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--- Chapter 228 ---
As soon as Han Yuan and Xiao Yixian reached the Wu Tan City's gate, the guards greeted them with a sunny smile.
"Xiao Yuan, Xiao Yixian, Morning. I don't know that you two were out of the city," said one of the guards, curiously. "Did you go on that mission again?"
Han Yuan smiled, "Morning, uncle. Yes, something like that."
"Brother, we should report to the Grandmaster first." Xiao Yixian tugged Han Yuan's sleeve.
"Alright, alright, well, then, I have to go first, uncle." Han Yuan waved his hand before walking into the city.
The guards watched the siblings walk away with a melancholic smile on their faces.
One guard sighed, "It's hard to believe the kids from six years ago have grown this much."
"Yeah." Another guard chuckled. "I still remember giving him some advice on living in the city. And in one year, he rose from an unknown orphan to a well-known genius."
"And his momentum never stopped ever since!" The last guard in the area said with admiration in his voice. "Last year, I heard he defeated a genius with 9-Star Dou Grandmaster from the border, gaining the Right-Armed Wind King title."
The three of them glanced at each other and sighed in awe. Although Han Yuan didn't specify what mission he went on, most of the people in the city knew he was massacring the bandits and keeping the area nearby safe.
If not, there wouldn't be so many merchants coming to the Wu Tan City and improving the economy. Of course, the investment is just as critical, but no one would come to a dangerous city to build a business.
"Thank you for the cover, Yixian." Han Yuan said, rubbing the girl's nose playfully.
Xiao Yixian rolled her eyes. "If I don't do that, you will be talking to them for half an hour."
"Haha, what can I say... I love the people of this city." Han Yuan replied happily, and that's the truth.
While he wasn't happy with some people meddling with his business, the people in Wu Tan City are essentially under his rule. This place is his first base in this world, so of course, it's vital to his plan.
As Han Yuan and Xiao Yixian closed the dojo, the people started greeting them enthusiastically. Some are disciples, and some are residents who were happy to see the infamous siblings returned safely.
Of course, Han Yuan responded to the greetings.
"..." Xiao Yixian facepalmed before dragging her attention-seeking brother to the Soaring Wind Dojo.
Unfortunately, Xiao Yixian's mood soured even more when she sensed a familiar yet annoying presence on the third floor.
"Hmph." She kicked the damned door open, seeing Gu Xun'er sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea in her hand.
"I thought you two would disappear for much longer." Gu Xun'er flashed a calm stare at Xiao Yixian before moving her attention to Han Yuan. "You're making me worried, you know that, right?"
Han Yuan's mouth twitched, "Gu Xun'er..."
"It's Xun'er for you." Gu Xun'er smiled faintly.
"Right, Xun'er..." Han Yuan's mouth twitched even more. "My injury is not as bad as you thought. I recovered a long time ago."
Han Yuan even showed this by twisting his right arm and skipping a few times on the spot.
Regardless, Gu Xun'er was unfazed. She still smiled and stirred the tea as if she didn't hear Han Yuan's reasoning.
In fact, Gu Xun'er has known this for years. At first, she was shocked, and so was her bodyguard, because the injuries Han Yuan suffered are truly career-ending.
Yet, defying all expectations, he recovered in three years!
THREE YEARS!
Han Yuan had proven to them that he could work miracles. Upon further inspection, they also discovered that he possessed the bloodline of an unknown ancient Magical Beast and the legendary constitution of the White Mist Emperor, the Dou God's body.
However, this fact didn't make Gu Xun'er feel better. Instead, it makes her feel worse because she had damaged Han Yuan's foundation.
If Han Yuan hadn't sacrificed himself to help her, he would have reached a much higher cultivation realm right now. If he hadn't sacrificed himself, he could have awakened his White Mist Emperor Body.
The harm was 'already' done. Gu Xun'er thought she could only redeem herself by taking care of Han Yuan more.
No, in fact, when Gu Xun'er reported this matter to her father, all he could do was sigh in helplessness. They truly hit a golden egg lying goose and deserve the karma.
The Gu Clan really owed Han Yuan a lifetime favor.
Of course, they also hoped Han Yuan could still reach the Dou God Realm and open a path for others. However, the chance of that happening is abysmally low because of the incident.
"It doesn't matter." Gu Xun'er sipped her tea. "You feel much better, that's good, but I am not the kind of girl who shirks her responsibility."
"I heard you're looking for the location of Heavenly Flame."
"I think I can help you with that."
Han Yuan narrowed his eyes, "What's the catch?"
Gu Xun'er shook her head gently, "There is none."
"I don't believe there is such a thing as free lunch in this world." Han Yuan said calmly.
"Oh, there is. You're staring at it right now." Gu Xun'er remarked with a giggle.
"So, you're the lunch?" Xiao Yixian's angered voice echoed in the room.
"Ah..." Gu Xun'er finally realized how ambiguous she sounded and blushed slightly. "T-That's not what I mean..."
Xiao Yixian snorted, "Oh, yeah? Why don't you mingle with your lovely and handsome Brother Xiao Yan then?"
Upon hearing Xiao Yixian mention Xiao Yan's name, the princess of the Gu Clan unexpectedly put on a somber look.
"What? What's with that sad look on your face?" Xiao Yixian narrowed her eyes. "You look like a puppy kicked by its owner."
"Puppy, owner?" Gu Xun'er giggled weakly.
"Maybe I am..."
"Ever since Xiao Yan's mother passed away, he got so depressed, and I tried everything to cheer him up."
"The worst part is that he started losing his Dou Qi and cultivation..."
"He started complaining and hurting others, blaming everyone around him, including me."
"I did my very best to look for the cause of this phenomenon, but couldn't detect anything wrong with him."
"I've given Brother Xiao Yan a high-concentrated Dou Qi Boosting Pill, but all that energy vanished in less than three hours..."
"He even blamed me for it, saying what I gave was a defective product."
"I spent so much effort to get those pills..." Gu Xun'er clenched her hands hopelessly.
On the other hand, Han Yuan clicked his tongue in disbelief. 'Of course, you couldn't find anything. The perpetrator is a Half-Saint Alchemist, whose Soul Realm is many times stronger than yours and Ling Ying's.'
'Hiding the fact he sucked Xiao Yan's Dou Qi dry for the next three years is easy, wait, that sounds wrong for some reason.'
'Now that I thought about it, Yao Chen's so-called will-tempering training is no different than crushing Xiao Yan's ego down so badly, so he could mold him into a fine submissive disciple.'
'Although Xiao Yan really needed a mindset adjustment, three years of humiliation is not the best method...'
Well, Han Yuan couldn't really do anything about it. As the protagonist of this world, Xiao Yan was 'naturally' bound to suffer sooner or later, for better or worse, depending on what he becomes in the future.
At this moment, Xiao Yan is truly hitting rock bottom.
"I don't know what to do anymore." A hoarse weep comes out.
Drip! Drip! Drip!
"Hmm?" Han Yuan looked up, seeing Gu Xun'er crying bitterly.
Xiao Yixian, who initially was angry, also couldn't help but pity Gu Xun'er for having such an idiotic brother. 'Hmph, my brother is thousands, no, infinitely better than Xiao Yan!'
Xiao Yixian glanced at Han Yuan and then nudged him, 'What are you waiting for? Comfort her, you dense block of muscle!'
'Hey, hey, aren't you the one who advised me not to get close to other girls?' Han Yuan gave her a funny look.
Even then, Han Yuan still followed Xiao Yixian's words and walked to Gu Xun'er, patting the Gu Clan's princess on the head softly. "It's not your fault."
"Xun'er, I know you're a very kind girl."
"I know it from how much care you put in helping me in the past five years."
"However, sometimes, some people just don't deserve kindness, even after all the effort you put in; they are blind and deaf to your advice and help."
"Then, they started taking it for granted..."
"Taking it for granted." Gu Xun'er recalled how much money she had spent on helping Xiao Yan, whether it was cultivation pills she secretly provided to the Xiao Clan or other aids. There are also other efforts, but Xiao Yan didn't care and took them as if it were his right.
She didn't know when, but it had become her responsibility, and she was 'actually' blinded by it.
All that devotion for nothing!
"Aaaahhh!" Gu Xun'er cried in anguish. Then, she reached for Han Yuan and hugged him tightly for comfort.
"Just let it all out." Han Yuan sighed as he rubbed the girl's back, knowing how much this affected her. "You will be so much better afterward."
...
...
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan is meditating in his house. Yet, no matter how much he tried, no Dou Qi would be extracted or refined, as if he had suddenly become a bottomless abyss.
"Damn it!" Xiao Yan angrily reached for a pot and threw it at the wall.
BAM! Kacha!
"Damn it all!"
"I hate it! Arrrgghhh!"
Xiao Yan huffed, feeling somewhat lost. Not only because he had become trash, but also because of how depressed he is.
The mockery of those who once used to admire and fear him.
The disdains of those teacher he used to look down upon.
A massive mountain-like figure crushing him years ago.
Then, he suddenly clutched his chest in despair.
He felt empty!
It is just like when his mother passed away.
As if he had lost someone important to him.