Refusal

Hearing Nalan Chenfeng's words, a blush rose to Xiao Yu's pretty face. She lowered her head and looked at her toes.

She was a little taller than most others, but she did not think there was anything wrong with that.

"Mm."

Xiao Yu answered softly, then pursed her lips and blinked her bright eyes.

"Brother Chenfeng, I've been keeping an eye on Xiao Yan these past few years. He hasn't gone running over to Xun'er's side again."

"You mentioned it in your letter. Thank you for your hard work."

Nalan Chenfeng nodded, his gaze passing over Xiao Yu's shoulder to the path leading to the side courtyard behind her.

"Has Xun'er been well these past few years?"

Nalan Chenfeng's eyes flickered as he asked casually.

Xiao Yu tilted her head and replied offhandedly.

"Xun'er has always been the same. She rarely goes out and doesn't like talking to people much."

"Her health has never been very good, and her complexion is always so pale. The clan leader invited several physicians to examine her, but they couldn't find anything wrong."

Nalan Chenfeng listened without replying.

The side effects of the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame were naturally not something ordinary physicians could detect. Even ordinary alchemists would struggle to do so.

However, according to his estimate, once Xun'er was able to cultivate normally, those side effects should have ended.

For someone with the Gu Clan's Divine-Grade Bloodline to become a Dou Zhe only at fourteen, it could only mean that she had spent very little time cultivating when she was younger, perhaps none at all.

"Brother Chenfeng, are you going to see Xun'er?"

Xiao Yu suddenly raised her head, her eyes carrying a trace of anticipation.

"If she learns that you've come to the Xiao Clan, she'll definitely be happy."

Nalan Chenfeng froze for a moment, then said in surprise, "We're not that familiar with each other. Why would she be happy?"

"I told Xun'er all the stories Brother Chenfeng told me, and she really likes listening to them."

"This time, now that Chenfeng has come to the Xiao Clan, she'll finally have new stories to hear again."

Xiao Yu smiled faintly, her face brimming with indescribable joy.

"Not today. I still need to continue cultivating after I return. We'll talk when I have time."

Nalan Chenfeng shook his head and refused.

There was no need for him to have any contact with Xiao Xun'er.

In truth, the ancient clans of the Dou Qi Continent were not all that different at their core. The Soul Clan was evil and unscrupulous in its actions, but the Gu Clan's conduct might not be any more respectable.

As for the other ancient clans, which one was not arrogantly proud of its own Dou Emperor Bloodline?

Without strength, there was simply no need to have too much contact with these ancient clans. Otherwise, they would bring nothing but trouble.

The Xiao Clan might be declining, but it was still the Xiao Tribe. As someone surnamed Nalan, he would never truly be able to see himself as one of them.

"All right..."

Hearing Nalan Chenfeng's response, Xiao Yu's pretty face dimmed, and her head drooped involuntarily.

"When I have time..."

Nalan Chenfeng offered no further explanation and headed straight for where he was staying.

There were still two months until Jia Nan Academy's recruitment team arrived, and his goal was to break through to Three-Star Dou Zhe within those two months.

Telling Xiao Yu stories had been something he did as a child, when he could not cultivate for long periods and had nothing else to do. Now, he did not have that much time.

Besides, he did not have many stories left to tell. Making up some of them required a great deal of mental effort.

And the things buried deep within his memories were things he could never tell anyone.

Time flowed like water, and in the blink of an eye, two months had passed.

Inside a spacious, brightly lit room.

Nalan Chenfeng sat cross-legged on the bed with his eyes shut, his breathing long and even.

The wandering energy of heaven and earth around him slowly gathered toward him, entering his body through his nose and mouth before circulating and being absorbed through his meridians again and again along the route of the Flame Yang Art.

With each circulation, the vortex of qi in Nalan Chenfeng's lower abdomen grew a little more solid, its color gradually changing from milky white to pale yellow, faintly giving off a scorching sensation.

The Flame Yang Art was a high-grade Mystic Rank cultivation method. The Dou Qi it produced was blazing and forceful, surging through the body like rolling heat waves.

As his cultivation continued without pause, Nalan Chenfeng could clearly feel the quality and quantity of Dou Qi within him increasing at a visible rate.

The feeling of one's strength rising was intoxicating.

Two months ago, he had only just broken through to Dou Zhe, reaching merely one star.

But now, he was already on the verge of touching the threshold of Four-Star Dou Zhe.

"Haa..."

A breath of stale air slowly escaped Nalan Chenfeng's mouth, condensing into a faint white mist in the air that lingered for a long while.

Nalan Chenfeng opened his eyes, and a pale yellow glint flashed through the depths of his dark pupils.

"After cultivating for a few more days, I should be able to break through to four stars..."

Nalan Chenfeng murmured as he slightly clenched his hand, feeling the Dou Qi within him, far stronger than it had been two months ago. A smile appeared on his refined face.

The cultivation speed offered by a high-grade Mystic Rank method was entirely sufficient for him at present. At this rate, advancing to Dou Shi within half a year was not impossible.

Nalan Chenfeng got off the bed, stretched his limbs, then pushed open the door and let the warm sunlight pour in.

After enjoying the warm sunlight for a while, Nalan Chenfeng did not continue cultivating and headed directly for the Xiao Clan's main hall.

Just as Nalan Chenfeng stepped out of the courtyard gate, Xiao Yu approached with a girl in green.

The girl looked to be around nine years old. She was slender, with long black hair tied behind her head by a green ribbon, revealing a snowy white little face.

Her features were exquisite, and there was a tranquility between her brows that did not suit her age, like an orchid blooming in a secluded valley.

Xiao Xun'er.

Four years had passed. The sickly little girl from back then had grown somewhat, yet the pallor that seemed to seep from her bones had still not faded.

Standing beside Xiao Yu, she was nearly half a head shorter than her. Her two soft little hands hung naturally at her sides, and she looked exceptionally well-behaved.

Nalan Chenfeng's steps paused slightly. His gaze swept over Xiao Xun'er's face but did not linger for long.

"Brother Chenfeng."

Xiao Xun'er gave a slight bow, a peculiar glimmer flashing through her crystalline eyes.

A Three-Star Dou Zhe not yet eleven years old, advancing three stars in two months—within the empires of the Northwest Continent, this person's cultivation talent could only be called monstrous.

Remembering the report Elder Ling had given her, Xiao Xun'er was deeply shaken as well.

At such a cultivation speed, even among the ancient Dou God Clans, he could stand on equal footing with some who possessed Dou Emperor Bloodlines.

"Xun'er."

Nalan Chenfeng nodded in return. His tone was calm, neither as warm as it had been years ago nor particularly distant.

Xiao Yu looked at Nalan Chenfeng, then at Xiao Xun'er. Her mouth opened as she was about to say something, but Nalan Chenfeng spoke first.

"I need to speak with Uncle Xiao about something. I'll be going now."

With that, Nalan Chenfeng walked past the two girls at an unhurried pace, his moon-white robes stirring lightly in the breeze.

Xiao Yu stood stunned for a moment, then turned to watch Nalan Chenfeng's retreating figure. A trace of disappointment appeared on her face.

"Why does Brother Chenfeng ignore people every time..."

Xiao Yu muttered softly, then turned to look at Xiao Xun'er beside her.

Xiao Xun'er said nothing. Her black eyes quietly watched the empty bluestone path. After a moment, she withdrew her gaze, her little face utterly calm.

"Sister Yu, let's go back."

Xiao Xun'er's voice was soft and gentle, without the slightest hint of emotion.

Xiao Yu opened her mouth, but she did not know what to say.