Xiao Yue looked at Ye Xuan, finding him more and more pleasing to the eye!
This young man was truly outstanding.
At that moment, Ye Xuan suddenly stood up, smiling, “Senior Xiao, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave!”
The old man’s gaze was getting a bit too much for him! He even wondered if the old man had some unsavoury habits…
The thought sent a shiver down Ye Xuan’s spine.
Xiao Yue was slightly taken aback, then said, “Leaving so soon?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Xiao Yue hesitated, then said, “Would you like to meet my daughter? She’s really quite beautiful!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
A quarter of an hour later, Ye Xuan and Yan Bei left Taigu City.
Outside the city, Ye Xuan shook his head with a wry smile on the carriage.
Xiao Yue had been so enthusiastic earlier!
Insisting on introducing his daughter… Did he think Ye Xuan was some lustful man? Honestly!
At this moment, Yan Bei suddenly said calmly, “Feeling good, are you?”
Ye Xuan turned to Yan Bei, “Good about what?”
Yan Bei’s expression was serene, “He was about to introduce his daughter to you, aren’t you secretly thrilled?”
Ye Xuan laughed, “Senior Xiao was just too enthusiastic!”
Yan Bei looked at Ye Xuan with a half-smile, “Are you saying you’re not interested in his daughter? What if she’s a stunning beauty?”
Ye Xuan smiled, then said, “Speaking of stunning beauties, isn’t there one right beside me?”
Yan Bei froze for a moment, then understood, rolling her eyes at him, “Smooth talker!”
Ye Xuan laughed heartily, “Let’s head to the Xuan Realm!”
With that, he gave the reins a gentle flick, and the carriage sped off.
Inside the carriage, Ye Xuan leaned back, legs crossed, holding an ancient book.
Yan Bei sat beside him, reading along, though she kept a certain distance, not leaning against him.
Ye Xuan didn’t mind, his greatest interest now wasn’t beauty but books.
He read with focus, discovering that reading enhanced his thoughts and state of mind, broadened his perspective, and calmed his restlessness!
He used to be so impetuous!
And quite aggressive.
But he found that when he truly calmed down and grounded himself, his cultivation speed actually increased!
He decided that if he met his father in the future, he’d urge him to read more. All his father knew was fighting and killing, which was frankly boring.
At that moment, Yan Bei suddenly asked softly, “Do you have a girl you like?”
Ye Xuan was slightly startled, then smiled, “Yes!”
Yan Bei paused, then asked, “Who?”
Ye Xuan grinned, “A girl who likes wearing white dresses and wielding a spear, she doesn’t talk much…”
Yan Bei was silent for a moment, then asked, “How did you meet?”
Ye Xuan set down the book and looked out the window, saying softly, “That year, I was still very young…”
An Lanxiu!
Gazing at the distant horizon, Ye Xuan’s thoughts drifted back to Qing City.
Lord An!
Thinking of the snow-white-clad An Lanxiu, Ye Xuan’s lips curved slightly. He still remembered that year in Qing City, the woman riding a white horse.
He had to admit, meeting An Lanxiu was his fortune.
Yan Bei glanced at Ye Xuan, her expression dimming.
Ye Xuan suddenly said, “Miss Yan Bei, do you know the difference between liking and loving?”
Yan Bei froze.
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, setting down the ancient book, “Love is when he’s there, your eyes see only him, when he’s not, everything carries his shadow. Liking is thinking of him while reading late at night, wondering what he’s doing, feeling a gentle warmth, yet never reaching out. Liking and loving are different. In short, liking is a faint love, love is a deep liking!”
Yan Bei fell silent.
She understood Ye Xuan’s meaning.
Looking up at him, she said, “You think I only like you now, not love you, right?”
Ye Xuan paused, then said, “I don’t think I’m so remarkable that a woman would fall in love with me after just a few days.”
Yan Bei stared at him, “But don’t you know? All love begins with liking. I admit, I only like you now, with a bit of curiosity. It’s not love yet, true. But so what? Can’t I like you?”
Ye Xuan was about to speak when Yan Bei grabbed his collar, fuming, “Don’t spout those grand theories from your books. I’m asking you, can I like you or not?”
Ye Xuan: “…”
Yan Bei glared at him, “Can I or can’t I?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “You can!”
Yan Bei released his collar, saying calmly, “Whether you like me is your business. I like you now, though it’s not love yet, and I don’t care. It’s my right, isn’t it?”
Ye Xuan nodded honestly, “Yes!”
Yan Bei suddenly asked, “Do you like me?”
Her hands clenched, betraying her nervousness.
Ye Xuan fell silent.
Yan Bei stared at him, “Is it that hard to answer?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “I don’t dislike you!”
Yan Bei glared at him, “You scholars are full of nonsense, pah!”
Though she seemed angry, her hands relaxed.
Ye Xuan smiled, then lay back, covering his face with the book, lost in thought.
Zhi Xuan!
Lately, he’d been studying this realm daily, aiming to master it completely!
Otherwise, he could’ve moved on to Dong Xuan.
With the Great Dao Brush, he could reach Dong Xuan anytime. He hadn’t because he wanted to perfect the Zhi Xuan realm.
Not just Zhi Xuan, but his sword techniques too, he wanted to perfect!
After merging Slash Past, Slash Future, and Slash Present into one Slash Void, he renamed it: Slash Void!
Now, he was confident he could instantly kill a Zhi Xuan realm expert. As for Dong Xuan, he wasn’t entirely sure!
Having seen Shen Lan before, he sensed her terrifying power, meaning the Dong Xuan realm had its complexities.
But he wasn’t afraid. With his current strength, if he used the Great Dao Brush, killing a Dong Xuan expert would be effortless!
At that thought, Ye Xuan’s heart jolted, damn, was he kind of cheating?
Just then, the carriage stopped abruptly.
Ye Xuan frowned, standing up to look outside. Not far away stood a black-robed figure.
He turned to Yan Bei, whose face was grim.
Seeing her, Ye Xuan understood, saying softly, “The Yan Clan?”
Yan Bei nodded, her right hand clenching, “I didn’t expect them to come so quickly…”
The black-robed figure suddenly rasped, “Goddess, you’ve played long enough! Time to return!”
Yan Bei was silent for a moment, then said, “Fine!”
She turned to Ye Xuan, but before he could speak, she hugged him tightly.
Ye Xuan froze.
Yan Bei held him close, whispering, “I won’t forget you!”
With that, she jumped off the carriage, walking towards the black-robed figure, her expression calm as water, clearly having made this decision long ago!
But just then, a hand grabbed her. Yan Bei turned, it was Ye Xuan.
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “You’re part of my academy, if you want to leave, you need to ask me, the dean!”
Yan Bei stared at him, “I’m leaving!”
Ye Xuan said softly, “Are you afraid of dragging me into this?”
Yan Bei lowered her head, her voice trembling, “I lied to you before!”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Lied about what?”
Yan Bei looked up at him, “The Yan Clan is far stronger than I said, they have true Dong Xuan realm experts, and behind them, there’s the legendary Ancient God.”
Ye Xuan fell silent.
Yan Bei continued, “I came to the academy for two reasons: first, to use you, second, to steal the Divine Codex.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “Anything else?”
Yan Bei shook her head, “No!”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “Looks like you succeeded in both!”
Yan Bei looked at him, “Don’t you want me to stay?”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “Put it this way, you’re a student of my academy now, I’m responsible for protecting you!”
Yan Bei shook her head, “I don’t need it! I’m withdrawing from the academy!”
With that, she turned towards the black-robed figure.
At this moment, she’d never felt so conflicted.
She came to the academy, as she said, to use Ye Xuan. But after spending time with him, she found herself developing feelings for him.
It was just a liking, not love.
She wanted to stay at the academy, but she knew doing so would bring endless trouble to Ye Xuan.
So, she chose to leave decisively!
She didn’t want to bring endless trouble to the man behind her.
Just then, her hand was grabbed again.
Yan Bei turned to Ye Xuan, who smiled, “You can’t leave!”
Yan Bei glared at him, angry, “Do you know how terrifying the Yan Clan is? Do you? You don’t, you can’t possibly stand against them!”
Ye Xuan shook his head.
As Yan Bei was about to speak, Ye Xuan pulled her behind him, “When a man’s handling things, a woman stays quiet!”
Yan Bei: “…”
Ye Xuan looked at the black-robed figure, smiling, “We’re both men, let’s keep it simple. You want to talk or fight? If it’s talk, I’ll reason with you, if it’s a fight, let’s have at it!”
The black-robed figure thought, then said, “Let’s fight!”
Boom!
A sword light slashed without warning, instantly shattering the black-robed figure’s body, leaving only his soul!
Yan Bei was stunned, staring at Ye Xuan in disbelief. She hadn’t seen him act, but she knew he’d made the move!
He was this strong?
Yan Bei was utterly petrified.
In the distance, the black-robed figure’s soul raised both hands in surrender, trembling, “Brother… I choose to talk…”
…
