Big Talk Feels Great in the Moment

Without even showing his token, Chen Guan walked out of the training area.

Over the past month, he had spent ninety-five percent of his time in bitter cultivation. Excluding trivial matters like eating and drinking, he had given the remaining five percent to Little Princess Yaoyue.

Ever since they had become familiar that time, she would occasionally come over to play with him. The two of them had practically toured the entire Imperial Palace.

As for outside the Imperial Palace, Yaoye did not allow it for the time being.

Chen Guan understood and cooperated with this restriction.

After all, without exaggeration, his talent was quite astonishing within the Jia Ma Empire. If someone with ill intent noticed it, they might very well take desperate measures to eliminate him.

The Chu Yun Empire mentioned in the suicide note was proof of that.

And the Misty Cloud Sect had done something similar in the Original Work.

So it was better not to wander around outside unnecessarily. It was good for her and good for him. At the very least, they should not take risks in the short term.

Standing atop the city wall, Chen Guan and Yaoye watched the scene below side by side.

"You finally decided to come out. Cultivation isn't something that can be rushed overnight. You should get out more often. Maybe once you relax, your bottleneck will suddenly break through. So, how were your results this month?"

Yaoye asked with concern.

Chen Guan nodded and replied, "So-so. Four-Star Dou Practitioner."

Yaoye, who had still been making some small actions beside him, instantly fell silent. Countless complaints surged through her heart, desperate to be voiced, but seeing the young man's utterly casual expression—as though it was something anyone with hands could do—she silently rephrased the words at the tip of her tongue.

If I act too shocked, won't I seem like an ignorant older sister?

"Mm, pretty good. You should continue your bitter cultivation."

I really want to take back what I said earlier. I'm not worthy of giving guidance to a monster like this. Chen Guan was amused by the change in her expression. "Sister Yaoye, you should smile more often. Keeping a straight face all day isn't good. Yue'er says she's a little scared of you."

Yaoye shot him a slightly seductive glare and said irritably, "Do you think I want to? But in my position, I have to establish authority. Either Yue'er or I has to shoulder this responsibility. We can't possibly let that little girl take it on."

"Forget it, let's not talk about such annoying matters. Anyway, your sister has invested her future in you. Once you become a Dou Emperor, or even a Dou Zong in the future, all my pressure will disappear. So just cultivate in peace. If you run out of resources, tell me. Don't feel embarrassed about it."

"Haha, then I'd better work hard. Otherwise, if Sister Yaoye's investment goes completely down the drain someday, wouldn't I be guilty beyond redemption?"

"That won't happen. At most, I'll sell you to the Snake People Race. Those snakewomen really like little boys like you."

"Are you sure that's a punishment rather than a reward?"

"Hm? Little Chen, your thoughts are very dangerous."

Yaoye reached out to twist Chen Guan's ear, putting on a fierce expression. They really did feel like biological siblings now.

Chen Guan did not dare fight back either. Being inferior in skill, he could only dodge everywhere.

After fooling around for a while, the war without smoke ended with Yaoye's victory. She held her head high like a triumphant female general returning from battle.

"Enough playing. Let's talk business. Half a month from now will be our royal family's annual Autumn Hunt. Do you want to participate? I can get you a spot."

"Autumn Hunt? Isn't that just a game for those Young Masters and Young Ladies in the imperial capital? What does it have to do with me?"

Chen Guan was somewhat puzzled.

Yaoyue had mentioned this to him a few days ago. Even that little girl regarded the Autumn Hunt with disdain, so he was even less interested.

"That was true in previous years, but this time is different. Last year, Yun Yun, the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, emerged from the Gate of Life and Death and succeeded to the position of Sect Master Yun. Nalan Su intends for his precious daughter to become Yun Yun's disciple. Yun Yun didn't agree immediately, saying she wanted to observe her for a while. This Autumn Hunt is the final test."

"If you participate, then with your strength as a Four-Star Dou Practitioner, competing against a group of children still at the Dou Qi stage, you won't even need to show your full strength. Thirty percent will be enough to take first place. Your performance will surely catch Yun Yun and the others' attention then. Perhaps she might even take you as her disciple."

"You can prevent the Nalan Family from getting closer to the Misty Cloud Sect while also finding yourself a good teacher. Killing two birds with one stone—what a bargain."

"Aren't you afraid I'll really throw myself into the Misty Cloud Sect's embrace? What if I turn around and stab you in the back, leaving you with nothing?" Chen Guan replied speechlessly.

It was a very good plan, and it indeed had a chance of succeeding.

But was the royal family not being too trusting of him? Were they really that certain he would not repay kindness with betrayal?

Moreover, based on what he knew, even if he performed better than Nalan Yanran, the most likely outcome would still be Yun Yun accepting them both.

After all, Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran had gotten along very well in the Original Work.

"I can arrange a reasonable identity for you to infiltrate the Misty Cloud Sect, so you don't need to worry about safety. As for stabbing your sister in the back, hmph, I'll stand right in front of you. Would you dare stab me from the front?"

Well, Yaoye was truly confident.

Chen Guan stopped joking and seriously weighed the pros and cons.

Becoming Yun Yun's disciple would not only let him enjoy both the Misty Cloud Sect's and the royal family's resources, but he could also get close to her first. Maybe he could win over Sect Master Yun, bring the beauty home, fulfill his dream of riding his master and scorning his ancestor, and gain a little junior sister as well. The master-and-disciple achievement would be within reach. There were so many benefits that the thought was genuinely exciting.

Unfortunately, Chen Guan still chose to refuse.

The fact that no suicide note had arrived meant this was not a life-or-death question, but no danger to his life did not mean no danger at all.

Undercover agents and schemers never ended well. Had he never watched Infernal Affairs?

Besides, he knew himself very well.

He did not like being restrained. If he spent years together with Yun Yun as master and disciple and developed special feelings for her, then with the royal family on one side and the Misty Cloud Sect on the other, how was he supposed to choose? Wouldn't that just be making trouble for himself? As for resources, the royal family could supply him with more than enough. Joining the Misty Cloud Sect would bring him very few benefits at his current stage.

"No, no, Sister Yaoye. My heart isn't cold enough yet. I can't withstand the test of such a stunning beauty. If I go, I really won't be able to come back. And you don't need to worry too much about the Misty Cloud Sect. Give me ten years, and I'll steal Yun Yun away. I'll have them package the Misty Cloud Sect up as part of her dowry and take it all. Wouldn't that solve every problem?"

"You're not very old, but you've got plenty of wicked thoughts. Fine, I'll wait for that day. If you can really do it, then on your wedding night, your sister will help push your butt."

"Cough, cough. Sis, elegance. Elegance."

That sudden wager frightened Chen Guan into fleeing in disarray.

Who would have believed that such crude words had come from Yaoye, the First Princess of the Jia Ma Empire? Chen Guan's fixed impression of her had nearly been overturned.

But it also showed that Yaoye truly believed this was impossible, which was why she dared make such a harsh promise.

Chen Guan's long-dormant rebellious streak suddenly flared up. He refused to believe it was really that difficult.

Though if he actually succeeded, wouldn't the situation be rather awkward?