After casually killing the young man, Xiao Yan's cold expression slowly returned. He turned around, his gaze falling once more on Jin Yao, who was still curled up on the bed. He walked slowly to the bedside, reached out and gently pulled up Jin Yao's black robe, and said softly:
"I'm sorry you've suffered."
These words were like pulling down the pillars of a dam; tears welled up in her eyes and flowed uncontrollably. Jin Yao let out a plaintive wail, her soft body suddenly throwing herself into Xiao Yan's arms and crying out loudly.
Xiao Yan was also taken aback by Jin Yao's sudden action, but quickly came to his senses and put an arm around Jin Yao's shoulder, letting her vent her emotions.
Meanwhile, after the young man was killed by Xiao Yan, in a huge manor outside Yan City, an old man who was watching the fish in the pond suddenly changed his expression. He quickly flipped his withered hand, and a broken jade tablet appeared in his palm.
"This... Kai'er... Kai'er, he..."
Looking at the completely shattered jade tablet in his palm, the old man was immediately filled with shock and anger. The vast Origin Qi within his body surged wildly, causing ripples to spread across the barely calm pond.
"Who! Who killed my Kai'er!"
With a hoarse roar, a powerful energy surge erupted from the old man's body, instantly destroying everything in the courtyard. Then, the old man's gaze locked onto a certain direction, which was Yan City.
This morning, his grandson clearly led a group of powerful individuals to Yan City; he knew what he was going there for.
"Could it be that woman?"
Upon thinking of this, the old man's anger intensified. He flipped his hand and put the broken jade tablet in his Storage Ring. As he looked up, his chilling voice, filled with murderous intent, slowly uttered.
" Jin Yao... if I capture you, I will tear you apart, rip your bones, and shred your body to pieces!"
The moment the words fell, the old man stomped his foot heavily on the ground. As the ground beneath his feet cracked, fissures rapidly spread outwards. In that instant, the old man's figure vanished from the manor.
Inside the Thousand Medicine Pavilion, Xiao Yan killed all the remaining members of the Sheng Clan. Afterwards, Xiao Yan and Jin Yao, who was wearing a black robe, went to the backyard of the Thousand Medicine Pavilion.
"I heard that you went to the Southern Region three years ago after the battle with Qinhuang Lost Valley?"
Jin Yao had regained her composure and looked at Xiao Yan with tenderness, gently handing him a cup of tea.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan chuckled and nodded, saying:
"I originally came from the Southern Region. My friend there ran into some trouble, so I rushed over, but it's all been resolved now."
"I've also heard that you and that person from the Xilin Mountain Range... seem to have a special relationship."
At this point, a flicker of something appeared in Jin Yao's beautiful eyes as she looked at Xiao Yan. Hearing this, the latter smiled, placed his empty teacup back on the table, and slowly said:
"You're talking about Leng Bingshuang, right? She's my wife now."
Upon hearing this, Jin Yao, who was pouring tea for Xiao Yan, suddenly stopped. The smile on her beautiful face involuntarily faded slightly, and her eyes flickered before she continued to smile and fill Xiao Yan's teacup.
"So you're coming back this time to take her with you?"
"Someone's here."
As soon as Jin Yao finished speaking, Xiao Yan uttered a sentence. While Jin Yao was slightly stunned, a stream of light suddenly descended from the sky and crashed into the courtyard where the two were. An invisible energy immediately swept out, carrying dust and mist, but when it approached Xiao Yan and the other person, it seemed to have hit a wall and separated on its own.
" Jin Yao..."
From within the dust and mist, a deep and hoarse old man's voice slowly drifted out, and it was not difficult to hear the cold killing intent contained in that voice.
Upon hearing this, Jin Yao frowned slightly, but compared to before, she felt less fear now. Xiao Yan's presence made Jin Yao no longer afraid of anyone.
A gentle breeze swept through, quickly washing away the dust and mist in the courtyard, revealing an elderly figure dressed in brocade robes. Although the latter had already noticed Jin Yao's presence, he did not rush to make a move, but instead focused his cautious gaze on Xiao Yan, who was currently facing him sideways.
Although the latter did not make a move, the old man could still vaguely sense that this man in black robes was not simple, and perhaps the one who killed his grandson was this man.
Looking at the black-robed man before him, who had clearly killed someone yet calmly drank tea, the old man's anger intensified. What on earth gave him such confidence?
"Boy, is it you who killed my grandson?"
After a long pause, the old man finally spoke slowly in a low voice.
"If you are Sheng Dong, then there's no mistake."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan ignored it completely, picked up the teacup in front of him, took a small sip, and remained calm on the surface.
He's only at the Early-Stage Origin Return Realm; such cultivation isn't worth taking seriously.
"You..."
Seeing that the murderer remained so calm and composed, Sheng Dong's aged body trembled uncontrollably. A surge of immense energy erupted from within him, and his dark, old eyes burned with unbridled rage. In the next instant, the old man's body flashed, and with a streak of white light, he appeared before Xiao Yan in the blink of an eye. His right hand, fingers bent into a claw, lunged at Xiao Yan's throat. At the same time, Xiao Yan's face came into Sheng Dong's view.
At that moment, Sheng Dong's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart was filled with horror.
"How could this be...?"
"Bang!"
With a dull thud, Xiao Yan's left hand had somehow landed on the old man's chest. His hand trembled slightly, and a burst of energy erupted like a volcanic eruption, blasting Sheng Dong away.
As Sheng Dong's body crashed to the ground, disheveled and exhausted, he had no time to resist. He scrambled to his feet, knelt before Xiao Yan in terror, and said in a panicked voice:
"I was unaware that Lord Xiao Yan had arrived, and I foolishly attacked. Please forgive me!"
Upon hearing this, not only Jin Yao but even Xiao Yan was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected that the old man would recognize him and show such an attitude after his grandson had been killed. He was truly extraordinary.