I'm Standing Right in Front of You

"The three of you have achieved your purpose. Please leave."

As he watched the girl leave, Xiao Zhan's face remained impassive, but his fists, hidden inside his sleeves, clenched until his fingers turned white.

"Uncle Xiao, I apologize for what happened today. If you have time in the future, please visit the Nalan Family!"

Nalan Yan bowed respectfully to the expressionless Xiao Zhan. Unwilling to linger any longer, he rose and headed out of the hall, with Ge Ye and the girl hastily following behind.

"Take the Qi Gathering Powder with you!"

With a sweep of his hand, Xiao Zhan coldly sent the jade box on the table flying out.

Ge Ye reached back and caught the box securely. Then, with a bitter chuckle, he put it into his Storage Ring.

"Young master of the Nalan Family, I hope you won't regret today's rude behavior someday..."

Just as the three were about to step outside, a girl's clear, lilting voice suddenly rang out, carrying a faint chill.

"And don't think you can run rampant just because the Misty Cloud Sect backs you. The Dou Qi Continent is vast, and there are plenty of people stronger than Yun Yun."

"Don't forget, you're merely the head disciple..."

All three stopped abruptly. Their gazes shifted slightly as they turned toward the girl in a green dress, quietly leafing through a book in the corner.

As though sensing their eyes upon her, Xun'er lifted her exquisite little face from the ancient pages. A tiny wisp of golden flame suddenly rose in her beautiful eyes, clear as autumn waters...

At the sight of the tiny golden flames in Xun'er's eyes, Ge Ye shuddered violently. Terror instantly spread across his aged face.

His withered hands hastily grabbed the puzzled Nalan Yan and the girl, and he bolted out... as though fleeing for his life.

Having risen to the position of deacon in the Misty Cloud Sect, Ge Ye had some knowledge of the world, even if his cultivation was unremarkable.

Although he did not recognize the golden emperor burning heaven flame, he could still sense how terrifying those golden flames were.

And for someone so young to have subdued such a terrifying flame meant that this girl's background was anything but ordinary...

Can't afford to provoke her. Absolutely can't.

He had no idea how the declining Xiao Clan had managed to forge ties with a "young lady" of such mysterious origins.

But with the unpleasantness over breaking off the engagement today, the two sides had probably already sown the seeds of a feud.

So... retreat was the best strategy.

As for what happened later, that could wait until later.

After all, this "young lady whose identity seemed anything but simple" had not interfered much when they broke off the engagement.

In other words, she could also be considered someone who "supported" ending it.

The Misty Cloud Sect was no weakling, either. If she truly wanted to strike at him, a deacon of the sect, and Nalan Yan, its head disciple, she would have to weigh the consequences first.

So, as long as they did not get in her face in the future, she probably would not pursue the matter too far.

Of course, all that could be left for another time.

Back in the Xiao Clan's hall, everyone except a select few stared at Ge Ye's behavior in utter bewilderment...

Leaving the hall with an impassive expression, Xiao Yan followed her usual routine and slowly climbed the mountain behind the clan grounds.

Sitting atop a cliff, she quietly gazed at the steep peaks shrouded in mist across from her. That was the Magical Beast Mountain Range, renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire.

"Ugh... I got carried away..."

Xiao Yan raised a hand to her forehead. The "bold spirit" she had displayed in the hall was long gone, replaced by something of a headache.

She was not usually this reckless, but who could have expected Nalan Yan to announce his intention to break off the engagement in front of everyone in the hall?

Add to that the way he kept tap-dancing across every one of her sore spots, and she had lost her head, ended the engagement herself, and even made that bullshit three-year agreement.

Actually, by then, she had already been riding a tiger she could not climb off...

If her talent did not recover, what the hell was she supposed to fight him with in three years? Bash him with a brick?

By then, Nalan Yan would at least be a Dou Shi, and the gap between a Dou Shi and someone at the Dou Qi stage was no longer something physical training alone could bridge.

On top of that, as the Misty Cloud Sect's head disciple, Nalan Yan would undoubtedly have access to some high-level Dou Techniques.

That made it even less likely that her little body could withstand him...

With one swing of his sword, Nalan Yan could easily turn her from "Xiao Yan" into "Xiao Woman Split," slicing her vertically in two!

"I guess I still can't quite accept it..." Xiao Yan spread her left hand, revealing a bloody mark, her voice somewhat dispirited.

Without strength, anyone could plant a foot on her head!

"Hehe, little girl, it looks like you need some help?"

Just as Xiao Yan was lamenting her situation, a seductive voice suddenly slipped into her ears.

It sounded as though a fox spirit of legendary, boundless charm-the kind that had bewitched even King Zhou-were whispering against her ear.

Startled, Xiao Yan spun around and warily scanned her surroundings.

Was I hearing things? Or... was there someone nearby whose strength put them beyond my perception?

Although she was only at the third stage of Dou Qi, Xiao Yan's soul perception was far keener than even a five-star Dou Zhe's.

And since even she had failed to sense this person's presence, whether they were a Dou Zhe, a Dou Shi, or someone even stronger... it made no difference.

Killing her would take no more than a slap.

So Xiao Yan did not dare make any rash moves, but her right hand had already reached for the dagger strapped to her thigh.

She had cut a small, inconspicuous slit in the side of her skirt precisely for emergencies like this.

I'm just a weak girl. It's perfectly reasonable to carry a weapon for self-defense, right?

Being unable to win was one thing, but she certainly could not sit there waiting to die. If the stranger meant her harm, she could still... make one last attempt to save herself.

If the owner of the voice meant no harm, all the better, but she could not afford to let her guard down around others.

Yet Xiao Yan's right hand found nothing.

She had distinctly felt herself grasp the dagger's hilt, but the next moment, the dagger seemed to vanish into thin air right out of her hand...

Xiao Yan's expression changed, only for that voice to sound again. "Little girl, don't be afraid. Big sister doesn't eat people~"

"Besides, that little body of yours barely has a few scraps of meat on it..."

"May I ask who you are, Senior? What business do you have with me?"

Someone who could snatch away her weapon out of thin air was an expert Xiao Yan knew she could never escape. She simply raised both hands to show her sincerity.

"Hehe, what an interesting little thing you are-stop looking. I'm on your finger."

Her pupils contracted, and Xiao Yan's gaze abruptly fixed on the plain, ancient black ring on her right hand.

"Are you the one speaking?" Forcing down the terror in her heart, Xiao Yan tried to steady her voice.

The thought that she had worn this ring for nearly ten years sent a chill down her back.

"You've got some composure, little girl. You weren't frightened into jumping off." Teasing laughter came from inside the ring.

Drawing a deep breath, Xiao Yan slowly removed the ring from her right hand. "May I ask who you are, Senior? Why are you inside my ring? What do you want?"