Killing Two Birds with One Stone

Inside the Xiao Family Meeting Hall, the lights blazed brightly. The sounds of three elders arguing with Xiao Zhan came from within.

Naturally, they were arguing over where the sixty thousand gold coins Xiao Zhan had used without authorization during the day had gone.

Neither the three elders nor Xiao Zhan, who were arguing in the hall, noticed that a young man stood in a dark corner of the corridor, watching every movement inside.

The youth muttered to himself, "According to the Storyline, Xun Er will come here today and offer one hundred thousand gold coins to help Uncle Xiao out of this predicament!"

"Master, you have changed the course of the Storyline. Whether Xiao Xun'er will still appear here is now an unknown," System Xiao Ai speculated.

"I hope she doesn't come." Yet when Xiao Han said this, for some reason, he actually hoped Xiao Xun'er would come. Perhaps he had been influenced by the previous Xiao Han's memories. Xiao Han realized that he seemed to have truly fallen for that girl who loved Xiao Yan with such obsessive devotion.

"Master, congratulations. She's here."

Xiao Han looked around and, sure enough, spotted a young girl gradually emerging from the darkness.

Did she just go to Xiao Yan's room? Xiao Han wondered. A faint discomfort rose in his heart.

According to the Storyline, Xiao Xun'er had gone to Xiao Yan's room, then happened to pass by here and helped Xiao Zhan out of his predicament.

Eh, no. That direction isn't the direction of Xiao Yan's room. Xiao Han was delighted.

Both Xiao Yan and Xiao Han were direct descendants of the Xiao Clan. Each had his own courtyard. They both lived in the eastern courtyard of the Xiao Clan, yet Xiao Xun'er had appeared from outside the main gate.

It seems that because of me, the original Storyline has already begun to deviate. Xiao Han was delighted.

"The money for the Foundation Establishment Pill can be considered my contribution. There are one hundred thousand gold coins in this card. Elders, there is no need to make things difficult for Uncle Xiao!"

Xiao Xun'er's voice came from the Xiao Clan Hall. A moment later came the three elders' bitterly amused voices as they agreed.

The three elders did not dare show even the slightest defiance toward the young lady of the Gu Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans.

"Sister Xun'er!"

When Xiao Xun'er passed by Xiao Han, he leaped down from the top of the corridor.

The sudden appearance gave Xiao Xun'er quite a fright. Once she saw his face, the fully alert Xiao Xun'er lowered her guard. Yet a trace of unease appeared in her expression instead, and only after a long while did she say, "Xiao... Brother Xiao Han!"

Xiao Xun'er did not know how to face Xiao Han.

All along, she had believed that the person who had sneaked into her room and nurtured her meridians when she was little had been Xiao Yan.

After all these years together, she had developed feelings for Xiao Yan. If she were asked to sever those feelings, Xiao Xun'er knew she could not do it.

At the same time, Xiao Han cared for Xiao Xun'er so deeply and sincerely. She could not simply ignore his existence either.

Ever since the arena incident, Xiao Xun'er's heart had been in turmoil. She did not know how to face Xiao Yan and Xiao Han.

Xiao Han might not have known that, over the past few days, Xiao Yan had invited her out for walks, but she had turned him down every time.

"Am I that scary?" Xiao Han asked with a smile.

"Huh?" Xiao Xun'er looked at Xiao Han blankly.

"You're so tense. Did my handsome looks leave you so awestruck that you became this guarded?" Xiao Han smugly brushed back the bangs on his forehead.

"No, Brother Xiao Han. I just... I just don't know how to face you," Xiao Xun'er said honestly.

"Heh, I'm the one who stole the underwear, so why are you the one at a loss?" Xiao Han chuckled, then continued, "Don't be nervous, Sister Xun'er. I didn't come with any ill intent this time. This is a Vein Protecting Pill!"

Vein Protecting Pill: a Second-Grade Pill capable of protecting the meridians from harm.

"A Vein Protecting Pill?" Xiao Xun'er looked at the pill in Xiao Han's hand and declined, "Brother Xiao Han, thank you for your kindness, but I have no use for this pill."

"You misunderstand. This pill isn't for you."

"Not for me?" Xiao Xun'er looked at Xiao Han with even greater confusion.

"That's right. This pill is for Xiao Yan."

"What? For Brother Xiao Yan?" Xiao Xun'er was stunned.

Xiao Xun'er did not understand. Did Xiao Han not like her? Did Xiao Han not know that Xiao Yan was his rival in love?

Giving a pill to his rival in love—had Xiao Han's brain been caught in a door?

Unless...

Xiao Xun'er instinctively thought of one possibility: there was something wrong with this pill.

"That's right." Xiao Han explained, "I know that because of Nalan Yanran breaking off the engagement, Xiao Yan still harbors hostility toward me. But I don't believe I did anything wrong in that matter. I can swear on my conscience that I never actually intended to target him."

At the same time, Xiao Han clasped his hands together in his heart: Oh, my god! I really wasn't lying. If it weren't for gaining Experience Points and seeking greater strength, I truly wouldn't have wanted to target Xiao Yan. If anyone is to blame, blame the system.

System: Uh...

Mm, and Xiao Yan's grandfather too! If Xiao Yan's grandfather had arranged the engagement between Xiao Han and Nalan Yanran, this never would have happened.

Xiao Yan's grandfather: Uh... I got shot while lying in my coffin!

"Brother Xiao Han, stop talking. You did nothing wrong in this matter." Seeing Xiao Han's sincere expression, Xiao Xun'er's heart softened somewhat. She had neglected Xiao Han in the past, never expecting him to be so kind and magnanimous.

If it had been Xiao Xun'er, it would already have been good enough if she had not suppressed her rival in love, let alone given him benefits.

"You may think that way, but Xiao Yan will not. Still, I don't blame him. After all, he is the one directly involved. We are both members of the Xiao Clan, after all. To show my sincerity, I am willing to give him this Divine Grade Vein Protecting Pill!"

"What? Brother Xiao Han, you're saying the pill in your hand has also reached the Divine Grade?" Xiao Xun'er looked at Xiao Han with a trace of shock in her eyes.

Xiao Xun'er had also heard about the Divine Grade Foundation Establishment Pill. She asked herself honestly—though the Gu Clan was one of the Eight Ancient Clans, even they did not possess Divine Grade pills.

One such pill appearing was already extraordinary, but now another Divine Pill had appeared. Since when had Divine Pills become so common?

"That's right. Sister Xun'er, whether Xiao Yan and I can reconcile depends on you. If I personally deliver the pill, he probably won't accept it. Xiao Yan listens to you the most. You're the only one who can do this!"

"This..."

Xiao Xun'er was slightly taken aback. A Second-Grade Pill was worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins. Was Xiao Han truly willing to part with it so easily? Xiao Xun'er became more cautious and asked, "You only want me to deliver a pill?"

"That's right."

"No other conditions?"

"Absolutely none!" Xiao Han paused, then flicked Xiao Xun'er on the forehead and said irritably, "What are you thinking, girl? Do you think I would dare harm Xiao Yan within the Xiao Clan?"

"Fine, then I'll help you with this." Xiao Xun'er rubbed her forehead, took the pill from Xiao Han's hand, and turned toward Xiao Yan's courtyard.

After Xiao Xun'er had gone far away, System Xiao Ai said, "Master, do you think Xiao Yan's cultivation is improving too slowly?"