Xiao Xun'er

It was just that before anyone else had time to be shocked, the Beautiful Figure who had just walked past them had left behind only a faint, elegant medicinal fragrance, which swiftly scattered under the lake breeze without leaving the slightest trace.

Yao Wan did not really care about other people, but considering that wandering around outside would more or less stir up a commotion, she quickened her pace and walked toward Xiao Yan's residence.

Only, just as she was about to reach Xiao Yan's residence, Yao Wan noticed a pale-purple Beautiful Figure.

That Beautiful Figure was as lively as a butterfly, the proud daughter of heaven within the Xiao Clan. The moment Yao Wan noticed her, she also subconsciously looked toward the Young Girl not far away, dressed in an unobtrusive plain-colored long dress yet wearing a bamboo hat that concealed her appearance.

That was...

Although Xiao Xun'er had always known of the distinguished guest in the Xiao Clan, she had never seen her with her own eyes. Her impression of Yao Wan had, to a great extent, actually been based on her own guesses and imagination.

Only now could she be considered to have finally seen the person herself, whom she had never been able to meet in person.

And likewise, this was also Yao Wan's first time seeing Xiao Xun'er.

The two of them had both known of the other's existence for a long time, yet had never been able to meet.

Now that they finally met today, both of them could not help feeling somewhat taken aback.

"...If I'm not mistaken, could this be the distinguished guest of the Xiao Clan, Wan Guniang?"

Xiao Xun'er spoke first, wearing a smile that made it very hard for anyone not to feel goodwill toward her.

Yao Wan slowly walked over. Beneath the Bamboo Hat Black Gauze, those eyes reflecting a sea of stars looked straight at Xiao Xun'er.

"I often hear Xiao Yan mention you, Miss Xiao Xun'er."

"Hehe... there's no need to call me miss. Wan Guniang can call me Xun'er, just like Xiao Yan Gege does."

A smile blossomed across Xun'er's Pretty Face, as bright as flowers carpeting a mountain slope.

Yao Wan shook her head, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"Is Xun'er Guniang also here to look for Xiao Yan?"

Yao Wan did not beat around the bush and asked straightforwardly. After all, it went without saying what she was going to see her Xiao Yan Gege for. If Yao Wan went over at this time, wouldn't she be deliberately running over to play the third wheel?

She did not want to be a third wheel, much less did she want to watch the two of them be all lovey-dovey right in front of her.

"'Also'? In that case, Wan Guniang is here to look for Xiao Yan Gege too?"

Xiao Xun'er keenly caught the information beneath Yao Wan's words and narrowed those beautiful eyes slightly.

"That's right. Who told him to spend the past half month cultivating? He hasn't come to see me during this time either, so I wanted to see whether he ran into some problem in his cultivation."

Yao Wan did not mind the faint, almost imperceptible hostility in Xiao Xun'er's eyes and merely explained her reason for coming.

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

Xiao Xun'er subconsciously chewed over the meaning in Yao Wan's words, and she could roughly confirm, vaguely, that this Wan Guniang did not seem to harbor any intentions toward Xiao Yan Gege the way she had first guessed.

Yet for some reason, the wording in her speech remained unpleasant to hear.

...All told, it had only been half a month, yet she said Xiao Yan Gege had not gone to her place for quite some time.

What did that mean? Was it not normal unless Xiao Yan Gege went to your place every few days?

Xun'er then said, "Then there's no need to trouble Wan Guniang to make another trip. Xun'er will go and see how Xiao Yan Gege's cultivation is coming along."

"Since I'm already here, there's no need to trouble Xun'er Guniang."

Yao Wan lightly shook her Beautiful Head.

After saying that, Yao Wan walked toward Xiao Yan's small courtyard.

"...Ah, right."

"I still haven't asked Wan Guniang's real name... I wonder if Wan Guniang would be willing to reveal it?"

Xiao Xun'er called out to Yao Wan and said.

"Wan Guniang has extraordinary talent and even knows alchemy. I wonder... could your surname be Yao?"

Yao Wan stopped in her tracks.

"So what if it is? So what if it isn't?"

Yao Wan asked in return.

"If it is not Yao, then it is Yan."

Xiao Xun'er continued, "After all, a genius who can possess the Life Spirit Flame at such a young age would probably only appear in those two clans."

"Sigh... what does Xun'er Guniang mean by this?"

Yao Wan turned her eyes back. It had originally been something both sides tacitly understood, yet she had insisted on laying it bare.

"...Wan Guniang, just what did you come to the Xiao Clan for?"

Xiao Xun'er looked at Yao Wan, who had turned around. Just from her reaction, she knew she had guessed the truth eight or nine times out of ten, so she simply chose to speak frankly.

"What for? Naturally, because I grew bored staying in the clan and wanted to come out for a stroll. Once I've strolled enough, I'll go back... Rather, Xun'er Guniang, why would you say that? Does this count as a thief crying thief?"

Since Yao Wan saw that this topic could no longer be avoided, she naturally had no reason to give ground.

Xiao Xun'er was stunned, then slightly furrowed her arched brows. Naturally, she did not believe Yao Wan's explanation in the slightest. "Since you and I are both here, could it be that you..."

"I have not the slightest interest in some ancient jade. The only one crying thief here is you, Xun'er Guniang."

To be honest, Yao Wan also could not understand why Xiao Xun'er showed such a heavy hostility the moment they met. It did not seem like she had deliberately offended her, right?

Only, even if the confusion in her heart had yet to be resolved, Yao Wan could not possibly let her own momentum weaken.

Especially when facing other geniuses... Xiao Yan was one thing, but when facing others, she had never been afraid.

Yao Wan had merely reined in that meaningless arrogance common to ordinary geniuses, but that did not mean she could allow anyone to knead her however they pleased.

Ever since childhood in the Yao Clan, she had been the Pearl in one's palm of the Clan Leader and even the entire Yao Clan. She had whatever she wanted, so naturally, she was no little white rabbit who could be bullied by others outside.

Xiao Xun'er paused slightly, but before she could say anything more, she heard Yao Wan in front of her continue, "I've said everything that should be said. I got tired of staying in the clan and came out for a walk, and just happened to arrive here. There's no scheme to speak of. There's nothing in the entire Xiao Clan that can catch my eye."

"Including that broken piece of jade your Gu Clan keeps yearning for day and night."

"The road to the absolute peak is long. How could it be changed by one broken piece of jade?"

"If I had to say there is something I'm interested in, then it would only be Xiao Yan."

"You really...!"

Xiao Xun'er widened her beautiful eyes. The shock on her Pretty Face and the anger of someone whose bottom line had been touched were not concealed in the slightest, as if compared with Yao Wan coveting that piece of ancient jade currently in the Xiao Clan, Yao Wan being interested in Xiao Yan made her even angrier.

"If you dare touch a single hair on Xiao Yan Gege, I will—"

"What will you do?"

Yao Wan cut Xiao Xun'er off.

"Xiao Yan now eats what is mine and uses what is mine. The resources are mine, and the opportunities are also what I gave him. Have I mistreated him in any way?"

"No matter how you put it... that's still better than someone who only shouts with her mouth, wouldn't you say, Xun'er Guniang?"