A Promise, Skywater City

Dugu Bo came and went alone. After entrusting Dugu Yan to Ye Qingxian, he drifted away.

Who knew what he had gone off to do?

Maybe he had gone to show off in front of some old acquaintances?

Who knew?

Ye Qingxian headed toward the backyard, walking down the long corridor, her sleeves fluttering like snow and clouds.

"Aunt Ye!"

A shout suddenly rang out.

Ye Qingxian glanced over, and a snowball abruptly slammed into her arms.

Huh?!

Ye Qingxian's Beautiful Eyes immediately widened!

This little monkey! How dare he!

"Mom, let's flatten him together!"

Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan had been beaten by Lin Xiao until they fled in disarray, covering their heads. Now that they had seized the chance, they hurriedly invited Ye Qingxian to join the battle!

Ye Qingxian let out a cold laugh.

She was a mature and steady woman, as majestic as an eagle. Only children liked playing in snowball fights!

Before she could react, several more snowballs flew over!

They hit their targets with precision.

Ye Qingxian could endure no more.

"Ling Ling, watch how your mother teaches him a lesson!"

She scooped up a snowball and charged toward Lin Xiao.

"Mom! You hit him! You hit him!"

"Aunt Ye, you're amazing!"

Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan shouted excitedly.

What was there to admire about that?

Anyone with hands could do it!

Ye Qingxian scoffed, but the corners of her lips curved up slightly. "You two, pay attention and watch how I throw snowballs! They have to be steady and accurate!"

That night.

Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan squeezed together in bed.

Two pairs of tender white feet rested against each other.

"Sister Yanyan, don't you feel that we've become prettier after taking the Immortal Grass? I feel like your skin has improved so much. There isn't a single blemish!"

"You're only noticing now? It's not just our skin. Our figures have changed a little too, haven't they?"

"Huh? Why hasn't mine changed? Sister Yanyan, let me feel yours."

"Hey! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"Wah, it's not fair! Why can you still promote your development, Sister Yanyan?"

"Enough! Haven't you noticed that you have an elegant Flower Fragrance on you?"

"Huh? Let me smell it. You're right!"

The joy of their Martial Soul Evolution.

Left the two young girls unable to sleep that night. They tossed and turned until well past midnight before finally falling into a deep sleep.

The next day, as expected, they slept in.

Early Morning.

Lin Xiao rose very early and opened the window. Outside, light snow drifted endlessly.

Red tiles and white walls, Blue Bricks covered in snow.

He sorted the letters Shui Bing'er had sent over the past few days by date.

Then he read them one by one.

The envelopes carried a faint fragrance and were delicate and beautiful.

The graceful handwriting was lovely.

It seemed that between the lines, he could see a gentle, adorable face, feel the sentimental heart of a Young Girl, and sense...

Endless longing.

As the saying went, white-haired strangers could become like new acquaintances, while those who had just met could feel like old friends.

Neighbors could live beside each other for decades and still trade vicious words, while two strangers who crossed paths and clicked could regret having met so late.

Lin Xiao subconsciously rubbed the Storage Soul Tool on the middle finger of his left hand. Inside it lay a brocade money pouch and a considerable number of Gold Soul Coins.

This was the "first pot of gold" in his life.

Well, it had come from "living off a woman."

"Speaking of which, Shui Bing'er is also a noble young lady. I wonder what her life at home is like?"

Shui Bing'er was different from Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.

The latter two were both their family's only heirs, treated like Little Ancestors at home. They had no complicated web of interests stemming from a huge clan.

But Shui Bing'er had an exceptionally powerful talent.

That was her greatest bargaining chip.

Her days should be going quite well, right?

Lin Xiao looked at the final letter. Unlike the earlier letters describing a Young Girl's daily life, the emotions in this last letter were especially intense.

The Young Girl's earnest expectations seemed to rush toward him through the paper.

"Brother Lin Xiao, do you still remember our promise?"

The promise...

Lin Xiao certainly remembered.

Hadn't all the junior academies already gone on vacation?

Even the Advanced Soul Master Academy attended by Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling would soon be on break.

So... was it time to meet?

Lin Xiao put all the letter paper back into the envelope. After organizing it, he placed it in a small box, then stored the box inside his Storage Soul Tool.

He did not intend to write a reply.

A thousand words on paper were no match for meeting in person and giving Shui Bing'er a surprise.

After stretching, Lin Xiao headed toward the main hall.

"Aunt Ye."

Passing through the corridor, he saw Ye Qingxian practicing Eight Section Brocade.

She wore a loose white martial arts outfit, yet her graceful curves still showed faintly through the fabric. Every movement differed from Lin Xiao's carefree style, but possessed its own elegant and agile bearing.

Lin Xiao had held nothing back, teaching Ye Qingxian both Five Animal Frolics and Eight Section Brocade.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling had also learned a little.

But the two girls seemed to find Martial Arts Practice tedious and boring. Only Ye Qingxian had silently persevered and gained something from it.

Ye Qingxian slowly finished her exercise.

Fine beads of sweat glistened across her fair forehead. Her complexion was rosy, beautiful as peach blossoms.

"Your Eight Section Brocade is truly excellent."

"After completing the entire set, not only does it refresh the body, but it also guides Soul Power through the Meridians. With long-term practice, it can strengthen the constitution and improve one's talent."

"Later, I'm going to force those two girls to practice. They're fickle and still don't understand its essence, so naturally they can't persist. Once I guide them through the basics, they'll be fine."

Ye Qingxian glanced at Lin Xiao.

She did not ask where he had obtained the Eight Section Brocade and Five Animal Frolics.

She was not such a bored woman.

"What is it? Did you need something?"

Lin Xiao nodded and hesitated for a moment before saying:

"I'm planning to go out for a while."

He had been staying at the Ye Family all this time. Sometimes, Lin Xiao almost felt as though he was a member of the Ye Family.

So even going out required him to report it.

"Going out? Where?"

Ye Qingxian's gaze tightened slightly as she walked toward Lin Xiao.

"Skywater City."

"I'm going to visit a friend of mine in the Shui Family."

Ye Qingxian furrowed her brows.

"When? Yan Yan and Ling Ling are going to hunt for their Third Soul Ring soon, and Poison Douluo will certainly accompany them. Won't it be dangerous for you to go alone?"

"How about this? I'll find someone to escort you."

"But it would be best to wait until Yan Yan and Ling Ling return from hunting their Soul Rings. Then Senior Poison Douluo can go with you, which would be safer. Yan Yan and Ling Ling could come along too and meet your friend..."

Lin Xiao laughed and shook his head.

"I don't have any enemies. Is there really any need to make such a big fuss? That would make me a giant baby."

"Sister Yanyan and Sister Ling Ling don't know my friend. Taking them all that way might leave both sides unhappy in the end. I'll be fine going alone."

"Besides, by the time Sister Yanyan and Sister Ling Ling return from hunting their Soul Rings, I should be almost back too."

Ye Qingxian nodded and said decisively:

"Then I'll have someone escort you."

Suddenly, her Beautiful Eyes narrowed slyly, and she smiled.

"Is that friend of yours a boyfriend or a girlfriend?"

Lin Xiao's little face darkened.

"A normal friend!"