Of course Han Chen knew why. Just four days ago, he had said those very words to Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran.
Scratching his cheek in mild embarrassment, Han Chen turned his head aside, avoiding Nalan Yanran's gaze.
Seeing this, Nalan Yanran turned her attention back to Xiao Yan.
"Since that's the case, I accept your challenge. Three years from now, at the summit of Misty Cloud Mountain. Be there or be square!"
As she spoke, Nalan Yanran took the Qi Gathering Powder from her storage ring and tossed it to Xiao Yan.
"I, Nalan Yanran, never take advantage of anyone. This Qi Gathering Powder was yours to begin with. Use it yourself or give it to someone else-that's none of my business."
Having said that, she cupped her hands toward Xiao Zhan, who sat in the seat of honor.
"Uncle Xiao Zhan, I've accomplished what I came here to do today. My honored master only gave me a limited amount of time. If you ever need help in the future, you can go to either the Nalan Family or the Mist Cloud Sect. Please don't stand on ceremony with your niece."
Hearing Nalan Yanran's words, Xiao Zhan nodded with a genial expression. An ending like this was already quite good.
Xiao Zhan stroked his beard.
"Since you have matters to attend to, Niece Nalan, go ahead."
Nalan Yanran nodded and turned to leave the hall, with Ge Ye hurrying after her.
Once they had left, Han Chen walked up to Xiao Yan and held out his hand.
"Brother Xiao, may we meet again if fate allows."
Xiao Yan was a little taken aback. In the Xiao Clan, aside from Xiao Xun'er and his father, Xiao Zhan, no one ever treated him with such courtesy. Recovering, he smiled at Han Chen and extended his hand.
"Brother Han, may we meet again if fate allows."
The instant their hands met, Han Chen spoke in his mind.
System, check in. Tell me about the rewards after I leave.
Understood, host. Check-in successful. Check-in target: Xiao Yan.
Hearing that the check-in had succeeded, Han Chen released his hand and nodded with a smile. Then he walked toward Xiao Xun'er, who was sitting there quietly observing him.
When he reached her, Han Chen extended his hand.
"Now then, beautiful miss, would you care to say goodbye?"
Xiao Xun'er looked up at his words. A smile appeared on her serene face, polite without seeming intimate. She extended her hand with a smile and spoke in a sweet voice.
"Hello, Mr. Han Chen. My name is Xiao Xun'er."
Although she was smiling, Han Chen could sense the coldness beneath that captivating smile, keeping others a thousand miles away, along with the faintest trace of curiosity.
Looking at the beauty before him, Han Chen marveled that she truly lived up to her role as the original story's female lead. Even at such a young age, she possessed peerless beauty.
Xiao Xun'er wore a pale purple dress that day, her flowing raven-black hair tied with a ribbon from this other world. A gentle, refined smile bloomed on her fresh, ethereal face. She looked like a blue lotus unfurling for the first time amid the mortal world.
"A pleasure to meet you."
System, check in.
Check-in successful.
Han Chen did not let his gaze linger. He released her hand after a brief clasp, then turned and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan before leaving the Xiao Clan's hall.
"Oh~ finally willing to come out? How did that little girl's hand feel? Was it soft? Did it smell sweet?"
Nalan Yanran stood by the entrance with her arms folded, watching him with eyes full of jealousy as she spoke in a snide tone.
Seeing Nalan Yanran like this, Han Chen did not understand what was wrong. He smiled and patted her shoulder.
"What's wrong, Yanran? I was just saying goodbye to them. Don't overthink it."
Nalan Yanran huffed and walked ahead.
"Are you leaving soon?"
Han Chen nodded at her question.
"That's right. There always comes a time to part. Let's go our separate ways at the Xiao Clan's gate."
"All right."
The two soon reached the gate.
Looking at the carriage just a few steps away, Nalan Yanran turned reluctantly toward Han Chen.
"I'm leaving. Take care of yourself out there on your own. Don't try to be a hero if something happens, and remember to come back if you're in danger.
"No matter what, my teacher and I are both at the Mist Cloud Sect. If anything happens, we'll back you up!"
As Nalan Yanran spoke, her tears began to fall despite herself.
Han Chen sighed helplessly at the sight and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll definitely come back. I'm not stupid. Three years at most-if I haven't found a way by then, I'll return.
"Besides, I wouldn't miss your Three-Year Agreement with Xiao Yan."
"You really believe Xiao Yan can recover?"
"Until heaven and earth are settled, anything is possible. Go on back."
Hearing what Han Chen said, Nalan Yanran nodded and reluctantly stepped into the carriage.
"You have to come back!"
After Nalan Yanran left, Han Chen picked an inn at random and rented a room.
Once inside, he closed the door and carefully inspected the room. It held only a few simple furnishings. Only after making sure the walls had no ears did he breathe a sigh of relief and sit down on the bed.
"I'm finally out. From here on, I'll walk my own path.
"System, tally the rewards!"
Ding! Tallying rewards... Which would you like to tally first, host? You may choose.
Hearing that he could even choose, Han Chen could not help marveling at how user-friendly the system was.
"That generous? You'll even let me open a mystery box. Then let's open Xiao Xun'er's check-in rewards first."
Xiao Yan was the protagonist of the Dou Qi Continent. His check-in rewards definitely had to be saved for last. What if there was a surprise?
Understood. Congratulations, host, on checking in with Xiao Xun'er, an important character in the original story. You have received 10,000 experience points, Tiandu corpse fire (child flame, requires cultivation), one Foundation Establishment Pill, and a pair of Blood Jade Spiders (early first rank).
"How... how much?"
Han Chen dug at his ear, finding it hard to believe. He even wondered whether he had misheard.
"System, are you sure you didn't give me the wrong rewards? Ten thousand? Did you misspeak, or did I mishear? And Tiandu corpse fire, Blood Jade Spiders..."
Ding! There is no mistake. Xiao Xun'er is the young lady of the Gu Clan, a heaven-favored prodigy possessing a divine grade Dou Di bloodline, as well as a golden emperor burning heaven flame seed. Thus, her rewards are also high. However, these are only the rewards for the first check-in. Although this system does not prohibit repeated check-ins, apart from scenes involving major events for the protagonist, Xiao Yan, when drop rates are high, drop rates at other times will only keep decreasing. Therefore, host, do not attempt to exploit bugs by repeatedly farming major characters.
Only after hearing the system's explanation did Han Chen breathe a sigh of relief. Otherwise, he really would have thought he was paying with his lifespan.
"Still... I never expected Xiao Xun'er's rewards to be so generous. It was only a spur-of-the-moment whim, yet the willow planted without thought grew into a canopy of shade.
"Tiandu corpse fire, Blood Jade Spiders-these are all excellent things. Am I going to have to register as a resident of Extreme Yin Island too?"
Having read the original story, Han Chen knew the power of Tiandu corpse fire all too well. It was a Nascent Soul Stage treasure that corroded vitality and refined corpse puppets. Its strength was absurd.
"Right, there are still Xiao Yan's check-in rewards. System, tally the rewards."
Ding! Tallying rewards... Congratulations, host, on checking in with Xiao Yan, the protagonist of the original story, and participating in the engagement cancellation event. Congratulations on receiving 20,000 experience points, profound soul yin fire, the Mysterious Soul Demon-Refining Great Art, and the magical artifact Divine Wind Boat, ... Warning, warning!!! A treasure of extraordinary significance has been detected. The current environment is too dangerous. Activating the emergency protection protocol for reward distribution.
As soon as the system finished speaking, blood-red warning symbols appeared around Han Chen. A violet light then emerged, enveloping the entire room.
Environmental anomaly resolved. Resuming reward distribution. Congratulations, host, on receiving the supreme Mystic Heaven Treasure born at the dawn of primordial chaos: the Heaven-Palm Bottle!
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