Clear Distinctions Between Favors and Grudges

Damn! This girl noticed me?!

Hearing Xiao Yu's certain words, Yao Chen was briefly stunned, then began pondering where she had exposed herself.

After thinking it over, Yao Chen could only recall that brief moment at the Gale Family when she had stepped in slightly to protect Xiao Yan.

But there had truly been no other choice. If she had not protected Xiao Yan a little in that situation, he would not be sleeping so peacefully now.

Thinking of this, Yao Chen could not help feeling rather speechless toward Xiao Yan.

You really are reckless, kid. You actually dared to take head-on an angry strike from a High-level Great Dou Shi when you're only a tiny Dou Zhe? I broke out in a cold sweat at the time. Without my help, every bone in your body would probably have been shattered.

But no matter what, being exposed meant being exposed. That was an established fact.

Fortunately, from Yao Chen's observations, although Xiao Yu had a somewhat fiery temper, she was a sensible girl who knew what mattered. She was far better than Xiao Mei and her boisterous personality.

Although Yao Chen wanted to avoid revealing herself as much as possible, Xiao Yu had already called for her in such a certain tone. Continuing to play dead would only make her seem petty.

With that thought, Yao Chen's figure slowly emerged from the ring. She gazed helplessly at Xiao Yu's head from mid-air and was about to speak when Xiao Yu's next words abruptly froze her in place.

"I really must be losing my mind. How could a ring possibly have self-awareness?"

Xiao Yu laughed at herself, gently released the ring on Xiao Yan's chest, and sat back down in her chair.

At that moment, the corner of Xiao Yu's line of sight seemed to catch something. She slightly looked up and saw a beautiful Phantom Woman floating in mid-air, her expression blank.

Who was this?

Xiao Yu stared blankly at Yao Chen, and Yao Chen stared blankly back at Xiao Yu. The two people silently looked into each other's eyes, and the air grew a little more awkward.

Compared to the silence in the room, however, Yao Chen's mind was already raging with complaints.

So this girl had just said that casually?! Couldn't you have used a less certain tone, then?

Xiao Yu was equally dumbfounded. She had only said it casually, Never Expected an unexpected thing would actually appear.

Faced with this scene, the first thought that surfaced in Xiao Yu's mind was:

This woman is so beautiful.

Yao Chen's beauty was beyond even phrases like "a beauty that eclipsed the moon and shamed the flowers, sank fish and startled geese." Even Xiao Yu, another woman, could not help becoming engrossed in it.

Such beauty had utterly surpassed Xiao Yu's understanding, even making her wonder for a moment whether she had yet to wake up.

Finally, after the two had stared silently at each other for a long time, Yao Chen lightly raised her jade hand and broke the silence first.

"Well, girl, I'm just an illusion. Don't care about an illusion."

As she spoke, Yao Chen's figure began gradually dissipating. Xiao Yu immediately came to her senses, abruptly stood up, and glared at Yao Chen.

"Cut it out! What kind of illusion could be this real?!"

"That just shows how inexperienced you are, little girl. There are plenty of illusions on the Dou Qi Continent even more realistic than I am. It's nothing unusual."

Yao Chen lightly shook a finger as she corrected her, then casually waved her hand.

"I sincerely wish you sweet dreams. See you."

"Stop right there!!!"

Seeing Yao Chen's figure about to vanish completely, Xiao Yu suddenly shouted, pointing at her furiously.

"You were the one behind Xiao Yan's Dou Qi regression, weren't you?!"

"That sounds far too harsh. I merely borrowed his Dou Qi for a while. Why use such an ugly word as 'behind it'?"

Yao Chen spread her hands helplessly, making Xiao Yu grind her silver teeth in indignation.

"Taking without asking is theft! Don't you even understand that?!"

Three years! During those three years when Xiao Yan had lost his Dou Qi, the Xiao Family had all tried to comfort him, but how many people throughout Wutan City had treated him as a laughingstock?!

Even in other cities, countless people had learned that the former Xiao Family genius had fallen into uselessness!!!

Although Xiao Yan had never shown much on his face, everyone in the Xiao Family deeply understood just how desolate Xiao Yan had felt inside!

And all of this was because of the Yao Chen before her!

Gazing at the furious Xiao Yu in front of her, Yao Chen lightly scratched her cheek, unable to offer any rebuttal.

Regarding this matter alone, she really was in the wrong. There was no arguing that point.

Just as the atmosphere was about to become awkward, Xiao Yu, who had been filled with indignation moments ago, suddenly calmed down. Gazing at Yao Chen in mid-air, she spoke slowly.

"Then, as expected, when Xiao Yan clashed with Gale Bi just now, you were also the one who helped him, right?" After speaking, Xiao Yu lowered her head toward Yao Chen beneath Yao Chen's slightly astonished gaze. "On Xiao Yan's behalf, I thank you."

"You little girl, just a moment ago you looked ready to hold me accountable to the bitter end."

Yao Chen rested a hand against her cheek. Clearly, Xiao Yu's change in attitude had not been what she expected. She had thought Xiao Yu would keep clinging to the matter of her taking Xiao Yan's Dou Qi.

"One matter is one matter. Favors and grudges cannot be mixed together." Xiao Yu raised her head and looked softly at Yao Chen. "It is true that you took Xiao Yan's Dou Qi before, but it is also a fact that you helped him just now. As his cousin, it is only natural that I express my thanks to you."

After Listening to Xiao Yu's words, faint light flickered in Yao Chen's ruby-like eyes.

These juniors of the Xiao Family really were all excessively upright.

A favor was a favor, a grudge was a grudge. They judged matters separately from people. Such upright thinking must have been influenced by Xiao Yan as well.

"But if that's the case, many things can be explained." Xiao Yu sat back in her chair, crossing her long, rounded jade legs and folding her arms as she looked up at Yao Chen. "Xiao Yan and the Xiao Family Disciples all reached Dou Zhe after only three months of training at the Back Mountain. You must have helped with that too."

Yao Chen did not answer, merely shrugging as an admission.

Xiao Yu stared at Xiao Yan's sleeping face on the bed for a long time before turning her gaze back to Yao Chen.

"What should I call you?" As soon as Xiao Yu asked, before Yao Chen could answer, she rubbed her neck and lightly curled her lips. "Forget it. I'm not interested in what you're called anyway. Whatever."

"..."

Yao Chen was speechless. She could tell that Xiao Yu was still greatly dissatisfied over her taking Xiao Yan's Dou Qi, and her unfriendly attitude was plain to see.

At that moment, Xiao Yu spoke again.

"From the looks of it, Xiao Yan definitely knows you exist, and I have no right to interfere with his decisions." Xiao Yu paused, then said solemnly, "But there is one thing. Consider it a personal request from me."

Xiao Yu fixed her eyes tightly on Yao Chen and slowly spoke.

"Please, do not betray Xiao Yan's trust in you."

Looking at Xiao Yu's serious expression, Yao Chen did not answer. She merely nodded lightly, making her stance clear.

Seeing Yao Chen nod, Xiao Yu breathed a deep sigh of relief. She rose and walked to the door, glancing sideways at Yao Chen.

"If he had trained alone at the Back Mountain, he probably would have reached Dou Zhe in two months, or perhaps even one, right?" Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Yan on the bed and continued, "If possible, when you are by Xiao Yan's side, I hope you can teach him to be a little more selfish."

"That would be asking the impossible." Yao Chen raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Xiao Yan. "You should know your cousin's personality far better than I do."

"...That's true."

Xiao Yu smiled helplessly, then left the room.

There could never be selfishness in Xiao Yan's character.

It was inborn. It could not be changed.