"Who exactly are you?"
Hearing the young girl's calm and gentle words, the black-robed man couldn't help but shrug. After a brief silence, his aged voice slowly emerged, "I believe you've met me at the Xiao Clan?"
Lightly stepping forward with her snow-white feet, Xun'er's eyes shimmered as she casually inquired, "Why have you come to the Jia Lie Clan?"
"I was entrusted by someone to resolve some trouble."
"Entrusted by whom?" Xun'er's bright eyes narrowed into a faint curve as she pressed on.
"Ah, that cannot be said." Yao Lao stroked his hand and chuckled.
"But I want to know." A delicate, small face lifted into a calm smile. Xun'er took another step forward, her body now suspended in mid-air, and a pale golden flame rapidly condensed in her hand.
"Heh heh, little girl, I know you're very strong now, but this alone isn't enough to stop this old man." Yao Lao chuckled.
Xun'er's willow-like brows furrowed, but she said nothing. Her fair, jade-like hand lifted, and golden flames emanated from her fingertips.
Seeing Xun'er's unyielding demeanor, the black-robed man suddenly felt a headache. With a sigh, Yao Lao reluctantly said, "I don't want to fight you. If you get hurt anywhere, that fellow will surely be heartbroken."
"Alright, alright, I'm scared of you. Today, someone disrespected a young girl, and that fellow happens to know me. So, he called me to take on this difficult task. Who would have thought an old man like me, at this age, would have to rush over here in the middle of the night!"
Her slender eyelashes fluttered gently, and a faint blush appeared on Xun'er's delicate little face. Her small hands retracted, and the golden flames slowly dissipated. She glanced at the black-robed man and giggled, "Old senior truly has a connection with Xiao Yan gege."
"Heh, that's one way to put it." Yao Lao chuckled, "You probably guessed long ago that I have a connection with Xiao Yan, didn't you?"
"Before, it was just a guess, but I didn't expect it to be accurate." Xun'er shook her head and smiled. Standing in mid-air, she bowed to Yao Lao and said with a smile, "Although I don't know old senior's background, Xiao Yan gege was able to cast aside his past dejection a year ago. I suppose it has something to do with you?"
Yao Lao smiled calmly, neither confirming nor denying.
Her beautiful eyes fixed on the black-robed man, Xun'er smiled sweetly and said softly, "No matter what old senior's purpose is in contacting Xiao Yan gege, please, old senior, never harbor any ill intentions towards Xiao Yan gege. Otherwise, Xun'er will not care who that person is; if they threaten Xiao Yan gege, I will definitely eliminate them. Perhaps old senior is very strong, but trust Xun'er, what I say, I am capable of doing."
"Tsk tsk, well done, what a strong woman." Hearing the subtle threat in Xun'er's calm words, Yao Lao was startled, then chuckled.
"I just don't want Xiao Yan gege to be deceived and hurt by others." With a light laugh, Xun'er bowed to Yao Lao once more and said with a smile, "It's getting late. Xun'er must return. Please don't let Xiao Yan gege know about meeting old senior tonight."
"Don't worry, I won't say a word." Yao Lao nodded, inwardly teasing, "Because he already heard it himself."
Seeing Yao Lao agree, Xun Er smiled. Just as she was about to turn and leave, a streak of green light suddenly tore through the air and flew towards her. Slightly startled, Xun Er waved her small hand, drawing it into her grasp.
Looking at the jade bottle in her hand, Xun Er trembled, then turned her gaze towards the black-robed figure.
"You used a secret technique. For the next few days, you'll probably be a bit weak. Keep this bottle of Qi Nourishing Powder. Recover quickly, lest you appear haggard and cause someone to feel heartache," Yao Lao said with a faint smile.
Hearing this, a blush appeared on Xun Er's small face. Clutching the jade bottle, she nodded gratefully towards the black-robed figure. Tapping her toes lightly on the void, her figure rapidly merged with the shadows, gradually disappearing from sight.
Standing there, watching the disappearing silhouette at the edge of his vision, Yao Lao suddenly let out a soft sigh and muttered, "Back then, you little brat, secretly entering that girl's room to diligently care for her, it really worked, didn't it? You actually managed to carelessly capture a girl's heart. Ah, speaking of which, your luck truly makes others envious."
Beneath the black robe, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. He understood in his heart that if it weren't for that incident when he was a child, Xun Er's attitude towards him after growing up would probably be no different from that of Xiao Yu and the others.
Of course, that was a hypothesis. The current reality was, hehe, who told him to barge in when the girl's heart was at its weakest? Moreover, her heart already bore his mark.
With a slightly smug smile, Xiao Yan casually clasped his hands behind his head, then allowed Yao Lao to control his body, quickly rushing towards the Xiao Family.
After returning to the Xiao Family, Xiao Yan, fearing that Xun Er might discover him, carefully bypassed the courtyard where Xun Er resided. Only then did he land outside his own room, then quickly slipped inside, gently closing the door and windows.
Entering the room, Xiao Yan quickly shed his black robe, storing it in his storage ring. Only then did he let out a heavy sigh, collapsing onto the bed, and reluctantly whispered, "Ah, what a truly wonderful night."
The next day, early morning, the Jia Lie Family.
Jia Lie Bi's expression was grim and somewhat terrifying. He let out a faint, cold breath that made the beautiful maid kneeling on the ground tremble with fear.
His cold gaze meticulously swept through Liu Xi's room in the side courtyard. Jia Lie Bi said in a cold voice, "You said Liu Xi is missing?"
"Yes, Patriarch. Last night, this maid doesn't know why, but she suddenly lost consciousness. She only woke up at dawn, but when she woke up, she didn't see Master Liu Xi. This maid asked the patrolling guards outside, but they also said they hadn't seen Master Liu Xi," the maid said fearfully.
"From the moment he entered my room last night, I noticed he hadn't left. Moreover, the Jia Lie Family has Dou Shi-level experts guarding both main gates. With his strength, it's absolutely impossible for him to leave the Jia Lie Family silently!" Jia Lie Bi said coldly.
"This maid also doesn't know," the maid's face was pale, afraid that Jia Lie Bi would blame her.
His brows slightly furrowed, his mood somewhat chaotic. Jia Lie Bi took a deep breath, ignoring the trembling maid kneeling below, and slowly walked around, observing various parts of the room.
Seeing Jia Lie Bi's movements, the maid dared not speak, her body kneeling on the ground, not daring to move an inch.
Taking one step after another, he paced the room. In one corner, Jialie Si’s footsteps suddenly halted, his pupils rapidly contracting as he stared at a small pile of white powder in the corner.
Horrified, he knelt down. Jialie Si picked up some of the powder with his hand, brought it to his nose, and lightly sniffed. Instantly, his grim expression transformed into one of terror.
Taking a deep breath, Jialie Si suddenly felt his heels go weak, an uncontrollable chill slowly emanating from the depths of his heart.
“Liu Xi… was actually killed by someone with such disregard?”