Yun Yun Goes into Seclusion; the Xiao Clan Arrives

"Too late!"

Xiao Yan looked down at them. Two enormous Fire Flood Dragons and the terrified faces of Gu He and the others were reflected in his eyes. He gave a scornful laugh and slowly closed his hand. The dragons' massive bodies contracted, leaving Gu He and his companions less and less room to move.

"Yun Yun?"

Seeing the killing intent in Xiao Yan's eyes, Gu He turned to the black-robed woman beside him with an imploring look.

"..."

Yun Yun gazed at the handsome young man, so spirited and proud, with conflicted eyes. She hesitated no longer. Her lips parted. "Wind Wall!"

Her hands formed an intricate seal, and dense pale-cyan Dou Qi surged from her body, solidifying into walls of wind around them.

"Wind walls? Those won't stop fire." Xiao Yan smiled and flicked a finger toward the Fire Flood Dragons. They charged the walls from opposite sides without the slightest resistance. Instead, the wind fed their flames, and they roared into the cramped space.

Ink-green and pale-cyan power erupted together in an unrestrained explosion.

"X-Xiao Yan, my friend..."

Hai Bodong's mouth went dry as he watched. At last, he could hold back no longer. "They're innocent too. When I received your letter, I thought Queen Medusa had captured you and that it was a plea for help. I was the one who mentioned the Heavenly Flames and brought Gu He and the others here to rescue you."

"Nonsense! Master Xiao Yan is our Snake-People Tribe's King Consort. How could he possibly... Cough, cough!" Yue Mei glared from Xiao Yan's arms, but the movement jarred her wounds. She shuddered and began coughing, blood spilling from her lips again.

"Don't talk. Swallow this first."

After a moment's thought, Xiao Yan took out a Recovery Pill. He parted Yue Mei's alluring red lips with his fingers and slipped it into her mouth.

"Mmm... a Recovery Pill?" Warmth spread through Yue Mei's body. Her damaged meridians began healing before her eyes. It was worthy of a Fifth-grade Pill. How could someone like her have any right to use one? In the past, a third- or fourth-grade pill for an injury would have been extravagant enough, let alone a Fifth-grade Pill...

As expected of a Six-Rank Alchemist Grandmaster.

Yue Mei glanced up at Xiao Yan, so close to her, her soft eyes brimming with affection. He was the King Consort, though. Still, he was marrying into the Snake-People Tribe. If she became a concubine to warm his bed someday, surely Her Majesty would have nothing to say about it.

Boom!

A terrifying explosion burst from the Heavenly Flames.

An invisible shock wave spread in every direction.

"Pfft!"

Several soot-blackened figures dropped to the ground one after another. Their chests still rose and fell, however; they were alive. Pill King Gu He looked the most wretched. His cloak had burned away, and his face was black with ash, as though an alchemy furnace had exploded in front of him.

Yan Shi and Feng Li fared little better. Their insides churned, blood streamed from their noses and mouths, and they lay on the ground retching.

Only Yun Yun was in somewhat better shape. Even so, the fine robe beneath her black cloak was riddled with holes, exposing patches of fair, delicate skin. She could still maintain her Dou Qi Transformation Wings and hover in midair.

She glanced at Gu He and the others. They were injured, but none had lost a limb. She breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

A few pills from Gu He and some time to recuperate would be enough to restore them to their peak.

Yet one person had crushed a Dou Emperor and Three Dou Wang so thoroughly. He was truly... a monster.

Worse, he had clearly held back. When the two dragons surrounded her, she had felt death closing in. But Hai Bodong's words had prompted the young man to ease his attack and spare them.

"Get out!"

With one arm around the beautiful Snake-People woman, Xiao Yan delivered the cold command. Gu He and the others trembled.

Killing them would be easy, but the consequences would be troublesome.

The Xiao Clan was still in the Jia Ma Empire, as was the Mittel Family. Useless though Pill King Gu He might be, he was still a Sixth-Rank Alchemist with friends everywhere. And Yun Yun was among his companions.

Gu He and his party left in defeat. Only Hai Bodong and Teng Shan remained.

"Er..." Hai Bodong's old face twitched with embarrassment. Mittel Tengshan stood beside him and quietly tugged at his sleeve. "Say something, Elder Hai. If we anger him, the two of us might end up buried in the Snake-People Tribe hinterland."

"Here."

When Xiao Yan looked toward Hai Bodong, he tossed him a Jade Bottle, cupped his hands, and smiled. "Elder Hai, I won't forget what you did for me today."

Hai Bodong had come to rescue him out of kindness, and little harm had been done. Yue Mei, the only one who had suffered, had already been comforted. There was no reason to hold it against him.

"Ah..." Hai Bodong could barely contain his grin. He hurriedly opened the Jade Bottle, and the scent of medicine washed over him. It was the Barrier-Breaking Pill he had longed for—a Sixth-Grade Pill that required Heavenly Flames to refine.

"And this." Xiao Yan smiled and tossed him another pill.

"Is this... a Purple Spirit Recovery Pill?!" Hai Bodong's pupils contracted. Another Fifth-grade Pill! Even after taking the Barrier-Breaking Pill, the years spent under the Seal would prevent him from immediately returning to full strength. This pill would restore him to his former peak.

"Mittel Tengshan?" Xiao Yan glanced at the middle-aged man beside him.

Teng Shan hurriedly cupped his hands, his expression deeply respectful. "Young Master Xiao Yan."

"No need for ceremony. Call me Xiao Yan, as Elder Hai does. And thank you for looking after my family while I was away from the Jia Ma Empire. Here's a Dou Ling Pill." Xiao Yan casually tossed him a pill.

Gulp. Teng Shan stared at such generosity, his eyes burning with excitement. Elder Hai had an incredible eye for a promising investment!

Teng Shan had spent his whole life achieving little. Yet on his first day following Elder Hai, he had received a Dou Ling Pill.

"Hmph. Look at you, getting excited over so little." Hai Bodong gave Teng Shan a haughty sidelong glance, though he could not stop the corners of his own mouth from rising.

"Right. Where's my father?" Xiao Yan asked after a moment's hesitation.

Something would be missing from the wedding if his father was not there.

"Clan Leader Xiao is on his way. Several Dou Ling powerhouses from the Mittel Family are escorting him. He should arrive in about seven or eight minutes," Teng Shan replied respectfully.

Xiao Yan nodded, then glanced at the alluring woman still clinging tightly to his neck.

"Your injuries have healed, so you can get down now. I'd be fine if your queen saw us like this, but you might be in trouble..."

"Mmm." Yue Mei bit her lip and reluctantly slipped out of Xiao Yan's arms. She conjured several green snakes and sent them to the various tribes with word that Young Master Xiao Yan had driven off the intruders; there was no need to gather. Then she dipped in a slight curtsy and said softly, "Thank you for saving my life, Master Xiao Yan."

"No need to thank me. Since you call me King Consort, saving you was only right. Besides... this trouble started because of me."

At the Snake-People Tribe's Main Altar, the commanders gathered together.

They had received Yue Mei's message that the danger had passed, but since they had already come, they stayed to hear what had happened. When they learned what Xiao Yan had done, they stared at him in astonishment.

He had overwhelmed a Dou Emperor and Three Dou Wang on his own. The King Consort's hidden strength far exceeded anything they had imagined. Then again, what else could they expect of the personal disciple of some Alchemist Master from the Central Plains—or so they assumed?

Yue Mei's lingering chest injury, and the way her gaze almost seemed to cling to Xiao Yan, only made the story more convincing...

"Now that the matter is settled, you may all return," the Grand Elder said, looking around the room.

Then the Grand Elder frowned slightly and shot Yue Mei a warning look. Show some restraint. Medusa hasn't even emerged from seclusion, and you're already this eager. What's that girl supposed to think?

Yue Mei pursed her lips. She respected Queen Medusa deeply, but how was today's incident her fault? Those humans had chased her down. She was a victim too.

"Yes!" The commanders looked at Xiao Yan with none of their earlier disdain. Their eyes were full of gratitude and respect.

They cupped their hands and departed.

Only Mo Bass still wore an angry expression. He glared coldly at Xiao Yan as he passed.

Xiao Yan paid no attention to the black snake rising into the air. A smile tugged at his lips. I'll deal with him sooner or later. No rush...

"Your father has come to the Snake-People Tribe, so we should give him a proper welcome. Go spend some time with him. Yue Mei has taken your pill, and her injuries have nearly healed. You needn't worry about her," the Grand Elder said with a smile.

"All right." Xiao Yan smiled and headed for his father's tent.

At the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun stepped into the main hall, her breathing unsteady and her footing slightly weak.

"Sect Master, are you all right?" The elders seated within hurriedly rose in concern. Grand Elder Yun Leng, at their head, spoke urgently.

"I'm fine..." Yun Yun forced down the turmoil caused by her injuries and sat in her seat. Then she spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Sect Master!"

Seeing the fear on the elders' faces, Yun Yun wiped the blood from her lips and shook her head. "I'm fine. Don't panic. This must be kept quiet. The outside world cannot learn of it."

"Yes!" Yun Leng suppressed his alarm and swept a fierce gaze over the other elders. They all lowered their heads and said nothing.

"I'll be in seclusion for a while. Don't send anyone to disturb me. And ask Yanran to come see me," Yun Yun instructed, her beautiful face unnaturally pale.

The Jia Ma Empire was far from peaceful.

Under its calm surface, dangerous currents churned.

The conflict between the Imperial Family and the Misty Cloud Sect had intensified over the years until they were almost sworn enemies. There was no helping it: two tigers could not share one mountain, especially when they were nearly equal in strength.

That balance would persist unless something happened to either her or the Imperial Family's aged Dou Emperor, or one side produced a Dou Zong. Until then, their struggle would remain deadlocked.

But now she was gravely injured. Pill King Gu He had also suffered serious wounds and could not refine pills anytime soon. Her recovery would take longer than she wanted. She could only claim to be entering seclusion to pursue a breakthrough and use that to conceal her condition.

If the Imperial Family learned the truth, they might join forces with other powers and move against the Misty Cloud Sect.

Yun Yun pushed down her racing thoughts and waved a hand. "Go."

"Yes."

Yun Leng looked composed, but his mind was in turmoil. What could have injured the Sect Master so badly? Had Queen Medusa truly broken through to Dou Zong?

Otherwise, even...

He sighed and shook his head. The Jia Ma Empire might be on the verge of upheaval.

Yun Yun tapped her fair fingers lightly against the armrest. When a slender figure entered through the doorway, a gentle smile appeared in her eyes.

"Teacher!"

Nalan Yanran skipped over with the lively steps of a young deer. Smiling, she wrapped herself around Yun Yun's arm and said playfully, "I haven't seen you in a few days, and you're even prettier."

"Cough, cough..." Yun Yun broke into a violent coughing fit. Nalan Yanran's expression changed, and panic filled her eyes.

"I'm all right. I'm going into prolonged seclusion. Elder Yun Leng has been told not to let anyone in the sect discuss it, so don't panic. I called you here because there are two things I need you to do."

Yun Yun waved a hand and looked gently at her disciple.

"First, the Mo Clan. Its patriarch has invited me to his seventieth birthday celebration and hopes I'll attend in person. My injuries make that impossible. Besides, the Mo Clan has grown too ambitious. They've spent years expanding their power under the Misty Cloud Sect's name. It's better if I don't appear. If I went, the whole Jia Ma Empire would hear of it by the next day. Be careful what you say while you're there, and don't draw too much attention."

"Yes, Teacher. I'll remember!" Nalan Yanran nodded repeatedly. The pillar of the Misty Cloud Sect—her only support and the teacher closest to her—was injured so badly that her thoughts were in disarray.

"Second..." Yun Yun hesitated, then asked, "Are you certain the Xiao Clan boy lost his talent?"

"I'm certain!" Nalan Yanran did not know why her teacher had brought it up. Assuming her grandfather had troubled Yun Yun about it again, she cupped her hands and replied respectfully.

"When Master Ge and I visited, all his cultivation was gone. But..."

"But what?" Yun Yun's eyes narrowed. She leaned forward and asked with sudden urgency.

"But the Xiao Clan was remarkably united. When I sought to break off the engagement, Xiao Yan himself barely reacted. It was the other Xiao Clan disciples who were indignant on his behalf." Startled by her teacher's reaction, Nalan Yanran hurried to explain.

"..." Disappointment flickered in Yun Yun's eyes. She leaned back and recalled the splendid young man she had seen that day.

If Yanran had broken off an engagement with someone that formidable, he might have flown into a rage and torn her apart.

Then again, plenty of people share the same name.

There must be at least a hundred Xiao Yans in the Jia Ma Empire alone. That young man was probably a prodigy from some powerful force in the Northwest Region, out gaining experience. Twin Heavenly Flames... it was almost unbelievable.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Li and Xiao Ding arrived together.

Xiao Li took in the undisguised pride on their father Xiao Zhan's face, then looked at Xiao Yan standing tall beside him. He clicked his tongue and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder. "Not bad, kid. When I heard you'd been taken to the Snake-People Tribe, I thought you'd never come back. Who knew you'd win over their queen?"

"And a month after you were taken, Xiao Yi Xian left a letter saying she was going to try her luck in the Chu Yun Empire. By the time the servants found it, she was already gone."

"..." Xiao Yan fell silent and nodded.

He felt a stir of affection.

She had probably gone there to find a way to save him too.

He just did not know what she would be like when they next met...

"Qing Lin came too," Xiao Ding said with a smile. He stepped aside to reveal the shy girl hiding behind him. She scratched her head and smiled. "Young Master Xiao Yan!"