Just then, Xiao Jixue came out. He glanced at Tang Yan before interrupting everyone's eager anticipation of more gossip.
"We're almost at the sect. Get ready."
They hurriedly lined up like elementary school kids, nodding like chicks pecking at grain.
Tang Yan watched from the side with a puzzled look. Why are they so scared of Xiao Jixue?
Zhu Hua and his junior brothers and sisters were sobbing rivers of tears inside.
How could they not be scared? Their eldest senior brother had practically beaten them into adulthood!
Who hadn't been mischievous and reckless in their youth? As for junior brothers and sisters who refused to behave and stirred up trouble everywhere...
Xiao Jixue had his own way of dealing with them: serving up a good old-fashioned thrashing.
His "cooking" was excellent, and his junior brothers and sisters simply loved the thrashings he dished out.
Xiao Jixue looked back at Tang Yan, the faintest trace of concern and hope hidden in his deep, sexy voice. "Are you coming to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect with us, or...?"
Zhu Hua and the others stared nervously at Tang Yan, their eyes brimming with anticipation.
Come with us, come with us! Hurry up and say you're coming! Aaaah!
Seriously, Tang Yan was practically a walking gossip gold mine now!
If he didn't go to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, wouldn't that mean no more juicy gossip, and no more joy in their lives?
After just a few days with Tang Yan, they had tragically discovered how dull and tedious their cultivation lives had been!
Decades of the same cultivation routine couldn't compare to the excitement of these few short days with Tang Yan!
The Immortal Spirit Continent was now divided into seven great regions: east, south, west, north, the Central Region, the Demon Region, and the Mortal Region.
The eastern, western, southern, and northern regions, along with the Central Region, were the territory of human cultivators.
Each region had a towering power. In the Southern Region, that power was the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, to which Xiao Jixue and the others belonged.
One of the five supreme human sects on the Immortal Spirit Continent, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect had been founded on the way of the sword and had a legacy stretching back ten thousand years.
The Tang Family, the cultivation clan Tang Yan had once belonged to, was in the Northern Domain, millions of miles from the Southern Region.
Now that Tang Yan had lost his cultivation, he probably wouldn't survive three days out in the ruthless Cultivation World without his family's protection.
When he had fallen unconscious in the Outer Divine Seclusion Mountains, the system had concealed his aura, keeping the mountains' demonic beasts from discovering him.
Going to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect with Xiao Jixue and the others was Tang Yan's best option.
Besides, he still had to win over the great villain Xiao Jixue, "love" him, and warm his heart. He couldn't stray too far from his mission target.
Most importantly of all, the male and female leads, the villainous second female lead, and the villain's lackeys were all at the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.
Tang Yan really wanted to witness the clashes between the protagonist's team and the villains firsthand, enjoying all the gossip and drama in person. Hehe~
When Tang Yan said nothing, Xiao Jixue assumed he didn't want to return to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect with him.
His brows drew together almost imperceptibly, and he spoke with an air of casualness.
"You have no cultivation now. It's too dangerous out there. Why don't you..."
“Sure, I'll go back with you.” Before he could finish, Tang Yan cut him off with a smile.
[Ding—Xiao Jixue's favorability +1. Total favorability: 5.]
Over their days together, Xiao Jixue's favorability toward Tang Yan had gradually risen from zero to five.
Tang Yan felt even more certain that completing this mission wouldn't be difficult.
Xiao Jixue froze for a moment, then the corners of his thin lips involuntarily lifted.
For some reason, his mood improved a little—
Wei Lianyi, Nangong Lin, here I come! Hehe~
In an instant, the faint smile at the corners of Xiao Jixue's mouth stiffened.
So he was going to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect for Martial Uncle Nangong and that person called Wei Lianyi?! Tsk!
Zhu Hua and the others, with their keen noses for gossip, lit up. There's gossip! Martial Uncle Nangong definitely has some juicy secrets!! Aaah, Tang Yan, can't you spill them right now?!
But Tang Yan gave no further reaction, leaving everyone to struggle to suppress their excitement.
Soon, the Spirit Boat stopped before the gates of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.
Spirit boats weren't allowed to fly within the sect, so everyone disembarked and switched to flying on their swords.
Without cultivation, Tang Yan couldn't control a flying spiritual artifact as he once had, so Xiao Jixue carried him along.
Standing on the silvery-white Trace Snow Sword, Tang Yan obediently stayed behind Xiao Jixue.
The wind stung his face as he gazed down at the lush mountains below and the palaces, pavilions, and cave abodes hidden among them.
Tang Yan's heart surged with excitement.
Once I reach the summit, every other peak will look small. Nothing beats flying on a sword. There's something so exhilarating about having all the mountains and rivers beneath your feet.
Sensing the good mood of the man behind him, Xiao Jixue smiled too, then slowed their flight so Tang Yan could take in the hundred thousand mountains.
Feeling the sword slow down, Tang Yan turned his peach-blossom eyes toward the man in front of him.
Dressed in black robes, he stood tall and straight, noble and coolly beautiful, with peerless grace.
The book had lavished countless beautiful descriptions on the great villain Xiao Jixue.
Unfortunately, the author preferred the male lead.
In fact, because Xiao Jixue was so outstanding that he eclipsed the male lead's brilliance and glory, the author had written him into a villain who turned evil later on and met a miserable end.
Ah! What a shame. But luckily, I'm here now. Xiao Jixue, don't worry. I won't let you turn evil and become a villain. I'll always stay by your side. They were good buddies, after all.
Xiao Jixue: "!!!"
Always? Always stay by his side?!
A faint pink crept over the tips of Xiao Jixue's ears, and heat rose in his exquisitely handsome face.
Thump, thump, thump!
In an instant, small waves rippled across the young man's previously tranquil heart.
As though sensing its master's turbulent emotions, the perfectly steady Trace Snow Sword wobbled twice.
The sudden wobble frightened Tang Yan into hurriedly grabbing the robes at Xiao Jixue's firm waist.
The unexpected touch at his waist made Xiao Jixue tremble. A tingling sensation traveled from his waist straight to his heart, making it quiver.
Buzz! The Trace Snow Sword gave two almost humanlike shudders as well.
Utterly bewildered and afraid he would fall out of the sky, Tang Yan hurriedly tightened his grip on the robes.
What's going on? Why is Trace Snow shaking so badly? Do swords have random fits too?
[Ding—Xiao Jixue's favorability +5.]
Tang Yan: "???" He hadn't done anything!
Xiao Jixue slowly exhaled and lowered his eyes to glance at the two hands visible at his waist.
Their joints were well defined, the skin covering their bones exceptionally fair and smooth, with a faint pink glow.
The young man steadied himself, forcing his thoughts away from those distracting, heart-tugging words about "always staying by his side."
"Hold tight," he said over his shoulder in his deep, sexy voice.
"Oh, okay," Tang Yan replied, obediently tightening his hold on the robes.
The corners of Xiao Jixue's thin lips lifted slightly without his realizing it.
So obedient~
Before you continue