Let’s talk!
It must be said, at this moment, the black-robed figure was utterly dumbfounded.
What just happened?
He hadn’t even seen how Ye Xuan drew his sword, and his physical body was gone!
Right now, his mind was completely blank!
Ye Xuan looked at the black-robed figure, now just a soul, and chuckled lightly, “So, talking it is?”
The black-robed figure nodded hurriedly. By now, his mind had cleared, and he realised he had severely underestimated this man’s strength, and by a wide margin!
Ye Xuan smiled, “Yan Bei is part of my academy. She doesn’t want to go back right now, and we should respect her wishes and freedom, don’t you think?”
The black-robed figure hesitated, then said shakily, “Whatever you say goes!”
Ye Xuan seemed displeased, “I’m trying to reason with you, not threaten you!”
The black-robed figure fell silent.
Damn it!
If you want to reason, could you first move that sword from above my head?
Is this how people reason?
Ye Xuan continued, “We should respect everyone’s personal freedom, don’t you agree?”
The black-robed figure hesitated, then said, “Can we really talk this out?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Of course! Rest assured, though I’ve killed many, I don’t kill recklessly. You can trust me on that!”
The black-robed figure’s expression froze.
Ye Xuan said, “Go on, speak!”
The black-robed figure was silent for a moment, then said, “I think you’re right!”
Ye Xuan asked earnestly, “From the heart?”
The black-robed figure nodded, “From the heart!”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly, “Then go back and tell the Yan Clan that Yan Bei is now a student of my academy. If they have any issues, they can come to me directly.”
The black-robed figure looked at Ye Xuan, saying nothing.
Ye Xuan smiled, “Got a problem?”
The black-robed figure hesitated, then said, “Can I have a problem?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “You can!”
The black-robed figure thought for a moment, then said, “This is a Yan Clan family matter. Isn’t it inappropriate for an outsider to interfere?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “She’s my student now!”
The black-robed figure immediately said, “She’s a Yan Clan member first. The clan raised her, so she should fulfil her duties to the clan, don’t you think?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “That’s true!”
Hearing this, the black-robed figure quickly added, “As the Goddess, she should serve the god we worship. I understand, from an outsider’s perspective, this might seem unreasonable, but different places in the universe have different customs. Shouldn’t we respect others’ traditions?”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly, “That makes sense!”
The black-robed figure continued, “I came to find her, not to harm her, but you destroyed my body without a word. Isn’t that a bit excessive?”
Ye Xuan laughed, “You chose to fight! I admit, I hit a bit hard, but I really didn’t know you… were this weak. No offence meant, I only used one-tenth of my strength!”
The black-robed figure’s face twitched. After a moment’s silence, he said, “Fine, that was my mistake, I was too hasty!”
He looked at Ye Xuan, “Back to the topic. Since you respect our customs, shouldn’t you let her come back with me?”
Ye Xuan smiled, “No!”
The black-robed figure’s expression froze, “So you’re not going to reason anymore?”
Ye Xuan laughed, “Not at all! What I mean is, in a while, I’ll go with her to the Yan Clan!”
The black-robed figure looked at Ye Xuan, frowning slightly, “Sir, do you know of the Yan Clan in the northern part of the Desolate Universe?”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “Are you trying to tell me how powerful you are?”
The black-robed figure said calmly, “I wouldn’t dare!”
Ye Xuan laughed, “Go back and tell your Yan Clan leader that I’ll bring Yan Bei to the Yan Clan one day. If you want to talk, I’ll reason with you. If you want to fight…”
He smiled faintly, leaving the sentence unfinished.
The black-robed figure looked at Ye Xuan, “If we fight, what then?”
Ye Xuan opened his palm, and the sword above the black-robed figure’s head turned into a streak of sword light, landing in his hand. He turned, pulling Yan Bei towards the carriage, “I’m invincible, the Yan Clan can do as it pleases!”
Black-robed figure: “…”
Under his gaze, Ye Xuan’s carriage slowly moved into the distance.
In place, the black-robed figure was silent for a moment, then said softly, “Young man, you know nothing of the Yan Clan’s strength!”
With that, he turned and vanished at the edge of the starry sky.
…
On the carriage.
Yan Bei looked at Ye Xuan, “Are you really going with me to the Yan Clan?”
Ye Xuan nodded.
Yan Bei glanced at him, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
Ye Xuan set down the ancient book and smiled, “Worried?”
Yan Bei nodded, “My father is a stubborn old man, and he’s extremely loyal to the Ancient Gods. Not just him, the Yan Clan’s powerhouses are all fiercely loyal to them. Changing their minds is simply impossible!”
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “No worries, leave it all to me when the time comes.”
Yan Bei glanced at Ye Xuan, lowered her head, lost in thought.
Ye Xuan suddenly lifted the curtain, looking at the blue sky and white clouds, chuckling lightly, “Running away isn’t the solution. If I’m not mistaken, though you don’t want to be the Goddess, you still care about your father and your clan, right?”
Yan Bei nodded. As Ye Xuan said, though she didn’t want to be the Goddess, she wanted to return, as the Yan Clan was her home.
Ye Xuan turned his gaze back to her, “Since you care, we should talk to them. If it goes well, we’re still family, right?”
Yan Bei looked at Ye Xuan, “You know, they only respect those with strength and background. Even if you’re personally powerful, they won’t truly take you seriously.”
Ye Xuan suddenly turned to Yan Bei, smiling faintly. He gently brushed a strand of hair from her shoulder, then laughed, “Don’t talk to me about background or family!”
Yan Bei was puzzled, “Why not?”
Ye Xuan shook his head, chuckling, “Because my background… is truly invincible!”
Yan Bei glared at him, “You’re great in every way, except for your occasional boasting. That’s not a good habit!”
Ye Xuan’s expression froze.
He couldn’t help feeling exasperated.
He realised he wasn’t suited for telling the truth, no one believed him!
At that moment, it began to rain.
Outside the carriage, the rain grew heavier. Ye Xuan stopped reading, chatting with Yan Bei instead.
Yan Bei sat beside him, her head resting against the window, watching the light rain outside, and said softly, “I’ve never felt so at peace!”
She suddenly turned to Ye Xuan, “For some reason, being around you, I feel not only calm but also safe!”
Ye Xuan said softly, “I have someone I like!”
Yan Bei looked at him, “Yet you still flirt with me!”
Ye Xuan quickly said resemble her, “I didn’t!”
Yan Bei stared at him, “So it’s my fault!”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Why?”
Yan Bei’s head suddenly rested on his shoulder, her voice soft, “Your mistake was being too outstanding, stealing my heart without knowing it… you damned heart-thief…”
Ye Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “Am I that outstanding?”
Yan Bei nodded slightly, “Handsome, wealthy, learned, powerful, a sword cultivator, mysterious background, and considerate…”
She turned to him, “In the universe of gods, is there a man more outstanding than you?”
Ye Xuan thought, then said, “Probably not!”
“Pfft!”
Yan Bei burst out laughing, rolling her eyes at him, “Also, your skin’s a bit thick!”
Ye Xuan laughed heartily.
The rain grew heavier, the view outside the window a blur.
Not long after, the carriage stopped.
Ye Xuan looked ahead. Not far from the carriage stood an old man holding a folding fan.
This was Li Lan, Li Xue’s father.
Ye Xuan turned to Yan Bei, smiling, “Let’s get off!”
Yan Bei shook her head, “You go, I’ll stay here and read.”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Alright!”
Yan Bei watched Ye Xuan walk away, her palm opening to reveal a talisman.
Looking at Ye Xuan in the rain, her gaze blurred, as if it were raining in her eyes, her voice a whisper, “I know you’re amazing, truly amazing… but I can’t let you go to the Yan Clan with me… Maybe the Yan Clan isn’t as strong as your backing, but I don’t dare gamble. I really don’t, because if I lose… you’ll die.”
Tears welled in her eyes, falling like the rain outside, growing heavier.
Looking at Ye Xuan in the distance, tears streamed down her face, yet she smiled, “These days have felt surreal. I never thought I’d fall for a man in such a short time… but liking is liking, it’s truly uncontrollable! What can I do?”
Her smile turned bitter, “But… you already have someone you love!”
Her heart ached as if pricked by needles, “When you said you had someone you loved, do you know how much that hurt? Have you ever felt that? You probably haven’t… you’re so outstanding, the one you love must love you back… why didn’t I meet you sooner… why…”
Her gaze grew vacant, her right hand tightly clutching the talisman, “Let me look at you one more time… just one more…”
In the distance, Ye Xuan walked slowly towards Li Lan, who hurried to meet him. Just then, Ye Xuan stopped, turning sharply to look at the carriage, now empty.
She’s gone?
Ye Xuan froze.
After a moment’s silence, he shook his head, “Is this your choice?”
He turned and walked towards Li Lan.
If that’s your choice, I respect it.
He gave up on the idea of going to the Yan Clan’s divine mountain.
…
