Transformation

Transformation

"Um... Wan Guniang, I..."

Only after Yao Lao finished speaking did Xiao Yan look toward the figure sitting by the bed.

This was probably what people called dependence.

Before that mysterious young girl appeared by his side, even Xun'er had only maintained a lukewarm attitude around Xiao Yan, barely holding together that fragile relationship.

Yet the person before him was someone who looked as if she belonged to a completely different world from him. She was not like Taiyang, dazzling enough to light up the darkness, but more like a bright moon in the night, by chance passing through the barriers of cloud and window to scatter a little broken silver frost across a dim room.

Though to the moon, the moonlight it shed was nothing more than an unintentional act.

It was not some unbearably sentimental relationship. It was just that over the more than half a year they had spent together, Xiao Yan had long since grown used to Wan Guniang's existence. Whenever he encountered something he found troublesome, or some problem, he would always think of her without realizing it.

Of course Xiao Yan knew this was not good, but the subconscious shaped by gradual influence always ran contrary to conscious intent.

"Mm, I understand. Then do you want Gold Coins or medicinal herbs?"

Yao Wan gently nodded her beautiful head. She did not really mind. Rather, if the resources in her hands could be used to help Xiao Yan grow stronger quickly, it was not a bad thing for her either.

"...Gold Coins, I suppose. If I'm going to repay you in the future, at least that'll be a little more convenient."

For the sake of the only bit of pride he had left in front of Wan Guniang, Xiao Yan chose the slightly more troublesome method.

"Gold Coins? All right. How much do you want me to lend you?"

How could Yao Wan fail to see what Xiao Yan was thinking? Although she had already been supporting him for half a year, Xiao Yan was ultimately not the sort of useless person who liked to lie flat. More than two years of silence had only made him even more desperate to find every possible way to become stronger.

It was just that although Xiao Yan never mentioned it in daily life, Yao Wan knew very well that everything she had done for him over the past half year had all been remembered in his heart. He had not mentioned it before only because he had no ability to repay her. Now that the hope of rising again had been rekindled in him, along with that confidence burning anew after half a year, Xiao Yan's pride had naturally been reignited as well.

Repaying kindness was only human nature.

Although one could not use such lofty standards to judge other people, or beasts, Xiao Yan was undoubtedly truly thinking that way.

So she naturally could not explain too much either. She would just let him be.

"Would one hundred thousand Gold Coins be enough?"

Yao Wan's fingertip brushed across her Storage Ring, and then she took out a Storage Pouch. Pulling it open just a tiny bit, one could see a flash of golden light bright enough to dazzle the eyes.

No matter how firm Xiao Yan's temperament was, when he heard Wan Guniang casually say a number that made his heart jump, he could not help feeling an urge to throw himself at the feet of this rich woman.

"It's enough. Definitely enough."

"Wan Guniang, just wait for my good news."

After saying that, Xiao Yan no longer had the face to keep staying here. He turned and ran off.

"What's wrong? A mere hundred thousand Gold Coins scared you, brat?"

"Teacher..."

Xiao Yan tiredly breathed out a mouthful of Stale Air and said, "I suddenly don't want to work hard anymore."

"Oh."

Yao Lao understood at once. "Then go. I won't stop you."

"Wait, shouldn't you be teaching me at a time like this that cultivation has to be done steadily and practically?"

"Idiot, you're too pedantic. There's a young, talented girl with power backing you up. What more could you ask for?"

Yao Lao could not help saying.

"Huh?"

Xiao Yan probably never imagined in his life that he would actually be called pedantic by someone as old as Yao Lao.

"Hmph, brat, you're still too young. You don't know the benefits hidden in this..."

Yao Lao subconsciously stroked his beard and teased him.

Xiao Yan's face flushed at once. If he did not want to say it, then fine, but here he was starting to act like a riddle-spouting old man again—

Forget it. Tomorrow he would go to the medicine shop to buy medicinal herbs, then hurry up and raise his cultivation. That was what mattered.

In a single night, the problem that had troubled him for more than two years, his inability to gather Dou Qi, had been solved. Because of it, he had also taken as his teacher an alchemist whom even Wan Guniang praised without end, and he now had a new goal for the future. To Xiao Yan, this was practically a transformation akin to being reborn.

After all, even though Wan Guniang had been telling him throughout this half year that there was no rush and the like, how could Xiao Yan himself possibly not be anxious? It concerned his own future prospects, so he could only suppress his temper and wait for the right moment to arrive.

And now, it seemed that the wait had indeed not been in vain.

If he were not currently in the Xiao Clan in the dead of night, Xiao Yan would even have wanted to shout aloud to vent the confusion and helplessness of every day and night over the past two years.

"Heh heh, brat, the vast world that belongs to you has only just begun."

Yao Lao looked at Xiao Yan as he walked out of the Guest Room Courtyard and smiled in satisfaction. Over the past two years, he had not merely been absorbing Xiao Yan's Dou Qi to recover himself.

Naturally, he had also been observing the temperament of this young man whose talent happened to make him suitable to become an alchemist.

To Yao Lao, Xiao Yan's temperament mattered far more than his talent. After all, he had already suffered a great loss in this regard once, and naturally did not wish to suffer a second time.

And after observing him for more than two years, he had to say, he was very satisfied.

Especially after that Wan Guniang came to the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan's conduct left him unable to find the slightest fault. Only then did he make up his mind and decide to reveal himself.

"Mm? Someone's coming. I'll go in first."

Suddenly, Yao Lao sensed something. After reminding Xiao Yan, his illusory body burrowed into the Storage Ring on Xiao Yan's fingertip.

Xiao Yan was slightly stunned. At this hour, who would still be outside for no reason?

Before he could make any more guesses, a beautiful figure drifted over gracefully like a butterfly.

"What's wrong with Xiao Yan Gege? Did something good happen recently?"

Under the moonlight, Xiao Xun'er was like a fairy. Her graceful figure traced an alluring curve, her toes lightly touching the ground as she tilted her beautiful head slightly, looking at the young man before her who seemed somewhat different from before.

Something he had once lost was gradually returning to him.

"You could call it a good thing, I suppose... Xun'er."

Xiao Yan looked at the young girl before him, who was becoming more lovely and beautiful by the day. A faint smile hung on his face, but at the end, he subconsciously murmured, hesitant to speak.

"As long as Xiao Yan Gege can pull himself together, that's enough."

How could Xun'er not know what was in Xiao Yan's wooden head? Seeing his expression, the deliberate distance and loneliness of the past vanished like smoke and clouds as the two of them smiled at each other.

"...Right, Xiao Yan Gege, tomorrow, can you take me around Wutan City? It's been a long time since we went outside together."