This time returning to Wu Tan City, Xiao Yan once again only brought Qing Lin and Zi Yan along. As for Hai Bodong, he was left behind to watch over Xiao Gate. Hai Bodong had no complaints about that—nor did he dare to have any. He hadn't even reached Nine-Star Dou Huang yet, while Xiao Yan was already a Nine-Star Dou Zong. What right did he have to protest?
Not to mention, there was also a Five-Star Dou Zun woman nearby who was an absolute diehard fan of Xiao Yan. If he really did grumble, one slap from her could turn him into pulp. So, despite cursing under his breath, Hai Bodong still obediently played the part of the loyal workhorse for Xiao Yan…
Though Wu Tan City was a fair distance from the Black-Corner Region, travel wasn't a problem anymore since all three of them could fly. Even Qing Lin was now a bona fide Dou Wang, so flying this distance didn't take long. In just two or three days, the trio arrived smoothly at the outskirts of Wu Tan City.
"Huff… finally here." Staring at the familiar silhouette of the city, Xiao Yan exhaled gently. After being gone so long, he couldn't help but wonder how the Xiao family was doing now.
"So this is Young Master Xiao Yan's hometown… I can feel your aura everywhere," Qing Lin said with sparkling eyes.
"…" Xiao Yan silently rolled his eyes. What kind of statement was that? "Everywhere is my aura"? That sounded… weird.
"This is where you're from?" Zi Yan asked, visibly surprised. Based on Xiao Yan's demeanor, strength, and talent, she had always assumed he came from some grand, ancient clan. She hadn't expected him to hail from such a small place.
"What? You disappointed?" Xiao Yan asked half-jokingly.
"Tch. Marry a chicken, follow the chicken. Marry a dog, follow the dog. I get it. Let's go home!" Zi Yan said with a wave, about to fly straight into the city.
Xiao Yan quickly grabbed her before she could take off. "Not so fast. Let's land outside first."
"Why can't we just fly in?" Zi Yan asked, puzzled.
"Come on, this place doesn't even have a single Dou Ling. If you suddenly fly in, won't that scare the whole city half to death?" Xiao Yan sighed. He then remembered her antics back at Jia Nan Academy and quickly added, "Also, once we're back, behave yourself. Don't go blabbing stuff you shouldn't. Or else… hmph."
"Got it!" Zi Yan stuck out her tongue cutely in agreement.
"If you behave this time, I'll refine another Dragon Saliva Flame Spirit Grass for you." Xiao Yan smiled. Though he'd originally planned to keep it for himself, after discovering its miraculous effects on Zi Yan, he had decided to save the rest for her.
"Then… when I take that pill, can you stay with me?" Zi Yan rubbed her hands together, visibly excited. She clearly hadn't forgotten that… 'delightful' feeling of overpowering Xiao Yan last time.
"…You're just drooling over my body, aren't you?" Xiao Yan's mouth twitched slightly, clearly remembering that dark moment in his life. "I've already thought of a workaround. This time I'll use other herbs to neutralize the effects. What happened last time definitely won't happen again."
"I only want the pure stuff. If you mix in anything else, I won't take it." Zi Yan shook her head like a rattle drum.
"All the pills you've taken before had additives." Xiao Yan mercilessly exposed her.
"That's different…"
Chattering like this, the group descended and walked toward Wu Tan City. Though several years had passed, the streets and buildings hadn't changed much. Only the street vendors seemed to have cycled out, though occasionally Xiao Yan would still spot a familiar face. However, since he had grown a lot and had been away for years, no one recognized him.
Instead of heading directly to the Xiao family, Xiao Yan first went to the small clinic where he had once arranged for the Xiao Yixian to stay. But to his surprise, the place was shuttered.
He quickly grabbed a nearby passerby and asked, "Excuse me, do you know when this clinic will reopen?"
"Oh, that place? It's been closed for a long time now," the passerby replied impatiently, then walked off. "Been closed for over half a year."
Hearing that, Xiao Yan's expression grew serious. Had something happened to the Xiao Yixian?
"No… I need to go home and ask Father what happened." Concerned by her disappearance, Xiao Yan scrapped his original plan to leisurely tour the city with the two girls and hurried toward the Xiao residence. When he reached the front gates, he noticed several carriages parked outside, each marked with a sword-shaped cloud insignia.
"Isn't that the Cloud Mist Sect's emblem?" Qing Lin asked in surprise. Having lived in the Jia Ma Empire before and now managing many affairs for Xiao Gate, she was familiar with this powerful sect. But what was such a major force doing in a backwater place like Wu Tan City?
"Ah! I remember now!" Qing Lin suddenly clapped her hands. "When I was going through reports before, I read that the Cloud Mist Sect's Sect Leader accepted a disciple a few years back. That disciple is the young lady of the Nalan clan, one of the empire's three great families. She had a marriage engagement with someone from the Xiao family."
"Oh? And who was the fiancé?" Zi Yan asked curiously.
"Hmm… I think it was the young master of the Xiao family," Qing Lin said thoughtfully. "But he went missing for several years. From what we've gathered, that Nalan girl is quite arrogant and always looked down on places like Wu Tan City. Since that young master hasn't returned in so long, I guess she's here to break the engagement."
"Breaking the engagement? Ooh, this is going to be fun." Zi Yan grinned mischievously. In the Dou Qi Continent, it was a great humiliation for a man when a woman publicly broke off a betrothal. If Nalan Yanran really did this, the Xiao family's reputation would be dragged through the mud, and their relationship with the Nalan family would be thoroughly severed. "Hey, Xiao Yan, you're from the Xiao family, right? Do you know that young master?"
"Know him?" Xiao Yan took a deep breath and smiled. "Of course I do. I'm that missing young master of the Xiao family."
"Uh…" Hearing this, the two girls fell speechless, their expressions blank. At the same time, they silently mourned for the unlucky Nalan Yanran.
With Xiao Yan's personality… she was absolutely going to have a bad time.
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Memebers on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.