The Skyveil Sect of today had truly prospered.
Grand Elder Yunlin, in the battle at Duravia Trade Prefecture, had slaughtered all before him. The current Sect Master, Wuyazi, was a genius rarely seen in the world, and he had led the Skyveil Sect to heights it had never reached in thousands, or even tens of thousands, of years.
The Skyveil Sect had even begun to recruit disciples from the Eternal Sun Prefecture and the Duravia Trade Prefecture. Countless geniuses hoped to join, if only to build some connection with Grand Elder Yunlin.
A dozen or so youths, both boys and girls, blocked Li Xinnian's path.
The girl in the lead looked to be about twelve or thirteen. She was full of youthful beauty, and it was clear that in a few more years, she would blossom into a true beauty.
Girls always grew faster than boys, and this one was half a head taller than Li Xinnian. Dressed in a golden dress, her extraordinary background was clear at a glance.
She was a child of the new generation from the main bloodline of the Nangong family of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, and it was said that the Nangong family head was exceptionally fond of her.
Especially now, with the Nangong family firmly on the Li family's side and being their strongest supporters in Eternal Sun Prefecture, they were trying every possible way to strengthen the bond between the two families—and there was no bond more solid than a marriage alliance.
Seeing how willful she was being, Li Xinnian couldn't help but furrow his brow.
"Nangong Qingya, can we discuss this in private? It's rather inappropriate to do this in front of everyone."
"What's so inappropriate about it?!"
Nangong Qingya was truly being unruly. "This has already spread everywhere! I've become a laughingstock. People are saying that because I'm older than you, my cultivation is lower, and I have a bad temper, you don't find me worthy at all. Tell me, is that what you really think?"
"Nangong Qingya, you're a good girl."
Although he longed to say yes, considering the family was surrounded by enemies, Li Xinnian suppressed his inner displeasure and let out a long breath.
"There's just something you don't know. I'm cultivating a rare art and refining a Body of Pure Yang. If I were to marry you, it would only ruin your life and leave you to be a widow in all but name."
"Ah?"
All the youths were shocked. Nangong Qingya's face flushed bright red. "Is... is that true?"
"It's true."
Li Xinnian cupped his fists toward the crowd and walked into the Sect Master's Hall.
Upon entering, he saw a young man looking at him with a beaming smile. It was none other than Li Yunlin's disciple, Wuyazi.
Although the Li family had many experts, most were busy, and others cultivated strange and unusual arts. Thus, the responsibility of teaching Li Xinnian had fallen to Wuyazi.
In all of Azure Cloud, no one's foundation was more stable than Wuyazi's, but the more he taught Li Xinnian, the more he grew to like the young man.
To have a disciple with such an excellent disposition, character, and aptitude made him feel truly fortunate.
"Master."
Li Xinnian bowed respectfully.
"Disciple, take a seat." As Li Xinnian sat on the cattail cushion across from him, Wuyazi smiled. "Xinnian, did you tell a lie out there?"
"Mm."
Li Xinnian nodded slightly. "Nangong Qingya was embarrassed, and it was indeed trouble that this disciple caused. I felt I should do her a favor."
"That is the right way to think, and you handled it very well. Nangong Qingya was afraid of losing face, so you took the responsibility upon yourself, helping her out of a predicament. At the same time, you avoided earning a reputation for being arrogant and left the Nangong family with no fault to find. Excellent."
Wuyazi smiled warmly. "But she is the beloved daughter of the Nangong family, and one day she is sure to possess a beauty that could overthrow cities. If you were to become Dao companions, it would be a fine thing indeed."
Who would have thought that Li Xinnian would simply frown.
"Master, she... is too old. Besides, our Li family has never liked marriage alliances. Nangong Qingya is so willful and spoiled; this disciple does not like her. If it weren't for us being in public and having to consider the Nangong family's face, this disciple would have scolded her until she cried."
"Hahaha!"
Wuyazi couldn't stop laughing. "Sometimes I really think you're quite the mature little brat. You truly have your master's way of thinking!"
...
Outside the hall.
"So it turns out Li Xinnian has a Body of Pure Yang? I heard that kind of physique is also called the 'die alone physique.' That explains it. I was wondering who else could possibly refuse Junior Sister Qingya's marriage proposal."
"Hey, Junior Sister Qingya, Li Xinnian was just trying to do what's best for you. You've wronged him."
"That's right, Junior Sister Qingya. You went a little too far. Junior Brother Xinnian is the Li family's young master and the Sect Master's personal disciple. It's not right for you to be yelling at him like that. You can't do this again."
"..."
The sounds of condemnation filled her ears, making the young girl's face flush red. How could Li Xinnian's sincerity from just now have been fake? Her vanity and inner guilt warred with each other, but in the end, the feeling of guilt won out.
She put her hands on her hips again, glaring at her martial brothers.
"Fine, I was wrong, is that enough?! None of you are to mention this to this young lady again! Otherwise, this young lady will... secretly curse you in the middle of the night!"
They were youths, after all—quick to cause a commotion and just as quick to disperse.
The many disciples departed to find their masters and continue their cultivation.
Nangong Qingya frowned, staring at the main hall.
"Did he really not lie to me? My family is really something else, insisting I find a way to marry into the Li family. Is being a Prefecture Lord such a big deal? But then again, Li Xinnian..."
For some reason, the blush that had just faded from the girl's face returned.
Just then, the sound of footsteps came from behind, followed by a young man's call, "Senior Sister Nangong."
Nangong Qingya turned around.
She saw a young man dressed in simple cloth robes. He was the same age as her but appeared to be injured, with blood staining his side. Despite his pale face, one could see a hint of a tenacious and unyielding spirit.
Seeing the young man's strained smile, Nangong Qingya couldn't help but knit her fine brows. "Su Chen? You're seriously injured. Why are you wandering around again?"
"It's nothing, Senior Sister."
A flash of gratitude appeared in Su Chen's eyes. He cupped his fists toward Nangong Qingya.
"A few days ago, I was seriously injured and on the verge of death. If not for Senior Sister Nangong's rescue, I'm afraid I would have perished. This great kindness is a debt I will repay in the future."
Nangong Qingya replied nonchalantly, "It was nothing. I just saw an older disciple at the seventh layer of Qi Refining bullying you when you're only at the third layer. I couldn't stand to watch, so I helped out, that's all."
"To me, it is still a life-saving kindness."
Su Chen smiled faintly. He could see that Nangong Qingya didn't think much of it, but he knew that such a great debt must be repaid. A man must be clear about his debts and grudges.
He then looked toward the Sect Master's Hall, a shadow of gloom flashing in his eyes.
"I heard Senior Sister came to cause trouble for Li Xinnian. I wonder... what trouble is Senior Sister having?"
"What trouble could I have?" Nangong Qingya was unwilling to mention her recent awkward situation.
She smiled and said, "Junior Brother, you should just focus on recovering. Besides, even if there was something between Li Xinnian and me, you wouldn't be able to help."
"The affairs of the world are turbulent and unpredictable. No one knows what the future holds, so who can say for sure?" Su Chen said with a placid smile.