Chapter 99: "I Want Your Heart, Too"
"Teacher?" Nalan Yanran stared at the disheveled and stunning figure of Yun Yun before her, her mind utterly blank. The scene playing out in front of her was beyond anything she could have imagined in her wildest dreams.
Yet, there it was clear as day. Opposite her, holding Yun Yun's clothing, was none other than her former fiancé, Xiao Yan.
"Am I dreaming?" Nalan Yanran muttered to herself, raising her hand and slapping her cheek.
Smack! A bright red handprint bloomed on her pale face, a testament to how hard she'd hit herself.
Still, nothing changed. The same impossible scene remained before her eyes. Bewildered, Nalan Yanran slumped to the ground with a dazed expression.
Her mental state had been stretched to its limits over the past few days.
First, her once forgotten fiancé came to break off their engagement, only for her to discover that he was the same age as her but had already reached the Dou Huang level. Behind him stood an unimaginably powerful force.
Then, she found out that two ancient souls were lurking beneath the boulder where she had trained for years.
And now, her teacher her dignified and graceful teacher was entangled with that same ex fiancé.
It was all too much.
"What is happening? It's as if my entire life has turned into a dream," Nalan Yanran murmured, her voice trembling.
"Yanran!" Yun Yun gasped, her previously tearful expression freezing in shock. The sight of her treasured student standing there, witnessing such an awkward moment, made Yun Yun want to crawl into a hole and never come out.
Her mind spiraled into panic. Surely, Yanran would think she was seducing her former fiancé. How could she possibly explain herself now?
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan stood calmly, a playful smile tugging at his lips as he watched the situation unfold.
He had been aware of Nalan Yanran following them thanks to a warning from the elder duo hidden in the shadows. Though Yun Yun, distracted by her inner turmoil, had failed to notice, Xiao Yan had chosen not to stop Yanran.
In his mind, this was a fortuitous opportunity. After all, these two would eventually need to grow accustomed to sharing his company.
Ignoring Yun Yun's mortified expression, Xiao Yan casually draped her discarded clothing back over her shoulders, even taking care to tie her sash with gentle precision.
"Don't worry. I'm not just after your body; I want your heart too," Xiao Yan whispered, his fingers brushing Yun Yun's soft cheek.
It was only then that Yun Yun seemed to snap out of her stupor. Glancing at Xiao Yan with her cheeks flushed red, she quickly turned her gaze to Nalan Yanran, whose blank stare reflected her inner turmoil.
Finally regaining her composure, Yun Yun's beautiful eyes welled with tears that began to stream silently down her face.
"Why are you crying?" Xiao Yan asked, genuinely puzzled.
"I… I've ruined my image in Yanran's eyes forever," Yun Yun replied with a bitter smile.
"Don't worry. I'll clear everything up," Xiao Yan reassured her with a smile, taking her hand and walking toward Nalan Yanran.
"Yanran, what brings you here?" Xiao Yan asked casually, holding Yun Yun's hand in one of his while gently brushing his fingers against Nalan Yanran's cheek with the other.
"Poor girl," Xiao Yan murmured, noticing the red handprint on her face. A soft glow of Dou Qi radiated from his palm as he healed the mark.
"X Xiao Yan… T Teacher…" Nalan Yanran stammered, staring blankly at the man and woman before her. "What… are you doing?"
As Yun Yun pulled her hand away, intending to explain, Xiao Yan interrupted.
"We're doing exactly what you're seeing," he said with a faint smile.
"So… you're…" Nalan Yanran's eyes flickered with confusion, still struggling to process the situation.
"I threatened your teacher with your grandmaster's life and forced her to become my concubine. Does that make it clearer for you?" Xiao Yan stated matter of factly.
"Wh What?!" Nalan Yanran's mind blanked out once more. She couldn't believe how casually Xiao Yan had admitted to such an outrageous and shameless act.
Even Yun Yun was left speechless by his bluntness, though a glimmer of gratitude flickered in her eyes. Despite his brazen explanation, Xiao Yan's words had alleviated much of the tension between her and her student.
Shaking her head in disbelief, Nalan Yanran felt Xiao Yan gently guide her to a seat at the table.
"This is a Po Zong Pill. Take it. If it's not enough, let me know," Xiao Yan said, handing Yun Yun the icy jade box containing the precious pill.
"But I haven't…" Yun Yun trailed off, her voice uncertain.
The Po Zong Pill was a priceless treasure, something unheard of in the Jia Ma Empire, yet Xiao Yan had handed it over so casually.
"Why? Were you so eager to offer yourself to me?" Xiao Yan teased, smirking at Yun Yun.
"I…" Yun Yun's cheeks turned crimson, leaving her at a loss for words.
"I'll wait until you willingly give yourself to me. I want your body and your heart," Xiao Yan declared with a mischievous grin.
"You… You're not afraid that day will never come?" Yun Yun asked, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion and indignation.
"The moment you asked that question, it became clear that day isn't far off," Xiao Yan replied smugly.
Meanwhile, Nalan Yanran finally snapped out of her daze. Though her emotions were still in turmoil, she regained enough clarity to remember why she had come.
"Teacher, Xiao Yan… I need your help," she said hesitantly after a moment of silence.
Her words caused both Yun Yun and Xiao Yan to look at her in unison, their simultaneous responses creating another wave of awkward tension.
"Spit it out already," Xiao Yan urged, taking Nalan Yanran's hand.
"Under the boulder where I've been training, something strange is happening," Nalan Yanran began, her voice trembling slightly. "I heard the voice of our sect's founder, Yun Potian, calling for help."
"What?!" Yun Yun's hand shook, nearly dropping the jade box.
"But that's impossible our founder passed away over five hundred years ago," Yun Yun protested.
"I know it sounds absurd, but given all the absurd things happening lately…" Nalan Yanran trailed off, her gaze darting between Yun Yun and Xiao Yan.
She then added, "There's also a remnant soul of a Nine Star Dou Zun sealed within the boulder. It claims to be from the Soul Clan and is even stronger than Yun Potian. The founder's last message was for me to find someone at least at the Dou Zong level to help. After thinking it through, the only person I can turn to… is you, Xiao Yan."
Her cheeks flushed as she spoke, though the lingering redness from her earlier slap somewhat concealed it.
Xiao Yan's expression darkened at the mention of the Soul Clan.
"From now on, call me 'Xiao Yan ge' or just Xiao Yan. I don't like 'Xiao Yan bro.'" He gripped her hand firmly.
"Now, take me there immediately!"
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