Before Departure

Having folded up a change of clothes, Xiao Yan's luggage was more or less packed.

Over the past few days, filled with excitement and nervousness, the youth had temporarily slowed his cultivation progress. Every day, he would casually stroll through the low-level Marketplace, purchasing supplies needed for cultivation.

Aside from daily necessities, under Old Man Yao's guidance, he had also bought plenty of seasonings and dried rations, even carrying two large iron racks.

Old Man Yao had said that when training abroad, there would inevitably be times when he had to handle his own meals. Besides cultivation, there were many survival matters that needed consideration.

Hun Ruoruo could not teach him such experience.

Quietly marveling at the benefits of having an elder at home, Xiao Yan headed toward Xiao Zhan's residence with a hint of unease.

"Oh, Yan'er is here."

Xiao Zhan noticed the youth's quiet figure. He set down the Marketplace list in his hand, his voice deep and gentle.

"You came so early today. Could it be that you wish to play a game with your father in advance?"

"Father, Yan'er came today because I have something to tell you."

"Oh? It is rare for Yan'er to willingly tell me something. Let me hear it."

"Well, actually..."

Seeing Xiao Yan's hesitant expression, Xiao Zhan smiled and slowly rose from his chair, walking straight down the steps.

"Yan'er, are you planning to travel and gain experience?"

"Father... how did you know?!" Xiao Yan was startled. He had never expected the other man to see through his purpose so easily, and could only swallow all the excuses he had prepared.

"Hehe, silly boy. Were you worried that I would not agree?"

Xiao Zhan walked to the youth's side and patted his shoulder, smiling as he said, "Your father will reimburse you for everything you bought at the Marketplace these past days. Here, it is not much, but consider it a little encouragement from your father. Yan'er has grown up. It is time for you to go out and see the world."

As he spoke, Xiao Zhan took out a sealed cloth pouch, heavy with quite a few Gold Coins.

At a glance, there seemed to be around a hundred coins, exactly enough to cover Xiao Yan's purchases.

Seeing this, how could Xiao Yan not understand his father's Heart's Desire? His father had likely begun paying attention when Xiao Yan first went to the Marketplace to buy supplies.

Given how busy he usually was, noticing such a thing clearly took no small amount of effort.

Warmth welled up in the youth's heart. He reached out and gripped the mouth of the money pouch, then grinned. "Thank you, Father."

Xiao Zhan waved a hand. "Your father is not very capable. I bear the title of Clan Leader, yet I let you suffer grievances for more than three years. Even my ability to firmly hold the position of Clan Leader now comes from borrowing the influence of that girl behind you. Your achievements today are all due to your own efforts."

"Let us not speak of that. Yan'er, are you traveling with that girl?"

"That is right."

At this, Xiao Zhan put a little more force into his hand as it landed on Xiao Yan's back, making his body sway slightly.

"Father?"

"You brat, you have known that girl for so long, yet your father has not even seen her. I have not been able to thank her in person. That is far too improper."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan could not help recalling Hun Ruoruo's appearance and mannerisms, his expression turning subtle. "Her way of doing things is rather strange. If there is a chance, I will mention it to her and have her meet you. But I cannot guarantee it will work."

"From the sound of it, Yan'er seems rather afraid of that girl?"

"Uh... perhaps a little." Xiao Yan did not wish to lose face as a man.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhan shook his head meaningfully and asked, "What is that girl's name?"

"Ruoruo."

"Ruoruo. It truly is an adorable name. I imagine her father had such hopes for her as well."

"Perhaps." Xiao Yan answered with a smile, though the girl's words unexpectedly resurfaced in his mind.

Their idle conversation did not last long. Soon, using clan affairs as an excuse, Xiao Zhan half-forced and half-saw Xiao Yan off, saying that he did not want Xiao Yan to see him acting overly sentimental.

Looking at the tightly shut door, Xiao Yan gave a helpless wry smile—

Fortunately, his father had not refused him. Half the matter of traveling was now settled.

Thinking of the other, more troublesome half, his expression grew somewhat unnatural as he hurried toward the next place.

Xiao Family, Residential District.

"Brother Xiao Yan, you are leaving?" Xun'er's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, and the pale green tea spilled onto the tray below.

The scalding tea splashed onto the Girl's fair, delicate hand, bringing patches of redness that made Xiao Yan frown deeply.

"You girl, your hand is scalded, yet you did not even notice."

He rather forcefully took the teacup from Xun'er's hand and placed it on the table, then took out the medicinal ointment he had used while cultivating Eight Extremes Collapse and applied it to her hand.

As he applied the medicine, he said, "I have already broken through to the Dou Zhe level. There are fewer and fewer places in the clan suitable for my cultivation. Since that is the case, I might as well go out and train, broadening my horizons."

"But..." Xun'er's face was even redder than her hand, and she stammered, unable to speak.

Only after a long while did she finally ask, haltingly, about Hun Ruoruo.

Xiao Yan had expected this. Following the explanation Hun Ruoruo had given him, he described in detail the cultivation of Soul Force.

Listening to Xiao Yan, Xun'er could not help becoming lost in thought. She asked, "So, she wants to help Brother Xiao Yan cultivate Soul Force?"

Though Xiao Yan felt somewhat guilty, once he considered that if she discovered the grade of his cultivation technique, he would likely have to launch into a lengthy explanation, he could only put it that way.

He said, "Regarding the fact that my Soul Force differs from ordinary people's, I have only told Xun'er. So I hope Xun'er can keep it secret."

Hun Ruoruo had seen through it herself, so that did not count.

Old Man Yao was a ghost, so naturally that did not count either.

To ease the guilt in his heart, he had learned from Hun Ruoruo how to lie without speaking falsehoods. It had to be said, it was quite useful.

"Y-you only told Xun'er?!"

Sure enough, upon learning this, Xun'er was both startled and delighted. The small trace of resentment in her heart vanished completely like smoke.

After hesitating again and again, she finally said, "Brother Xiao Yan, Xun'er promises you. But regarding Jia Nan Academy's enrollment in half a year, can Brother Xiao Yan go with Xun'er?"

"Jia Nan Academy?"

This name was not unfamiliar to Xiao Yan. Not just the Xiao Family—even any faction in Wutan City with a little influence would fight tooth and nail to send people to Jia Nan Academy.

The reason was simple. Jia Nan Academy's teaching resources were unrivaled throughout the Northwest Region. Countless gifted young men and women had become talents eagerly sought by all factions under Jia Nan Academy's instruction.

However, as good as Jia Nan Academy was, its teaching might not surpass that of Old Man Yao and Hun Ruoruo.

Just as Xiao Yan hesitated, Old Man Yao's barely audible, faint voice rang out in his mind—

"Agree to her!"

"..."

Though he did not understand why his Teacher wanted this, Xiao Yan still chose to agree.

"Alright. I will definitely make it in time for Jia Nan Academy's entrance examination."

"Thank you, Brother Xiao Yan." Xun'er revealed a sweet smile.

Neither knew how long they talked. Only when night fell and he had no choice but to leave did Xiao Yan finally depart from Xun'er's room.

Using the cover of night, he returned to the small courtyard at Xiao Manor, plunged into his room, and wearily collapsed onto the bed.

"This is even more tiring than cultivation."

His drawn-out voice rang out, laziness concealing excitement that could not be hidden, forming a faint echo in the room that had grown noticeably emptier.

"Still, fortunately, I can set out tomorrow."

Xiao Yan sighed sentimentally, stretched, and turned onto his side—

Without bedding spread over it, the bed was uncomfortably hard against him.

Suddenly, as the youth turned over, something heavy fell onto the floor. A dull sound mixed with metallic clanging made him unconsciously turn back again.

"I talked for so long that I nearly forgot Father's money pouch was still in my pocket..." Xiao Yan gave a dry laugh and reached beneath the bed.

He slowly picked up the pouch and instinctively untied the cord wrapped around it. As he had done in childhood, he began counting the Gold Coins one by one. Although the amount was not much, the feeling of receiving pocket money from his father still pleased him greatly.

As he counted, the youth's smile suddenly froze, and his eyes unconsciously grew moist.

Amid the many coins lay a Crystal Card, gleaming with a clear, translucent luster.

"Mittel Auction House universal savings card."