Exiting the auction house, Xiao Yan stood amidst the bustling crowd at the crossroads, looking back at the city he had lived in for over ten years. After a long while, he let out a lonely sigh, clenching his fists tightly as if to give himself courage. He softly murmured, "The world outside must be wonderfully diverse and vibrant…" With that, Xiao Yan smiled, cast aside the worries in his heart, and stepped into the flow of people, quickly disappearing.
After preparing all the necessary supplies, Xiao Yan spent the remaining two days doing nothing, calmly enjoying the brief tranquility of life. It seemed Yao Lao also understood Xiao Yan's mood at the time, so he didn't speak to disturb him, allowing him to arrange his time as he wished.
Xiao Yan's quietude these two days also made Xun Er sensitively aware of something. Thus, the young girl would always follow him when she had nothing to do, her clear eyes filled with deep affection.
Xiao Yan felt a bit helpless with this young lady and could only gently comfort her, which finally lifted Xun Er's spirits a little.
Walking on the small path within the family compound, Xiao Yan lazily stretched his waist. Today was the day he would leave. He had just met his father and told him of his decision.
Upon hearing that Xiao Yan intended to leave today, Xiao Zhan, though extremely reluctant in his heart, understood that Xiao Yan's vision would not be confined to this small Wu Tan City. With his talent, only the vast, boundless sky could allow him to express himself as he wished.
The mighty eagle has grown, soaring towards the high heavens!
"Yan'er, if you have the chance in the future, you can go to Shi Mo City on the border of the Jia Ma Empire to take a look. Your elder brother and second brother are both developing there. I heard that in recent years, they established a mercenary group called 'Mo Tie,' which can be considered a formidable force there."
Recalling his father's words in the study earlier, Xiao Yan smiled. After experiencing the coming-of-age ceremony, his two elder brothers had ventured out to gain experience, and at that time, his father was not yet the clan leader. In recent years, perhaps due to the long distance or being too busy with the mercenary group, they rarely returned to Wu Tan City. Nevertheless, Xiao Yan had a good deal of affection for his brothers.
"Xiao Yan." Just as he turned a corner, a gentle, soft voice made Xiao Yan stop. He looked up at the beautiful woman by the roadside and couldn't help but smile, "Instructor Ruo Lin, why aren't you recruiting students?"
"I came back to get some things. Xun Er is taking my place now." Smiling, Instructor Ruo Lin slowly walked up, her gaze sweeping over Xiao Yan, and she gently said, "Are you ready to go?"
"Mm." Rubbing his nose, Xiao Yan nodded.
"Aren't you going to tell Yu'er and Xun Er?"
"Forget it. It's better to leave quietly than to have a sad farewell." Shrugging, Xiao Yan said with a smile.
"You're comfortable, but you're making others sad." Staring at Xiao Yan with a hint of complaint, Instructor Ruo Lin was silent for a moment, then gently said, "I hope that a year from now, I can hear news of someone making a name for themselves in the Yun Lan Sect."
Xiao Yan was startled, then smiled and nodded. During his days in the family, it was clear that some bigmouths had spread the news of him and Nalan Yanran, so Xiao Yan didn't ask how she knew.
"Actually, I really want to know what kind of expression she would have if she knew your current strength?" Instructor Ruo Lin suddenly said with a witty smile.
Shrugging his shoulders, Xiao Yan chatted and laughed with Instructor Ruo Lin for a while longer, then his figure slowly disappeared at the end of the small path under their watchful gaze.
Following the small path into his room, Xiao Yan took out three rings from under his pillow. He put the dark red one on his finger, and carefully tucked the other two into his chest. Although these three rings were low-grade, they could still be considered precious items. When traveling outside, one should not reveal their wealth. Xiao Yan understood this principle very clearly.
Xiao Yan carried very few items, putting everything into those three low-grade rings. Standing at the door of his room, Xiao Yan looked at the somewhat empty room, smiling faintly. With the soft sound of the door closing, the last ray of sunlight between the door cracks slowly disappeared...
Xiao Yan left without disturbing anyone. The young man, dressed in ordinary clothes, walked out of the main gate with empty hands, then slowly disappeared at the crossroads under the respectful gaze of the family guards. Perhaps this guard did not know that this time, Xiao Yan might not return home for several years.
Xun Er felt a little restless today. A faint trace of melancholy was etched on her delicate brows, and her eyes were hazy. Anyone could tell that she was very uneasy at this moment.
"Junior Sister Xun Er, have some water."
A gentle male voice suddenly sounded beside Xun Er. A handsome young man was smiling as he held a cup of clear water.
Her thoughts interrupted, Xun Er looked up at the handsome young man beside her. This young man was the strongest male disciple among this recruitment team. Even Luo Bu was much weaker in comparison. Moreover, this person did not have the obviously fake smile that Luo Bu had. When Xun Er occasionally chatted with some female disciples, she noticed that quite a few girls in the team seemed to have a good impression of this senior student, who was both strong and handsome and gentle.
However, even though the young man's smile was gentle and not fawning, it failed to capture Xun Er's attention. Her gaze drifted casually, and she calmly shook her head, "No need, thank you."
Xun Er's indifferent attitude did not cause any change in the young man's expression. He shrugged nonchalantly, took back the cup of water, and said with a smile, "Today's recruitment test, if it weren't for Junior Sister Xun Er's help, I'm afraid we would have been at a loss. It was really troublesome."
"Instructor Ruo Lin just asked me to help." Shaking her head, Xun Er tilted her head slightly, looked at the young man who was about to speak, and said softly, "Senior Brother, could you please let me have some quiet?"
"Ah, I'm sorry, I talked a bit too much, I've disturbed you." The young man's smiling face stiffened slightly, then he nodded, turned around, and walked towards the tent.
"Heh heh, Lin Nan, how is it? Are you smitten with her?" As he approached the tent, a snickering laugh suddenly came out.
His footsteps halted, the young man named Lin Nan glanced at Luo Bu's smiling face, leaned against the tent, and took a sip from the cup of water in his hand. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the setting sun shining on the slender figure of the young girl, a fiery glint flashing in his eyes, "It's rare to see such an exquisite young girl. There aren't many in the academy who can compare to her."
"The person you're smitten with doesn't seem to be interested in you, though." Luo Bu said with a teasing laugh.
"Interest is cultivated slowly. There's plenty of time later, what's the rush?" Lin Nan said with a smile.
"She... has a good relationship with that Xiao Yan, doesn't she?" Glancing at the young woman not far away, Luo Bu said as if inadvertently.
The teacup he was raising paused slightly. Lin Nan frowned, "Did that guy really withstand twenty rounds against Instructor Ruo Lin?"
"Indeed he did. That day, you few were out taking tests, so you didn't see it. For us who were involved, we saw it with our own eyes. Instructor Ruo Lin even used 'Water Mandala' in the end, but he still managed to block it." Recalling the battle that day, a look of awe couldn't help but appear on Luo Bu's face as he said in a deep voice.
Clenching his hand, Lin Nan drank the cup of clear water in one gulp, then pouted and said, "Even if that's the case, I won't give up on her because of it. Although that guy's cultivation talent is indeed very strong, when it comes to winning a woman's heart, he's still far inferior. Heh, moreover, he's going to be away from Xun'er for a year. In this year, I'll have plenty of time to make Xun'er gradually grow cold towards him..."
At this point, Lin Nan looked a little smug. As an experienced ladies' man, he was very confident in how to win a girl's affection.
"Xun'er." At this moment, outside the courtyard, Instructor Ruo Lin suddenly ran in, finally stopping in front of the young woman, panting a few times, and softly said, "He's gone."
Her small hand trembled slightly. Xun'er was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Xun'er, don't be sad. It's just being apart for a while." Seeing Xun'er's quiet demeanor, Instructor Ruo Lin sighed and comforted her.
"En." Nodding lightly, Xun'er suddenly moved, walking towards Lin Nan and Luo Bu under Instructor Ruo Lin's puzzled gaze.
The young woman slowly approached, finally stopping in front of the two. Her delicate, small face showed no emotion. Her bright eyes stared at Lin Nan, and she softly said, "Senior, would you be willing to spar with Xun'er for a bit?"
"Uh..." Hearing Xun'er's request, Lin Nan was stunned. After a long while, he smiled and said, "Since Junior Sister Xun'er has requested it, I naturally won't refuse. When we spar, I'll suppress my strength to the same level." Xun'er blinked her slender eyelashes, not speaking. Her small, indifferent face walked directly into the tent.
"Heh, be careful. Her strength is already at six-star Dou Zhe." Seeing the young woman enter the tent, Luo Bu reminded with a laugh.
"I also entered seven-star two months ago." Smiling, Lin Nan looked at the tent, then chuckled, "It seems like a good opening. Usually, a young woman's heart is weakest at this time."
With a slight curl of his lips, Lin Nan straightened his clothes, then, under Luo Bu's extremely envious gaze, entered the tent.
Standing outside the tent, Luo Bu waited for more than a few minutes, then saw the curtain lifted, and the young woman's small, indifferent face slowly emerged.
"Uh..." Seeing Xun'er come out first, Luo Bu couldn't help but be stunned. However, looking at the young woman's expression, he didn't dare to ask.
The girl stood outside the tent, her delicate small face tilted up, looking at the sun that was about to set. At this moment, the young man had probably already left the city, hadn't he?
Her small hand gently brushed the green hair from her forehead. After a moment, Xun'er turned her head and looked at Luo Bu, softly saying, "From now on, if I ever hear anyone speak ill of Brother Xiao Yan, I will kill that person..."
Stared at by those clear, amber eyes, Luo Bu couldn't force a smile onto his face, a chill seeping from his heart.
Withdrawing her gaze, Xun Er slowly walked out of the courtyard.
After Xun Er left, Instructor Ruo Lin and Luo Bu hurriedly lifted the tent flap, their bodies suddenly trembling.
Inside the tent, Lin Nan lay curled on the ground, his originally handsome face now covered in bruises, looking extremely disfigured. On the ground beside him, more than ten blood-stained teeth were scattered everywhere, a truly jarring sight...