Solving Xun'er's Meridian Problem

On the other side, inside Xiao Ling's small courtyard, the sound of silver-bell-like laughter drifted out from time to time.

"Brother Xiao Ling, please, tell me one more little story?"

Muah~

"This is your reward, is that okay?"

Looking at the exquisite little darling before him, Xiao Ling wiped the saliva off his face, speechless, and shook his head.

"Alright, this is the last one. I've already told you nine; it's only right to give you a tenth to make it perfect."

"Hehe, Brother Xiao Ling is the best~"

Xun'er giggled.

Hearing this, Xiao Ling cleared his throat. He glanced toward the back mountain not far away, his eyes lighting up as he mused.

"This story begins in a distant dynasty called the Xia Kingdom. It was a time of raging war, and there was a little monk who didn't want to join the army to save his country... One day, the little monk arrived before a towering mountain. He saw a temple halfway up the slope, so he climbed the mountain with great effort and reached the temple gates. When he stood on his tiptoes to look out, guess what he saw?"

Pausing, Xiao Ling looked at the little girl and asked with a smile.

"Huh?"

Xun'er blinked her beautiful, large eyes, thought for a moment, and shook her little head, looking curious.

"Ahem..."

"Um... Miss, Young Master Xiao Ling."

Ling Ying gave a light cough, interrupting Xiao Ling, and said in a deep voice.

"Young Master Xiao Ling, that guy is no longer in Wutan City. Here is your Sixth-grade Breakthrough Pill; please take it. I only ran an errand, so it's not worth this much."

Hearing this, Xiao Ling narrowed his eyes. He mentally weighed the level of threat the man posed to him, then felt a sense of relief. After his careful calculations just now, even if Wu Ming reached the level of a Dou Grandmaster, he wouldn't pose a significant threat.

Therefore, he decided that the next time he encountered the guy, he would pay whatever price necessary to finish him off for good.

After all, he didn't have the time to spend a thousand days guarding against a thief.

Thinking this, Xiao Ling smiled and pushed the medicinal pill back.

"Elder Ling, just take it. This pill doesn't have much use for me or Xun'er. Only if you take it and break through to become a Dou Ancestor will Xun'er's safety be better guaranteed."

Hearing this, Ling Ying, who had originally wanted to decline, hesitated for a moment. He accepted the pill and bowed.

"Rest assured, Young Master Xiao Ling. Once this old servant breaks through to the Dou Ancestor realm, as long as the Miss is in the Xiao Clan, I will certainly ensure the safety of both the Miss and the Xiao Clan."

"Good, then I will thank Elder Ling on behalf of the entire Xiao Clan."

Xiao Ling stood up and cupped his hands.

He understood the implication behind the man's words, but that was enough for him.

After all, he couldn't protect the Xiao Clan forever.

He had his own path to walk, and he still wanted to see the wonders of this Dou Qi Continent...

Following Elder Ling's departure, Xiao Ling sent Xun'er back to her room. Only then did he look up at the distant moon, his mind lost in thought.

The night passed quickly. When morning arrived, Xiao Ling walked out of the Xiao Clan's main hall. Beside him, Xun'er tilted her little head, gazing at the side profile of the youth, and said softly.

"Brother Xiao Ling, is there anything else you need to prepare? Um... if you're short on money, you can tell Xun'er. Xun'er believes Brother Xiao Ling isn't the type to be so pedantic."

Hearing this, Xiao Ling suppressed his inner thoughts and looked down at the little rich woman beside him. A sudden urge to tease her rose up, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright, then why don't you support your Brother Xiao Ling with a hundred million first? I need it to marry a wife."

"Ah?!"

Xun'er's large eyes blinked, then she immediately reacted, her little face flushing red as she pounced on him.

"Brother Xiao Ling, you big baddie... you're not learning anything good..."

Watching the little girl clawing at him in his arms, Xiao Ling revealed a genuine smile. He scooped her up, ignoring her struggles, and walked toward his courtyard.

The sounds of their playful banter echoed throughout the path.

Every Xiao Clan junior they encountered looked as if they had seen a ghost. Their mouths hung wide open in shock as they stared at the pair walking away, all of them gasping in unison.

They then hurried away, eager to share what they had seen with their friends.

Facing everyone's shock and surprise, Xiao Ling didn't pay much attention. To him, he had already firmly established his footing.

The occasional bit of playfulness had no impact on the persona he had originally set.

Because the prestige he had built throughout the entire Xiao Clan was already deeply rooted in everyone's hearts...

To be honest, if he hadn't decided against managing the Xiao Clan, the current clan leader wouldn't be Xiao Zhan, but him.

Inside the courtyard, just as Xiao Ling was about to step through the gate, he saw a figure pounce toward him. Caught off guard, he was knocked to the ground, and as he tilted his head, a damp sensation was pressed against his cheek.

"Ya~"

Xun'er let out a cry of surprise.

Looking at Xiao Yu's bold demeanor, her little face couldn't help but flush red, and she secretly cursed.

No shame~

Xiao Yu shot Xun'er a provocative glance, smug inside. She had rushed out of seclusion at the first moment she heard the news.

She had originally planned to share the good news with her Xiao Ling brother, but who knew...

"Alright, alright, Yu'er, what propriety is this in broad daylight?" Xiao Ling feigned anger. "Hurry and pull me up!"

"Oh~"

Watching the two girls' little schemes playing out before him, Xiao Ling suddenly felt a headache coming on.

He then gave Xiao Yu beside him a stern look and took a bottle of pills from his Na Ring, handing it over.

"Yu'er, I see your breakthrough to Dou Practitioner is still unstable. Here's a bottle of Second-grade Foundation Establishment Pills—take them and properly consolidate your realm. When I get back this time, I'll bring you something fun. Go on."

"I'm packing my things next; no time to keep you company."

Xiao Ling waved his hand.

"Hmph, bad Xiao Ling brother, stinky Xiao Ling brother, I'm ignoring you..."

Xiao Yu threw a little tantrum.

"Take it! Hurry off to cultivate. If you really want to help me, boost your strength fast. Go."

Xiao Ling deployed his trump card.

Sure enough, Xiao Yu snatched the jade bottle, leaned in for a quick peck on his cheek, then strode off on her long legs, humming indignantly.

"This little girl..."

Xiao Ling shook his head helplessly, then turned to Xun'er at his side.

Seeing the odd look on her face, his heart stirred, and he secretly cursed his muddled brain—he'd scared off a big black rat the night before last, and today he'd forgotten Xun'er's meridian issue.

With that thought, amid the girl's startled cry, he scooped her up entirely and headed to the western side room.

Inside the room, Xiao Ling gritted his teeth, spending thirty years of lifespan to trade his golden finger for a Tianshan Snow Lotus Seed.

He glanced at the plump seed in his hand, shimmering with a soft glow. On closer look, a tiny infant-like form was visible inside.

At this sight, Xiao Ling nodded in satisfaction. Don't judge it by its mere sixth-grade rank.

The energy it contained was surely beyond that level—otherwise, four months' worth would have sufficed, not thirty years of lifespan.

Xiao Ling then gazed at Xun'er curled up in the bedding before him, only her little head peeking out.

Especially the way her little face feigned calm while her willow brows knit tight—it tugged at his heart. He sat at the bedside and said softly.

"Good girl, little one. Swallow it, and you'll be fine."

At his words, Xun'er's long lashes fluttered, her expressive big eyes turning to her Xiao Ling brother.

She then eyed the lotus seed at her lips, parted her little mouth, and swallowed it down.

Instantly, crystalline energy like ice surged from Xun'er's body—but it was remarkably gentle, harming her not at all, instead enveloping the little girl completely.

Watching this, Xiao Ling breathed a sigh of relief and left the room.

"Elder Ling, please look after Xun'er for me."

"Young Master Xiao Ling, rest assured. This old servant will ensure the young miss's safety."