Baring His Heart, Xun'er's Feelings Blossom

They sat quietly for a moment.

Xun'er asked curiously, "Brother Xiao Ce, what were you thinking about just now?"

Xiao Ce replied casually, "Nothing much. Jia Nan Academy will be coming to Wutan City to recruit students in a few days. Grandfather hopes that Cousin Xiao Yu and I will join the academy together."

When Xun'er heard this, her heart skipped a beat.

"Brother Xiao Ce, are you going to join Jia Nan Academy?"

She bit her rosy lip, torn over whether she should follow him if he joined Jia Nan Academy.

But she still had no clue about the item her father had asked her to find.

Xiao Ce shrugged. "I'll definitely go to Jia Nan Academy, but not right now."

Upon hearing that, Xun'er inexplicably felt relieved.

That was good too. She would not have to agonize over whether to go to Jia Nan Academy with Brother Xiao Ce.

But the next second, she heard Xiao Ce continue, "I plan to go out and gain experience for a while before joining Jia Nan Academy."

"What?" Xun'er's body stiffened slightly. Her clear eyes stared straight at Xiao Ce, a trace of barely perceptible panic and worry flashing through them.

"Brother Xiao Ce, why do you suddenly want to go out and train?"

Xiao Ce raised his head to look at the lush green canopy overhead. Only after a long while did he look back at Xun'er, his voice turning low.

"Because I want to be with Xun'er forever!"

"So I have no choice but to do this."

"The Xiao Clan is too small, and Wutan City is too small!"

"If I want to rapidly increase my strength, I can only go to a wider world."

The expression on Xun'er's face changed slightly. Her voice suddenly dropped to a murmur as she stammered, "Brother Xiao Ce, but aren't we already together now?"

"Xun'er, I don't know why your father placed you in the care of our tiny Xiao Clan, but I know that your background is likely powerful beyond anything I can imagine. Only when I possess enough strength can I remain with you forever."

Xiao Ce shook his head, and it seemed as though two blazing flames burned within his eyes.

Xun'er met Xiao Ce's gaze and fell slightly dazed.

After knowing Xiao Ce for so many years, this was the first time she had seen this side of him.

Though his voice was not loud, words that were practically a confession seemed to strike straight at her soul.

At that very moment, the budding feelings Xun'er held for Xiao Ce quietly blossomed and bore fruit.

Xun'er's small hand, clutching Xiao Ce's robe, tightened. She said softly, "Brother Xiao Ce, you really don't need to worry. Even if everyone opposed us, I would still stay with you without wavering."

"I don't want to see Brother Xiao Ce take risks because of me."

Seeing Xun'er's sincere concern, Xiao Ce broke into a bright smile. He reached out and lightly scraped her delicate cheek, the gesture intimate and natural.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'm only going out to train, not going out to get myself killed."

His tone was relaxed, carrying a calm certainty that put people at ease.

"It's fine if others don't understand me, but do you not understand me either?"

"I'm very cautious!"

Xun'er lifted her head slightly and looked at the brightly smiling young man before her. For some reason, a scene from two and a half years ago resurfaced in her mind.

That day, Brother Xiao Ce had shamelessly come to ask her to support him again, and he had obtained a special secret technique for concealing one's aura from her.

Ever since then, she had never been able to see through Brother Xiao Ce's true strength again.

He had clearly been a five-star Dou Zhe two and a half years ago, yet now, two and a half years later, the strength he displayed to others was only that of a nine-star Dou Zhe.

Who was he trying to fool?

She did not believe it at all!

That scoundrel had definitely hidden a huge portion of his strength.

Thinking of this, Xun'er could not help but giggle. The gloom in her heart instantly vanished, and she shot Xiao Ce a coquettish glare.

"That's true. I shouldn't have worried about a big bad guy like you, Brother Xiao Ce. Anyone out there who dares underestimate you will probably suffer a huge loss."

Xiao Ce spread his hands.

"You're calling me out, Xun'er, but haven't you been hiding things too?"

"If I'm a big bad guy, then you're a little bad girl."

Xun'er gave a soft huff, though the corners of her lips curled upward. Still carrying some reluctance and worry in her heart, she could not help saying quietly, "Brother Xiao Ce, when you're out there alone, you must keep yourself safe."

"Xun'er!"

Seeing her expression, even Xiao Ce could not help but be moved. He instinctively reached out and took her slightly cool hand, their fingers interlocking as he slowly leaned closer...

Xun'er had already closed her eyes, her cheeks burning hot, looking as though she was ready to let him have his way.

Yet just as the young man and woman were about to kiss, an aged cough suddenly rang out.

"Ahem, ahem!"

In an instant, Xun'er opened her eyes, and Xiao Ce came to his senses as well.

He had nearly forgotten that old geezer Ling Ying was lurking in the shadows.

Looks like I need to make a note of this first Dou Emperor of the Gu Clan in my little notebook, Xiao Ce muttered inwardly.

He was not the Xiao Yan from the original story, and Xun'er was not the original Xun'er either.

Because Xiao Ce had shown great independence from a young age, Xun'er had privately revealed a great deal of information to him, including Ling Ying's existence.

Meanwhile, Xun'er also pulled a little distance away from Xiao Ce the moment Ling Ying coughed.

In the shadows, Ling Ying wiped at the nonexistent cold sweat on his forehead and let out a long breath.

"That was close. That brat almost took advantage of the young lady."

In truth, over the past three years, he had advised Xun'er to maintain proper boundaries with Xiao Ce, but she would not listen. What could he do?

He could have reported the matter directly to the Clan Leader, but that would undoubtedly offend Xun'er.

The pay was terrible. Why risk his life over it?

Thus, by now, he had completely given up. So long as the young lady and that brat did not do anything too outrageous, he usually turned a blind eye.

That night, Xiao Ce lay on his bed, Xun'er's voice and appearance surfacing in his mind.

Over the years, his feelings for Xun'er had been seventy percent genuine and thirty percent an act. Today, he had finally ignited the feelings in her heart completely.

It could be said that if Xiao Ce could see everyone's favorability, Xun'er's favorability toward him would have reached at least ninety-five.

Yet it was precisely because of Xun'er's deep affection and reliance on him that he felt inexplicably uneasy.

He had used lofty words to deceive that girl Xun'er into giving him her heart, but only he knew that he was leaving the Xiao Clan for Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin.

Of course, that brief bout of sentimentality was instantly swallowed by excitement and anticipation.

Before he had even started dual cultivation, his strength had risen from a one-star Dou Zhe to a nine-star Da Dou Shi in just three short years.

If he began dual cultivation, how incredible would that be?

Now that he had raised Xun'er's favorability enough, it was time to turn his attention to Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin.

With them, Xiao Ce did not intend to slowly cultivate feelings as he had with Xun'er.

Love after marriage was still love!

He would do it first and talk later!