Yun Yun intervened! Did Xiao Yan leave the mountain without trouble?

"Stop!"

A cool, clear voice abruptly cut off Yun Leng.

Yun Yun moved, appearing between the two of them. Her blue skirt settled gently, and the Dou Qi that had just gathered in Yun Leng's palm faltered with it.

"Sect Master?"

"Disperse your Dou Qi."

Yun Yun looked at him, her voice calm but leaving no room for discussion.

Yun Leng frowned deeply. "But what this boy did today..."

"I was here throughout today's events."

Yun Yun interrupted him, then swept her gaze toward the steps.

"Elder Yun Lei, Elder Yun Sheng, stand aside."

The two exchanged glances and ultimately returned to their original positions.

Xiao Yan's hand remained on his sword hilt. He watched the woman before him without rushing to speak.

Only then did Yun Yun turn back to Yun Leng.

"The engagement has been dissolved, and both parties agreed to the match. Yanran suffered no serious injuries, and I personally witnessed their agreement to meet again in three years."

"This matter should have ended here. On what grounds would you intervene now, Grand Elder?"

Yun Leng's expression darkened.

"He humiliated Yanran before so many disciples. If we simply let him leave the mountain, where does that leave the dignity of our Misty Cloud Sect?"

At those words, Yun Yun's gaze cooled slightly.

"A disciple loses, so an elder steps in to detain the winner. Grand Elder, do you want outsiders to think our Misty Cloud Sect cannot even bear losing a single match?"

Silence immediately fell over their surroundings.

Even the disciples who had been seething with indignation instinctively shut their mouths.

Naturally, they had not wanted to see Nalan Yanran lose. But if an elder really detained him, word getting out would only make the affair sound worse.

Yun Leng's lips moved, but for a moment, he could find no reply.

"Grand Elder."

Just then, Nalan Yanran suddenly spoke.

The pallor had yet to fade from the girl's face, but her gaze passed Yun Yun and settled on Xiao Yan.

"Let him go."

"Yanran, you..."

"I lost today."

As she spoke those words, Nalan Yanran clenched her fingers tightly inside her sleeves.

Having her engagement broken in public, then being defeated in a single move—of course she could not accept it.

But she had only just made the Three-Year Agreement. If she immediately let a sect elder vent her anger for her, would everything she had said not become a joke?

"Three years from now, I will go to the Xiao Clan myself and win back what I lost today."

Yun Yun glanced at her, her expression easing slightly, then turned to Yun Leng.

"Grand Elder, stand down."

This time, Yun Leng finally dispersed the Dou Qi in his palm.

"Yes, Sect Master."

His voice remained somewhat stiff, but he had cleared the path leading down the mountain.

Xiao Yan also released his sword hilt and cupped his hands toward Yun Yun.

"Thank you for being reasonable, Sect Master Yun."

"There is no need for thanks."

Yun Yun said evenly, "Since you have accepted the Three-Year Agreement, do not fail to honor it when the time comes."

"Of course."

"Ge Ye, see our guest out."

With those words, the taut atmosphere finally relaxed somewhat.

Ge Ye answered and came to Xiao Yan's side, extending a hand toward the mountain path.

"This way, please."

The stone steps wound downward, and the mountain breeze stirred their clothes.

Along the way, Ge Ye glanced several times at the youth beside him, wanting to say something, only to swallow his words in the end.

On their way up, he had still been thinking about bringing this Xiao Clan prodigy into the sect.

Who could have imagined that not only would they fail to keep the talent, but the engagement would be broken as well?

Outside the mountain gates, Xiao Yan stopped.

"You need not come any farther, Elder Ge."

Ge Ye managed a nod. Watching the youth leave with a sword on his back, he could not help sighing.

Xiao Yan, however, had already put the matter aside for the time being.

Yun Yun's handling of events today had improved his impression of her somewhat. Had she not spoken up, a fight would most likely have broken out.

Still, Yun Yun being reasonable did not mean the Misty Cloud Sect would cause no trouble in the future.

Recalling Yun Shan and the Soul Hall from his memories, Xiao Yan looked back at the mountain gates before withdrawing his gaze.

I still need to improve my strength as quickly as possible.

Once I'm strong enough, whatever schemes they hide, they won't be able to stir up much of a storm.

Just as his figure vanished at the end of the mountain path, a wisp of black mist silently swept over the treetops behind the Misty Cloud Sect's mountain.

A patrolling disciple had barely passed the fork in the path when the black mist flashed along the cliff face and vanished into the depths of the forbidden grounds. The branches and leaves stirred lightly, then soon returned to stillness.

The Imperial Capital, an inn.

Xiao Yan closed his room door, placed the document dissolving the engagement on the table, and fetched paper and a brush.

With his business at the Misty Cloud Sect finished, it was time to let his family know he was safe.

He first briefly described how the engagement had been dissolved, then clearly explained the Three-Year Agreement as well.

When he reached the part about Nalan Yanran coming to challenge him at the Xiao Clan in three years, his brush paused, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

After all those twists and turns, I still didn't escape this Three-Year Agreement.

Only this time, I'll be waiting for her at home.

"You broke off an engagement, only to saddle yourself with another obligation."

Bodhi had sat down by the window at some point, a cup of tea in his hand.

Xiao Yan looked up with a smile.

"I couldn't let people think I lacked even the courage to accept, could I?"

"Well, you've accepted it now. Don't forget to go home in three years."

"I certainly won't forget that."

Xiao Yan lowered his head and continued writing, adding that he would not return to Wutan City for now. Instead, he planned to head to Stone Desert City first to visit his eldest brother, Xiao Ding, and his second brother, Xiao Li.

Finally, he made a point of adding that his master was traveling with him, so his father and Xun'er need not worry.

After sealing the letter, Xiao Yan set several jade bottles on the table and checked them one by one.

Some aided cultivation, while others restored Dou Qi or treated external injuries.

His two brothers were making their way in the world, and clashes with others were inevitable. These things would always come in handy.

In his memories, his eldest brother was steady and prudent, while his second brother was straightforward and ruthless. When he had caused trouble as a child, they had often helped cover for him.

Now that he had some ability of his own, he could hardly turn up empty-handed.

He took out another blank sheet, wrote down the instructions for several pills, and tucked it into the wooden box holding the medicine. His father's cultivation had improved, and the clan now had a steady supply of medicinal ingredients. He could share this good news with his brothers in person, too. If they needed any medicine in the future, they would no longer have to seek favors elsewhere.

Watching him sort the jade bottles, Bodhi asked casually, "When do you plan to leave?"

"Tomorrow."

Xiao Yan spread out a map, tracing a finger along the mountain range marked on it.

"But I'd like to travel along the outskirts of the Magical Beast Mountain Range for a while and look for medicinal ingredients on the way. A few ingredients are ridiculously expensive in the city. If I try my luck in the mountains myself, I might save a fortune."

Bodhi glanced at the map.

"You certainly know how to make your money stretch."

"Master, you have no idea. Refining medicine costs money, and practicing the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts costs money too. These days, whenever I see a medicine shop, I wish I could haul the whole thing back to the Xiao Clan."

Bodhi set down his teacup and smiled. "Then you had better prepare a few more Storage Rings."

Xiao Yan paused, then laughed as well.

Joking aside, he still carefully worked through his itinerary.

He would first look for medicinal ingredients along the mountain range's outskirts, stopping at a town where he could conveniently replenish his supplies, then continue to Stone Desert City.

The journey would also be a good opportunity to hone his swordsmanship and familiarize himself with his newly learned Divine Ability.

Early the next morning, Xiao Yan entrusted someone with delivering his letter home, replenished his water and dry rations, and left the Imperial Capital.

During his journey, he searched for medicinal ingredients by day and found quiet places to practice his swordsmanship at night. Once his Dou Qi was nearly exhausted, he would circulate Nine Breaths of Qi, drawing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Qi into his body. After several days, he had collected plenty of ingredients, and his Dou Qi had grown increasingly condensed.

The occasional magical beast that failed to know its place saved him the trouble of preparing dinner.

Several days later.

Qingshan Town.

With his longsword on his back, Xiao Yan followed the flow of people into town.

Most of the shops lining the streets sold herbs or weapons. Many mercenaries in mud-stained leather armor gathered in groups of three or five, discussing ventures into the mountains.

He was about to find a medicine shop and ask about the local medicinal ingredients when urgent shouts suddenly came from up ahead.

"Make way! Everyone up ahead, make way!"

Several mercenaries carrying a crude stretcher hurried through the crowd.

The man on the stretcher had his eyes tightly shut. The strips of cloth around his leg were already soaked with blood, and the hand hanging at his side had turned an unnatural bluish gray.

"Get him to the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, quickly! Xiao Yi Xian is there today!"

At that name, Xiao Yan's steps faltered.

Xiao Yi Xian?

He raised his head, looked toward where the mercenaries were running, and followed them.