Friends

Friends

Xiao Yan had already put it like that, leaving the Elder no room to refuse.

After everything was over, Xiao Zhan finally walked out of the Guest Hall together with Xiao Yan.

"These three Shi Ling Pills—you should take them, Yan'er. As your father, I..."

"Father, what are you saying?"

"Didn't I already say so?"

Xiao Yan said solemnly, "These three pills are for Father to use when breaking through to Dou Ling. Father really doesn't need to worry about me. I can take care of myself, and there's naturally no need to mention my cultivation."

"If Father can break through to Dou Ling sooner, then you naturally won't have to care so much about those old things' expressions in daily life."

"You are the person in our Xiao Clan most likely to break through to Dou Ling. Once Father can break through to Dou Ling, the Xiao Clan's power will absolutely not stop at a tiny Wutan City."

Only after Xiao Yan coaxed and persuaded him did Xiao Zhan finally accept the three pills with peace of mind.

Xiao Yan also knew very well that even if they gave those three old things a few more pills, likely not one of them would dare swallow several Shi Ling Pills for themselves. In the end, the result would at most be that the Xiao Clan gained a few more Da Dou Shi, which would not threaten Father, who would by then have become a Dou Ling.

As for him? Xiao Yan was even less worried about himself.

He had his teacher by his side, and also Wan Guniang. Now that his talent had returned as well, when next year's Clan Test came, he would use real action to tell everyone that he, Xiao Yan, was back!

"Oh, right, Yan'er."

"There's something else I want to say to you."

After they returned home, Xiao Zhan came to a stop, then said to this son who had now somewhat exceeded his expectations, "It's actually about Wan'er Guniang and you... tell me honestly, how did you and Wan'er Guniang come to know each other?"

Xiao Zhan could not possibly be careless about this question. After all, Wan'er Guniang was most likely a child around Yan'er's age. A young girl was innocent and inexperienced, and though their interaction today had made Xiao Zhan like her very much, from the rational standpoint of a clan head, he still could not help wanting to know the full story between the two of them.

Xiao Yan first froze for a moment before realizing what Father meant, and only then explained the whole sequence of events.

"Just a good connection formed by a chance meeting?"

Xiao Zhan murmured subconsciously.

"What is it, Father?"

"Nothing... it's just that, Yan'er, according to what you said, regarding what sort of force might stand behind Wan'er Guniang, you must have long since had your own guesses, right?"

Xiao Zhan asked.

"...Mm."

Xiao Yan nodded.

Naturally, there was no need for Xiao Zhan to belatedly remind him of this sort of thing. Xiao Yan had long since had his own guesses as well.

Perhaps even the entire Gama Empire was nothing more than an ant before her.

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan nodded slightly, then patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder.

"Rest well, Yan'er. I'll be going first."

"Mm, I understand, Father."

For some reason, Xiao Yan felt that Father seemed as if he wanted to say something but held back, yet in the end, he still said nothing.

"Heh heh, your father simply doesn't want to give you too much pressure."

After Xiao Zhan left, Yao Lao stroked his beard and said with a smile.

"Mm, I know."

"Then you'll have to hurry. You've already fallen three years behind others. You need to make it back with double the effort."

"I know—but Teacher, surely I still have time to go see Wan Guniang one more time?"

"That depends on you. Don't look at me."

After Yao Lao finished speaking, he turned into a cloud of mist and vanished.

Having finally dealt with the many disputes in the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan let out a breath of relief, then headed toward the Xiao Clan's Guest Room Courtyard.

As the news spread, the matter from the clan assembly just now had also passed through every small household within the Xiao Clan, this large family. Even the number of people on this little path had dwindled a great deal.

Xiao Yan had just walked into the small courtyard when a fragrance of medicine rushed into his nose. The not-so-large courtyard was filled with medicinal herbs growing wildly like weeds. Any one of them, if taken out, would be enough to make the entire Gama Empire fight until heads were broken and blood flowed.

The young man had just walked into the courtyard when Wan Guniang's voice came from the guest room.

"You're here? Then come in."

Hearing the creak of the room door being pushed open by her ear, Yao Wan had just lowered the black veil on the bamboo hat.

This was already not the first time Xiao Yan had brushed past Yao Wan's true appearance. Yet with each missed chance, time and again, all he saw was that bamboo hat with its hanging black veil, and the curiosity pressing down in his heart grew stronger and stronger along with it.

Driven by curiosity, Xiao Yan could not help saying, "Could this bamboo hat be some rare treasure? Every time I see Wan Guniang, you're wearing it."

"No. This is something I casually bought when I first came out to travel more than a year ago. It just hasn't broken all this time, so I haven't changed it."

Yao Wan did not hide it and explained.

"Then why is it that every time I see Wan Guniang, Wan Guniang is always wearing such a bamboo hat?"

It was unknown whether Xiao Yan truly did not know how to read the room, or simply could not keep pretending anymore, but he turned and looked at the young girl before him.

"Of course it's to conceal myself. With a face that would definitely stir up trouble just by going out for a walk, what can I do?"

Xiao Yan froze slightly.

"Or is it that you want to see it that badly, Xiao Yan?"

"Ahem, it's not really that I want to see. It's mainly that I'm just a tiny bit curious..."

Xiao Yan laughed awkwardly. People needed face, trees needed bark; naturally, he was also too embarrassed to say in front of a girl that he wanted to see what she looked like. That would really be far too rude.

If things went badly, she might even treat him as a lecher and throw him out. Although he himself did not really mind, he still needed at least a bit of reputation.

When his words fell, Xiao Yan looked eagerly at Yao Wan. The meaning in his words was, of course, that he was just a child who did not know better and only wanted to look for fun, but in his actions, there was a faint, barely hidden curiosity that was difficult to extinguish.

"...Forget it. I feel that a little distance between us is better instead."

Yao Wan shook her head, then spoke words that disappointed Xiao Yan.

"Besides, isn't it fine just like this too?"

"You keep calling me Wan Guniang, and we continue being the purest kind of friends. I'll help you prepare many things you'll need in the future, and you only need to work hard and grow until the time you can repay me. Isn't that good?"

Yao Wan shrugged her slender shoulders, her tone leisurely.

"So that's how it is..."

Xiao Yan sighed. Of course, it was not that this was bad, merely that he felt a little regretful.

At the same time, he did more or less understand Wan Guniang's actions.

Wan Guniang only wanted to be a simple friend with him. Today she would shelter him from wind and rain; tomorrow he would repay her. It was as simple as that.

As for the reason she was unwilling to show her face...

If it were put bluntly, it was probably because she was afraid he would be moved when he saw her true appearance.