Ten-Thousandfold Returns for Taking Disciples: Starting from Battle Through the Heavens

"Let's go!"

Without another word, Qin Hao immediately headed straight for Desert City with the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King.

"Master Qin Hao, you're back!"

The moment he saw Qin Hao, Hai Bo Dong stepped forward to greet him. The respect in his gaze had grown even deeper.

At the same time, his gaze flickered toward the inconspicuous "little thing" at Qin Hao's feet, and he could not conceal the wariness in his eyes.

He had never expected that insignificant "little one" to be the famed Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King in disguise.

The sudden appearance of White Fang and Green Barbarian had also given him quite a fright. Qin Hao had entrusted his disciple to him, and if anything had happened, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Even though his cultivation had now returned to its peak, neither Green Barbarian nor White Fang was any weaker than him.

Fortunately, the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King had appeared in time and turned the situation around.

"Mm. Congratulations, Elder Hai, on returning to your peak. And thank you for what happened earlier!"

Qin Hao nodded as he looked at Hai Bo Dong.

"It was all thanks to Master Qin Hao's pills. Besides, this old man did not help much earlier. The main credit goes to your magical beast!"

Hai Bo Dong hurriedly replied.

"No matter what, you contributed quite a bit. To show my gratitude, I can help you refine an Emperor's Extreme Pill! As long as you gather the materials, you can come find me anytime!"

Qin Hao's voice followed.

"An Emperor's Extreme Pill!? Really? That's wonderful! Then this old man won't stand on ceremony!"

Hai Bo Dong had originally intended to decline politely, but once he heard that Qin Hao was offering to refine an Emperor's Extreme Pill, he simply could not bring himself to refuse.

After all, a single Emperor's Extreme Pill could raise one's cultivation by one star. For him now, it was simply impossible to resist.

"Master!"

At the same time, Qinglin and the others came forward.

"Qinglin, are you all right?"

Qin Hao's gaze fell on Qinglin.

"Master, I'm fine. Thanks to Elder Hai and the Scarlet Qilin King!"

Qinglin shook her head. After learning the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King's identity and strength, she naturally no longer called it Little Red.

Qin Hao did not remain in Desert City for long. Before long, he left the city with his disciples and headed straight for the imperial capital. This time, however, Hai Bo Dong joined them.

Now that Hai Bo Dong's cultivation had completely recovered to its peak, there was naturally no need for him to continue living in seclusion.

After arriving at the imperial capital, Qin Hao and his group did not move directly into the Mitre Family residence despite Hai Bo Dong's repeated invitation. However, they were arranged to stay at one of the Mitre Family's properties.

Perhaps it was coincidence, but the residence the Mitre Family had arranged for Qin Hao and his group was actually the Xiao Clan's former estate in the imperial capital.

After Xiao Lin fell and the Xiao Clan began to decline, the Xiao Clan's properties in the imperial capital had naturally been divided among the major factions. As the wealthiest family in the Jia Ma Empire, it was hardly surprising that the Mitre Family had obtained the Xiao Clan estate.

Qin Hao's return to the imperial capital once again caused quite a stir.

Aside from the Mitre Family, the Jia Ma Imperial Family was undoubtedly the quickest to react. The two little princesses came to see Qin Hao again the very next day, though Qin Hao did not think much of it.

Then, on Qin Hao's third day in the imperial capital, a pair of unexpected visitors arrived outside his residence and came calling.

"Master Qin Hao, Yun Yun, Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, has come with her disciple Nalan Yanran to request an audience!"

The eldest princess Yao Ye entered from outside and spoke to Qin Hao.

"Mm? Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran?"

Upon hearing those two names, Qin Hao froze slightly. Then he glanced at Xiao Yan beside him, and an inscrutable look appeared in his eyes.

"Master, what is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Xiao Yan felt uncomfortable under Qin Hao's gaze and could not help asking.

Meanwhile, when Gu Xun'er beside Xiao Yan heard the name Nalan Yanran, a strange glint flashed through her eyes.

Clearly, compared with Xiao Yan, Gu Xun'er knew Nalan Yanran. It would not be an exaggeration to say that, aside from Xiao Yan's identity as a transmigrator, Gu Xun'er knew everything about him inside and out.

"Little Yan, I remember you have a childhood betrothal, don't you?"

Qin Hao asked.

Yun Yun and Her Disciple! Nalan Yanran's Version of the "Three-Year Agreement"! [Part One]

It's being released, so I won't bother with any release notes! Just one thing! A huge update today! Twenty thousand words, here we go!

"Childhood betrothal? I think so? I'm not too sure either. My father never told me the details. Also, Master, could you stop calling me Little Yan all the time? It feels kind of strange!"

Xiao Yan spoke helplessly. As a transmigrator, the name Little Yan made it far too easy for him to associate it with certain scenes...

"No, wait. Master, why are you suddenly asking about this? Could it be that Nalan Yanran..."

However, Xiao Yan quickly seemed to realize something, and his expression changed slightly as he blurted out.

"That's right, just as you think. If nothing unexpected happens, Nalan Yanran should be your fiancée! Well? Are you looking forward to it?"

Qin Hao said, while his gaze swept over Gu Xun'er beside them. A faint, teasing smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

"Whoosh..."

After hearing Qin Hao's words, Xiao Yan suddenly felt a gaze fixed on him from beside him. His expression stiffened at once. He did not even need to look to know that it belonged to Gu Xun'er.

"Master, don't talk nonsense. That was arranged by my grandfather back then. I've never even met her, much less have any interest in her! When the time is right, I'll find a chance to discuss it with my father and dissolve the childhood betrothal!"

Xiao Yan immediately declared with conviction, just short of swearing an oath.

After Xiao Yan's words fell, he immediately felt that gaze soften considerably. He let out a breath of relief inwardly.

"Is that so..."

Qin Hao did not say anything further. He would neither interfere with nor advise Xiao Yan on the matter between him and Nalan Yanran. Everything would be up to Xiao Yan himself.

As his master, Qin Hao would naturally support whatever Xiao Yan decided. Even if Xiao Yan chose to imitate the original story's Nalan Yanran and go to the other party's home to break off the engagement, Qin Hao would not mind.

However, based on Qin Hao's understanding of Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan, who had lived two lives, certainly would not be as brainless as the original story's Nalan Yanran and make a grand spectacle of going to break off the engagement.

"Let them in!"

Qin Hao then said to Yao Ye.

Before long, two female figures walked in from outside.

The one in front looked to be in her twenties. She wore a fitted brocade robe trimmed in gold and purple, while her long black hair was arranged in the shape of a soaring phoenix. She exuded an unconcealable air of nobility.

Behind her stood a girl who looked around eleven or twelve. She wore a moon-white dress, and green jade pendants hung from her delicate earlobes. As they swayed gently, they gave off crisp jade chimes, lending her an air of delicate refinement.

"I am Yun Yun of the Misty Cloud Sect. I have come with my disciple Nalan Yanran to pay respects to Master Qin Hao!"

The woman in front was the first to speak.

"This junior, Nalan Yanran, pays respects to Master Qin Hao!"

The young girl beside her also respectfully bowed to Qin Hao.

"Sect Master Yun is too courteous. May I ask why you have come today?"

After glancing over the two of them, Qin Hao quickly withdrew his gaze and spoke calmly.

"I came for two reasons. First, to pay Master Qin Hao a visit. When Master Qin Hao previously came to the imperial capital, I was in secluded cultivation and had no chance to meet you. I only emerged from seclusion a few days ago, and upon hearing that Master Qin Hao had come to the imperial capital, I came to visit uninvited.

"Second, it concerns my disciple. I heard that the third young master of the Xiao Clan in Wutan City has become Master Qin Hao's disciple. Back then, the elders of our two families arranged a childhood betrothal between my disciple and Master Qin Hao's disciple!

"It can be considered fate, so I brought Yanran here today to let them get acquainted and become familiar with each other!"

Yun Yun said.

"Oh? Is that so... I have no objection!"

Qin Hao was briefly stunned by her words. He had originally thought that they had come to break off the engagement. However, he quickly understood. The current Xiao Yan was completely different from the one in the original story.

Not only had he recovered his talent, but he also had a sixth-grade alchemist as his master. As long as Yun Yun had any sense, she would not do something like coming to break off the engagement.

Since they were not here to break off the engagement, Qin Hao naturally could not be bothered to interfere. It was best to leave such matters to Xiao Yan, the person directly involved.

At the same time, while Qin Hao and Yun Yun were speaking, Nalan Yanran's gaze fell on the people beside Qin Hao.

When her gaze passed over Xiao Yixian and Gu Xun'er, it paused briefly. Especially when she saw Gu Xun'er's exquisite beauty and lofty temperament, as though she had transcended the mortal world, Nalan Yanran unexpectedly felt inferior.

It was not just Gu Xun'er. Even Xiao Yixian beside her possessed a beauty and bearing that Nalan Yanran could not compare with.

A surge of jealousy immediately rose uncontrollably from the depths of her heart.

Ever since she could remember, wherever she went, she had always been the center of attention. This had become even more true after Yun Yun accepted her as a disciple.

With her exquisite looks and status as the young sect mistress, she was practically surrounded by stars in the sect. Whether elders or younger disciples, nearly everyone revolved around her.

Over time, Nalan Yanran had naturally developed a princess complex. She hardly regarded any of her peers highly, male or female!

Now that she had encountered someone like Gu Xun'er, whose temperament was extraordinary and whose beauty was peerless, she naturally felt uncomfortable, as though her spotlight had been stolen.

Especially the way the other girl looked at her—that calm, almost indifferent gaze—made her deeply uncomfortable. For some reason, she even felt an inexplicable hostility in Gu Xun'er's eyes.

Only then did Nalan Yanran's gaze finally settle on Xiao Yan.

The moment her eyes met Xiao Yan's, Nalan Yanran could not help frowning.

A nameless flame rose from the depths of her heart once more.

She discovered that Xiao Yan was looking at her with a gaze somewhat similar to Gu Xun'er's. It was completely calm, without the slightest ripple. There was none of the amazement that others had always shown when looking at her.

That near-dismissive gaze greatly provoked her. Since childhood, no member of the opposite sex had ever ignored her so completely. She felt even more uncomfortable.

While Nalan Yanran was sizing up Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan was likewise assessing her.

As he looked at Nalan Yanran before him, not the slightest ripple stirred in Xiao Yan's heart. He felt no attraction whatsoever.

There was no denying that Nalan Yanran was indeed quite beautiful, but Xiao Yan had grown up alongside Gu Xun'er. Seeing a beauty of Gu Xun'er's caliber every day had long made him immune to someone at Nalan Yanran's level.

Furthermore, Xiao Yan had lived two lives, and he had experienced tremendous ups and downs before. He was extremely sensitive to the way others looked at him.

He could sense the arrogance that Nalan Yanran unconsciously revealed.

Although Xiao Yan had been an ordinary person in his previous life, he had lived in an age of information explosion and had seen all kinds of people online.