In the Jia Ma Empire's Wutan City, Xiao Li approached in a black robe. Ever since the Xiao Clan had become the undisputed power in the city, its estate had grown more and more magnificent. Even the leader of the guards at the gate was a Dou Master.
"Who goes there?" The guard frowned. It was broad daylight, yet this man wore a black robe to hide his face, and it was stained with dried blood. At a glance, he looked like no good.
Xiao Li pulled back his hood and chuckled. "It's me, Brother Yu. Xiao Li."
A smile touched the corners of Xiao Li's eyes, and he finally relaxed. There was no place like home. In the Black-Corner Region, he'd spent all his time scheming against others and killing people until his heart had grown numb.
The guard rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "Second Young Master! You finally decided to come home."
Everyone who saw Xiao Li gathered around with beaming faces, unable to hide the admiration in their eyes.
"Brother Li, Xiao Yi Xian's been pining for you so much she can't eat or sleep!"
"Hahaha!"
Hearing the onlookers mention Xiao Yi Xian, Xiao Li could only smile wryly. He really didn't know how to face her. He didn't mind that his clansmen had mistaken Xiao Yi Xian's surname for Xiao's; sharing the Xiao name made everyone feel a little closer.
Word of Xiao Li's return quickly spread throughout the Xiao Clan. More and more people hurried to the gate, eager to see how the Second Young Master had changed after a year away.
Xiao Li casually scanned the crowd. Strange. Where was that girl, Xiao Yi Xian?
Meanwhile, in an elegant courtyard, Xun'er nudged Xiao Yi Xian with her elbow. "Your dream lover's back. Aren't you going to see him?"
Xiao Yi Xian's face flushed. "Xun'er, he's not..."
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. If Xun'er hadn't been so strong, she wouldn't have heard her at all.
"Fine, fine. Then I'll go enjoy the show."
Xun'er left with a laugh. She said she was going to watch, but really, she was just leaving Xiao Yi Xian alone. As an outsider, Xun'er could see things clearly: Xiao Li would definitely come looking for Xiao Yi Xian.
Xiao Li finally squeezed out of the crowd. His clansmen were just too enthusiastic. He couldn't take it anymore.
"Li'er, you're back." Xiao Zhan appeared nearby, his voice even, as though he felt no particular emotion.
Xiao Li nodded. "Father."
At a glance, Xiao Li saw that Xiao Zhan had reached six-star Da Dou Shi. It seemed having plenty of resources really was a good thing. His father's strength had improved considerably, too.
Now that he was back, Xiao Li could see that the clansmen had all advanced by two levels. Ever since the Xiao Clan had become the undisputed power in Wutan City, it had begun to flourish.
"Mm. Your room's been cleaned," Xiao Zhan said. Then he turned and left, returning to his own business.
That was how his father was. He missed his son as much as anyone, but whenever they met, he always had so little to say, pretending it was nothing.
Xiao Li shrugged. He'd be staying for a while this time, so there was no need to rush.
He strode toward the Xiao Clan's rear courtyard and casually asked someone beside him, "Where does Xiao Yi Xian live?"
The person he asked looked as though he'd just met his idol and replied excitedly, "That courtyard in the northwest corner of the rear courtyard."
Xiao Li nodded and thanked him, ignoring the knowing smile on the other person's face as he hurried toward the rear courtyard.
Not far away, Xiao Zhan had heard Xiao Li's question: "..."
...Xiao Yi Xian's courtyard
"Xiao Yi Xian, I'm back."
Hearing the familiar voice at the gate, Xiao Yi Xian turned around in a daze. "Brother Xiao Li."
Xiao Yi Xian stood up and dashed over, throwing herself into Xiao Li's arms. "Brother Xiao Li!"
Her delicate body nestled in his embrace. Xiao Yi Xian wrapped both arms around Xiao Li's neck, pressing herself against him from head to toe. The manly scent surrounding her entered her very being, making her breath catch.
Her silvery-white hair rippled in the air, and even Xiao Li's unsettled heart calmed.
Feeling the change in her body, Xiao Yi Xian said, vexed, "Y-you still knew how to come back?"
Xiao Li was taken aback. What had gotten into this girl? Hadn't she just called him Brother Xiao Li?
"You didn't come looking for me, so I came back to see you." Xiao Li chuckled.
Xiao Yi Xian froze. She pressed her lips together, struggling to suppress the sweetness tugging at the corners of her mouth. "When did you get so smooth-tongued?"
A fragrant breeze swept toward Xiao Li, and once more, a soft, fragrant body crashed into his arms.
The soft body nestled against him struck the very depths of Xiao Li's heart, making it tremble fiercely.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the wicked heat stirring within him, then wrapped an arm around her increasingly alluring, slender waist.
With both arms clasped tightly around that soft waist, Xiao Li lost himself for a moment.
"I like you."
Just as Xiao Li was savoring the softness in his arms, Xiao Yi Xian's voice, full of shyness, sounded in his ear.
Xiao Li froze. "W-why so suddenly?"
With both hands resting on Xiao Yi Xian's waist, he didn't know what to do. He didn't even know where to look.
"Um, do you even know what it means to like someone?"
For some reason, those words slipped out of Xiao Li's mouth.
Xiao Yi Xian puffed up her cheeks in annoyance. She stared at Xiao Li's faintly flushed face, then suddenly smiled.
When she smiled, she was like the warm spring sun, gentle and soft. The corners of her eyes lifted slightly like peach blossoms just about to bloom, revealing endless sweetness and tenderness. Everything around her seemed infected by her sweetness, becoming warm and comfortable.
Xiao Yi Xian rose onto her toes and lightly brushed her lips against Xiao Li's, then drew back at once.
"I do," Xiao Yi Xian whispered.
Her trembling voice brushed against Xiao Li's earlobe, and he came to his senses as if waking from a dream. "Xiao Yi Xian, you, you..."
Xiao Yi Xian's face turned scarlet, but instead of retreating, she pressed even closer against Xiao Li. "W-what about me?"
Xiao Li's thoughts scattered like willow catkins in the wind. He couldn't think of what to say. He'd already realized that he liked Xiao Yi Xian a little, but...
"You're still too young."
"I'll grow up eventually!"
Xiao Yi Xian clenched her teeth. The flush on her face slowly faded, but her eyes grew redder and redder, as if she were about to cry.
"D-do you not like me?"
Xiao Li's heart gave a violent jolt.
Impossible. He was the Black-Corner Region's one-thousand-man killer, a prodigious genius of Jia Nan Academy, and the Sect Master of the Thunder Sect. How could he possibly...
"I like you."
Hearing Xiao Li's answer, a tear slipped from the corner of Xiao Yi Xian's eye. She buried her face in Xiao Li's arms and began to sob softly.
Xiao Li held her delicate body tightly, breathing in the fragrance of her hair. "Grow up soon."
Xiao Yi Xian nodded hard, rubbing her cheek back and forth against his chest.
"Why are you wiping your tears and snot on me again?"
"Jerk!"
"Ha! Weren't you just saying you liked me?"
Xiao Yi Xian pounded Xiao Li's chest with her little fists, vexed, but a smile she couldn't suppress spread across her face.
"The corners of your mouth are practically reaching your ears."
"Ah, no they aren't (>﹏<)"