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"Gu Xi'er, let's go!"
Zhou Yan's interest waned. He didn't want to expose his abilities in a place like the Treasure Pavilion, so he decided not to stay any longer.
When words fall on deaf ears, there's no need to continue. If others couldn't care less about him, he wouldn't care about them, either.
"Alright, Brother Zhou Yan, let's go."
Gu Xi was exceedingly gentle, as if trying to soothe the discontent in Zhou Yan's heart with her endless tenderness.
They both ignored the faces of these people. With the respectful escort of a purple-clothed girl, they were about to leave the luxurious inner hall.
At that moment, a red-clothed woman led a young man with a black giant sword strapped to his back into the hall.
Upon the red-clothed woman's entrance, the purple-clothed girl, along with other purple-clothed girls in the hall, immediately bowed and respectfully said, "Disciple greets the Guardian Pavilion Elder."
"Alright, you all carry on with your work. This time, the newly appointed Yang Family Master, Yang Qingtan, has come, and I will personally receive him. Continue with whatever you should be doing!"
As soon as the red-clothed woman spoke, the entire inner hall of the pavilion became lively.
Nowadays, within Tianji City, truly one of the most prominent figures was Yang Qingtan!
He was not yet thirty years old, yet his realm had already reached the Peak State of Sword Intent First Layer Heaven. Moreover, his combat power could transcend levels and fiercely battle against masters at the Third Level of Sword Intent!
He was someone whom everyone respected and even feared today.
He was also a True Man Level genius in the Sword Intent Realm!
"Yang Qingtan, I didn't expect it to be him!"
"He actually came to the VIP pavilion of the Treasure Pavilion, which makes sense given his current relationship with the pavilion..."
"I didn't expect him to be so dashing. I thought he'd be stocky and bear-like..."
"Yang Family's legendary figure, Yang Qingtan, is even more imposing and manly than I imagined..."
...
Although there weren't many people in the hall, Yang Qingtan's arrival still stirred up a wave of discussion.
"Yang Family Master has come as well," said Xie Family Master Xie Xikun, who had been silent beside Xiao Lan, and now greeted Yang Qingtan with a rather humble posture.
"It is truly a great honor for me, Xiao Lan, to witness the elegance of the Yang Family Master today," said Xiao Lan with a pleasant smile while speaking to Yang Qingtan.
However, Yang Qingtan wasn't concerned with anyone's remarks, nor did he respond to Xie Family Master or Xiao Lan. He didn't even spare them a glance.
His gaze swept over Gu Xi, Xiao Linlin, and Xiao Chan'er, only to eventually land upon Zhou Yan.
It was a gaze as oppressive as Sword Intent, but without any murderous intent, as if an almost matching aura attracted his attention.
"Zhou Yan of the Zhou Family?"
A trace of astonishment flickered in the depths of his eyes, and he suddenly asked coldly.
"Correct, and you must be Yang Qingtan of the Yang Family?"
Zhou Yan took a deep look at this man. He was tall, nearly about one point nine meters. His shoulders were held straight, and the black giant sword on his back almost covered his entire back.
It was a peculiar weapon, a heavy sword! Yet it was exceedingly sharp, even among heavy swords!
"I am indeed! You are quite impressive, I await you! Continue on well!"
Yang Qingtan's voice was low, hoarse, but vigorously powerful, highly penetrating.
"Rest assured! What you can achieve, I can achieve too!"
Zhou Yan responded indifferently, yet regarded Yang Qingtan with a newfound semblance of recognition.
This person discerned at a glance that he possessed Sword Intent but didn't expose it.
He finally understood why Gu Xi's father spoke so highly of this individual because, from just a brief encounter, he could ascertain that this wasn't a person who would use vile means to harm Gu Yan!
"I hope so."
Yang Qingtan said.
After speaking, he decisively turned and walked towards a spot in the hall.
At this moment, the red-clothed woman beside Yang Qingtan also shot a few curious glances at Zhou Yan, seemingly puzzled as to why Yang Qingtan valued someone like him.
As a Guardian Pavilion Elder of the Treasure Pavilion, she was undoubtedly well-informed. She knew all about Zhou Yan, which only made her even more confused. She couldn't understand why Yang Qingtan would ignore personalities like Xie Family Master and Xiao Lan of the Xiao Family, yet greet someone who had been cast out of his family, labeled as a wastrel.
She harbored many puzzled feelings, akin to the cultivators near and far observing this scene, yet she didn't inquire.
...
After Zhou Yan left, the entire inner hall of the Treasure Pavilion returned to its calm state—it didn't change due to Zhou Yan's departure.
Xiao Linlin and Xiao Chan'er both appeared somewhat dejected, but it was Xiao Lan whose face didn't look any better.
"This Yang Qingtan is too full of himself. Who does he think he is? Acknowledging a wastrel while ignoring our friendliness is infuriating!" Xiao Lan fumed.
"Sister Lan, don't mind it. The Yang Family's fortunes haven't ended yet—let's see how long he can be arrogant," Xie Family Master Xie Xikun coldly chuckled.
"He only greeted that wastrel because he thought that wastrel, like him, could reunite Qi Sea Pillar and unlock his potential! Little did he know, Zhou Yan has long been a wastrel. How could his circumstances compare with his at that time?" Xie Feng chimed in.
Previously, he felt extreme envy and resentment towards Zhou Yan's generosity in bestowing three Wind Spirit Avoiding Dust Armors. He knew that even now, he didn't own a Wind Spirit Avoiding Dust Armor. Yet this wastrel could give away three at once!
This gave rise to a covetous sentiment towards Zhou Yan's wealth within him.
How could a wastrel like Zhou Yan own such fortune?
"Sister Lan, Feng'er is right; these matters aren't worth dwelling on." Xie Xikun advised.
Xiao Lan nodded, her face gradually regaining some composure.
...
"Brother Zhou Yan, I'm sorry..."
Flying all the way with Zhou Yan, Gu Xi spoke guilt-riddenly.
"It's not your fault. But how much did you tell them about my situation?"
Zhou Yan didn't initially care much about his powers becoming widely known, but with the Zhou Family and Xiao Family acting this way, he thought he might conceal them for a while.
"I didn't say anything. Father had already told me Linlin and Chan'er weren't the same anymore but I didn't quite believe it, thinking it was just some change as they grew..."
After returning from the sect due to family issues, I barely interacted with them.
It was because you, Brother Zhou Yan, went into seclusion that I went to tell them you were here, and that's why they came to my place to wait for you.
However, I said nothing about your matters. At the time, I thought it was something you should share with them yourself, but in hindsight, it was the decision that prevented me from making a lifelong regretful mistake."
Gu Xi explained all the preceding events, and only then did Zhou Yan understand that Uncle Gu had already known the Xiao Family had changed.
But probably fearing to hurt his feelings or not wanting to speak ill of others, Gu Yan hadn't mentioned it.
Understanding Gu Yan's character, Zhou Yan found clarity in these matters.
"That's good, then for the next twenty days, I might as well be a wastrel. It's just the right time to hone the Sword Intent I've just comprehended."
Zhou Yan remarked with emotion.
"Sword... Sword Intent? Brother Zhou Yan, you've already comprehended Sword Intent?" Gu Xi's pretty face revealed extreme shock.
Even her delicate body trembled with excitement due to the astonishment.
"Yes, I have. After coming out of seclusion, I've already comprehended it, but back then, I thought it unwise to mention it and planned to talk about it later. Now it seems I made the right choice because if they knew, I wouldn't be able to have any peace."
Zhou Yan sighed.
"Alas—"
Gu Xi sighed heavily. She couldn't understand why those two sisters, who cultivated to be with Brother Zhou Yan, had forgotten their original goal. Or was it that their ambitions had grown, no longer regarding the Brother Zhou Yan in their memories?
She felt sorrow for Zhou Yan's predicament and for the choices of Xiao Linlin and Xiao Chan'er.
"Don't sigh, I still prefer your smiling face. When we get back, let's go to the secret chamber alone, and you wear the Spirit Armor for me to see, alright?"
Zhou Yan took a deep breath, brushing aside the burdensome matters in his heart, and smiled as he spoke.
"Alright."
Blushing at the recollection of some ambiguous past events between them, Gu Xi's pretty face turned redder, making her even more beautiful and adorable.
...
Tianji City, outside the Treasure Pavilion.
"Hey, isn't that the Xiao Family's twin flowers? How come you have the leisure and ability to stroll around the Treasure Pavilion? Could it be that you sold yourselves?" A somewhat provocative voice taunted.
"Hahaha, there's a real chance of that. If they didn't sell themselves, how could the Xiao Family rise?" A somewhat thick voice laughed teasingly.
Ratchet fools. Now that Linlin and Chan'er have become direct disciples pre-determined by the Elders of the Purgatory Sword Sect and have received substantial cultivation, how dare your Xu Family act so arrogantly?!"
Xie Feng emerged before Xiao Linlin and Xiao Chan'er could respond, casting an evil gaze upon the two.
While speaking, his hands transformed into a black light, suddenly firing two beams of Sword Qi that shimmered with cold brilliance.
"Whoosh-whoosh—"
The two beams of Sword Qi shot forth with unparalleled speed, and before the two grey-robed youths, one chubby and one thin, had time to react, those two beams of black light suddenly severed their necks.
Due to the immense force, when their necks were cut through, their heads surged skyward, spinning around a couple of times in the air.
It was only at this point that a mass of crimson blood gushed simultaneously from the stump-like necks of the two.
Their anguished cries were abruptly silenced, and then they fell directly onto the ground, their bodies occasionally jerking like a puppet with its strings cut.
"Sister, did you see that? The two eldest young masters of the Xu Family, who previously bullied and even attempted to humiliate us, weren't even worth Young Master Xie Feng's regard? Now, do you understand that choosing a strong backing can protect you from being bullied?
Now, do you still think we chose wrongly?" Xiao Linlin laughed as she asked.
Xiao Chan'er's expression was complex; she sighed softly without answering.
"Linlin is right. That boy is a wastrel, yet so arrogant, pretending to be like Zhou Wangchen. It's simply beyond understanding how he survived! Such individuals living on is a miracle!"
Xiao Lan sneered repeatedly.
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