Yan'er, Have You Been Keeping a Woman Outside?

As Xiao Yan continued to train tirelessly, the days seemed to pass a little faster. In the blink of an eye, another half month had gone by.

During this time, aside from meeting Hun Ruoruo punctually every day and relying on her Pure Water Dou Qi to assist his cultivation, Xiao Yan shut himself away from nearly everyone. He immersed himself completely in exploring the intricate combinations of Eight Extremes Collapse and Soul Piercing Strike.

Through his constant experiments, he discovered that exhausting his physical strength to the point of collapse before cultivating his Soul Force created a marvelous cycle. As a result, with no need for a rest period, Xiao Yan's strength improved at an even faster pace, rising by another level.

The only downside was that he had truly neglected his relationships with others.

Knock, knock, knock!

Hearing the sudden knock from outside his room, Xiao Yan, who had only just recovered a little Soul Force, sat up. The world spun before his eyes. He rubbed his aching temples and staggered toward the door.

Opening it, Xiao Yan raised his brows and lifted his drooping eyelids slightly—

"Father, why are you here?"

"Hehe, can't I come see my own son? Come, sit."

Xiao Zhan stood at the doorway. He beckoned Xiao Yan over, then casually sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, his kindly face carrying a hint of concern.

"Yan'er, it has probably been several days since we last met, hasn't it?"

Xiao Yan froze at those words, then said somewhat shamefully, "Father, Yan'er has been busy with matters lately and truly hasn't had the time."

"Busy with matters?" Xiao Zhan glanced at him and sighed. "Yan'er, ever since you made the Three-Year Pact with Nalan Yanran, we have barely spoken at all."

First, he had defeated Xiao Ning with the strength of Fifth Stage Dou Qi. Then, somehow, he had become entangled in the bizarre death of that Young Master from the Jia Lie Family. Xiao Yan had never told his own father about any of it; Xiao Zhan had learned it all from the reports of his subordinates.

Though Xiao Zhan felt gratified and moved, he also harbored a faint worry.

It was normal for a child to have some privacy after growing up, but...

Seeing Xiao Yan's pale face beneath his shame, as well as the unsteady steps he had taken earlier, Xiao Zhan's brows knitted tightly together. He could no longer suppress the doubts in his heart.

"Yan'er."

"Father, go ahead."

"You are nearly an adult now. As your father, I do not believe I have been overly strict with you, but—"

Xiao Zhan's expression turned solemn, and his tone suddenly became stern. "Cultivation must be grounded and gradual. You cannot succeed by recklessly chasing quick results. You must not stray onto some crooked, evil path!"

A crooked, evil path?

Already muddleheaded from having exhausted his Soul Force, Xiao Yan became even more confused.

A crooked, evil path? When did I ever go down one?

He asked in bewilderment, "Father, have you misunderstood something?"

"Misunderstood?" Seeing him deny it outright, Xiao Zhan sighed, and a trace of anger appeared on his face. "Yan'er, although I have not seen you often lately, every time I do, you look weak and lifeless, like someone sick and drained of vitality."

"Then there was the report from the Guard. He said there had once been a beautiful Girl at your side, and that the two of you were rather close. How am I supposed to believe this is a misunderstanding?"

"I...?"

Xiao Yan stared dumbfoundedly at his father, who looked as though he hated to see him squander his potential. It felt as though the sky had collapsed around him—

His own father thought his cultivation had advanced so quickly because he had practiced some bizarre evil art?

And that he had even found himself a woman outside?

What an outrageous injustice.

Only when he heard Old Man Yao's merciless laughter from within the ring did Xiao Yan, whose jaw was nearly hanging open, abruptly come back to his senses.

His face flushed crimson. He shot the ring in his hand a vicious glare, then looked at Xiao Zhan with a pounding headache.

"Father, listen to my explanation..."

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, following Xiao Yan's painstaking explanation, Xiao Zhan's expression finally improved somewhat.

Half believing and half doubting, he asked, "Yan'er, then your current accomplishments are all thanks to that young lady's help?"

"Exactly." Xiao Yan spread his hands and said helplessly, "Even if there really were some evil art, with strength like mine—not even that of a Dou Zhe—how could I possibly master it?"

Xiao Yan knew that his strength was not entirely thanks to Hun Ruoruo, but Old Man Yao's current state was far too sensitive. It was better to credit Hun Ruoruo with everything for now.

That way, he could spare his father another fright.

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan looked awkward. "Then it seems I was simply worried enough to lose my judgment."

It would have been one thing to sternly discuss relations between men and women with his own son, but he had even made such a ridiculous mistake. Even with Xiao Zhan's composure, his old face could not help reddening, making him look rather comical.

"Please do not think that way."

Xiao Yan hurriedly waved his hands and gave a bitter smile. "If we are assigning blame, it is because Yan'er has been training too tensely. I have even neglected matters concerning the family."

After saying this, he paused, then asked seemingly casually, "By the way, Father, has the Jia Lie Family made any unusual moves lately?"

"...What unusual moves could they make? Yan'er, just focus on your cultivation. With me here, you need not worry about family matters." Xiao Zhan patted his chest and chuckled, then began chatting with Xiao Yan about everyday matters.

It was rare for father and son to sit down and speak heart to heart like this. They talked freely and laughed often. Xiao Zhan even rather nosily asked about Xiao Yan's relationship with Hun Ruoruo.

While speaking with Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan said nothing, but he kept recalling the coldness that had flashed through his father's eyes when the Jia Lie Family had been mentioned.

After all that had happened, if he still could not read people's expressions, he would be far too dull—

Clearly, his father was hiding something from him.

Xiao Family, residential district outside Xiao Manor

Unlike the single rooms where the younger members of the Xiao Family lived, this place had pleasant scenery and imposing buildings. It was ordinarily reserved for elders or those with considerable influence within the clan.

At the very center of this residential district stood Xun'er's residence.

Xun'er gazed absently out the window, relaxing her arm slightly and letting it support half of her delicate young face, creating a beautiful sight.

After a while, the Girl seemed to sense something. With a lift of her hand, she drew up the curtain beside her, blocking all the bright sunlight from the other side outside the window.

"Elder Ling," she said softly toward the shadows.

Then, the shadows in the corner slowly gathered and spread before condensing into a human shape. A mysterious man dressed in a Black Robe silently appeared before Xun'er.

He dropped to one knee and said with utmost respect, "Miss."

Xun'er gave a soft hum, then parted her pink lips. "How has the investigation into that mysterious woman gone?"