Meeting Nalan Yanran, Nalan Yanran's Wild Speculation

If he could reverse time, Xiao Yan would definitely go back to more than a month ago and slap himself for disguising himself as Yan Xiao.

Why had he indulged in such pointless mischief?

He had originally agreed to let Nalan Yanran be his maid just to have a little fun.

And what had happened?

Nalan Yanran's terrible service had brought him no benefit at all. Now, she was even causing him trouble.

Xiao Yan could not understand how Nalan Yanran had been captured by the Snake-People Tribe in the depths of the desert after starting from its outskirts.

Saving her was not a problem now.

But if he did that, the master and disciple would have plenty of accounts to settle, and his identity as Yan Xiao would definitely be exposed.

And Yun Yun? She knew about his false identity as Xiao Huo.

Either name alone would have been fine, but put the two together, and anyone who was not a pig would have a good chance of connecting them to his true identity. Once they investigated, would he not be exposed?

"No, with that master and disciple's intelligence, maybe they really won't figure it out..." Xiao Yan considered it, then decided he still could not take the risk. "Forget it. I should find a way to cover it up."

"My identity being exposed now would be too soon. I'm not mentally prepared yet. It would be better to reveal it after the Three-Year Agreement is over and all grudges have been settled." Xiao Yan made his decision.

He looked at Yun Yun and replied, "It's nothing serious. I'll speak to Medusa."

Yun Yun's expression brightened, and she smiled gently, her eyes shining. "Thank you, Xiao Huo."

Xiao Yan nodded and added, "But if anyone asks afterward, don't tell her about me. Just say you used your own resources to exchange for her release."

Yun Yun did not understand. She leaned slightly forward, moving a little closer to Xiao Yan as a rich fragrance drifted over. "Why?"

Xiao Yan thought it over and gave her an answer. "Some of the plans I'm carrying out are better off with as few people as possible knowing I exist. If you think it's unfair to me, compensate me instead."

Yun Yun accepted the explanation. Brushing the strands of hair stuck to her cheek behind her ear, she smiled faintly. "All right."

Xiao Yan knew that although Yun Yun was not particularly bright, she was not the type to let things slip, which put him more at ease.

Still, why was he smelling something strange?

He frowned slightly, his nose twitching as he carefully sniffed at the scent.

The smell was not singular.

There was a faint floral fragrance, as though it had seeped into someone after daily baths in rose petals over a long period of time.

At the same time, there was another indescribable scent, carrying a slightly intoxicating sourness and a milky fragrance that could make one dizzy.

If he had to describe where the scent came from...

With his powerful sense of smell, Xiao Yan gradually drew closer to the truth. Then he felt his face press against something soft.

"Xiao... Xiao Huo!" Yun Yun's voice trembled, as though she could not believe Xiao Huo's sudden action.

Xiao Yan quickly came back to his senses and discovered that he had actually buried his face in Yun Yun's soft chest. He immediately sat up straight and coughed lightly without changing expression. "Ahem. I just caught a scent and wanted to find out where it was coming from. Don't mind it."

Yun Yun's face instantly flushed crimson, yet she maintained the bearing expected of the Misty Cloud Sect's leader. "My cultivation was sealed, and I couldn't wash. Naturally, impurities accumulated in my body, so..."

"Please arrange a place for me to bathe."

Xiao Yan nodded repeatedly and directly summoned a Snake-People Tribe attendant, instructing them to take Yun Yun to bathe.

As for himself, he put on the mask from his Storage Ring and prepared to visit his former fiancée and former maid.

Inside the hot spring bath.

Yun Yun, naked, stepped into the pool on snow-white feet that held a faint blush upon closer inspection.

After entering the water, she looked around. Once she confirmed that there was absolutely no one there, she slowly raised an arm.

She brought her nose close and lightly sniffed beneath her arm. When she caught that faint sour scent, her face immediately reddened like the setting sun.

"How could he have smelled it..."

Embarrassed, Yun Yun scrubbed beneath her arm.

Her underarm was white as polished jade, with only the faint natural folds of skin that appeared when it was closed. Its entire surface was completely hairless.

With a light press, it was unbelievably soft, enough for a hand to sink right in. It would even bring a slight itchiness that made her face flush and heart race.

She was one of the rarer types with very little body hair. Without hair, she was naturally more sensitive.

But aside from herself, no one had ever touched it.

Back to the point, Yun Yun had never neglected washing herself. Even when her cultivation kept impurities from forming in her body, she still bathed often.

She had not expected that after being captured, the rare odor she developed would be smelled by the young man she valued most. It truly made her feel ashamed enough to crash into a wall and die.

And it was not just beneath her arms...

Even the faint milky scent beneath her breasts had drifted out...

The beautiful woman squeezed her eyes shut in shame and submerged most of her body beneath the water, her face so red it seemed ready to drip blood.

Snake-People Tribe prison.

After greeting Medusa, Xiao Yan walked straight into the prison and stopped outside Nalan Yanran's cell.

Nalan Yanran was sitting in a corner, hugging her legs with both hands and burying her face in them. Like a statue, she did not move in the slightest.

Xiao Yan tapped the bars of the cell door with his knuckles, producing a crisp sound.

Hearing the noise, Nalan Yanran raised her head.

When the familiar mask on Xiao Yan's face entered her sight, her eyes immediately lit up. "Yan... Master Yan Xiao!"

"Why are you here!"

Xiao Yan did not answer directly. "Someone will come to take you out shortly. Once you leave, go with your master and return to the Misty Cloud Sect."

Nalan Yanran was stunned. "I'm being released?"

Xiao Yan nodded, his voice calm. "Yes. Your master used resources to exchange for your release."

"I came to tell you that I have my own business here. Do not reveal my identity or any information about me to anyone—not even your master. Understood?"

Nalan Yanran nodded instinctively. "Understood."

Then she realized something. "No, Master only left not long ago. How could she have brought the resources here so quickly? If she hadn't brought the resources, why would Queen Medusa let me go?"

Nalan Yanran suddenly realized that someone else must have stepped in and paid some unknown price to secure her release.

Someone capable of making Queen Medusa show mercy, who also happened to be in the Tagor Desert.

Other than the Sixth-Rank Alchemist standing before her, Yan Xiao, was there anyone else?

Nalan Yanran pursed her lips, deeply moved.

No wonder he doesn't want me to tell Master about him. He's afraid that if I tell Master, she'll know he was the one who saved me. What a hard-mouthed, soft-hearted person.

She did not choose to expose him. She only vowed in her heart that she would repay Yan Xiao someday.

Besides...

She felt that she seemed to have developed some different feelings toward Yan Xiao.