Tsk, tsk, tsk... This trip really hadn't been in vain. Watching Xiao Yan kneel on the ground and kowtow heavily to Xiao Zhan, Ning Chen smiled with satisfaction.
Actually, he'd only meant to watch the show today. But he'd gotten a little too caught up in it and couldn't help making a few remarks about Nalan Yanran.
To be fair, after years spent on the forums in his previous life, Ning Chen leaned more toward a different point of view.
Nalan Yanran had every right to pursue freedom and refuse an arranged marriage. Her biggest mistake was the condescending way she'd called off the engagement, showing no regard at all for the other party's dignity.
But, then again, that made sense. Tudou had been only nineteen back then—still a kid himself. How could he have truly encountered those wicked women who could kill without spilling blood and devour you without even chewing?
Compared with them, Nalan Yanran's tricks hardly made her anything other than a good woman.
Unlike Ning Chen, who was simply enjoying the spectacle, Xiao Xun'er stood nearby, her thoughts a jumble of suspicion and uncertainty.
She was startled that Ning Chen had casually mentioned top powers in the Central Plains, as if they were neighbors. That nearly confirmed her suspicion that he was from the Central Plains.
But she was also puzzled. When had the Central Plains produced such a bizarrely acting powerhouse?
Why would a mighty figure, seemingly from the Central Plains, deign to stay in this "backwater" of the Northwest Continent and mingle with the Xiao Clan, whose strongest members were no more than Da Dou Shi?
Where was his bearing and authority as a powerful figure? None of it made any sense!
"'Never bully a young man for being poor'—what a powerful declaration! Bold and satisfying!"
Ning Chen clapped lightly and walked over to Xiao Yan, who had just gotten to his feet. His face held an approving smile.
Then he shifted gears, his tone turning meaningful.
"Youthful spirit is a good thing. It makes you unstoppable. But steel that's too rigid breaks easily. Being too hot-blooded isn't always a blessing."
Seeing the faintly stunned look on Xiao Yan's face, he continued,
"If it were me, I'd have accepted that bottle of Juqi Powder. Not only that, I'd have used the fact that the engagement hadn't yet completely soured to secure as many tangible resources for myself as possible. As for that fifteen-year agreement... why not accept it? The more time you have, the more thoroughly you can prepare."
Ning Chen patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder.
"Kid, remember: you only get one life. Letting your blood run hot feels great, but if you die, then you really do lose everything."
"Staying alive means endless possibilities."
"This..."
Xiao Yan was stunned by Ning Chen's remarks, which were so "practical" that they even seemed a little "mercenary." For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
He'd always imagined that powerful figures were supposed to live by their grudges and refuse to bend, no matter what.
So why was Mr. Ning's philosophy for dealing with the world so... unusual?
But Xiao Zhan and the elders nearby quietly nodded at his words.
They'd weathered far more of life's hardships and knew that Ning Chen's advice was the truly prudent choice.
When facing an overwhelming disparity in strength, temporary restraint and securing the greatest possible benefit weren't shameful. They were survival wisdom.
Xiao Yan wasn't stupid, either. Once his initial shock passed, he thought carefully about Ning Chen's words and considered the Xiao Clan's current situation—and the immense power of the Misty Cloud Sect...
A cold sweat slowly dampened his back as the realization hit him.
Three years! In a moment of impulsiveness, he'd shortened the fifteen-year agreement to just three years!
That meant he had to reach at least Da Dou Shi strength—or even greater—in three years, if he wanted to set foot in the Misty Cloud Sect!
The difficulty and danger of that were obvious!
Damn it! What good was it telling me all this now?!
Xiao Yan couldn't help wailing inwardly.
But the pressure didn't make him back down. Instead, it stirred up an even greater fighting spirit.
He didn't regret his choice. If he could do it all over again, he'd still write that letter of repudiation and make the Three-Year Agreement!
This concerned Xiao Yan's dignity and his father's honor. He wouldn't yield!
Ning Chen chuckled as he watched Xiao Yan's face pass through a complex mix of realization, regret, and then renewed resolve. It seemed he could see right through him.
"Still, I rather admire that unyielding spirit of yours."
With a flick of his wrist, a jade bottle appeared in Ning Chen's palm. He tossed it casually to Xiao Yan.
"This bottle of Pulse Solidifying Pill is no use to me, so I'll give it to you. It's not especially high-grade, but at your current stage, it should help stabilize your meridians and strengthen your foundation. Consider it a gesture of goodwill."
Xiao Yan caught the bottle on instinct. It felt cool in his hand. He looked up sharply, gratitude in his eyes.
"Mr. Ning, this..."
"Keep it."
Ning Chen waved him off, interrupting him. His tone was casual. "Train hard. I look forward to seeing what you can do three years from now."
At that moment, a flash of inspiration struck Xiao Zhan as he recalled what Ning Chen had said earlier, especially his mention of those powers in the Central Plains. He suddenly understood something.
He looked sharply at Ning Chen and asked cautiously, "M-Mr. Ning, your memories..."
Ning Chen neither confirmed nor denied Xiao Zhan's probing. He only smiled faintly.
"I'm a little tired. I'll go get some rest."
With that, he paid no heed to the different expressions around him and calmly turned away, leaving the hall, which was still thick with conflicting emotions.
The most important matter—the broken engagement—was settled. There was no need to stay in Wutan City any longer. All he had to do now was scare Yao Chen a little more and get some surprise points, then retrieve the things he'd won at the Mittel Auction House. After that, he could leave.
As for the Tou She Ancient God Jade... Ning Chen had never considered it an option.
The thing was utterly useless to him—no good to eat, but a waste to throw away. As long as Hun Tiandi didn't get his hands on it, that was all that mattered.
Watching Ning Chen's departing figure, the Xiao Clan members were each lost in their own thoughts. Xiao Zhan and Xiao Xun'er, in particular, were overwhelmed by a storm of emotions.
Xiao Zhan worried that Ning Chen might regain his memories and wondered whether that would be a blessing or a disaster for the Xiao Clan.
Xiao Xun'er had even more to worry about.
As she thought over Ning Chen's actions these past few days, her gaze gradually grew resolute.
"I have to do something..."
After leaving the hall, Ning Chen didn't return to his quarters. Instead, he wandered around a garden for a while. Once he'd roughly estimated the time, he headed for the back mountain of the Xiao Clan.
As soon as he neared the mountain, a familiar, furious curse came flying through the air, loud and clear.
"Fuck your mother!!!"
"Now that feels better."
Ning Chen smiled with satisfaction.
Hearing such a "heartwarming" curse in another world gave him a faint sense of comfort, like running into an old friend in a foreign land.
When he strolled up to the cliff at the back of the mountain, he saw Xiao Yan standing alone at its edge, his expression unusually complicated. Shock, anger, confusion, and other emotions flickered across his young face.
When Xiao Yan saw Ning Chen approach, he hurriedly hid his right hand behind his back, then pretended to be calm.
"M-Mr. Ning, weren't you going to rest? What brings you... to the back mountain?"
"What, Xiao Yan? Don't you want me here?" Ning Chen chuckled softly and sauntered over to stand in front of him.
"Of course I do! Mr. Ning is an honored guest of the Xiao Clan. How could I not welcome you?"
"Heh."
Ning Chen wore the same warm, breezy smile. He raised a hand and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, but his gaze seemed to casually sweep down at the ancient black ring on Xiao Yan's finger.
"Uh... Mr. Ning, I'm a little tired too, so I won't keep you. I'll be going now..."
Xiao Yan gave an awkward laugh and tried to leave, only to find Ning Chen's hand on his shoulder as heavy as a mountain. He couldn't move an inch!
Cold sweat instantly poured down Xiao Yan's back at the sudden turn of events.
Then Ning Chen spoke, his calm words crashing over him like thunder and shaking him to the depths of his soul.
"Young one from Starfall Pavilion, are you still not coming out?" Ning Chen asked coolly. His tone held none of its usual warmth.
"Huh? M-Mr. Ning... what are you talking about? Starfall Pavilion? I don't know anything about that." Xiao Yan was dumbfounded. He had no idea who Ning Chen meant.
"I wasn't talking to you."
Ning Chen no longer looked at him. His calm gaze fixed on the black ring on Xiao Yan's finger, and he fell silent.
The atmosphere atop the cliff suddenly froze, growing so heavy it was hard to breathe.
Just as Xiao Yan could no longer withstand the pressure and was about to confess everything about the strange occurrence in the ring, a weary, aged sigh drifted from within it, echoing across the quiet cliff.
"Ah... I should have realized this long ago..."
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