Chapter 184: Farewell and Meeting Gu Xun'er
Jia Nan Academy, Rear Mountains
"Xiao Yan, I believe in you!" Gu Xun'er said softly, her hand gently holding his.
"I know, Xun'er. Don't worry. I'll find you one day, and I promise I'll marry you openly and proudly."
Before Xiao Yan could finish speaking, Gu Bai, the Three Star Dou Sheng elder from the Gu Clan, waved his hand. A powerful force struck Xiao Yan directly.
"Boom!"
The impact sent Xiao Yan flying tens of meters, crashing to the ground as he spat out blood.
"Xiao Yan!" Gu Xun'er cried out in panic. She tried to rush to his side, but before she could move, Gu Bai used his Dou Sheng techniques to restrain her.
"Miss Xun'er, don't worry," Gu Bai said respectfully. "I held back and didn't strike him seriously. However, the outside world is dangerous, and we must leave immediately. There's no time to delay!"
Gu Bai began guiding Gu Xun'er toward the flying beast to take her back to the Gu Clan.
Intervention by Jia Nan Academy Elders
Just as Gu Bai prepared to leave, several figures flew in from a distance. Moments later, Su Qian, the First Elder of Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy, arrived with several Dou Huang elders.
"Su Qian, First Elder of Jia Nan Academy, greets the honored elder of the Gu Clan," Su Qian said, bowing respectfully.
"There's no need for formalities," Gu Bai replied coldly. "I am here under orders to escort the Young Miss back to our clan. Will your academy obstruct us?"
As a Dou Sheng powerhouse, Gu Bai didn't bother giving Su Qian any courtesy. Even if Jia Nan Academy's founder, Mang Qianchi, were present, he wouldn't warrant Gu Bai's respect.
Su Qian remained calm despite Gu Bai's arrogant demeanor. "You misunderstand, honored elder. We have no intention of preventing the Gu Clan from retrieving its Young Miss. However, the young man, Xiao Yan, is a valued student of our academy. Was it necessary to strike him so suddenly?"
Though Su Qian knew there was little he could do against a Dou Sheng and an imperial clan, he couldn't let the matter pass without comment. Allowing a student to be attacked without protest would harm the academy's reputation.
"Hmph," Gu Bai scoffed. "You have no right to question my actions. Not you, nor your academy head. Take the boy back to your academy I was lenient, and he'll recover in a few days."
Xiao Yan's Resolve
At that moment, Xiao Yan swallowed a pill from his storage ring, quickly recovering some of his strength. Ignoring his injuries, he rushed toward Gu Xun'er.
"Xun'er!"
Seeing Xiao Yan, Gu Xun'er, still restrained, called out, "Elder Gu Bai, release me!"
Gu Bai hesitated, but under Gu Xun'er's sharp glare, he eventually relented. "You have ten minutes to say your goodbyes," he said curtly.
As soon as she was freed, Gu Xun'er ran to Xiao Yan and examined him anxiously.
"Xiao Yan, are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Xiao Yan reassured her with a faint smile. "Your clan elder seems a bit heavy handed, but I'm okay. Don't worry, Xun'er I'll come to marry you one day."
Before he could finish his bold statement, Gu Xun'er quickly covered his mouth and whispered, "I know, Xiao Yan. But don't say that in front of them again.
"I already understand your feelings, Xiao Yan. I'll wait for you in the Central Plains."
Gu Xun'er's Warning
Gu Xun'er interrupted him because she feared Gu Bai might attack Xiao Yan again. While she believed in Xiao Yan's potential to become one of the continent's strongest, now was not the time to provoke her clan.
"Xiao Yan," she said softly, "I'll help you with what you asked before. I'll have someone investigate Uncle Xiao's whereabouts.
"But please, take care of yourself. And don't try to come for me until you've reached at least the Dou Zong level. Anything less would be too dangerous."
Xiao Yan hesitated but nodded solemnly. "I promise, Xun'er. I'll work hard. If Dou Zong isn't enough, I'll become a Dou Zun. If that's not enough, I'll reach Dou Sheng. And if even that won't suffice, I'll become a Dou Di. Whatever it takes to be with you, I'll achieve it."
Gu Xun'er smiled, tears welling in her eyes. "I believe in you, Xiao Yan. I know you can do it."
A Painful Farewell
As the two shared a tender moment, Gu Bai's voice interrupted them.
"Miss Xun'er, it's time to go."
Gu Xun'er reluctantly embraced Xiao Yan, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Take care of yourself, Xiao Yan. I'll be waiting for you in the Central Plains."
"I will, Xun'er. Wait for me!"
After a brief embrace, the two parted, each holding back their tears.
Parting Glances
On the Gu Clan's flying beast, Gu Xun'er gazed down longingly at Xiao Yan, her reluctance to leave evident in her eyes. While the rest of the group had already boarded, Lin Quan stayed behind.
Looking at Xiao Yan's determined expression, Lin Quan sneered.
"Hmph! A toad lusting after a swan. A weakling like you has no right to act presumptuously in my clan's presence. But I do hope you come to the Gu Clan. That way, I can personally show you what a true genius looks like."
Without waiting for a response, Lin Quan leapt onto the flying beast.
A Determined Xiao Yan
As the Gu Clan's group departed at high speed, Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his expression resolute.
"Xun'er, wait for me. I will come to find you soon," he vowed silently.
Beside him, Su Qian, the First Elder of Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy, observed Xiao Yan's unwavering determination and nodded approvingly.
"Xiao Yan, is it? Welcome to Jia Nan Academy. Let me give you some advice: if you wish to be with that young lady, you'll face many challenges ahead. You don't have the luxury of dwelling on today's events."
Xiao Yan bowed respectfully. "Thank you, First Elder. I understand. Without your intervention today, I might have suffered even more."
Su Qian smiled faintly but thought to himself, This boy has no idea he has the Xiao Clan's backing. If he had mentioned his connection to the Xiao Clan, even a Dou Sheng like Gu Bai wouldn't dare harm him, let alone the entire Gu Clan.
Shaking his head slightly, Su Qian patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder.
"You have potential, Xiao Yan. The Vice Dean tells me you ranked first among the new students this year. Work hard on the Dou Qi Continent, only strength grants you the power to control your own destiny. Without strength, all dreams are empty talk."
With those words, Su Qian vanished, leaving Xiao Yan deep in thought.
Yao Chen's Encouragement
After Su Qian's departure, Yao Chen emerged from Xiao Yan's storage ring.
"Xiao Yan, I hope you now understand why I've always urged you to cultivate diligently. Without strength, you can't control your fate or protect those you care about.
"Come, let's head to the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower. I sensed the presence of a Heavenly Flame there. Once you absorb it, your strength will increase significantly, and you'll see the value of all my efforts to guide you."
"I understand, Teacher. Let's go. I want to see what kind of Heavenly Flame can enhance cultivation speed," Xiao Yan said with renewed resolve.
On the Flying Beast
As the Gu Clan's flying beast approached a spatial wormhole, Gu Xun'er's expression remained sullen. Though her clan had sent people to fetch her several times, she knew she could no longer delay returning.
Throughout the journey, Lin Quan and Ling Ying (her protector) briefed her on the current situation.
By the time Ling Ying joined them after leaving Jia Nan Academy's range, Gu Xun'er's expression had grown increasingly grim. She turned to Lin Quan and asked, "How did things come to this? Didn't my clan ally with the Xiao Clan just a few years ago?"
Lin Quan hesitated, then glanced at Gu Bai, the Dou Sheng elder leading the group.
"Elder Gu Bai, may I explain this to the Young Miss?"
Gu Bai nodded calmly. "Of course. As the Clan Leader's cherished daughter, she has the right to know."
With Gu Bai's approval, Lin Quan sighed and began explaining.
"Miss Xun'er, the truth is this…"
He detailed the rising tension between the Xiao and Gu Clans, the power dynamics with the Hun Clan, and the precarious position of the Gu Clan.
"Right now, our clan has no choice but to act cautiously. We're only trying to protect ourselves. No one wants to become the next Hun Clan after the Xiao Clan finishes dealing with them."
Lin Quan's explanation carried a tone of resignation, reflecting his understanding of their difficult circumstances.
Gu Xun'er, listening intently, fell silent, her face clouded with worry. Just as she was about to respond, a figure suddenly appeared directly in the flying beast's path.
A Sudden Encounter
The figure was a tall, handsome man dressed in a dark black robe. Hovering mid air with an air of absolute calm, his gaze was tranquil yet commanding.
"Hehe, little girl, you were about to say something. Care to share it with me?"
The man's unexpected appearance put Gu Bai on high alert. Beads of cold sweat formed on his brow as he hastily ordered the flying beast to stop. Bowing deeply, he stammered, "Greetings, Xiao Clan Leader. I did not expect to see you here."
Xiao Tiance's Arrival
Hearing Gu Bai's words, Gu Xun'er's eyes widened in surprise.
So this is Xiao Tiance, the leader of the Xiao Clan?
Ignoring Gu Bai's bow, Xiao Tiance smiled warmly at Gu Xun'er. "Little girl, have you seen enough of me yet?"
Before Gu Xun'er could respond, Xiao Tiance's figure flickered, and he appeared directly in front of her, standing less than a foot away.
"So fast! So powerful!" everyone thought, their hearts pounding.
"Greetings, Uncle Tiance," Gu Xun'er said respectfully, quickly regaining her composure.
Xiao Tiance scrutinized her with a faint smile. Her beauty and grace were undeniable.
"Oh? You call me Uncle Tiance, but you also call Xiao Yan's father Uncle Xiao. That makes your relationships rather messy, doesn't it?" Xiao Tiance teased.
Gu Xun'er's cheeks flushed crimson. She had addressed him this way out of respect for his equal status with her father, Gu Yuan. She hadn't considered how it connected to Xiao Yan.
"Don't worry," Xiao Tiance chuckled. "Your father and I are peers, so calling me uncle is fine."
A Confrontation with Gu Bai
While Gu Xun'er was flustered by Xiao Tiance's teasing, Gu Bai finally found the courage to speak again.
"Gu Bai of the Gu Clan greets the Xiao Clan Leader," he said, bowing once more.
But before he could say anything further, Xiao Tiance waved his hand.
"Slap!"
A resounding slap echoed as Gu Bai was struck across the face, sending him flying off the beast.
An Icy Warning
Stunned, Gu Bai scrambled to his feet in mid air, his face burning with humiliation.
"Clan Leader Xiao, what is the meaning of this?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.
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