Leisurely Days at the Back Mountain

Xiao Yan coldly watched Nalan Yanran's stunned expression, then turned and kowtowed once to Xiao Zhan.

"Father, three years from now, Yan'er will go to the Misty Cloud Sect and personally wipe away today's humiliation for you!" Xiao Yan rose directly to his feet and walked out of the hall without hesitation. As he passed Nalan Yanran, his icy voice rang out.

"Three years from now, I will fight you at the Misty Cloud Sect."

Nalan Yanran's small mouth parted slightly as she stared blankly at the gradually disappearing figure. The contract in her hand suddenly seemed to weigh a thousand pounds...

"Ding! A famous scene, 'Three-Year Pact,' has been triggered. Reward: one Dou Zong Puppet. The reward has been automatically stored in the System Space."

After hearing the system's voice, Xiao Yao looked at Nalan Yanran and said in a low voice, "Nalan Yanran, I will accompany him to the Misty Cloud Sect three years from now. I hope your challenge will proceed normally. If anyone from the Misty Cloud Sect dares to interfere or do anything underhanded behind the scenes, don't blame me for being merciless."

Ge Ye's body trembled slightly before he quickly regained his composure.

"Since the three of you have achieved your purpose, please leave." Xiao Zhan looked at the departing youth with an indifferent face, though the fist hidden in his sleeve was clenched so tightly that his fingers had turned white.

"Uncle Xiao, Yanran apologizes for what happened today. If you have time in the future, please visit the Nalan Household!" Nalan Yanran respectfully bowed to the expressionless Xiao Zhan. She did not wish to stay any longer and headed out of the hall, with Ge Ye and the handsome young man hurriedly following behind her.

"Take the Qi-Gathering Powder with you as well!" With a wave of his hand, Xiao Zhan coldly flung the jade box on the table outward.

Ge Ye reached back with one hand, steadily catching the box. He gave a bitter laugh and put it into his Storage Ring.

"Nalan Yanran, I hope you will not regret what you did today. The Battle Qi Continent is vast, and there are countless people with greater talent than you." Xiao Yao's tone carried a faint chill.

After hearing this, the three of them immediately left the hall.

Xiao Yao then went to the back mountain, where he found Xiao Yan sitting on the cliffside as usual, gazing at the distant, steep Magic Beast Mountain Range shrouded in mist.

"Little Flame, do you really care that much about this marriage? Do you need Brother Yao to help you?" Xiao Yao teased.

"Brother Yao, stop teasing me. I just never expected Nalan Yanran to come here and publicly break off the engagement before the entire clan. If she had come to do it privately, I would have respected her decision. But she did not. Isn't it just because my cultivation has regressed over the past two years? Doesn't she just think I'm trash and unworthy of her?" Xiao Yan looked at the bloody mark on his left hand with indignation and self-mockery.

"Actually, if you had displayed your current Seven-Stage Dou Qi cultivation back then, perhaps she would have seen that your cultivation was gradually recovering. With your former talent, you could have proven that you were no longer the trash you once was. Maybe she would not have broken off the engagement."

"No, she would have. She would still cling to her own beliefs. She simply does not want to marry someone she does not like. She would still have broken off the engagement right in front of me." Xiao Yan helplessly shook his head, bitterness faintly visible on his face.

Xiao Yao gently patted his shoulder and comforted him. "Don't worry, Little Flame. Three years from now, I'll accompany you to the Misty Cloud Sect and watch you defeat Nalan Yanran and fulfill this so-called Three-Year Pact."

"Brother Yao, I will cultivate diligently over these three years. When the time comes, I will defeat Nalan Yanran at the Misty Cloud Sect and seek justice for Father."

At that moment, a translucent figure flew out of the Storage Ring, stretched lazily, and said, "You two little fellows woke me up with all that noise. Little fellow, tell me, what happened? Looking at you like this, anyone would think some girl had broken your heart."

Hearing this, Xiao Yao clutched his stomach and burst into laughter. "Hahaha, Teacher really hit the mark. Little Flame, he..." He laughed so hard that he could barely speak.

After a while, Xiao Yao forcibly suppressed his laughter and told Yao Lao everything that had happened between the two of them.

Yao Lao smiled faintly after hearing it. "Little fellow, do not be afraid. With your teacher's help, you will certainly defeat that little girl in three years. Then you can take her as your maid and have her look after you at your side. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yao raised his brows at Xiao Yan, unable to hide the amusement in his eyes. With a faint smile, he said, "Little Flame, work hard and defeat her. Then Nalan Yanran will have to fulfill her promise and properly serve as your maid for the rest of her life."

"It is one thing for Teacher to say that, but why are you teasing me too? It is not like you do not know how proud Nalan Yanran is. Even if she loses, she will never fulfill such a promise. If she is forced, she might truly choose death over submission." Xiao Yan replied with a dry smile.

Xiao Yao smiled and said, "All right, it is time to talk business. In another year, it will be the coming-of-age ceremony for both of us. Then we will see how you perform. But you have already reached the Seven-Stage Dou Qi standard. Over the next year, you should be able to break through to Dou Zhe or beyond. When that time comes, it will depend on your performance. Perhaps you will be the most eye-catching person in the entire venue."

Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Yao with a determined gaze. "Don't worry. This time, I will definitely prove myself at the coming-of-age ceremony. I will not let you or Father down."

Xiao Yao turned to Yao Lao and asked, "Teacher, after the coming-of-age ceremony, are you planning to take Little Flame out for training? I want to come along and watch you refine a Sixth-Grade Pill. After all, a Sixth-Grade Pill can cause certain heavenly phenomena and may attract unnecessary trouble, so it would be best to find a quiet place to refine it during the training journey."

Yao Lao stroked his beard and looked toward the distant Magic Beast Mountain Range with a faint smile. "Mm. Do you see those steep mountains in the distance, shrouded in mist? I plan to take him to that place known as the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Only through battle can one grow faster. When it is time to depart, I will call for you."

At the thought that he would soon be heading to the Magic Beast Mountain Range for training, Xiao Yan's face turned bitter again. However, with Brother Yao and Teacher there, he would at least be somewhat safer in the Magic Beast Mountain Range and would not need to worry too much about his life. At that thought, his mood improved a little.

Xiao Yao respectfully cupped his hands toward Yao Lao. "Teacher, thank you for your trouble. If not for our conversations over this past year and the alchemy experience you personally taught me, I would not be ready to attempt refining a Sixth-Grade Pill so soon."

"Little fellow, since you have entered my tutelage, I will take responsibility for you to the end. How could I possibly withhold alchemy knowledge from you?" Yao Lao looked at the calm and respectful Xiao Yao with great satisfaction.

Xiao Yao and Xiao Yan quietly sat on the cliffside, watching the cloud-wreathed mountains in the distance. The gentle breeze brought wave after wave of coolness. Feeling the refreshing air, they closed their eyes contentedly and enjoyed the tranquil, peaceful moment, as if their hearts had been completely relaxed.

After some time, a cyan figure gracefully leaped over like an elf.

Sensing someone approaching, Yao Lao said softly, "Someone is coming. I will return first. Remember, do not mention my existence to anyone." As soon as he finished speaking, he slipped directly into Xiao Yan's Storage Ring.

Xun'er lightly tapped the mountain rock with the tip of her foot and leaped onto the summit. After sweeping her gaze around, she spotted the two of them sitting on a cliffside ledge.

Xun'er's clear voice rang out. "Well, well, you two actually hid here to enjoy yourselves and did not even invite Xun'er along."

Hearing her, the two opened their eyes. The lovely face before them wore adorable dimples.

Xiao Yao smiled lightly. "Xun'er, come sit here with us and feel the breeze."

The three sat by the cliff as the fresh wind blew past, scattering their hair and dispersing the gloom in their hearts.

They sat there chatting about the past, talking and laughing together.

As time passed, the evening sun reflected against the blue sky. Clouds and mist drifted through the air, while rosy light filled the heavens. Beneath the sunset, the mountain range seemed to have been coated in a layer of golden radiance.

"It is getting late. We should head back too."

"Mm, Brother Xiao Yao, then let's go back together."

Xiao Yao and the other two headed down the mountain.