With dawn approaching, Xiao Yuan had already decided to leave and come back tonight.
But just as he got up to stretch his stiff limbs before leaving, he suddenly heard a faint sobbing from inside the courtyard.
More precisely, it came from behind the tightly shut door of the room in the courtyard.
He could tell from the sound alone that she was in tremendous pain.
It was obvious that Xun'er's condition had flared up again.
Her young body simply couldn't withstand the torment of the Golden Emperor Incinerating Heaven Flame, fourth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.
Xiao Yuan stopped at the sound of Xun'er's pained moans and hid himself again.
Xiao Yan had to show up this time, right?
But even after waiting for ages, Xiao Yan still didn't come. Instead, Xun'er's cries of pain grew louder, and her breathing gradually weakened.
Xiao Yuan's expression shifted between light and dark as he slowly clenched his fists.
No, what the hell is Xiao Yan doing? Sleeping like a log? His future wife is right there, wailing like she's about to die.
Xiao Yuan couldn't help cursing inwardly.
He seemed to understand why Xiao Yan had broken into Xun'er's room at night in the original story.
Who could stand by and watch this?
But he didn't have the protagonist's halo. Who knew whether Ling Ying might suddenly leap out of some hidden corner and slap him to death?
A slap from a Dou Emperor had to pack more force than a speeding dump truck, right?
"Damn it, I'll die if I die!"
Gritting his teeth, Xiao Yuan resolutely got up and charged into the courtyard, as if he had made some kind of decision.
He knew perfectly well that without a protagonist's halo, there was a good chance Ling Ying would slap him to death.
So what!
If I'd really cared about living or dying, I wouldn't have gone head-to-head with a dump truck in my previous life to save a child!
Inside the room, Xun'er heard Xiao Yuan's thoughts, and her heart gave a sudden lurch!
Oh no! She'd been so focused on guarding against Xiao Yan that she'd forgotten about Xiao Yuan!
What should she do?!
In her current state, she couldn't do anything. She couldn't even fight back!
"Don't come in!"
Xun'er summoned all her strength to shout.
How does she know I'm outside?
Xiao Yuan hesitated for a moment, but when he heard another pained moan from inside, he still pushed the door open without hesitation.
As soon as he entered, he saw Xun'er curled up in pain on the bed.
Her little face was pale, contorted with pain.
Cold sweat beaded across her forehead, soaking her clothes and dripping onto the quilt, where it left patches of dark stains.
Seeing this, Xiao Yuan hurried over and grabbed Xun'er by the wrist.
"D-don't touch me!"
Xun'er struggled with all her might.
"Don't move!"
Xiao Yuan activated his Dou Qi and channeled it into Xun'er's body.
Her pain eased a little at once, but the next second, an even fiercer wave struck!
Her whole face twisted with agony.
This is bad. I don't have enough Dou Qi!
He was only at the Dou Qi Second Stage. How could he possibly contend with the Golden Emperor Incinerating Heaven Flame inside Xun'er?
He had no idea how Xiao Yan had managed it in the original story.
"D-don't look at Xun'er, please..."
Worn down by the pain, the girl used the last of her strength to whisper a plea.
Tsk.
Xiao Yuan knew exactly what Xun'er was thinking. He knew how miserable she felt right now, and how desperately she wished no one could see her like this.
Is there really nothing I can do?
Ding! A friendly reminder: items obtained from the system can be given to others.
The system's voice rang out in his mind at just the right moment.
Damn it, Dog System, you set me up, didn't you? You knew this was going to happen all along, didn't you?
The system didn't respond.
Xiao Yuan felt like he'd been maneuvered into a trap, but he didn't have the energy to dwell on it now.
Since he had a way to help, there was no reason to just stand by and watch.
I can't believe you, Gu Xun'er. Now you'll never be able to repay me in this lifetime!
As Xiao Yuan grumbled inwardly, he channeled the Innate Fire Spirit Body he'd won from the system's draw into Xun'er.
This is an investment in your future, Miss Xun'er. When you become a Dou Di someday, don't forget about me!
Amid the pain, Xun'er's little mind could no longer process what she was hearing.
System? Future Dou Di? The words all flashed across her mind, never settling long enough to make sense.
A little while later, Xun'er felt the pain recede like the tide. It was as if she were soaking in a hot spring, and the comfort gradually eased the tension in her body.
Exhausted from the torment, she promptly sank into a deep sleep.
After an unknown amount of time, she gradually woke from her unconsciousness.
She wasn't in the habit of lying in bed, so once awake, she slowly sat up.
The quilt wrapped around her petite figure slipped away, revealing her drowsy, youthful appearance.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes with her pale little hands, then turned to look out the window.
"...Is it morning already?"
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, bright enough to sting her eyes as it slowly roused her.
Perhaps because she had just woken up, even her voice was a little hoarse.
Wait, no!
Memories of the night before sprouted wildly in her mind. Xun'er shuddered, all traces of sleepiness vanishing as she hurriedly checked herself over.
When she saw that her clothes were still on, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But then Xun'er realized that the Heavenly Flame within her had become extraordinarily docile, showing no signs of agitation.
It answered her call and vanished at her command.
It was as if she could control it as easily as her own body.
"Miss."
Just then, Ling Ying, who had been gone all night, suddenly appeared. Xun'er pulled herself from her thoughts and said calmly,
"Elder Ling, how did the matter I gave you last night go?"
"Miss, I've finished looking into Xiao Yuan."
As he spoke, Ling Ying took the report from his robes and handed it to Xun'er.
Xun'er picked it up and read through it, her slender brows drawing closer together.
Two years ago, the Xiao Clan had suffered a disaster, leaving him without either parent.
To make amends, Xiao Zhan had taken him in as an adopted son and raised him...
According to the report, there was nothing unusual about his background or his experiences. He was just an ordinary member of the Xiao Clan.
But how did you know so much?
And last night...
Xun'er set down the paper and unconsciously raised a jade-white finger. A faint golden flame appeared at its tip.
In a daze, she seemed to hear that voice again—
Gu Xun'er, now you'll never be able to repay me in this lifetime!
She didn't know what Xiao Yuan had done in the end, but he had certainly given her something precious—something that had helped her completely control the Golden Emperor Incinerating Heaven Flame.
"As expected of the Ancient Clan's heaven-blessed daughter, Miss. To think you've mastered your Heavenly Flame at such a young age!"
Seeing the flame, Ling Ying's aged face instantly filled with excitement and astonishment!
Xun'er shook her head, wanting to deny what he'd said, but she didn't know how to explain the matter.
So she put away the flame and changed the subject.
"Elder Ling, do you know where Xiao Yuan is now?"
At the mention of Xiao Yuan, Ling Ying's expression froze.
"What is it?"
Xun'er looked at Ling Ying, a hint of confusion in her limpid eyes.
Ling Ying gathered himself and replied respectfully,
"Miss, I was just about to report this to you. Last night, you asked this old man to keep a close eye on Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan spent the entire night cultivating. It was that boy Xiao Yuan who sneaked into your room instead..."
Xun'er gave a quiet hum, her brows furrowing as she continued,
"I know about that. So where is he?"
For some reason, Ling Ying's explanation stirred a sense of foreboding in her.
"...Miss, while you were unconscious, I had Xiao Yuan taken to the Xiao Clan Patriarch and elders."
"Elder Ling, what did you say?!"
Xun'er shot to her feet, her little face turning pale.
At that moment, she was completely panicked.