Become Dao Companions?

At those words, Xiao Yan sighed inwardly.

In his previous life, he had schemed against heaven and earth, but never over matters of the heart.

He had deceived heaven and earth, but never deceived anyone into surrendering her chastity.

If their karmic ties were still shallow, as with Xiao Mei and Xiao Yu, he could harden his heart and do his best to shake them off.

But now the old affair with Nangong Wan had repeated itself, and this woman was threatening to take her own life. However reluctant he was to take responsibility, he would not simply keep evading it.

Yet losing himself in romance was truly not what he wanted.

After some thought, Xiao Yan said, "Miss Yun Yun, it isn't that I'm unwilling to take responsibility. It's just that I'm devoted to cultivation, and my resolve to pursue the Dao is firm.

As a Dou Emperor, Miss Yun Yun, surely your desire to pursue the Dao is no weaker than mine.

If you feel that I must take responsibility, why don't we become cultivation companions and pursue the Dao together? What do you think?"

This was the compromise Xiao Yan had devised.

"Cultivation companions? Pursue the Dao together?"

Yun Yun was taken aback at first, but then her expression slowly relaxed.

Though she was a sect's master and a mighty Dou Emperor, at heart she was a traditional woman.

To examine her nature more closely, she was actually a gentle, indecisive woman who longed to support a husband and raise children.

After losing her chastity, she had indeed felt an impulse to kill him and then herself, ending everything once and for all.

But that was merely what she imagined to be her pride and fiery resolve.

Once it truly came to the moment, she hesitated again and again. In the end, all that turned over in her heart was tenderness and the question of whether she could marry him.

And when she looked back over what had happened, she felt that although he was cunning, he had genuinely saved her twice.

His character passed muster.

So she had asked whether he was willing to marry her.

Only when she saw that Xiao Yan had no interest in her did grief fill her heart, making her think she might as well end what remained of her life.

Unexpectedly, the winding mountain path had opened onto a new vista. His lack of interest was actually because he feared it would hinder his cultivation.

This came as a delightful surprise to Yun Yun!

Had she not also devoted herself to pursuing the Dao, reaching Dou Emperor in her twenties?

His words had spoken straight to her heart!

Becoming cultivation companions would be an excellent way to satisfy both concerns.

With a light cough, Yun Yun said, "If that's the case, nothing could be better. Um... may I ask where you cultivate, Mister Li?"

If you have nowhere particular to go, why not come to the Misty Cloud Sect and cultivate with me?"

But at the mention of the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Yan's expression changed!

"The Misty Cloud Sect? You really are the Misty Cloud Sect Master?"

Yun Yun blushed, feeling somewhat embarrassed that he had guessed her true identity.

But she also asked curiously, "How did you guess who I was, Mister Li?"

Xiao Yan smiled wryly. "I saw pills and cultivation techniques piled like mountains inside your ring. That sort of wealth clearly belonged to a sect's master.

Now you're inviting me to the Misty Cloud Sect, and you're a Dou Emperor. Who else could you be?

Naturally, you could only be the Misty Cloud Sect Master."

By now, Yun Yun's spirits had improved considerably, so she said with a smile,

"The Misty Cloud Sect has abundant resources. Although I'm its Sect Master, marriage is not forbidden to me. If you could come cultivate with me there, Mister Li, that would certainly be a good thing."

Nalan Yanran avoided marriage because she had yet to achieve success in cultivation, and naturally could not allow marriage to distract her.

But Yun Yun's cultivation had already matured, and she was also the sect's master. She could marry, and no one had the authority to stop her.

Thus, Yun Yun intended to invite Xiao Yan to cultivate with her at the Misty Cloud Sect.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan shook his head and smiled wryly. "I still bear an important obligation. I may not even be able to remain in the Jia Ma Empire for long, let alone go to the Misty Cloud Sect with you."

Yun Yun's expression shifted slightly.

Although she was not particularly fond of her position as Misty Cloud Sect Master, since she held it, she naturally had to shoulder its responsibilities.

For now, she could not abandon her position to wander the world with Xiao Yan.

This truly put her in a dilemma!

On one side lay love; on the other, her responsibility to the sect!

Yun Yun had always been indecisive, and now she began to waver.

After thinking it over, Xiao Yan said, "Miss Yun Yun, how about this?

I won't leave the Jia Ma Empire within the next two years.

During those two years, we can try spending time together. If we're compatible, we'll formally become Dao companions.

If we aren't, then I shouldn't keep holding you back, Miss Yun Yun."

Yun Yun thought, No matter how many years pass, I'm not some fickle woman, drifting like water and swaying like poplar blossoms. Since I've given myself to you, you're naturally the only man I can accept.

Still, I need only hold to that in my heart. There's no need to tell you.

Very well. Let's give each other two years. First, we can spend time together and see whether affection develops. Second, I'll have time to prepare Yanran to succeed me as Sect Master.

If we're in harmony after two years, what would it matter if I stepped down as Sect Master and roamed to the ends of the earth with you?

Having thought it through, Yun Yun said, "Mister Li, then let us agree on two years. After that, we'll discuss becoming Dao companions again."

With the matter finally settled for the time being, both of them felt considerably more at ease.

When Yun Yun looked at Xiao Yan now, her expression carried a distinctly different, wistfully reproachful charm.

"Mister Li, now that things have reached this point, can't you show me your true face?"

Xiao Yan coughed lightly, unsure how to answer.

He really did not want to reveal his true face.

His plan was to keep the identities of Xiao Yan and Li Feiyu clearly separate.

Two years later, he would go to the Misty Cloud Sect and demand justice from Nalan Yanran.

Xiao Yan's face needed to remain in the light.

Naturally, Li Feiyu's face could only remain forever in the shadows.

Seeing that Xiao Yan remained unmoved, Yun Yun sighed.

"Very well. If you feel you're too ugly to show your face, I won't force you.

But I want you to know that I, Yun Yun, do not judge people by their looks. Whether you're ugly or handsome, I won't disdain you. I hope you won't feel any misgivings around me."

Xiao Yan immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you for understanding. I really am too ugly to want to show my face. Remembering my scent will work just as well."

He was no longer afraid of her remembering his scent.

In the future, Li Feiyu could leave his scent unmasked, while Xiao Yan could use a Concealment Breath Pill to hide his.

The two identities could still be kept separate.

With everything said, the two of them fell silent at the same time.

After all, before today, they had been complete strangers.

Even though they had now become almost as intimate as two people could be, that could not erase their unfamiliarity and awkwardness.

Having finished watching the show, Yao Lao laughed from inside the ring. "You little brat, what clever tactics! I really underestimated you!"

Xiao Yan replied inwardly, helplessly, Teacher, what nonsense are you talking about? This happened so suddenly that I barely managed to cope. What tactics?

Yao Lao laughed. "This girl has considerable talent. She even has a chance of becoming a Dou Zun in the future.

But now she's caught between her responsibility to the sect and her feelings for you, unable to advance or retreat.

You can't go with her, and she can't go with you.

So you devised a delaying tactic. Two years from now, you'll storm the Misty Cloud Sect as Xiao Yan and destroy her sect.

Without a sect, she'll naturally have no sect responsibilities left. Then she can go with you.

When that happens, you'll gain another loyal, powerful bodyguard, just as you did with Xiao Yi Xian. Isn't that what you're planning?"

Xiao Yan smiled wryly. "Teacher, I haven't thought that far ahead.

Though I, Xiao Yan, am devious and cunning, I never toy with anyone's feelings.

If I hadn't taken her chastity, I could still harden my heart and turn her away. But things have already reached this point. All I want is to remain true to my Dao heart without wronging her. There's no scheming involved."

Yao Lao laughed. "So I've been measuring your heart with a petty man's yardstick?"

Xiao Yan merely sighed inwardly and did not answer.

To him, matters between men and women had always been an infernal nuisance!

He had tried every possible way to avoid them, yet now he had gotten entangled after all!

He could only hope that within these two years, he would handle the matter properly and keep it from affecting his cultivation!