The moment the white-robed youth entered, he lit up the entire hall.
The fitted robe, the ink-black bamboo staff he leaned on, and his handsome face all suggested a noble upbringing. Yet, there was also a roguish, carefree air about him.
A few strands of messy hair dangled down, adding a touch of charm and nonchalance.
Calling him dashing and debonair wouldn't be an exaggeration—except, those deep, dark eyes held a maturity that didn't belong to someone his age.
"Grandpa!" Upon seeing Danyangzi sitting in the main hall, Dan Chen rushed forward as if she'd found a lifeline.
Beside her, Cao Ying kept her beautiful eyes fixed on Xiao Yan, thoughtful.
"What's wrong, my precious granddaughter?" Seeing his beloved granddaughter in such a flustered state, Danyangzi frowned. Clearly, something was off.
"He… he keeps following me." After a brief silence, Dan Chen finally decided to complain.
"Oh? You mean this young man?" Danyangzi's frown deepened as he turned his now-unfriendly gaze toward Xiao Yan.
"Young man, I heard you're Yao Chen's disciple. May I ask what brings you here?" Danyangzi's tone revealed no emotion.
Though both were eighth-rank alchemists, Yao Chen and the Dan family weren't particularly close—more like casual acquaintances.
"Actually, my teacher didn't send me. I just thought your esteemed young lady looked a bit fragile, so I wanted to escort her." Xiao Yan grinned, revealing his white teeth.
"You wanted to escort my granddaughter because she looked fragile?" Danyangzi was stunned for a second, then anger crept onto his face.
"To think the young lord of the Falling Star Pavilion would stalk a weak little girl… I expected better judgment from someone taught by the supposedly noble Yao Chen."
Danyangzi snorted coldly.
"Now that my little granddaughter is safely back, you need not trouble yourself any further, young lord."
"Noble? More like a boring old gourd."
Xiao Yan scoffed inwardly, then responded with a smile:
"Senior, you misunderstand. As the saying goes, 'A fair lady is the desire of a gentleman.' I simply escorted your granddaughter home and hoped to make some connections with the Dan family."
"You brat, I don't see much skill in you, but your face is definitely thicker than your master's."
Danyangzi snorted again, waving his hand:
"Out of respect for Yao Chen, I won't press charges this time. But if it happens again, I'll personally pay your teacher a visit."
He made a clear gesture to show the conversation was over.
With the situation laid out like this, Xiao Yan had no reason to stay.
Having thick skin doesn't necessarily leave a bad impression—some people even appreciate it. But if it turns into shameless pestering, it just breeds disgust.
Xiao Yan scanned the room. His gaze paused briefly on the elder sitting beside Danyangzi and the red-robed girl beside him before he turned to leave.
"That red-dressed chick is fire. If we're just talking looks, she might even beat Dan Chen. Hmm… probably a solid 9 out of 10 once she matures."
"Especially that body—way hotter than Dan Chen's. Should I go back and ask her name? Nah… Dan Chen is still here. Making a move now would definitely crash and burn."
As these thoughts passed through his mind, Xiao Yan kept walking without pause.
"Shameless he may be, but his composure is admirable," thought both Danyangzi and the Cao family patriarch.
A fifteen-year-old youth staying calm and cheerful in front of two high-ranking elders—regardless of his teacher's status—was a rare mindset.
What they didn't know was that Xiao Yan, in his past life, had endured thirty years of social trials. On the first day of this rebirth, he peed on a Dou Sage, and he'd even conversed with Dou Emperors.
Compared to that, two eighth-rank alchemists weren't intimidating at all.
Just as Xiao Yan was about to cross the threshold, a magnetic female voice rang out.
"Wait a moment!"
"Hm? Opportunity knocking already?" Xiao Yan stopped and slowly turned.
The red-robed girl had stood up, her voice calm but challenging:
"I heard you're a disciple of Master Yao. Are you here to participate in the Youth Tournament?"
"That's right." Xiao Yan smiled slightly.
"My master, Xuan Yi, has been your teacher's rival for years. I wonder… are you qualified to be my opponent?"
At this, a provocative smile played across her charming face.
"Nope, your master probably didn't tell you—they used to be real close, if you catch my drift."
Still, this girl's identity was obvious.
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes at her:
"You must be Cao Ying from the Cao family?"
"Exactly."
The corners of her rosy lips lifted slightly.
"Talk about things falling right into place! Girl, I dressed up today just for you!" Xiao Yan was practically dancing inside—Cao Ying was indeed as stunning as rumored.
But on the outside, he wore a proud expression and looked straight at her:
"Since our masters are neck and neck, it's only right that we find out who's better between us too."
Though both Dan Chen and Cao Ying were top-tier ladies, their personalities were worlds apart.
If you wanted someone like the timid and introverted Dan Chen, you'd need to offer safety and build trust—be bold, careful, thick-skinned, yet gentle.
Of course, that only works if your background or strength is enough. Otherwise, the Dan family would crush you like a bug.
As for someone like Cao Ying, gifted and untouchable since childhood, that required a different strategy. She was powerful and confident. Show too much gentleness, and she'd just look down on you.
To win over someone like her, you had to conquer her—crush her in the fields she prided herself on: combat, alchemy, and more… and eventually in bed (details redacted).
Simply put, she was a wild horse—not easily tamed.
Seeing the pride on Xiao Yan's face, Cao Ying was not annoyed, but intrigued. She had never met a real opponent in her age group. Dan Chen had potential but lacked the drive to compete.
But Xiao Yan lit a fire in her heart—a burning desire to win.
"Nice face. Let's see if there's more than stuffing inside that pretty boy head," Cao Ying mused.
That interest would vanish the moment Xiao Yan lost. She never even considered what might happen if he won…
"As alchemists, fire control is our bread and butter. Though the tournament's still seven days away, why not have a fire duel right now?" Her red lips parted as she stared at Xiao Yan, battle-lust in her eyes.
"Ying'er, this is the Dan family's main hall. Don't be rude." The Cao family patriarch frowned.
This was not their territory—dueling without permission would be overstepping.
Cao Ying ignored the warning. Instead, Xiao Yan turned toward the silent Danyangzi.
"Senior, would you permit the two of us to have a fire duel?"
"Heh." Danyangzi chuckled.
"You're shameless, sure. But as Yao Chen's disciple, you probably aren't all talk. I'm curious to see what you've got."
"Cao Ying, go ahead and teach this cheeky brat from the Falling Star Pavilion a lesson for your sister Dan Chen."
With a wave of his hand, a space within the hall hardened—clearly reinforced for a fire duel.
"You old fox." The Cao patriarch sighed and shook his head.
He turned to Cao Ying and said, "Go easy on him, girl."
But Cao Ying wasn't listening. Her gaze was locked on Xiao Yan's confident face, her excitement growing. With a flick of her finger, a blood-red flame burst into the dueling zone.
"Heh." In response, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow with a touch of arrogance, flicked his finger, and summoned a strand of turquoise flame that rose high.
(End of Chapter)