Farewell

...She did not know the exact time, but roughly a year ago, a different kind of woman had come to the Xiao Clan.

That woman's Soul Power was extraordinarily formidable. Though her cultivation was only at Dou Wang, even Ling Lao could not conveniently make a move against her.

If that were all, it would have been one thing. Who would have thought this woman would actually set her sights on Xiao Yan Gege?

If she had not refrained from doing anything harmful to Xiao Yan Gege all this time, then no matter what, Xiao Xun'er would have driven her away.

But...

Xiao Yan Gege had only grown closer and closer to her.

Every few days, Xiao Yan Gege would go looking for her, and their relationship became better by the day.

By now, Xiao Yan Gege's cultivation talent had recovered, and she seemed to have played a part in pushing things along from behind the scenes as well.

What was this person thinking? She was clearly, at the very least, a top-tier genius among the Eight Clans, so why would she wander outside alone, and even come all the way to a remote place like the Gama Empire?

Even after interacting with her, Xiao Xun'er had not been able to gain any advantage.

Damn it...

Why exactly was this...?

Knock, knock, knock.

Outside the door, a familiar knocking sound suddenly rang out.

Joy rose in Xiao Xun'er's heart, and she hurriedly turned to open the door.

"Xiao Yan Gege, I knew it was you..."

Seeing the one she loved appear, a brilliant smile bloomed on Xun'er's pretty face. But very quickly, after she carefully looked Xiao Yan up and down and took in his clothes, a faint sense of foreboding slowly rose in her heart.

Xiao Yan Gege usually dressed rather casually...

Why was he dressed so formally today?

All at once, an uneasy thought popped into Xiao Xun'er's mind.

Could it be that woman...

"Hi, Xun'er."

Xiao Yan smiled as he greeted Xun'er.

"Xiao Yan Gege, you're up so early... why did you suddenly think of coming to see Xun'er today?"

For some reason, Xiao Yan kept hearing a strange trace of resentment in Xun'er's words, as if she were blaming him for not taking the initiative to come see her for a long time.

"Hehe... I've been busy cultivating all this time... don't blame me, Xun'er."

Xiao Yan smiled apologetically, then spoke.

The slight frown in Xun'er's embroidered brows did not last long either, slowly easing afterward.

"Then did Xiao Yan Gege come to see Xun'er for something?"

"Did you come to take Xun'er out to play? Or do you want to ask Xun'er for help with something?"

Xiao Yan shook his head and laughed despite himself. "Unfortunately, neither..."

"I came this time to tell Xun'er that I'm going out to temper myself."

"What? Going out to temper yourself?! Is Xiao Yan Gege going alone?"

"No, that's too dangerous!"

Xun'er was stunned. Once she reacted, she refused without even thinking. "Although Xiao Yan Gege's talent is outstanding, right now you're still only at the Dou Zhe realm. Going out to temper yourself like this is too dangerous—"

"It's fine."

Xiao Yan waved his hand and said, "I have a friend coming with me. Xun'er doesn't need to worry."

"A friend? Could you be talking about that Wan Guniang in the guest room?"

Xun'er pursed her lips. Now that woman really was getting involved in everything...

Xiao Yan more or less realized that Xun'er did not seem to like Wan Guniang very much, so he said nothing more and took it as tacit admission.

"But Wan Guniang..."

"Wan Guniang is a Dou Wang expert. Could it be that she still can't protect me?"

Xiao Yan asked in return.

Xun'er could not refute him, and could only mutter, "That's hard to say..."

"All right, I know you're worried about me, but don't worry too much. Your Xiao Yan Gege isn't some idiot who doesn't understand anything. My mind is sharp enough."

Xiao Yan smiled helplessly, then rubbed Xun'er's head.

"Xiao Yan Gege... I'm serious...!"

But seeing Xiao Yan's expression, Xiao Xun'er immediately grew anxious, and both her hands grabbed Xiao Yan's wrist as she spoke urgently.

"And how am I not serious, Xun'er?"

Xiao Yan shook his head. His tone was gentle, but firm.

"Xiao Yan Gege... do you have to go?"

"Then you must promise Xun'er that you'll be careful and cautious in everything."

Seeing that Xiao Yan had already made up his mind to go and that she could not stop him, Xiao Xun'er, who had already failed to prevent Xiao Yan Gege from leaving before her eyes, could only endure the pain and settle for the next best thing.

Seeing Xun'er so serious, Xiao Yan could only nod lightly.

"Mm, I know."

"It's getting late too. Don't worry, I won't be gone too long. I'll be back before long."

"Mm."

For now, Xun'er could only believe that.

"But since I'm leaving, Xun'er, you have to take good care of yourself in the Xiao Clan."

"...What is Xiao Yan Gege saying? Xun'er has long been able to take good care of myself."

"..."

A series of quiet footsteps came over. Yao Wan walked into Xun'er's courtyard, but did not enter, leaving them their final bit of time alone together.

"All right, I'm leaving. Take care, Xun'er."

"Mm, Xiao Yan Gege too..."

Xun'er could only pretend to be relieved and nod, then watched helplessly as Xiao Yan followed that figure out of her little courtyard.

"..."

Only after the two had gone far away did an irrepressible trace of worry and resentment finally appear on Xun'er's pretty face.

"Miss..."

A wisp of black mist slowly appeared in Xun'er's field of vision.

"It's that woman again! What exactly does she want to do?! Does she still think she hasn't meddled enough?!"

Xun'er rarely grew angry, and nearly smashed the Tea Cup on the table.

But she still controlled herself.

"Miss seems to harbor no small hostility toward that woman of the Eight Clans whose origins are unclear."

An aged voice came from within the black mist.

"...Regarding her, has Ling Lao ever investigated clearly?"

Xun'er finally controlled the unwillingness in her heart and turned her head to ask.

"Is she from the Yan Clan or the Yao Clan?"

"There is no news from the Yan Clan. As for the Yao Clan... there are rumors that the peerless prodigy of this generation of the Yao Clan ran away from home long ago."

Ling Ying lowered his head. No wonder she could contend with him, a Dou Emperor, on Soul Power alone. Although the geniuses of the Eight Clans all had frighteningly high talent and aptitude, she was the first one with Soul Power this powerful.

"Ran away from home?"

Xun'er froze. If it really was her... then she truly had guts... daring to leave just like that at the Dou Wang realm.

"Is the news reliable?"

"The news is reliable. It's just that as for whether it is truly her, I'm afraid..."

Ling Ying hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.

"Forget it. Let's not talk about this. Then I'll have to trouble Ling Lao to make a trip."

"Please follow Xiao Yan Gege and that woman. When necessary, just protect Xiao Yan Gege."

Hearing this, Ling Ying could not help but let a bitter smile appear at the corner of his mouth.

Protecting a little Dou Zhe under the eyes of a soul body with extremely powerful Soul Power and a Dou Wang with a Heaven Realm Soul...

Miss's tasks truly were not that easy to complete.