Xun'er

Xiao Zhan returned to the Xiao Clan residence from the mountain and said to the Great Elder, "Great Elder, arrange for Xiao Xun'er to stay in the courtyard next to the main residence. Please take extra care of Miss Xiao Xun'er's daily life."

"Understood, Clan Head." The Great Elder bowed, fully grasping the implication.

"Miss Xiao Xun'er, please, this way."

Having finished watching the show, the master and disciple duo quietly returned to their room. Yao Lao floated out from the robe, looking at Xiao Yan—who was currently taking off his own robe—with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Xiao Yan, how was it? After witnessing a Dou Zun powerhouse from the Central Plains tear through space so casually today, has your confidence been shaken?" Yao Lao's voice carried a hint of jest.

"Heh heh, this disciple is currently filled with yearning," Xiao Yan chuckled.

"That's good. Today just happened to let you understand that the strongest in the Jia Ma Empire are merely lowly Dou Zong. Those Dou Zun, and the Dou Sheng powerhouses above them, are your true targets. I hope you won't disappoint your teacher." Yao Lao spoke with expectation.

"This disciple understands."

Half a year later.

"Hoo, finally broke through to the ninth stage of Dou Power." Xiao Yan sat cross-legged in his room, exhaling a wisp of residual white energy.

"Mm, not bad, ninth stage. Your aura is unstable just after the breakthrough; accumulate for a while longer, and you can take the opportunity to charge toward becoming a Dou Practitioner." A voice of encouragement came from Yao Lao within the ring.

"Heh heh, a Dou Practitioner, huh." Xiao Yan's face was filled with longing.

"Forget it, I won't think about that for now. It's time to go see that little girl." Xiao Yan pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind. As a figure surfaced in his thoughts, a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Teacher, I plan to go out for a walk." Xiao Yan jumped off the bed, stretching his limbs.

"Haha, I see you're thinking of your child bride and are planning to head over to that little girl's place again." Yao Lao clearly saw through Xiao Yan and teased him.

"Cough, cough, look at what you're saying." Xiao Yan replied, looking slightly embarrassed.

The residences of Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er both surrounded the main house where Xiao Zhan lived, so the distance was not far; he arrived in a short while.

On the way, Xiao Yan recalled the bits and pieces of his time spent with Xiao Xun'er over the past half year and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Xiao Xun'er, who had arrived at the Xiao Clan half a year ago, had undoubtedly caused a sensation due to her mysterious background and her exquisite, doll-like appearance. However, due to Xiao Zhan's strict orders, the high-ranking members of the Xiao Clan who knew the inside story kept their lips sealed regarding her origins, while the ordinary clansmen simply assumed she was an orphan left behind by a powerhouse who had died for the Xiao Clan.

Therefore, after Xiao Zhan brought Xiao Xun'er back, due to the strict protection of Xiao Zhan and the elders, the only ones who could actually interact with her were the children of the Xiao Clan's upper echelons.

Yet, because of Xiao Xun'er's precociousness and cold arrogance, the children who tried to approach her all returned empty-handed. It was only through the deliberate efforts of Xiao Yan—who possessed the soul of an adult—that he managed to build a decent relationship with her. Xiao Yan was currently the only child in the Xiao Clan who had a good relationship with her.

"Foolish children, you have no idea what you've missed. Heh, here we are." Xiao Yan looked up; Xiao Xun'er's courtyard was right before him.

Since Xiao Xun'er was still young, the Great Elder had even assigned a maid to her.

Xiao Yan pushed the door open, walked into the courtyard, nodded at the maid, and began to knock on the door.

"Bang, bang, bang."

"Xun'er, it's me, open the door."

"Brother Xiao Yan." The door opened to reveal a doll-like, smiling face, looking at Xiao Yan with pleasant surprise. Although she hadn't fully grown yet, one could tell she was a beauty in the making; she would surely be a femme fatale when she grew up.

Although Xiao Xun'er had a cold and arrogant temperament, she was, after all, only a two-year-old child. Seeing that Xiao Yan had come to find her, she was naturally overjoyed.

"Brother Xiao Yan, it's you. Why did you come?" Xiao Xun'er asked in surprise.

"Heh heh, it's been many days, I came to see little sister Xun'er."

"Hmph, I heard Brother Xiao Yan has been busy cultivating during this time. So you still remember to come see Xun'er." Xiao Xun'er said with a haughty pout.

"Haha, come on, Xun'er, Brother Xiao Yan will take you to the Marketplace to look around." Xiao Yan laughed heartily as he watched Xiao Xun'er's pouting lips.

Why was the relationship between Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er so intimate now? The story goes back to three months ago.

Actually, when Xiao Xun'er first came to the Xiao Clan, although their relationship had grown closer due to the approach of Xiao Yan's adult soul, Xiao Yan always felt that their relationship lacked a breakthrough. One night, Xiao Yan had a sudden inspiration and made a decision.

"Heh heh, during the day, I always feel that little sister Xun'er's complexion is pale. It seems her constitution is naturally weak. It looks like I, as her brother, must step in to help her. What do you think, Teacher?" Xiao Yan stroked his chin.

"Heh, you brat, what kind of mischief are you planning now?"

"Teacher, just watch me." Xiao Yan said, pulling a black robe over himself, opening the window, and leaping out.

Sneaking all the way, Xiao Yan quietly made his way into Xiao Xun'er's courtyard and opened the door, preparing to enter.

Inside the room, a figure gradually materialized on the rafters—it was none other than the mysterious Dou Emperor powerhouse from that day, Elder Ling. Elder Ling's face held a trace of killing intent as he prepared to strike, but upon sensing the aura, he realized it was the Xiao Clan's Third Young Master, Xiao Yan.

"So it's this brat. What is he doing sneaking around?" Elder Ling's aura stalled as he thought this, and he quietly woke Xiao Xun'er.

"Let's see what he wants to do." Xiao Xun'er, being a child at heart and curious, decided to pretend to be fast asleep.

Xiao Yan stealthily opened the door and leaped in. Unaware that he had been discovered—or perhaps pretending he didn't know—he used his excellent eyesight to slowly walk to the side of Xiao Xun'er's bed, silently gazing at her.

After a short while, Xiao Yan began to slowly lift Xiao Xun'er's arm.

"Miss Xun'er?" Seeing this, Elder Ling's expression darkened, and he prepared to strike, sending a telepathic message to Xiao Xun'er.

"Elder Ling, wait a moment longer." Xiao Xun'er refused him again.

Xiao Yan grabbed Xiao Xun'er's fair, small hand, their fingers interlaced, and he began to circulate his energy. A weak but pure stream of Dou Qi began to flow from their palms into Xiao Xun'er's arm, slowly extending into her bones and meridians, though it was clear this method of nourishment was quite clumsy.

"Oh, this is?" As Xiao Xun'er was growing slightly impatient, she felt a stream of Dou Qi flow into her body, beginning to nourish her.

"Heh, silly brat." Sensing this, Elder Ling also began to fade his presence, saying no more.

Xiao Yan held Xiao Xun'er's palm, using his clumsy technique to continuously expend his own Dou Qi to nourish her body. However, it was clear that such a long duration of Dou Qi consumption was a massive undertaking for Xiao Yan, who was only at the eighth stage of Dou Power.

In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Xiao Yan's breathing began to grow chaotic, and sweat broke out on his forehead.

Xiao Xun'er, having realized the situation, saw her complexion flush a deep red at a speed visible to the naked eye. As time passed, her small face grew increasingly rosy, resembling a delicate, succulent peach.

After a short while, Xiao Yan, his Dou Qi exhausted and drenched in sweat, finally ceased his clumsy movements. He looked at the flushed Xiao Xun'er and muttered, "It seems... it actually worked."

Xiao Yan watched Xiao Xun'er for a moment longer before dragging his weary body away.

"Miss Xun'er, are you alright?" A hoarse voice echoed through the silent room.

"Ah? Oh, I'm fine, Elder Ling. Elder Ling, I... I'm tired, I'm going to sleep," Xiao Xun'er said, sounding somewhat flustered.

When she saw Xiao Yan the next day, Xiao Xun'er remained shy and kept her lips sealed.

Xiao Yan chuckled at the sight, convinced that his treatment was effective, and decided to continue the regimen.

And so, the second night, the third night, the fourth night...

By today, three months later, Xiao Yan discovered that his relationship with Xiao Xun'er had indeed made breakthrough progress, and they had begun to grow intimate rapidly. Consequently, Xiao Yan felt that this treatment could continue for at least another year.