A quarter of an hour later.
Nalan Yanran appeared outside Luoxian Ravine.
She couldn't help but look back, her face full of grievance, murmuring,
"Three years later, I will definitely win, Su Qingyun. Then I will make you fall completely in love with me!"
In Luoxian Ravine, when she proposed the extra bet of the three-year agreement, not only Xiao Yan, but also Xiao Zhan, the Xiao family elders, Xiao Xun'er... all criticized her.
But in the end, Su Qingyun still agreed to the request.
This rekindled hope in Nalan Yanran's heart: He must still have feelings for her!
Three years later, she will win over Xiao Yan, become the most outstanding young woman in the Jia Ma Empire, and surely win over that immortal youth, and the two will happily marry!
Yunlan Sect, so many prodigies, she had never felt anything for them.
She had never liked a man so much, wanting to pledge her life to him after just one glance. She didn't want to be so weak-willed, but her heart, her body just couldn't resist! She just couldn't control herself! She
must win him over!
"Back to the sect, I'm going to persuade my teacher to support me and give me grueling training. Three years from now, I'll crush him!"
"Also, regarding Brother Qingyun's matter, I hope you'll keep it a secret. If I hear you utter even a single word about it in the sect, I will not let you off!"
Nalan Yanran glanced at Ge Ye and Yun Chuan who were accompanying her, her heart filled with determination!
...
"Outrageous!"
"This is absolutely outrageous!"
"Brother Qingyun, why did you agree to her?"
"What right does she have? Brother Qingyun, you already said you had no feelings for her and didn't want to be involved in their marriage, yet she's using Brother Qingyun's marriage as a gamble!"
"She even dares to use the sect to intimidate people! She acts like she's got powerful backers!"
"Brother Qingyun, you don't really want to marry her, do you?"
Inside Luoxian Ravine, even the usually gentle and obedient Xun'er was flushed with anger.
Xiao Yan, his face filled with guilt, said apologetically,
"Brother Qingyun, I'm sorry, I've dragged you into this."
Su Qingyun smiled calmly and said lightly,
"Of course not, Xun'er, don't worry."
"I believe in you. In three years, you will definitely beat her."
"I...can I really?"
Xiao Yan was stunned. Brother Qingyun had put himself into this, entrusting his life's happiness to him.
This trust was so heavy!
Instantly, tears welled up in Xiao Yan's eyes, and he nodded earnestly,
"Brother Qingyun, in these three years, I will definitely cultivate diligently and do my best to become stronger. In three years, I will definitely beat her!"
Seeing Su Qingyun's gentle and reassuring eyes and calm demeanor, Xun'er took a deep breath and calmed down, comforting herself in her heart:
It's okay, Xun'er, you have to calm down. Even if Xiao Yan loses, it's okay. At worst, we can go back to the clan and send a few guards to Yunlan Sect to snatch him away!
Little did she know, Su Qingyun already knew what was going on.
With Yao Lao's help, Xiao Yan will surely win in three years, not to mention Su Qingyun now knows the plot.
Besides, in three years, his strength should be considerable, right?
Su Qingyun's eyes also held a desire to become stronger.
He knew that although he possessed unparalleled handsome looks and an ethereal, otherworldly aura—qualities enough to make any woman who saw him fall in love, perhaps even trying to take him by force—
he needed to truly control his freedom and life; only by becoming stronger could he truly control his own.
Putting his marriage on the line was Nalan Yanran's demand.
Su Qingyun also had a condition: after returning to the Yunlan Sect, Nalan Yanran must not reveal the events of Luoxianjian to outsiders, including his existence.
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Otherwise, if Nalan Yanran, Ge Ye, and Yun Chuan mobilized the experts of the Yunlan Sect to find him and resorted to force, things would escalate significantly.
Not only did Xiao Yan need time to grow, but he himself did too!
...
"Young Master Qingyun, you have sacrificed so much for my Yan'er. As Yan'er's father, Xiao Zhan is extremely grateful to you."
Xiao Zhan finally understood why Yan'er's cultivation level had plummeted three years ago. He had been very hesitant initially, but later suddenly became calm. It seemed that it was most likely due to the efforts of this ethereal young man, Su Qingyun.
Regardless of what use he was to the Xiao family, he had at least shown kindness to Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.
Xiao Zhan bowed deeply to Su Qingyun.
Su Qingyun quickly stepped forward to help him up, smiling slightly:
"Clan Chief Xiao, you flatter me. Xiao Yan has helped me a lot these past few years. Since we're friends, there's no need for thanks."
"Besides, Xiao Yan truly has the potential to become a powerful figure. A temporary setback means nothing. I believe he'll rise again soon, and may even become a protective umbrella for the entire Xiao family."
Hearing this, tears welled up in Xiao Zhan's weathered old eyes. He hadn't expected Su Qingyun to not only possess extraordinary talent and unparalleled beauty and temperament, but also be such a kind person.
Since Xiao Yan's cultivation level began to decline, he had almost only heard sarcastic remarks; he hadn't heard such kind words in a long time.
Yan'er, you're truly lucky to have such a friend!
Not only Xiao Zhan, but even the First Elder and Third Elder of the Xiao family looked at Xiao Yan in astonishment, their hearts filled with confusion:
Xiao Yan could receive such praise? It's unbelievable! Could he really have a chance to rise again?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was deeply moved:
So Brother Qingyun values me so much, yet my cultivation has regressed time and again. How can I repay Brother Qingyun?
The three-year agreement… I must win!
"Xiao Zhan, if I may be so bold, it is said that a mysterious expert lives in seclusion in Luoxian Ravine. Regardless of who this expert is, Xiao Zhan wishes to invite Young Master Qingyun to the Xiao family. Young Master Qingyun has shown my Yan'er great kindness, and Xiao Zhan would like to be the host and entertain you. Please do not refuse."
"From now on, Young Master Qingyun is my benefactor, Xiao Zhan. If there is anything the Xiao family can do for you, Xiao Zhan will not hesitate and will fully support you!"
Xiao Zhan took a deep breath. Such a young man, such trust—if he didn't reciprocate, it would truly be inappropriate.
The First Elder and Third Elder of the Xiao family, unusually, did not contradict Xiao Zhan. They were not fools! Previously, Xiao Zhan's sons had not been very assertive, and they had difficulty winning them over. But Su Qingyun was different; he was clearly no ordinary person! Naturally, he deserved preferential treatment!
At this moment, they all bowed in unison and said,
"The Xiao family welcomes you, young master! From now on, you will be the benefactor of our Xiao family!"
Xiao Zhan was filled with trepidation. Anyone in Wutan City would have been overjoyed to receive such an invitation and would have gone eagerly.
But facing this peerless young man, Xiao Zhan had no confidence whatsoever.
The ethereal young man smiled warmly and helped the elders of the Xiao family to their feet:
"I dare not presume to call you benefactor. Since you are all Xiao Yan's elders, you can just call me Qingyun from now on."
"However, to be honest, I do have a favor to ask of you."
"Yan'er is Yan'er, but from now on, I, Xiao Zhan, will call you my benefactor. Please tell me what you need, and the Xiao family will certainly do its utmost to help!"
"Actually, it's nothing major. We just need to borrow some of the Xiao family's land to find some beautiful and auspicious mountains and rivers,"
Su Qingyun said calmly.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan's tense body instantly relaxed, and he smiled,
"My lord, more than a third of the territory in Wutan City belongs to our Xiao family. As long as it's our Xiao family's land, you can go and use it as you please. However, what do you intend to do with these hills? Plant some flowers, grass, and fruit trees?"
Su Qingyun shook her head and only said two words: "Cultivation."
(End of Chapter)