Coming-of-Age Ceremony

"Brother Xiao Yan!"

Wutan City · Xiao Clan

Xiao Xun'er called softly from outside Xiao Yan's small courtyard. The ceremony was nearly upon them, yet Xiao Yan was still inside, doing who knew what.

"Coming, coming!"

Xiao Yan's voice came from within the courtyard. He opened the gate, dressed in black and wearing a faint smile on his fair, unremarkable face. His eyes shone brightly, giving him an air of confidence and charm.

"If we're any later, the elders will have another round of sarcasm and sneering for Uncle Xiao."

Seeing that Xiao Yan was in no hurry at all, Xiao Xun'er rolled her eyes helplessly, took him by the hand, and hurried toward the ceremony grounds.

By the time the two arrived, the grounds were already packed tight. As the leading clan among Wutan City's three great families, the Xiao Clan had invited the city lord and members of the other families to attend the ceremony.

"Make way, make way. Thank you, thank you..."

Xiao Yan carefully led Xun'er through the crowd. After their identities were checked, the two hurried toward the center, arriving just as the ceremony was about to begin.

"Xiao Yan!"

For some reason, Xiao Yan, who had always been placed at the very end, was first in line for this strength test. He had barely warmed his seat before he had to get up again.

"Here!"

Xiao Yan looked at the strange gazes turned his way—some gleeful, some disdainful, others full of regret...

He chuckled inwardly, but his expression remained as still as an ancient well. He no longer felt anything at all in response to those looks.

"Dou Qi... Dou, Dou Zhe—One Star!"

The tester had instinctively started to call out a stage of Dou Qi, but then the Test Magic Stele suddenly burst with brilliant light. Four large characters appeared at the very top of the stele.

One-Star Dou Zhe!

In just one year, Xiao Yan had crossed seven minor stages, even gathering a Dou Qi Vortex and becoming a Dou Zhe once more!

The scene from four years ago was playing out again. But unlike the overwhelming fervor back then, today's silence was almost eerie. Everyone stared fixedly at those four characters, mouths open, yet not knowing what to say.

Looking at the silent crowd, Xiao Yan felt the resentment he had buried for three years vanish in an instant. The things he had cared about so deeply didn't seem all that important anymore.

Feeling a little bored, Xiao Yan calmly gave the tester a polite bow, then slowly returned to Xiao Xun'er amid gazes of awe, jealousy, and even disbelief.

"Brother Xiao Yan..."

Xiao Xun'er covered her mouth in disbelief. Seeing Xiao Yan smile again, his eyes once more filled with confidence, she too smiled from the bottom of her heart.

"The Xiao Yan of back then has really returned..."

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Yun Yun sat beside Xiao Zhan with a languid expression, but even she couldn't help applauding and nodding. The boy had such a mature temperament; he hadn't so much as flinched in front of such a crowd. No wonder he had caught Yun Zimo's eye.

"Clan Leader Xiao, this youngest son of yours is going to be remarkable. He may well surpass even me one day."

Yun Yun offered her quiet appraisal. She had heard about Xiao Yan's "legendary story," but she liked this Xiao Yan boy more than the protagonist of those rumors.

"Not at all, not at all. You flatter him, Sir Yun. How could this brat compare with you?"

Xiao Zhan hurriedly replied, though his expression clearly showed how pleased and proud he was.

Yun Yun chuckled. The three Xiao Clan elders beside them were dumbstruck. They had wondered why this honored guest from the Misty Cloud Sect had come for such a small ceremony, and why he had specifically asked for Xiao Yan, who was last in line, to be moved to the front. It turned out they had been blind to the truth!

The Xiao Clan youths who came after him included some impressive talents, but with Xiao Yan's brilliance before them, they seemed rather ordinary by comparison. In the end, Xiao Xun'er's turn was what finally stirred Yun Yun's flagging interest.

"This little girl is rather strange..."

Yun Yun narrowed his eyes slightly as he saw the One-Star Dou Zhe reading on the Test Magic Stele. He looked at Xiao Xun'er in puzzlement, only for her to turn her head and meet his gaze—she had noticed him watching.

"Interesting..."

Yun Yun tapped his fingers lightly, growing a little intrigued. He had displayed extraordinary talent from a young age and was especially sensitive to auras. When Xiao Xun'er released her Dou Qi just now, he had clearly sensed an aura somewhat stronger than it should have been. Though it had instantly withdrawn, he was certain the girl was more than a One-Star Dou Zhe!

"I wonder how Yanran is doing. With Teacher Yun Shan personally instructing her, she surely won't disappoint."

Looking at Xiao Yan again, Yun Yun couldn't help thinking of his elder sister's disciple—Nalan Yanran...

"Nine-Star Dou Zhe!"

Nalan Yanran looked at the four characters before her and sighed with some disappointment. It had taken her a full year to reach Nine-Star Dou Zhe. Though it was because she had refused her father's suggestion to take pills, she was still dissatisfied.

By contrast, the Nalan Family members were all flushed with excitement. A sixteen-year-old Nine-Star Dou Zhe was destined to become a Dou Wang or Dou Emperor, barring any mishaps!

Yun Zimo noticed the disappointment on Nalan Yanran's face. He nodded to himself, deciding to find her and talk later.

"Yanran?"

"Uncle Zi Mo?"

Nalan Yanran turned from where she knelt before a gravestone and looked at the gentle Yun Zimo, a little surprised.

Yun Zimo glanced at the words "Grave of Uncle Rabbit" on the gravestone, then sat beside Nalan Yanran.

"You don't seem very happy today."

Yun Zimo smiled.

"No."

Nalan Yanran looked down at the Nalan Family, its lights bright beneath the mountain and laughter rising from it now and then. Her mood was low.

"I just feel a little stifled."

"Is it because of that boy, Xiao Yan?"

Yun Zimo smiled again.

"..."

Nalan Yanran fell silent. She only traced the gravestone lightly with her finger.

"If I really lose in two years, the sect's reputation, my family's dignity, and I..."

Nalan Yanran stopped, unable to continue. It felt as if something were lodged in her heart.

Looking at the younger girl, who had shed her old spoiled young-lady airs and begun to think with a more mature mind, Yun Zimo felt a touch of relief.

"Could you tell me the story of this Uncle Rabbit?"

Yun Zimo asked, for reasons of his own. Though Nalan Yanran was surprised, she still told him the story in detail.

"...Even if it means breaking my promise to Uncle Rabbit, I'll still hold firm. I can only protect the things that matter by relying on myself!"

Nalan Yanran's expression was downcast, and a few bright tears fell before the gravestone. The wind scattered their gleam, like a gentle hand softly brushing past the two of them.

Only now did Yun Zimo finally understand why Nalan Yanran was so determined to break off the engagement. She was carrying far, far too much in her heart.

Compared with the future Flame Emperor Xiao Yan, who would endure such a brutal ordeal, the Misty Cloud girl before him seemed more deserving of Yun Zimo's sympathy.

"So, I absolutely can't lose the Three-Year Agreement! Even if it takes a hundred or a thousand times more, I, Nalan Yanran, will never surrender my fate!"

Yun Zimo fell silent. He didn't know how to counsel this girl, so burdened by her obsession. Perhaps only after the battle of the Three-Year Agreement would she truly be able to let go...