A Night Visit to Her Bedchamber

"Young Leader Mu Li, it seems your Third Leader has lost!"

Yan Qingshan stood with his hands behind his back, utterly at ease, as though he had merely done something trivial. In truth, it really was trivial to him.

Herman, a Peak Seven-star Dou Practitioner, was considered a major figure in Qingshan Town, but he was utterly insignificant before the current Yan Qingshan.

Herman's highest attribute was only close to 2.5. That was already rather impressive among Seven-star Dou Practitioners cultivating a Yellow-tier High-grade Cultivation Technique, but even his strongest defense was useless before Yan Qingshan's power.

Having defeated Herman, who could be considered one of Qingshan Town's stronger figures, with a mere test of his abilities, Yan Qingshan now had a clearer understanding of his own strength.

Why were high-tier cultivation techniques and Dou Skills so sought after? The ability to fight across ranks was one reason. Who did not want to be invincible among those of the same rank?

Since Seven-star Dou Practitioner Herman had been effortlessly defeated by Yan Qingshan, there should not have been any Dou Zhe in all of Qingshan Town capable of threatening him. What he needed to watch out for now were the few Dou Master experts in town.

But even against a Dou Master, he could leave at any time with the Purple Cloud Wings and had nothing to fear. That was precisely why he had displayed his strength—he felt that he could now step into the public eye.

"Physician Yan, it seems your teachings run deep. You can actually cultivate a high-grade technique. I imagine that makes you unique in all of Qingshan Town!"

Mu Li stared coldly at Yan Qingshan. His strength might have been lacking, but his insight was not. Although Yan Qingshan's methods had been concealed just now, no one present was an idiot.

To defeat Herman so easily, either Yan Qingshan's cultivation far surpassed Herman's and had reached the Dou Master level, or his cultivation technique and Dou Skills were of a higher grade. Judging from Yan Qingshan's aura, the former was clearly unlikely. That left only the latter explanation.

As Mu Li's words fell, countless gazes immediately locked onto Yan Qingshan. High-grade cultivation techniques—techniques above the Yellow tier—were things everyone in Qingshan Town endlessly coveted.

Mu Li had deliberately said that with ill intent, clearly seeking to make trouble for Yan Qingshan. But since Yan Qingshan had chosen to step forward, he had considered the consequences. He could not hide forever, after all. He needed to display his strength appropriately.

"Young Leader Mu Li, is your Wolf Head planning to go back on its word?"

Rather than answer Mu Li, Yan Qingshan gave a cold laugh and stirred the Dou Qi throughout his body. Deep azure Dou Qi shimmered as it gathered around his upper body.

A lion-headed beastly visage formed from condensed Dou Qi covered his face like a mask. Terrifying energy fluctuations gathered, ready to erupt, and everyone was seized by fear, instinctively backing away.

"This time, Wolf Head admits defeat. The green hills remain, and the rivers still flow. We will meet again!"

Mu Li's legs trembled and his throat went dry, but he barely maintained his composure. Facing Yan Qingshan at this moment, he recalled confronting his enraged father, that Dou Master expert. Though the two appeared entirely different, that vast, abyssal aura that made him unable to feel fear caused him to follow his heart.

"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and take Uncle Herman and me away!"

After admitting defeat, Mu Li shouted at his subordinates. Only then did the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's thirty elite members come to their senses, carrying Mu Li and Herman away separately.

Once the Wolf Head Mercenary Group left, the fervent gazes around them cooled somewhat. Mercenaries who lived by the blade were not fools. Even the Wolf Head Mercenary Group had admitted defeat—was this someone they could provoke? High-grade techniques were good, but they needed to live long enough to take them.

Mang Ba came to Yan Qingshan's side and whispered a few words before patting his shoulder and leaving. "Qingshan, Mu She of Wolf Head has an overbearing temperament, and you possess a high-grade cultivation technique.

"I'm afraid he will not let this matter rest so easily. Be careful yourself. There are too many bastards in Qingshan Town. You should leave for a while and avoid the storm..."

Yan Qingshan watched Mang Ba's receding figure and sighed, knowing that he was deliberately distancing himself to avoid causing trouble for either side.

"Qingshan, I never expected you to have such a fortunate opportunity. A high-grade cultivation technique..."

Another voice sounded beside Yan Qingshan. Boss Yao was smiling so broadly that the eyes on his fat face had nearly narrowed into slits, his expression brimming with warmth.

Yan Qingshan turned and smiled. "Boss, if I remember correctly, you have the Fire Attribute, while mine is the Wood Attribute. There is quite a significant difference between high-grade techniques of different attributes, isn't there?"

"Yes, yes, quite significant..."

Boss Yao glanced at the hand that had somehow landed on his shoulder. The fat on his smiling face quivered, and he seemed even more enthusiastic.

Yan Qingshan withdrew his hand and stretched lazily. "I'll leave things here for you to handle, Boss. I've only just returned, and I'm a little tired."

"Xian'er!"

Yan Qingshan walked past Boss Yao to Xiao Yi Xian's side. His finger lightly hooked her smooth, delicate palm, and when she turned to him, he bent down and whispered a few words into her ear.

After hearing him out, Xiao Yi Xian's gentle little face instantly flushed scarlet. She looked up at the grinning Yan Qingshan, then ran off with a red face.

Yan Qingshan watched Xiao Yi Xian's lovely departing figure with a smile, in an excellent mood. With both hands clasped behind his head, he strolled leisurely away from the square toward the rear courtyard.

Boss Yao turned around and looked at the handprint on his shoulder. A dark gleam flickered in his eyes. "That little bastard has truly grown into something. But he is right too. Wood Attribute... why did it have to be the Wood Attribute... sigh..."

Late at night, in the rear courtyard of Myriad Medicine Hall.

Xiao Yi Xian was alone in her room. Feeling uneasy all over after dinner, she had returned early, but the more she thought of Yan Qingshan's earlier words, the more restless she became.

"Brother Yan really is something else. If he has something to say... why does he have to say it in my room... and at night too... asking me to leave the door open for him..."

The more Xiao Yi Xian thought about it, the more embarrassed she became. Her heart pounded like a startled deer. She did have a favorable impression of Yan Qingshan and did not mind some intimate gestures with him, but that sort of thing... it felt too soon. Besides, she was not ready.

"Brother Yan is not that kind of person. How could I think that way about him... Maybe he really does have something important to discuss... But if it is important, can't he say it outside? Why must it be in my room, and... at night..."

Xiao Yi Xian's thoughts ran wild, her face becoming increasingly rosy and beautiful under the candlelight. Just as she sat there distracted and flustered, someone knocked twice on the door. She turned her head, and the unlatched door was pushed open from outside.

"Brother Qingshan!"

Xiao Yi Xian watched Yan Qingshan turn around, shut the door, and lock it. She stood up, lowered her head, and twisted her fingers together as she timidly asked, "It's so late. What is it that you want to see Xian'er about?"

"Xian'er, what's wrong with you?"

Yan Qingshan looked rather puzzled at Xiao Yi Xian, who resembled a timid little rabbit. After smiling, he walked inside and sat directly on the young woman's bed. He patted the empty space beside him. "Come, sit here. We can talk slowly."

"Ah! This, this..."

Xiao Yi Xian stared at Yan Qingshan, who had gone straight into the inner room and sat on her bed. Her mind went blank for a few seconds. Her little heart pounded so hard it trembled, and even her gaze grew unfocused. "Th-this, this..."

Xiao Yi Xian stammered for quite some time without reaching a conclusion. She truly did not know whether she should refuse or halfheartedly go along with him.

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian like this, a strange, mischievous smile appeared at the corner of Yan Qingshan's mouth. He stood, walked over, took the stiffened girl's hand, and helped her onto the bed. His left hand held and played with her small hand while his right arm wrapped around her shoulders.

Xiao Yi Xian's room was not large. It was divided into front and inner sections by a screen. The furnishings were ordinary, but they had been carefully arranged, giving the whole room a warm, pale-white tone.

The bed was soft. That was Yan Qingshan's first impression after sitting on it. There was also a faint fragrance around it, similar to the scent on the girl herself. He did not know whether it came from scented powder or her natural body fragrance.

Xiao Yi Xian sat on her familiar soft bed, yet she was indescribably nervous. Her entire body was almost taut, but she lowered her head and allowed Yan Qingshan to handle her without putting up any meaningful resistance.

"Xian'er!"

At Yan Qingshan's call, Xiao Yi Xian slightly raised her delicate head. Her gentle, beautiful face wore a dazed and shy expression, too timid to meet his eyes. Yan Qingshan chuckled softly and leaned closer, whispering into her ear, "Will you promise Brother one thing?"

"This, this..."

Of course Xiao Yi Xian hesitated. In this situation, even the most clueless girl would make certain associations. Usually decisive, she now became hesitant.

Yan Qingshan spoke sweet words, using many things he had only heard in his previous life but never put into practice on this gentle little girl before him, who did not know how to refuse him. "Just promise Brother. Don't worry, Brother will take responsibility for you and treat you well, Xian'er..."

In his previous life, Yan Qingshan had not been particularly successful or unsuccessful—just an ordinary, average person. Of course, with the Shuguang Superbrain, no matter how ordinary he was, he still possessed theoretical knowledge.

When it came to romance, younger girls were easier to deceive. A naive girl of twelve or thirteen who did not live in an age of information overload could even be tricked into giving up her first kiss with a lollipop.

Girls at different ages had different standards of beauty and different types of people they liked. Middle school girls were more likely to develop feelings for boys who studied well, but by high school, they would become interested in cheerful boys who were good at sports.

Xiao Yi Xian was not even thirteen yet. Top students naturally had genuine common topics to discuss, and Yan Qingshan had used this point to gradually get close to her. Their relationship had also become easier to deepen while he recovered from his injuries. Back and forth, they had grown familiar.

With someone deliberately cultivating things, creating small ambiguities that could be misunderstood but were easy to accept, along with thoughtful care and meticulous concern, Xiao Yi Xian had gradually fallen into his palm. Now, she had nowhere left to escape.

Throughout this process, Shuguang had provided Yan Qingshan with precise data. Even genuinely considerate couples found it difficult to remember every habit, preference, and characteristic of their lover, always overlooking small details. But Shuguang ensured that Yan Qingshan remembered every tiny one of her habits.