"Young… Young Master…"
A clear panic flashed across Feng Jiao'er's eyes. How did the Young Master know? It was true that her decision to break off the engagement hadn't been solely due to her cultivation technique. In fact, there was no such thing as "breaking the technique" with seductive arts—absorbing male yang energy could even boost her cultivation. The real reason she'd ended the engagement was that Ye Fan had innate useless meridians; by the age of sixteen, he still hadn't cultivated a single wisp of spiritual energy. How could a loser be worthy of her, a proud prodigy of the Northern Wasteland?
But… if she told the truth, Ling Xiao might think she was snobbish. That was why she'd made up other excuses.
"That Ye Fan—he must be a loser, right?"
Ling Xiao smiled for no apparent reason, his gaze toward Feng Jiao'er growing more playful. This was getting more and more interesting.
"Young… Young Master, do you know Ye Fan?! "
Feng Jiao'er panicked. She never would have thought that a loser from a small clan in Qingfeng City could have caught Young Master Ling Xiao's attention. She'd barely managed to stay by the Young Master's side—if this matter ruined her chances…
"Have you heard any news about Ye Fan lately?"
If Ling Xiao's guess was correct, Ye Fan should have been struck by the blow of the broken engagement and thus awakened his talent. Or perhaps his mother, who was from the Holy State, had left him a heaven-defying treasure—one whose seal could only be lifted when he came of age at sixteen. No matter which cliché it was, it was clear that this Ye Fan was the Chosen One Ling Xiao was looking for.
"Lately? I've been in seclusion cultivating at Qianmei Sect lately—I haven't heard anything about him. Young Master… after I broke off the engagement with him, I never saw him again. If you don't believe me…"
Afraid that Ling Xiao might misunderstand, Feng Jiao'er hurried to explain. But when she looked up at Ling Xiao again, he had already turned his attention away from her.
Has the Young Master lost faith in me? That damned Ye Fan—even after breaking off the engagement, he's still ruining my bright future!!
"I wonder if he can lead me to that fortune this time."
A hint of anticipation flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes. He stretched slightly, then looked up at Ye Qingchan and said, "Let's go. Head to Qingfeng City to meet this Young Master Ye."
"Why has the Young Master suddenly taken an interest in my cousin?"
Ye Qingchan looked at Ling Xiao suspiciously. From what she knew of this Young Master, he would never go out of his way to visit a stranger. Besides, in his eyes, the clans of the Four Wastelands were as lowly as ants. Why would he make a special trip to a place just to meet someone with innate useless meridians? This guy must be up to no good!
Of course, with Ye Qingchan's status, she didn't dare to casually speculate about Ling Xiao's thoughts. But deep down, she already felt sorry for her cousin.
"Well, I'm just curious. Qingchan, how's your relationship with this cousin of yours?"
According to the usual trope, Ye Fan—born with useless meridians and jilted by a proud prodigy—would definitely meet another Chosen Daughter, who would become the female lead later. It was just unclear whose destiny was stronger: his or Chu Yang's? After all, only the stronger one could eventually be connected to Ye Qingchan, a reincarnated Heavenly Daughter.
"Relationship? Young Master, I was born and raised in Xuanjian Sect. I've only been back to Qingfeng City a few times with Father. Speaking of that cousin… his background is actually quite pitiful…"
There was sorrow in Ye Qingchan's voice—clearly, she felt sympathy for Ye Fan. This aligned perfectly with Ling Xiao's thoughts. How could someone stage a glorious comeback, slap faces, and become a Chosen One without a tragic past?
"Oh? How pitiful is he?"
Ling Xiao seemed unusually interested in Ye Fan, which made Ye Qingchan even more uneasy.
"Although he's the legitimate son of his family, I heard his mother wasn't from the Northern Wasteland. She left the clan right after giving birth to him. My second uncle was grief-stricken by longing for her and passed away within a few years…"
"Left all alone like that, even the servants in the Ye family would bully him. It's only thanks to my grandfather, who took care of him when he was alive. But a few years ago… grandfather passed away too."
As Ye Qingchan spoke, her eyes even reddened slightly.
"Cousin Ye Fan already had innate useless meridians and couldn't cultivate. After that, his clansmen looked down on him even more. Last time I went back to Qingfeng City, I even got into a fight with my eldest uncle's son because of him."
"I see…"
Ling Xiao instantly understood. It seemed this was the karmic connection between Ye Qingchan and Ye Fan. Although Chu Yang was also a Chosen One, his background wasn't tragic enough. Generally speaking, the more tragic the male lead's past, the more terrifying his destiny value would be. But what secrets Ye Fan held would still require Ling Xiao to find out in person.
"It seems you have quite a soft spot for this loser cousin of yours."
A smile tugged at Ling Xiao's lips. Ye Qingchan's heart skipped a beat at his words.
"Young Master… I…"
"Enough, no need to explain. His past is so tragic it almost makes me want to cry. But I'd guess that after all this time, something must have changed about your cousin."
In front of Xuanjian Sect's main hall:
Ling Xiao stood with his hands behind his back. Dressed in black, his robes fluttered like those of an immortal—exuding an indescribable elegance and freedom. Ye Qingchan and Feng Jiao'er stood one step behind him, awe written on their pretty faces.
Farther away, Ye Liuyun (Xuanjian Sect's Master), Wei Wuchen (the Supreme Elder), and the leaders of the major forces all stood with solemn expressions. One might have thought something momentous was about to happen in the Northern Wasteland.
"Young Master Ling Xiao, won't you stay a few more days at Xuanjian Sect?"
Ye Liuyun's eyes were tearful, his voice filled with sorrow. He knew that once Ling Xiao left this time, he would probably never come back. And Ye Qingchan would naturally follow him to the Holy State. Both father and daughter felt a sense of melancholy.
"Yes, I have things to take care of. Everyone, let's take our leave here."
Ling Xiao waved his hand. A stream of light streaked across the sky, instantly transforming into a flying pavilion. Its beams were intricately carved, its rafters painted with delicate patterns; ethereal music wafted through the air, and shimmering light glowed all around—radiating unparalleled majesty.
"What a magnificent flying pavilion!"
"What terrifying energy fluctuations!"
This single magical artifact left the leaders of the Northern Wasteland forces staring in shock. Ling Xiao took Ye Qingchan's hand and walked into the pavilion. Feng Jiao'er glanced back at her master in the crowd, her eyes slightly red, then lifted her foot and followed them inside.
"Young Master Ling Xiao!!"
Xiao Ge stood far away from the main hall, his teeth clenched tightly. "Why?! Why didn't the Young Master take me with him?! Haven't I done enough?!"
As he thought this, tears even welled up in Xiao Ge's eyes. "If I had another chance, I'd spend all my time currying favor with Young Master Ling Xiao!!"
"Take care on your journey, Young Master!"
"Young Master, I'll miss you!"
"Young Master, come back to visit us often!"
For a moment, grief filled the air throughout Xuanjian Sect. Those who saw this scene felt their hearts ache; those who heard it shed tears. Everyone looked at the flying pavilion as it gradually faded into the distance, their eyes filled with deep reluctance. Ling Xiao's departure meant that the Holy State was now completely out of their reach.