Transformation

"Um... Miss Wan, I..."

After Old Yao finished speaking, Xiao Yan finally looked toward the figure seated by the bed.

This was probably what dependence felt like.

Before that mysterious girl had appeared by his side, even Xun Er had only maintained their fragile relationship with a neither warm nor cold attitude.

Yet it was precisely someone like the person before him, someone who seemed to belong to an entirely different world from him. She was not like the sun, dazzling enough to light up the darkness. Rather, she was like a bright moon in the night, accidentally slipping past the clouds and window to scatter a few fragments of silver frost through a dim room.

Though to the moon, that moonlight was merely an unintentional act.

It was not some unbearably mushy relationship. It was simply that, after more than half a year together, Xiao Yan had long grown accustomed to Miss Wan's presence. Whenever he encountered something troublesome or had a question, he would inevitably think of her.

Xiao Yan knew such reliance was not good, of course, but the subconscious often ran contrary to one's conscious will.

"Mm, I understand. So, do you want gold coins or medicinal ingredients?"

Yao Wan lightly nodded. She did not particularly mind. In fact, if the resources at hand could help Xiao Yan grow stronger quickly, it was not a bad thing for her.

"...Gold coins, then. It'll be easier to repay later, at least."

For the sake of the little pride he still had before Miss Wan, Xiao Yan chose the more troublesome option.

"Gold coins? Sure. How much do you want to borrow?"

How could Yao Wan fail to see through Xiao Yan's thoughts? Although she had been supporting him for half a year already, Xiao Yan was not the sort of useless person who liked to lie flat. More than two years of stagnation had made him desperately seek every possible way to grow stronger.

Though Xiao Yan never mentioned it, Yao Wan knew that he had remembered everything she had done for him over the past half year. He had not spoken of it before only because he lacked the ability to repay her. Now that his hopes of rising again had been reignited, the confidence that had slowly rekindled over the past half year had also revived Xiao Yan's pride.

Repaying kindness was only human nature.

While she could not hold others—or beasts—to such high standards, Xiao Yan undoubtedly truly thought this way.

So she did not explain any further. She would simply let him do as he wished.

"Would one hundred thousand gold coins be enough?"

Yao Wan brushed her fingertips over her Storage Ring, then took out a storage pouch. With only the slightest opening, a flash of dazzling golden light flickered within.

No matter how steadfast Xiao Yan's temperament was, when Miss Wan casually named a figure that made his heart skip, he could not help feeling the urge to fall at the feet of this rich woman.

"Enough. More than enough."

"Miss Wan, just wait for my good news."

Having said that, Xiao Yan no longer had the face to remain there. He turned and ran off.

"What's wrong? Did a mere hundred thousand gold coins scare you silly?"

"Teacher..."

Xiao Yan let out a weary breath and said, "I suddenly don't want to work hard anymore."

"Oh."

Old Yao immediately understood. "Then go on. I won't stop you."

"Wait, shouldn't you be teaching me that cultivation requires keeping my feet on the ground at a time like this?"

"Idiot, you're too old-fashioned. A young, talented, influential girl is willing to protect and support you. What more could you possibly ask for?"

Old Yao could not help saying.

"Huh?"

Xiao Yan probably never could have imagined that an old man like Old Yao would call him old-fashioned.

"Hmph, the kid is still too young. He doesn't know the benefits of it..."

Old Yao subconsciously stroked his beard and teased.

Xiao Yan's face instantly flushed red. Fine, if he did not want to explain, then forget it. Why was he talking in riddles again—

Forget it. Tomorrow, he would go to the medicine shop to buy medicinal ingredients, then quickly improve his cultivation. That was what truly mattered.

Overnight, the problem that had plagued him for more than two years—his inability to gather fighting qi—had been resolved. He had even taken a master whom even Miss Wan praised as an alchemist, and he now had a new goal for the future. To Xiao Yan, this was practically a rebirth.

Even though Miss Wan had kept telling him over the past half year that there was no rush, how could Xiao Yan himself possibly not be anxious? His future prospects were at stake. He could only suppress his impatience and wait for the right opportunity.

And now, it seemed that he had not waited in vain.

Had he not been in the silent Xiao Family compound in the dead of night, Xiao Yan might even have shouted aloud to vent the frustration and confusion that had plagued him day and night for more than two years.

"Hehe, brat, the vast skies and open seas that belong to you are only just beginning."

Old Yao watched Xiao Yan leave the guest courtyard and smiled in satisfaction. Over the past two years, he had not merely been absorbing Xiao Yan's fighting qi to restore himself.

He had also been observing the character of this youth, whose talent happened to suit becoming an alchemist.

Old Yao valued Xiao Yan's character far more than his talent. After all, he had suffered greatly in that regard once before, and he naturally had no desire to suffer the same loss a second time.

After more than two years of observation, he had to admit that he was very satisfied.

Especially after Miss Wan came to the Xiao Family, Xiao Yan's conduct had been beyond reproach. Only then had he made up his mind to reveal himself.

"Hmm? Someone's coming. I'll go back inside first."

Suddenly sensing something, Old Yao gave Xiao Yan a reminder. His illusory body then slipped into the Storage Ring on Xiao Yan's finger.

Xiao Yan was slightly stunned. At this hour, who else would be wandering outside for no reason?

Before he could speculate further, however, a graceful figure drifted toward him like a butterfly.

"Xiao Yan, what's wrong? Did something good happen recently?"

Under the moonlight, Xiao Xun Er seemed like an elf. Her graceful figure traced a captivating curve as she lightly touched the ground with her toes, tilting her head slightly as she looked at the youth before her, who seemed somewhat different from before.

Something he had once lost was gradually returning to him.

"I suppose it counts as good news... Xun Er."

Xiao Yan looked at the young girl before him, who was becoming ever more lovely by the day. A faint smile rested on his face, but at the end, he unconsciously murmured her name, seeming to want to say something yet holding it back.

"As long as Xiao Yan can pull himself together, that's all that matters."

How could Xun Er not know what was in Xiao Yan's blockheaded mind? Seeing his expression, the deliberate distance and loneliness of the past vanished as the two exchanged smiles.

"...By the way, Xiao Yan, can you take me around Wutan City tomorrow? It's been a long time since we went out for a walk together."