Xiao Jiana

After crossing into the world of A Chinese Ghost Story, the entire Douqi Continent's time had been frozen, so upon returning, he was still in the very moment of his departure.

Pushing open the door to his room, Xiao Han couldn't help but take a deep breath of the pure Douqi Continent air.

He spread his arms, closed his eyes, and tilted his head back, savoring the free and sweet Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi of the Douqi Continent.

The Swallowing Spirit Technique activated on its own, madly absorbing the spiritual energy drifting through the air.

Sure enough, compared to the world of A Chinese Ghost Story, the quality of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi on the Douqi Continent was a complete crushing victory!

Behind Xiao Han stood a little loli with black hair and red eyes, her face full of grievance, constantly rubbing her backside as if she had been spanked by someone.

"From now on, without my permission, don't you dare pull at my pants again, understand?" Xiao Han stared coldly at Gatanothor as he scolded her. Dealing with this kind of disobedient little thing required a bit of harshness!

"Oh, then I'll pull at your clothes."

"Clothes are out too! In short, without my permission from now on, don't touch my body, got it?!" Xiao Han's five fingers formed a claw, gripping Gatanothor's cute little head as he glared at her fiercely.

"Wuwuwu, you... why are you so fierce? I'll do as you say, okay."

After intimidating Gatanothor, a rush of pleasure from bullying a loli surged through his heart.

Damn, was he awakening some kind of strange hobby?

"Ahem, do you have any other names? After all, 'Gatanothor' doesn't sound like a girl's name at all."

Xiao Han tested the waters, looking at Gatanothor as he asked.

"No, I've used that name for at least thirty million years." Pouting her cute little lips, Gatanothor turned her head away in anger.

"Alright then, I'll give you a new name. From today on, you'll be called 'Jiana.' As for your surname, since you're my pet now, you'll take mine—'Xiao Jiana.'"

In less than ten seconds, Xiao Han had plagiarized a name from his own memories.

But Gatanothor looked utterly disgusted: "A stupid and lowly human name? I won't—"

"Hm?!"

Before she could finish, Gatanothor felt her head grabbed by Xiao Han's big hand again. Following the hand up to his face, dark as charcoal, the little loli trembled, tears nearly spilling out.

For some reason, the once fearless Gatanothor now felt terrified at the mere sight of Xiao Han.

"Okay! Jiana! From today on, I'll be called Jiana!"

Nodding like a chick pecking at rice, Xiao Jiana trembled. This new master was way too scary!

Watching Xiao Jiana, who seemed rebellious but obedient as soon as he threatened her, Xiao Han nodded in satisfaction.

No matter what, a pet from the system naturally had unquestionable loyalty.

"Let's go. From today on, you're my personal maid number two! Put on this black robe. I'll take you to get some new clothes made. Your lace dress and round-toed leather shoes are way too out of place in this world—they'd break the immersion."

Though she found it strange why she was number two, Xiao Jiana could only obediently put on the black robe and follow.

Whistling with his hands behind his back, Xiao Han walked out of the separate courtyard he hadn't seen in over three months, a nostalgic look on his face. That familiar feeling was back.

Behind Xiao Han, Xiao Jiana looked around curiously at this ancient, picturesque world.

Neither the architecture of modern civilization nor that of the super-ancient civilization from thirty million years ago matched the Douqi Continent's style, which leaned toward a blend of Eastern and Western elements.

The little loli obediently followed Xiao Han out of the separate courtyard and unknowingly arrived at the Xiao Clan's territory.

"Greetings, Cousin Xiao Han!"

"Good morning, Cousin Xiao Han."

"Cousin Xiao Han, you've gotten even more handsome."

"Cousin Xiao Han, you really are a fine young man."

"Oh ho ho, if it isn't our Alchemist Master? What brings you out today?"

"Young Patriarch Xiao Han, have you eaten yet?"

As soon as he stepped into the clan territory, the fervent Xiao Clan disciples swarmed around him, greeting him.

They had learned from their fathers that the Two-Grade Pill cultivation resources they now enjoyed—resources even some Dou Ling-level forces couldn't access—were all thanks to Xiao Han, a Second Grade Alchemist.

Because of Xiao Han's efforts as an alchemist clansman, their training conditions had seen a qualitative leap, pushing Xiao Han's already high popularity among the younger generation of the Xiao Clan to its peak.

"Hello to you all."

Calmly greeting these cousins and siblings, some more closely related than others, Xiao Han took several bottles of freshly refined pills from his Storage Ring and distributed them to the Xiao Clan disciples present, sparking another round of cheers.

Listening to the cheers echoing from the Xiao Clan disciples all around, Xiao Han sank into thought...

People aren't made of wood or stone—who can be heartless?

After all these years together, he had developed some feelings for the Xiao Family. Otherwise, why would he have gone to such lengths to plan for its development?

Now, the Xiao Family had taken control of both Wutan City and Shimo City in the Tagor Desert, and through cooperation with the Mittel Auction House, it was steadily expanding its power, gradually getting on the right track.

As for the Hun Clan's attack, Xiao Han wasn't too concerned.

There was still plenty of time. At least four years remained—the year Xiao Han turned eighteen—before the Hun Clan might discover the Xiao Family. However, given the terrifying potential of the butterfly effect, Xiao Han had to consider whether the Hun Clan might find them early.

If that happened, it wouldn't be unthinkable to voluntarily hand over the Tou She Ancient God Jade to Xiao Xun'er in exchange for the Gu Clan's protection.

After all, considering the bond between Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Han, as well as the alliance between the Gu Clan and the Xiao Clan a thousand years ago, and the old friendship between Gu Yuan and Xiao Xuan, fending off the Hun Clan's attack would be well within their power.

Just as Xiao Han was pondering his future path, the short, stout figure draped in a black robe behind him was discovered by a group of Xiao Clan girls.

"What an adorable little girl!"

"Huh? Does our Xiao Clan have such a cute little fellow?"

"A true Beauty Embryo. Looks like this child came with the Young Patriarch—could she be his friend?"

Having lost all her power, the hood of her black robe was quickly pulled down by one of the girls, and Xiao Jiana had no way to resist the overwhelming attention of these Xiao Clan women.

Xiao Jiana was handled like a ragdoll, touched and stroked from all sides by the crowd of Xiao Clan girls. Her silky Black Hair, blood-red eyes as beautiful as Rubies, a face even more delicate than Xiao Xun'er or Qinglin, and skin like Lard Jade—all of it made the surrounding girls unable to keep their hands off her.

"Wuwuwu, you foolish humans! I want worship, not groping!"

Letting out a whimper like a puppy, Xiao Jiana quickly lost all means of resistance. With no way out, she looked at Xiao Han in despair, begging for help.

"Wuwuwu, Master, please save Jiana?"

"Master?"

The Little Loli's words instantly caught everyone's attention, especially the word "Master," which carried some ambiguous connotations, causing the Xiao Clan clansmen to imagine some rather twisted things.

Things like training a loli Female Slave, or a perverted Young Master and his little bitch.

No wonder Young Master Xiao Han never responded to the confessions of the clan's girls—turns out he liked Young Girls like this?

Thinking this, everyone's gaze toward Xiao Han took on a strange tint.

Xiao Han saw this and immediately knew what these impure-minded people were thinking, so he quickly explained.

"I forgot to introduce her earlier. This child is a little girl I saved while training outside. She was the Young Miss of a major power, but her parents died in a power struggle. The day I met her, she was being hunted. Out of pity, I saved her.

Seeing how pitiful she was, I brought her back to the clan to be my Maid. That's all."

He quickly organized his words, fabricating a tragic backstory for Xiao Jiana, which stirred pity for her among the Xiao Clan clansmen.

They never imagined that such an innocent and adorable Little Girl could have such a miserable past.

Some naive girls even started crying.

They gathered around a bewildered Xiao Jiana and began comforting her.

Seeing that his made-up story had backfired, Xiao Han quickly grabbed Xiao Jiana by the scruff of her neck and fled out of the Xiao Clan Territory as if escaping.