A Rare Day

Seeing the dense deep-purple light in the girl's eyes, Xiao Yan could barely breathe. In an instant, cold sweat covered his back, soaking through his clothes.

Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. At this moment, Xiao Yan felt that even the Soul Force impacts he had endured during the previous "Inscription" training were not one ten-thousandth as intense as this.

Was that her true strength?

Xiao Yan was certain that, with a single thought, she could probably end his life.

Yet there was not the slightest killing intent in her gaze. Instead, it was colder and more indifferent than ever before.

Hun Ruoruo had always presented herself as a charming, sweet, and mischievous girl, but ever since Xiao Yan had seen her today, he had sensed something profoundly abnormal.

Perhaps this was her true face.

Xiao Yan's face turned greenish. He weakly raised a hand, signaling to Hun Ruoruo that he no longer had the strength to resist.

Seeing this, Hun Ruoruo did not press him further. She withdrew her aura, and her expression returned to calmness.

Gasping for breath, Xiao Yan collapsed limply to the ground. His hands began twitching involuntarily, and only after a long while did he gradually recover.

His eyes were complicated, his voice dry. "Ruoruo, that wasn't what I meant."

"Have you come up with an excuse?"

"It isn't an excuse." Xiao Yan shook his head, scattering droplets of sweat without even realizing it.

"The reason I had no choice but to ask you was, in the end, because I'm too weak. If I were a Dou Zhe now and had successfully learned alchemy, then under your and Teacher's guidance, I'm confident I wouldn't lose to that Alchemist in the slightest. It's just that..."

"There isn't enough time."

The boy's face was pale as he forced out a faint smile, making him look exceedingly strange.

Not enough time?

A trace of awkwardness flickered across Hun Ruoruo's originally icy face. Naturally, she knew perfectly well why there was not enough time.

Because she was the one who had caused it.

Of course, that did not mean Hun Ruoruo felt any guilt. Cultivating Soul Skills was the path Xiao Yan had chosen, and he had been the one to come ask her how to cultivate them.

Since he was asking her for help, wasn't it entirely up to her how she wanted to teach him?

The thoughts flashed through her mind as Hun Ruoruo stared at the limp boy on the ground and drawled lazily, "So, you want me to kill that Alchemist?"

"Uh... can't you scare him away?"

"No."

"Then kill him." A trace of ruthlessness flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes, and he no longer hesitated.

"With the special effects of Soul Skills, Jia Lie Bu definitely couldn't have noticed any flaw. In other words, he had long intended to seize my Xiao Family. Since that's the case, we might as well strike first and completely eliminate what he relies on!"

The Jia Lie Family and the Xiao Family had harbored grudges against each other for a long time. This time, their motive was even more absurd—plainly an unreasonable attempt to fight over resources and customers, seeking to gradually devour the Xiao Family.

With Xiao Yan's shrewdness, he naturally understood perfectly well that even a little mercy toward an enemy would likely become wrinkles on his father's brow in the end.

In other words, as long as he had a chance to shatter Jia Lie Bu's scheme, no matter the price, he had to seize it firmly!

Hun Ruoruo blinked, rare surprise appearing on her face. "Third Young Master, your methods are a little wicked. Not only did you get his son killed, you also want to cut off his foundation. Master Jia Lie truly is a pitiful man."

"...I didn't kill his son."

"All right, then it's their fault."

"..."

The girl seemed to have returned to her usual self. Smiling brightly, she waved her fair little hand and tossed a ball of clear water at Xiao Yan's face, nourishing and repairing his soul, which still retained a trace of fear.

"My apologies, Third Young Master. I gave you a fright. Consider this my apology."

The tremors in his soul gradually faded, yet Xiao Yan's expression did not change. Looking at the girl's sweetly smiling face, the earnestness in his eyes was unmistakable.

Seeing this, Hun Ruoruo pouted and said resentfully, "Third Young Master, you really don't know how to be considerate. Cultivate in peace. When the time is right, I'll take you to the Jia Lie Family for a visit."

Xiao Yan froze, then revealed a delighted expression.

"Really?"

"Of course. But not now. I need to rest..."

With that, Hun Ruoruo waved her little hand at Xiao Yan in dismissal. Without caring how he reacted, she walked lightly toward her small wooden house.

As she pushed open the door, Xiao Yan suddenly called out from behind her.

"Um, Ruoruo!"

The girl turned back. Her skirt and long hair lifted slightly with the sudden movement, inadvertently forming a captivating sight.

"Is there something else, Third Young Master?"

"Uh... it may be a little presumptuous, but..." Xiao Yan looked awkward, then took a deep breath.

"Make sure you get some rest."

With a soft click, the door shut tightly, and no further sound came from within.

"..."

Seeing this, Xiao Yan carefully lowered his voice and spoke toward his ring. "Teacher, did I say something wrong?"

"Obviously." Old Man Yao in the ring held his forehead, scolding him with helpless amusement. "Did you think her strange behavior today was because she was on her period?"

"Wasn't it?"

"You really are as dense as wood. We'll talk after we get back. Otherwise, with that girl's Soul Force, she definitely heard every word you said."

"Oh..."

Hearing that, Xiao Yan cast a strange look toward the wooden house, then hurried through the forest toward Wutan City.

Inside the wooden house

A rare trace of embarrassment appeared on Hun Ruoruo's pretty face. Holding her forehead, she actually made the exact same gesture as Old Man Yao.

"This person really is stupid..."

With her strength as a mid-level Dou Wang, she had long since reached a state free of filth and untouched by dust. How could she still have periods?

Still, considering his wooden personality, it made some sense.

If she had not transmigrated early enough, he probably would have added, "Drink more hot water," too.

The strange thought arose in her mind, and Hun Ruoruo shook her head, her expression returning to normal.

She flopped down, pressing all her weight into the soft mattress.

"In the end, I still have to keep changing the plot. Forget it. If I keep dwelling on this, there'll be no end to it."

Her earlier anxiety had ultimately been nothing more than a fleeting thought.

Hesitating and wallowing in sorrow had never been her style. Since she had chosen to stand on the protagonist's side and play the part of a loving father and devoted daughter, it should not make much difference whether it happened sooner or later.

Variables would arise eventually.

Having secretly made up her mind, Hun Ruoruo no longer had any reservations about helping Xiao Yan. With her and Old Man Yao protecting him, there were only a handful of people in the entire Northwest Region who could threaten Xiao Yan. There would be no need to worry for the next few years.

As for what came afterward, she would leave it to her future self.

With that thought, the girl slowly closed her eyes and enjoyed this rare moment of leisure in silence.

In truth, Hun Ruoruo herself was the greatest variable.

Whether because she was too close to see it clearly or simply unwilling to admit it, she had never spoken of it.