Following the street, Xiao Yan headed towards the inn where he was staying. The adoring gazes and pointing fingers from the onlookers along the way were making him somewhat uncomfortable. With no other choice, he quickened his pace, turning through several streets before finally darting into the inn and heading straight for his room. Pushing the door open, he closed it behind him, leaning against it, and let out a long breath. Rubbing his forehead, a hint of weariness appeared on his face. Although the two rounds of assessment seemed simple, the hidden complexities had greatly strained Xiao Yan’s mind. Adding to that, the speed contest with the gray-robed youth had further deepened his fatigue. Controlling the Heavenly Flame was an extremely exhausting and precise task.
Shaking his head, Xiao Yan entered the room, splashed some cold water on his face, and instantly felt more alert. He then quickly moved into the inner chamber, sat down in a cross-legged position on the bed, and suppressed the urge to collapse and sleep. Closing his eyes, he formed the cultivation seals with his hands, taking several deep breaths, striving to stabilize his breathing and gradually entering the cultivation state.
Over the years, Xiao Yan had learned that cultivating when one’s mind is weary could yield twice the results with half the effort. Although this state was not particularly rare, regardless of how extraordinary one’s talent may be, becoming a strong cultivator required accumulation over time. The old Pharmacist had once said that only by accumulating steadily can one eventually achieve a great breakthrough, which is the true path of a strong cultivator. Xiao Yan deeply agreed with this.
As Xiao Yan gradually entered the cultivation state, his slightly rising and falling chest also slowly calmed down. After a while, it began to show minute fluctuations. At this moment, the energy in the surrounding area started to ripple, and visible energy currents flowed into his body with each breath, transforming into pure energy after refinement. This energy nourished the meridians, bones, and cells within his body.
Under the nourishment of the energy, Xiao Yan could clearly sense the fatigue in his spirit receding like a tide.
…
After about two hours of cultivation, Xiao Yan, who had been sitting as still as a log on the bed, suddenly felt his fingers tremble slightly. His eyes slowly opened, revealing a flash of sharpness in his pitch-black pupils. Opening his mouth, he exhaled a breath tinged with a faint, pungent odor.
Xiao Yan twisted his neck, looking down at the darkened middle finger of his left hand. Frowning slightly, he muttered, “Damn thing, it’s like a leech clinging to my bones. I wonder if I’ve made any progress or if I’m just wasting my efforts.”
Although Xiao Yan had the protection of the Heavenly Flame, anyone with such a deadly poison in their body would find it hard to truly ignore its presence.
“Ah, I guess I’ll have to wait until Teacher wakes up to see if there’s a solution…” Shaking his head with a bitter smile, Xiao Yan fell back onto the warm bed, muttering, “After tomorrow’s gathering, I’ll drive the last bit of poison out of Nalan Jie. By then, he should be completely cured. And then…”
“Then… it will be time for the three-year agreement to be fulfilled.”
Pressing his lips together, Xiao Yan sighed lightly. In three years, that once impetuous and rude girl had matured significantly. Initially, Xiao Yan thought that he would be unable to conceal his anger upon meeting Nalan Yanran again, but this time, perhaps due to his identity as Yan Xiao, he found himself almost indifferent, as if they had never met before. For some time, he had observed her words and actions with a cold detachment.
In these three years, the once immature youth had also grown into a more mature and steady person. The farce of the Nalan family canceling the engagement now seemed rather comical and amusing to him, and he no longer felt the same level of anger he once did.
…
The young man’s intense reaction back then might have been due to his sensitive heart, under the burden of being called a waste. Enduring mockery and disdain in his family, and Nalan Yanran’s forceful cancellation of the engagement, had dealt a severe blow to his fragile and sensitive psyche. Under such intense pressure, the unbearable youth finally exploded, leading to the events of the past few years…
At least, Xiao Yan now realized that if he had continued with his original talent and not experienced the setback of becoming a waste, he might not have felt much anger even if Nalan Yanran had come to cancel the engagement on that day. However, he was also certain that without those years of being a waste and the cancellation of the engagement, he would not have reached this impressive level at such a young age, which had earned him the admiration of many.
Thinking about these events that could change the course of his future, Xiao Yan was momentarily lost in thought. Shaking his head with a bitter smile, he knew that assumptions were just that. Regardless of his current feelings towards Nalan Yanran, he had to go to the Yunlan Sect.
Although he no longer harbored much anger towards Nalan Yanran, her forceful cancellation of the engagement had stripped the Xiao family and his father, who held a high place in his heart, of their dignity. In the social atmosphere of the Jia Ma Empire, this was akin to a public humiliation, a disgrace for a family!
Ever since the cancellation, Xiao Zhan had never mentioned it, fearing it would upset Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan knew that it remained a thorn in his heart. The Xiao family had never faced such a forceful and non-negotiable cancellation of an engagement before. Moreover, the young man, bearing the label of a waste, had stubbornly vowed to reclaim their honor in front of his father in the hall of the Xiao residence.
To fulfill this promise, the young man began rigorous training, eventually leaving the family, like a wanderer, traveling through the empire, tempering his youthful immaturity…
In the nearly two years since he left home, Xiao Yan had traveled across most of the Jia Ma Empire, finally arriving in this city. The purpose was the so-called three-year agreement. He was not particularly interested in revenge; he just wanted to bring the news to remove the thorn in his father’s heart and say with a smile, “This time, I truly dismiss her. No one can doubt that.”
Therefore, he had to go to the Yunlan Sect. Of course, if he won the three-year agreement, he wouldn’t mind casually telling Nalan Yanran, “You have a poor eye for talent.” This would be his final act of revenge.
In three years, Xiao Yan had gained some things and let go of others, but overall, this change was good.
…
Letting out a long breath, Xiao Yan lay back with his arms behind his head, his gaze unfocused. In his daze, the image of a graceful, elegant girl suddenly appeared in his mind. Her every smile and frown made his usually cold face soften with a hint of a smile.
For the woman who was almost his wife, Xiao Yan no longer felt much. Neither in the past nor in the future. If he had to say something, it might be a sense of conquest for someone of her high status. But after two years of solitude, he realized that his heart had been quietly taken over by a certain girl, entangled and captured.
She was the most dazzling gem of her family but preferred to hide by his side, feigning a pitiful and alluring appearance. Despite her vast and mysterious background, she smiled sweetly at the waste he was, compliant and obedient…
This gentle, autumn-like girl had, unbeknownst to him, slowly seeped into his heart. Although young, she was clever and knew that to capture an restless heart, she needed to cook it slowly over a gentle flame. One day, he would look back and understand…
“Xuner, wait for me. When everything here is over, I’ll come for you…”
Thinking of that clear, moving little face, a warm flow filled Xiao Yan’s heart. He murmured softly.
*Click*
While Xiao Yan was muttering, a faint sound suddenly echoed from the roof.
“Who’s there?”
Though the sound was faint, to Xiao Yan, whose senses were exceptionally keen, it was a loud noise. His expression changed, and he shouted.
As the shout sounded, Xiao Yan supported himself on the bed and, with a lithe movement, shot out of the window. Tapping his toes on a protruding stone, he soared like a great bird to the rooftop, his icy gaze sweeping the surroundings.
Above, the silver moon hung high, its pale light spilling down and illuminating the entire city. With the aid of the moonlight, Xiao Yan could see clearly, even beyond a hundred meters, but found no one on the roof.
Squinting, his gaze swept around. Under the moon’s illumination, even a hundred meters away, he could see clearly, yet still found no one.
Frowning, Xiao Yan slowly walked on the roof. A moment later, he crouched and examined a broken tile. His pupils narrowed, noting the fresh cracks, clearly broken recently…
Pushing aside the tiles, a flicker of light came from below, directly beneath Xiao Yan’s room…
“Surveillance?” Darkening his face, the tiles in Xiao Yan’s hand turned to dust. After a while, he clapped his hands, stood up, and thought, “To disappear so quickly, their strength must be at least Dou Wang level. In this Jia Ma Holy City, there are only a few families with Dou Wang power: the Nalan, Mu, and Mittel families, and the Royal Family?”
“Come out! Hiding your head and tail, what kind of coward are you?”
Pausing, Xiao Yan suddenly turned, coldly shouting in one direction.
His voice echoed, then slowly dissipated, but no movement followed.
“Is there no one?” Seeing his shout failed, Xiao Yan shrugged, sighed, and looked around again before jumping down from the roof.
With Xiao Yan’s departure, the roof fell silent.
However, the silence lasted only a few minutes. Xiao Yan’s figure flashed back up, finding the roof still empty. Sighing, he confirmed the intruder was gone. Shaking his head, he returned to his room.
As Xiao Yan left, the roof remained silent for nearly half an hour. In a shadowed spot under the moon, a dark silhouette, like a wall’s shadow, moved strangely. It flipped and condensed into a human form.
The figure was wrapped in a black robe, glancing at the spot where Xiao Yan disappeared. Raising his head, a weathered, dark face appeared.
“Heh, this kid is really perceptive…” The black-robed man chuckled softly, “If not for hearing Miss’s name, I wouldn’t have made such a low-level mistake. Tsk, if others knew I was detected by a mere Dou Shi, it would be a huge embarrassment.”
“This kid seems to have some interest in Miss…” Frowning, the old man muttered, “And the most troublesome thing is, Miss has feelings for this guy. This can’t be… Although Xiao Yan’s talent is good, it’s far from enough. Hanging around in the Jia Ma Empire, how much potential can he have? Continuing like this, he will end up hurt… Young man, do you really think… my master’s daughter is so easy to pursue?”
Sighing, the old man mumbled, “But there are a few people around this kid with decent strength. That old man, Jia Lao, almost discovered me. Someone close to Battle Sect is indeed formidable…”
“Ah, well, it’s fortunate this kid is heading to the Yunlan Sect soon. After finishing things here, I can go back and protect Miss.”
Stretching, the old man’s body blurred, turning into a black shadow, vanishing into the darkness, sinking into silence…
Back in his room, Xiao Yan sat by the table, staring intently at the roof until his neck stiffened. Finally, he lowered his head, rubbing his neck.
*Creak*
As Xiao Yan massaged his shoulders, the door opened, and Hai Bodong, smiling, walked in. Seeing Xiao Yan still awake, he came to the table, sat down, and took a swig of tea, “Kid, you’re quite capable today, ha! You even surprised that old guy Fa Na.”
Smiling back, Xiao Yan rubbed his chin, hesitated, then said, “Old Hai, have you noticed anyone watching us recently?”
“Watching us?” Hai Bodong paused, then shook his head, “Impossible. No one in the Jia Ma Empire can monitor us, not even that old monster!”
Frowning, Xiao Yan licked his lips and recounted the earlier incident briefly.
“Really?” Seeing Xiao Yan’s serious expression, Hai Bodong’s face grew serious. Tapping the table with his bony fingers, he suddenly recalled something, whispering, “Kid, I have something to tell you, though I’m not entirely sure…”
Hearing Hai Bodong’s mysterious tone, Xiao Yan frowned, “What is it?”
“Do you remember when we fought those two mysterious Battle Emperor in Yancheng?” Hai Bodong stroked his beard, “I vaguely sensed another extremely powerful aura there, but it was too urgent, and I couldn’t pinpoint it. Since then, I’ve sensed it a few times, but it was very vague… Hearing you tonight, I suspect there’s someone mysterious following us… for a long time…”
Hai Bodong’s low voice made Xiao Yan shiver. Swallowing, he whispered, “Even you can’t detect it? Could it be a Battle Sect?”
“Ah…” Hai Bodong shook his head, sighing, “I already said it’s just a guess. Whether it’s real or just paranoia, I’m not sure…”
Xiao Yan sighed, thinking hard but couldn’t recall ever dealing with a Battle Sect.
“Alright, don’t worry. Let nature take its course. If someone is following us, they have a purpose. They will reveal themselves eventually.”
Nodding, Xiao Yan accepted this. “Heh, tonight, do you want to do something interesting with me? Fa Ma and the others will be there.”
“Eh? What are you three planning?”
Xiao Yan was stunned. Three Battle Emperors together, were they planning to attack someone?
“Could it be for that gray-robed youth?” Xiao Yan asked, frowning.
“Yes, Fa Ma thinks something is off with him and wants to investigate. You know, if the Jia Ma Empire’s competition is won by the Out Cloud Empire, it will be a huge blow to the guild’s reputation.”
“Are you thinking of…”
“Depending on the situation, it’s possible. Helping Fa Ma this time means he owes me a favor, ha!” Hai Bodong grinned.
“Man, you guys are ruthless.” Xiao Yan smirked. The competition was getting too dark.
“Stop talking nonsense. If you want to see what that guy is up to, come with me…” Hai Bodong stood up, walking out of the room. After a moment, Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and followed, eager to see if that guy was truly so young and capable, or if there was another reason.
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