Chapter 283: Breaking off the Engagement?!
Wutan City is one of the large cities in the Jia Ma Empire. Although it is not as large as the imperial capital, it attracts a large flow of people due to its proximity to the Beast Mountain Range. There are even some unusual races, such as the half-beasts, which never appeared in the original work but exist in reality.
These half-beasts are mostly tall and have rough skin, and they even exhibit some characteristics of magical beasts, such as scales, fur, and ears.
As for why... With Yao Yan's current vision, he could discern a few things. Their bloodlines are mostly mixed, containing traces of magical beast blood, leading to physical mutations. Perhaps this is related to the Gu cultivation system.
The cultivation system of Dou Qi was not something that existed from the beginning. It was something that was gradually developed by the ancients.
The earliest cultivation systems must have been based on imitation or rough assimilation, even implanting magical beast bloodlines and limbs, similar to the Mo family of the Jia Ma Empire. Those without sufficient talent had to use special methods to enhance their strength.
Yao Yan found these exotic races quite curious, so he glanced at them a few more times.
"Have you never seen these races before?" Gu Xun'er, who had been focused on her fiancée, noticed his interest in the 'alien' races and curiously asked.
"I have seen them, just didn't pay much attention before. Now that my cultivation has progressed, I can stop and look around," Yao Yan replied softly.
When his strength was insufficient, he had always felt a sense of urgency, as if a fierce beast were chasing him. If he stopped, he'd be devoured, leaving nothing behind. Only now, with some self-defense strength, he felt qualified to pause and appreciate the scenery along the way.
"Only by becoming a Dou Saint can one be considered successful in cultivation?" Gu Xun'er asked in surprise, blinking her elegant eyes.
"In this world, the strong rule... Below the Dou Saint level, all are ants. Only those above the Dou Saint level are truly above it all, able to set the rules and even disregard them," Yao Yan calmly spoke, revealing the harsh truth of this world.
Gu Xun'er nodded. She did not contradict this statement because the Gu Clan was the best example. In the clan, only a Dou Saint had the authority to speak. Otherwise, even though she was the daughter of the clan leader, she wouldn't have the right to decide the future of the Gu Clan .
Just like her marriage to this man!
The Gu Clan never asked her opinion, the decision was made without her knowledge, and she was the last one to find out.
Thinking about it made her feel a bit annoyed. Those old men were really annoying.
"So, does that count as bullying?" Gu Xun'er pondered for a moment and then whispered.
"Bullying?" Yao Yan was taken aback, then looked down at the girl beside him, whose hand he was holding. He laughed aloud, "You could say that. A Dou Saint is the greatest bully, they do whatever they want. What can you do if you're not happy about it?"
After saying that, he intentionally squeezed her delicate hand, hinting at his intentions.
Gu Xun'er's fair face turned slightly red, not knowing whether it was from anger or embarrassment. She turned her head away and refused to look at Yao Yan, using her ultimate weapon: silence.
As long as she ignored him, Yao Yan wouldn't have a chance to tease her.
This was a skill she learned from living in the Xiao family, used specifically for dealing with annoying people. As she grew older, the troubles caused by her beauty became numerous, but most were blocked by her smile or silence.
It also gave Gu Xun'er a cold aura.
Yao Yan smiled without saying anything. The two had already arrived at the market, where the bustling streets stretched before them. He led the girl into the market, and his presence didn't affect the surroundings at all. With his level of strength, he had ways to shield others from noticing him, diminishing his presence.
Otherwise, with his appearance and aura, he could very well attract unnecessary attention in Wutan City.
After all, these people, whose strength was at most that of a Dou Shi, had no spiritual sense, and couldn't detect his level of power. Most people in the world are 'foolish' in this regard.
The two wandered aimlessly until a group of guards approached. The leader of the group bowed respectfully and greeted them, "Miss Xun'er, Young Master Yao Yan, I don't know what you need to buy in the market, but I can guide you."
The speaker was a middle-aged man around 30 years old, wearing a badge with six gold stars on his chest. According to the rules of the Jia Ma Empire, he should be a six-star Dou Shi.
Upon seeing Yao Yan's puzzled look, the man explained, "My name is Pein, and I'm in charge of the security of the market for the Xiao family."
Pein… Yao Yan was surprised when he heard the name, and memories from his past life quickly resurfaced. He couldn't help but almost blurt out "How many floors can a bag of rice carry?" A genuine smile appeared on his face as he said, "Thank you. We're just browsing for now. We haven't decided what to buy."
After saying that, he looked at Gu Xun'er to see what her purpose was in coming here.
"I don't know either," Gu Xun'er replied softly.
"If you need anything, just let me know," Pein said courteously before continuing his patrol to make sure no trouble was brewing in the market.
Yao Yan watched Pein leave and then turned to the girl beside him, asking, "You don't want to buy anything? Then what are we doing here?"
Gu Xun'er gave a silent glance at their joined hands. Wasn't it him who brought her here? She couldn't resist and was dragged along. Now, Yao Yan was trying to put the blame on her.
As for her earlier reason for leaving… it was simply to test if Yao Yan was following her.
Yao Yan, following her gaze, finally realized what had happened, but he wasn't embarrassed. Instead, he casually said, "Since we're here, let's take a look... Maybe we'll find a bargain in the market."
Gu Xun'er gave him a strange look, and was left speechless by his comment. She didn't think Yao Yan would find any "bargains" in Wutan City.
The two walked aimlessly through the market. As they ventured deeper, prices began to rise, and more high-quality goods appeared. Many beautiful pieces of jewelry caught Gu Xun'er's attention. Yao Yan patiently accompanied her, even memorizing the stall to buy some jewelry for Cai Lin and the others when he visited them.
It had been years since they last met. It was only fitting to bring a gift, right?
Whether it was expensive or not didn't matter. What mattered was the thought behind it... After all, women are all about the thoughtfulness.
As the saying goes:
Good women value your intentions; bad women only care about the price.
Soon, Gu Xun'er found a light green bracelet. While the material wasn't extraordinary, it was finely crafted, and when worn on her slender wrist, it didn't feel heavy and suited her perfectly. Noticing her reaction, Yao Yan asked for the price and paid for it.
Gu Xun'er wanted to refuse, but she was already being pulled up by Yao Yan, who gave her no chance to protest. She could only helplessly blink her eyes.
Her fiancée seemed to be very considerate.
He was different from the kind of Hun Clan person she had imagined. Although his power was terrifying, he was accompanying her to shop, which surprised and intrigued her. Those uncomfortable feelings seemed to fade as they spent time together.
If he wasn't pretending and could stay like this, perhaps it wouldn't be impossible to accept... the girl murmured quietly in her heart.
"What do you want?" Gu Xun'er asked Yao Yan, her tone serious. She didn't like receiving gifts from others, even if it was her fiancée. After all, they weren't married yet, and their relationship was still just an engagement, with much of the future uncertain.
"I don't need anything... If you really want to give me something, come with me tomorrow to go fishing on the lake," Yao Yan thought for a moment and said softly.
"Fishing?" The girl blinked in confusion.
At that moment, a clear laugh suddenly came from ahead.
"Hey, isn't this Miss Xun'er? Haha, what a coincidence to meet here. This must be fate!"
Hearing the voice, Gu Xun'er furrowed her brows slightly and looked over. A young man in his twenties stepped out from the crowd, followed by several attendants, all surrounding him like stars around the moon.
The young man was quite handsome, but his face was a little pale. His eyes were filled with intense heat as he stared at the graceful girl in front of him, his gaze full of unmasked admiration. When he saw that the girl's hand was being held by another man, his smile froze instantly. A flash of anger and coldness crossed his eyes. Gu Xun'er was the woman he had set his sights on, and now, some outsider dared to touch her. This was courting death!
He immediately glared at Yao Yan, trying to figure out where this young man came from. But before he could get a good look at him, a sharp pain exploded in his head, and his body began to convulse. A moment later, to the astonishment of everyone watching, a strange redness appeared on his face. His pants visibly darkened as a foul odor spread around him.
"Young... Young Master!" His subordinates were shocked, never imagining that their master would lose control in front of his beloved.
The onlookers were also stunned, and the scene erupted into chaos.
Yao Yan continued to pull Gu Xun'er along, unfazed. The girl, her eyes flickering, curiously looked at him and asked, "Was that you? Isn't that a little too much? He hasn't even said anything yet."
"Do you like it?" Yao Yan asked, countering with a question.
"... Pfft." Gu Xun'er couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh softly. "You're so bad."
Yao Yan smiled. He knew just how bad he was, but Gu Xun'er would find out for herself later. Teasing a pampered young master was hardly interesting. Even squashing a fly didn't count. He continued to stroll with Gu Xun'er, unaffected by the commotion.
"He's not dead, is he?" Gu Xun'er asked with a smile.
"He'll be in bed for a few years," Yao Yan explained. After that 'Hun strike,' the guy was practically like someone who'd had a stroke. He'd need an Eight-Star Alchemist to make a Hun Fixing Pill for him. Whether his family could afford it was another story.
Gu Xun'er felt relieved that the person wasn't dead. There was no need to escalate a verbal dispute to the point of murder. If Yao Yan killed everyone who bothered her, the Xiao family would lose many members.
"Let's go back. Thank you for the gift today. Tomorrow, I'll go fishing with you," Gu Xun'er said, shaking the bracelet on her wrist. She wore a slight smile, her face dotted with dimples, exuding youthful cuteness and liveliness.
"Alright," Yao Yan nodded in agreement.
...
Gu Yuan had already withdrawn his attention from the imperial-level Hun power. The old father couldn't handle his daughter's 'silly actions' anymore. She was still too young. A couple of gold coins were enough to make her heart flutter. And that young man was definitely no novice!
"Hun Emperor, it's time for you to leave. You're not welcome here," Gu Yuan intended to shut the door and send him off, not giving the Hun Emperor any chance to boast. His heart was hurting.
"We're in-laws, and you're not welcoming me?" The Hun Emperor looked at the gloomy Gu Yuan, his mood buoyant. He teased, "Alright, alright, I'll leave. After all, my clan's young master is marrying your daughter~" He smiled and, without getting upset, turned and disappeared, leaving Gu Yuan in isolation.
"It seems it's time to bring Xun'er back," Gu Yuan muttered under his breath.
He was worried that if Yao Yan and Gu Xun'er spent more time together, he'd end up being a grandfather. How could an old father stand that?
...
...
Yao Yan, unaware that Gu Yuan had broken his calm and wasn't watching anymore, returned with Gu Xun'er to the Xiao family. As soon as they arrived, he noticed something interesting: there were guests at the Xiao family.
And the guest seemed somewhat... 'familiar'!
It seemed to be quite a coincidence, as he had just arrived at the start of the plot.
Yao Yan, intrigued, led Gu Xun'er to the living room. In her puzzled gaze, he softly explained, "I see a familiar face, let's go check it out."
He was mainly curious about whether Nalan Yanran would break off the engagement. After all, Xiao Yan now had the reputation of a 'world-class genius.' He wondered what Xiao Yan would say and if he would quote the famous saying, "Thirty years in the East, thirty years in the West!"
"Familiar face?!" Gu Xun'er asked, a bit confused.
As they got closer, they saw that there were many people in the living room, even a number of people standing by the window, peeking in. It seemed everyone was very interested in Xiao Yan's fiancée.
Just like yesterday.
Yao Yan didn't go in, instead standing by a window with Gu Xun'er, secretly observing everything happening inside the living room.
The whispers around them told Gu Xun'er what was going on in the Xiao family. She shot a glance at her gossip-loving fiancée, feeling an urge to pinch him. She then silently stood by Yao Yan's side, watching everything unfold.
She was also curious. She had heard about Xiao Yan's fiancée before but hadn't expected the fiancée to come looking for her. Just like her fiancée.
She couldn't help but feel a sense of 'misery loves company.'
She wondered how Xiao Yan would respond.
"Breaking off the engagement?!"
As the girl's words fell, the atmosphere froze. Xiao Zhan, who had been sitting at the head of the table, stood up, and his powerful Dou Qi erupted, almost turning into a golden lion, overwhelming the space!
(END CHAPTER)
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