Sigh, I must quickly improve my strength, or even if I find out Father’s whereabouts in the future, I won’t have the strength to get him back.”
Xiao Yan smiled at Nalan Yanran, patted her head, and comforted her. “I’ll have people investigate this matter. If there’s any clue, I’ll tell you immediately.”
Nalan Yanran nodded, her slender hands twisting together, her bright eyes looking at Xiao Yan, somewhat anxiously. “Xiao Yan gege, you won’t blame Nalan Yanran for not telling you about my exact backing and its connection to the Xiao family, right?”
“Would you harm me?” Xiao Yan smiled, ruffling Nalan Yanran’s hair, and countered.
A bit stunned, Nalan Yanran’s pretty face broke into a smile. She shook her head lightly, “No.”
“So, I trust you. It’s late, go to sleep early.” Xiao Yan reached out, holding Nalan Yanran’s delicate body in his arms for a moment before letting go. He waved at her and then turned to head towards his room.
“Okay.” Watching Xiao Yan disappear, Nalan Yanran nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, then turned and walked quickly back to her room. She closed the door and flicked her finger, sending a ray of golden light to a corner of the room. Immediately, a dark shadow twisted and transformed into a black figure, kneeling on one knee in the room.
“Tomorrow, send someone to Ling Academy’s back mountain, and also, investigate if there were any traces of mysterious strong individuals in the Jia Ma Empire recently. I need all the information on the Yunlan Sect!”
Looking at the black shadow, Nalan Yanran’s face was calm, her voice cool as she gave orders.
“Yes, miss.” Hearing Nalan Yanran’s command, the black shadow made no objections. A low, feminine voice sounded, and the figure swayed, turning back into a shadow and dissolving into darkness.
Seeing the black shadow disappear, Nalan Yanran finally let out a sigh, her murmuring voice echoing softly in the room, “Damn, who did it? To target Uncle Xiao Zhan.”
The next day, a warm, gentle sunlight poured down from the sky. As the sun rose, the quiet academy once again became lively. Countless vibrant young men and women emerged from all over the campus, their destination clear: the central square. The internal academy selection competition was almost an annual event, and those eligible to participate were all outstanding figures in their respective classes. Their intense competitions were highly anticipated, and this year’s event featured Xiao Yan, Bai Shan, and the red-robed girl, all drawing the attention of nearly half the audience.
Of course, apart from these three, the vast Gan Nan Academy still had other top participants. Among them, Xiao Yan, who had just arrived and defeated his opponents with thunderous means, was the most eye-catching. Furthermore, his close relationship with Nalan Yanran, who was considered a fairy-like existence by many male students, made many people eager to see him fail.
After a quick wash in the building, Xiao Yan left with Mentor Ruo Lin, Nalan Yanran, and Xiao Yu, heading towards the square. As the focal point of the academy, the constant, emotion-laden gazes from the sides made Xiao Yan’s scalp tingle. Seeing his helpless expression, Nalan Yanran couldn’t help but smile gently, her sweet, lotus-like smile causing some to swallow their saliva.
Under the scorching gazes, Xiao Yan and his group entered the already crowded square and headed towards their designated seats. With Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan, the attention naturally shifted to them. Sitting in their designated seats, Xiao Yan, who was talking to Nalan Yanran, suddenly raised an eyebrow, sensing something. He looked towards the opposite stand, where Bai Shan, dressed in white, stood with his hands behind his back. Seeing Xiao Yan’s gaze, a faint, cold smile appeared on his lips. He placed his hand on the railing, making a provocative gesture subtly towards Xiao Yan.
Staring at the white-robed Bai Shan, who looked like a refined, elegant figure, Xiao Yan smiled faintly. In his dark eyes, a hint of coldness flashed. He never claimed to be a good person. Since the other party kept provoking him, he would indulge him…
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