Chapter 285: A Reunion and Xiao Yan's Awakening
Jia Ma Empire, outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Qingshan Town.
Xiao Yan stared at the woman before him the one he had longed for day and night. For a moment, it felt like a dream, an illusion so unreal that he doubted its authenticity.
But as Gu Xun'er threw herself into his arms, the softness of her touch made it clear this was no dream. She was here, real and tangible.
The girl he once felt unworthy of, who had seemed so far out of reach, was now in his embrace.
"Xun'er!"
"Brother Xiao Yan!"
They held each other tightly, as though trying to merge into one, unwilling to let go.
Time seemed to freeze until Gu Xun'er's gaze shifted toward the doorway. There stood Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin, each holding a child. The children's features bore unmistakable resemblances to Xiao Yan.
"Hmph!"
Gu Xun'er let out a soft snort and pinched Xiao Yan's waist sharply, causing him to yelp and release her. Before he could explain himself, he noticed Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin behind him.
Letting out a bitter laugh, he suggested, "Xun'er, let's talk inside."
"Alright."
Though a pang of pain tugged at Gu Xun'er's heart, the sight of the two adorable children melted away her frustration. The boy, held by Qing Lin, looked almost identical to Xiao Yan as a child. Her anger and resentment faded in an instant.
Inside the small but cozy home, Xiao Yan poured Gu Xun'er a cup of tea and introduced everyone.
**"Xun'er, this is Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin. You've met Xiao Yi Xian before, but this is your first time meeting Qing Lin.
As for the children, they're mine and theirs. The girl is Xiao Xiao, four years old, and the boy is Xiao Yao, three."**
As his words fell, Gu Xun'er's eyes filled with unshed tears. She forced herself to smile and greeted the two women.
"Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, hello. I'm Gu Xun'er."
"Hello, Miss Xun'er," both women replied politely, their voices tinged with nervousness.
Despite having children with Xiao Yan, they couldn't help but feel overshadowed by Gu Xun'er. Her status, strength, and beauty were unmatched. Even her history with Xiao Yan outshone their own.
Although Xiao Yi Xian was usually cold and reserved, she seemed uncharacteristically warm toward Gu Xun'er. She understood that the position of Xiao Yan's main wife would undoubtedly belong to this extraordinary woman.
Qing Lin, ever gentle and unassuming, had no interest in competing for status. As long as she could stay by Xiao Yan's side, she was content.
Gu Xun'er smiled and nodded. She bore no hostility toward the two women. Though her heart ached, she knew it wasn't their fault it was Xiao Yan who was the true "hopeless philanderer."
With that thought, she suddenly swung her hand, sending Xiao Yan flying across the room.
"Ah!"
Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin were startled but not overly worried. They understood that Gu Xun'er had become a Dou Di and could easily overpower Xiao Yan. But they also knew she wouldn't truly harm him.
Outside, Xiao Yan sat on the ground, looking frustrated.
No matter how he tried to re enter the room, a soft yet unyielding force kept throwing him back.
"Xun'er really has changed. She wouldn't have treated me like this before," he muttered to himself.
But deep down, Xiao Yan knew exactly why she was upset.
She had given him everything her body, her love, her loyalty. Yet, he had left Tianwaitian without a word, bringing Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin along in front of the Gu Clan.
If it weren't for Gu Xun'er's attainment of the Ancient Emperor's Inheritance and his ties to the Xiao Clan, Gu Yuan would have likely killed him out of humiliation.
Xiao Yan let out a long sigh.
A few minutes later, Gu Xun'er stepped out, holding Xiao Xiao's hand in one and Xiao Yao's in the other. Behind her, Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin followed, smiling warmly.
The scene looked surprisingly harmonious.
"Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin… what's going on?" Xiao Yan asked cautiously.
Though he had always dreamed of a peaceful life together, he hadn't expected things to progress this quickly.
"Nothing, Brother Xiao Yan. I just had a little chat with them," Gu Xun'er said with a smile.
Xiao Yan glanced at the two women. Seeing them nod in agreement, he finally relaxed.
"Brother Xiao Yan, let's talk privately. I have some things I need to discuss with you," Gu Xun'er said.
"Alright. Let's head over there." Xiao Yan gestured to a nearby area.
But Gu Xun'er shook her head.
"No, let me take you somewhere."
She waved her hand, creating a swirling vortex of space. Without hesitation, she stepped through it.
Xiao Yan reassured Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and the children before following her.
The vortex disappeared, and when it reappeared, they were standing in the back mountains of the Xiao Clan's estate in Wutan City.
As Xiao Yan took in the familiar scenery, his eyes filled with nostalgia.
Gu Xun'er stood beside him and said softly, "Brother Xiao Yan, I've often wondered… if you hadn't been humiliated by Nalan Yanran's annulment, if there had been no three year agreement, would we have stayed together forever?"
Xiao Yan shook his head.
**"If not for Nalan Yanran and the three year agreement, I would have remained the same useless young master of the Xiao Clan.
And you, Xun'er… even if you came to the Xiao Clan with a mission, you would have eventually returned to the Gu Clan.
We wouldn't have had the chance to be together."**
Hearing this, Gu Xun'er nodded.
She realized that if Xiao Yan had never grown stronger, their story might have ended before it began. No matter how much she loved him, their worlds would have remained apart.
Even with the Xiao Clan present, the Gu Clan would never have agreed.
**"Brother Xiao Yan, I know why you left five years ago without a word.
This time, I've come to apologize for what happened back then."**
Gu Xun'er's soft voice carried a trace of guilt as her eyes filled with sorrow.
"Apologize? For what?" Xiao Yan asked, puzzled.
"Brother Xiao Yan, you might not know this, but if it weren't for the agreement you made with my father outside the Myriad Flames Space, promising to help the Gu Clan obtain the Ancient Emperor's inheritance, you might have been the one to become a Dou Di today."
Gu Xun'er's tone was gentle, but her words carried a weight that caused Xiao Yan's brows to furrow.
"The Ancient Emperor's inheritance was meant for me? How could that be?" Xiao Yan asked, still bewildered.
Gu Xun'er sighed, deciding not to hide the truth any longer.
**"Back then, what we said outside the Myriad Flames Space was overheard by Uncle Tiance.
Because of that, he decided to give the Ancient Emperor's inheritance to me instead.
If not for my father and me, the inheritance would have been yours, Brother Xiao Yan.
If anyone is to blame, it's me.
If I hadn't kept the jade token Uncle Tiance gave me instead of passing it to you, you would already be a Dou Di now."**
Hearing this, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned. But as her words sank in, memories of his conversation with Xiao Tiance came flooding back.
He shook his head gently and said, **"Xun'er, I don't blame anyone.
Even if you had given me that jade token, I would never have become a Dou Di.
The reason is simple Uncle Tiance wouldn't have allowed it.
Had you given me that token, not only would I have failed to achieve anything, but I might not even be alive today.
You might have even implicated the Gu Clan."**
Xiao Yan's gaze softened as he looked at Gu Xun'er.
**"Xun'er, do you remember when I went to Tiance Mansion after placing in the top three of the alchemy competition?
Uncle Tiance said a lot of things to me, words that made me feel like I was a thankless ingrate.
I had enjoyed the Xiao Clan's resources but never contributed anything to them.
Even if the inheritance had been handed to me, I wouldn't have been able to accept it.
The only reason I entered the Heavenly Tomb was to fulfill my promise to your father to help the Gu Clan secure the inheritance's recognition.
To be honest, I thought, 'If no one else gets the inheritance, would I have a chance?'
But when I finally shook off Xiao Huai'en and reached the third level, I learned you had already succeeded.
At that moment, I let go of everything.
Dou Sheng, Dou Di it doesn't matter. As long as Uncle Tiance remains on the Dou Qi Continent, becoming a Dou Di or not makes no difference to me.
These years, I've reflected a lot. I'm not the ungrateful person Uncle Tiance described, but I've realized he was right about one thing: deep down, I never truly considered myself part of the Xiao Clan."**
Xiao Yan's voice grew distant as he gazed into the horizon. After a long pause, he continued:
**"Over the years, I've come to understand something:
Only the strong have the right to set the rules.
Uncle Tiance is strong, so what he says carries weight.
And from his perspective, I really wasn't worthy of the Ancient Emperor's inheritance."**
Gu Xun'er hesitated before asking cautiously, "Brother Xiao Yan, do you hate Uncle Tiance?"
Her voice betrayed her worry. The gap in strength between Xiao Yan and Xiao Tiance was so vast that the mere thought of opposition seemed hopeless.
**"Hate? No, I don't hate him.
If anything, I agree with much of what he said.
But none of that matters anymore.
The last fragment of Emperor Origin Qi is preserved in Tianwaitian, and I'll never have the chance to prove myself again.
So, instead of dwelling on it, I've chosen to live peacefully in Qingshan Town.
Right or wrong it's no longer important to me."**
Xiao Yan shook his head and sighed deeply.
Gu Xun'er's heart softened. She reached out and gently held Xiao Yan's hand.
**"Brother Xiao Yan, come with me to the Great Thousand World.
Before receiving the Ancient Emperor's inheritance, I promised Uncle Tiance that I would accompany him to the Great Thousand World and serve him for a thousand years.
A thousand years may seem long, but for us, it's just the blink of an eye.
Once I've fulfilled my promise, we can establish our own place together in the Great Thousand World. What do you think?"**
Her words struck a chord deep within Xiao Yan.
For so long, he had been resigned to a quiet life. But now, her words rekindled something he thought he had lost a spark of ambition, a burning desire to prove himself.
Taking a deep breath, he looked at her with gratitude.
**"Thank you, Xun'er.
I will go to the Great Thousand World, but I can't go with you.
Until I prove myself to Uncle Tiance, I can't accept any favors from him."**
Gu Xun'er opened her mouth to speak but stopped. She knew his resolve. Once Xiao Yan made up his mind, nothing could sway him.
Still, an idea formed in her mind. She would find another way.
**"Alright, Brother Xiao Yan. If that's your decision, I won't try to change it.
But five years from now, when I leave the Dou Qi Continent with Uncle Tiance, I hope you'll come to see me off."**
Xiao Yan hesitated. While he was willing to see her off, the thought of facing Gu Yuan again filled him with unease. It was like a son in law dreading a meeting with his father in law.
"I'll come. I promise I'll see you off before you leave."
He then asked, "Xun'er, during these years I've been away, I haven't visited my father and family. How have they been?"
Gu Xun'er smiled warmly.
**"Uncle Xiao and the others are doing well.
Although you left without saying goodbye, the Xiao Clan didn't punish you.
When I went to Tianwaitian to ask Uncle Tiance about your whereabouts, I checked on your family. They're all fine."**
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