At Last, They Meet

Faced with Ye Jianxin's teasing, Yi Huang not only did not strike out at him like she used to, but instead grew coy.

There was even a hint of shyness on her face. Seeing that expression, how could Ye Jianxin not understand? This time, it was truly going to happen.

Happy for his friend as well, he failed to watch himself for a moment and blurted loudly, "When are you two holding the ceremony?"

Originally, the two of them had been communicating through voice transmission, so no one else knew anything.

But that shout instantly drew everyone's eyes.

Sensing everyone's gazes, the capable Deputy Pavilion Master, who was usually so brisk and decisive, suddenly turned into a bashful young bride.

Seeing the Deputy Pavilion Master like this, combined with the words "holding the ceremony" that the Grand Elder had just shouted, how could the others not understand what was going on?

The founding elders of Langya Pavilion, in particular, all revealed knowing smiles.

Even some of the later elders who did not know the inside story, after hearing everyone else's gossip, each and every one of them broke into auntie-like smiles.

In the hundred years that Yi Huang had managed Langya Pavilion, they had all seen how much effort their Deputy Pavilion Master had poured into Langya Pavilion.

It was also under Yi Huang's leadership that Langya Pavilion had avoided any drastic upheaval after the Pavilion Master disappeared.

It had even continued to move forward steadily, shocking who knew how many people.

Even the so-called master of Four Directions Pavilion had not been a match for this seemingly delicate woman.

Everyone admired this strong, capable woman from the bottom of their hearts.

As time passed, Yi Huang's position in the hearts of Langya Pavilion's disciples had already become no lower than that of the Pavilion Master, Ice Saint.

And as for the passionate yet hidden feelings between the two of them, everyone had always held no small amount of anticipation.

Now, hearing that their happy event was about to come to fruition, everyone offered their sincere blessings.

"Congratulations, Deputy Pavilion Master!" xN

"This should've happened long ago, shouldn't it?"

"Now this is double happiness arriving at the door."

At this moment, someone even egged them on, "Why don't we pick an auspicious date and celebrate properly..."

Seeing everyone grow more and more outrageous the longer they talked, Yi Huang suppressed the embarrassment in her heart and feigned anger. "Enough. Making such a racket in public—what kind of behavior is that?

Are you trying to let the Pavilion Master laugh at us?"

Hearing this, the others stopped messing around. Jokes had to have limits, and one had to know where to stop; otherwise, they would hurt feelings. Everyone from Langya Pavilion understood this very well.

"Oh? Laugh at what?"

Just then, a man in white suddenly appeared.

Seeing that figure they had not seen in so long, everyone was filled with both shock and joy.

"Greetings, Pavilion Master."

"Welcome back, Pavilion Master."

A wave of orderly voices rang out.

Seeing everyone's excellent spirit and bearing, as well as the many unfamiliar faces that had appeared among them, Xiao Han felt extremely pleased. There was no other reason—As the founder of Langya Pavilion, Langya Pavilion was like his own child.

Seeing his child grow and stand on its own, how could Xiao Han not be happy?

And behind the group of elders, Xiao Han saw the figure he had yearned for day and night.

Though a hundred years had passed, time had left no trace on her face. She was still just as stunning.

The Xiao Han of the past had never faced this relationship directly. It could even be said that he had not dared to face it.

It was only because of the pressure he bore, and the consequences he feared it might bring.

It was not until the hundred years he was trapped in the secret realm, when that gentle yet capable figure would flash through his mind from time to time and he recalled their past adventures, that the longing in his heart to see her again became impossible to suppress. He had even contacted them immediately to report his safety the moment he escaped.

All of it showed that this woman, whom he had once regarded as a close friend, had already left an indelible mark in his heart.

Feeling the burning gaze from ahead, Yi Huang lowered her head with her face hot, and the ease with which she usually handled affairs vanished without a trace in that instant.

Seeing the subtle atmosphere between the two of them, Ye Jianxin felt exceptionally gratified. He made a hand gesture and beckoned the others to quietly leave.

Only the two of them were left behind to experience this belated moment.

"How are you?" x2

"I'm all right." x2

An eerie silence.

The tacit understanding that had once been so praiseworthy had now become the source of their awkwardness.

In the end, it was still Xiao Han who spoke first. "You've worked hard during this time." He thought of how he had vanished for a full hundred years.

He thought of how, during this time, she, a woman alone, had to lead the vast Langya Pavilion, and thought of all the hardships she must have suffered in between.

Xiao Han was filled with guilt. "I'm sorry."

Hearing that, Yi Huang immediately grew unhappy. "Are you still treating me like an outsider? Or do you not want to take responsibility anymore? You heartless man! I gave you the best years of my life, and you delayed them all."

As she bitterly denounced the "faithless man" before her, tears welled in her eyes.

That fragile, helpless look left Xiao Han completely at a loss.

"Well... I..."

The Ice Saint, who had once been able to roam anywhere under heaven, had now turned into a dazed, tongue-tied youth.

Seeing Xiao Han like this, Yi Huang burst into laughter through her tears, and the tears that had been about to fall vanished without a trace.

???!!!

Kid, do you have a lot of question marks?

The stark contrast from one moment to the next left Xiao Han, a nearly two-hundred-year-old bachelor across two lives, instantly dumbfounded.

"All right, I don't blame you." Then she started acting again. "This humble woman is merely a Deputy Pavilion Master. How would I dare trouble the Pavilion Master?"

Hearing that, Xiao Han's clumsy mouth suddenly found an opening. "Who said that?"

"The two of us have equal status. Pavilion Master and Deputy Pavilion Master are the same. If it really won't do, then from now on I'll be the Deputy Pavilion Master and you can be the Pavilion Master."

"I'm not doing that. You left for a hundred years at a time, and after all these years of doing the Pavilion Master's work, I nearly worked myself to death," Yi Huang said with a reproachful look.

With his scheme failing to succeed, Xiao Han could only give an embarrassed smile.

For a moment, the scene fell silent again.

"Yi Huang, after a while, come back to my clan with me," Xiao Han said slowly after who knew how long, finally voicing the words that had been weighing on his heart for an unknown length of time.

Huh?

Yi Huang's face reddened at a speed visible to the naked eye, and for a moment, steam seemed to rise from the top of her head.

"You... you're moving too fast." Her mood dipped for a moment, and Xiao Han thought he had been rejected.

"Oh. Then let's talk about it later." Xiao Han looked disappointed as he said he did not mind.

Huh?

"Who said I wasn't willing? I'll go. Once I've arranged the affairs in the pavilion, I'll go right away. You're not allowed to go back on it. Just wait." Then she vanished in a flash.

Looking at the figure that had disappeared in an instant, Xiao Han wanted to speak, then stopped.

He glanced to the side. "Come out. How long have you been hiding?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure carrying a sword on his back appeared before Xiao Han.

"Heh heh~"

Ye Jianxin punched Xiao Han, then gave a somewhat lewd grin. "You two finally got together. I was getting anxious on your behalf." As he spoke, he stretched.

"Forget it, let's not talk about that." Then Ye Jianxin immediately got to the point, his expression turning serious.

"You broke through?"

Xiao Han nodded.

The corner of Ye Jianxin's mouth twitched. "Half-Saint or Dou Sheng?"

"Dou Sheng." It was still that same calm, brutally honest truth that stabbed straight into the heart.

Fuck!

Ye Jianxin was utterly jealous. "Did you find yourself a treasure basin or something?"

"More or less."

"I'll fucking—" Ye Jianxin could not bear it anymore and silently drew his Clear Wind Sword.

"Yi Huang said you had a surprise for us this time?" At last, before killing anyone, Ye Jianxin remembered a certain key question.

"That's right. Let's go inside and talk." Xiao Han smacked him directly on the back of the head.

For the sake of the surprise, I, endured it!