"Yanran…"
Looking at Nalan Yanran seated on the back of the horse, Nalan Su's expression was deeply conflicted.He had no idea what to say.
"Nalan Su," Yun Xiu spoke at that moment,"If you're worried, you're welcome to visit the Xiao Clan as well."
"Let's go."
He patted the back of the Grass-Treading Horse.
With that, its white wings unfolded gracefully, lifting them slowly into the sky.
"Father! I'll wait for you at the Xiao Clan!"Nalan Yanran waved her little hand cheerfully from horseback.
"Yanran…"
Nalan Su could only stand there, powerless, as a complete stranger took his precious daughter away.
The Grass-Treading Horse ascended swiftly into the clouds, disappearing from view.
Nalan Su stood staring in the direction his daughter had gone, unable to tear his gaze away.
After a long while, a servant approached cautiously and said,
"Master… the young miss is already far away."
"Yanran…"
Nalan Su slowly snapped out of it and clenched his fists tightly.
"Back to the estate. We return at once."His voice was firm and grave.
Without delay, he activated his movement technique and sped toward the capital, Jia Ma Holy City.
He needed to report this matter to the old master—and more importantly, to inform Sect Master Yun Yun of the Yunlan Sect.
After all, Nalan Yanran had caught the eye of Yun Yun and was to become her personal disciple.
Yun Yun would certainly be furious.
The Nalan Clan might not be able to afford offending that mysterious powerhouse…But the Yunlan Sect might just be able to.
High in the clouds...
Yun Xiu and Nalan Yanran rode the Grass-Treading Horse as it gently drifted through the mist.
Nalan Yanran didn't look thrilled—instead, she was pale and trembling, inching closer to Yun Xiu in fear.
After all, she was just a seven- or eight-year-old girl, with only second-tier Dou Qi cultivation.
To be so high in the sky… she was clearly panicked, terrified of falling to her death.
Yun Xiu felt the warmth of the child pressing into him and thought to himself:
"This feels wrong…""Does this count as stealing Xiao Yan's future bride?"
He reassured her gently:
"Yanran, don't be afraid. I'm here—you won't fall."
"Okay."
Nalan Yanran visibly relaxed after hearing those words.
Just like that, her fear began to fade.
Perhaps this was the famed "sense of security."A single sentence, and its effect was almost magical.
To distract her and calm her nerves, Yun Xiu asked:
"Why were you so willing to come with me? Weren't you afraid I might be a bad person? That you'd never be able to return?"
"Nope," she shook her head with certainty.
"Oh?"
"Why not?" Yun Xiu asked, curious.
"Because your eyes are beautiful.""Beautiful eyes don't belong to bad people."
"My eyes?"
Yun Xiu was momentarily stunned.
Since leaving the Soul Realm, he had worn a mask that only revealed his eyes.He had thought the mask concealed his charm…But clearly, it hadn't done a perfect job.
"Yes. Your eyes are clear and beautiful.""The eyes are the windows to the soul. Someone with eyes like yours… can't be a bad person."
"Is that so?"Yun Xiu chuckled."You're an amusing little thing."
"I am!"Nalan Yanran nodded, then added with a cheeky grin,"So? You're not a bad guy, right?"
"No, I'm not." Yun Xiu smiled and shook his head.
"Yay! Then I guessed right!"
"You're quite the character," Yun Xiu remarked warmly.
"By the way, big brother," Nalan Yanran chirped,"You know my name is Nalan Yanran. Shouldn't I know yours too?"
"Big brother?"
Hearing her call him that, Yun Xiu froze slightly.
In his mind, a familiar voice echoed—
"Brother Hun Xiu…"
A soft, happy smile formed beneath his mask.
It won't be long now… Soon, I'll see that little girl again.Four years have passed… I wonder what she looks like now? Does she still remember her 'Brother Hun Xiu'?
Collecting himself, Yun Xiu replied:
"My name is Yun Xiu. Yun, as in 'cloud.' Xiu, as in 'elegant.'"
Yun Xiu—A name Hun Xiu had chosen for himself after leaving the Soul Realm.
The name Hun Xiu was too recognizable on the continent.Just hearing it would raise eyebrows and suspicion about ties to the Soul Hall—one of the continent's greatest powers.
There were plenty of sharp minds out there who could put two and two together.
So, he had disguised himself under the name Yun Xiu.
"Yun Xiu?"Nalan Yanran repeated it, then said sweetly:"Then, big brother, can I call you Brother Xiu'er?"
Yun Xiu was caught off guard for a moment.
Then he smiled faintly and replied:
"Call me whatever you like."
"Okay then, Brother Xiu'er!"
"Mn."
Yun Xiu nodded gently.Hearing her call him Brother Xiu'er, his mind couldn't help but drift back to another little girl, just about the same age, who used to ride on his back like a horse.
"Hehehe~"
Nalan Yanran beamed with joy, her face glowing.
If only she knew—
At the very moment she was calling him "Brother Xiu'er,"he was remembering another girl entirely…
How would she feel?
Would her heart break?
[Xiao Yan: I feel like I've been cuckolded. What do I do? Waiting online. Very urgent.]
Meanwhile… in the Jia Ma Empire
Back at the Nalan estate—
Chaos had erupted following Nalan Su's return.
At the center of the hall, Nalan Jie, the old patriarch, sat grim-faced, exuding immense pressure.
Nalan Su stood before him, drenched in cold sweat, head bowed low, not daring to look up.
Smack!Nalan Jie slammed his palm on the table—It exploded into powder.
"You're a Dou Ling!" he roared."Yet you couldn't even keep an eye on Yanran, a child barely in the second stage of Dou Qi!""What can you be trusted with?"
"Mark my words—someday, you'll be the ruin of our Nalan Clan!"
"Father…"
Nalan Su kept his head low, whispering,
"If that mysterious expert hadn't shown up, I would've brought Yanran back safely."
"Excuses!"Nalan Jie shouted again."All you ever do is make excuses! Curse this useless son of mine—how did I, of all people, end up with you?"
Suddenly—
He coughed violently, and when he opened his palm, it was stained with black blood.
"Father! Are you alright?"
Alarmed, Nalan Su rushed forward to support him.
Nalan Jie's face was pale as he stared at his son, furious and disappointed.
"You'll be the death of me!"
He took a deep breath, then asked:
"Have you informed Sect Master Yun Yun yet?"