Know Your Place! Yun Yun's Question

"Forget it."

Nalan Yanran's call made Yun Yun rein in her aura and stop pressuring Gu Han.

As the Sect Leader, she could hardly say something like, "When speaking before me, you must refer to yourself as this disciple."

Choosing to do so was a sign of respect, but not doing so was no great issue. As long as he did not call her "Yun Yun" to her face, it did not count as failing to understand proper rank.

"Yan Ran, what important matter brought you to see me so early?" Yun Yun's gaze softened as she chided with a smile, "I have many trivial matters to deal with this morning. I was planning to examine your studies this afternoon."

Nalan Yanran subconsciously glanced at Gu Han, wondering if this was what her teacher meant by trivial matters.

Was a mere Gu Han more important than her, a Personal Disciple?

"Teacher, my matter is very important." Naturally, Nalan Yanran did not dare voice her inner thoughts. She could only resort to her usual tactic and act cute with Yun Yun.

Keeping the Opportunity's warning firmly in mind, Gu Han watched his nose, his nose watched his mouth, and he stared straight ahead as if he had heard nothing.

A trace of approval flashed through Yun Yun's eyes. She reached out and stroked Nalan Yanran's hair. "The fighting on the front lines ended two days early, so I returned a day ahead of schedule. I should have examined you tomorrow, so there is naturally no rush."

"When I returned last night, I happened to encounter Gu Han and discovered that his cultivation was already on par with yours. His talent is no worse than yours. I called him here to choose an Elder as his Teacher, so that the two of you may watch out for one another within the sect in the future."

This was an explanation for Nalan Yanran, but also a way of telling Gu Han why she had summoned him so early.

As the Sect Leader, she could not possibly lower herself to explain things to a disciple, yet saying it outright felt rather stiff.

That would have been fine with any other disciple, but after last night's unexpected incident, Yun Yun could not be stern with Gu Han.

Or rather, she did not want to be so stiff and businesslike with him.

Besides, she was also telling Gu Han to get along well with Nalan Yanran. In the future, they would be part of the same inner circle.

"Your cultivation is on par with mine!?" Nalan Yanran had no idea what Yun Yun was thinking. She was merely shocked by the information Yun Yun had revealed. "That's impossible."

"How is it impossible?" Yun Yun's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she wondered whether she had spoiled Nalan Yanran too much in the past.

"Teacher, you may not know this, but he only broke through to the Dou Zhe realm twenty days ago." Nalan Yanran immediately recounted how she had gone to cultivate in the Outer Sect Training Room and accidentally learned of Gu Han's breakthrough. "Could he have broken through another two stars in just twenty days?"

"I already knew of what you mentioned." Understanding what had shocked Nalan Yanran, Yun Yun's brows relaxed, and her voice carried a hint of laughter. "That is indeed the truth. Gu Han has had some good fortune as well."

Naturally, Yun Yun knew of the seasonal Yin Wind at the summit of Third Peak, so she offered a brief explanation.

"So you really are a Three-Star Dou Zhe, just like me?" Nalan Yanran looked at Gu Han with utter disbelief.

"Yes, Senior Sister," Gu Han answered.

Nalan Yanran immediately understood why Yun Yun had met Gu Han so early in the morning.

She had begun cultivating at four, broken through to Dou Zhe at thirteen, and become a Three-Star Dou Zhe this year at fifteen.

Gu Han had begun cultivating when he was over six, broken through to Dou Zhe before fifteen, and then advanced to Three-Star Dou Zhe.

Considering resources, her teacher's guidance, and other factors, Gu Han's talent was not merely no worse than hers. It was certainly greater.

If Gu Han had not been an Ice Attribute Dou Qi Cultivator, Yun Yun might even have accepted him as a disciple herself.

"Teacher, were you teasing me just now?" A gleam flashed through Nalan Yanran's eyes as she acted cute with Yun Yun again. "His talent is clearly above mine, crushing me completely."

"That is different." Afraid that her disciple had been discouraged, Yun Yun smiled and consoled her. "These past years, you have mainly spent your time becoming proficient in cultivation methods and Dou Techniques, while your cultivation has focused on solidifying your foundation."

"For the next period of time, I will be relatively free. I will personally guide your cultivation, and with medicinal pills to assist you, breaking through to Dou Master within a year will not be a problem."

"After all, I am a Wind Attribute Dou Emperor."

When she mentioned the words Dou Emperor, Yun Yun's voice carried a trace of pride.

Not only in the Jia Ma Empire—even in this southwestern corner of the Northwest Continent, she was well-known.

"Teacher, you are mighty." Nalan Yanran offered some flattery, then her eyes shifted as she said, "But Teacher, if you do not deal with this soon, then never mind becoming a Dou Master within a year. Even if I break through to Da Dou Shi or Dou Ling in the future, it will all be for someone else's benefit."

"What do you mean?" Yun Yun's eyes sharpened.

"Grandfather insists that I fulfill the Engagement. Once I come of age, I am to go to the Xiao Family and complete the Engagement." Nalan Yanran spoke pitifully. "Just because of a single promise he made, just because of his own pride, he does not care about his granddaughter's life."

"Besides, I am the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect."

At those words, Yun Yun immediately developed a headache.

It was not as though she had never gone to the Nalan Family to discuss this matter.

Nalan Su had supported Nalan Yanran before her, but old Master Nalan Jie had been stubborn beyond reason. She could not simply take someone's granddaughter as her disciple and then decide everything herself.

The Nalan Family was backed by the Imperial Family, and the Imperial Family would not permit the Misty Cloud Sect to act so arrogantly.

Whether in sentiment, reason, or strength, it was inconvenient for her to do anything.

Yet it truly was unsuitable for the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect to have a fiancé. It had nothing to do with whether the other party was a Waste or not. Xiao Yan had not been a Waste back then, and when she had first accepted Nalan Yanran as her disciple, the latter had already hoped Yun Yun would resolve the Engagement.

But she had only just taken her as a disciple then, making it even less appropriate for her to interfere in the Nalan Family's private affairs.

Looking back now, it would have been better to intervene then. At least no one would say she wanted to break off the Engagement only because Xiao Yan had become a Waste.

Never mind the current Xiao Family—even if Xiao Lin had still been alive over a decade ago, the Misty Cloud Sect would not have regarded them highly.

"This matter still requires careful consideration." Yun Yun still wanted to delay it.

She somewhat regretted having Gu Han present. Had she known, she would have first asked what Nalan Yanran had come for.

"Teacher!" Yun Yun had underestimated Nalan Yanran's determination this time. "I am serious. I cannot spend my life married to a stranger I do not even know."

"If Teacher will not help me, then expel me from the sect. I will obediently go become the Xiao Family's daughter-in-law and satisfy everyone."

Seeing the resolve in Nalan Yanran's eyes, Yun Yun wavered for a moment.

Her gaze passed over Gu Han's face. Since he already knew about this matter, she might as well ask for his opinion.

He happened to be the same age as that Xiao Yan—fifteen, a young man.

"Gu Han, what do you think of this matter?" Yun Yun acted the moment she thought of it.

Nalan Yanran instantly turned to look at Gu Han, her eyes filled with complicated emotions.

"Sect Leader, from whose perspective should I answer?" Gu Han asked in return with a formal salute.

"Perspective?" Yun Yun found his phrasing interesting and asked, "If you answer from Senior Sister Yan Ran's perspective?"

Gu Han nodded slightly and spouted utter nonsense with a straight face. "Why isn't Xiao Yan dead yet?"

Yun Yun:?

Nalan Yanran:!

"Someone like him wastes Heaven and Earth Energy by cultivating, wastes air by living, and wastes land by dying."

Yun Yun:!

Nalan Yanran: That was unnecessary. Truly unnecessary!

Achoo!

Far away in Wutan City, the young Yan Emperor rubbed his nose again.

"Is weak cultivation really enough to make someone sick? Thieving Heaven, damned Heaven."

Yao Chen in the Ring: ...