The Xiao Clan Welcomes Its Benefactor!

A Quarter Hour later.

Nalan Yanran appeared outside Falling Immortal Stream.

She could not help but look back, her face full of grievance as she muttered, "Three years from now, I will definitely win. Su Qingyun, when that time comes, I will make you fall completely in love with me!"

Within Falling Immortal Stream, when she proposed an additional wager to the Three-Year Agreement, not only Xiao Yan, but also Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Clan elders, Xiao Xun'er... all condemned her.

Yet in the end, Su Qingyun still agreed to her request.

This rekindled hope in Nalan Yanran's heart. He must still have feelings for me!

Three years from now, once she defeated Xiao Yan and became the finest young woman in the Jia Ma Empire, she would surely win over that Banished Immortal-like youth, and the two of them would be Happily Married! Among the Misty Cloud Sect's many Heaven's Chosen, she had never felt the slightest interest in any of them.

She had never liked a man this much before. She had only looked at him once, yet she already wanted to privately pledge herself to him for life. She did not want to be this hopeless, but her heart—her body—simply could not help it! She could not restrain herself! I have to win him over! "Return to the sect. I need to convince Teacher to support me and put me through brutal training. Three years from now, I'll crush him!"

"And as for Brother Qingyun, I hope you keep your mouths shut. If I hear even the slightest word about him in the sect, I will never forgive you!"

Nalan Yanran glanced at Ge Ye and Yun Chuan, who had accompanied her, her resolve firm.

"Outrageous!"

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

"Brother Qingyun, why did you agree to her?"

"What gives her the right? Brother Qingyun, you already said you had no interest in her and did not want to get involved in their marriage, yet she still wanted to use your marriage as a wager!"

"She even dared to use her sect to intimidate us! As if we don't have anyone backing us either!"

"Brother Qingyun, you don't really want to marry her, do you?"

Inside Falling Immortal Stream, even the normally gentle and obedient Xun'er had been angered to the point of overheating.

Xiao Yan was also filled with guilt as he apologized, "Brother Qingyun, I'm sorry. I dragged you into this."

Su Qingyun merely smiled calmly and said lightly, "Of course not. Xun'er, don't worry."

"I believe in you. Three years from now, you will definitely defeat her."

"I... I really can?"

Xiao Yan froze. Brother Qingyun had placed himself into the wager, entrusting his lifelong happiness to him.

How weighty was that trust! Tears immediately welled in Xiao Yan's eyes. He nodded solemnly. "Brother Qingyun, over these next three years, I will cultivate diligently and do everything I can to grow stronger. Three years from now, I will definitely defeat her!"

Seeing Su Qingyun's gentle, reassuring gaze and his calm demeanor, Xun'er took a deep breath and calmed down as well, comforting herself inwardly: It's fine, Xun'er. Stay calm. Even if Xiao Yan loses, it's fine. At worst, I'll return to the clan then and send several guards to the Misty Cloud Sect to snatch him away! Little did she know that Su Qingyun had already worked it all out.

With Old Ya's help, Xiao Yan was certain to win three years from now. Besides, he now also had himself, someone who knew the plot.

And besides, by then, his own strength should not be weak either, right? Beneath Su Qingyun's calm exterior was also a heart that yearned to grow stronger.

He knew full well that although he possessed an Unparalleled in the World handsome face and the temperament of a Banished Immortal descended to the mortal realm, such qualities were enough to make any woman who saw him fall for him—some might even try to forcibly take him.

If he truly wanted control over his own freedom and life, he had to become stronger!

Making marriage the wager had been Nalan Yanran's demand.

But Su Qingyun also had a condition: after Nalan Yanran returned to the Misty Cloud Sect, she was not to tell outsiders about what happened at Falling Immortal Stream, including the existence of Su Qingyun himself.

Otherwise, if Nalan Yanran, Ge Ye, and Yun Chuan summoned Misty Cloud Sect experts to search for him and resorted to forceful methods, it would become a Major Event.

Xiao Yan needed time to grow, and so did he!...

"Young Master Qingyun, you have truly done too much for my Yan'er. As Yan'er's father, I, Xiao Zhan, am deeply grateful to you."

Xiao Zhan finally understood why Yan'er had initially been so hesitant after his realm plummeted three years ago, only to suddenly become calm afterward. There was an eighty to ninety percent chance that it had been thanks to this Banished Immortal-like youth, Su Qingyun.

Regardless of what use he might be to the Xiao Clan, at the very least, he had shown kindness to Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.

Xiao Zhan deeply bowed to Su Qingyun.

Su Qingyun hurried forward to help him up, smiling faintly. "Clan Head Xiao, you flatter me. Little Yan has also helped me greatly these past few years. Since we are friends, there is no need for thanks."

"Besides, Xiao Yan truly has the potential to become strong. A temporary low point means nothing. I believe he will rise again soon, and may even become the shield protecting the entire Xiao Clan in the future."

Upon hearing this, two streams of tears actually flowed from Xiao Zhan's weathered old eyes. He had not expected that Su Qingyun not only possessed the natural bearing of a Banished Immortal, with peerless looks and temperament, but was also such a good person.

Ever since Xiao Yan's realm had begun to fall, he had heard almost nothing but mockery and ridicule. It had been a long time since he had heard such kind words.

Yan'er, you truly are incredibly fortunate to have gained such a friend!

It was not only Xiao Zhan. Even the Xiao Clan's Great Elder and Third Elder looked at Xiao Yan in astonishment, their hearts full of confusion. Xiao Yan had received such praise? It was simply unbelievable. Could he truly have a chance to rise again? Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was deeply moved. So Brother Qingyun thinks so highly of me, yet my realm has fallen again and again. How can I possibly face Brother Qingyun?

The Three-Year Agreement... I must win!

"Xiao Zhan begs your pardon. I have heard that a mysterious expert resides in seclusion within Falling Immortal Stream. Whoever that expert may be, I would like to invite Young Master Qingyun to the Xiao Clan. You have shown my Yan'er great kindness. I, Xiao Zhan, would like to play host and hold a banquet for you. I hope you will not refuse."

"From this day forward, you are my, Xiao Zhan's, benefactor. If there is ever anything the Xiao Clan can help with, Xiao Zhan will not hesitate. We will surely offer our full support!"

Xiao Zhan sighed. Such a youth, such trust—if he did not show some sincerity, it truly would not be right.

For once, the Xiao Clan's Great Elder and Third Elder did not oppose Xiao Zhan. They were not fools! Xiao Zhan's son had not shown much promise before, making it difficult for him to win them over. But Su Qingyun was different. One glance was enough to tell that he was no ordinary person! Naturally, he had to be treated well! At that moment, they bowed in unison and said:

"The Xiao Clan welcomes Young Master! From this day onward, Young Master shall be the Xiao Clan's benefactor!"

Xiao Zhan felt uneasy. If anyone in Wu Tan City received such an invitation from them, they would probably go eagerly and excitedly.

But when facing this Peerless Young Man, Xiao Zhan had no confidence at all.

The Banished Immortal-like youth smiled warmly and helped the Xiao Clan's elders up:

"I wouldn't dare presume to be called a benefactor. Since you are all Xiao Yan's elders, just call me Qingyun from now on."

"However, there is indeed something I need your help with."

"Xiao Yan is Xiao Yan, but as for me, Xiao Zhan will call you my benefactor from now on. If you need anything, please say the word. The Xiao Clan will spare no effort to help!"

"It isn't any Major Event. I simply need to borrow some of the Xiao Clan's territory—some mountains and rivers Blessed by Nature."

Su Qingyun spoke calmly.

At his words, Xiao Zhan's tense body immediately relaxed. Smiling, he said, "Benefactor, more than a third of Wu Tan City falls under the Xiao Clan's jurisdiction. So long as it belongs to the Xiao Clan, you may go wherever you wish and use whatever you need. But what do you need these mountains for? To plant flowers, herbs, or fruit trees?"

Su Qingyun shook his head and said only two words: "Cultivation."