The Tree May Desire Stillness, but the Wind Will Not Cease

"Nothing. I just wanted to ask."

Xiao Yan spoke.

"Dou Wang. Do you believe it?"

Yao Wan looked at Xiao Yan before parting her lips and speaking.

"Dou Wang?!"

Xiao Yan nearly jumped up from the ground.

"You're so young, and you're already a Dou Wang?"

In Xiao Yan's understanding, although this Miss Wan before him was not much older than he was, and might even be the same age, it was precisely because they were so close in age that the distant realm she spoke of struck him with such immense shock.

"What? Are you surprised?"

Beneath the bamboo hat, the corners of Yao Wan's crimson lips curved slightly upward. Though it was not quite time for that yet, Xiao Yan had always been the one shocking others. Seeing him get frightened by her today was rather amusing.

"It's only a mere Dou Wang. It's still far too far from the realm I have in mind."

Yao Wan spoke before Xiao Yan with blatant nonchalance.

"A mere Dou Wang..."

Xiao Yan repeatedly mulled over those four casually spoken words from Yao Wan's lips. The more he thought about them, the more shocked he became.

He remembered clearly that the Jia Ma Empire's foremost alchemist, Alchemist King Gu He, was at the Dou Wang realm. He was also the only sixth-tier alchemist within the Jia Ma Empire.

But Gu He had been an established Dou Wang for decades. Not to mention that Miss Wan herself was a mysterious alchemist. With Xiao Yan's current knowledge, he could not even guess what tier of alchemist she was, let alone discern it. Yet Xiao Yan knew full well that the young girl before him, who always concealed her figure and face beneath a cloak and bamboo hat, was absolutely capable of crushing that so-called Alchemist King.

Still, Xiao Yan did not awkwardly press further. Such matters were simply far too distant for him right now.

"What? Did I scare you?"

"A little."

"...Hmph."

The corners of Yao Wan's crimson lips rose slightly, her tone carrying a hint of amusement.

It had to be said that showing off a little once in a while felt surprisingly good.

Yao Wan had wanted to say something more, but before she could open her mouth, she instinctively looked toward the door.

"What is it?"

Noticing Miss Wan's movement, Xiao Yan could not help asking.

"...I'm a little tired. How about we talk another day?"

To his surprise, Yao Wan's next words were an invitation for him to leave. Xiao Yan had not expected Miss Wan to change her attitude so quickly.

But it did not seem like she was targeting him.

"Since Miss Wan is tired, I won't disturb you any longer."

Xiao Yan nodded and did not force the matter. Though Miss Wan spoke and behaved very differently from ordinary girls her age, he had not forgotten the distinction between men and women. He would not pester her to chat all night.

He then left the guest room and closed the door behind him.

Just as Xiao Yan was about to leave, another young girl's melodious voice, as graceful and pleasant as an oriole's song, sounded behind him.

"Brother Xiao Yan, did a guest really come?"

The girl before him, with her ethereal bearing and exceptional beauty, stood behind Xiao Yan and asked with a soft smile.

"—Xun Er? Honestly, why do you all like scaring people so much today..."

Xiao Yan, still holding the door handle, trembled along with it. He hurriedly shut the door, then could not help complaining.

"...All?"

Perhaps it was a woman's unique sixth sense, or perhaps the girl was simply clever and perceptive. Her beautiful eyes shifted slightly as she looked toward the door behind Xiao Yan.

"Yes, she does count as an honored guest, but it's not convenient to talk about. All right, Xun Er, it's getting late. Go back and rest."

For some reason, Xiao Yan instinctively resisted discussing Miss Wan in front of Xun Er.

On second thought, Miss Wan's origins were mysterious and her identity special. There was nothing wrong with being cautious about her—

As for Xiao Xun Er, his fellow clanswoman whose bearing and beauty were both unmatched, Xiao Yan had always held considerable affection for her.

After all, Xun Er was one of the few people who had continued to treat him and play with him as she always had during the past two years when his cultivation had stagnated.

Only after time passed and one saw through the coldness of the world did one cherish even more those who still remained by one's side.

Seeing that Brother Xiao Yan was unwilling to reveal anything, Xiao Xun Er could not ask further. She merely nodded lightly, then turned and left the courtyard where Yao Wan was temporarily staying alongside Xiao Yan.

Inside the guest room, Yao Wan had removed her bamboo hat and sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion with her eyes closed.

As for everything that had happened outside the door just now, she had actually been fully aware of it.

Alchemists had one characteristic: their Soul Power was exceptionally strong.

But in truth, it should have been put the other way around—only those with powerful Soul Power who also met the requirement of possessing wood affinity within fire affinity could become alchemists.

And among them, Yao Wan was undoubtedly even more exceptional.

Even among alchemists, whose Soul Power was already especially powerful, few had Soul Power stronger than their own Dou Qi cultivation.

Yao Wan was one of those rare exceptions.

Though she was merely an ordinary one-star Dou Wang, her soul was genuinely at the Heavenly Soul level. With a Heavenly Soul this powerful from birth, challenging opponents above her level went without saying. As for the conversation between Xiao Xun Er and Xiao Yan outside the door just now, it was difficult for her to ignore even with her eyes closed.

But... Xiao Xun Er.

Yao Wan slowly opened her beautiful eyes, as though a fragment of a starry night had fallen into the mortal world. The recollection in her gaze gradually faded away.

Getting along with Xiao Yan was one thing, but she had no interest in putting on a false front with the Gu Clan's Young Miss.

It was too fake, too affected. She did not like becoming that sort of person.

Yet sometimes, the tree might desire stillness, but the wind would not cease.

You might not wish to stir up trouble, but trouble would still come looking for you.

"...Sigh."

Seated upon the meditation cushion, her still-undeveloped graceful figure stood as upright as jade upon a lotus pedestal, unmoving beneath an invisible and silent scrutiny.

With a soft sigh, Yao Wan finally could not endure it any longer.

"I haven't provoked her, so why must you provoke me?"

"Leave. Otherwise, when you get beaten on her behalf later, you won't even know why."

As she spoke, she revealed a trace of the pressure belonging to a Heavenly Soul.

The presence hidden in the darkness clearly sensed that terrifying pressure. For now, the owner of this spiritual force bore no hostility; there was only resentment that an uninvited guest had intruded even into her residence.

Yet even so, he had no choice but to avoid her edge for the moment.

Regarding her, it was indeed best to inform the Young Miss and make plans carefully.