Nalan Yanran: I Was Here First

[At the third quarter of the hour of the Dragon, Core Disciple Yun Liu will come to take you to the Back Hall of the Sect Main Hall to meet Yun Yun. After Nalan Yanran repeatedly pleaded with her, she persuaded Yun Yun to agree to let her go to the Xiao Family in Wutan City to cancel the engagement. However, Yun Yun feels that this matter is somewhat improper and will ask for your opinion.]

[Nalan Yanran has a cousin, Nalan Yanyun, who is less than three months younger than her. She also possesses Wind Attribute Dou Qi. Though her appearance is slightly inferior, her cultivation talent surpasses Nalan Yanran's. When she broke through to become a Dou Zhe, someone secretly harmed her, making it difficult for her cultivation to advance. A Fourth-Grade Pill personally created by Yao Chen can easily solve this problem.]

After reading the two pieces of opportunity information, Gu Han's brows furrowed into a Sichuan character.

The first piece of information seemed ordinary, but it actually concealed something deeper.

Yun Yun had already agreed to Nalan Yanran's engagement cancellation, yet she still sought the opinion of an outsider like him. This showed that she felt this course of action was inappropriate.

Clearly, Yun Yun wanted Nalan Yanran's marriage arrangement dissolved, but not through the Misty Cloud Sect backing Nalan Yanran as she went to cancel the engagement in person.

He could think ahead about how to answer and try to come up with a perfect solution.

If he could manage that, not only would half the cause of the conflict between Xiao Yan and the Misty Cloud Sect be resolved.

He could also take the opportunity to ask Yun Yun for a reward. Perhaps he would have a chance to obtain the Ice Toad Snow Pearl.

"Nalan Yanyun..."

Gu Han began considering the second piece of information.

A woman of the Nalan Family whose talent surpassed even Nalan Yanran's, yet whose cultivation had stagnated due to poisoning. And the solution lay with Yao Chen.

The Black Tortoise Shell would not provide useless information. Since it had told him this, it would certainly prove useful.

"Perhaps I can do it this way."

An idea arose in Gu Han's heart, and the more he considered it, the more feasible it seemed.

That fellow transmigrator would surely like his arrangement.

"Ah-choo!"

At the Xiao Family in Wutan City, Xiao Yan, who was cultivating in his small courtyard, suddenly sneezed.

When he sensed the Dou Qi he had just condensed in his Dantian vanish once again, he cursed furiously.

"Damn heavens, damn heavens, damn heavens."

Had he been transported to a world where cultivation was possible only to become a waste!?

And not just any waste, but a genius who had first fallen into becoming a waste and tasted all the warmth and coldness of human nature.

There is only one year left until I turn sixteen. If I don't have Seven-Stage Dou Disciple cultivation, I'll have to leave the family. Is this all my life will ever be? Xiao Yan was consumed by despair.

Human joys and sorrows were not shared.

While Xiao Yan felt that his future was utterly bleak, Gu Han sat in meditation with Cold Jade in hand, clearly sensing his strength improve.

At this rate, he was confident that he could break through to Dou Master within half a year. This was even faster than Xiao Yan's breakthrough from a One-star Dou Practitioner to Dou Master in a year.

But the Burning Art Xiao Yan cultivated in the early stages had first been Yellow-Tier Primary, then Yellow-Tier Intermediate. It could not compare to Gu Han's Mystic-Tier Primary Cultivation Method.

The Cold Jade and the Jade Spirit Fruit's body-tempering effects were even greater advantages.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, Gu Han finished cultivating and went to the Study in his small courtyard to wait quietly.

"Is Junior Brother Gu here?"

At the third quarter of the hour of the Dragon, a young man's voice sounded outside the courtyard.

"I am." Gu Han spoke up. "Who is looking for me?"

"Core Disciple Yun Liu," Yun Liu answered.

Creak.

Gu Han pushed open the Study door and walked out, greeting Yun Liu with a formal salute. "Greetings, Senior Brother."

"Greetings, Junior Brother." Yun Liu returned the salute with a smile. "The Sect Leader wishes to see you. Come with me to the Sect Main Hall."

"I'll trouble Senior Brother to lead the way."

Gu Han's expression remained calm as he made an inviting gesture.

Yun Liu was surprised by his demeanor, but he said nothing.

The two headed one after the other toward the Sect Main Hall of the Misty Cloud Sect, soon arriving at the stairway.

The stairs stretched from the foot of the mountain all the way to the Sect Main Hall atop the peak, with no end visible at a glance. From high above, they resembled a winding, twisting dragon. Every step was broad and heavy, evoking a sense of steadiness and reliability.

The morning sunlight spilled down as the two figures steadily climbed the stairs. At regular intervals, they saw disciples standing guard or patrolling, and the higher they went, the more disciples there were.

At last, they arrived at the plaza before the Sect Main Hall. Looking out, it seemed like boundless land, vast and magnificent, flat and smooth as a mirror.

Towering stone pillars and majestic buildings rose all around them, creating an air of solemn dignity.

At the other end of the plaza stood the Sect Main Hall, grand and imposing, solemn and majestic, inspiring reverence in all who saw it.

Led by Yun Liu, Gu Han passed through without obstruction to the left side of the Sect Main Hall. They entered a passage through a side door and headed toward the Sect Leader Hall at the rear.

"Wait here. I will inform the Sect Leader."

Yun Liu turned back to instruct Gu Han, then walked inside without waiting for a response.

Gu Han stood where he was for about the time it took to drink half a cup of tea before Yun Liu returned. "You may enter now, Junior Brother."

"Yes." Gu Han replied with a formal salute.

Following Yun Liu, Gu Han entered the Inner Hall, where the Sect Leader usually handled affairs.

The hall was elegantly furnished. Night Pearls were embedded throughout its walls, and bookshelves lined both sides, filled with all kinds of ancient texts. Some distance before the bookshelves stood chairs and desks.

Nalan Yanran sat in the chair on the left at the front, dressed in disciple robes. She absentmindedly sipped tea, glancing toward the front from time to time.

A writing desk stood directly ahead, complete with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Behind it sat Yun Yun, dressed in a brocade robe that gave her an air of nobility.

"Sect Leader, Gu Han has arrived." Yun Liu bowed and reported.

"Good. You may leave first." Yun Yun's voice carried a sense of distance as she casually waved her hand.

"This disciple takes his leave." Yun Liu obeyed and withdrew.

After he left, Gu Han met Nalan Yanran's curious, puzzled gaze and greeted Yun Yun with a formal salute. "Greetings, Sect Leader."

"Greetings?" The corners of Yun Yun's lips lifted as she looked at Gu Han with interest. "Who is greeting whom?"

Yun Yun suddenly realized something.

After returning to her quarters last night, she had been unable to figure out where the strange feeling Gu Han gave her came from.

It was not until Nalan Yanran came to see her that morning and immediately said, "This disciple greets Teacher. Is Teacher well?" that she suddenly understood.

When Gu Han faced her, he addressed her as Sect Leader, but he never referred to himself as "this disciple." He had always used "I."

Even Nalan Yanran strictly observed her status before her. What was Gu Han doing?

"Outer Disciple Gu Han."

"Greetings, Sect Leader."

Gu Han answered with cupped hands, his movements precise and carrying a peculiar aesthetic grace.

"You still know that you are an Outer Disciple?" Amusement appeared in Yun Yun's eyes, though her voice carried a warning.

The more the little fellow avoided something, the more she wanted to make him do it.

Gu Han stood tall and met Yun Yun's gaze, asking in confusion, "What does the Sect Leader mean by that?"

Seeing the little fellow pretend not to understand despite knowing perfectly well, Yun Yun said bluntly, "Last night, did you ever refer to yourself as this disciple?"

"When I first met the Sect Leader last night, I reported my identity. I am Outer Disciple Gu Han." Gu Han answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"You know that is not what I mean." Yun Yun deliberately released a trace of pressure.

Gu Han visualized the Black Tortoise Shell within his mind and remained completely unaffected. His mouth was stubborn. "I don't understand."

His behavior made Yun Yun silently praise him again.

With such composure, Gu Han would be able to go further in the future.

Watching her teacher and Gu Han stare at each other, Nalan Yanran felt very unnecessary.

"Teacher!"

I was here first!