"Who are you, really?"
Hearing the girl's light, ethereal voice, the black-robed figure shrugged helplessly. After a slight pause, an aged voice slowly emerged: "I think you've seen me at the Xiao Clan?"
Gently swinging her snow-white calves, Xun'er's gaze drifted as she asked casually: "What were you doing at the Jia Lie family?"
"Someone asked me to handle a little trouble."
"Who asked you?" Xun'er's autumn-water eyes narrowed into a subtle arc as she pressed further.
"Uh, I can't tell you that." The black-robed figure spread his hands and chuckled.
"But I want to know." A faint smile bloomed on the girl's exquisite face. Xun'er took a step forward, her body actually floating into midair. Pale golden flame spirals materialized and condensed rapidly in her slender fingers.
"Heh heh, little girl, I know you're very strong right now, but if you think that's enough to stop this old man, you're still a bit short." Yao Lao laughed.
Xun'er's delicate brows furrowed slightly, but she said no more. Her pale hand raised, and several high-speed spiraling golden flame spurs continued to emerge from her fingertips.
Watching Xun'er's unyielding posture, the two within the black robe felt a sudden headache. With a sigh, Yao Lao said helplessly: "I really don't want to fight with you. If I accidentally hurt you somewhere, that guy will be heartbroken."
"Alright, alright, I'm scared of you. Some blind fool today molested a girl that certain someone cares about deeply, and that someone happened to know me, so I was called over as a laborer. Sigh, and he doesn't even consider that at this old age, running around in the middle of the night isn't easy, you know?"
Long lashes blinked gently, and a touch of blush slowly surfaced on her gradually thawing delicate face. Xun'er's small hand turned, and the flame spurs in her hand slowly dissipated. Her gaze glanced toward the black-robed figure as she said with a radiant smile: "Sir truly has some connection with Brother Xiao Yan."
"Heh heh, that title sure changed fast." Yao Lao chuckled. "You probably guessed long ago that I have some connection with Xiao Yan?"
"It was just a guess before, but I couldn't be sure." Xun'er shook her head with a smile, then bowed gracefully to Yao Lao in midair. "Although I don't know Sir's background, Brother Xiao Yan being able to discard his past lethargy a year ago must have something to do with you, right?"
Yao Lao gave a faint laugh, neither confirming nor denying.
Her beautiful eyes fixed intently on the black-robed figure, Xun'er smiled sweetly and said softly: "No matter what purpose Sir had in contacting Brother Xiao Yan, please don't hide any ulterior motives from him. Otherwise, Xun'er will regard anyone who poses a threat to Brother Xiao Yan as an enemy. Perhaps Sir is very strong, but believe me, I have the ability to say such things."
"Tsk tsk, what a domineering little girl." Hearing Xun'er's words containing a subtle threat, Yao Lao was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "Fine, fine, you win. I just don't want Brother Xiao Yan to be deceived and hurt." Smiling lightly, Xun'er bowed to Yao Lao once more. "It's getting late, Xun'er must return. What Sir witnessed tonight, please don't mention it to Brother Xiao Yan."
"Don't worry, I won't say a word." Yao Lao nodded, then added with amusement in his heart: "Because he's already heard it himself."
Seeing Yao Lao's agreement, Xun'er smiled faintly. Just as she was about to turn, a green shadow suddenly pierced through the air toward her. Slightly startled, Xun'er waved her small hand and absorbed it into her palm.
Looking at the small jade vial in her hand, Xun'er was stunned for a moment. She turned her gaze toward the room, then looked back at the black-robed figure with a knowing smile: "Brother Xiao Yan really is someone with luck that makes others jealous."
Beneath the black robe, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. He knew in his heart that if not for what happened when he was young, Xun'er's attitude toward him in adulthood would probably not be much different from her attitude toward people like Xiao Ning.
Of course, these assumptions didn't hold up against reality. Heh heh, who told him to have quietly broken into the girl's heart when it was at its most vulnerable, and unintentionally branded a mark that belonged to him.
With a slightly triumphant smile, Xiao Yan casually clasped his hands behind his head, then allowed Yao Lao to control his body as they rapidly shot toward the direction of the Xiao Clan.
After reaching the Xiao Clan, to avoid being detected by Xun'er, Xiao Yan carefully circumvented the courtyard where she lived before landing outside his own room. He then swiftly slipped inside and gently closed the door and windows.
Entering the room, Xiao Yan quickly removed the large black cloak, storing it in his Spatial Ring. Only then did he let out a heavy sigh of relief, collapsing lazily onto the bed and muttering softly to himself: "Ah, what a wonderful night indeed."
...
The next day, dawn, Jia Lie family.
Jia Lie Bi's expression was terrifyingly gloomy, with threads of cold, sinister aura radiating from his body, making the kneeling beautiful maid tremble in fear.
His gaze swept coldly around the room where Liu Xi had been staying as Jia Lie Bi said in a frigid tone: "You're saying Liu Xi has disappeared?"
"Yes, Clan Leader. For some reason last night, the maid suddenly lost consciousness. I only woke at dawn, and when I did, Lord Liu Xi was gone. I asked the guards outside on duty, but none of them had seen Lord Liu Xi." The maid spoke tremblingly.
"From the moment he entered his room last night, I sensed he never left. Moreover, both of the Jia Lie family's only gates are guarded by Dou Master-level experts. With his strength, he absolutely could not have left the Jia Lie compound without making a sound!" Jia Lie Bi's voice was sinister.
"The maid doesn't know either." The maid's face was deathly pale, terrified that Jia Lie Bi would blame her.
The corner of Jia Lie Bi's eye twitched rapidly. His mind, almost in complete disarray, took a deep breath. Ignoring the trembling maid, he began pacing slowly around the corners of the room.
Seeing Jia Lie Bi's actions, the maid didn't dare make another sound, her kneeling body remaining completely motionless.
Step by step, he walked through the quiet room. When he reached a corner, Jie Lie Bi's steps abruptly halted, his pupils contracting as he stared fixedly at a small pile of white powder in the corner.
Heart pounding, he crouched down and picked up a pinch of powder with his finger, bringing it to his nose to sniff. Instantly, his cold expression transformed into one of horror.
He let out a deep breath, suddenly feeling his legs go weak. A chill, uncontrollable, began to seep from the depths of his heart.
"Liu Xi... was actually killed right under my nose?"
---
The scene shifted back to the night before.
Xun'er caught the jade vial, her delicate brows furrowing as she asked curiously: "What's this?"
"Just a little trifle that might come in handy." The black-robed figure smiled. "You'd better get back quickly. If someone discovers you've left the house, it might cause trouble."
Xun'er nodded gently, her gaze lingering on the black-robed figure for a moment before she turned and vanished into the night.
After Xun'er disappeared, Yao Lao's teasing voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind: "Heh heh, that girl really is something else. She's both smart and incredibly protective of you, kid. She even came out in the middle of the night to check on things."
Xiao Yan smiled slightly: "She's always been like this since we were children."
"Heh heh, and here you are, pretending to be all humble." Yao Lao chuckled. "When you were little, you were lucky enough to stumble into her heart when it was most vulnerable. Now, as you grow up, she's become such a beauty that even an old man like me can't help but admire. You really are a guy with luck that makes others jealous."
Beneath the black robe, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. He knew in his heart that if not for what happened when he was young, Xun'er's attitude toward him in adulthood would probably not be much different from her attitude toward people like Xiao Ning.
Of course, these assumptions didn't hold up against reality. Heh heh, who told him to have quietly broken into the girl's heart when it was at its most vulnerable, and unintentionally branded a mark that belonged to him.
With a slightly triumphant smile, Xiao Yan casually clasped his hands behind his head, then allowed Yao Lao to control his body as they rapidly shot toward the direction of the Xiao Clan.
After reaching the Xiao Clan, to avoid being detected by Xun'er, Xiao Yan carefully circumvented the courtyard where she lived before landing outside his own room. He then swiftly slipped inside and gently closed the door and windows.
Entering the room, Xiao Yan quickly removed the large black cloak, storing it in his Spatial Ring. Only then did he let out a heavy sigh of relief, collapsing lazily onto the bed and muttering softly to himself: "Ah, what a wonderful night indeed."
...
The next day, dawn, Jia Lie family.
Jia Lie Bi's expression was terrifyingly gloomy, with threads of cold, sinister aura radiating from his body, making the kneeling beautiful maid tremble in fear.
His gaze swept coldly around the room where Liu Xi had been staying as Jia Lie Bi said in a frigid tone: "You're saying Liu Xi has disappeared?"
"Yes, Clan Leader. For some reason last night, the maid suddenly lost consciousness. I only woke at dawn, and when I did, Lord Liu Xi was gone. I asked the guards outside on duty, but none of them had seen Lord Liu Xi." The maid spoke tremblingly.
"From the moment he entered his room last night, I sensed he never left. Moreover, both of the Jia Lie family's only gates are guarded by Dou Master-level experts. With his strength, he absolutely could not have left the Jia Lie compound without making a sound!" Jia Lie Bi's voice was sinister.
"The maid doesn't know either." The maid's face was deathly pale, terrified that Jia Lie Bi would blame her.
The corner of Jia Lie Bi's eye twitched rapidly. His mind, almost in complete disarray, took a deep breath. Ignoring the trembling maid, he began pacing slowly around the corners of the room.
Seeing Jia Lie Bi's actions, the maid didn't dare make another sound, her kneeling body remaining completely motionless.
Step by step, he walked through the quiet room. When he reached a corner, Jia Lie Bi's steps abruptly halted, his pupils contracting as he stared fixedly at a small pile of white powder in the corner.
Heart pounding, he crouched down and picked up a pinch of powder with his finger, bringing it to his nose to sniff. Instantly, his cold expression transformed into one of horror.
He let out a deep breath, suddenly feeling his legs go weak. A chill, uncontrollable, began to seep from the depths of his heart.
"Liu Xi... was actually killed right under my nose?"
---
Back in his room, Xiao Yan stared at the ceiling, his mind replaying the night's events. Xun'er's strength had grown far beyond his expectations. The secret technique she'd used, the golden flames, the way she'd moved—it was all so powerful, yet so beautiful.
"You're thinking about that girl again, aren't you?" Yao Lao's voice carried a knowing amusement.
Xiao Yan didn't deny it. "She's changed so much. I barely recognized her."
"Heh heh, people change, kid. Especially when they care about someone." Yao Lao's tone softened. "She's been protecting you all along, you know. Even when you couldn't sense it."
Xiao Yan fell silent. He thought of all the times Xun'er had been there, all the subtle ways she'd shown her concern. The jade vial she'd thrown to him—it contained pills she must have risked obtaining.
"What do I do now?" Xiao Yan asked quietly. "I can't keep hiding from her forever."
"First things first," Yao Lao replied. "You need to get stronger. Much stronger. Only then can you protect her in return. For now, focus on your training. The Dou Technique I'm teaching you will be crucial."
Xiao Yan nodded, his jaw set with determination. He would get stronger. For Xun'er. For himself. For the future they might one day share.
The morning sun streamed through his window, casting golden patterns on the floor. A new day had begun, and with it, new resolve.
In the Jia Lie compound, Jia Lie Bi stood in the room where Liu Xi had last been seen. The white powder lay undisturbed in the corner. He reached down, his fingers trembling as he picked up a pinch.
"Bone ash," he whispered, his face draining of all color. "Someone used a flame powerful enough to reduce a human body to ash. But who? And how did they get past our guards?"
His mind raced through possibilities. The Xiao Clan? No, they didn't have anyone with such power. Some other faction in Wutan City? But who would dare move against the Jia Lie family?
A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. This wasn't just about losing their alchemist anymore. This was about a force far more dangerous than he'd imagined lurking in the shadows.
"We need to find out who did this," Jie Lie Bi muttered to himself, his voice tight with fear and anger. "And we need to do it before they strike again."
But even as he spoke, he knew that finding the culprit would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Whoever had killed Liu Xi had done so with terrifying efficiency, leaving almost no trace.
The white powder in his hand seemed to mock him. A life, reduced to nothing but dust. And somewhere in Wutan City, the killer was probably already planning their next move.
Jia Lie Bi's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white. He would not rest until he found the person responsible. The Jie Lie family's honor demanded nothing less.
But deep down, a small voice whispered that perhaps he should be more concerned with survival than revenge. After all, if someone could kill Liu Xi so easily, what chance did he have?
The thought sent a fresh wave of fear through him, cold and paralyzing.