Agreement

The voice was not loud, yet it cut through Xiao Yan's unwilling roar like a blade.

Xiao Yan's entire body jolted as he whirled around.

Under the moonlight, a tall figure walked down the mountain path. His moon-white robes snapped in the night wind, and his dark eyes seemed especially deep beneath the moonlight.

"Brother Chenfeng...?"

Xiao Yan's voice was hoarse as he called out instinctively.

Though they had not seen each other for more than three years, even if Nalan Chenfeng turned to ashes, Xiao Yan would probably still recognize him.

Back then, this older brother of his fiancée had caused him no end of trouble and had always been a shadow in his heart.

In the past, Xiao Yan had still wanted to cultivate diligently, catch up to him, and hold his head high again. But now...

"It's been a few years. You look much more pleasing to the eye than before, kid."

Nalan Chenfeng walked over and sat on a large rock beside Xiao Yan, speaking with an air of old age.

"Don't worry. As long as you haven't done anything bad, I won't beat you up."

Seeing the fear on Xiao Yan's face, Nalan Chenfeng chuckled.

Xiao Yan, now fallen to the Third Stage of Dou Qi, was at his most obedient. He had also fully integrated into this world and understood reality all too well.

Nalan Chenfeng would not go looking for trouble with Xiao Yan without reason, because there was no point in it.

Having suffered the bullying of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan already knew the warmth and coldness of human relationships. There was no need for Nalan Chenfeng to add to it.

On the contrary, at a time like this, Xiao Yan would remember anyone's words of encouragement deeply, treating them as a friend and someone worthy of his greatest respect.

To put it simply, Xiao Yan now craved respect.

Hearing Nalan Chenfeng's words, Xiao Yan let out a sigh of relief.

He did not want to get beaten up. If he ended up battered and bruised, his father would worry. He did not want his father to worry about him anymore.

"By the way, Brother Chenfeng, you said you knew what my problem was?"

Suddenly recalling something, Xiao Yan's breathing quickened as he stared intently at Nalan Chenfeng.

On the Dou Qi Continent, if one could not cultivate Dou Qi, one was useless, with no dignity or future whatsoever.

"Mm, I know. This is heaven's trial for you. Things will get better in the future."

Nalan Chenfeng nodded and encouraged him.

Naturally, he could not reveal the true reason for Xiao Yan's decline in strength. It involved Yao Chen inside the Bone Flame Ring on Xiao Yan's hand.

If he interfered, the consequences would be unknown.

Yao Chen's purpose in doing this was simply to use Xiao Yan to be reborn.

The hardships Xiao Yan was currently suffering were merely a test from Yao Chen, once the publicly acknowledged number one alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent.

As for the bond between master and disciple, that would be built through their future time together, not now.

"Heaven's trial..."

Xiao Yan froze for a moment and softly repeated the words.

He had not expected that answer. He had thought the man before him knew why his strength had fallen and why he could not store Dou Qi. It seemed he had been happy for nothing.

No one knew what was wrong with him. Perhaps those Dou Emperors and Dou Zongs could see through it, but how could the Xiao Clan possibly invite such powerful experts?

"As long as you persist and keep working hard, I believe that one day, you'll be able to raise your strength again and reclaim your title as the Xiao Clan's genius."

Nalan Chenfeng smiled faintly and looked up at the night sky.

The Xiao Tribe, Xiao Yan—on the Dou Qi Continent, Xiao Yan was more than just his future brother-in-law. He was also a shield.

The Gu Clan's attention, the Soul Clan's target—Xiao Yan was the most suitable person to draw them in.

With Yao Chen around, Xiao Yan's future path would not be so difficult. Nalan Chenfeng did not need to worry about him.

Nor would he help Xiao Yan for no reason and play the role of some great benefactor.

This brother-in-law of his should be beaten when needed, tricked when needed, and helped when needed. It all depended on the circumstances. That was his principle.

He could not help it. His younger sister wanted to take regret medicine. Without that connection, he and Xiao Yan would be nothing but strangers.

Relying on others or heaven was inferior to relying on oneself. He understood that clearly.

"Thank you, Brother Chenfeng."

Warmth rose in Xiao Yan's heart at Nalan Chenfeng's comfort and encouragement. After a brief silence, he slowly spoke, his voice full of gratitude.

Compared to this older brother of his fiancée, the people of the Xiao Clan were not even on the same level.

Given his current condition, someone who could speak to him like this and offer him encouragement and support was someone he would remember with gratitude for the rest of his life.

"Just saying thank you is boring. Why don't you give me something practical, kid?"

Nalan Chenfeng shook his head and seized on his words directly.

"Ah, something practical?"

Xiao Yan looked utterly baffled as he muttered.

Over the past year or so, dignity had become something exceedingly precious to him. He was sincerely grateful to the man before him.

But asking him to offer something tangible... this...

"You can't give it to me now, but you can give it to me later."

Nalan Chenfeng's dark eyes flickered as he spoke meaningfully.

There were some things he could not change. His younger sister had already joined the Misty Cloud Sect. Unless something unexpected happened, the grand drama of their broken engagement and the Three-Year Agreement would proceed as scheduled.

This was the driving force behind Xiao Yan's and his sister Nalan Yanran's growth, as well as an indispensable process. There was no need for him to stop it.

However, the final outcome of the Three-Year Agreement could be changed somewhat, and for that, Xiao Yan had to be obedient.

Regret medicine was hard to come by, but he could place an order for some in advance and prepare it for his younger sister.

"Brother Chenfeng, I don't understand."

Xiao Yan looked somewhat blank and shook his head, unable to understand what Nalan Chenfeng was planning.

He did not owe Nalan Chenfeng anything, so why was he suddenly being asked to promise future benefits?

"You don't need to understand. Today, I only need you to promise that you'll unconditionally do a few things for me in the future."

Nalan Chenfeng did not explain and directly stated his demand.

He was not worried whether Xiao Yan would keep his promise in the future.

Although some of Xiao Yan's actions and thoughts were a little twisted and beneath contempt, overall, his character was still acceptable. He was not that bad.

"A few things?"

Xiao Yan froze, his gaze sweeping back and forth across Nalan Chenfeng's face several times as he tried to find an answer.

Under the moonlight, half of Nalan Chenfeng's face was bright and half was shadowed. A faint smile hung at the corner of his lips, making him impossible to read.

"Brother Chenfeng, in my current state, I'll most likely be useless in the future. Even if I truly recover, my strength still won't match yours. What could I possibly do for you?"

Xiao Yan gave a bitter laugh and spread his hands, his helplessness obvious.

Without strength, everything was empty talk. Though he could not sense Nalan Chenfeng's strength, Nalan Chenfeng had already been a Dou Zhe years ago. He might even be a Da Dou Shi by now.

The gap between them was enormous and difficult to bridge, so Xiao Yan truly did not know what he could do.

"Why do you have so much nonsense to say, kid? Don't worry, I won't make you do anything that goes against righteousness or exceeds your abilities."

"For now, we're just making an agreement. If you run into any trouble you truly can't solve, you can come find me as well."

Nalan Chenfeng looked Xiao Yan directly in the eye and added a little explanation.

"Alright..."