"No need for you to say it! I know already!" Nalan Yanran said angrily, cheeks puffed with frustration.
She immediately turned her face away, her delicate features filled with unconcealed defiance.
Deep inside, she was extremely unwilling to accept this outcome!
Her little pink fists clenched tightly.
Damn it! I actually lost again!
It was so close—I could have won!
If I hadn't been distracted at that moment, he would've already lost!
He was clearly so clumsy in combat just yesterday, how did he suddenly become like a different person overnight?!
Nalan Yanran couldn't figure it out.
How could someone become so strong in just one day?
"You were faking it yesterday, weren't you? You obviously weren't like that at all!" she questioned Lin Fan, full of suspicion.
"You're too naive," Lin Fan sheathed his sword as he replied. "If I had really been pretending, do you think your master and grandmaster wouldn't have seen through it?"
Nalan Yanran paused in thought. That did make sense—if Lin Fan really had been putting on an act, her grandmaster would certainly have noticed. He wouldn't have advised Lin Fan to quickly accumulate actual combat experience otherwise.
Seeing her hesitation, Lin Fan added, "Honestly, I shouldn't have been able to beat you this time. But you kept getting distracted during the fight—that's the only reason I had a chance."
"I know! You don't need to tell me!" Nalan Yanran replied haughtily.
"All right then." Lin Fan bent down to pick up the pale blue longsword she had dropped on the ground and handed it back to her.
"Here, your sword. Take it."
Nalan Yanran snatched her sword from his hand.
"I can pick it up myself. Don't stick your nose in my business!"
Lin Fan shook his head helplessly, muttering inwardly: What a proud and stubborn little girl... really difficult to deal with.
He didn't say anything more and simply put away his own sword, turning to walk back inside.
"Lin Fan! Don't get cocky! One day I'll definitely beat you!" Nalan Yanran shouted at him, eyes burning with determination.
Lin Fan didn't even look back, simply replying calmly, "Then work hard."
"Hmph!" Nalan Yanran snorted, stomped her foot in frustration, and stormed off.
Before leaving, she even made sure to slam the courtyard door shut.
Boom!
A loud bang echoed outside the door.
"This girl better not break my gate," Lin Fan muttered as he glanced back at the entrance.
….
Not far away, a graceful figure silently appeared—unnoticed by Lin Fan.
It was Yun Yun, who had been secretly observing all along.
She had been watching the duel between Nalan Yanran and Lin Fan from the very beginning.
Now, her face was filled with astonishment.
"Lin Fan has only been in the sect for a few days, yet he's already this skilled with our Yunlan Sect's techniques!"
"Just yesterday, he looked like someone who didn't know anything at all. How has he reached this level in just one day?"
"Today's him compared to yesterday's... it's like a completely different person," she muttered, a trace of amazement in her tone.
"Whether it's his grasp of the techniques or his performance in battle, he's undergone a complete transformation."
Yun Yun stared at Lin Fan, her pupils trembling slightly. "This boy is a genius!"
"No—" she corrected herself immediately, "he's a monster!"
Nalan Yanran's talent was already considered top-tier, and when she had reached Lin Fan's current level, it had taken Yun Yun two full months of careful instruction.
Now, thinking back to herself at Lin Fan's age, Yun Yun admitted she wasn't even close to reaching his current capabilities.
Her talent had never been in question—if not for her exceptional gifts, the Supreme Sect Master would not have accepted her as a disciple.
Yet now, she couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy.
"If he continues to grow at this rate, it won't take long before he surpasses even me."
Going forward, she would have to look out for this little junior brother more. His talent truly was astonishing.
At this moment, Yun Yun completely understood why her master was placing such importance on this young man.
While marveling at Lin Fan's terrifying potential, she also began to worry about Nalan Yanran's state of mind.
Having lost to Lin Fan twice now, and given her competitive nature, this defeat might weigh heavily on her.
"Looks like I'll need to give Yanran some special instruction. If this ends up affecting her mental state, it might take a great deal of effort to help her recover."
Though Yun Yun said this, she also knew Nalan Yanran wasn't that emotionally fragile. Still, she was only thirteen—a young girl—and emotional guidance at this stage was essential.
Even though she thought highly of Lin Fan, Nalan Yanran was still her disciple.
Naturally, she would be somewhat partial.
At the very least, I can't allow Yanran to fall too far behind Lin Fan.
Otherwise, that brat would definitely bully her every day in the future.