Double the Harvest! The Sect Leader's Order

"Yes, Teacher!"

Nalan Yanran clasped her fists in salute and gladly accepted the errand.

Thanks to Gu Han, she had finally gotten what she wanted. From now on, she could cultivate in secret, focus wholeheartedly on growing stronger, and see the sights from the heights of the Dou Qi Continent.

Knock, knock, knock!

Nalan Yanran raised her hand and knocked on the gate to Gu Han's small courtyard.

"Come in."

A cool, detached voice came from beyond the gate, as though it were separated from the entire world by a veil.

Nalan Yanran pushed open the gate and entered the courtyard. She saw a young man in a pale blue robe seated on a stone stool. His refined features looked sharply defined beneath the sunlight, his skin was fair, and his dark eyes were like ink, giving him an aloof air.

A tea stove sat on the stone table before him, with a wisp of white steam rising from the teapot above it.

"You certainly know how to enjoy yourself, Junior Brother Gu Han." Nalan Yanran gave a hearty smile and walked straight over to sit opposite him.

"Is something the matter, Senior Sister?" Gu Han set down his teacup and met Nalan Yanran's gaze.

"I came to thank you." Nalan Yanran spoke sincerely. "Grandfather agreed to dissolve my marriage arrangement and have my cousin take my place. My cousin herself is also willing to marry."

"The other day, you said that one man's poison was another man's honey. I think I understand that a little now."

Nalan Yanran also understood that when dealing with people and matters, one had to learn to see things from another's perspective and consider their position.

"You are too polite, Senior Sister." Gu Han picked up the teapot, poured a cup, and handed it to Nalan Yanran. "I merely completed the task the Sect Leader assigned me."

The implication was that this had only been a transaction, not a favor worth thanking him for.

After all, Yun Yun would reward him.

"I am one of the people involved. It may have been a task to you, but it means something different to me." Nalan Yanran accepted the teacup with both hands and drained it in one gulp. "Words of thanks mean nothing. This is my gift of gratitude."

After setting down the cup, Nalan Yanran flipped her wrist and handed Gu Han a box.

"This is a Fourth-Grade Pill, a Dou Practitioner Pill. It can raise a Dou Zhe's cultivation by One Star, but only one may be taken during the Dou Zhe stage."

Gu Han's eyes flickered. He reached out to take the box and, without even looking inside, stored it in his Storage Ring. Then he said solemnly, "I accept this gift. Senior Sister, there will be no need to thank me again for this matter in the future."

A strange glint flashed through Nalan Yanran's eyes as she smiled. "You are straightforward, Junior Brother. I came here under Teacher's orders to invite you to the main hall and give you the reward promised to you."

"After you, Senior Sister." Gu Han immediately put away the tea set, rose to his feet, and gestured toward the gate.

Nalan Yanran: "..."

The people their age she had met in the past had always wished they could say another word or two to her.

Yet Gu Han gave her the feeling that he respected her, but wanted to keep his distance.

Perhaps Junior Brother is simply too cold by nature.

Nalan Yanran got up to lead the way, with a touch more pride appearing on her face.

The two headed together toward the Misty Cloud Sect's main hall, attracting countless gazes along the way.

"Outer Disciple Gu Han greets the Sect Leader."

Upon entering the Inner Hall, Gu Han clasped his fists and bowed with meticulous propriety.

Yun Yun sat in the seat of honor with one leg crossed over the other. A faint smile appeared on her exquisitely beautiful face. "Gu Han, when we meet in private, you need not be so formal every time."

"Rites must not be neglected. Status must be distinguished." Gu Han raised his head and answered in all seriousness.

Rites must not be neglected?

Yun Yun thought, why could he not just drop the words "Outer Disciple" from the beginning?

But as the Sect Leader, she naturally could not pursue such a trivial question. With a casual wave of her hand, she took out three items and placed them on the desk. "Yanran's matter has been settled. As agreed, This Sect Master shall reward you. Step forward."

"These three items..."

"Thank you for your generous reward, Sect Leader." A faint gleam flashed through Gu Han's black eyes. The moment Yun Yun told him to step forward, he moved quickly toward the desk.

Before Yun Yun could finish speaking, he had already placed all three items into his Storage Ring. Then he clasped his fists and declared his loyalty. "I will certainly serve you with all my heart."

Yun Yun's expression froze slightly: ?

Had she said all three items were rewards for Gu Han?

"Senior Sister Nalan, I truly envy you for having such a good Teacher." Gu Han suddenly cast Nalan Yanran an envious look.

"Teacher, you are so good to me." Nalan Yanran looked at Yun Yun with a face full of emotion. "This disciple will surely devote herself to the sect and serve you diligently for the rest of her life."

Whether it was giving resources to the Nalan Family or bestowing these rewards upon Gu Han.

She felt that Yun Yun had been so generous entirely for the sake of her disciple.

Gu Han was right. She had such a good Teacher—the best in the world!

Yun Yun: "..."

Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?

The moment Nalan Yanran said that, Yun Yun was completely pinned down.

If she explained now that she had merely intended for Gu Han to choose one of the three items, both prodigy disciples would be embarrassed.

Had she known this would happen, she would not have played a little trick by making Gu Han choose blindly. She would have simply asked which of the three items he wanted.

At this point, regret was useless. She could only swallow the bitter pill in silence.

More importantly, to her—a Misty Cloud Sect Leader and a Dou Emperor—even the three items combined were not particularly valuable.

"Mm."

Though it seemed like much had been said, Yun Yun had considered it all in an instant. She smiled and nodded. "Gu Han, now that you have accepted these items, cultivate well. Once you grow stronger, repay the sect."

"The three items are a Mystic Low-Grade Ice Attribute Dou Technique, the Fourth-Grade Pill Snow Lotus Pill, and the Heavenly Material Earthly Treasure Ice Toad Snow Pearl."

"You may cultivate the Dou Technique on your own for now. If there is anything you do not understand, you can ask your future master after taking one as your teacher."

"As for the Snow Lotus Pill and the Ice Toad Snow Pearl, do you know their effects?"

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, I do." Gu Han clasped his fists and replied, "Whenever I rest after cultivation, I enjoy reading miscellaneous books and Strange Tales and Records. The Snow Lotus Pill..."

Gu Han explained the effects of the Snow Lotus Pill and the Ice Toad Snow Pearl.

Yun Yun found that he truly knew all of it, and a trace of inexplicable emotion appeared in her eyes.

If she had not been the only one who knew what rewards she had prepared, she would have suspected that Gu Han had known in advance and had acted deliberately this time.

"It is good that you know. Use them well and raise your strength." Yun Yun composed herself and smiled. "Having taken so many good things from This Sect Master, should you not, as a disciple, share a little more of my burden?"

"If there is a task, please give the order, Sect Leader." Gu Han knew Yun Yun did not want to suffer in silence. Her "revenge" had arrived.

"Seven days from now, Yanran's father, Nalan Su, will take her younger sister, Nalan Yanyun, to the Xiao Family in Wutan City to discuss the marriage alliance in detail." A smile appeared on Yun Yun's face. "The Nalan Family will take the lead on this trip. You are merely going along as a representative of the Misty Cloud Sect to observe."

"If the outcome is favorable, find an appropriate moment to present a congratulatory gift. Do you understand?"

Even she, Yanran's Teacher, had been troubled by Yanran's marriage for a long time, yet Gu Han had managed to devise a solution. His intelligence and wisdom were beyond doubt.

If the Misty Cloud Sect sent someone too strong, it would make others feel pressured by their arrival. Yet if they sent someone too weak, they might be looked down upon.

Sending a genius disciple was just right.

"Gu Han accepts the order." Gu Han agreed solemnly.

He had not expected that instead of witnessing the famous engagement cancellation scene involving Nalan Yanran, he would be going to witness the famous exchange marriage scene.

It would be a good chance to see the future Yan Emperor.

Perhaps he might even obtain a little Opportunity through the Black Tortoise Shell.

"However, I have one condition."

Another condition!?