Chapter 75: Lu Bu: Xiao Yan, congratulations on hitting the jackpot!
Mu Zhan was carried away by Mu Chen. After instigating a fight and ending up getting beaten, and even injuring himself in the process, neither Mu Zhan nor Mu Chen had any face left to remain at the gathering.
Lu Bu's gaze swept across the area, intending to strike up a conversation with Ya Fei, but his eyes caught Xiao Yan's mischievous expression, and a chill ran down his spine. Shifting his gaze, he spotted Yun Yun sipping wine quietly in a corner. In an instant, Lu Bu broke into a cold sweat.
"Damn it, I forgot about her…" Lu Bu felt an icy chill down his back and hurriedly walked toward her.
"Yun… Sect Leader, long time no see." Lu Bu initially wanted to greet her as Yun Yun sister, but Yun Yun's sharp eyes darted toward Nalan Yanran standing beside her.
Lu Bu wisely changed his tone, immediately addressing her more formally, and cautiously approached her side.
"'Very smooth'? Hmm?" Yun Yun's voice was calm, but the underlying threat in her tone was unmistakable.
Lu Bu inhaled sharply, sensing trouble. He opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it upon noticing Nalan Yanran nearby. Anything he said now would only make things worse.
"Teacher, you… know each other?" Nalan Yanran asked, her tone full of surprise as she looked between the two.
"We've crossed paths a few times," Yun Yun replied with a slight nod. She kept her explanation brief, not wanting to delve deeper into their relationship. There was a part of her that instinctively didn't want to reveal any side of herself other than that of a teacher primarily because she found it too embarrassing.
Lu Bu and Nalan Yanran were practically the same age, with Lu Bu perhaps being a year older at most. But compared to her…
The thought made Yun Yun's hand tremble slightly, and a faint blush spread across her fair cheeks.
"Why not check on Ya Fei?" Yun Yun suggested, tilting her chin toward a pavilion by the pool where Ya Fei sat alone. Mittel Tengshan had approached her earlier to speak. Whatever they discussed had caused Ya Fei's previously soft demeanor to transform her expression now firm and her gaze sharp, as though she had suddenly found her life's purpose.
"She doesn't seem to need it," Lu Bu exhaled softly. "It looks like she's found what she was looking for."
"Heh…" Yun Yun ground her teeth slightly, smiling but saying nothing.
Nalan Yanran: "…"
Although she didn't understand the nuances, it was clear that something complicated was at play. The relationship between these two was definitely unusual!
Nalan Yanran's eyes sparkled with interest. Gossip, it seemed… could be quite entertaining.
"Teacher, I…" Nalan Yanran began, but before she could finish, two overwhelming auras erupted in the distance.
The sudden surge of energy startled everyone in the Nalan family estate. All eyes turned to the northwest corner of the capital, where the two powerful presences clashed violently.
"Teacher?!" Nalan Yanran called out urgently, concerned that the unfamiliar Dou Huang aura might require Yun Yun's intervention.
"It's Jia Lao battling someone," Yun Yun explained, her brows furrowing slightly. This was a minor inconvenience. Having just met Lu Bu, she didn't want any additional complications.
"It's Hai Bodong. He and Jia Xingtian are old friends; it's nothing to worry about," Lu Bu said with a faint smile.
"Oh, him…" Yun Yun murmured, recalling Hai Bodong. She had met him when she was still a Dou Wang. His icy Dou Qi had been razor sharp, and while he had ultimately lost in a clash with her teacher, it was by no small margin.
Her tense expression eased at the thought. Since it wasn't an enemy, there was no need for her to intervene.
"Hmm? How do you know that?" Lu Bu's lips curved into a sly smile as he spoke, his tone filled with intrigue. "He's been in seclusion for over a decade."
Crack…
A faint cracking sound echoed as the wine glass in Yun Yun's hand fractured further. Her smile became noticeably brighter, though her tone was calm.
"Teacher, I'll go take a look!" Nalan Yanran interjected quickly, alarmed by Yun Yun's reaction. She leaped into the air, her Dou Qi wings propelling her toward the northwest of the capital.
As if on cue, a wave of people surged in the same direction. Mittel Tengshan, Nalan Jie, Liu Ling, Xiao Yan, the princess of the Jia Ma Empire, and many others all rushed to witness the legendary clash of Dou Huang experts.
In the blink of an eye, only Yun Yun, Lu Bu, and the Nalan family guards remained at the estate.
Glancing at Yun Yun, Lu Bu gave a slight nod. With a flick of his shoulder, his purple Cloud Wings unfolded, and in an instant, he disappeared into the night sky.
Yun Yun remained still for a moment. Only after Lu Bu vanished did she slowly rise, releasing her Dou Qi wings and following silently into the night.
…
In the northwest of the capital, two brilliant spheres of light one gold and one white clashed violently. The terrifying energy from their battle sent shockwaves across the ground, leaving deep, charred cracks in its wake.
"Hahaha, Hai, you're slipping!" A booming, aged voice echoed from the golden sphere. "Back in the day, I used to avoid your icy Dou Qi. But now? It's nothing! Have you grown weaker with age? Hahaha!"
"Tch, don't get cocky. I'm just not at full strength because of some… issues," Hai Bodong grumbled, his tone tinged with frustration. He sounded like a child making excuses for losing a fight.
"Hahaha, then why don't you tell me about your condition? The royal family has plenty of rare herbs to spare. I'll even give them to you for free!" Jia Xingtian's laughter boomed again, thoroughly enjoying the chance to outclass his old rival.
Buzz!
Hai Bodong didn't reply. The white sphere of light around him flared brightly, but the golden sphere slammed into it with overwhelming force, causing the white light to wane immediately.
"Old man Jia, I'm done! I'm not feeling well and can't fight properly, so I'm calling it quits!" Hai Bodong huffed indignantly.
"Fine, take three days to rest. After that, let's spar again!" Jia Xingtian's laughter echoed, brimming with confidence.
"Alright, three days. I'll have a surprise for you!" Hai Bodong chuckled, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
At that moment, two streaks of light shot toward them, followed by a crowd of figures. Seeing this, both Jia Xingtian and Hai Bodong stopped fighting, waiting calmly for the onlookers to arrive. Their battle had caused quite a stir, drawing plenty of attention.
Outside the imperial capital, Lu Bu and Yun Yun walked side by side, their hands tightly clasped together.
In truth, Yun Yun didn't want this, but after Lu Bu mastered the Golden Nirvana Body, his physical strength had grown exponentially. Even Yun Yun, a seasoned Dou Huang, couldn't break free.
Although Yun Yun didn't know about his body strengthening technique, it didn't stop her from sensing the incredible power in Lu Bu's body. So, if she couldn't break free, it was definitely not because she didn't want to... Yeah, that's it!
As he gently squeezed the soft, jade like hand in his palm, Lu Bu chuckled inwardly and asked in a soft voice, "Sister Yun, long time no see. Did you miss me recently?"
"No!" Yun Yun retorted with annoyance. After sensing the jade slip's message, she had rushed over immediately, even putting on some makeup. And what was her reward? A certain someone greeted her with a "smooth" remark. If not for her restraint, she would have slapped him to death already!
"Alright, out with it. What's the matter?" Yun Yun's tone was calm, her demeanor businesslike.
"It's… a serious matter." Lu Bu rubbed his chin as his expression slowly turned grave.
Yun Yun: "..."
I just told you to get to the point. Why are you dawdling like this? Are you a pig?
"I had a fight with someone from the Hall of Souls, a guardian named Wu Protector. I narrowly escaped death. He's now hiding in the Yunlan Sect and may have some ties to your teacher, Yun Shan or, to be precise, he may have tampered with Yun Shan in some way," Lu Bu said solemnly.
"Wh… what?!" Yun Yun's face instantly went pale.
…
Under the cover of night outside the imperial capital, Yun Yun sat on the grass with a heavy expression, listening intently to Lu Bu recount the situation. After a long while, she exhaled slowly.
"The Hall of Souls… Wu Protector… How could someone like that hide within my Yunlan Sect for so long without being discovered?" Yun Yun murmured in disbelief, her dignified and elegant face filled with shock.
"Not necessarily," Lu Bu said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "It's possible the Hall of Elders has already been compromised whether partially or completely."
"Then why hasn't he controlled me?" Yun Yun frowned, but her expression soon cleared. Perhaps… it was because of her teacher's protection...
"Or perhaps Senior Yun Shan intervened," Lu Bu said, his eyes gleaming.
A Dou Zong's stance would still hold sway over Wu Protector. If Wu acted recklessly, all his efforts might go to waste. Yun Yun, as a person, was not worth that much to him. Without Yun Yun, he could still control the Yunlan Sect; she was dispensable to him.
"What should we do?" Yun Yun's delicate face showed a hint of worry. At her current level a mere five star Dou Huang, achieved only with the help of a Huangji Pill she was no match for Wu Protector.
"If I've brought it up, naturally, I have a solution." Lu Bu took her hand and said softly, "I'm not exceptional in many areas, but when it comes to formations and seals, I have some confidence. The control seal in Senior Yun Shan's soul, with the right coordination of medicine, can either be resolved or expelled."
Feeling the warmth of his palm, Yun Yun's anxious heart began to calm down. Lu Bu's steady and confident tone instilled a deep sense of trust.
"Xiao Bu…" Almost reflexively, her jade like hand gripped his tighter. Yun Yun suddenly felt a pang of hesitation, even considering urging Lu Bu to give up. Maintaining the status quo seemed… acceptable.
But the thought quickly passed. She had been a sect leader for many years and knew all too well that yielding only encouraged an enemy's greed. The only solution was complete elimination!
"All of this requires your cooperation," Lu Bu said with a smile. "Here's the plan: first, we do this and that… then this and that… and finally this and that. Shhh, walls have ears. Don't say more. Once Wu Protector is dealt with, all problems will be solved!"
Listening to Lu Bu's plan, Yun Yun frowned slightly. Most of it seemed feasible, but…
"Xiao Bu, you're planning to face Wu Protector alone?" Yun Yun asked, puzzled. Lu Bu had already told her about his earlier battle with Wu Protector, where he'd nearly lost his life.
"No, I have backup," Lu Bu replied with a grin. "Someone with Dou Zong level strength. As for who it is… let's keep that a secret for now."
"This…" Yun Yun's face showed a trace of worry. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded. Yun Yun chose to trust Lu Bu. While he occasionally kept things from her, he had never lied to her. Every word he said was true… except when he was being a shameless flirt.
"Alright, I'll cooperate fully!" Yun Yun said firmly.
"Good. Keep an eye on the Hall of Elders. Try to identify anyone who might be under Wu Protector's control. If you can't, don't worry just make sure not to alert him."
"I understand!" Yun Yun nodded solemnly. Then, leaning forward, she placed a light kiss on Lu Bu's cheek before spreading her wings of Dou Qi and flying back toward the Yunlan Sect.
"Wu Protector…" Watching her disappear into the distance, Lu Bu chuckled softly. "You must die. Your soul… I, Lu Bu, will claim it!"
"Oh, right. It's time to take a closer look at the jade fragment Xiao Yan has…" Lu Bu smirked, tapping the ground lightly with his toe before disappearing into the night.
…
The next day, within a secret chamber of the Nalan family:
"Xiao… Xiao Yan, is it over?" Nalan Jie asked, his face pale and his voice hoarse. He was currently enduring the excruciating pain of having his bone marrow roasted by an 异火 (Heavenly Flame). The agony was so intense it felt like it pierced through his very soul.
"Hold on a bit longer. I'm retrieving the flame now!" Xiao Yan said, his forehead drenched with sweat. He controlled the scarlet flame in his hand, reducing it into thin, agile fire serpents that darted gracefully back into his body.
As the Myriad Beasts Flame withdrew, Nalan Jie's complexion gradually turned rosy, but cold sweat streamed down his face as if it cost nothing.
As a dutiful son, Nalan Su quickly helped his father lie down, while Nalan Yanran escorted Xiao Yan out of the chamber. Their days of silent understanding made words unnecessary.
However...
Walking through the Nalan family estate, Xiao Yan felt an inexplicable sense of unease. From the corner of his eye, he could see Nalan Yanran's clear, elegant gaze fixed intently on him, her eyes sparkling with a strange light. It made him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
He didn't want this simple transaction between himself and the Nalan family to be tainted with such pointless emotions.
"Nalan Miss, is something the matter?" Xiao Yan finally couldn't bear it any longer and broke the silence. Damn Lu Bu, always setting him up!
"Thank you, Yanxiao," Nalan Yanran said softly with a warm smile. Her smile was radiant, like a hall full of blooming flowers, brightening the world around her.
Xiao Yan clenched his fist inside his sleeve. He had to admit that the once spoiled girl had grown into a stunning beauty.
Even though he carried resentment in his heart, he couldn't help but take a second look.
"There's no need. It was just a transaction. I needed the Seven Phantom Green Spirit Salve," Xiao Yan replied coldly. He hadn't forgotten the scene in his family's home where she had forced him to annul the engagement.
"You saved my Nalan family. You are my benefactor our benefactor," Nalan Yanran said gently. "I don't know how to properly thank you."
"If my grandfather had passed away, the Nalan family would have faced a crisis of annihilation. We've made many enemies over the years, and they wouldn't have let us go."
"With you around, who would dare?" Xiao Yan said indifferently. Nalan Yanran was the Yunlan Sect's Young Sect Leader who in their right mind would challenge her family?
"Yanxiao, have you heard about my situation?" Nalan Yanran asked with a smile. "The three year agreement in seven days?"
Heh… I doubt I'll ever forget, Xiao Yan sneered inwardly, though his expression remained calm. "I've heard of it."
"That was a mistake I made when I was young and naive," Nalan Yanran said, her slender jade hand trembling slightly as her voice quivered. "My teacher agreed to it but asked me not to publicize it. However… I thought that if I didn't make a big show of it, what was the point of annulling the engagement?"
Xiao Yan's hand tightened into a fist, his jaw muscles twitching, but he remained silent, saying nothing.
"Now, I realize how much pain that decision caused him…" Nalan Yanran tilted her delicate chin slightly, gazing at the azure sky with tightly pressed lips. "Over these three years, he must have endured unimaginable suffering."
Xiao Yan stared at Nalan Yanran with a detached gaze. He couldn't believe this once proud princess would truly empathize with his suffering. In his eyes, they were from entirely different worlds.
"I'm not someone who leads a pampered life," Nalan Yanran said, sensing Xiao Yan's gaze. She smiled faintly and raised her jade hand, pulling aside the fabric around her neck to reveal her delicate collarbone.
Xiao Yan's pupils contracted sharply. On that flawless, radiant skin was a faint but hideous scar.
"It's from my training," Nalan Yanran said with a smile. "It's mostly healed now, but I kept the scar as a reminder to never underestimate the heroes of the world."
Xiao Yan pursed his lips slightly. He realized that Nalan Yanran's life had not been as easy as he imagined.
"Seven days from now, at the three year agreement, if I lose… it may be the last time you'll ever see me," Nalan Yanran said softly.
"And if you win?" Xiao Yan asked.
"I will sever one of my arms and enter the Gate of Life and Death," Nalan Yanran said firmly. The Gate of Life and Death was the resting place of past Yunlan Sect leaders and the final trial for becoming the sect leader. It was fraught with deadly dangers, and survival was entirely up to fate.
"But don't worry, Yanxiao. I've already advanced to Da Dou Shi. I'm confident in my abilities," Nalan Yanran said with a radiant smile, twirling her dress as she looked at Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan gazed at her, his expression conflicted. He opened his mouth as if to speak but couldn't find the words. With a storm of thoughts swirling in his mind, he returned to his inn in a daze.
The usually calm Xiao Yan felt restless and irritable. Part of it was because of Nalan Yanran's words; the other part was… her strength. Nalan Yanran was now a Da Dou Shi.
Before coming to the imperial capital, Xiao Yan had been a five star Dou Shi. Thanks to Nalan Jie's Dou Qi, he had recently advanced to six stars. But even as a six star Dou Shi, facing a Da Dou Shi would be an uphill battle.
"Damn it…" Xiao Yan muttered, scratching his head as he paced back and forth in his room.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, something in his mind stirred. He took out the transmission talisman from his storage ring. It was glowing faintly Lu Bu was trying to contact him.
"Lu Bu? What is it?"
"Hahaha!" Lu Bu's boisterous laughter came through the talisman. "Xiao Yan, congratulations on striking gold!"
Xiao Yan: "..."
This doesn't feel like good news.
(End of Chapter)
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