Jumping Clown

I froze for a moment, then quietly looked away and raised my right hand. "Yanran Jie, give me a hand."

"Hm?"

I scratched at my hand in confusion and realized Nalan Yanran had not reached out to pull me up at all. I could not help looking up, only to see her pretty face slightly flushed as she stared at me in some disarray.

She noticed?!

My heart gave a start, but this was not something that could be explained. The more I explained, the worse it would look. I played dumb and said, "Yanran Jie, hurry up and pull me up!"

"Hmph!"

Nalan Yanran gave a cold snort, embarrassed and annoyed. She instinctively smoothed her skirt, but in the end, she still reached out and took my right hand.

It was a little cool, but very soft.

I thought this as I gave a hard pull and climbed to my feet, dusting off my robe before looking Nalan Yanran over from side to side.

Aside from the faint blush on her face from the earlier embarrassment, her breathing remained steady. Her moon-white dress was not the least bit disheveled, and there was no sign that she had just fought a battle...

I felt somewhat bitter and sighed. "Yanran Jie truly cuts a dashing figure. I wonder when I will be qualified... to walk side by side with Yanran Jie?"

Nalan Yanran gently shook her head. The flush gradually faded from her face as she said, "We are family. Why say such things? If you cannot walk beside me, then follow behind me."

I opened my mouth, utterly unsure how to answer. That was far too confident, too overbearing, too... true!

I felt as if I had suffered a devastating blow, but I had no way to refute her. I could only flash a brilliant smile and invite Nalan Yanran to sit in a pavilion.

The two of us sat down, and a maidservant brought tea. We each drank a cup to quench our thirst. At the same time, the previous awkwardness seemed to be washed away by the tea, vanishing without a trace.

I smacked my lips and, still wanting more, even chewed up the tea leaves before beginning my post-battle assessment. I felt that aside from being poor at hand-to-hand combat, I had another major problem—my Dou Qi circulation was sluggish!

Not only did it take a long time to circulate it, but quite a bit of Dou Qi was wasted instead of being fully utilized... This severely diminished both my combat ability and endurance!

I asked Nalan Yanran about this issue, only to hear her say, "There is no shortcut to this. Practice makes perfect."

Practice makes perfect? The corner of my mouth twitched as I said, "Yanran Jie's words truly... contain profound meaning in few words!"

I was about to ask something else, but Nalan Yanran seemed to have grown impatient. Shaking her head, she said, "You can ask the Skill Transmission Elder about such cultivation matters. Although my cultivation is somewhat higher than yours, I am far inferior to the Skill Transmission Elder."

The Skill Transmission Elder? I thought for a moment before recalling that among the Nalan Family's eight elders, there did seem to be such an elder. He was responsible both for guarding the pavilion that housed cultivation techniques, Dou Skills, Pill Recipes, and such, and for guiding the family's disciples in their cultivation.

But how could a decrepit old man be as refreshing to behold as the heavenly beauty that was Yanran Jie?

Still, since Nalan Yanran was annoyed, I could not continue asking about it. I could only change the subject and ask how she spent her days in the Yun Lan Sect.

She focused for a moment, then softly said, "It is quite ordinary. I have always been cultivating, cultivating on the Back Mountain. Sometimes Master guides my cultivation, but most of the time, I cultivate alone."

Hearing Nalan Yanran's words, I instinctively looked eastward, but all I saw were the walls and pavilions within the residence. Yet I knew that over a dozen miles away, on the outskirts of Gama City, stood a vast cultivation sect—the sacred land of cultivation within the Gamma Empire!

An image emerged in my mind. Clouds and mist wreathed the towering Yun Lan Mountain. At the peak of the Back Mountain, a young girl sat cross-legged, gazing down at the immense Gama City. Her face was cool and serene, devoid of the slightest emotion...

An immortal!

The thought could not help popping into my mind. When I looked at Nalan Yanran again, there was a hint of scrutiny in my gaze.

Beautiful beyond compare, robes fluttering, standing apart from the world, cool and detached—even when I had accidentally done that to her earlier, she had not flown into a rage... She truly fit the definition of an "immortal," a "true immortal"!

Yet an inexplicable anger rose in my heart. I hated her cool detachment!

How could such a beautiful girl, such a young girl, be so aloof? How could she wear the same expression as those old monsters, as if she had seen through the affairs of the world and become tranquil and detached?

No!

Young people should have the spirit of youth. Upon their shoulders should rest clear winds and bright moons, drooping willows and singing orioles amid growing grass—all the beautiful things in the world.

I looked at Nalan Yanran and said sincerely, "Yanran Jie, you have been cultivating in the Yun Lan Sect all this time. It must have been a long while since you last wandered around Gama City, right? How about I take you out for a look?"

Nalan Yanran was slightly startled, then shook her head. "I do not lack anything. There is nothing worth seeing."

I shook my head and used the tone of someone tempting a little girl who had not seen much of the world. "Yanran Jie, Gama City is the capital of the Gamma Empire. It has a huge population and countless interesting things! There are singers, performers, cockfights and dogfights, as well as all kinds of snacks, fine wine, and delicious food. Yanran Jie, do you not want to go take a look?"

Unfortunately, none of these things held any appeal for Nalan Yanran. Her expression remained calm, but I noticed that her brows... had drawn together slightly?

"Grandfather has been poisoned. How could I be in the mood to go out and have fun? Thank you for the kind offer."

Hearing Nalan Yanran's words, I thought for a moment and said, "Yanran Jie, we could go to the Temir Auction House."

The Temir Auction House naturally belonged to the Temir Family. This family was one of the Gamma Empire's Three Great Families alongside my Nalan Family, but it placed the greatest emphasis on commerce. Every auction house in the empire was run by them, and there were quite a few good things inside.

I persuaded her, "Yanran Jie, even that poison manual of mine was able to help Old Man's condition. The Temir Auction House surely has other good things as well. Even if it does not, we can at least buy some medicinal ingredients and bring them back."

Once I put it that way, Nalan Yanran frowned and considered it, then agreed. I laughed heartily and immediately left the Nalan Residence with Nalan Yanran. We walked side by side, strolling through Gama City.

The stretch of street just outside the residence was fairly quiet, but as we approached the Temir Auction House, the crowds on the streets grew denser and denser. Pedestrians brushed shoulders, while merchant caravans flowed endlessly through the roads.

This was no longer merely an auction house. A vast commercial district had already formed around it!

I looked around curiously. All kinds of shops stood in neat rows: inns, restaurants, clothing and jewelry stores, weapon shops, shops selling medicinal ingredients and pills, shops selling Magical Beast Crystal Nuclei and pelts... In short, every kind of shop could be found here.

Suddenly, my gaze was drawn to a certain place. It was a flamboyant building, where several scantily clad women stood upstairs, striking seductive poses and casting flirtatious glances at the pedestrians below...

"Gulp..."

I swallowed hard. Although I had never been here before, I could tell at a glance what sort of place it was!

I stared at that building, my thoughts wandering as I considered whether I should go in for a look next time. Then, suddenly, a sharp rebuke rang beside my ear!

I jumped in fright and hastily turned my head, only to see Dou Qi stardust shimmering around Nalan Yanran's body as she attacked a young man!

I was completely baffled and had no idea what was happening, but Yanran Jie had to be right. I shouted and was about to call the guards over, only to remember in astonishment at the last moment that, in order to be alone with Yanran Jie, I had not brought any guards at all!

In that brief delay, the young man had already exchanged two moves with Nalan Yanran. He was no weakling either. With a raised fist, he forced Nalan Yanran back and prepared to retreat into the crowd.

But Nalan Yanran refused to let him go or back down. She stepped forward with a strange footwork technique, and a flash of cold light appeared as she drew her sword and thrust it out, stopping the young man in his tracks.

Only then did the surrounding crowd realize what was happening. Cries and shouts rang out one after another. The timid scattered in panic, while the bold mercenaries and guards formed a large circle, crossing their arms as they watched the excitement with great interest.

Standing within that circle, I cursed inwardly. Why did this scene feel so familiar?

By all rights, as the young master of the Nalan Family, should I not have been standing in the crowd watching the commotion? Why had I become the spectacle for others to watch instead?!

But Yanran Jie was still facing off against that young man, leaving me no time to think further. I touched my Ring of Holding, producing a Heavy Shield in my left hand and a sharp sword in my right. I moved closer to Yanran Jie and stood protectively in front of her.

Keeping a wary eye on the young man opposite us, I asked in a low voice, "Yanran Jie, what happened?"

Nalan Yanran brushed the strands of hair before her forehead aside with her jade-like hand. "He tried to steal my Ring of Holding."

Steal a Ring of Holding? A thief?

I relaxed. So he was merely a lowly thief. I had thought he was an assassin sent by some hostile faction, and that would have been serious. Who knew whether he had accomplices?

"You two thieves actually tried to steal my Ring of Holding!"

At that moment, the young man opposite us spoke. The instant he opened his mouth, he accused us before we could accuse him. Pointing at Yanran Jie and me, he shouted hoarsely at the crowd, "Everyone, judge this fairly! These two thieves failed to steal my Ring of Holding, then actually attacked me! Tell me, how should thieves like them be dealt with?"

The surrounding crowd immediately burst into discussion. These people loved nothing more than seeing trouble grow, and they began shouting and jeering, yelling all sorts of things.

I could not be bothered to listen. What was there to care about? A lowly thief and a group of idlers? Even without guards at my side, even though I was only at the seventh stage of Dou Qi, they were nothing more than Jumping Clowns!

Rather than that, I wanted to see Nalan Yanran's expression. Having been falsely accused of being a thief, what expression would she wear? Would she be furious? Or would she try to explain herself?

I looked back, only to realize that I had guessed wrong again. Nalan Yanran still wore the same calm expression, with no intention of explaining herself.

Somewhat disappointed, I withdrew my gaze, shook my head, then nodded. That was right. If even I did not care about a petty thief, how could Nalan Yanran care?

I put away my sword and took out the token belonging to a core member of the Nalan Family. Holding it high like a sacred flame, I did not even glance at the thief as I shouted:

"I am Nalan Ye, son of Nalan Tu, the Internal Affairs Elder of the Nalan Family! This man intended to steal my Ring of Holding. I now offer Five Thousand Gold Coins for his head... Who wants to take this job?"

The onlookers were utterly shocked. Someone among them quickly recognized that my token was genuine, causing an even greater uproar throughout the crowd!

The young thief was also startled. He had not expected to steal from the Nalan Family. In his panic, he rushed toward the circle of onlookers, trying to flee.

But a burly mercenary suddenly leaped out from the crowd and forced him back with a single move. Then three more mercenaries appeared, apparently his companions.

The leading mercenary looked at me and grinned. "Young Master Nalan, I, Xian Yu, will take this job. However, Gama City does not allow killing..."

I nodded in understanding. "Three Thousand Gold Coins for his right hand."

Xian Yu's expression changed. He likely thought I had cut the price too ruthlessly, but I had no desire to be taken for a fool. For the arm of a Dou Zhe, Three Thousand Gold Coins was already a high price!

Xian Yu seemed to think so as well. He turned and signaled to his companions, and the four of them charged forward. The thief immediately begged me for mercy, but I ignored him.

Very soon, Xian Yu and the other three beat him into a dead dog, cut off his right hand, and left blood flowing across the ground as he struggled and howled in agony...

Xian Yu ran over with blood splattered across his body and gave me a fawning smile. "Young Master Nalan, look..."

I did not go back on my word. As a dignified young master, honesty and trustworthiness were my guiding principles in life. I took out a crystal card worth Three Thousand Gold Coins from my Ring of Holding and handed it to him, casually instructing, "Take this man to the City Defense Army. Tell them... he stole something from the Nalan Family."

After taking the money, Xian Yu hurriedly nodded and bowed in agreement. I said nothing further and left with Nalan Yanran, once again making our way toward the auction house.

With the excitement over, the surrounding onlookers gradually dispersed as well. Those who had never seen blood either felt sick or loudly called it thrilling, while the mercenaries and guards who had seen life and death simply laughed, cursed, and left without caring in the slightest.

On the vast street, only four mercenaries could be seen dragging that unlucky man toward the City Defense Army camp. What awaited him was likely a death sentence...