Nalan Yanran's Letter

The affair at the Xiao Clan swept through all of Wutan City like a fierce gale, spreading at a speed that left people speechless.

As expected, Xiao Yan once again became the laughingstock of the entire city.

In everyone's eyes, that so-called divorce letter was nothing but a farce. The two had never even married, so how could there be any talk of "divorce"?

Besides, the gulf between their status and talent was like the distance between heaven and earth. Anyone with eyes could see that Xiao Yan had simply suffered the humiliation of having someone come to his door to break off their engagement.

On the Dou Qi Continent, where strength reigned supreme, such an experience was an unspeakable disgrace for a man. Its weight could crush his dignity, leaving him unable to hold his head high beneath others' scornful gazes for the rest of his life.

Yet what followed sent all of Wutan City into an uproar.

Xiao Qian stepped forward without hesitation. His seemingly ordinary punch carried the force to topple mountains and overturn seas, beating the male disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect so badly that he could not fight back and collapsed like a heap of rags.

Then he fought the central figure in the broken engagement-the Misty Cloud Sect Master's personal disciple, Nalan Yanran. He left this proud daughter of heaven, who normally stood high above everyone else, utterly unable to defend herself. The sight was nothing short of staggering.

The news spread through the city like wildfire across a prairie, becoming a favorite topic over tea and after meals.

The people of Wutan City were not particularly shocked, however. Years ago, Xiao Qian's monstrous talent had already branded itself deep into their memories...

But the impact did not stop at the little world of Wutan City. Like a surging tide, it swiftly spread to every corner of the Empire.

Like a brilliant rising star, the name Xiao Qian truly entered the public eye for the first time, attracting widespread attention, especially among the Misty Cloud Sect Disciples.

It was easy to imagine how those Misty Cloud Sect Disciples must have ground their teeth and seethed with rage upon hearing the news.

After all, Xiao Qian had not merely beaten their fellow disciples. He had even committed the outrageous act of bringing out a full-length mirror so Nalan Yanran could see the wretched state of her own defeat. Such behavior was unheard of. Like a massive bomb, it stirred towering waves in the hearts of the Misty Cloud Sect Disciples.

"What are you thinking about?" Xiao Qian asked.

On the way back, Xiao Xun'er had kept her brows tightly knitted. Her two curved, willow-leaf brows looked like little hills, gathering all the worry in her heart.

She silently followed behind Xiao Qian, matching his steps without a word, like a little ghost weighed down with troubles.

"I was wondering why Nalan Yanran invited you earlier." She blinked her star-bright eyes, a trace of confusion passing through them like a ripple across a still lake.

Xiao Qian spread his hands and said casually, "Maybe because I'm too much of a genius? You know how shocking having nine dantians is to everyone."

"So, after the Misty Cloud Sect's informants learned about it, the senior elders, or even the sect master, decided to have Nalan Yanran recruit you?"

Xiao Xun'er gently shook her head, her dark hair swaying with the movement. A hint of doubt colored her voice. "That doesn't make sense. If that were the case, Nalan Yanran wouldn't have invited you as soon as she arrived. Normally, she should have looked for an opportunity to test your skills first, then carefully extended an invitation."

The strange stirring of the dantians within his body during his fight with Nalan Yanran flashed through Xiao Qian's mind, and a thoughtful look crossed his eyes.

"Still, after what you did to her today, she probably won't have the face to invite you again." As Xiao Xun'er spoke, she suddenly covered her mouth and burst into a giggle. Her smile was as lovely and captivating as a flower blooming in spring.

The worry on her face melted away like snow beneath warm sunlight, adding a faint touch of spring to the bleak autumn, as though her smile had brightened the entire world.

Xiao Qian's expression remained calm, his voice firm. "Those who humiliate others will always be humiliated in turn."

Xiao Xun'er shook her head helplessly. "He never even asked you to stand up for him, yet you rushed to help. He might even blame you."

"He wouldn't dare! I'd beat him up!" Xiao Qian raised his solid fist, looking utterly domineering.

When the two reached the courtyard gate, they were surprised to see a familiar figure standing with his back to them.

"Xiao Yan?" Xiao Qian walked over and clapped him hard on the shoulder. With an exaggerated expression, he teased, "No way, no way. Don't tell me you've actually come to demand an explanation?"

"What?" Xiao Yan turned around, looking bewildered. He scratched his head, appearing rather guileless.

Xiao Qian paused. He had known Xiao Yan for ten years and could see through his emotional shifts as clearly as a flame illuminating the dark.

To his surprise, the gloom that had shrouded Xiao Yan's face for three whole years had suddenly vanished without a trace, like morning mist beneath sunlight!

In its place, irrepressible excitement filled Xiao Yan's delicate features, its radiance almost bursting from his eyes.

"Did something interesting happen to you?" Xiao Qian folded his arms across his chest, the corners of his mouth lifting into a meaningful smile.

Xiao Yan gave a foolish chuckle, then suddenly sprang forward like a joyous little deer and crushed Xiao Qian in a bear hug, shouting excitedly, "Ahahaha! My talent's back! I can cultivate again! Those bastards who looked down on me-I'll make them pay back every bit of their contempt twice over!"

He waved his arms and stamped his feet as he spoke. He looked like someone who had wandered in darkness for ages and finally seen the light again. His joy overflowed, making even the air around him feel cheerful.

"L-let go! Aren't you disgusted with yourself?" Xiao Qian pushed him away with a face full of revulsion, rubbing his hands against his clothes as though Xiao Yan had something filthy on him.

Xiao Yan grinned foolishly for a while longer before his excitement gradually settled.

He clenched his fist and thumped Xiao Qian hard on the shoulder, saying earnestly, "Thank you for these past three years! And for beating up Nalan Yanran for me today. Seriously, thank you!"

"There's no need for thanks between us. Besides, you'll fight back against all that humiliation yourself, won't you?" Xiao Qian looked at him with a smile.

Xiao Yan nodded solemnly, determination shining in his eyes. "When the three-year agreement comes due, I'll make her pay."

"No more talking. I'm going back to cultivate!" Before his words had faded, Xiao Yan took off like a gust of wind. Dust churned behind his feet like a yellow dragon, and he vanished in the blink of an eye.

Only Xiao Qian remained, left rather bedraggled by the flying dust, looking utterly disheveled in the wind.

Meanwhile, inside the most luxurious inn in central Wutan City, Ge Ye stood before a room with worry written all over his face, moving cautiously as though afraid of disturbing the person inside.

He tapped softly on the door, his voice carrying a hint of appeasement. "Yanran, I have a healing pill here. Take one, and tomorrow the swelling will... will go down." But the room remained silent, without the slightest response.

"Yanran?" Ge Ye knocked harder and raised his voice, a trace of urgency entering his tone. "Don't worry. We'll definitely avenge this humiliation of our sect for you! You're the sect master's personal disciple, the sect's future! You mustn't let this setback leave you unable to rise again!"

Bang.

The door was suddenly yanked open. Ge Ye barely stopped his knocking hand in time, nearly striking Nalan Yanran's bruised, swollen little face.

Nalan Yanran stood in the doorway. Though her face was swollen, her eyes remained cold. "Martial Uncle Ge Ye, take this to Xiao Qian," she said icily.

Before Ge Ye could react, another bang rang out as she slammed the door shut. The sound echoed through the quiet corridor, jarringly abrupt.

Ge Ye stared blankly at the envelope in his hand, his mind empty, as though his soul had suddenly been pulled out.

Questions filled his mind. What's going on? What is this? A challenge? A letter arranging a duel? Or...

It couldn't be a love letter, could it?!

At the thought of that possibility, old Ge Ye's face filled with horror, and beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

"What is this?"

Early the next morning, Xiao Qian received the envelope delivered by the gatekeeper.

After leaving the letter, Ge Ye had been too ashamed to step through the Xiao Clan's gates again and had slunk away.

"Nalan Yanran?" Xiao Xun'er leaned close to Xiao Qian, staring at the name signed on the envelope. A cold gleam instantly flashed in her eyes, like a ray of winter light, chilling to the bone. "Her persistence really does make one suspicious."

She spoke softly, a trace of vigilance in her voice, like a small animal that had caught the scent of danger.

Holding the letter, Xiao Qian could not help chuckling. "You think she's still inviting me to the Misty Cloud Sect?"

The girl gave a slight nod, her expression certain. "You men might write a challenge because you refuse to accept defeat, but we girls certainly wouldn't. The humiliation she suffered yesterday alone would take her a long time to digest. If she's contacting you immediately under these circumstances, it must still be for whatever reason drew her attention to you in the first place."

Xiao Qian glanced at her.

Whenever a situation like this arose, Xiao Xun'er always displayed her meticulous thinking and offered a convincing analysis.

He casually broke the envelope's seal and drew out a pale yellow sheet of letter paper, letting his gaze sweep idly over the line written on it.

Yet in that instant, his pupils contracted sharply, as though he had seen the most terrifying thing in the world. His whole body froze as if struck by lightning, and the letter in his hand seemed to weigh a thousand tons.

Beside him, Xiao Xun'er had not deliberately leaned over to read the letter. Now, noticing the strange change in Xiao Qian's expression, she felt an inexplicable unease well up inside her.

She took a step closer and glanced toward the letter, asking softly, "What's wrong? Was I mistaken?"

But to her surprise, Xiao Qian instinctively folded the letter shut, his movement swift and decisive, preventing her from seeing any of its contents.

Xiao Xun'er's lovely face went still, and an inexplicable wariness rose in her heart.

Her bright eyes narrowed slightly, like those of a wary cat, as she fixed her gaze on the letter in his hand. With a hint of displeasure and confusion, she asked quietly, "What secrets are you sharing that even Xun'er can't see?"

Xiao Qian's fingers abruptly tightened. Dou Qi surged from his fingertips like a sharp blade, shredding the letter into countless flecks of powder in an instant.

A breeze passed, and the powder drifted away like wisps of smoke, disappearing into the air without a trace.

Xiao Xun'er unconsciously clenched her hands. Her heart pounded, and alarm bells rang loudly within her.

She knew that something beyond her control must have happened, something that could very well affect her relationship with Xiao Qian.

Xiao Qian did not answer her. At that moment, only the line from the letter remained in his mind, winding tightly around his thoughts like a curse...