Jia Lie Ao

"Ding-dong!"

"Congratulations, you disrupted the storyline of Battle Through the Heavens and helped the protagonist Xiao Yan level up. Reward: Experience Points: 50000. Coupon Points: 10000."

"Ding-dong!"

"Congratulations, your Experience Points have reached the requirement for a level-up. Current level: Seven-star Dou Zhe!"

As the system's voice faded, a vortex formed from Dou Qi suddenly appeared around Xiao Han, who had been about to undress for bed.

"Huh, I leveled up?"

Xiao Han froze for a moment before asking in surprise, "Xiao Ai, do I get Experience Points for helping Xiao Yan level up too?"

"Yes, Master." System Xiao Ai explained, "According to the original storyline, Xiao Yan would only reach the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi several months later. Just now, Xiao Yan refined the Foundation Establishment Pill you made and the Vein Protecting Pill you gave him. His cultivation has already risen to the Sixth Stage of Dou Qi, disrupting the original storyline. Therefore, you have been given a one-time reward of fifty thousand Experience Points. If you continue helping Xiao Yan raise his cultivation afterward, it will be treated as a repeated event and no further rewards will be given."

I'd only keep helping him improve his cultivation if I were truly stupid!

Xiao Han had helped Xiao Yan improve his cultivation for the coming-of-age ceremony a year from now. He wanted Xiao Yan to challenge him of his own accord, or at least not refuse his challenge because of the gap in their cultivation.

He was not being muddleheaded or foolish!

The next day

After a simple meal, Xiao Han arrived outside Xiao Xun'er's courtyard.

The moment he entered Xiao Xun'er's courtyard, Xiao Han saw her standing blankly in the yard.

"Sister Xun'er, what are you thinking about?"

The sudden voice startled Xiao Xun'er badly.

When she saw that it was Xiao Han, Xiao Xun'er rose to greet him. "Brother Xiao Han, did you need something?"

"Sister Xun'er, the weather is lovely today, clear and crisp. How about going out for a stroll with me?" Xiao Han invited.

"A stroll?" Xiao Xun'er inwardly lamented that the very thing she feared had come.

These past few days, she had not known how to face Xiao Han, much less whether she should continue associating with Xiao Yan. Her heart was a mess.

Especially after what happened last night, Xiao Han's generosity and kindness stood in stark contrast to Xiao Yan's caution and suspicion. Xiao Xun'er had begun to form a somewhat favorable impression of Xiao Han.

"Mm." Xiao Han nodded. "I just don't know whether you'll honor me with your company. I heard there's a Flower Exhibition in the eastern part of the city today, and the autumn chrysanthemums are especially beautiful."

"Well..." Xiao Xun'er hesitated. After a pause, she asked, "We're only going to see the Flower Exhibition?"

"Yes." Xiao Han nodded emphatically.

"All right, then wait for me a moment."

Xiao Xun'er ran into her room. Women, everyone understood. Xiao Han waited for more than ten minutes before Xiao Xun'er finally came out.

She wore a long green gauze dress, her graceful figure as elegant as a green lotus in the mortal world. As she passed Xiao Han, a faint lotus fragrance lingered in the air. Xiao Han could not help taking two more breaths of it.

"Brother Xiao Han, let's go!"

It was Xiao Xun'er's first time strolling with Xiao Han, and she was somewhat restrained. Especially whenever she thought about how Xiao Han had once stolen her underwear and kept it hidden for a full three years.

Whenever she thought of that, her manner became even more reserved. Her cheeks also flushed faintly.

Along the way, Xiao Han was mostly the one finding topics and taking the initiative to speak, while Xiao Xun'er responded only sporadically. Xiao Han was not in a hurry. He understood well enough that haste made waste.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Xun'er? Oh, what a coincidence to meet you again. Fate truly works in mysterious ways."

Xiao Xun'er's phoenix eyes furrowed slightly. Before she even saw the person, her expression changed. Turning toward the voice, she saw, sure enough, a lavishly dressed young man approaching with a group of people behind him.

The young man looked to be just over twenty and was fairly handsome. However, his face was somewhat pale, giving him the illusion of frailty.

At that moment, his fiery gaze openly revealed the affection in his heart as he stared fixedly at the slender and graceful Xiao Xun'er.

"Why is it you again?" Xiao Xun'er's expression changed. She was clearly annoyed by this person and only wanted to leave quickly. Her delicate hand instinctively reached for Xiao Han. "Brother Xiao Han, let's go!"

"Miss Xun'er!"

Seeing Xiao Xun'er's expression, the young man immediately panicked and stepped sideways to block her path.

Xiao Han frowned slightly at the sight and asked, "Xun'er, who is this?"

"Jia Lie Ao! The young master of the Gale Family!" Xiao Xun'er shot the young man an irritated glare, her narrowed eyes full of disgust. "Young Master Jia Lie Ao, let me put it plainly. I have no interest in you. You should give up already!"

"Uh..."

People needed pride as trees needed bark. Jia Lie Ao's face flushed at Xiao Xun'er's words, though the uneven pallor and redness only made his sickly appearance impossible to hide.

Seeing their young master being rebuked like that, the servants and companions surrounding him immediately encircled Xiao Han and Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Han had seen shameless people before, but never anyone this shameless. He said calmly, "My Xun'er has already told you that she has no interest in you. Get lost."

Get lost!

As a young master accustomed to a life of luxury, Jia Lie Ao had never had anyone speak to him like that. He stepped closer to Xiao Han.

Seeing that Jia Lie Ao wanted to make a move, Xiao Xun'er reminded him, "Young Master Jia Lie Ao, this is still the territory of Xiao Family Market. Before you act, I hope you'll think carefully!"

Seemingly wary of something, Jia Lie Ao glanced around. Sure enough, the commotion here had caught the attention of several Xiao Clan Guards. Yet those guards merely lowered their heads and whispered among themselves without coming over.

Seeing this, Jia Lie Ao was delighted.

These men belonged to Xiao Zhan. He had long heard that Xiao Zhan's son, Xiao Yan, did not get along with Xiao Han. Now that he saw it for himself, he inwardly thought it was indeed true.

Although these people were Xiao Clan Guards, they had not come forward to confront them. They probably wanted to see Xiao Han make a fool of himself as well.

"Brother Pei En, are we really not going over?"

"Let's watch for now. He dared to target Young Master Xiao Yan, and he's openly courting Young Master Xiao Yan's girl. As long as no one dies, we'll just watch."

Seeing that the Xiao Clan was not coming to uphold order, Jia Lie Ao was delighted. He sneered, "Xiao Han, was it? Are you only capable of hiding behind a woman?"

"Uh..." Xiao Han's heart tightened, but he smiled. "What are you trying to say?"

"If you're a man, then have a fair match with me!" Jia Lie Ao said confidently.

"Young Master Jia Lie Ao, I advise you not to do this. I can guarantee that if you compete with Brother Xiao Han, you will definitely lose!" Xiao Xun'er said with a soft smile.

"Lose? How could I lose?" Jia Lie Ao thrust out his chest, where a Golden Star was displayed. At twenty-one, he had already become a bona fide Dou Zhe.

Jia Lie Ao asked himself whether such talent would rank among the best even across the entire Jia Ma Empire.

He was only dealing with a fifteen-year-old child. Jia Lie Ao was confident that he could knock Xiao Han down in a single move. Once Xiao Xun'er witnessed his strength, perhaps she would become interested in him. Relying on his status as a Dou Zhe, he did not know how many young girls' hearts he had already won over.