Yao Lao stroked his beard and let out a meaningful sigh, though it held a pleasure he could barely conceal.
"Looks like these peaceful days have come to an end..."
The sunset's lingering glow dyed the sky a warm orange-red, gilding the rooftops of Wutan City.
The stone statue named "Xiao Yan" remained frozen in the pose of someone struck by lightning. The shock and despair on his face stood out with particular clarity in that frozen moment.
On the stone table, the bowl of instant noodles that had carried a young man's eager pride in showing off his treasure had long since gone cold. The noodles had soaked up the broth and swollen pale, while a layer of yellow grease congealed on the surface, giving off the unpleasant, stale air of food left overnight.
For days on end, "Uncle Xiao Yan" echoed through Xiao Yan's mind, shattering the last of his wishful hopes. His petrified state lasted a long time-long enough for Xiao Yi to cover the Xiao Yan statue in scribbles.
In the days that followed, Xiao Yan keenly sensed a change. Xun'er, whom he had always managed to "bump into," became elusive.
Sometimes, when she spotted him from afar, she turned down another path in advance. Sometimes, when he approached her to strike up a conversation, Xun'er still responded politely, but a faint trace of evasion always seemed to lurk in the depths of her clear eyes. Her smile had lost some of its old warmth, gaining a measure of courteous distance instead.
Xiao Yan felt that subtle barrier. He tried to make amends, thinking perhaps the instant noodles and cola that day had not suited her tastes, and found some delicate pastries to bring her. Yet he was told that the young lady was cultivating and