The Three-Year Agreement Had Finally Arrived

"Class is finally over!"

Zi Yan stretched, then dashed out of the classroom. The instructor shook his head helplessly, gathered his notes, and prepared to return to his office.

"Qing Lin? Why aren't you leaving?"

The instructor saw that everyone else was packing up to leave, while Qing Lin alone remained seated, staring blankly down at her desk. When he walked over, he saw that her thick notebook was filled with neat, graceful handwriting.

"Tea... Teacher, there's still something here I don't quite understand..."

The teacher's call brought Qing Lin back to her senses. She spoke hesitantly and awkwardly, looking rather embarrassed.

The teacher was surprised, then smiled and began to explain. This young Hall Master was talented and diligent, but for some reason she was shy and disliked bothering others. She would rather spend the whole day puzzling something out on her own than ask for help.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Now that everything had clicked, Qing Lin bowed to the teacher, then happily packed up to head back.

"Yay! (σ≧?≦)σ"

Qing Lin hadn't yet returned to the little courtyard when she heard Zi Yan's excited shout from afar. Just as she wondered what had made her so happy, she heard Zi Yan and Yun Zimo talking.

"Brother! Is something happening tomorrow? We don't have to go to class or the Martial Arts Hall?"

"Tomorrow is the day of the Three-Year Agreement between your senior sister Yanran and Xiao Yan. The sect is suspending all activities so they can settle their grudge."

"..."

When Qing Lin heard Yun Zimo's voice, she hurried over and pushed open the courtyard gate. At a glance, she saw Yun Zimo turning around.

"Brother Zi Mo."

Qing Lin smiled softly and called out to him.

"You don't have class tomorrow?"

"Mm. Tomorrow, all the sect disciples are going to Misty Cloud Square to watch. Stick with me, and don't go wandering off."

Qing Lin was sweet and sensible, which was a relief. Yun Zimo was worried that Zi Yan might once again lead those few beast kings in sneaking down the mountain.

Last time, Jia Xingtian had brought Zi Yan back to Misty Cloud Mountain by the scruff of her neck. Yun Zimo had personally gone to apologize afterward.

"Brother! How could I possibly cause you trouble? You know I'm the most well-behaved!"

Feeling guilty, Zi Yan tugged on Yun Zimo's hand and pleaded, her limpid eyes blinking as she gazed at him pitifully.

"Come over first thing tomorrow morning. If you dare sneak down the mountain, I'll lock you up!"

Yun Zimo wasn't swayed. Last time, she had drawn out the Imperial Family's guardian magical beast, the Nether Sea Demon Python, and nearly torn down the palace. The time before that, she had gone down the mountain and beaten up a Dou Wang from the He Clan in the empire's east...

In just one year, the Misty Cloud Sect had made more of a name for itself than its disciples had in all the years since the Jia Ma Imperial Family rose to power...

"Fine, I won't go if you say I can't..."

Zi Yan pouted and gave a soft huff. She took a packet of pills from her hand, turned away, and crunched on them by herself.

"Big Sister Zi Yan... just listen to Brother Zi Mo."

Little Qing Lin, who was much taller than Zi Yan, gently tugged at the sulking girl.

"After tomorrow, I'll go play with you."

"Really?"

Zi Yan's eyes lit up. Little Qing Lin had once spent every day either in class or at the Martial Arts Hall, leaving Zi Yan bored to death on her own. She'd had no choice but to take the Beast Taming Hall down the mountain to experience the "local customs" of the Jia Ma Empire!

Now that Little Qing Lin had offered to go with her, Zi Yan would naturally behave herself a little more.

Little Qing Lin smiled helplessly. She thought studying was interesting, so why couldn't Zi Yan sit still...

"Yanran, tomorrow is the day of the Three-Year Agreement. Go back to the sect today and get ready."

Nalan Su looked at Nalan Yanran, who was kneeling before Nalan Jie's door, and sighed.

"Grandfather, I've never regretted my decision. The Three-Year Agreement has nothing to do with the Nalan Family, and besides..."

Nalan Yanran lifted her head and looked at the tightly shut door.

"I absolutely will not lose!"

She bowed deeply, then rose and saluted Nalan Su. Without another moment's hesitation, she left the Nalan Family and headed straight for Misty Cloud Mountain.

"Father, Yanran, she..."

Nalan Su didn't know how to persuade his daughter. When he turned around and saw his own father, Nalan Jie, suddenly standing outside, he hurriedly bowed.

The Jia Ma Empire's Lionheart Marshal—the once vigorous, sharp-eyed old man—now wore anger between his brows, along with a trace of nostalgia and sorrow in his eyes.

"Old Lin, my Nalan Family has wronged you..."

"Xiao Yan, tomorrow's the day of the Three-Year Agreement. How do you feel about it?"

Late at night, Yao Lao floated beside Xiao Yan, looking at his disciple, whose face was calm in the moonlight.

"Three years ago, I might've been excited and fired up about it. After all, she'd thrown my Xiao Clan's dignity onto the ground and trampled it."

Xiao Yan sat on the roof, gazing up at the full moon. He thought of Yao Lao's approving gaze, his father's kind face, Xun'er's smiling features, and that Yun big brother who always put on a serious front.

"But now, I don't feel much of anything. I have to go through with this, but it's just something I have to do."

Yao Lao floated in midair with his hands behind his back. White mist billowed beneath his feet, making him look as if he were riding the clouds. His white hair fluttered, lending him the air of an immortal.

"Teacher, you've gone to so much trouble for me these past few years."

Xiao Yan suddenly spoke, tears tracing the corners of his eyes. Beside him, Yao Lao, who had seemed to radiate immortal air, dissolved into the moonlight like a gust of wind.

"We don't want this damn thing anymore! Come on, I'll take you out!"

"No! Teacher, this is your only hope of coming back to life..."

"Once my teacher, forever my father."

"Teacher, your eyes won't go blind a second time..."

"Xiao Yan, the Dou Technique you created can already contend with a Dou Huang expert. I'm very pleased. But from here on, you may have to walk alone for a while..."

"Tea... Teacher?! No! My selfishness is what hurt you..."

Scene after scene from the past flashed before Xiao Yan's eyes. He gently wiped away the tears on his cheeks, then leaped from the rooftop, his gaze resolute.

"Teacher, I'll find a way to wake you!"

The Yao Lao from moments ago had only been Xiao Yan's imagination. For some unknown reason, Yao Lao had fallen into a deep sleep...

"Mr. Yan Xiao?"

On the street near the Mittel Auction House, Nalan Su recognized Yan Xiao. This man had helped remove the Brand Poison in Elder Nalan's body, then dazzled everyone at the Alchemist Tournament and won the championship. Just yesterday, he had exchanged for the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva from the Nalan Family. Why did he look so downcast now?

"Clan Head Nalan."

Xiao Yan, who had been walking slowly and lost in thought, came back to his senses and greeted him politely.

"You..."

"Oh, I was going to the Mittel Auction House to buy some tonics for the old master. The Brand Poison's lingering toxins are hard to remove, so I thought I'd help him restore his foundation."

Nalan Su was quite courteous to Yan Xiao, unlike the cool indifference he showed most people.

"Mr. Yan Xiao, you're at the Mittel Auction House to look for medicinal ingredients too, aren't you? If there's anything you need, the Nalan Family may be able to help."

Nalan Su wanted to befriend this young alchemist, so he took the initiative to ask.

"Well..."

After a brief hesitation, Xiao Yan spoke.

"May I ask whether Clan Head Nalan knows of any medicinal ingredients similar to the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva?"

"The Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva?"

Nalan Su's smile stiffened.

"Mr. Yan Xiao, my old master was poisoned by Brand Poison because of the Seven-Illusion Green Spirit Saliva. Where would we find another treasure like that?"

"But the Alchemist Guild might have some. You won the Alchemist Tournament, so you're now an honorary elder of the guild. You should be able to look through their records on medicinal ingredients."

Nalan Su spoke quietly. Although this was inside information from the Alchemist Guild, as the head of one of the Imperial Capital's three great clans, he knew quite a few secrets.

"Thank you."

Xiao Yan thanked him, disappointment in his eyes. Although Nalan Su hadn't been able to help directly, even a lead was good news.

"The Misty Cloud Sect is holding a spar between people of the same generation tomorrow. Would you be interested in watching, Mr. Yan Xiao?"

Seeing that Xiao Yan seemed distracted, Nalan Su took the opportunity to ask.

"A spar?"

"Yes. The Misty Cloud Sect has invited the various clans to attend. Would you be willing to go, Mr. Yan Xiao?"

"I'll go!"

Xiao Yan replied with a faint smile. Of course he would go—he just wouldn't be there to watch!

"But there's no need to trouble yourself, Clan Head Nalan. I can go to the Misty Cloud Sect on my own. Don't waste the Nalan Family's invitation."

Xiao Yan replied politely, then headed for the Mittel Auction House before Nalan Su could urge him to stay. Hai Bodong had been waiting there quietly, leaning against the doorway.