How about staying by my side?

"In that case, Miss Qingxue, how about staying here at our Evolutionary Spirit Sect?"

Xu Xuan added fuel to the fire, smiling as he said, "The envoy from the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace will come directly to the Evolutionary Spirit Sect. I can recommend you then!"

Yun Qingxue was clever. Since she had already agreed and accepted this favor, she ought to be decisive rather than coy or affected.

So she nodded slightly and agreed.

A trace of approval flashed in Xu Xiao's eyes, along with some surprise. Since when had this boy Xu Xuan become so smooth? Plenty of female disciples had fancied him before, but he had always given them the cold shoulder.

Still, it made sense when he thought about it. Yun Qingxue truly had an exceptional presence. It was hardly surprising that Xu Xuan had fallen for her.

Yun Qianhe also smiled and nodded. He had a good impression of the young man, Xu Xuan. If they could forge a connection, or even truly end up together...

It would bring his city lord's estate in Cloud Azure City countless benefits and not a single drawback.

After all, the Evolutionary Spirit Sect was one of the foremost powers in the Cloud Azure Territory. Though it had suffered heavy losses during the war against the Demon Race, it had recovered in little more than a decade.

Clearly, Xu Xiao had a few tricks up his sleeve.

And his cultivation had grown even stronger.

With Xu Xuan, a prospective disciple of the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace, among them, the Evolutionary Spirit Sect's meteoric rise seemed only a matter of time.

At that thought, he was naturally pleased to see things turn out this way.

"It's getting late. I should head down the mountain."

Yun Qianhe stood and smiled. "Qingxue, stay here at the Evolutionary Spirit Sect. Once the envoy from the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace arrives in a few days, I'll come to see you again."

"The Evolutionary Spirit Sect has quite a few formidable martial arts. You can ask my worthy nephew Xu Xuan for some pointers."

Yun Qingxue inclined her head slightly and voiced her agreement.

As Yun Qianhe rose to leave, the representatives of the other powers also departed one after another.

Soon, only Xu Xiao, his son Xu Xuan, and Yun Qingxue remained.

The more Xu Xiao looked at Yun Qingxue, the more he liked her. He felt she was exactly the daughter-in-law their Xu family ought to have.

"I'm living on the rear mountain now. Would you prefer to stay there, or in one of the sect's side halls?"

Xu Xuan asked.

"I'll leave the arrangements to you, Young Sect Master Xu Xuan," Yun Qingxue said.

Xu Xuan nodded. "Mm, I imagine you prefer peace and quiet and would rather not be disturbed, Miss Qingxue. Then come to the rear mountain with me."

"All right."

And so, Yun Qingxue followed Xu Xuan out of the main hall.

The two walked side by side, close together. From a distance, they seemed to be chatting and laughing, and at times, a hint of a smile could even be seen at the corners of Yun Qingxue's eyes.

The sight stunned many disciples passing by. They had never seen such a beautiful young woman.

Those who knew Yun Qingxue's identity gaped. Wasn't she the city lord's most beloved daughter? What was she doing at the Evolutionary Spirit Sect?

And she was chatting and laughing with their young sect master. Standing together, they were truly a talented man and a beautiful woman.

A match made in heaven!

"Young Sect Master, I never imagined you had already thought through how to develop the Evolutionary Spirit Sect in the future. Even if you didn't join the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace, once you inherited the position of sect master and implemented what you just described, the Evolutionary Spirit Sect would surely flourish."

Yun Qingxue was full of admiration. Her position came with great pressure. Although her father doted on her, he was demanding when it came to cultivating her foresight and other abilities.

That was why she had deliberately discussed with Xu Xuan how he would manage the sect if he became its master.

Yet Xu Xuan had answered with clear, convincing reasoning, earning her repeated admiration. Many of his ideas were novel and opened her eyes.

Xu Xuan smiled. "There's no helping it. Being the young sect master means shouldering a lot of responsibility. Sometimes I think how nice it would be to be an ordinary disciple. All I'd have to do each day is cultivate, without worrying about so much!"

Yun Qingxue's eyes brightened at his words. Xu Xuan had spoken straight to her heart.

She, too, had thought that without her position, she could live carefree, without having to consider so many things.

But every position came with its own troubles.

"Xue'er."

Just then, Xu Xuan saw a burly, blue-haired young man approach. It was Tang Chuan.

Tang Chuan greeted Yun Qingxue with a sunny smile, but when he looked at Xu Xuan, killing intent stirred in the depths of his eyes.

Perhaps, in his mind, he alone had the right to be close to Yun Qingxue, and Xu Xuan's actions were already reason enough for him to die.

At the sight of Tang Chuan, Yun Qingxue's delicate brows furrowed slightly. They had merely met and spoken before. Did that warrant addressing her so intimately?

Her father had instilled many principles in her, particularly that different people should be addressed with different degrees of familiarity.

To her, only those closest to her could call her Xue'er.

What gave Tang Chuan the right?

She had told him before, but he remained blindly arrogant and stubbornly refused to change.

Why had she never noticed how presumptuous Tang Chuan was before?

It seemed there really was no hurt without comparison!

Yun Qingxue glanced at Xu Xuan beside her and sighed. Her impression of Tang Chuan worsened further.

With her intelligence, how could she not know why Tang Chuan had suddenly appeared?

Ding! Daughter of Destiny Yun Qingxue's impression of Tang Chuan has worsened. Tang Chuan's fate points -32...

The corners of Xu Xuan's mouth curved upward.

"Miss Qingxue, I'll leave you two to talk. I'll go on ahead."

Xu Xuan said this to Yun Qingxue, then tactfully left.

Ding! Daughter of Destiny Yun Qingxue's impression of you has improved. Your fate points +62...

Watching Xu Xuan's retreating figure, Yun Qingxue felt that he understood boundaries, was tactful and gracious, and knew what to say and what to do.

Unlike Tang Chuan, who was always so presumptuous, as though the world ought to revolve around him.

Ding! Daughter of Destiny Yun Qingxue's affection for Tang Chuan has decreased. Fate points -21...

"Young Master Tang Chuan, did you need something?"

Yun Qingxue spoke slowly, her tone somewhat cold.

Seeing this, Tang Chuan's gaze grew darker, and his resentment toward Xu Xuan deepened.

He drew a light breath and smiled. "Xue'er, with how close we are, there's no need to be so formal. Just call me Little Chuan."

"I didn't expect you to come to the Evolutionary Spirit Sect. I happened to be passing by, so I came over to take a look. And it really was you. I..."

Before he could finish, Yun Qingxue interrupted him.

"If you have something to say, say it."

Yun Qingxue's attitude stoked Tang Chuan's anger further. His expression stiffened before he forced a smile. "Xue'er, don't you understand how I feel yet?"

"We've gone out training together and fought hand in hand. You know what kind of person I am."

Yun Qingxue said flatly, "I've worked with plenty of people during my travels. You're not the only one."

"And just because you have feelings for me, must I accept them?"

"I've already told you I don't want to."

Barely able to suppress his anger, Tang Chuan asked in a low voice, "Is it because of this Xu Xuan?"

Yun Qingxue glanced at him. "Young Master Tang Chuan, is romance the only thing in your head? Do you think everyone is like you?"

"Please don't impose your own thoughts on other people!"

With that, Yun Qingxue left.

Watching her retreating figure, Tang Chuan's eyes reddened. His fists clenched tightly, and his killing intent became difficult to contain.

"Xue'er, you will be mine. You'll understand all the pains I've taken for you."

"Xu Xuan, Evolutionary Spirit Sect, neither of you should exist!"

Ding! Tang Chuan's mental state has suffered a setback. Fate points -101...

Ding! Tang Chuan...

Ding! Daughter of Destiny Yun Qingxue's feelings toward Tang Chuan...

At the entrance to the rear mountain.

Seeing that Tang Chuan had only a little over four hundred fate points left, Xu Xuan thought that one more provocation would allow him to kill Tang Chuan outright during their upcoming match!

Soon, Yun Qingxue arrived. Her bearing remained cool, but a trace of emotion showed on her small face, her brows slightly knitted. Tang Chuan had thoroughly disgusted her.

"You're here. Let's go."

Xu Xuan smiled.

Yun Qingxue nodded slightly.

The two walked side by side.

Neither spoke along the way, and silence settled between them.

After a while, Yun Qingxue could no longer hold back her urge to complain.

"Young Sect Master, don't you want to ask why Tang Chuan came to see me?"

Xu Xuan smiled. "Why should I ask? That seems to be a matter between you two. Wouldn't it be rude to ask outright?"

"Didn't it occur to you that, perhaps because of my status, he wanted to win me over?"

Yun Qingxue asked.

Before coming to the rear mountain, she had discreetly asked about the relationship between Tang Chuan and Xu Xuan, and learned the whole story.

"If you agreed, Miss Qingxue, wouldn't anything I said be useless?"

"If you didn't agree, it wouldn't matter whether I said anything."

Xu Xuan's words brought a faint sparkle to Yun Qingxue's eyes.

Looking at Xu Xuan, she felt that this man was very confident, but not presumptuous. Those were two different things.

Half joking, she said, "What if Tang Chuan really has something to rely on that lets him gravely wound you and destroy the Evolutionary Spirit Sect..."

Xu Xuan frowned slightly. "I imagine you know the circumstances quite well, Miss Qingxue. You know who was right and who was wrong back then. If he truly can destroy the Evolutionary Spirit Sect and kill me, I'll have nothing to say. In the end, strength reigns supreme in this world."

"But what if he loses?"

Yun Qingxue asked again.

"I'll kill him!"

Xu Xuan answered without hesitation.

Yun Qingxue froze. He had not concealed it in the slightest, nor had he put on an act.

"Why? When you spoke earlier about taking over the sect, didn't you advocate tolerance and kindness?"

"Kindness and tolerance without a bottom line are the greatest evil."

At his words, Yun Qingxue's eyes grew brighter. Then she smiled. "You really are impressive, Young Sect Master. For that alone, perhaps I'll help you when the time comes."

Ding! The Daughter of Destiny's affection for you has multiplied, triggering a fate-point critical hit. +684...