Flame Encounter

"Silly brother, what kind of pharmacology are you planning to teach Xian'er today?"

Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Ning with the curiosity of a child. Over the past two years, Xiao Ning had been like a learned and wise man, teaching her a lot about herbal medicine preparation. Many of his miraculous prescriptions were rare and effective remedies that she had never seen before.

Furthermore, Xiao Yi Xian's symptoms of the Woeful Poison Body were suppressed under Xiao Ning's treatment, which made her admire Xiao Ning Xiao Yi Xian more.

"Xian'er, I won't teach you how to prepare medicine today," Xiao Ning said, knowing that Xiao Yi Xian had loved Xiao Yi Xian since childhood. He pinched her delicate little nose and said, "I still have something to discuss with you today."

"What is it we need to discuss?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, puzzled.

"Xian'er, as you know, I'm a nominal student at the Jia Nan Academy, and it's been quite a while since I've enrolled. I plan to register at the Jia Nan Academy in a few days. Would you like to study with me at the Jia Nan Academy?"

Jia Nan Academy was a place Xiao Ning always visited, because it held what he desired most.

The Fallen Heart Flame is hidden in the underground world of the Jia Nan Academy. Moreover, even deeper below, there is the soul of the Heavenly Fire Venerate and the Tou She Ancient God's Cave Mansion.

In the inner courtyard of the academy, there is Zi Yan, the little princess of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan, and Han Feng from the Black Corner Region, who has a strange fire called the Sea Heart Flame in his body. Almost half of the opportunities in the early stages are gathered there, so in order to obtain these, Xiao Ning must enroll in Canaan Academy.

"Hmph, I think Xiao Ning, you're mainly thinking about your childhood sweetheart, aren't you?" Xiao Yi Xian pouted, full of jealousy.

Since Xiao Ning brought her to Wutan City, she has learned that Xiao Ning has a mistress, and that she holds a very high place in Xiao Ning's heart. If Xiao Ning hadn't been so persistent in trying to persuade her to stay, she wouldn't have stayed here.

"Xian'er, I'm not like that at all. Jia Nan Academy has more than just Xun'er. My sister Xiao Yu is also studying there. I haven't seen my sister for years. I have to go to the academy to see her!" Xiao Ning hugged Xiao Yi Xian in his arms again and kissed her fair forehead.

"Alright, since my silly brother is going to the Jia Nan Academy, then Xian'er I'll just have to go with him." Xiao Yi Xian felt a sweet warmth in her heart, and tightly hugged Xiao Ning's waist, secretly vowing, "Wherever you go, I'll go. I'll follow you for life!"

The two were deeply in love at the Medicine Immortal Residence, completely absorbed in each other, when their romance was suddenly interrupted.

Xiao Ning looked at the newcomer and was surprised to see it was Qing Lin.

"Young Master Xiao Ning, something has happened." Qing Lin's expression was very serious, which made Xiao Ning release Xiao Yi Xian and take Qing Lin aside to talk.

"Qing Lin, what happened?"

"Young Master Xiao Ning, Na Lan Yan Ran has broken into the Xiao Family Mausoleum."

"What did you say?" Xiao Ning's expression changed abruptly upon hearing Qing Lin's report. Why would Na Lan Yan Ran run into the Xiao Family Mausoleum? Could it be that just now...?

He seemed to have realized something. Before he came, Na Lan Yan Ran had been asking about the whereabouts of Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan, and she had just made an excuse to leave. There must be some connection between them.

"Guards!" Xiao Ning's cold eyes flashed, revealing a murderous intent.

"Clan Leader, what are your orders?"

"You split into two teams. One team will bring Xiao Zhan here, and the other team will follow me to kill Xiao Yan."

Xiao Ning was filled with regret. He regretted his misplaced compassion over the past two years, which prevented him from decisively killing the dying Xiao Yan. If things had gone as he had hoped, and Xiao Yan had escaped from his grasp, it would have been like releasing a tiger back into the mountains, leading to endless troubles.

"Yes, Clan Leader, we'll take care of it right away."

These guards of the Xiao Clan were all trusted confidants promoted by Xiao Ning in the past two years. Even if Xiao Ning ordered them to commit suicide, they would not hesitate.

However, Xiao Ning's words shocked Qing Lin. What had she just heard? Xiao Ning actually wanted to kill Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.

Is this still the same young master Xiao Ning from the Tagor Desert? He has completely become a different person.

Xiao Ning was in a bad mood and had no time to think about Qing Lin's inner thoughts. His immediate priority was to get rid of Xiao Yan, this potential threat.

"Kid, you're going too far!" Yao Chen inside the ring couldn't stand it anymore.

"Teacher, a true man is not without ruthlessness, and a petty person is not a gentleman. Those who achieve great things never ask about the process, only about success or failure. If I want to live better than others, I must be more ruthless than others. But rest assured, your disciple respects you very much and will never use you as a bargaining chip for personal gain."

Xiao Ning's sharp gaze served as a preemptive warning to Yao Chen, preventing him from overthinking.

"Hmph, you'd better not have any wicked thoughts, or I will grind you to dust," Yao Chen sneered.

Xiao Ning nodded repeatedly. He certainly wouldn't betray Yao Chen for personal gain, but if the other party's offer exceeded the value of the pawn in his hand, he might consider it.

Meanwhile, Na Lan Yan Ran continued her exorcism ritual into thin air as she walked, putting on a show for quite a while. Only when she saw that the guards hadn't followed her did she finally breathe a long sigh of relief.

The Xiao Clan family cemetery is very large, with tombstones made of huge stones standing everywhere. She didn't know where Xiao Zhan was, but she knew that Xiao Zhan had been guarding his wife's tombstone for the past two years, so she had to find Xiao Zhan's wife's grave first.

After walking for a while, a dilapidated thatched hut appeared ahead. Outside the hut was a small courtyard enclosed by a fence about half a meter high, and three tombstones stood in the courtyard.

A man, whose hair had Dou Qi white before his age, sat leaning against the tombstone behind him, gulping down strong liquor from a jar as if trying to get drunk. He looked very decadent and old.

"Is it Uncle Xiao Zhan?" Na Lan Yan Ran asked tentatively.

"Who are you?" Xiao Zhan glanced at Na Lan Yan Ran with bleary eyes, then took another sip of wine.

"I am Na Lan Yan Ran, my father is Nalan Su, and my grandfather is Nalan Jie."

"Oh, so it's a girl from the Nalan Family!" Xiao Zhan lay on the ground, half-drunk and half-awake. He remembered that the Nalan Family and the Xiao Clan had once had a marriage agreement, and a bitter feeling welled up in his heart. 'Heh, it seems this girl has come to break off the engagement. No wonder, now that his Yan'er is worthless, it would be strange if she didn't come to cancel the engagement.'

Seeing that Xiao Zhan didn't want to talk to her, Na Lan Yan Ran didn't care too much. Instead, she glanced at the three tombstones.

The first tombstone reads, "Tomb of my beloved wife, Wan Er." It's obvious that she was Xiao Zhan's wife who passed away many years ago.

But the second and third pieces are different; they are inscribed with the words "Tomb of beloved son Xiao Ding and beloved son Xiao Li".

"Xiao Ding and Xiao Li are actually dead?" Na Lan Yan Ran's pupils shrank, even more incredulous.

How could the brothers Xiao Ding and Xiao Li have died? That's simply impossible.

"Yes, both of my sons are dead. They were murdered by villains in the Tagor Desert two years ago, both of them died tragically." Xiao Zhan recalled his painful memories, pounding his head on the tombstone and wailing uncontrollably. He never imagined that he, Xiao Zhan, who had lived a glorious life, would have to bury his sons. "I'm useless, I don't deserve to be their father, I'm so useless!"

The heart-wrenching pain of losing a child is unbearable for anyone. From Xiao Zhan's words, Na Lan Yan Ran also heard about some altered history. When Xiao Zhan heard that his son had died, he was determined to find the murderer. But he didn't even need to look for him. The murderer who killed Xiao Ding and Xiao Zhan came to his door and even successfully ambushed him, crippling his cultivation.

"Where is Xiao Yan? Where is Xiao Yan?" Na Lan Yan Ran panicked even more. Seeing Xiao Zhan still banging his head against his wife's tombstone, she shouted, "Tell me, where is Xiao Yan now?"

"Yan'er?" Xiao Zhan chuckled absentmindedly, "Yan'er... if you often see a madman in Wutan City, that's my son, Xiao Yan."

Boom!

Na Lan Yan Ran's heart trembled violently, her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground.

What has happened to this world? Why has everything become like this?

Tears streamed down her face, her body trembled uncontrollably, and finally, she scrambled out of the Xiao Family Mausoleum.

She had to find Xiao Yan; she would never allow anyone to harm Xiao Yan again.

She used her soul power to search for Xiao Yan 'Xiao Yan figure throughout Wutan City, but she could not see his face at all.

She could only run, crying, calling out Xiao Yan's name, weaving through every street and alley, constantly searching for Xiao Yan's whereabouts, and asking passersby, but no one was willing to tell her where Xiao Yan was, because they feared the powerful Xiao Clan and the powerful Xiao Ning.

"The sunset is infinitely beautiful, but it's nearing dusk!"

"To achieve unparalleled glory, you'll still be completely fooled by me."

"Now that my doubts have been resolved, I should take my leave. From this day forward, there will be no further contact between us, Your Majesty Misty Cloud Great Emperor."

Memories of the past resurfaced in Na Lan Yan Ran's mind. She looked at the crowded square and the endless stream of people on the streets, but she still couldn't find Xiao Yan. She knelt on the ground and wept bitterly.

"Xiao Yan, you're right. Perhaps the debt I owe you can never be repaid. If I hadn't changed everything back then, maybe you wouldn't be the way you are today. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Tears fell to the ground, and Na Lan Yan Ran was overcome with regret and self-reproach.

Perhaps Heaven knew of her repentance and decided to forgive her. Na Lan Yan Ran used her soul power to search again and finally located Xiao Yan's position.

"Ah, don't hit me, Mother, save Yan'er! Mother, where are you?"

She followed the sound step by step, and ahead was a madman, who was surrounded by a large group of passersby. Several burly men were punching and kicking the madman, making him spit blood from his mouth and nose and roll around on the ground. The passersby around him pointed and whispered, making disgusted faces.

"Stop! Stop right now!"

Na Lan Yan Ran pushed through the crowd with all her might, stopping the two burly men's violence, and finally saw Xiao Yan.

Na Lan Yan Ran trembled as she approached Xiao Yan, tears welling in her eyes once more. She then tightly embraced the foul-smelling Xiao Yan, saying, "Xiao Yan, I'm sorry, I'm late, I'm so sorry!"