"Xiao Qian! You!"
Nalan Yanran's eyes widened as she stared at Xiao Qian in shock, disbelief filling her gaze.
She looked at him as though he were a complete stranger. Never had she imagined that Xiao Qian would refuse the opportunity to join the Misty Cloud Sect-an opportunity others could only dream of.
"I thought... I thought you came back with me because you wanted to join the sect." Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, at a loss. Usually so confident and composed, she now seemed almost flustered.
In her mind, Xiao Qian had displayed such extraordinary talent and taken the Entrance Test because he surely longed to join the Misty Cloud Sect and become one of its members. Reality, however, had dealt her a heavy blow.
Xiao Qian merely shook his head and said softly, his expression calm, "I only wanted to know why you said those words, so I hoped you would introduce me to Great Elder Yun Leng. That was all."
His tone was firm, without the slightest hesitation. Clearly, this was his true purpose in coming to the Misty Cloud Sect.
Hearing his answer, Nalan Yanran bit her lip, a trace of reluctance flashing through her eyes. How she wished Xiao Qian would change his mind and join the Misty Cloud Sect.
Yet now, she had no idea how to persuade him. All the eloquent words that usually came so easily seemed lodged in her throat.
Perhaps he never thought much of the Misty Cloud Sect to begin with...
The thought quietly took root within Nalan Yanran, winding around her heart like a vine.
It filled her with defeat. She had always taken pride in the Misty Cloud Sect, but Xiao Qian's treatment of it now shattered that pride like a bursting bubble.
"Xiao Qian..."