After closing the door to the room, Xiao Yan turned around, his face immediately revealing a trace of exhaustion. He rubbed his slightly darkened eye circles and helplessly shrugged at Hai Bodong.
Hai Bodong picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and said to Xiao Yan, "I bet that guy's first move after going back will be to investigate our backgrounds."
"Let him be. He'll probably find out about my background tomorrow anyway. It's just the Mo Clan. For now, let's adjust our condition. The journey has been quite mentally exhausting. After recovering, let's enter the Mo Clan early tomorrow morning to look for Qing Lin." Xiao Yan stretched lazily, preparing to get a good night's sleep.
Long-term flying puts a great strain on both vision and mind. Even if one had sufficient Dou Qi, the mental strain of continuous flight was overwhelming.
Just as Xiao Yan was about to wash up and hit the sack, in the corridor outside the room, whether intentionally or by coincidence, Ling Lin led Nalan Yanran to the room directly opposite him. The two women opened the door and slowly walked in.
…
The morning sunlight filtered through the patterned windows.
Inside the room, Xiao Yan, who had woken up and was sitting cross-legged on the Green Colored Lotus Platform to cultivate, slowly opened his eyes. A faint green light flashed through his pitch-black pupils.
He took a deep breath of the cool morning air and immediately felt refreshed and invigorated.
'This Green Colored Lotus Platform can indeed soothe the spirit and refresh the mind. It's truly a rare treasure.'
Xiao Yan walked out of the room after putting away the Green Colored Lotus Platform. Hai Bodong was already waiting for him.
"Let's go, Old Hai. Today, we'll sneak in and find Qing Lin first while the Mo Clan is busy. Then we'll properly 'celebrate' that old fellow Mo Cheng's birthday. I've already got the perfect gift in mind."
"Tsk tsk tsk, poor Mo Clan. I'm afraid their joyous occasion might turn into a funeral today." Hai Bodong said helplessly as he shrugged his shoulders. Xiao Yan's eyes were filled with killing intent that he didn't even bother to conceal.
Xiao Yan didn't even feel the need to hide his identity. The Mo Clan was nothing. Without counting the Misty Cloud Sect, the current Xiao Clan was already stronger than the Mo Clan.
What was the Mo Clan anyway? He even knew the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect and had joined the Hall of Souls.
After leaving the room, Xiao Yan casually closed the door and walked down the stairs along the corridor.
And at that very moment! Standing quietly at the inn's entrance was Nalan Yanran, dressed in a tight, moon-white robe that perfectly accentuated her exquisite and alluring figure. She was smiling and chatting with Ling Lin, while numerous discreet yet heated gazes from the hall kept sweeping over her.
As Xiao Yan's footsteps slowly descended the last flight of stairs, he suddenly raised his head slightly as if sensing something. At the same moment, Nalan Yanran also looked toward the direction of the stairs.
Their eyes met!!!
Their movements halted abruptly, and both of them froze in place as if struck by lightning!
Although it had been three years and they had both changed quite a bit, Xiao Yan could still recognize Nalan Yanran!
And Nalan Yanran also recognized at a glance this man whom she had been 'thinking of day and night,' Xiao Yan!
With their gaze fixed upon each other, the atmosphere became tense!!
Or rather, incredibly awkward!
Being the shrewd old man he was, Hai Bodong was quick to notice Xiao Yan's sudden halt. He followed Xiao Yan's gaze toward the entrance just in time to see Nalan Yanran freezing in place as well.
His eyebrows immediately raised. This atmosphere! Those expressions! That look in their eyes!!!
There's a story here!!!
Hai Bodong now just wanted to grab a handful of popcorn and sit down to watch this great drama unfold!
Nalan Yanran slightly clenched her teeth, her expression turning cold and her eyes solemn. A surge of uncontrollable anger and humiliation suddenly welled up in her heart!
Xiao Yan, on the other hand, felt a bit awkward and wanted to walk away. He had never imagined that the Little Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect would attend the birthday celebration of a mere External Deacon!
Nalan Yanran's body trembled slightly. After a long while, a fierce aura slowly awakened from within her.
"Yanran?" Ge Ye sensed something amiss and frowned as he looked toward the staircase. In an instant, his body shook violently. It was clear that he had recognized Xiao Yan as well!
The incident of the annulled engagement had been kept well hidden. Ge Ye didn't dare mention that Nalan Yanran had lost to someone her own age. After all, who would believe that a youth from a remote city's clan had broken two of her fingers with a single punch?!
The Little Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect couldn't withstand a punch from someone of the same cultivation level! If this news spread, it would certainly cause an uproar!
At this moment, many people also sensed something was amiss and turned their gazes toward the two. Those more perceptive individuals had already begun to piece things together.
"I didn't expect to see you in Yan City," Nalan Yanran said in a low voice.
"Uh... pure coincidence."
Nalan Yanran's eyes narrowed as she said, "It's been almost three years. Since we are both here, why don't we fulfill our agreement from back then here in Yan City!"
Xiao Yan shrugged and replied, "I am open to it, but I have some things to take care of today. How about tomorrow?"
"Are you also here to attend the Mo Clan's birthday banquet?"
Xiao Yan furrowed his brows and said noncommittally, "You could say that."
To be able to have a woman thinking about him day and night, Xiao Yan could be considered a fairly successful young lad!
The atmosphere was excessively quiet for a moment. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the drama to unfold.
Just then, Ge Ye stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Xiao Yan, "Little Clan Leader Xiao, long time no see."
One doesn't slap a smiling face. Xiao Yan returned the gesture with a smile and said, "Indeed, it's been a while, Mr. Ge Ye."
Technically, the engagement had not been annulled yet! Moreover, after the incident three years ago, the Nalan Clan had gone crazy trying to stop Nalan Yanran from breaking off the engagement.
Furthermore, Ge Ye could vaguely sense that Xiao Yan had already reached the Dou Grandmaster realm!
To advance from Dou Practitioner to Dou Grandmaster in three years—such a rate of improvement was no less than Nalan Yanran's. This left Ge Ye both shocked and terrified!
Even with the assistance of Pill King Gu He and the guidance of Sect Leader Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran still couldn't widen the gap in cultivation between her and Xiao Yan!
Such a talent was simply too astonishing!
Ge Ye then glanced at Hai Bodong standing next to Xiao Yan, and his pupils immediately contracted. He couldn't sense Hai Bodong's strength at all! It was as deep and unfathomable as an abyss!
'I've only felt this kind of sensation from the Sect Leader!' Ge Ye's heart was filled with dread.
Ge Ye cupped his hands and said, "Since that's the case, why don't Little Clan Leader Xiao join us in visiting the Mo Clan?"
Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows. He had been thinking about how to sneak into the Mo Clan, but now it seemed like he had an inside man!
Ge Ye subtly shook his head at Nalan Yanran and whispered, "Yanran, you only broke through to the Dou Grandmaster realm half a year ago using the Purple Crystal Pill given by Elder Gu He. The effects of the Purple Crystal Pill will last for a year, during which your cultivation will progress twice as fast. I suggest you continue cultivating for another three or four months. That would be better for you."
Upon hearing Ge Ye's words, Nalan Yanran actually suppressed her aura. It was evident that these three years had made her more composed.
Xiao Yan exchanged a glance with Hai Bodong and then used a spiritual transmission to say, "Old Hai, help me find Qing Lin once we're inside the Mo Clan. There is a Rank 4 snake-type magical beast by her side. Take her away and leave Mo Cheng to me."