Dou Qi Continent — Wu Tan City, Xiao Clan.
Inside a wide, peaceful courtyard—
A graceful figure stood beneath the pavilion.
The breeze drifted past lightly, lifting her long black hair as it swayed like silk in the wind. Her light purple dress fluttered at the hem, outlining her flawless curves.
The young girl's beauty was ethereal, serene—like a lotus growing untouched by worldly dust.
This was Xun'er, her delicate brows slightly knitted, her bright eyes carrying a soft trace of worry.
After a moment of silence, she finally spoke. Her voice was crisp, soothing—like it could cleanse one's soul.
"Ling Lao, come out."
As soon as her words fell, wisps of black mist emerged from the stone floor outside the pavilion.
The mist gathered rapidly, forming the shape of a man cloaked entirely in darkness.
It was her protector—Ling Ying.
"Miss."
Ling Ying knelt on one knee respectfully.
"Speak. What is it?" Xun'er said calmly.
"Tomorrow, the people of Yunlan Sect will arrive at the Xiao Clan," Ling Ying reported. "With them… will be Young Master Xiao Yan's fiancée, Nalan Yanran."
"Oh?"
Xun'er let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"So they've finally come to break the engagement?"
She had never approved of forcing marriage contracts on children, but to wait until Xiao Yan had fallen into hardship and then come running to break ties—
It was shameless.
"Miss guessed correctly. They are indeed coming to annul the engagement. And Nalan Yanran's grandfather, Nalan Jie, has already agreed."
"Nalan Jie? Wasn't he always preaching about honoring one's word? Why agree now of all times?" Xun'er asked, puzzled.
"Because of one person."
Ling Ying's expression grew complicated.
"Seven days ago, the Jia Ma Empire held an alchemist conference. A young alchemist named Xiao Huohuo refined a fifth-tier pill, the Revitalizing Purple Spirit Pill. He defeated the Cloud Empire Alchemist Association president Holt—who attended in disguise—and won the championship."
"Every major force in the empire, including the Nalan family, is trying to win him over. Even Yun Yun, the sect master of Yunlan Sect, offered him the position of Young Sect Master. He rejected her."
"Nalan Jie seems to be considering pairing Nalan Yanran with Xiao Huohuo."
"…Xiao Huohuo?"
Xun'er frowned.
The name itself felt like it had been forged from pure malice toward someone.
"Enough. If they want to break it, let them break it.
As long as they don't overstep, we won't bother with them," Xun'er said lightly. "You may leave."
Ling Ying bowed. But after a moment of hesitation, he spoke again:
"Miss… there is another matter I am unsure whether I should say."
"Say it," Xun'er replied, her tone mildly impatient.
"The Dou Huang expert who followed Xiao Se young master a year ago has been identified. He was one of the former top ten experts of the Jia Ma Empire — Hai Bodong, the Grand Elder of the Mittel family. He returned to Jia Ma Holy City after parting with Young Master Xiao Se."
"And this Xiao Huohuo has a very close relationship with Hai Bodong as well. After refining the Revitalizing Purple Spirit Pill, he personally handed it to Hai Bodong to help restore his cultivation."
"You're saying… Xiao Huohuo might actually be Cousin Xiao Se in disguise?"
Xun'er's eyes widened, surprise blooming in her otherwise cold gaze.
Ling Ying nodded.
"According to my investigation, everything about him matches Young Master Xiao Se—except his appearance. I believe he used disguise techniques."
Xun'er slowly turned toward Ling Ying, and for the first time in a long while, a gentle smile blossomed on her flawless face.
"That does sound like Cousin Xiao Se…
To think he can already refine fifth-tier pills. He's fourteen—
Two years ago he had only just reached Dou Zhe."
Seeing her so cheerful warmed Ling Ying's old heart.
But just as he was about to speak again, Xun'er's voice quietly interrupted him:
"Ling Lao… you said many families want to recruit Cousin Xiao Se, and Nalan Jie even wants to match Nalan Yanran with him.
What was his response?"
"According to my findings, Young Master Xiao Se only sees Nalan Yanran as an ordinary friend. But…"
Ling Ying hesitated.
"It appears that he has a very close relationship with Miss Ya Fei of the Mittel family. The two seem… intimate."
"…No."
Xun'er stiffened.
"That's not him."
Her complexion turned pale as snow.
Without letting Ling Ying continue, she lifted her hand slightly and whispered:
"Ling Lao… you may leave."
"As you command."
With a final glance at her pale face, Ling Ying sank into the shadows.
"Cousin Xiao Yu… Ya Fei… I… what should I do?"
Xun'er's soft voice trembled.
A crystalline tear slid down her perfect cheek and fell silently.
At the moment the tear touched the ground, a faint golden flame flickered between her brows—vanishing instantly.
And for an instant—
she seemed to remember something long lost.
Meanwhile, back in Douluo Continent—
While Nalan Yanran prepared to travel to the Xiao Clan to break off her engagement…
Xiao Se, the kitten, and Long Kui followed Bibi Dong to Heaven Dou City.
Xiao Se walked in the center, with the kitten and Bibi Dong at his sides.
Long Kui hid within the sword markings on his right hand.
Just like before, Xiao Se and the kitten still wore their usual outfits.
Bibi Dong also kept her simple white dress. She hadn't donned the golden ceremonial robes or the Nine Curved Purple-Gold Crown that marked her as Pope.
To avoid unnecessary attention, she had veiled her face with a thin layer of white gauze.
No one would ever imagine the Pope of the Spirit Hall would stroll into Heaven Dou City dressed like a common traveler.
"So this is Heaven Dou City? It really is magnificent."
Long Kui's gentle voice echoed within the trio's minds.
"As expected of the imperial capital of one of the two great empires," Bibi Dong said softly.
"In terms of size, only the Star Luo Empire's main city can compare.
Back then, Xiao Se used to sneak me out here all the time."
Her gaze swept the familiar streets—
and then drifted to Xiao Se.
That familiar face made her heart settle warmly.
Feeling her gaze, Xiao Se smiled.
Something within him faintly remembered this place.
He gently took her jade hand, interlacing their fingers tightly.
And because he refused to show favoritism, he also held the kitten's hand in his other.
With a beauty on each side, and Long Kui secretly tagging along, the group followed Xiao Se's hazy memories until they stopped before an elegant old tea house.
"We're here."
Seeing the familiar building, Bibi Dong lowered her lashes and smiled.
(End of Chapter)
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