Chapter 111: You've Changed
"If that's the case, why not visit the princess tonight for a long heart to heart?"
Hearing this, Xiao Yan tilted his head slightly, while Ya Fei turned away, a faint smile on her lips.
"I couldn't bear to leave you in an empty room all alone," Xiao Yan said earnestly.
"Stop pretending," Ya Fei muttered, handing him an envelope.
"This is an invitation from the Yun Lan Sect. You're their great benefactor now. I hear they're holding a grand banquet to thank you. They even plan to erect a statue of you in their sect."
"A statue?" Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment, then chuckled helplessly.
The Yun Lan Sect was truly calculating. Erecting a statue would publicly bind him to their sect, like it or not.
But Xiao Yan had no interest in being tied to this sect. His real interest lay in forming bonds with a certain stunning master and her disciple.
"I've delivered the letter. What happens next depends on your decision," Ya Fei said, studying Xiao Yan closely.
"I can pass on the statue, but attending the banquet? I'll have to make an appearance." Xiao Yan smiled.
"I knew you'd say that. In three days, little Nalan Yanran will come to personally invite you," Ya Fei said with a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
"You don't seem too thrilled," Xiao Yan remarked, glancing at her.
"How could I dare to be displeased?" Ya Fei replied with feigned innocence.
"Your boldness is growing, I see. Tonight, I'll have to teach you a lesson." Xiao Yan grinned mischievously, leaving Ya Fei blushing furiously.
Meanwhile, in stark contrast to Xiao Yan's lighthearted mood, the Yun Lan Sect was bustling with celebration.
"Patriarch, Old Sect Master, with both of you returning, our sect is sure to rise again!"
The current second elder of the Yun Lan Sect was flushed from drinking, but his excitement was unrestrained.
"Haha, it would've been difficult with just me, but now that the Patriarch is back, and with the inheritance he has brought, the Yun Lan Sect is destined to regain its former glory," Yun Shan said with a wide smile. Breaking through to Dou Zong had already put him in high spirits, and the unexpected return of Yun Po Tian made things even better.
Yun Shan understood clearly that having a Dou Zun expert to personally guide them would lead to a rapid increase in the sect's overall strength.
If he'd had a Dou Zun mentor back in the day, he might have already reached an even higher realm.
But now, it seemed they were blessed with double fortune.
"Yun Shan, what is the current level of techniques left in the Yun Lan Sect?" Yun Po Tian asked from the main seat, his ghostly form exuding an air of authority.
"Patriarch, after you disappeared, the highest level techniques we had were lost. Now, the best we have left is a low tier Earth level technique, Cloud Sky Formation Technique," Yun Shan replied softly.
"Only a low tier Earth level technique? No wonder the sect has declined so much." Yun Po Tian's face showed a trace of mockery.
"However... now that I've returned, the Yun Lan Sect will reclaim its former glory!"
He suddenly laughed aloud. "Tomorrow, I will pass on new techniques to you."
As he spoke, his gaze swept over Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran.
"I owe my escape to the efforts of you two."
"Indeed, Yun Yun and Yanran are the sect's blessings," Yun Shan added, though a strange glint flashed in his eyes.
"Hmm, where's Yun Leng? I haven't seen him recently," Yun Shan asked, noticing a familiar face missing.
"Teacher, the Great Elder was seriously injured by Xiao Yan a few days ago and is still recovering," Yun Yun said, her expression slightly awkward.
"Injured by Xiao Yan? What happened? Did Yun Leng provoke him?" Yun Shan frowned.
"I don't think so... I'm not sure why Xiao Yan attacked him," Yun Yun replied, shaking her head.
"Fine." Yun Shan relaxed slightly, though his thoughts remained unclear.
After the banquet ended, Yun Shan gave Nalan Yanran a task.
"Yanran, three days from now, invite Xiao Yan to the banquet. You must make sure he attends. He's a great benefactor to our sect."
"Understood, Teacher," Nalan Yanran replied, though her face betrayed unease.
Her teacher's enthusiasm for Xiao Yan felt excessive.
"Haha, if you succeed, it will be another great service to the sect," Yun Shan said with a grin. "With your talent, you'll soon reach Dou Shi, and then you'll officially become the Young Sect Master of the Yun Lan Sect."
"Thank you, Teacher." Nalan Yanran nodded calmly.
If this had been in the past, the prospect of becoming the Young Sect Master might have thrilled her. Now, however, it left her strangely indifferent.
Later, Yun Shan called Yun Yun aside.
"Yun Yun, come with me for a moment."
"Yes, Teacher," Yun Yun replied, though confusion flickered across her delicate features.
Once everyone else had left, Yun Po Tian watched Yun Shan and Yun Yun disappear, a faintly amused expression on his ghostly face.
"This descendant of mine is overly pragmatic. But..." He smiled mysteriously before vanishing like a shadow.
In a grand hall prepared for Yun Shan, Yun Yun stared at her teacher in shock.
"What? Teacher, you want me to seduce Xiao Yan?"
"Yun Yun, with your beauty, how can it be called seduction? Xiao Yan already admires you. You just need to reciprocate," Yun Shan replied calmly.
"But Teacher, Xiao Yan has a fiancée, and one of the reasons he came to the imperial capital was to annul his engagement to Yanran. Asking me to seduce him... I can't do that," Yun Yun protested, her face flushed with anger and shame.
"Haha, if he has a main wife, you can simply be a concubine," Yun Shan said, his tone unchanging.
"A concubine?" Yun Yun's frown deepened.
"Teacher, I admit I owe Xiao Yan a great debt, and I will repay it in the future. But becoming a concubine, or actively seducing him I cannot do it."
"Yun Yun!" Yun Shan's voice suddenly grew stern.
"You owe Xiao Yan a debt you can never fully repay. Moreover, do you realize the power behind him? With his favor, you could reach Dou Zong, even Dou Zun.
For the Yun Lan Sect, Xiao Yan is a greater opportunity than even the Patriarch's return. Don't you understand?"
"Teacher..." Yun Yun's face clouded with sorrow.
"You've changed. You're no longer the proud and unyielding Yun Shan I once admired. The man who wouldn't bow to anyone, no matter how strong they were, is gone. Now, you're the one groveling."
"I've changed?" Yun Shan murmured, a strange smile forming on his lips.
"Yes, I have changed."
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