His gaze lingered on that youthful yet breathtakingly beautiful face, and he let out a quiet sigh.
Leaning down, he pressed a light kiss on her smooth forehead before leaving the courtyard.
Settling cross-legged on a bamboo chair outside, he closed his eyes and whispered into the night,
"Even if I can't give you a perfect love, I'll make sure your life is happier than anyone else's."
With that vow, he cast away all stray thoughts and sank into meditation.
The night passed without sleep.
When the morning mist settled and the dew soaked his shoulders, a small, jade-like hand brushed softly over his robe, wiping the droplets away.
"Brother Xiao Yan, are you punishing yourself?" came a soft, slightly scolding voice.
"Didn't you think how much that would make Xun'er worry?"
Xiao Yan opened his eyes to see the girl before him, radiant as a blooming lotus.
"Hehe, I just didn't want to disturb your rest," he replied with a light smile.
Stretching lazily, his body crackled like firecrackers as his joints loosened.
With a thought, fiery Dou Qi surged through his meridians, evaporating the dew and drying his clothes in an instant.
Xun'er pouted, crossing her arms. "As punishment for yesterday, Brother Xiao Yan must accompany me for a full day of shopping!"
"No problem," he said with a gentle grin.
Taking her soft hand, he offered her the bouquet he'd tricked out of Xiao Mei the day before.
This was Xun'er ..... the kind of girl who would rather suffer herself than let him feel troubled.
And if he ever truly made her sad, then Xiao Yan thought bitterly, he'd be worse than a beast.
Hand in hand, the two strolled through the Xiao family's courtyard, laughter echoing between them.
Soon, they stepped out into Wutan City's lively morning streets.
Golden sunlight bathed them, a handsome youth and a beautiful girl ..... like a pair of celestial beings descended to earth.
Even the older couples on the street couldn't help smiling as they passed, recalling their own youthful days when love had been just as pure and bright.
After the small storm they'd weathered, Xiao Yan and Xun'er's bond hadn't weakened ... it had only grown deeper, more intimate.
That sweet, innocent feeling of young love ..... even for someone like Xiao Yan, who carried memories spanning ten thousand years, it stirred a nostalgic warmth in his heart.
Spring flowers may bloom and fade, yet their fall doesn't mark an end, but rather the beginning of new life.
Days turned into weeks, and Wutan City quietly transformed beneath a canopy of fresh green.
In the blink of an eye, early summer arrived. The world was alive and thriving once more.
Two months had passed, and Xiao Yan's strength had silently risen to the peak of Nine-Star Dou Zhe.
Liu Panlong, who had been tirelessly refining pills day and night like a machine ..... and enduring Yao Lao's strict scolding along the way ..... finally broke through to become a Fourth-Rank Alchemist half a month ago, passing the Guild's test with ease.
With that, the Xiao family's position grew even stronger.
A Fourth-Rank Alchemist held nearly the same influence as a Dou Wang.
For many major factions, such a person's presence was enough to change their fate.
With Liu Panlong now sitting in the Xiao family, few in the Jia Ma Empire dared to provoke them.
Meanwhile, Xiao Zhan, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li had all experienced massive improvements in power over the past six months.
With the Heaven-tier cultivation techniques and a steady supply of pills provided by Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan had reached the level of Nine-Star Da Dou Shi, while Xiao Ding and Xiao
Li advanced almost one star every two months ..... an astonishing pace.
Xun'er, too, had reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi, her progress remarkable under Xiao Yan's guidance.
But what truly delighted Xiao Yan was that Yao Lao's soul power had finally recovered to the Dou Zong level three days ago.
Without any special treasures, and merely relying on Xiao Yan's secret arts and energy support, Yao Lao's recovery speed was terrifyingly fast.
Now, with Yao Lao's power restored, Xiao Yan finally began to consider stepping out of Wutan City.
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