Xiao Yan: Brother Yang, Have You Taken a Fancy to Sect Leader Yun?

Yun Yun had long since put away her peculiar long sword in her Storage Ring. Looking at the Purple Spirit Crystal Chen Yang handed over, she raised her slender jade hand and accepted it from him.

As he handed it over, Chen Yang's large hand deliberately brushed lightly across Yun Yun's hand. Her heart trembled slightly, but her expression remained unchanged as she placed the Purple Spirit Crystal into her Storage Ring.

As if searching for a topic of conversation, Yun Yun glanced at Xiao Yan, who had his hands behind his head and was even in the mood to whistle, then said softly to Chen Yang, "We were looking for this Purple Spirit Stone because one of the medicinal pills Elder Gu He Prepared For Yanran requires it."

Chen Yang nodded at that. "I have long heard of the Jia Ma Empire's Pill King. If the opportunity arises someday, I will certainly pay him a visit and exchange pointers on alchemy."

The speaker had intentions, and the listener understood them.

Upon hearing Chen Yang's words, Yun Yun assumed his alchemy was roughly on par with Gu He's. Xiao Yan thought the same, secretly wondering if Brother Yang's alchemy was about to break through again.

"Once Yun Yun returns to the sect, she will relay this good news to Elder Gu He!" Yun Yun smiled at Chen Yang, a trace of delight flashing through her heart.

"Mm." Chen Yang nodded.

Yun Yun lightly bit her lip. Seeing that Chen Yang was not particularly proactive toward her, she wanted to leave, but he truly had saved her just now. Moreover, that faint, hazy feeling made her want to stay a little longer.

Thus, she continued using Xiao Yan to expand the conversation.

"Master Chen Yang..." Yun Yun had barely called out when Chen Yang raised his hand to stop her.

"Sect Leader Yun, there is no need to be so formal. Just call me by my name," Chen Yang said. He understood well how to break down the sense of distance between men and women.

If two people wanted their relationship to develop further, the first step was to change how they addressed each other.

An intimate form of address—or rather, one without distance, or with slightly less distance—could directly bring their hearts closer.

Xiao Yan had called her Xun Er little sister for over a decade, and hadn't he won the heart of that Ancient Clan's Little Princess?

"Then don't call me Sect Leader Yun either. Just call me by my name!" Yun Yun's small hands, which had been clasped together somewhat nervously, suddenly relaxed. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled at Chen Yang.

Xiao Yan had originally been wondering why Yun Yun had not left after completing the transaction.

But after hearing their exchange, his gossiping heart was immediately hooked.

He watched the two of them curiously, his gaze gradually turning suggestive.

However, just as Xiao Yan was watching them with the look of someone enjoying a sweet romance, Yun Yun suddenly brought him up. "Chen Yang, Xiao Yan... is he your disciple?"

Yun Yun was actually a little nervous when she asked.

She feared Chen Yang would nod.

She had supported her disciple's engagement break back then. Although she had not instructed Ge Ye to use force or to go to the door and break off the engagement face-to-face, her approval itself represented the Misty Cloud Sect's stance.

Although she had reprimanded Nalan Yanran after learning what had happened, what was done could never be undone.

If Xiao Yan was Chen Yang's disciple, then wouldn't the two of them...

"I simply found this kid pleasing to the eye, and I am friends with one of his clan's elders, so I offered him some help. He has his own teacher," Chen Yang explained proactively, roughly guessing what Yun Yun was thinking.

"Brother Yang, it's about time to eat. How about I make us something, and you and Sect Leader Yun can talk while you eat?" Since there was gossip to enjoy, Xiao Yan naturally did not want to leave, so he took the initiative to suggest it.

"Why don't we eat in a nearby city? I should also thank you, Chen Yang, for your life-saving grace." Hearing Chen Yang's explanation, Yun Yun relaxed a little. As long as Xiao Yan was not his disciple, there was still room to reconcile things. Seeing Xiao Yan suggest a meal, Yun Yun made another suggestion of her own.

"At our speed, it would take at least one or two hours to fly to the nearest city. Besides, the ingredients in the city might not be as fresh as those in the Monster Mountain Range." The two closest cities to their current location were Wutan City and Black Rock City, and neither was close.

Besides, the Monster Mountain Range was where the two had their first meeting. They had to deepen their impression of each other here somehow—preferably with some physical contact.

Yun Yun had been single for over twenty years. In all those years, let alone intimate contact with a man, she probably had not even spent much time alone talking with one. If he wanted to get closer to her heart, it was actually quite simple.

"I'll listen to you."

Yun Yun nodded.

Thus, the three of them and one beast arrived beside a pool. The Amethyst Winged Lion King lay atop the mountain, silently guarding the surroundings. With a Sixth-order Magical Beast keeping watch, the smaller magical beasts nearby fled at the slightest sign of danger, vanishing without a trace.

"Brother Yang, you and Sect Leader Yun chat. I'll cook!" Xiao Yan said with the Giant Ruler on his back, then walked toward the pool behind him, preparing to catch a few fish to roast.

"Cooking is fine, but use normal seasonings. Don't add anything else!" Seeing Xiao Yan preparing to roast fish, Chen Yang recalled the absurd thing Yun Yun had done in the Original Work.

But Xiao Yan was almost a Third-grade Alchemist by now, so he had probably long tossed that sort of medicinal pill into some forgotten corner, right?

"Huh???"

Xiao Yan scratched his head, somewhat unable to understand what Chen Yang meant.

Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, Chen Yang helplessly waved his hand, signaling for him to do as he pleased.

In any case, both he and Yun Yun were currently in perfect condition. At most, that sort of second-grade medicinal pill would have no effect on them.

Watching Xiao Yan go off to busy himself, Chen Yang took out two Small Stools from his Storage Ring and handed one to Yun Yun.

After accepting it, Yun Yun followed Chen Yang's example and opened it. She smoothed her skirt hem with one hand and sat down elegantly.

As the two sat closer together, Chen Yang felt Yun Yun's surging aura instantly wash over him.

"Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect was once quite renowned On the Dou Qi Continent. When Yun Potian traveled through the Central Continent, our clan had some dealings with him as well. So why, as the current sect leader, are you only a Three-star Dou Huang?" Chen Yang casually brought up a topic.

Yun Yun answered in a gentle voice.

At that moment, the natural sounds of the Monster Mountain Range filled their ears. Fresh air mingled with the aroma of Xiao Yan's fire-roasted fish, lingering around their noses.

Their conversation gradually shifted from anecdotes about their sects to cultivation exchanges, then to their personal lives.

When Chen Yang mentioned that both his parents had died, Yun Yun offered him some comfort. Her heart also drew a little closer to his, for she too had lost her parents at a young age before Yun Shan took her in.

As they conversed, the unfamiliarity between them gradually faded, and they felt as though they had met too late.

"Brother Yang, Sect Leader Yun, dinner's ready!"

At that moment, Xiao Yan suddenly shouted from afar.

"Coming!"

Chen Yang answered, then rose to his feet. Looking at Yun Yun seated on the Small Stool, he extended a hand toward her.

As a Dou Emperor, Yun Yun naturally did not need anyone to pull her up. But this was Chen Yang's small test, as well as a friendly signal. The lingering aftermath of his life-saving grace was still there, and he was much stronger than her.

With all those factors combined, Yun Yun had reasons to refuse his hand, but also reasons why she could not refuse it.

Looking at the large hand extended toward her, Yun Yun froze for a moment. She raised her head to look up at Chen Yang, a hint of shyness flashing across her pretty face.

"Come on, let's eat!"

As though he had noticed nothing at all, Chen Yang revealed a jade-like smile and even gave his hand a little shake.

Yun Yun remained silent for two and a half seconds. Yet there was not much struggle in her heart; compared to that, she felt far more shy.

If they had been alone, she would certainly have stood up calmly and let the matter pass. But she noticed Xiao Yan watching the scene from afar.

So Yun Yun hesitated for only two and a half seconds before letting out a soft sigh and placing her small hand in Chen Yang's. She allowed him to pull her up.

Yet after standing, Yun Yun felt as if her face might already be red, because her cheeks felt somewhat hot.

After pulling Yun Yun up, Chen Yang released her hand. He casually picked up his Small Stool and walked toward Xiao Yan. Yun Yun savored the feeling of their hands touching just now, reached up to touch her face, paused briefly, then picked up her own Small Stool and followed him.

Chen Yang reached the water's edge first. Looking at the fish Xiao Yan had roasted, he gave him a thumbs-up. "Kid, even if you don't become an Alchemist in the future, you could still support yourself by opening a grilled fish shop."

Xiao Yan chuckled, then glanced at Yun Yun before looking at Chen Yang. Using Spiritual Power, he spoke inside Chen Yang's mind, "Brother Yang, have you taken a fancy to Sect Leader Yun..."