If I Refuse to Fight, That Would Be Too Heartless!

As the commander of the Imperial Family Guard, it is only natural that Yao Ye possesses some special intelligence.

That's why Yao Ye knew that Nalan Yanran had been defeated by Yang Shan in Cloud Frost City.

Yao Ye was somewhat interested in Yang Shan.

That's why she was very polite when they first met, without any airs of a princess.

However, Yao Ye Ye's understanding of Yang Shan was limited to some intelligence and the fact that he had kicked Mu Zhan away at the Mitier Auction House last time.

If possible, Yao Ye would naturally like to have more contact with Yang Shan later.

However, one should only communicate in one's own capacity and must never represent the Imperial Family.

After all, in the Jia Ma Empire, the Imperial Family family undoubtedly holds the highest status! (Misty Cloud Sect, the former sect leader of the Yun Shan, hasn't appeared for many years, so the Misty Cloud Sect is nominally inferior to the Imperial Family.) But why is Nalan Yanran taking the initiative to come looking for her?

Didn't the intelligence report say that Nalan Yanran lost to Yang Shan in Cloud Frost City? Shouldn't the two have a very bad relationship? But judging from Nalan Yanran's words, Yang Shan just returned, and Nalan Yanran rushed over as soon as she received the news.

The reason was simply to treat Yang Shan to a meal?

The two sisters, Yao Ye and Yao Yue, secretly exchanged glances.

The two women's heads were buzzing.

This is Nalan Yanran!

The dream girl of all the Yunlan Sect Disciple! She usually seems to have no eyes for men.

Inviting a man to dinner? Has the world changed that fast? Yang Shan knew that he really should keep his promise about the meal.

"Miss Nalan, I just returned to the Gama Holy City, so I didn't have time."

Nalan Yanran looked cautiously at Yao Ye and Yao Yue.

Nalan Yanran knew all too well how strong Yang Shan was and how much potential he had in the future.

What brings Yao Ye and Yao Yue here? Sensing the apparent hostility in Nalan Yanran's eyes, Yao Ye wondered to herself, "Ya Fei is one thing, but Nalan Yanran's attitude is so Yang Shan. Is she really that mysterious?"

Yang Shan stood up and said:

"Your Highnesses, it seems I must take my leave now."

Yao Ye nodded slightly:

"Please make yourself at home, Young Master Yang."

Chao Bafang: "Great God, shall I... shall I see you off?"

Zhu Tianpeng pulled Chao Bafang back.

Although he didn't say anything, he sent a message in the group chat:

"Ba Fang, are you stupid?! Brother Yang is out picking up girls, what are you going to do? Be his bodyguard?"

Yang Shan casually replied, "You two should take good care of the Yao Ye Yao Yue sisters. You'll be living a wonderful life with the Imperial Family, but remember what I said: don't rashly agree to join the Imperial Family!"

Then, Yang Shan looked at Nalan Yanran and said with a faint smile, "This meal has indeed been delayed for a long time. To express my apologies, let me treat you."

Yang Shan could just walk away from a dinner party with the Imperial Family sisters, and Nalan Yanran couldn't hide her joy. "It's a promise that I'll treat, so come with me."

[Ding! Nalan Yanran's favorability +1, current favorability: 32.]

After Yang Shan and Nalan Yanran left, Yao Yue tugged at Yao Ye's hand and whispered, "Sister, why don't you keep him here and ask him? Aren't you curious?"

Yao Ye gently flicked Yao Yue's forehead:

"Sister, remember this: we are the direct descendants of the Imperial Family family and should maintain the dignity of the Imperial Family. Even if we need to make contact, we must not show any eagerness. In the Jia Ma Empire, who doesn't want to join the Imperial Family?"

Yao Yue: "Yes, some people like to join the Misty Cloud Sect."

Yao Ye: "."

As soon as Yang Shan left the restaurant, Chao Bafang sent a message in the group chat:

"Ah! My Great God! Yao Ye contacted me about something you did; she wants to invite you for tea! Ahhh!"

Needless to say, the final "Ah," if shouted out by himself in Chao Bafang, would sound utterly miserable and desolate.

Yang Shan replied:

"What's going on? Yao Ye and Yao Yue came to see you today on their own initiative, why are they targeting me again?"

Zhu Tianpeng: "Brother Yang, Ba Fang and I only have a dozen or so points of favorability with the Imperial Family sisters. It's mainly because these two princesses want us to join the Imperial Family, so we've been visiting them more often."

Yang Shan suddenly realized. "Oh, I see."

Nalan Yanran took the initiative to find Yang Shan when she only had a few points of favorability with him.

The purpose was also to recruit Yang Shan into the Nalan Family.

Therefore, an NPC's behavior is not always directly related to their favorability rating.

Zhu Tianpeng clearly knew more than Chao Bafang, because he didn't have much goodwill towards Hai Bodong at first.

Hai Bodong valued Zhu Tianpeng's talent and wanted to test whether he was qualified to receive his old friend's inheritance, so he took special care of Zhu Tianpeng.

Yang Shan: "You two can do what you want. I don't want to have any contact with the Imperial Family for the time being."

The Imperial Family certainly has good resources.

But you can't bite off more than you can chew.

In the Black-Corner Region, within the Mittel Family, Yang Shan was already busy enough.

Moreover, once Hai Bodong returns, the Mittel Family is destined to rise. As a business family, Mitier's resources will not be much worse than those of the Imperial Family in the future.

To get anything truly good from the Imperial Family, you'd have to at least raise your favorability with a high-ranking Imperial Family.

Let's not bother.

The Soul Hall smells so good! Yang Shan followed Nalan Yanran to a quiet courtyard.

Nalan Yanran introduced, "This is what my grandfather rewarded me with after I broke through to the Dou Ling."

Looking at the relatively quiet courtyard and the tea set on the stone table, Yang Shan asked:

"Isn't this for dinner?"

Nalan Yanran: "Of course we should eat, but Young Master Yang has just eaten and shouldn't be hungry right now. How about we have a spar to digest our food?"

Yang Shan could probably hear Nalan Yanran's scheme clearly even if he ran back to the Black-Corner Region.

Eating is just a pretense.

The real reason is that her hands are itching! After her defeat in Cloud Frost City last time, Nalan Yanran is no longer angry.

But she has a stubborn, never-give-up spirit.

Therefore, she cultivated even harder than before, determined to defeat Yang Shan once.

Otherwise, Nalan Yanran felt that no matter how many years passed, the knife held to her throat would forever be imprinted in her mind.

This is the pride that Nalan Yanran has built up since childhood.

It should be flawless like jade, without any cracks.

But Yang Shan's answer took Nalan Yanran by surprise:

"You arrived before I'd even eaten a few bites. I'm starving. Let's serve the food first. Miss Nalan's skills are truly impressive; I concede defeat."

What level is Nalan Yanran at now? Four-Star Dou Ling!

Golden Word Seal!

His combat strength is probably not much different from that of Fan Ling, whom I encountered in the Black-Corner Region.

Nalan Yanran is no longer the arrogant and spoiled little girl she once was in Cloud Frost City.

Given that Nalan Yanran was extremely cautious, the difficulty of defeating Nalan Yanran was self-evident.

Moreover, Yang Shan's initial strike was purely intended to get rid of Nalan Yanran.

But who would have thought the situation would develop to this point? That stab has probably become a mental demon for Nalan Yanran. If it isn't broken, Nalan Yanran's future cultivation path will likely be more difficult.

Do you think you can overcome your inner demons just by having a meal?

"What a joke! Yang Shan will absolutely not agree to fight Nalan Yanran again unless he brings out something good!" Nalan Yanran hesitated for a long time before asking:

"Last time in Cloud Frost City, I proposed a sparring match, and you agreed. Why are you disagreeing now?"

That's a good question!

"Good question!" Yang Shan had been waiting for Nalan Yanran to say this, "Last time? Last time was when we had a dispute, that was a bet, it's a completely different matter from a friendly spar."

Yang Shan waved his hand:

"Let's eat, I won't fight."

Nalan Yanran: "Young Master Yang"

"Then let's have another bet."

A gentle breeze suddenly arose in the courtyard.

Upon seeing the graceful figure suddenly appear in the courtyard, Nalan Yanran quickly bowed her head in greeting:

"Disciple greets Master!"

Dressed in a simple blue robe and skirt, she was graceful and charming.

She was as beautiful as a fairy, her expression serene and tranquil, as if she were untouched by worldly affairs.

Yang Shan glanced at it briefly before looking away, then clasped his hands in a respectful greeting. "Junior greets Sect Master Yun Yun!"

Yun Yun first raised her hand, using her Dou Qi qi to activate her soft strength, and helped Nalan Yanran up. Then she looked at Yang Shan and asked, "Is this the young man who defeated you with a single strike?"

Nalan Yanran: "Yes!"

Yang Shan: "Sect Master Yun Yun, I was just lucky with that strike back then."

"I know Yanran's strength. Although she was a bit too eager to achieve results, which resulted in her Dou Technique not being fully mastered, her Clear Wind Piercing Sword is not something that just anyone can break!"

Yun Yun's serene expression remained unchanged throughout her speech.

It seems that Nalan Yanran was quite happy to accept her failure.

Yun Yun took out a strange metal ore that looked like silver from her Storage Ring. Yang Shan could feel the thunderous power contained within the metal ore.

"If you win, this Surging Lightning Silver will be yours."

Surging Lightning Silver!

Extremely precious top-grade forging material, capable of crafting top-grade equipment, and the inscription will be at least purple!

A smile appeared on Yang Shan's originally indifferent face, "Since Sect Master Yun Yun has said so, it would seem unreasonable of me not to defeat her."

But Yang Shan understood that since it was a contest, he had to bring out something that matched the value of the Surging Lightning Silver.

Yang Shan announced his bet:

"Ten Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pill and twenty Bone Sculpting Pill, would that be acceptable?"

As for Nalan Yanran, she should have enough of both of these kinds of pills.

In terms of value alone, it may not be as good as the Surging Lightning Silver, but it's not far off.

After all, metal ore needs a master blacksmith to forge it into equipment! At the very least, a fourth-grade blacksmith is required, and for a more reliable outcome, a fifth-grade blacksmith is preferable!

Such blacksmiths are definitely big shots in the Jia Ma Empire. In terms of status alone, they are only slightly inferior to Fa Ma, the president of the Alchemist Guild! Seeing that Yang Shan immediately mentioned pills, Yun Yun asked:

"Are you Alchemist?"

Yang Shan: "Fourth rank."

Yun Yun's expression then changed somewhat.

It's important to understand that while alchemy and cultivation have some similarities, the time and effort required to master both are almost doubled.

With the cultivation of Two-Star Dou Ling and also being Tier-4 Alchemist! Yun Yun couldn't help but look at Yang Shan with even greater respect.

"You don't need that many pills. If you lose, go to the Misty Cloud Sect and be Yanran's sparring partner for half a month."

(Image provided by Yun Yun AI - provided by a book lover)