Guiding Xiao Yan

Many people who had once taken the initiative to befriend him began distancing themselves after he fell from a genius to a cripple. Some even kicked him while he was down and mocked him.

The difference between falling from heaven to hell in an instant left him somewhat unable to accept it.

At the same time, he could not understand why this had happened.

During this period, he had seen the coldness of the world and the warmth and chill of human relationships!

Yet in the face of ridicule from his own clansmen, he did not lose heart. Instead, he had continued cultivating in silence.

He hoped that one day, he could return to the peak and fiercely slap the faces of those who had once mocked him.

But imagination was beautiful; reality gave him a resounding slap instead!

No matter how hard he tried, his cultivation showed no improvement at all!

That was what left him so depressed.

It was also why he had come here, hoping to find somewhere deserted to vent the bitterness in his heart.

But by sheer coincidence, the place he chose happened to be where Zi Yu and the others were spending their time.

Naturally, the disturbance he caused here was noticed by Zi Yu, Ling Qingzhu, Gu Xun'er, and the others.

At that moment, when he saw Xiao Yan suddenly appear, Zi Yu was utterly stunned!

Speak of Cao Clan, and Cao Clan arrives?

He had originally been wondering how to find Xiao Yan.

Yet now, the other party had delivered himself right to his doorstep.

"Since you took the initiative to come to me, you have saved me quite a bit of trouble!"

Zi Yu thought to himself.

Then, Zi Yu looked at the four women and said, "Qing Zhu! Xun'er! Ke'er! Sister Jing! Let's go over and take a look..."

Although the four women did not know why their beloved/Young Master wanted to do this, they still nodded in agreement!

Afterward, the group headed toward Xiao Yan.

Arriving behind Xiao Yan, Zi Yu said calmly, "Do you want to know why?..."

Hearing the voice behind him, Xiao Yan was greatly startled!

He hurriedly turned around and saw a youth of exquisite, peerless beauty, his features seeming as though they had been carved by the heavens themselves. He possessed an otherworldly aura, like an immortal banished to the mortal world, accompanied by four women who were equally stunning, capable of toppling kingdoms and cities, with extraordinary and refined temperaments.

Seeing this group, Xiao Yan froze for a moment!

Could there really be such men and women in this world?

While Xiao Yan was still dazed, Zi Yu spoke once more. "As for the question I just asked, do you wish to know the reason?"

Only then did Xiao Yan come back to his senses. He cupped his hands and bowed. "Oh? May I ask, Young Master, can you resolve the confusion in my heart?"

"I can..."

Zi Yu replied calmly.

After receiving Zi Yu's affirmative answer, Xiao Yan immediately bent forward, his face filled with deep respect. "I am Xiao Yan. I implore Young Master to enlighten me and clear away my confusion!..."

Zi Yu smiled faintly upon hearing this, then said unhurriedly, "I heard your questions, but you have quite a few, so I will answer them one by one!

First, why did the people around you undergo a complete change in attitude after you lost your talent and cultivation?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan pricked up his ears and listened carefully, afraid of missing even a single word.

Zi Yu then said leisurely, "Because when your talent was exceptional and your accomplishments far surpassed those of your peers in the clan, the elders saw your value. Naturally, they attached great importance to you, and naturally they favored and indulged you as well. But when your cultivation fell and your talent vanished, they could no longer see any hope of revitalizing the clan through you, so naturally they chose to abandon you. After all, they would not waste their thoughts on a cripple in whom they saw no hope. As for those people around you who once flattered you, they all loved fawning over the powerful and trampling on the weak. When you were glorious, they came to flatter you. Of course, when you fell into hardship and they could gain no benefit from you, they naturally chose to distance themselves from you, or even kick you while you were down and mock you alongside others. Do you understand?"

Xiao Yan nodded.

"Xiao Yan understands!..."

He was not foolish to begin with. After Zi Yu's guidance, he naturally understood the reason behind it all.

"Alright, I have answered your first question. As for the second, do you think that your sudden transformation from a genius into a cripple overnight was heaven toying with you?"

Zi Yu asked with interest.

Seeing his expression, Xiao Yan asked back with a gloomy face, "Was it not?..."

Zi Yu smiled. "Haha! Xiao Yan, you are wrong! It was not heaven toying with you. Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and fortune may conceal calamity. Before you became a cripple, what kind of personality did you have? And after becoming a cripple, what kind of personality do you have now?"

Hearing this string of questions from Zi Yu, Xiao Yan was stunned!

A thoughtful expression appeared on his face!

That was right! Before becoming a cripple, he had been a genius admired by countless people and pursued by others!

Thus, he had become somewhat smug and grown far more arrogant and reckless!

He had even become somewhat contemptuous of everyone else!

After becoming a cripple, he had endured endless ridicule, yet he had also learned patience and restraint, becoming much humbler!

He was no longer as arrogant and reckless as before, but had become far more steady and composed!

His character had also become resolute!

At this thought, Xiao Yan's expression changed!

After taking in every change in his expression, Zi Yu said leisurely again, "In the end, everything you are suffering now is merely tempering your character, making you resilient and determined. On the path of cultivation, innate talent is certainly important, but acquired effort, endurance, and perseverance are even more important! Only then can you walk far and become even stronger!"

After Zi Yu finished speaking, Xiao Yan gave him a deep bow!

"Thank you for your guidance, Young Master! Xiao Yan has learned much!..."

Then, seeing that the atmosphere had been built up sufficiently, Zi Yu spoke.

"Xiao Yan, before answering your final question of why you suddenly changed from a genius into a cripple overnight, I want to ask you something: do you want to become stronger?"

As soon as Zi Yu's words fell, Xiao Yan immediately dropped to his knees with a thud.

"I beg Young Master to help me. If you can help me restore my cultivation, then from this day onward, I, Xiao Yan, will follow your lead. I will brave fire and water without hesitation!"

After Xiao Yan finished speaking, Zi Yu said teasingly, "Oh? You are only saying that. How am I supposed to believe you?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yan hurriedly swore an oath. "Azure Sky above! I, Xiao Yan, swear to heaven that if this Young Master before me can help me restore my cultivation, then I, Xiao Yan, will follow his lead. I will brave fire and water without hesitation! If I violate this oath, may heaven destroy me and earth bury me! Let heaven and earth bear witness!..."