At that moment, in a small courtyard at Wanyao Pavilion, Yao Wan'er sat in a chair, lost in thought as she gazed at the piece of soft jade in her hand.
Although she didn't know what it was, knowing that someone had given it to her was enough.
After all, with his status and strength, would he give her something ordinary?
Even if it really was something ordinary, to her it would still be priceless.
Sometimes, it wasn't that someone didn't like the gift you gave them. They might simply dislike you.
"Wan'er, still daydreaming? Your father approves of that young man you like, too."
A middle-aged man in a plain white robe walked in from outside. He sat down in a nearby chair and gave his only daughter an approving look, then sighed.
"But his heart clearly isn't with you. Do you know why?"
"Is it because of Xiao Yi Xian?"
Yao Wan'er looked at her father uncertainly.
"That's only part of it. Men are all fickle. The main reason is that your intentions were too calculating... If you really have feelings for Ling Xiao, then go after him. Your father doesn't object..."
Mr. Yao looked at his daughter and earnestly tried to persuade her.
Before leaving, he took one last glance at the milky white soft jade and said,
"What he gave you isn't simple. Use it as he told you. You don't need to concern yourself with Wanyao Pavilion for now. Just focus on cultivating."
"All right, Father."
Yao Wan'er nodded. Remembering what someone had told her, she felt a hint of sweetness rise in her heart.
Elsewhere, the howling wind rushed past Xiao Ling's ears. His playful side suddenly took over. He plunged down from high above, bending the forest canopy beneath him, and pulled off a few stunts from his previous life before finally settling down.
Honestly, he felt incredible. Having wings was wonderful; they let him break free of his cage.
That said, intimidating the Wolf Head Mercenary Group today hadn't come without a cost.
If he took his Dou Huang Pill now, it would only grant him three hours of Dou Emperor Peak cultivation.
If he scraped off more pill powder, he estimated it would last half an hour or less.
After all, once a pill's medicinal power was depleted, its potency dropped sharply. But that was normal.
Only a Wulou Pill could retain its full medicinal power after being scraped three times. Clearly, the pill he'd traded for wasn't one, which went to show that not everything produced by the system was top quality.
After mulling it over, Xiao Ling continued flying toward Wutan City. He moved at the speed of a Dou Ling, vanishing from sight after a few flickers in the sky. As expected of lightning-attribute wings—he was fast.
Xiao Ling was extremely satisfied with what he'd gained on this trip.
Aside from the rare treasures and Dou Techniques, what pleased him most was his relationship with Xiao Yi Xian.
It wasn't as far along as things were with Xiao Yu, but at least he'd made an initial connection with her. That was enough for him.
But you couldn't call him lecherous. Who wouldn't like a gentle, virtuous little angel like Xiao Yi Xian?
Ling Ying, who had been following him the entire way, appeared. Shock and surprise showed on his smooth, baby-faced old features. Even he hadn't expected Xiao Ling to have such an eventful journey.
He didn't know what opportunity Xiao Ling had found in that cave, but he had the feeling he'd seen that milky white soft jade somewhere before...
He also admired Xiao Ling's decisive ruthlessness and deep loyalty.
He'd seen plenty of geniuses, but most of them had personalities he didn't much care for.
With that thought, Ling Ying vanished in a flicker, intending to return early and report to the young lady. Then his figure disappeared from sight.
At that moment, in the Xiao Clan in Wutan City, Xiao Xun'er sat in a chair in the courtyard, lost in thought. Her delicate, porcelain-doll face occasionally revealed a pensive, bashful expression. Anyone could see that the young girl had someone on her mind.
"I wonder how Brother Xiao Ling has been lately... Does he miss Xun'er?"
The girl's murmur was full of longing, making anyone who heard it want to pull her into their arms and cherish her.
A shadow appeared behind the girl, gradually taking shape until Ling Ying's smooth, baby-faced old visage emerged. He looked at the little girl before him with warmth in his aged eyes, then bowed and said softly,
"Miss, this old servant has returned."
"Elder Ling, I've told you not to be so formal." Xun'er waved her little hand, then asked eagerly, "By the way, Elder Ling, tell me quickly—where did Brother Xiao Ling go? ... Did he run into any danger?"
Listening to the girl fire off questions like a string of pearls, Ling Ying's aged eyes filled with helplessness. He couldn't understand what was so special about that boy.
It hadn't even been that long, and he'd already won over the little princess of the Ancient Clan.
If the young men in the clan found out, wouldn't they go crazy?
Ling Ying smiled wryly and shook his head, then reported everything that had happened along the way, without leaving anything out.
Hearing this, Xun'er first looked surprised. Then a hint of wariness appeared on her exquisite face, and she thought,
"Darn Brother Xiao Ling, you womanizer. You're always flirting with other girls. I wonder who you learned that from. Why can't you learn something good..."
"Next time... Next time I won't let you hug me..."
"Big meanie."
"Ah-choo..."
Xiao Ling had just landed when he sneezed, nearly falling flat on his backside. Suspicion crossed his youthful face as he muttered to himself and headed toward the city gate in the distance.
"Could someone be badmouthing me? It's probably Mu She. Looks like once I've taken care of things here, I'll have to make another trip to Qingshan Town..."
Mu She, who was busy chewing on a steamed bun, had no idea he'd been targeted despite doing nothing. He could only blame the bad things he'd done in the past.
As the saying went, retribution wasn't absent; its time had simply not yet come.
Xiao Ling was walking along the familiar road paved with flagstones. As he watched the passing mercenaries and vendors, a hint of warmth flickered through his dark eyes.
He walked toward the Xiao Clan at an unhurried pace, and the passersby paid no attention to the White-robed Youth.
After all, Xiao Ling had rarely shown his face publicly in Wutan City, so it was only natural that no one recognized him.
At that moment, two young men in black robes were on duty outside the Xiao Clan's main gate, discussing the Marketplace.
"Those two clans are awful. Every time our Xiao Clan sends someone over to settle accounts, they come up with all sorts of excuses."
"Exactly. If Young Master Xiao Ling were here, how could we let them get away with it?"
The young man in black who had spoken first casually glanced along the street on either side.
Suddenly, he saw a White-robed Youth walking toward them. A warm smile spread across the boy's youthful face.
"Young Master Xiao Ling?"
Before you continue