Xiao Yan Seeks Guidance

Seeing that Xiao Yu seemed to want to continue, the First Elder hurriedly spoke up:

"Cough, cough, Xiao Yu, that's enough."

If Xiao Yu really beat Xiao Yan half to death, he would have a hard time explaining it to Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Yu reluctantly withdrew her hand, turned and walked back to Qin Yu's side, then naturally looped 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 bowing to the First Elder, he slunk out of the room.

But the moment he stepped out of the courtyard, he ran into a graceful figure in green.

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

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

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 lesson could stop Xiao Yan from casually going out and flirting with other women in the future, then Xun'er would not hold this beating against him.

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

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

Xun'er nodded lightly and did not ask further.

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

Under the moonlight, Qin Yu had his head lowered as he said something to Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu clung to his arm, 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 entrance. After a few steps, Xun'er suddenly stopped and looked back at Qin Yu again.

Hmm... could this guy possess some kind of special constitution?

Cousin Xiao Yu had found herself a pretty good home.

That night, the First Elder asked Qin Yu to stay. It was already late, and there was no point returning to that empty house in the western part of the city. He might as well stay at the Xiao Household.

Xiao Yu nodded vigorously beside him, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at him.

Qin Yu thought about it. It was true, he had already sorted through that little house during the day.

Everything worth taking had been put into his Storage Ring. All that remained was a roomful of dust and old furniture.

Whether he stayed there or not made little difference. 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 First Elder smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits and quickly instructed 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 practically 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 spotless. The bedding was all new and carried a faint fragrance.

He sat down by the bed, but did not immediately go to sleep. Instead, he habitually sank his awareness into the earth beneath his feet.

"This is..."

The power of the Earth Vein beneath the Xiao Household was extremely unusual, yet Qin Yu could not determine exactly what was unusual about it. It was purely an instinctive feeling.

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

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

Unable to find an answer, Qin Yu simply withdrew his awareness and lay down to rest.

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.

That person had his legs drawn up, his arms wrapped around his knees, and his head bobbing downward. He was obviously dozing off.

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

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

"Ah!"

Xiao Yan quickly got to his feet and turned to face Qin Yu.

Qin Yu looked at him without saying anything.

Xiao Yan had a bruise on his left cheek, while his right cheek was slightly swollen. However, he had changed into a clean set of 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.

"Big Brother Qin Yu, I'm sorry!"

"...Huh?"

"Back then, Cousin Xiao Yu and I... had some conflicts. It was all my fault!"

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

Qin Yu leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded and did not interrupt him.

"I know an apology alone is useless."

Xiao Yan straightened up. Somehow, he produced a stick and held it out to 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, which was 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 looked at his serious bargaining expression and did not directly answer Xiao Yan.

Hearing that, Xiao Yan froze for a moment before quickly waving his hands.

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

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

"You probably know about my situation. Third-Stage Dou Qi, and it's been two years without the slightest improvement."

"To be honest, I've never given up cultivating during these past two years. But my Dou Qi keeps disappearing for no reason, so I was thinking..."

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

"A strong expert like you might be able to see something?"

"Or... even if you can't see what the problem is, perhaps hearing about your cultivation experience might inspire me somehow."

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

The future Flame Emperor was now only 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 only bring trouble upon himself.

Besides, what reason did he have to do so?

"My cultivation method is not something you can learn."

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 Zhe realm at eighteen. When it comes to cultivation speed during the Dou Qi stage, I'm not even as fast as you."

The hope on Xiao Yan's face gradually dimmed. 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 again, then turned and walked toward the courtyard entrance.

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

"Xiao Yan."

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

"Just do what you are supposed to do. That is 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.