Xiao Yan Seeks Guidance

Seeing that Xiao Yu seemed to want to continue, the Grand Elder quickly spoke up:

"Ahem, Yu'er, that's enough."

If Xiao Yu really beat Xiao Yan half to death, it would be hard for him to explain himself to Xiao Zhan.

Still unsatisfied, Xiao Yu withdrew her hand, turned, and walked back to Qin Yu's side, naturally looping her arm through his.

Xiao Yan climbed up from the ground and straightened his tattered clothes. He did not even dare look at the two of them. After cupping his hands in salute to the Grand Elder, he slunk out of the room.

But the moment he left the courtyard, he ran into a slender figure in green.

"Xun'er? What are you doing here?"

Xiao Yan froze for a moment, then a bitter smile appeared on his face.

Xiao Xun'er's gaze lingered on Xiao Yan for a moment. Once she confirmed that he had only suffered superficial injuries, she knowingly asked:

"Brother Xiao Yan, what... happened to you?"

If one beating could make Xiao Yan stop casually chasing after women in the future, then Xiao Xun'er would not hold this beating against him.

Xiao Yan's mouth twitched as he subconsciously glanced back at Xiao Yu and Qin Yu in the courtyard.

"Nothing. I just... sparred with Cousin."

Xiao Xun'er nodded lightly and did not ask further.

Then her gaze passed Xiao Yan and landed on the young man in the courtyard.

Under the moonlight, Qin Yu was lowering his head to say something to Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu had her arm linked through his, her face slightly flushed.

"Brother Xiao Yan, let's go back."

She also reached out and gently linked her arm through Xiao Yan's.

Xiao Yan caught a faint, delicate fragrance, and his heart stirred slightly.

Xun'er really was the best.

The two walked side by side toward the courtyard exit. After taking several steps, Xiao Xun'er suddenly stopped and glanced back at Qin Yu again.

Hmm... could this guy possess some special physique?

Cousin Xiao Yu had found herself a pretty good home.

That night, the Grand Elder kept Qin Yu behind. He said it was already late, and there was little point in returning to that empty house in the west of the city. He might as well stay at the Xiao Household.

Xiao Yu nodded vigorously from the side, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

Qin Yu thought about it. It was true—he had already cleaned up that little house during the day.

Everything worth taking had gone into his Storage Ring. All that remained was a room full of dust and old furniture.

Whether he stayed there or not did not really matter. As long as it was still there, that was enough.

"Then I'll trouble you."

"Not at all, not at all. It's no trouble."

The Grand Elder smiled so broadly that his eyes narrowed into slits, hurriedly ordering the servants to prepare a guest room.

Xiao Ning volunteered for the task and ran off faster than a rabbit.

Before leaving, he even turned back and gave Qin Yu a thumbs-up, his expression seemingly saying, "Brother-in-law, you're awesome."

Qin Yu was arranged in a guest room in the eastern wing of the Xiao Household. The room was not large, but it was spotlessly clean. The bedding was all new and carried a faint fragrance.

He sat by the bed without immediately going to sleep. Instead, he habitually sank his awareness into the earth beneath his feet.

"This is..."

The earth vein beneath the Xiao Household was quite unusual, but Qin Yu could not yet determine what exactly made it unusual. It was purely a feeling.

"Could it be because of Xiao Yan? Or because of Gu Xun'er?"

After an unknown amount of time passed, the chirping insects outside the window gradually quieted down.

Seeing that he could find no answer, Qin Yu simply withdrew his awareness and lay down to rest.

Early the next morning.

The sky had only just begun to brighten when Qin Yu opened his eyes. Someone was outside the door.

His perception extended through the ground beneath his feet, allowing him to clearly "see" someone sitting on the steps outside the guest room.

The person had his legs curled up, his arms wrapped around his knees, and his head bobbing downward again and again. He was clearly dozing off.

Qin Yu raised an eyebrow, got out of bed, straightened his clothes, and opened the door.

The person on the steps jolted and abruptly raised his head.

"Ah!"

Xiao Yan quickly stood up and turned to face Qin Yu.

Qin Yu looked at him without speaking.

There was a bruise on Xiao Yan's left cheek, while his right cheek was slightly swollen. However, he had changed into clean clothes, and his hair was neatly arranged.

The two stared at each other for several seconds. Xiao Yan took a deep breath, bent over, and bowed.

He bowed so deeply that his head nearly hit the ground.

"Brother Qin Yu, I'm sorry!"

"...Huh?"

"There were some conflicts between Cousin Xiao Yu and me in the past... It was all my fault!"

The courtyard was quiet in the early morning, with only Xiao Yan's voice echoing through it.

Qin Yu leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded, not interrupting him.

"I know an apology alone is useless."

Xiao Yan straightened up and somehow produced a stick, which he held out before Qin Yu.

"So if you think an apology isn't enough, you can beat me up again. It's just..."

He raised a hand and pointed at his face, swollen like a pig's head.

"Could you avoid my face? Yesterday's swelling hasn't even gone down yet."

"You came to block my door this early just to ask for a beating?"

Qin Yu watched Xiao Yan seriously bargain over the terms and did not answer him directly.

Xiao Yan froze upon hearing that, then hurriedly waved his hands.

"Asking forgiveness is one reason. The second is... I want to ask for guidance on cultivation."

Qin Yu's brows lifted slightly. Xiao Yan sighed and said with a bitter smile:

"You should know about my current situation. Three stages of Battle Qi. It's been two years, and I haven't improved at all."

"To be honest, I've never given up cultivating these past two years, but my Battle Qi just disappears for no reason. So I was thinking..."

He raised his head, his eyes carrying a trace of hope.

"A strong expert like you might be able to see what's wrong?"

"Or... even if you can't identify the problem, perhaps hearing about your cultivation experiences might still inspire me."

Qin Yu looked at the bruised and swollen youth before him, whose eyes were nevertheless exceptionally earnest, and a faint ripple stirred in his heart.

The future Flame Emperor was now merely a confused youth doing everything he could to cast off the label of trash.

However, even though Qin Yu knew where Xiao Yan's problem lay, he had no intention of exposing it. That would undoubtedly be asking for trouble.

Besides, what reason did he have to do so?

"You can't learn my cultivation method."

Xiao Yan opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but Qin Yu gave him no chance and said bluntly:

"I only advanced to the Dou Practitioner level at eighteen. When it comes to cultivating Battle Qi, I was slower than you."

The hope on Xiao Yan's face gradually faded. He lowered his head and remained silent for a long while.

"...I understand."

His voice was somewhat hoarse, but he still forced out a smile, bowed once more, then turned and walked toward the courtyard exit.

His steps were not slow, but his back seemed somewhat desolate.

"Xiao Yan."

Qin Yu watched his retreating figure and suddenly spoke again. Xiao Yan paused and turned back.

"Just do what you're supposed to do. That will be enough."

After patting Xiao Yan on the shoulder, Qin Yu walked out of the courtyard, leaving Xiao Yan standing there in a daze, pondering Qin Yu's words.