Hun Dai'er

Deep in the secluded mountains lay a crystal-clear lake, wreathed in clouds and mist. Seen from afar, it looked like an immortal paradise in the mortal world. Outsiders could never have imagined that the Hun Clan, whose very name had always been synonymous with treachery, contained a place of such beauty.

Above the lake, before a rather lavish palace, a girl stood quietly. She wore white robes, and her long silver hair fell in soft, sleek strands. Paired with her innocent, adorable face, the sight of her would stir anyone's protective instincts. Only those who knew her understood the vicious thoughts lurking beneath that angelic shell.

The girl gazed calmly at the lake, her blood-red eyes devoid of emotion. After a moment, she suddenly clapped her hands softly and asked in an indifferent voice, "You're back?"

As her voice fell, an eerily shadowy figure emerged behind her. The figure knelt on one knee and addressed her with great respect. "Young miss."

"Spare me these empty formalities. Did you find the person I wanted?" The girl slowly turned, revealing a seemingly lively smile, yet her eyes remained as still as death. Such an eerie expression on a girl of only eight or nine was enough to send a chill through anyone.

Though the little girl was not particularly powerful, her standing ranked among the highest in the entire Hun Clan. Even some elders dared not act presumptuously in her presence, for she was the current clan leader's own daughter and a strong contender to succeed him.

She was also Hun Dai'er, the sworn enemy who had been entangled with Xiao Yan for hundreds of years in his previous life.

"Reporting to the young miss, our people went to the Northwest Continent. In a small place called Wutan City, there is indeed a boy named Xiao Yan," the guard answered.

"Good. I knew he'd come too." Hun Dai'er smiled and held out her hand. A butterfly gently alighted on her palm. Watching it, she continued, "Did you bring him back?"

"Well..." The guard hesitated. "Young miss, there is indeed a Xiao Yan in Wutan City, but by the time we arrived, the boy had already been away from the Xiao Clan for quite some time, so..."

"So you didn't bring him back, did you?" Hun Dai'er flicked a finger, and a wisp of silvery-white flame suddenly appeared, burning the butterfly in her palm to ash.

"Yes..." Before the guard could finish, a kick sent her sprawling to the ground. Before she could get up, Hun Dai'er planted a foot on her hand and ground down hard on her fingers.

Hun Dai'er looked down at the guard's contorted face. Though she wore a smile, the murderous intent in her words filled the guard with terror from the depths of her heart. "Since you didn't bring him back, what did you come back for?"

The searing agony of her fingers being crushed nearly made the guard scream, but she knew what would happen if she did. Forcing back her cries, she hurriedly pleaded, "Give us one more chance! Young miss! We promise! We'll definitely bring him back next time!"

"Hmph." Only then did Hun Dai'er lift her foot from the guard's hand, returning to her breezy, unruffled demeanor. "Then I'll give you one more chance. I don't care what methods you use. I only want to see him. If you fail to bring him back this time, don't come back yourself. Find somewhere to end your own life."

"Yes..." The guard slowly rose. She hesitated, then continued, "One more thing, young miss. Though we can't find Xiao Yan for now, the Xiao Clan in Wutan City isn't going anywhere. If we capture everyone in the Xiao Clan, we'll have no trouble finding him."

"That method would work on most people in this world, but it would never work on him." Hun Dai'er chuckled softly. "He doesn't care about family bonds at all. He's cold-hearted, scorns affection and loyalty, and is utterly ruthless. Even if you slaughtered his entire family before his eyes, he wouldn't bat an eyelid."

Are you sure you're not talking about yourself, young miss? Though this was hardly the time, the guard still couldn't help muttering inwardly.

"Do you think his personality is very much like mine?" Hun Dai'er suddenly turned her head and asked.

"Huh?" The guard jumped in fright. Before she could decide how to answer, Hun Dai'er waved a hand to stop her. "It's perfectly natural for you to think that. After all... he's my most perfect masterpiece..."

The guard froze. From what the young miss had said, she not only knew Xiao Yan, but was also very close to him? Yet how could the young miss, who had never left the distant Hun Clan, have such a relationship with a young master from Wutan City?

"The best way to deal with someone like Xiao Yan is to defeat him with overwhelming power before he has a chance to grow. After all... no matter how formidable he used to be, at this stage, he's a Dou Shi at most. Even if he has a Heaven Tier Cultivation Technique, he's far too weak to unleash its power," Hun Dai'er continued.

She made no mention of Dou Techniques, because she knew very well that even if Xiao Yan possessed a Heaven Tier Dou Technique, he could not practice it before reaching Dou Zun. As for Earth Tier Dou Techniques, one had to reach Dou Wang-level to unleash their true power, while Black Tier and Yellow Tier techniques were no cause for concern at all.

"Yes." The guard grew increasingly curious. A young master from some small backwater actually possessed a Heaven Tier Cultivation Technique? That was simply unbelievable... Even within the clan, few were qualified to practice cultivation methods of that level. Still, she asked no further questions and immediately went to prepare for a journey to the Jia Ma Empire to search for Xiao Yan.

After the guard departed, silence settled over the lake once more. Hun Dai'er turned wordlessly and walked into the palace. It was her residence, and no one but her was permitted to enter, not even her father.

Unlike its lavish exterior, the palace's interior was exceedingly bare. Aside from a few everyday necessities, the only things that could be called decorations were the neatly arranged portraits lining the surrounding walls. The figure depicted in every one was none other than her sworn enemy-the Demon Fury Sage, Xiao Yan.

She stroked the portrait she had only recently painted, her touch tender, but her eyes filled with madness and obsession. "I wish I could see you sooner... Xiao Yan."

"This time, I won't let you escape again..."