Chance Encounter with Xun'er

"It was time to visit Xiao Yan. I had to keep my word from yesterday."

Nalan Chenfeng let out a soft breath and could not help smiling.

It was best to beat Xiao Yan early. Surely this future brother-in-law would be grateful for his special care.

Xiao Yan's room.

Xiao Yan had just finished his morning training when, before he could even catch his breath, he heard a voice that sounded like a nightmare.

"Little Yan, come out!"

Outside the room, Nalan Chenfeng waved away the Xiao Clan servants on either side, his voice bright and clear.

"He really came..."

Xiao Yan muttered under his breath, his face immediately twisting into a bitter grimace.

The ears Nalan Chenfeng had twisted swollen yesterday had yet to recover, and that fiend had come again today. He had thought Nalan Chenfeng had merely been joking with him yesterday.

Xiao Yan helplessly got up and slowly shuffled to the door. When he opened it and saw the wicked grin on Nalan Chenfeng's face, he could not help shuddering.

"Brother Chenfeng, what do you need?"

Xiao Yan forced out a smile uglier than tears.

"A spar."

Nalan Chenfeng uttered a single word, then grabbed Xiao Yan by the wrist and dragged him straight into the courtyard.

"A spar?"

Xiao Yan froze. Before he could react, he saw Nalan Chenfeng already take up a stance.

"Brother Chenfeng, I still..."

"Take this!"

Nalan Chenfeng gave Xiao Yan no chance to speak. His small fist carried the full power of the Third Stage of Dou Qi as it shot straight toward Xiao Yan's face.

Xiao Yan reacted quickly and hurriedly twisted aside, but the wind from the punch still swept across his shoulder. He staggered back several steps and nearly fell to the ground.

"Brother Chenfeng, is this a spar or are you beating me up?"

Before he could finish, Nalan Chenfeng's second punch had already arrived.

This punch landed on Xiao Yan's lower stomach. Though it was not delivered with full force, it still made Xiao Yan bend over in pain.

Ordinary children fighting might not amount to much, but with the enhancement of the Third Stage of Dou Qi, it was absolute suppression among children of this age.

"A spar is beating someone up, and beating someone up is a spar. But if I don't want your Xiao Clan people to say I'm deliberately bullying you, I need an excuse."

"That way, you get to save face too."

Nalan Chenfeng spoke with a straight face as he threw a third punch.

This punch struck Xiao Yan's little face, sending him spinning in a circle.

"Brother Chenfeng, don't hit people in the face! I surrender! Isn't surrendering enough?!"

Xiao Yan covered his face, his heart full of rage, yet he did not dare reveal even a trace of it.

He had transmigrated to this Dou Qi Continent and had not even begun to accomplish great things, only to be pinned down and beaten by a six-year-old brat. What kind of nonsense was this?

And when his father visited him last night, not only had he failed to take Xiao Yan's side, he had even scolded him harshly and told him not to provoke Nalan Chenfeng.

His eldest and second brothers had also told him to obediently listen, not daring to make a move.

"Surrender?"

Nalan Chenfeng withdrew his fist and shook his head. "No. I haven't beaten you enough today."

As he spoke, Nalan Chenfeng kicked Xiao Yan in the backside again.

Xiao Yan cried out, "Ow!" and fell flat on the ground.

"Get up."

Nalan Chenfeng stood before Xiao Yan, looking down at him.

Xiao Yan got to his feet, covered in dust and dirt, his face full of indignation. A thought had already taken root in his heart: he would train hard and beat Nalan Chenfeng senseless someday.

"Little Yan, I like seeing you so full of ambition."

Nalan Chenfeng gave a sinister grin and promptly punched Xiao Yan in the eye.

Xiao Yan hurriedly tried to dodge, but he was ultimately a beat too slow and let out another miserable howl.

"You can leave now. I'll come again tomorrow. I hope you'll learn your lesson from now on."

Looking at Xiao Yan's bruised and swollen face, Nalan Chenfeng nodded in satisfaction.

When dealing with a little monster, there was no need to be softhearted. Once Xiao Yan grew up, he would surely thank him for his guidance and education.

"You're coming again tomorrow..."

Hearing that Nalan Chenfeng would return tomorrow, Xiao Yan muttered to himself, feeling as though his future had gone completely dark.

"Don't do anything sneaky again. If I find out, the consequences will be far worse than this."

Nalan Chenfeng gave Xiao Yan a pointed warning, then turned and left with utmost ease.

After leaving Xiao Yan's courtyard, Nalan Chenfeng followed the bluestone path back.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves lining both sides of the road, casting mottled shadows across the ground.

After turning a corner, Nalan Chenfeng suddenly stopped.

Beside the flower pond ahead, a little girl dressed in a pale green dress squatted on the ground, her small hand gently fiddling with a newly bloomed lotus flower.

The little girl looked to be around four years old. Her jet-black hair was tied into a ponytail, and her delicate, doll-like face was exquisitely lovely, as though she were a porcelain doll stepped out of a painting. One glance was enough to tell she would grow into a great beauty.

Yet there was a faint sickly pallor on that exquisite little face, making one unable to resist feeling pity for her.

"Xiao Xun'er..."

Nalan Chenfeng was slightly stunned.

He had been at the Xiao Clan for over two months. Although he had spent the earlier period wandering around Xiao Xun'er's courtyard every day, waiting to catch Xiao Yan in the act, he had truly seen Xiao Xun'er only once—when she had first appeared upon arriving at the Xiao Clan.

This young lady of the Gu Clan usually kept to herself. Other than occasionally taking a walk in her courtyard, she rarely went outside.

What a coincidence today.

Nalan Chenfeng hesitated for a moment before walking over.

"Little Sister Xun'er."

Nalan Chenfeng called out to her, his childish voice gentle.

Xiao Xun'er raised her head. Her black eyes looked toward Nalan Chenfeng, clear and calm, without surprise or panic.

"Brother Chenfeng."

Xiao Xun'er called softly, her voice tender and weak.

Nalan Chenfeng crouched beside Xiao Xun'er, glanced at the lotus flower in her hand, and asked, "Why are you here alone, Little Sister Xun'er? Where are your maids?"

"I wanted to be alone for a while, so I had them go back first."

As Xiao Xun'er spoke, she coughed softly twice, and her little face turned even paler.

Nalan Chenfeng frowned and took a clean handkerchief from his robes, offering it to her.

"The wind is strong outside. You don't look well, so you shouldn't stay out here too long."

Xiao Xun'er paused. A trace of surprise flashed through her black eyes as she accepted the handkerchief and nodded her little head.

"Come on, Little Sister Xun'er. I'll take you back."

Feeling the cold wind sweeping past the pond, Nalan Chenfeng smiled as he spoke.

There were quite a few children in the Xiao Clan, but very, very few could play with Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Yan could have counted as one, but because of Nalan Chenfeng's interference, Xiao Yan would probably keep his distance from her for quite some time.

And once Xiao Xun'er grew a little older and her Dou Emperor Bloodline awakened, she would become an unshakable iceberg. No one would likely be able to catch her eye or hold a place in her heart.

If he wanted to make a move on Xiao Xun'er, now was the most suitable time.

But he would not think of relying on her just because of Xiao Xun'er's powerful background.

Clinging to someone's thigh in the Dou Qi Continent depended on the circumstances as well. Without strength, becoming involved with Xiao Xun'er was actually a dead end.

The Xiao Clan was the fallen Xiao Tribe and had once made an agreement with the Gu Clan. Though that contract was already no better than waste paper, the Gu Clan still cared somewhat about saving face.

But the Nalan Clan behind him was nothing more than a roadside scrap before such a colossal force. If the Gu Clan wished to make a move, they would have no reservations whatsoever.