Memories Didn't Match Up!

In a certain version of his previous life, Yun Shan, the former sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, had worked with Soul Hall Vulture Protector to secretly train assassins and help him hunt down alchemists within the Jia Ma Empire.

Many NPCs with close ties to Players had fallen victim, arousing public outrage.

After the matter was exposed, the major NPC factions of the Jia Ma Empire joined forces with the Players to resist the Misty Cloud Sect.

And Nalan Yanran had stood with the Misty Cloud Sect.

Yang Shan had even been killed by Nalan Yanran several times.

Others might not recognize Nalan Yanran, but Yang Shan definitely would not mistake her.

"Without the Xiao Family's broken-engagement plot, shouldn't Nalan Yanran be at the Nalan Family in Gama Holy City or at the Misty Cloud Sect right now? Why did she come all the way to Cloud Frost City?"

Yang Shan remembered it clearly.

In his previous life, Nalan Yanran was supposed to have begun appearing publicly only after Version 1.2 launched, when the three great families of Gama Holy City, the Alchemist Guild, and the Misty Cloud Sect opened faction slots.

What was happening now did not match his memories at all!

After riding up in pursuit, Nalan Yanran flipped off her horse.

The black steed then neighed and turned into a streak of white light, disappearing into the token at Nalan Yanran's waist.

This steed was no ordinary mount. It was called an Ink Treading Colt, an exceptionally rare second-tier mount!

It had no other particular talents except speed.

That was how it had managed to catch up with a peak second-tier, King of Beasts-class Fire Cloud Leopard.

The moment she dismounted, Nalan Yanran engaged the Fire Cloud Leopard in battle.

A layer of azure qi aura covered Nalan Yanran's body.

This was the hallmark of a Dou Shi: Dou Qi Gauze!

Judging by how solid Nalan Yanran's Dou Qi Gauze was, she was at least a five-star Dou Shi! Although there was still quite a gap between her level and the Fire Cloud Leopard's, Nalan Yanran was a Wind Attribute cultivator.

The longsword in her hand was clearly several grades better than Yang Shan's Refined Frost Blade.

And she also possessed the Misty Cloud Sect's profound inherited Dou Techniques.

For a time, she actually fought the Fire Cloud Leopard to a standstill.

Moreover, thanks to her Wind Attribute movement technique, Nalan Yanran was actually faster than the Fire Cloud Leopard! In the game, Nalan Yanran's character settings still followed the original novel.

She was a genuine cultivation prodigy.

At the Da Dou Shi stage, she could even trade blows with the protagonist Xiao Yan, who possessed the Green Lotus Core Flame!

The Fire Cloud Leopard's combat power already surpassed that of an ordinary low-star Da Dou Shi, yet Nalan Yanran was challenging an opponent above her level! After the two remained deadlocked for a long while, the Fire Cloud Leopard even gradually began to lose ground.

If nothing unexpected had happened, the wound on the Fire Cloud Leopard's waist had likely been Nalan Yanran's doing.

But the Fire Cloud Leopard was, after all, a King of Beasts.

Seeing that it could not defeat Nalan Yanran, blazing flames erupted across its body.

Nalan Yanran did not dare approach rashly either.

The flames exploded outward from the Fire Cloud Leopard, and Nalan Yanran quickly retreated.

At the same time, she used her Dou Qi Gauze to resist the residual waves of fire.

The Fire Cloud Leopard's figure was already gradually vanishing into the distance.

It ran away far faster than Yang Shan had earlier.

In the face of death, the aura of a King of Beasts was worth jack shit.

The Fire Cloud Leopard clearly understood that very well.

Nalan Yanran stomped her foot where she stood.

"Damn it! The Fire Cloud Leopard really is troublesome."

Only then did Nalan Yanran have the mind to turn back and assess Yang Shan, Chao Bafang, and Wang Tianhao.

Nalan Yanran sheathed her sword and said calmly, "You suffered this undeserved disaster because of me. However, I still have important matters to attend to. In one day, I will be at the Floating Cloud Inn in Cloud Frost City. You may come find me for compensation. Remember to give my name to the innkeeper: Nalan Yanran!"

Though Nalan Yanran was arrogant and highly self-centered in her actions, she was at least reasonable.

That was why she had taken the initiative to offer compensation.

Yang Shan immediately received a system notification:

Ding! The Player has triggered a special event. In one day, you may go to the Floating Cloud Inn and seek compensation from "Nalan Yanran."

Note: If the Player communicates appropriately while claiming compensation, there is a chance of gaining favorability.

Wang Tianhao was so excited that he did not even know where he had tossed his sword. "Nalan Yanran! You're Nalan Yanran!"

Nalan Yanran glanced at Wang Tianhao. "You know me?"

Wang Tianhao answered with absolute certainty, "I do!"

Any Player who played Battle Through the Heavens, even if they had never read the original novel before, would surely have crammed it before the game launched.

Who would not know the instigator behind the line spoken by the original protagonist Xiao Yan: "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Never mock the poor youth"? Nalan Yanran's expression became slightly more serious.

"May I ask this young hero's name and which faction you come from?"

"My name is Wang Tianhao. I'm from... the Pang Family."

"The Pang Family."

Nalan Yanran's seriousness vanished, and she blandly said one word, "Oh."

Wang Tianhao: "..."

Chao Bafang nearly laughed himself to tears at the sight.

The Pang Family was indeed one of the top powers in Cloud Frost City.

But what was Nalan Yanran's status? She was the personal disciple of Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect's leader.

And the treasured daughter of the Nalan Family, one of the Jia Ma Empire's three great families! Nalan Yanran had probably thought Wang Tianhao came from some major power earlier, which was why she had asked him a few extra questions.

What the hell was the Pang Family worth! Nalan Yanran could not even be bothered to spare Wang Tianhao another glance. She took out her token and summoned the Ink Treading Colt again.

Chao Bafang egged Yang Shan on from beside him. "Great God, aren't you going over to strike up a conversation?"

Yang Shan asked, "Why don't you go?"

Chao Bafang said, "I'm a little shy."

Yang Shan said, "I'd probably get the same result as Wang Tianhao if I went over there—making a fool of myself. Besides, I already took out the system camera and snapped several hundred pictures. Later, I'll pick a few good angles and post them on the forum to bait replies from horny bastards."

Chao Bafang said, "WTF! Great God, your reaction was seriously fast!"

"Keep it down!"

Yang Shan deliberately pretended to have a stomachache and squatted down.

After all, Nalan Yanran was wearing a skirt today!

Nalan Yanran lifted one leg and mounted her horse in a smooth motion.

From his absurd angle on the ground, Yang Shan snapped away furiously.

"Hyah! Hyah!"

Nalan Yanran left.

And she took Wang Tianhao's heart with her.

Wang Tianhao had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He had never encountered a woman who would not even give him a proper look.

Yet today, he had been ignored by an NPC! Nalan Yanran had completely stirred up Wang Tianhao's desire to conquer. "The woman even Xiao Yan failed to win over—if I, Wang Tianhao, can win her over..."

Wang Tianhao was still recalling Nalan Yanran's valiant figure, unaware that behind him, Yang Shan was already sharpening his blade for the slaughter.

By the time Wang Tianhao reacted, Yang Shan had already raised his sword.

Wang Tianhao cursed, "Fuck! What are you doing?"

Yang Shan replied calmly, "Finishing what needs to be done."

Although a minor accident had occurred, Yang Shan had no intention of kindly letting Wang Tianhao off.

It would be useless to spare him anyway. The grudge had already been formed.

He would cut him down first and talk later.

What if Wang Tianhao dropped some equipment too?

Wang Tianhao truly had no gaming skills at all. He had probably relied entirely on stat crushing in the past.

He could not even dodge a single strike from Yang Shan.

Wang Tianhao fell to the ground and turned into a streak of white light.

A piece of inner armor was left behind on the ground.

Standard Inner Armor

Quality: Common (Blue)

Defense: 15
Durability: 40/40

Yang Shan happened to be lacking inner armor, so he immediately equipped it without a word, all while sighing, "What a kind-hearted person."

Chao Bafang swiftly gathered the drops from Wang Tianhao's group of lackeys.

There were six pieces in total, all standard equipment bearing Green Word Seals.

The NPC shop price was eighty Spirit Stones.

Players only received one hundred Spirit Stones in starting capital when leaving the Novice Realm, so just putting together a full set of ordinary equipment with Green Word Seals required grinding in the game for several days.

Once they returned to Cloud Frost City, these items would definitely sell fast if listed at a twenty-percent discount! Just as Yang Shan was about to say something, Chao Bafang hurriedly cut in, "Great God, no, I don't want anything. I haven't even paid you for the Man Bull Root yet!"

Yang Shan asked, "You want to repay the favor you owe me?"

Yang Shan did not stand on ceremony with Chao Bafang. "Fine, but I can't let you help for nothing either. Come on, let's head back to the city first. I'll take you to the Mitier branch!"