Xiao Yan: Lu Yuan Had It Worse Than Me

"I am Xiao Yan. Greetings, senior." Xiao Yan immediately cupped his fists and bowed, hiding his wariness as he quietly circulated his Dou Qi, ready to jump off the cliff at any moment. "Thank you for stepping in to help me, senior."

Although the man before him had killed the members of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, he might not have meant well.

He might also have wanted the things Xiao Yan had obtained from the cave.

"No need to be nervous, young friend. I mean you no harm." Uncle Zhang was only half a step away from breaking through to Da Dou Shi, and his years had made him shrewd. He naturally noticed Xiao Yan's little movements, and appreciation flashed in his eyes. "Nor do you need to thank me. I helped you on my young master's orders."

Xiao Yan relaxed a little, but he was filled with doubt. "May I ask who your young master is, senior?"

He didn't recall knowing any young master who would send a Dou Shi to help him.

"Lu Yuan of the Lu Clan in Salt City," Uncle Zhang replied.

Xiao Yan grew even more puzzled. "Senior, I don't believe I know this Young Master Lu Yuan."

"You certainly didn't know each other before, and the young master didn't send this old man to help you because you were acquainted." Remembering Lu Yuan's instructions, Uncle Zhang spoke frankly. "The young master sent me to help you for two reasons."

"The first is that you're kindred spirits in misfortune."

"Kindred spirits in misfortune?" The words made Xiao Yan clench his fists without thinking.

If he had any "misfortune" to speak of, it was probably that he had gone from a genius to a good-for-nothing, and then his betrothed had come to his door to break off their engagement.

Had one of those things happened to Lu Yuan too?

"There are four great clans in the Northeastern Province. The foremost is the Mo Clan, which controls nearly sixty percent of the province's businesses thanks to the Misty Cloud Sect backing it."

At the mention of the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened and a layer of disgust rose in his heart. But he didn't interrupt Uncle Zhang, instead continuing to listen patiently.

"The Mo Clan is based in Salt City. Our Lu Clan is also in Salt City, though we're a notch below them."

"My young master was once a genius too. He was about to break through to Dou Zhe at thirteen."

"A young lady of the Mo Clan, Mo Shuang'er, took a fancy to my young master and had the Mo Clan's experts come to our door and force an engagement on him."

"But before long, someone poisoned my young master. His cultivation regressed overnight, and without a fortuitous encounter, he'll have a hard time breaking through to Seventh Stage Dou Qi in this lifetime."

"Mo Shuang'er waited two years. Not long ago, her elders in the Mo Clan made arrangements for her to cultivate at the Misty Cloud Sect, so she came in person to break off the engagement."

Xiao Yan: "..."

"Tsk, Little Yanzi, someone has it far worse than you in this respect." Yao Lao's laughter, utterly unbecoming of an elder, rang out in Xiao Yan's mind.

"Teacher..." Xiao Yan was somewhat speechless, and immense sympathy and fellow feeling rose in his heart for Lu Yuan, whom he had never met. "He really does have it worse than me."

"Nalan Yanran and I were at least betrothed because the old masters of our two clans wanted to unite the families through marriage. She only came to break off the engagement because she'd climbed onto the high branch of the Misty Cloud Sect and looked down on her fiancé for becoming a good-for-nothing. But at least she brought compensation."

"But this Young Master Lu Yuan was forced into the engagement by the woman's side, then ruthlessly cast aside after becoming a good-for-nothing. It really is..."

At that, Xiao Yan abruptly changed tack. "My cultivation regressed thanks to you, Teacher. Just consider it your disciple's filial offering."

"But Lu Yuan was struck by a deadly poison and completely reduced to a good-for-nothing."

Tragic. It was truly too tragic.

Compared to Lu Yuan, Xiao Yan felt that he was actually so lucky.

"Ahem." Xiao Yan's last two remarks left Yao Lao somewhat embarrassed, and he changed the subject. "It's only a poison that makes a Dou Zhe's cultivation regress to Sixth-Stage Dou Qi. Work hard to improve your alchemy, and refining a pill to cure that poison will be as easy as turning your hand over in the future."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan made a mental note of it.

In recognition of Lu Yuan's kindness in sending Uncle Zhang to help him, he would refine a pill and give it to him once he was strong enough.

"You mentioned the first reason just now, senior. Is there another?" Xiao Yan asked.

"There's one other reason, and it's these blind fools." Uncle Zhang nodded slightly, sweeping his gaze over the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's mercenaries around them. His voice turned cold. "My young master is in Qingshan Town now, and he has become friends with Miss Xiao Yi Xian."

"The Wolf Head Mercenary Group covets what Miss Xiao Yi Xian gained in the cave. They've been up to plenty of underhanded tricks lately."

"Besides that, the people from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group have offended my young master too."

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend, so the young master sent this old man to lend you a hand and keep the Wolf Head Mercenary Group from getting its way."

Understanding dawned on Xiao Yan, and fierce killing intent flashed in his eyes. He bowed again and said, "I see. But whatever the reason, the fact remains that you helped me, senior. I'll be sure to remember this kindness."

"Xiao Yi Xian and I can be considered friends who have shared both hardship and good fortune. May I ask how she's doing now?"

"Rest assured, young friend." Uncle Zhang smiled calmly, his tone confident. "Although the young master has lost his talent, he is the only son of the Lu Clan's patriarch. He has more than just one or two powerful guards at his side."

"Let alone little Qingshan Town-even in Wutan City, where your Xiao Clan resides, he wouldn't fear offending anyone. Protecting Miss Xiao Yi Xian is naturally a simple matter."

"That's good." Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

Although his friendship with Xiao Yi Xian only came from exploring the cave together, he had gained a great deal, including both a Flying Dou Technique and the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map. He owed her a debt of gratitude.

If she were in dire straits under pressure from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, he would certainly have to do something.

It was good that she had powerful people protecting her.

Meanwhile, Lu Yuan was busy hoodwinking Xiao Yi Xian.

"Before I answer your question, Miss Xiao Yi Xian, allow me to give you a detailed introduction of myself." Lu Yuan placed a hand on the stone table and spoke with a smile. "I'm from the Lu Clan in Salt City..."

Lu Yuan gave a general account of his background, also telling her how he had been forced into an engagement and then had it broken off, and how someone had poisoned him, turning him from a genius into a good-for-nothing.

A trace of pity entered Xiao Yi Xian's eyes. She thought to herself that Lu Yuan was a pitiful person too.

He was the dignified only son of a clan patriarch, with exceptional talent for cultivation, yet he had been forced into an engagement only to have it broken off, and had become a good-for-nothing as well.

But she quickly put those feelings aside, because she remembered that Lu Yuan had just broken through to Dou Zhe right in front of her.

So Lu Yuan was actually hiding his abilities?

Could it be that he wanted the Mo Clan to break off the engagement?

"Don't let your imagination run wild. I'm no masochist." Lu Yuan saw through Xiao Yi Xian's thoughts at a glance. "If I'd still had my talent then, I would certainly have found a way to join the Misty Cloud Sect too. As long as I grew strong enough in the future, I could naturally dissolve the engagement. How humiliating to have someone break it off with me."

Xiao Yi Xian was a little embarrassed at once, but stubbornly retorted, "I wasn't thinking that. Just hurry up and tell me why you know about the Woeful Poison Body, and what it has to do with you approaching me."

"Have you heard of Ice River Valley?" Lu Yuan asked instead of answering.

"No." Xiao Yi Xian shook her head.

"Then have you heard of the Ice Venerable?" Lu Yuan continued.

"No." Xiao Yi Xian bit her teeth lightly.

"The Ice Venerable is the master of Ice River Valley." Lu Yuan opened his folding fan and gently waved it. "A Dou Zun expert."

Xiao Yi Xian: !!!