Xiao Yan: Cousin, Let Me Explain!

She definitely would not foolishly investigate the identity of Xiao Peng's mysterious teacher.

If she did investigate, it might bring about all kinds of trouble. That was not something she wanted to see.

She was a merchant. Only when there was enough profit to be seen would she possibly risk her life to uncover Xiao Peng's teacher's identity.

Even if she found out, it would not mean much. After all, getting those high-level alchemists to act came at an enormous price, and it also depended on their mood.

Rather than that, it would be better to properly befriend Xiao Peng.

Once she became close with Xiao Peng, if she encountered any difficulties in the future, she could ask him for help.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

The knock interrupted Ya Fei's thoughts. She called out, "Come in."

The door was pushed open, and one of the auction house guards entered.

Seeing the guard enter, Ya Fei asked, "What is it?"

The guard bowed to Ya Fei and said, "My lady, a young man named Xiao Peng asked me to give this to you."

As he spoke, he gently placed the jade bottle in his hand on the table beside Ya Fei.

Ya Fei looked at the jade bottle on the table. Its body was white and translucent, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance that stirred a trace of curiosity in her heart.

"Xiao Peng? Didn't he just leave?" Ya Fei picked up the jade bottle, her fingertips lightly brushing its smooth surface. "Did he say anything?"

The guard shook his head. "That young man only said this was a token of thanks for you, thanking you for your care today. After saying that, he turned and left."

Ya Fei raised an eyebrow and opened the stopper.

A crisp medicinal fragrance instantly spread through the room. Ya Fei took a whiff and immediately recognized the pill Xiao Peng had given her as a Clear Wind Pill.

Ya Fei looked inside curiously and found two Clear Wind Pills.

"He's quite a thoughtful little fellow." Ya Fei smiled at the pills and said to the guard, "Understood. You may leave."

After the guard withdrew, Ya Fei lightly tapped the tabletop with her fingertips, her gaze falling beyond the window.

"It seems little brother Xiao Peng understands propriety better than he appears to." Ya Fei picked up the jade bottle and gave it a shake. Amid the soft clinking of the pills, it was as though the young man's thoughts were hidden within.

Meanwhile, after returning to Xiao Mansion, Xiao Peng went to his courtyard and began practicing the Upper Clarity Sword Technique.

The Upper Clarity Sword Technique had been created by his teacher, Sect Leader Tongtian, and contained his teacher's understanding of the sword.

Xiao Peng thrust out with his sword, its tip seemingly drawing in the surrounding air and forming an almost imperceptible vortex.

When he spun and swept horizontally, the wind raised by Qingping Sword made the fallen leaves in the corner of the courtyard spiral into the air like butterflies dancing with the blade.

Xiao Peng's figure leaped and turned through the courtyard. The sharp whistle of Qingping Sword slicing through the air intertwined with the rustling of fallen leaves, creating a strange rhythm.

After finishing the set of sword forms, Xiao Peng sheathed his sword and stood still. Only a thin layer of sweat had formed on his brow, while his breathing remained deep and steady.

The radiance on Qingping Sword gradually faded, leaving only its blade reflecting his calm features.

"I still need to practice more." Xiao Peng stroked Qingping Sword in his hand and muttered to himself.

He silently planned to practice swordsmanship in the morning, then practice alchemy. In the afternoon, he would focus on practicing his sword, and at night, he would cultivate properly.

After planning out his training schedule, Xiao Peng continued practicing his sword.

He did not finish practicing the Upper Clarity Sword Technique until nightfall.

Half a month later, early morning, at the summit of the back mountain.

As usual, Xiao Peng came to the mountaintop to diligently practice the Upper Clarity Sword Technique.

"Thud, thud, thud..."

From the small forest came a series of somewhat unsettling dull thuds, mixed with low groans faintly tinged with pain, continuing without pause.

"????"

Hearing the sounds, Xiao Peng wore a puzzled expression.

What was going on? Someone was playing little games this early in the morning?

Were they really that perverted?

With that thought, Xiao Peng chose to quietly approach and see which two perverts were playing such a filthy game so early in the morning.

"Hm? Someone's coming."

"Xiao Yan, someone's coming. I'll return to the Storage Ring first."

Old Yao, who was in the middle of whipping Xiao Yan, sensed someone approaching and hurriedly returned to the Storage Ring.

Xiao Yan had not yet reacted. He kept his eyes shut and gritted his teeth, waiting for his teacher to continue whipping him.

"Why did it stop?"

After a while, Xiao Yan did not feel anyone whipping him. He opened his eyes and looked behind him with a puzzled expression.

But when he saw who was standing behind him, Xiao Yan's entire body froze, and he did not know what to say.

Old Yao, who should have been sitting atop the boulder, was nowhere to be seen. In his place stood a completely dumbfounded Xiao Peng.

Xiao Peng looked at Xiao Yan and likewise did not know what to say.

At that moment, Xiao Yan was drenched in cold sweat. His bare body, clad in nothing but a pair of shorts, was covered in green bruises.

"..."

For a moment, the atmosphere was strangely silent.

"Hahaha, cousin, what a coincidence."

"Hahaha, cousin, what a coincidence."

The next second, Xiao Yan and Xiao Peng spoke in unison, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.

Looking at Xiao Yan, who was covered in injuries, Xiao Peng scratched his head and said with a smile, "Cousin, I just remembered that Xiao Ning is about to give birth. I'll be leaving first. Take your time and enjoy yourself here."

With that, he prepared to run away from the place.

It was simply too awkward. He had not expected Xiao Yan to be whipping himself here.

Naturally, he knew the plot of Battle Through the Heavens, but he did not remember the unimportant details very clearly.

He did not believe anyone could memorize the entire contents of a book.

That kind of behavior was no longer human. It was an incomparably terrifying monster.

Seeing Xiao Peng about to leave, Xiao Yan hurriedly said, "Cousin, listen to my explanation. It's not what you think..."

He could no longer care about the absurd thing Xiao Peng had just said. He needed to explain himself clearly to Xiao Peng, or his lifetime reputation would be ruined.

He inwardly complained about his teacher. Someone had come, yet he had not even been told. That was truly not considerate at all.

Xiao Peng paused, then turned back to look at the bruises on Xiao Yan's body. The corner of his mouth twitched.

This scene really was easy to misunderstand. Especially with those dull thuds and suppressed groans from earlier, paired with Xiao Yan's injuries, there was something wrong with it no matter how one looked at it.

"Oh? Then what was it?" Xiao Peng crossed his arms and looked at him leisurely, a teasing smile hidden in his eyes.

He truly wanted to hear how this future Flame Emperor intended to talk his way out of this.

Xiao Yan's face reddened. He frantically tried to find something to cover himself with, only to discover that the outer robe he had casually tossed aside had long been soaked by the morning dew.

In a panic, he grabbed at his hair and pointed at a vine that had appeared on the ground at some point. Stammering, he said, "It, it was this! I was practicing a special Body Tempering technique just now, using this... well, to stimulate my meridians and strengthen my body!"

Xiao Peng followed the direction he pointed and glanced at the vine, then at the scattered bruises on his body. He drawled, "A Body Tempering technique? I don't think the Xiao Family genealogy has ever recorded such a 'unique' method of practice."

He could not help but laugh inwardly. He truly had not expected Xiao Yan to say something like that. It was really interesting.