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Under the night sky, a bright moon hung high, casting a watery glow that solidified into a cool radiance on the ground.
Within the massive basin, countless pavilions and towers stood tall.
Compared to its vast area, the Inner Courtyard had a sparse population, making the Jia Nan Academy Inner Academy appear quite deserted.
In a secluded area near the edge of the basin, two pavilions stood side by side; one was enveloped in darkness, with only a faint yellow light emanating from a third-floor room.
The other was brightly lit, with all four floors illuminated except for the first.
The brightly lit one was Xiao Meng's residence, and today, this usually quiet pavilion welcomed four new guests.
Xiao Yan, Xun Er, Wu Hao, and Hu Jia had also moved in.
New students were often bullied by older students upon entering the Inner Courtyard; this was an old tradition of Jia Nan Academy, and even Wu Hao and Hu Jia were not entirely confident in their ability to protect themselves.
So they decided to stick together with Xiao Yan and Xun Er, seeking warmth in numbers.
Although they said they were sticking together for warmth, Wu Hao and Hu Jia were well aware that they were the ones being looked after; Xiao Yan and Xun Er's strength could rank among the top in the Inner Courtyard, not to mention Xiao Meng was also here...
They only had a superficial understanding of the Inner Courtyard's situation and were unsure of Xiao Meng's exact standing, but they could be sure that there wouldn't be many students stronger than her.
After leaving the second floor for Wu Hao and Hu Jia, Xiao Meng led Xiao Yan and Xun Er to a room on the third floor.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, Miss Xun Er, it's been a long time since we all gathered, hasn't it?" Xiao Meng naturally brewed a pot of tea and poured three cups.
Xiao Yan picked up a cup, brought it to his lips, and tasted it carefully, saying with emotion, "Yes... it's been almost two years; time really flies."
Xiao Meng suddenly said, "Has the Yunlan Sect matter been resolved? Young Master Xiao Yan must have won, right? Give that arrogant Nalan Yanran a good slap! Swell her face!"
Xiao Yan suddenly coughed, placing the teacup on the table, his expression becoming very unnatural.
Xun Er smiled, turned to look at Xiao Yan, and said nothing.
"Ah... this... that... I won..." Xiao Yan stammered, barely able to complete a sentence.
"I knew it, Young Master Xiao Yan would definitely not lose," Xiao Meng said with a smile.
Xiao Yan knew that Ling Ying must have told Xun Er the situation, but it seemed Xun Er hadn't told Xiao Meng.
He took a deep breath and said, bracing himself:
"I won the three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran, but something else unexpected happened... I... I made a big mistake!"
Xiao Meng raised an eyebrow, her expression slightly solemn.
Her intelligence network with Amon had been cut off, and she was unaware of many things, only guessing that the Yunlan Sect had probably fallen under Amon's control; if there was any 'accident,' it was probably not an accident but the result of Amon's secret manipulation.
"What happened?" The hint of gentleness and charm in her voice disappeared, replaced by coldness and seriousness.
"I... I did that kind of thing with Yun Yun, and we became husband and wife," Xiao Yan said, steeling himself, in a low voice.
Xun Er was expressionless, Xiao Meng was deep in thought, and the air suddenly became quiet, without a sound, as if time had frozen.
Xiao Yan didn't even dare to breathe, his breathing becoming cautious and extremely faint.
To his surprise, there was no blame or scolding; Xiao Meng only asked in a calm voice, "Did it happen at the Yunlan Sect?"
"No, it was in the Monster Mountain Range..."
Xiao Yan honestly recounted the events involving Ape Lord, Yun Yun, and the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
Xiao Meng curled her lips into a smile: "As expected of Young Master Xiao Yan. Nalan Yanran wanted to break off the engagement, and then you turned around and won over her teacher's heart. Is there any better revenge than this?
"Let her know how poor her judgment is... let her regret her actions back then...
"However, Young Master, how do you plan to treat Yun Yun? Will you heartlessly abandon her? As revenge for her supporting Nalan Yanran's breaking off the engagement, which brought shame upon you, Old Master Xiao Zhan, and the entire Xiao Family?"
Xiao Yan was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head: "I can't do it. Maybe it's my possessiveness acting up, or maybe it's my sense of responsibility... I don't want to let her down."
Xiao Meng chuckled, "Xiao Meng is just a maidservant, as long as Young Master has me in his heart, that's enough... I can't control much else, but what about Miss Xun Er?"
Xiao Yan clenched his fists, looking at Xun Er somewhat nervously.
The latter rolled her eyes helplessly: "What if I mind? Can I kill her? Brother Xiao Yan, you must control yourself, once is enough, no more."
Xiao Yan breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"However..." Xun Er drew out her words.
Xiao Yan's heart tightened again.
"Elder Ling told me that you have to go to the Yunlan Sect again in three years? To fulfill another three-year agreement?" Xun Er's tone was calm and gentle.
Xiao Yan shifted uncomfortably on his seat, adjusting his posture, and nodded in affirmation.
"Hmm?" Xiao Meng made a sound of confusion.
"Yun Shan forced Brother Xiao Yan to marry Yun Yun, but Brother Xiao Yan refused, and then this agreement was made," Xun Er explained simply.
What does this mean? What is Amon plotting? What good would it do him to have Young Master Xiao Yan marry Yun Yun? It can't be just for fun, can it?
Uh... that possibility can't be ruled out... Huh? I actually missed such a big spectacle!
After Young Master Xiao Yan defeated Nalan Yanran, he would immediately marry Yun Yun—that would indeed be very interesting... Xiao Meng thought, her mind wandering.
But there's still another three-year agreement... Hehe, I can't miss this one.
Wait, three years from now... isn't that when Young Master Xiao Yan attacked the Yunlan Sect and faced the Yunlan Sect and Protector Wu in the original story? Does the main body still intend to control the plot's direction?
Over in the Jia Ma Empire, due to Amon's activities, the plot's direction seems a bit different from the original. Young Master Xiao Yan doesn't seem to have clashed with the Yunlan Sect... Is this to give him motivation to strive?
Damn it, why didn't he tell me anything about such an important matter! Xiao Meng thought resentfully.
She opened her mouth and asked, "What is the content of the agreement?"
Xun Er replied, "Brother Xiao Yan will fight Yun Shan; if he loses, he'll obediently marry Yun Yun, but if he wins, Yun Yun can become his concubine..."
"Oh... Young Master Xiao Yan, what are your thoughts?" Xiao Meng looked at Xiao Yan with great interest, finding his dilemma quite amusing.
Xiao Yan's gaze darted away, and he said firmly, "I must win!"
Seeing him subtly express his stance, Xun Er nodded slightly.
Xiao Meng's lips curved into an arc, and she pressed on, "Do you want Yun Yun to be a concubine?"
Xiao Yan's expression froze; he had just thought he had temporarily passed the test! Xiao Meng, you've changed! You weren't like this before!
Under the soul-searching question, Xiao Yan again broke out in a cold sweat. After a long silence, he answered in a barely audible voice, with very little confidence, "I don't have that intention either..."
"Oh... You wouldn't be thinking of marrying both Miss Xun Er and Yun Yun, would you? Both of them at the wedding? And entering the bridal chamber together?" Xiao Meng pressed again.
Xiao Yan's mouth twitched, and he blurted out, as if possessed, "What about you?"
"Me too? If Miss Xun Er agrees, I'm willing too, oh," Xiao Meng said with a giggle.
Xun Er's smile faded a little; although she had already tacitly accepted Xiao Meng, Xiao Yan saying it in front of her still made her slightly unhappy.
She said in a faint voice, "Brother Xiao Yan, I don't mind you having three wives and four concubines... but if you want to have both, you need to have enough capital, oh.
"On the Dou Qi Continent, strength is paramount... If your strength isn't enough, just wanting to be with Xun Er will face great resistance...
"On top of that, if you want to have other women and give them the same status as me, do you think my family would agree so easily?
"Have you really thought this through? To achieve what Xiao Meng just said, you must have the power to silence all my clansmen, and you must earn my father's approval... That's very difficult."
Xiao Yan said in a deep voice, "I'm sorry, Xun Er, I don't want any hierarchy in my own small family... And I also need to give Yun Yun an explanation."
Xiao Meng clicked her tongue, saying, "This also counts as a sense of responsibility..."
Xun Er nodded slightly, a mischievous smile appearing on her face:
"The Brother Xiao Yan I know wouldn't back down because of difficulties... You've passed my test... But only my test, you'll have to talk to my father yourself... I won't say anything extra to help you.
"I'll secretly tell you a piece of news: my family is very traditional, but they also value strength highly.
"So, next time you see my father, give him a beating, and he'll agree to me marrying you, and he'll also agree to you marrying others at the same time as me."
Xiao Yan said somewhat awkwardly, "This... wouldn't be good."
Xun Er said seriously, "I'm serious; if you can beat him up, there won will be no problems."
Xiao Yan had already envisioned a rigid, dogmatic, strict, and unreasonable middle-aged man in his mind...
He replied:
"If I must do so, I will try my best."
Xiao Meng was stifling a laugh beside him... Beat Gu Yuan? Are you serious?
Xun Er was a little angry and planned to trick Xiao Yan?
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