An Encounter with Gu Yuan

[Host: Xiao Yun!]

[Age: 20!]

[Cultivation: Half-Emperor!]

[Soul Realm: Half-Emperor!]

[Pill Refining Cultivation: Ninth Grade!]

[All Items: Heaven Tier Advanced: Yan Fire Art, Heaven Tier Advanced: Heavenfall Palm, Heaven Tier Advanced: Cloud-Crushing Step, Heaven Tier Advanced: Polo Sound Art, Heaven Tier Advanced: Nine Fires Under Heaven...]

"Alright, alright, System, close the panel. I can't keep padding the word count, or I'll get chewed out."

Xiao Yun grinned as he closed the system panel. He hadn't originally belonged to this world—or rather, he possessed memories from a previous life.

In his previous life, Xiao Yun had been nothing more than a pure-hearted, foolish college student on Earth.

One day, he went out to buy breakfast for his sons. He missed a step on the stairs, fell, and died. Then he transmigrated.

He'd come to the world he was in now: the Dou Qi Continent.

When Xiao Yun had first arrived in this world, he'd never imagined that anyone could reach the Half-Emperor realm at the age of twenty.

That is, until he'd just seen himself!

"To become a Half-Emperor at twenty—I really am a genius."

Xiao Yun praised himself without the slightest restraint. The system inside him couldn't take it any longer and couldn't help speaking up:

[Host, that was my doing.]

"System, you're so mean, cutting me down like that."

The system inside Xiao Yun was called the Daily Reward System. As its name suggested, it gave Xiao Yun a reward every day.

We'd go into that in more detail later.

Though his bragging had been interrupted, Xiao Yun wasn't annoyed. He had something more important to do now: return to the Xiao Clan.

Eight years ago, twelve-year-old Xiao Yun had left to travel the world. Now, after eight years, he was eager to hurry home.

But as Xiao Yun flew through the air toward the Jia Ma Empire, he encountered someone else traveling the same way.

The man looked middle-aged, though that was only his appearance.

"A Dou Sheng Expert!"

When the two met, Xiao Yun was the first to exclaim in surprise. He was already near the Jia Ma Empire, and he hadn't expected to encounter a Dou Sheng Expert in such a remote backwater.

What was more, this Dou Sheng Expert was holding a little girl of about four in his arms.

That combination gave Xiao Yun a guess.

Compared to Xiao Yun, Gu Yuan looked much calmer, but inside, he was far from at ease.

Today was the day he was taking his daughter to the Xiao Clan. He'd never expected to run into a Dou Sheng Expert in a tiny place like the Jia Ma Empire, in the Northwestern Continent.

What was more, Gu Yuan felt that the person before him seemed considerably stronger than he was!

When had such a Dou Sheng Expert appeared on the Dou Qi Continent? And why had he shown up in a place like this?

Gu Yuan's first thought was that Xiao Yun had come for him. There was nothing in a backwater like the Northwestern Continent that would bring a Peak Battle Saint all this way in person.

He immediately grew wary, ready to flee at a moment's notice. If he'd been alone, he would have fought Xiao Yun, but with Gu Xun'er in his arms, he couldn't bring his full strength to bear.

Xiao Yun quickly noticed Gu Yuan's wariness and smiled as he spoke. "What should I call you, friend? Where are you from, and where are you headed?"

Seeing that Xiao Yun didn't seem hostile, Gu Yuan relaxed a little, though he remained on guard.

"My name is Gu Yuan. I'm from the Gu Clan, and I'm on my way to see a friend."

Gu Yuan hadn't considered lying. For one thing, the Gu Clan was powerful, and if Xiao Yun really did mean him harm, the name might serve as a deterrent.

For another, there were only a handful of Nine-Star Battle Saints on the continent. If Xiao Yun realized he was lying, it would leave a bad impression, and there was simply no need for that.

Hearing Gu Yuan's name, Xiao Yun thought, *Just as I expected.*

There might be one or two Dou Sheng Experts in a tiny place like the Northwestern Continent, but someone of the Nine-Star Battle Saint's standing couldn't possibly be here—except for Xiao Yun, of course.

So when he encountered a Nine-Star Battle Saint in this place, Gu Yuan was the first person who came to mind.

Only Gu Yuan, that old fox, would come to a backwater like the Northwestern Continent.

Xiao Yun cupped his hands and smiled. "So you're the Ancient Clan Chief. I'm Xiao Yun. I've heard much about you."

Gu Yuan smiled back. "The feeling's mutual."

*The feeling's mutual, my ass.* Xiao Yun almost said the words aloud. Looking at Gu Yuan's perfectly composed expression, he couldn't help thinking, *You old fox.*

Gu Yuan and Xiao Xuan had once been friends. Before Xiao Xuan died, he'd asked Gu Yuan to look after the Xiao Clan. But Gu Yuan hadn't kept his promise. Instead, he'd taken advantage of the situation and pocketed a large share of the Xiao Clan's resources.

Even without Xiao Xuan, the Xiao Clan was destined to decline. But if Gu Yuan hadn't acted as he did, hastening its downfall, the clan would probably be doing a little better today.

Still, Xiao Yun had no intention of holding it against Gu Yuan. The Gu Clan had only taken a large share of the Xiao Clan's resources; they hadn't harmed any of its people. That was already as good as it got.

It just went to show that Ancestor Xiao Xuan wasn't very good at judging people. Unlike me. I'm pretty good at it—for example, little Xun'er is adorable.

Feeling Xiao Yun's thoughts, the system was deeply contemptuous.

[Host, how do you have the nerve to criticize anyone else?]

"Ahem."

*I meant she's cute. Don't get the wrong idea, System.*

[Heh.]

Feeling the system's scorn, Xiao Yun hurriedly asked Gu Yuan, "Is the little girl in your arms your daughter?"

When Gu Yuan saw that Xiao Yun had noticed Gu Xun'er, his wariness instantly intensified. Gu Xun'er wasn't just his daughter; she was also the most perfect awakening of the Dou God Bloodline the Gu Clan had seen in nearly a thousand years. He couldn't help being nervous.

But he couldn't quite see through Xiao Yun's strength, and it would be rude to brush him off, so he smiled and said, "That's right. She's my daughter. Her name is Xun'er."

Gu Yuan looked at the little girl in his arms and spoke gently. "Xun'er, say hello to Uncle Xiao."

Gu Xun'er looked at Xiao Yun and blinked. "Daddy, Uncle Xiao looks so young. I want to call him Big Brother Xiao."

Her childish voice fell, and both Gu Yuan and Xiao Yun froze.

A moment later, Xiao Yun burst out laughing. "Xun'er, your little mouth must be coated in honey. So sweet—I love hearing that."

Gu Yuan hadn't expected his daughter to ease the tense atmosphere the moment she opened her mouth. Still, he said, "Xun'er, don't be rude."

Gu Yuan couldn't see through Xiao Yun's strength. Although he was grateful that his daughter had eased the tension, he still pretended to be stern.

Xiao Yun waved a hand, unconcerned. "It's fine, Brother Gu Yuan. Let's each do our own thing. I'll call you brother, and Xun'er can call me Big Brother."

Gu Yuan's mouth twitched. For a moment, he couldn't tell which of them was taking advantage of whom.

Gu Xun'er, meanwhile, wasn't thinking that deeply. Xiao Yun really did look young to her, and she wanted to call him Big Brother.

Seeing that Xiao Yun didn't mind, Gu Xun'er immediately called out sweetly, "Hello, Big Brother Xiao."

"Hahaha, hello, Xun'er. Since this is our first meeting, take this as a little gift."

With a smile, Xiao Yun took out a small Medicinal Pill and used Dou Qi to send it floating over to Gu Xun'er.

"Wow! It's food. Thank you, Big Brother Xiao Yun."

Gu Xun'er's eyes lit up at the sight of the pill. She reached out and popped it straight into her mouth.

"Wait, Xun'er!"