"Xiao Yan Gege, how is the scenery in the Ancient Realm? Honestly, I think it's not much different from the outside..."
Amid her sweet laughter, Xun Er walked into the courtyard with Xiao Yan. Aside from the candlelight, the courtyard was somewhat dim.
Suddenly, a door opened, and hurried footsteps rushed out. Xiao Yan looked over in surprise. "Nalan Ye, you're still awake?"
After getting a clear look at the two of them, I straightened my clothes and tried hard to appear calm. "Haha, I already went to bed. I only came out when I heard something. But you two—when you hadn't come back this late, I thought you'd already gone to sleep at Xun Er's place!"
Hearing my teasing, Xun Er's little face reddened, while Xiao Yan gave a dry cough. "Xun Er and I were only taking a walk around the Ancient Saint Mountain Range. We didn't do anything else."
I said seriously, "Even if you did do something else, it wouldn't matter." You've already done everything you should have done. Would it make any difference whether you did it again or not?
Xun Er could not take it anymore. She glared at me, then turned to Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan Gege, I'll head back first. See you tomorrow."
With that, Xun Er turned and left. Yet as she departed, another voice transmission entered my mind. "Nalan Ye, tomorrow morning is my clan's Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Someone will definitely use the occasion to challenge Xiao Yan Gege. When that happens..."
"Don't worry. I'll stop them for Third Brother."
I replied, and just then Xun Er turned back. Xiao Yan thought she was looking at him and waved at her.
At that moment, my gaze met Xun Er's. She stared at me for an instant, and another voice transmission sounded.