You have to compensate me!

"Well... the night was long, and I couldn't sleep. I, I was sleepwalking..."

The boy was, of course, Xiao Yan. He looked utterly flustered, his expression as tangled as a scrambled jigsaw puzzle, fear, embarrassment, and guilty attempts at concealment all mingling on his face.

He merely forced himself to stay calm, but his faintly trembling voice betrayed him. "Right, I was sleepwalking."

As he spoke, he even seemed to try to stagger past Xiao Qian, like a lousy actor performing a farce.

Xiao Qian, however, had no intention of letting him off so easily.

His five fingers abruptly tightened, his knuckles giving a faint crack.

The skin on the back of Xiao Yan's neck instantly pulled taut, every hair standing on end. Like a fox caught in a steel trap, even his Adam's apple bobbed under the pressure.

Although the two looked about the same age, Xiao Yan's strength naturally couldn't compare to that of a certain dragon in human form.

No matter how hard Xiao Yan struggled, he couldn't break free of Xiao Qian's iron grip. He could only stand there with his head hanging, like a defeated little rooster, dejected and helpless.

Xiao Qian gave him an indifferent glance, then released his hand once he was sure Xiao Yan wouldn't run.

He stepped farther inside, rounding the pale jade screen. Ink-black mountains lay hidden in thin mist on its surface, while a scarlet koi leaped from a crevice between rocks, its scales glittering with flecks of gold in the candlelight, as though it might splash his clothes the very next second.

Xiao Qian's footsteps were light, yet carried a steady strength. Once he rounded the screen, he saw Xiao Xun'er's Cloud Bed.

The little girl huddled in her quilt like a startled rabbit, wrapping herself tightly and leaving only a pair of bright, wide eyes exposed.

Those eyes shone like dazzling stars, sparkling with lively light and revealing a hint of curiosity and alarm.

When she saw Xiao Qian, a trace of reassurance entered her gaze.

Seeing that she showed no sign of terror, Xiao Qian breathed a small sigh of relief and asked softly, "Did he touch you?"

Xiao Xun'er quickly shook her head. "No."

Her voice rang as clear as silver bells through the quiet room, like a breeze brushing across a lake.

Xiao Qian nodded, then turned and walked back around the screen, meeting Xiao Yan's seemingly innocent eyes.

Outside the door, Ling Ying had already left with his mind at ease. It wasn't his place to meddle in matters between children.

After all, his duty was to protect Xiao Xun'er, not interfere with her every decision. He trusted her to handle these little incidents.

"You have to believe me. I really was sleepwalking!" Xiao Yan said through gritted teeth, his face urgent, as though he were desperately trying to prove his innocence.

He also knew how shocking it was to sneak into a girl's room in the middle of the night, so he intended to deny everything and bluff his way through.

"Really? I'd advise you to think before you speak."

Xiao Qian wasn't buying it. Without another word, he threw a punch.

His movement was lightning-fast, catching Xiao Yan off guard. His fist carried tremendous force, as though it could shatter every obstacle, leaving an afterimage in the air.

Xiao Yan's pupils contracted, and he instinctively raised his arms to block the punch.

Bang! An unimaginable force swept over him like a surging ocean wave, slamming him against the doorframe with a crash.

The doorframe quivered slightly, as though it too were shocked by that force, and gave a faint creak.

"Holy shit! You're a beast!"

Xiao Yan rubbed his almost numb arms, his whole body aching, a pained expression crossing his face.

He had never expected Xiao Qian to be so strong. That punch had felt like a mountain pressing down on him, leaving him struggling to breathe.

Xiao Yan studied him with a strange expression. "I'm at the first stage of Dou Qi too. Why can't I compare to you at all?"

Xiao Qian couldn't be bothered to answer. He returned behind the screen and said to Xiao Xun'er, "Should we tell the Xiao Clan Chief? Or just strip him naked and hang him upside down outside the Xiao Clan's main gate?"

His tone was flat, but his words frightened Xiao Yan out of his wits.

Xiao Xun'er hadn't even said anything yet.

Xiao Yan's backside clenched at what he heard, and he waved his hands frantically. "Hey, hey, hey! There's, there's no need to go that far, is there?! I really meant no harm!"

Panic spread across his face, as though he had glimpsed his own miserable future.

"Ask him what he came here for first." Wrapped in her little quilt, Xiao Xun'er leaned against the headboard. As her initial fright passed, confusion gradually filled her eyes.

As it happened, Xiao Yan had sharp ears. His eyes darted, and he immediately called out, "Little Sister Xun'er, you know I broke through to the first stage of Dou Qi recently, so I thought, I thought I'd come help nourish your meridians."

A hint of ingratiation crept into his voice as he tried hard to salvage his image, his expression sincere and eager.

"Nourish her meridians with Dou Qi?" Xiao Qian and Xiao Xun'er exchanged a glance, finding it rather amusing.

With their talent, they had no need for such a thing. They had been in peak condition from birth, their bodies as perfect as though heaven itself had blessed them. Only ordinary people with terribly poor talent needed their elders to nourish their meridians. Xiao Yan's excuse was truly rather far-fetched.

Xiao Xun'er's expression softened a little, and she said quietly, "Thank you for your kindness, but I don't need my meridians nourished."

Xiao Yan gave an awkward smile and waved his hands repeatedly. "All right, all right. I won't come again."

As he spoke, he prepared to back out through the door, a glimmer of delight appearing in his eyes as he looked at the floor.

Little brats are so easy to fool! Ahahaha!

He secretly rejoiced at having finally escaped disaster. As long as he could leave this place, everything would be fine.

"Hold on."

Just then, Xiao Qian suddenly approached and reached out to stop him. "I don't believe you. You and Xun'er are merely acquainted. I'm sure there are plenty of people in the clan you're closer to, especially now that you've earned a reputation as a genius. Tell me, why did you choose to come here?"

His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, as though it could see straight into Xiao Yan's heart and leave him nowhere to hide.

"You!" Xiao Yan was at his wits' end. He hadn't expected a little brat to be so difficult. It felt as though he had fallen into a mire, sinking deeper the harder he struggled.

"Or you can take another punch from me, and we'll call it settled." Xiao Qian raised his fist again.

With the physique of an Ancient Void Dragon, that punch could leave Xiao Yan bedridden for half a year.

That immense power seemed to have already gathered in the air, putting Xiao Yan under tremendous pressure.

For some reason, Xiao Yan shuddered all over, his instincts screaming that this was bad. If this human-shaped tyrannosaur punched him again... he'd be crippled!

Besides, he was the one in the wrong to begin with.

"Sorry, I wasn't telling the truth. Actually, I wanted to test whether this so-called Dou Qi really existed, so I picked someone at random. I've actually always..." He hesitated, then said quietly, "I've always felt that these supernatural powers weren't real, like they were just my imagination."

Xiao Qian raised an eyebrow.

He had experienced that feeling himself. After his awareness had reawakened, it had been as though he were born anew on this continent. All those strange powers made him feel as though he had fallen into a dream, reluctant to believe it too readily.

Well, damn. I actually met someone from back home on a continent in another world? Should we exchange a secret code?

Forget it.

"That sounds more believable." Xiao Qian waved a hand. "We'll leave it at that tonight."

"All right, all right. Don't worry, I'll forget everything that happened tonight!"

Xiao Yan nodded repeatedly. Just as he stepped out of the room, he suddenly stopped on the threshold. Looking back at Xiao Qian's equally childish face, he asked tentatively, "Can I come see you again?"

"What for?" Confusion appeared on Xiao Qian's face.

Xiao Yan grinned. "To make friends!"

His expression was cheerful and friendly, brimming with anticipation, and the light sparkling in his eyes was as dazzling as the sun.

Xiao Qian laughed. "You really do have a thick skin."

"You're the only one in the clan whose cultivation speed can keep up with mine. I just suddenly thought you'd make a good rival." Xiao Yan rubbed his hands together, the curve of his lips displaying his confidence.

This fellow was probably very proud of his identity as a transmigrator. He longed to find an evenly matched rival in this unfamiliar world, someone with whom he could explore this realm of wonders.

But I've got nine dantians! Who should I be afraid of!

Xiao Qian's eyes were filled with fighting spirit. He too longed for challenges, eager to keep improving through competition with the strong.

"Then let's compete."

Xiao Qian's tone rose a little as well. He wanted to see who the true chosen one was, the flames of battle burning in his eyes.

"All right! Just you wait!"

Xiao Yan ran out with long strides, remembering to turn and wave at him as he left the courtyard.

His figure looked especially nimble beneath the moonlight, brimming with vitality.

"So you've made friends with him." Xiao Xun'er lowered her eyes, her long lashes casting shadows beneath them.

She quietly clenched a corner of her quilt, thinking, The Gu Clan Secret Teachings say that wielding both kindness and authority is the best approach. Since I used his hand to drive Xiao Yan away today, I might as well seize the chance to get a few more benefits...

Her eyes rolled, and when she looked up again, she had adopted an aggrieved expression. "Who's going to compensate me for my loss..."

Xiao Qian looked away, returned behind the screen, and gave her a puzzled look. "What loss?"

The girl stole a glance at him.

A new round of the grand subjugation scheme: emotional blackmail plan, commence!

"Think about it. Starting today, I was supposed to have someone help nourish my meridians. But because of you..." The girl spread her two pale, tender little hands and said mournfully, "That's gone!"

Her expression was cute and aggrieved, making it hard not to pity her, like an injured kitten yearning for comfort from its owner.

Xiao Qian's eyes widened. "Since when do you need your meridians nourished?!"

Xiao Xun'er puffed out her chest, utterly self-assured. "If I say I need it, then I need it!"

Xiao Qian raised an eyebrow, his toes already pointing toward the door, and said casually, "Fiiine-"

He deliberately drew out the last sound, hooking his fingers around the doorframe. "I'll go drag Xiao Yan back right now and have him nourish your meridians for three days and three nights. How's that?"

"Wh-what..."

This time, it was Xiao Xun'er's turn to be dumbfounded, her eyes filling with surprise and panic. Things had gone beyond her expectations.

"How, how can someone like you even exist!"