Miss Yaoye

At this moment, Xiao Shuang had already risen from the wooden tub, while Ping'er picked up a towel and helped dry his body.

"Ah, this life of a young master is far too comfortable. I don't even want to go to Jia Nan Academy anymore."

After drying off, Xiao Shuang lay facedown on the bed, allowing Ping'er's small hands to knead and massage his body.

"Young Master, don't say such things. Only by becoming strong can you enjoy life without worry. Besides, with your outstanding talent, becoming a respected powerhouse is only a matter of time."

Hearing this, Xiao Shuang could only shake his head. He had, after all, seen the script. Setting everything else aside, when Xiao Yan reached the Three-Year Pact, the Xiao Family would suffer a calamity. Who knew how many clansmen would die?

Even if he wanted to avoid that disaster, who could say what kind of butterfly effect it might bring?

If Xiao Yan failed to become a Dou Di because of him, then who would stop Hun Tiandi from destroying the world?

But who could say whether his arrival was itself a variable? The future... really was uncertain.

Forget it. Let nature take its course. He would first spend some time at Jia Nan Academy. Once he became a Dou Wang or Dou Huang, he would return to the Jia Ma Empire. With the Yan Alliance there, he could rest easy.

As his mind continued calculating, Ping'er's massage gradually relaxed his body. Before long, Xiao Shuang drifted off to sleep.

Seeing this, Ping'er tucked a thin blanket over Xiao Shuang, then quietly left the room. Her own room was next door, small enough to hold only a bed and a table.

Still, for a maidservant, that was already quite good.

Early the next morning, Xiao Shuang woke up very early. He had long grown accustomed to rising at dawn. Tossing the thin blanket aside, he crossed his legs and formed the hand seals for cultivation. With every breath, Ice Attribute Dou Qi from the air entered his body.

After cultivating for a while, Xiao Shuang slowly opened his eyes. A faint light shone in his pale blue pupils.

His constitution was rather strange. Aside from Ice Attribute Dou Qi, he could neither absorb nor use any other kind. It seemed these "Heavenly Flames" were destined to have nothing to do with him...

Xiao Shuang woke early, but Ping'er rose even earlier. Knowing that he would cultivate for a while after getting up, she first prepared hot water.

When the time seemed about right, the door creaked softly as it was gently pushed open.

"Young Master, have you finished cultivating? I'm here to help you wash up." Ping'er set the basin she carried onto the stand beside the bed, then rolled up her sleeves.

"Mm." Xiao Shuang got down from the bed and sat on the stool before the wooden stand.

Ping'er soaked the towel in the basin, then gently laid it over Xiao Shuang's face, skillfully helping him wash up.

At first, Xiao Shuang had refused. But Ping'er had been extremely insistent, saying that this was a maidservant's duty. She had been bought back to work.

Since that was the case, Xiao Shuang let her have her way.

After washing up, Xiao Shuang stepped out of the room and took a deep breath of fresh air. The temperature outside was still somewhat chilly.

"Breakfast is ready." After putting away the basin, Ping'er arranged the bowls and chopsticks on the table.

"Mm, I know."

Xiao Shuang nodded and turned back into the room.

After breakfast, he would continue cultivating. Except on special occasions, he ate in this small wooden house every day. Free of distracting thoughts, he cultivated day after day, and the results were quite ideal.

The Xiao Family's back mountain.

This was Xiao Shuang's usual cultivation spot. There was a well-hidden cave here, and within it stood a stone platform. Sitting cross-legged atop it could calm one's mind.

If not for Third Elder telling him about it, he would never have known of this precious cultivation ground. It was said that the clan leader and the elders had condensed their Dou Qi Vortices here, becoming Dou Zhe.

Xiao Yan naturally knew of this place as well, but the stone platform was of little use to him. Its compatibility with Xiao Shuang was far greater.

No one else knew of this place. Only the family's true geniuses were qualified to cultivate here!

Thus, no one competed with Xiao Shuang for it.

He entered the cave with practiced ease. The stone platform still gave off a milky white glow.

Xiao Shuang chuckled and sat cross-legged atop the platform.

As Xiao Shuang entered his cultivation state, threads of Dou Qi between heaven and earth began flowing into his body. However, aside from Ice Attribute Dou Qi, all the rest were blocked outside his body.

After a while, Xiao Shuang frowned and opened his eyes.

"Who's there?"

As though answering his question, a white-haired old man in a simple hemp robe slowly walked out. "Tsk, tsk. What sharp senses this little one has."

"Hehe, if Great-Grandfather had used his true abilities, he wouldn't have been discovered." At the same time, a girl dressed in luxurious brocade robes emerged alongside the white-haired old man.

The girl was exceptionally beautiful; calling her skin like ice and bones like jade would not have been an exaggeration. Yet in this situation, Xiao Shuang had no mood to admire her. He rose from the stone platform and cupped his hands.

"May I ask what the two of you mean by this? Did you receive permission to enter the back mountain of my Xiao Family?"

The white-haired old man chuckled, then sat down on a nearby stone platform as if no one else were present. Feeling the platform's wonderful effect, he even gave a surprised "Eh?"

"Hehe, this old man has no interest in you. Let the young people talk."

Yaoye revealed a friendly smile. She first examined Xiao Shuang's face for a few moments, then let out a soft sigh.

"You really are beautiful."

Xiao Shuang froze upon hearing that. He had not expected those to be her first words. Could these two have come specifically to tease him?

"Miss, please do not mock me. If you have something to say, please speak plainly."

"It's nothing important. I simply wanted to chat with you. What, are you unwilling?" Yaoye gracefully extended her jade-like hand, her beautiful eyes watching Xiao Shuang with interest.

"It would be my honor." Xiao Shuang extended his hand as well, lightly grasped Yaoye's fingertips, then quickly withdrew.

"You'll probably break through to Dou Zhe within half a year, won't you?"

Yaoye took a chair and some food that could only be bought outside from her storage ring, smiling as she placed them on the stone platform.

"You are correct, Miss. But what brings you here today?" Xiao Shuang naturally picked up some food and put it into his mouth. Since the other party had arrived here without anyone noticing, their strength was naturally far above his.

If they harbored ill intentions, they could take his life in an instant. Since that was the case, he might as well be more open and generous, lest they look down on him.

Sure enough, seeing Xiao Shuang's behavior, both Jia Xingtian and Yaoye nodded inwardly. This young man was quite perceptive.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Yaoye."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Shuang cupped his hands.

"A pleasure to meet you. So you are Miss Yaoye. My name is Xiao Shuang."