Xiao Xun Er

Before anyone else could recover from their shock, the graceful figure that had just passed by them left behind only a faint, elegant medicinal fragrance, which quickly scattered in the lake breeze without leaving a trace.

Yao Wan did not care much about the others, but considering that wandering around outside would inevitably cause some commotion, she quickened her pace and headed toward Xiao Yan's residence.

Just as she was about to reach Xiao Yan's residence, Yao Wan noticed a graceful figure in pale violet.

That nimble figure was like a butterfly—the Heavenly Pride Daughter of the Xiao Family. When Yao Wan noticed her, she too instinctively looked toward the girl in the plain-colored dress in the distance, her face concealed beneath a bamboo hat.

That is...

Although Xiao Xun Er had always known that the Xiao Family had an honored guest, she had never seen Yao Wan in person. Her impression of Yao Wan had largely been based on her own guesses and imagination.

Only now did she finally see the person she had never laid eyes on before.

Likewise, this was Yao Wan's first time seeing Xiao Xun Er.

Both had long known of the other's existence, yet they had never met.

Now that they had finally encountered each other, neither could help feeling somewhat taken aback.

"...If I'm not mistaken, could you be the Xiao Family's honored guest, Miss Wan?"

Xiao Xun Er spoke first, wearing a smile that made it difficult for anyone not to feel favorably toward her.

Yao Wan slowly approached. Beneath the black veil of her bamboo hat, those eyes reflecting a sea of stars gazed directly at Xiao Xun Er.

"I've often heard Xiao Yan mention you, Miss Xiao Xun Er."

"Hehe... I wouldn't dare accept being called Miss. Miss Wan can just call me Xun Er, like Brother Xiao Yan does."

A radiant smile bloomed across Xun Er's pretty face, like mountain flowers in full blossom.

Yao Wan merely shook her head, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

"Is Miss Xun Er here to see Xiao Yan as well?"

Yao Wan did not beat around the bush and asked directly. After all, there was no need to ask why Xun Er was going to see her Brother Xiao Yan. If Yao Wan went along now, would she not be deliberately making herself a third wheel?

She had no desire to be a third wheel, much less watch the two of them flirt affectionately in front of her.

"'As well'? So Miss Wan is here to see Brother Xiao Yan too?"

Xiao Xun Er keenly caught the implication in Yao Wan's words, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly.

"Yes. He's been cultivating for the past half month and hasn't come to see me during that time, so I wanted to check whether he had encountered any problems in his cultivation."

Yao Wan paid no attention to the faint hostility that seemed to lurk in Xiao Xun Er's eyes and merely explained her purpose.

"I see..."

Xiao Xun Er unconsciously pondered the meaning behind Yao Wan's words. She had more or less determined that Miss Wan did not seem to harbor the kind of feelings for Brother Xiao Yan that she had initially suspected.

Yet for some reason, Yao Wan's words still made her uncomfortable.

...At most, it had only been half a month, yet she spoke as though Brother Xiao Yan had not visited her for ages.

What was that supposed to mean? Was it strange if Brother Xiao Yan did not go to see her every other day?

Xun Er said, "Then there is no need to trouble Miss Wan with making the trip. I can go see how Brother Xiao Yan's cultivation is progressing."

"Since I'm already here, there's no need to trouble Miss Xun Er."

Yao Wan gently shook her head.

With that, Yao Wan walked toward Xiao Yan's small courtyard.

"...Ah, right."

"I still haven't asked Miss Wan's true name. Would Miss Wan be willing to reveal it?"

Xiao Xun Er called out to Yao Wan.

"Miss Wan is extraordinarily gifted and can refine medicine as well. Could it be... that your surname is Yao?"

Yao Wan halted.

"What if it is? What if it isn't?"

Yao Wan asked in return.

"If it is not Yao, then it must be Yan."

Xiao Xun Er continued, "After all, a genius who possesses the Living Flame at such a young age would likely only come from those two clans."

"Sigh... What do you mean by that, Miss Xun Er?"

Yao Wan turned her eyes toward her. This had originally been something both sides tacitly understood, yet it had now been exposed outright.

"...What exactly did Miss Wan come to the Xiao Family for?"

Xiao Xun Er looked at the turned-around Yao Wan. Judging from her reaction alone, she knew that she had guessed correctly nine times out of ten, so she simply chose to speak plainly.

"For what? Naturally, I grew bored staying in the clan and wanted to come out for a stroll. Once I've had my fill of wandering, I'll go back... But why do you say that, Miss Xun Er? Is this a thief crying thief?"

Since Yao Wan saw that this topic could no longer be avoided, she naturally had no reason to yield.

Xiao Xun Er was stunned, then lightly furrowed her delicate brows. Naturally, she did not believe Yao Wan's explanation in the slightest. "Since we are both here, could it be that you..."

"I have no interest whatsoever in the Ancient Jade. The only one crying thief here is you, Miss Xun Er."

To be honest, Yao Wan could not understand why Xiao Xun Er had shown such hostility the moment they met. It was not as though she had deliberately offended her.

Yet even though the doubt in her heart remained unresolved, Yao Wan could not possibly weaken her bearing.

Especially when facing other geniuses... Xiao Yan was one thing, but she had never feared anyone else.

Yao Wan had merely restrained the pointless arrogance common among geniuses, but that did not mean she would let anyone mold and knead her as they pleased.

Ever since childhood, she had been the treasured jewel in the hands of the Clan Leader and the entire Yao Clan. She had whatever she wanted, so naturally she was no helpless little rabbit who could be bullied outside.

Xiao Xun Er paused slightly, but before she could say anything else, Yao Wan continued, "I've already said everything there is to say. I grew tired of staying in the clan and came out for a walk, happening to arrive here by chance. I have no particular agenda, and there is nothing in the entire Xiao Family that catches my eye."

"Including that broken jade your Gu Clan has been obsessing over."

"The road to the pinnacle is long. How could a mere broken piece of jade change it?"

"If there is anything I'm interested in, it is only Xiao Yan."

"You really...!"

Xiao Xun Er's beautiful eyes widened. The surprise on her pretty face, along with the anger of having her bottom line touched, was completely undisguised. It was as though Yao Wan being interested in Xiao Yan angered her even more than Yao Wan coveting the Ancient Jade currently in the Xiao Family.

"If you dare touch even a hair on Brother Xiao Yan, I'll—"

"And what will you do?"

Yao Wan interrupted Xiao Xun Er.

"Xiao Yan now eats what I provide and uses what I provide. The resources are mine, and the opportunities were given by me. Have I treated him poorly?"

"No matter what... I'm still better than someone who only knows how to shout empty words. Don't you think so, Miss Xun Er?"