Xiao Yu Made Her Move

Carrying Ya Fei, Xiao Yan traversed several streets in a flash of lightning, landing steadily deep within the Xiao Mansion, in the exquisite courtyard belonging to him, the young Clan Chief of the Xiao Family.

The moonlight poured down like quicksilver, draping the flowers and plants in the courtyard in a hazy veil, and further highlighting the snow-white skin and charming beauty of the woman in his arms.

"We're home, Sister Ya Fei."

Xiao Yan lowered his head and gently kissed Ya Fei's smooth forehead, his movements tender, a stark contrast to his domineering and assertive demeanor at the Auction House.

Feeling the warm touch, Ya Fei's heart trembled, and the embarrassment of being carried away in front of everyone turned into joy.

She stretched out her slender arms and wrapped them around Xiao Yan's neck, pressing her cheek against his firm chest. Listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat, she felt incredibly at ease.

"Yes, this is my home now too."

Her voice carried a hint of languor and contentment.

Xiao Yan carried her into the bedroom and gently placed her on the bed covered with soft brocade quilts.

The room was elegantly and comfortably furnished, with a faint fragrance in the air. It was many times more luxurious than the small single room Xiao Yan used to live in.

After all, he was Dou Wang expert and the young Clan Chief of the Xiao Family. Although it wasn't exactly luxurious, it at least looked somewhat respectable.

Ya Fei leaned against the headboard, the Zhu Huo in the room casting a warm yellow glow that dispelled the chill of the moonlight.

"Are you hungry? Should I have someone bring you some food?"

Xiao Yan turned around and asked, his gaze falling on Ya Fei's slightly tired but radiant face.

Ya Fei shook her head, shifted her position slightly, then patted the empty seat next to her and said with a smile:

"No need, I just want to hear you talk properly. You promised to tell me about your 'great achievements' over the past few years, so don't go back on your word."

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and anticipation; despite having a mature and charming face, she looked like a little girl waiting for a bedtime story.

Xiao Yan sat down on the edge of the bed as instructed, naturally took her hand, interlocked their fingers, and began to tell her about some things that happened after he left the Jia Ma Empire.

The bloody storms of the Black Corner Region, the Jia Nan Academy's Strong Ranking Tournament, the riots and subjugation of the Fallen Heart Flame, the purge of Han Feng, a disgrace to the sect, and the acquisition of the Sea Heart Flame, among other things, were all recounted in detail.

Xiao Yan didn't speak very fast, but Ya Fei listened with utmost concentration. Sometimes she held her breath in tension, sometimes she breathed a sigh of relief when he escaped danger, and sometimes she was shocked by his endless trump cards and astonishing growth rate.

Although she already knew what kind of person Xiao Yan was and how powerful he was, she could easily discern from these events the amount of effort Xiao Yan had put in and the pressure he had endured over the years.

"Sigh, what should I do if I suddenly don't want you to keep working so hard? It's tiring and dangerous..."

Her voice trembled slightly as she leaned closer and hugged Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan hugged her back, gently patted her back, rested his chin on the top of her head, and inhaled her unique fragrance, confidently comforting her:

"To protect everything I care about, I must persevere no matter how dangerous or tiring it is. Besides, I have enough confidence in myself. Within ten years, I will stand at the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent. At that time, no one will be able to pose a threat to me."

Ya Fei snuggled against him and said in a muffled voice:

"I knew you would say that, but I don't want to hide behind you forever. From now on, I will work even harder in my training. I hope that one day I can fight alongside you."

She raised her head, her eyes glistening with tears, yet filled with an undeniable determination.

Looking at her slightly reddened eyes and earnest expression, Xiao Yan felt a touch of tenderness in his heart.

He cupped her face in his hands, gently wiping away the moisture from the corner of her eye with his fingertips, and solemnly promised:

"Okay, I'm also looking forward to the day when I can fight alongside you!"

He lowered his head and kissed her soft lips. The kiss was tender and lingering, expressing both his love for Ya Fei and his promise to her.

After the kiss ended, Ya Fei's breathing became rapid, her cheeks flushed, and the tears in her eyes were even more intense. But these were not the tears of heartache she felt for Xiao Yan before; they were tears of overflowing happiness.

She leaned against Xiao Yan, feeling his warm embrace and strong heartbeat, and felt incredibly secure.

This man always made her feel so at ease!

"That's right!"

Suddenly remembering something, Ya Fei slightly propped herself up from Xiao Yan and took out the Mystic Ice Spirit Marrow, which was emitting an astonishingly cold aura, from her Storage Ring.

The deep blue jade shimmered with a mysterious luster under the Zhu Huo, its center adorned with a black rhombus-shaped crystal that resembled a deep, dark eye.

"Can I start trying to absorb its cold energy now?"

Looking at the piece of Mystic Ice Spirit Marrow, Xiao Yan nodded:

"Of course, the ice energy contained in this item is extremely pure and abundant. With your current level, you are just able to withstand the cold air on the outside. When you reach the Dou Huang Realm in the future, you can try to seal it into your body for cultivation. Perhaps you will be able to break through to the Dou Zong level by using the pure cold energy inside!"

I will be here to protect you; there won't be any problems. However, for your first absorption, please proceed with caution and don't be greedy.

A hint of excitement flashed in Ya Fei's eyes.

Improving her strength meant she could share more of Xiao Yan's responsibilities and stay by his side for longer. Thinking of this, she was full of energy.

She sat cross-legged, placed the Mystic Ice Spirit Marrow in her palm, circulated her cultivation technique, and began to carefully guide a wisp of pure cold energy into her body.

As soon as the cold air entered her meridians, Ya Fei couldn't help but shiver. She felt an indescribable chill spread through her, as if even her soul was being frozen.

But she gritted her teeth, circulated her Dou Qi, and guided the cold energy to flow through her meridians.

Xiao Yan sat opposite her, his powerful soul perception enveloping her, closely monitoring any subtle changes within her body to prevent any unexpected situations from occurring.

Time passed in silence. Tiny ice crystals gradually formed on Ya Fei's eyelashes and the ends of her hair, and a faint, visible mist emanated from her body, causing the room temperature to drop considerably.

But her expression was focused, and although her breathing was cold, it was unusually steady.

She was absorbing and refining the energy of the Mystic Ice Spirit Marrow bit by bit, integrating it into her Dou Qi, making it even colder and more condensed.

Xiao Yan looked at Ya Fei's profile as she focused on her cultivation. Moonlight streamed through the window and fell on her, as if gilding her with a cool halo, giving this charming beauty a touch of the aloofness of a moon Ya Fei.

It's great, I love watching it!

Even when a good-looking person is cultivating without moving, they are still a beautiful sight!

After an unknown amount of time, Ya Fei slowly exhaled a breath of cold air, which condensed into a white ribbon in the air and lingered for a long time.

She opened her eyes, a fleeting glint of icy blue light flashing within them. Her aura became more restrained and profound, and her skin appeared radiant and translucent.

How are you feeling?

Xiao Yan asked with concern.

Ya Fei's face lit up with a joyful smile:

"Just as you said, this Profound Mystic Ice Spirit Marrow is truly miraculous. After refining only a trace, I feel my Dou Qi has increased significantly, and my cultivation speed has increased considerably. If I can continue like this, I might have a chance to break through to the Dou Wang level within a month!"

She looked at Xiao Yan, her eyes filled with gratitude and love.

"That's good."

Xiao Yan smiled and nodded. After Ya Fei broke through to the Dou Wang, she was definitely a strong person in the small territory of the Jia Ma Empire. With the guidance of Elder Hai, her combat power would not be bad. If she worked hard, in another year or two, she would be the strongest person in the Jia Ma Empire!

Having experienced the miraculous effects of the Mystic Ice Spirit Marrow, Ya Fei looked at Xiao Yan, then at the Mystic Ice Spirit Marrow, and felt somewhat conflicted.

Cultivation was important to her, but Xiao Yan was even more important to her.

So, should she focus on cultivating, or should she get closer to Xiao Yan?

After a moment's thought, Ya Fei decided to cuddle up to him, so she snuggled back into Xiao Yan, indulging in his body and frantically sucking on his breath.

It won't make a difference if she has a little more time to cultivate; let her relax first.

Xiao Yan also quite enjoyed doing nothing and embracing the beauty while savoring his daily life. However, after glancing at the sky, he remembered what Xiao Yu had said during the day.

He looked down at Ya Fei, who was resting with her eyes closed and a satisfied smile on her lips, and gently stroked her hair.

Ya Fei seemed to sense something, and slightly opened her eyes, her gaze questioning.

"Sister Ya Fei," Xiao Yan said softly, "You rest first. There's something I need to take care of at the clan. I'll be back soon."

Ya Fei's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, as if she could see right through him.

She didn't press for details, but simply nodded gently, pulled the quilt over her, and, true to being a considerate wife, said softly:

"Okay, go ahead, don't stay out too late, I'll wait for you to come back."

Xiao Yan felt a warmth in his heart at Ya Fei's trust and understanding. He stood up, straightened his robes, and then leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her lips before getting up and quietly leaving the warm bedroom for the courtyard.

He looked up at the sky; the moon was high in the sky.

Cousin Xiao Yu must have been waiting quite a while, right?

Thinking of her hesitant, blushing appearance during the day, Xiao Yan couldn't help but sigh softly.

The emotional debts he owes seem to be more than he anticipated.

However, to avoid being treated like a hooligan by his cousin Xiao Yu, he would sometimes deliberately avoid her. So it seems that he had never actively provoked her, and he didn't know why she had developed feelings for him.

"Forget it, I already have so much debt, what's a little more?"

Xiao Yan moved swiftly, silently blending into the night, and swept towards the Back Mountain like a gentle breeze.

Night fell, on the Xiao Family Back Mountain.

Xiao Yu had been waiting here for almost half an hour. She sat on a smooth rock, hugging her knees with her hands and resting her chin on her knees, looking at the Xiao Mansion with its lights twinkling below the mountain, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

The impulse to invite her out during the day had long since faded, leaving only trepidation and shyness.

She mentally rehearsed her words, wondering how to express her feelings to Xiao Yan. Should she directly confess her love? Or should she subtly convey the affection she had held for him over the years?

But what if he refuses?

He already has that Sister Ya Fei by his side, and so many other radiant female classmates...

In comparison, she was just a cousin who had just advanced to the Dou Zhe level. Although her relationship with Xiao Yan had been decent over the years, it couldn't be described as as close as Xun'er's.

The evening breeze ruffled her hair, bringing a touch of coolness and calming her troubled mind slightly.

She remembered her unusual cousin from her childhood, and the days when she began to cultivate diligently because of him.

That quietly growing affection had already taken deep root.

She took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and made up her mind:

Regardless of the outcome, we should at least try! At the very least, we should let him know how we feel.

Even that little brat Xiao Mei dares to snuggle into Xiao Yan's arms, so as her older sister, I can't lose face!

She stood up and paced back and forth, trying to ease her tension. Her gaze inadvertently swept towards Xiao Yan's courtyard at the foot of the mountain, where she seemed to see faint lights.

What is he doing right now?

Was he spending time with Sister Ya Fei, or handling family affairs?

Has he already forgotten our agreement for tonight?

The waiting time always seems exceptionally long.

Xiao Yu's heart, too, was gradually filled with anticipation, nervousness, and bittersweet emotions as she waited.

Just as she was feeling down and a little dazed, she suddenly felt a gentle breeze.

She abruptly looked up and saw that tall, upright figure had silently appeared in the moonlight, his handsome face bearing an apologetic expression, and a familiar voice echoing in the silent forest:

"I'm sorry, Xiao Yu, something came up and I kept you waiting."

Xiao Yu's heart skipped a beat for a moment, then began to pound violently again, as if trying to break free.

The boy's simple apology was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up ripples in her heart. The words she had been rehearsing and practicing before were now stuck in her throat.

"No... it's okay, I didn't wait long."

Xiao Yu's voice trembled slightly, sounding somewhat flustered, and her slender fingers twisted together in tension.

Looking at the tall, handsome young man before her, who was no longer the little boy she remembered, her cheeks flushed uncontrollably.

The evening breeze rustled through the trees, making the silence between the two seem even more subtle.

Xiao Yan looked at his cousin, whom he had grown up with since childhood and who had a straightforward personality but seemed unusually awkward at this moment, and sighed inwardly.

He took two steps forward and stopped a step away from Xiao Yu.

"Xiao Yu," Xiao Yan's voice softened as he broke the silence, "What brings you here so late?"

Looking at Xiao Yan, who was just one step away from being right next to her, Xiao Yu suddenly felt that the distance of that one step could be very close, or it could be very far.

Overcoming this hurdle may bring you success or it may leave you with regrets.

If she can't overcome this, it could very well be a lifelong regret for her!

If we disregard the difference in their abilities, she wouldn't feel so much pressure. It's simply that she's fallen for a younger man who makes her feel at ease.

But this is the Dou Qi Continent; how can we ignore strength when discussing it?

But Xiao Yan's talent is just too extraordinary.

While others were still in the Dou Qi stage, he had already become Dou Wang!

This enormous gap is despairing!

But she is Xiao Yu!

Who cares about all that? At worst, I'll give up the official title. As long as I can be with him forever, what does it matter if we continue to be just cousins?

After taking a deep breath, Xiao Yu seemed to have finally made up her mind. She suddenly raised her head and looked intently into the boy's dark eyes.

The moonlight reflected the complex emotions in her eyes: nervousness, shyness, and a do-or-die courage.

"Xiao Yan!" Her voice rose slightly with excitement and trembled a little. "I like you. I know that with my talent and strength, I am not good enough for you, but I don't want to hide my feelings for you, nor do I want to force you to take responsibility for me. I just want to tell you the fact that Xiao Yu likes Xiao Yan!"

Of course, if you're willing, perhaps we could try dating... Would you?

After saying that, Xiao Yu stared at Xiao Yan expectantly, her eyes filled with anticipation.