Chapter 98: Yun Zongzhu, You Wouldn't Want That…
"I'm Xiao Yan," Xiao Yan said calmly, looking at the elderly man blocking his path.
"Never heard of you," the elder replied with a shake of his head.
"I'm here to see Yun Yun," Xiao Yan explained briefly.
"Our sect master isn't someone you can just meet " The elder began, but as he noticed the youth's young face and the Dou Qi wings on his back, he swallowed the rest of his words.
"Allow me to inform the sect master," he said after a pause. Just as he finished speaking, the surrounding mist parted abruptly.
A graceful woman with vibrant green Dou Qi wings emerged, her presence carrying an air of elegance.
"Mr. Xiao Yan, my apologies," Yun Yun said with a faint trace of guilt on her face. "I forgot to inform the grand elder upon my return yesterday."
"It's no trouble," Xiao Yan replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Sect Master Yun, shall we discuss things elsewhere?"
"Certainly." Yun Yun nodded slightly.
"By the way, what's the grand elder's name?" Xiao Yan asked suddenly. Something about the elder seemed vaguely familiar, as if he had left an unresolved matter behind.
"His name is Yun Leng," Yun Yun replied softly.
"Yun Leng?" Xiao Yan's mind raced as the name clicked. In the original timeline, this old man would've caused me endless trouble.
In an instant, Xiao Yan vanished from Yun Yun's side.
"Mr. Xiao Yan, what are you " Yun Yun's voice wavered in alarm as she turned to see Xiao Yan suddenly appear before Yun Leng.
"You " Yun Leng barely got a word out before Xiao Yan raised his arm and struck him with a swift slap.
A deafening crack resounded as Yun Leng was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into a nearby mountain. Dust rose in the aftermath, and Yun Leng lay unconscious, having fainted from the sheer impact.
"Mr. Xiao Yan, what are you doing?!" Yun Yun exclaimed, her delicate face paling as a chill crept into her voice.
Xiao Yan's action was nothing short of a direct affront to the Yunlan Sect.
"Nothing much," Xiao Yan said casually, dusting off his hands as he reappeared beside Yun Yun. "I just remembered some past grievances with that man."
"Past grievances?" Yun Yun's voice grew colder, her expression showing barely contained anger.
"I can give you an explanation," Xiao Yan said, glancing at her. "But if I do, that old man will have to die today. Sect Master Yun, are you sure you want me to explain?"
Yun Yun froze, her heart skipping a beat. The mention of Xiao Yan's background and the immense power backing him flooded her mind. That power could easily obliterate the Yunlan Sect.
Even so, a flicker of anger burned within her.
"Don't be upset," Xiao Yan said, his tone softening. "I have my reasons for doing this. You'll understand in the future."
Yun Yun took a deep breath, suppressing her emotions. She thought of her dying teacher and reluctantly swallowed her pride.
The two soared through the sky on their Dou Qi wings, unaware that Nalan Yanran was watching them from a distant peak.
"So, I still have to ask for his help after all," she murmured bitterly, recalling the events of the previous night.
High above the clouds, Yun Yun finally broke the silence after a long hesitation.
"Mr. Xiao Yan," she began, her voice tentative, "aside from the courtesy of hosting you here, I must admit that I have a favor to ask."
Just moments ago, she had been angry at Xiao Yan for humiliating a member of her sect, and now she was asking for his assistance. For someone as reserved as Yun Yun, it was difficult to find the right words.
"I know," Xiao Yan said with a calm smile.
"You know?" Yun Yun asked, startled.
"Sect Master Yun, you may be a Dou Huang, but truthfully, your ability to conceal your emotions could use some work," Xiao Yan teased lightly. "Even Ya Fei is better at that than you."
His playful tone took Yun Yun by surprise, but before she could respond, Xiao Yan added with a smirk, "That said, I've always had a fondness for helping beautiful women. If I can help, I will."
A faint blush spread across Yun Yun's cheeks, but she forced a polite smile. "In that case, may I trouble you to follow me?"
"Of course." Xiao Yan nodded.
They flew for a while longer before descending at the entrance of a cavern overgrown with weeds.
"This... is where my teacher is in seclusion," Yun Yun said, her voice tinged with complex emotions as she led Xiao Yan inside.
Her teacher... Could it be Yun Shan? Xiao Yan wondered. His heart stirred at the thought. If there are any remnants of the Soul Hall here... well, that could be interesting.
"Keep an eye out for any remnants of the Soul Clan here," Xiao Yan instructed Wu Lao and Wen Lao through a spiritual transmission.
"Understood, Young Master," came the reply from the two hidden elders.
Satisfied, Xiao Yan continued to follow Yun Yun deeper into the cavern. Though the entrance was dark and narrow, the path eventually opened into a spacious chamber.
There, an elderly man sat cross legged, his aura faint yet revealing the peak of the Dou Huang realm. However, his life force was weak, like a flickering candle about to go out.
"Yun'er, this must be Mr. Xiao Yan," Yun Shan said, his old, clouded eyes barely managing to open. Despite having been informed of Xiao Yan's identity, the sight of the young man left him stunned.
A Dou Huang at fifteen or sixteen? Such a feat was unheard of on the Northwest Continent.
"Yes, Teacher," Yun Yun said with a gentle nod.
"Mr. Xiao Yan, I don't have much time left to live. I've heard that you come from a great clan in Central Plains. I, Yun Shan, humbly beseech you for a method to break through to the Dou Zong level. For this, I'm willing to give up everything I have even the entirety of the Yunlan Sect."
Yun Shan, without any pretense, laid bare his desperate plea. To him, life had dwindled to a flickering candle, and Xiao Yan was his last hope. If he couldn't seize this chance, death was inevitable.
"Teacher," Yun Yun's voice trembled with sorrow as she gazed at her once proud teacher, reduced to such a state. He had once been brimming with ambition and vigor, but now he seemed like a madman driven to desperation, willing to do anything for the chance to ascend to Dou Zong.
"Mr. Xiao Yan, I beg you to help my teacher," Yun Yun said, bowing deeply. "I know this request is unreasonable, but if you can save him, I, Yun Yun, will do anything even give my life."
"No need for that." Xiao Yan shook his head, glancing at Yun Shan before turning his gaze to Yun Yun. His lips curled into a devilish smirk.
"Let's find a place to talk privately," he suggested.
Yun Yun froze, her body stiffening. Deep down, an ominous premonition arose.
Without acknowledging Yun Shan further, Xiao Yan followed Yun Yun out of the cavern. Watching them leave, Yun Shan's clouded eyes flickered with a faint, calculating gleam.
After departing the cave, the two flew toward a secluded side hall in the Yunlan Sect.
"Are there any remnants of the Soul Clan in Yun Shan's cavern?" Xiao Yan asked quietly during the flight.
"Reporting to the Young Master, we found nothing," came the spiritual transmission from Elder Xiao Wen.
"Good," Xiao Yan replied, nodding as he continued to follow Yun Yun.
Unbeknownst to them, Nalan Yanran was trailing behind, silently pursuing their direction.
Inside the side hall, a soft curl of sandalwood incense filled the air. Yun Yun poured a cup of tea for Xiao Yan and placed it before him.
"Mr. Xiao Yan, as long as you can save my teacher, whatever conditions you have so long as I can fulfill them I will give it my all," she said, her voice resolute.
"Anything?" Xiao Yan asked, holding the delicately crafted tea in his hands, a signature mischievous smile playing on his lips as he looked at Yun Yun.
His gaze made Yun Yun's heart tighten, and she could almost guess his intentions.
She never thought that Nalan Yanran's former fiancé would turn out to be such a shameless man.
"Mr. Xiao Yan, must it really come to this?" Yun Yun's body trembled slightly as she asked.
"Indeed," Xiao Yan replied calmly. "Sect Master Yun, I'll be frank with you you're a woman I'm determined to have. If you want me to save your teacher, then offer yourself in return."
Finally, Xiao Yan dropped all pretense and spoke directly. To him, Yun Yun was an unfulfilled regret from his past reading of the original story. Whether as a former fan or the wandering scoundrel he had now become, Yun Yun was a prize he had always coveted.
Even if Yun Shan's plight hadn't existed, Xiao Yan would've found a reason to approach her.
"Is there no other way?" Yun Yun asked, her voice trembling.
Xiao Yan chuckled. "What else could the Yunlan Sect offer that would interest me? Wealth? Pills? Cultivation techniques?"
Yun Yun's face turned pale.
"The method to break through to Dou Zong is actually very simple," Xiao Yan said, his hand brushing over his storage ring. A palm sized box of icy jade appeared in his hand.
"This here is a ready made Po Zong Pill. If Yun Shan fails to break through with this, I can even offer another," he explained.
Xiao Yan's eyes lingered on Yun Yun. Her jade hairpin lifted her cascading hair into an elegant updo, and her features exuded a noble and refined beauty. Despite her loose white robes, her impressive figure couldn't be concealed.
Her delicate and dignified face wasn't overly seductive or innocent but possessed a unique allure. Though her demeanor was lofty and elegant, it faintly radiated a warmth that made her even more captivating perhaps even surpassing Ya Fei's enchantment.
"Sect Master Yun, you wouldn't want your teacher to wither away slowly, would you?" Xiao Yan whispered, leaning close to her ear with a devilish grin.
"I understand," Yun Yun said quietly, her eyes closing in despair. Moments later, she reopened them with a determined gleam.
Unbeknownst to the two, Nalan Yanran had already arrived outside the side hall.
"If that's what you wish, so be it. I only ask that you honor your word and help my teacher break through to Dou Zong," Yun Yun said, tears glistening in her beautiful eyes as she began to untie her sash.
Her outer robe began to slip from her shoulders.
Before the garment could hit the ground, however, Xiao Yan caught it and gently placed it back.
"Goodness," Nalan Yanran muttered outside the door, feeling deeply troubled. "If I have to ask Xiao Yan for help again, I'll never be able to hold my head high in front of him again."
But as she thought about the secret involving the boulder and its potential impact on the Yunlan Sect, she steeled herself and pushed the door open.
The sight within left Nalan Yanran frozen in shock.
Her teacher's outer robe was half off, held delicately in Xiao Yan's hand.
A crack of thunder seemed to resound in her mind.
Nalan Yanran stood there, utterly dumbfounded, as her worldview began to
collapse.
Inside the hall, the scene before her was surreal her dignified, graceful teacher, someone she deeply respected, was standing there, her outer robe half removed, while Xiao Yan, her former fiancé, casually held the fabric in his hand, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.
"Y You… what is going on here?!" Nalan Yanran stammered, her voice filled with disbelief and a mix of anger and confusion.
Hearing her voice, Yun Yun's body stiffened, and her pale face flushed deeply. She quickly adjusted her robe, fumbling with the sash as she avoided her student's gaze.
Xiao Yan turned to Nalan Yanran, his face calm but with the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Yanran, you came at the right time," he said, his tone unhurried. "Since you're here, you might as well join the conversation. This involves the Yunlan Sect, after all."
"Join the conversation?!" Nalan Yanran felt her head spin. She couldn't make sense of the situation at all.
"Yanran, it's not what you think!" Yun Yun said quickly, finally regaining her composure. "Mr. Xiao Yan was… just negotiating terms to help your grandmaster break through to Dou Zong."
Her explanation, while technically true, sounded utterly unconvincing given the circumstances.
"Negotiating terms? With… with your robe half off?!" Nalan Yanran's voice trembled.
Xiao Yan let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head as he sipped the tea Yun Yun had prepared. "You're misunderstanding everything, Yanran. I was merely being upfront with Sect Master Yun about the cost of my assistance. And no, it wasn't what you're thinking."
Yun Yun shot him a sharp glance, her face still burning with embarrassment.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to Nalan Yanran, her expression now serious. "Yanran, listen carefully. Mr. Xiao Yan possesses the means to save your grandmaster. The Po Zong Pill in his possession can help him break through to Dou Zong. This is our only chance to preserve the Yunlan Sect's strength."
Nalan Yanran's heart sank at the mention of her grandmaster. She had seen Yun Shan's deteriorating condition firsthand. Still, her gaze shifted between Yun Yun and Xiao Yan, her mind filled with doubt.
"Then… what did he ask for in return?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Xiao Yan set his cup down, his calm demeanor unshaken. "What I asked for is between me and your teacher. If she's willing to accept the terms, it's not your place to question."
"You !" Nalan Yanran's temper flared, but Yun Yun stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Yanran," Yun Yun said softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "This is a matter I've already decided on. For the Yunlan Sect, for your grandmaster… I'll do whatever it takes."
Hearing her teacher's words, Nalan Yanran felt her anger and confusion turn into a deep sense of helplessness. She looked at Yun Yun, her proud, elegant teacher, and then at Xiao Yan, the boy she had once been engaged to, now a man she barely understood.
"If… if this is what you've decided, Teacher," she said quietly, her voice trembling with a mix of emotions, "then I won't interfere. But Xiao Yan " Her eyes flashed with determination as she pointed a finger at him. "If you dare break your promise to help, I'll make sure you regret it."
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, amused by her sudden fierceness. "Yanran, you don't need to worry. I'm not the kind of man to go back on my word."
The tension in the room remained heavy as Nalan Yanran turned and left the side hall, her mind swirling with conflicting thoughts.
Once the door closed behind her, Yun Yun let out a long, weary sigh. She slumped into the chair across from Xiao Yan, her hands trembling slightly as she poured herself a cup of tea.
"Mr. Xiao Yan," she said softly, her voice carrying a mixture of exhaustion and resolve. "I've made my decision. Please… uphold your end of the bargain."
Xiao Yan leaned forward, his sharp gaze locking onto hers. "Don't worry, Sect Master Yun. Your grandmaster will receive the Po Zong Pill as promised. And as for my… other terms "
His voice trailed off, leaving an unspoken tension lingering in the air.
Yun Yun's fingers tightened around the cup in her hand, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn't sure what scared her more: Xiao Yan's audacity or her own willingness to comply for the sake of the Yunlan Sect.
"Let's begin," Xiao Yan said, breaking the silence.
(Chapter End)
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