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--- Chapter 230 ---
After telling Meng Xi to prepare a few things, Han Yuan got left behind with Yafei alone. They stayed in this intimate position for a while before the girl in red broke the ice.
"I miss you..." Yafei said, burying her head on his chest.
Han Yuan smiled, "We are literally only apart for a month."
"A month is very, very, very long..." She pouted in defiance. "And the desert was too harsh for a girl like me."
"..." Han Yuan stared at the bundle of golden hairs before him, seeing how healthy and lustrous they were, with a disbelieving look. The current Yafei and the past Yafei are two completely different people.
Five years ago, Yafei was a talented girl known for her business acumen and attractive appearance. She showed softness outside, but possessed an unwavering resolve inside.
Regardless, in a world ruled by whose fist is bigger, Yafei's talent is not really desirable.
Her talent as a Dou Fighter is really poor.
Without the background and protection of the Primer Clan, she's nothing.
Business? Any shameless expert would just come to your front door and ask for your money to "save" it from dangerous people!
But everything changed when Yafei made a bet on Han Yuan. She saw a bigger world, realizing how naive and easy it was for her to end up in a small place like the Jia Ma Empire.
Weak, foolish, fragile.
Then, Han Yuan helped her. Starting from cultivation, resources, and even advice on doing business, sometimes.
A frail girl grew strong, albeit secretly.
She learned how to manipulate people for their own good. Paid them well, and they work harder.
Yet, all these didn't help Yafei to unveil the mystery around Han Yuan. She became curious.
Slowly but surely, curiosity becomes a liking.
Her awe turned into admiration.
In Yafei's heart, Han Yuan's figure is both towering and bright, like the sun.
As long as she followed him wholeheartedly, he wouldn't let her down.
"Xiao Yuan, if you wanted a harem, I'm fine with it." Yafei abruptly blurted, catching Han Yuan off guard. Then, she hugged him tightly, humming in contentment.
'Okay, so that's how it is...' Han Yuan stared at Yafei, blinking his eyes in disbelief again, before chuckling.
"Do you have lunch yet?"
"Hmm, I had some snacks before coming back..."
"Well, let's have lunch together at my place then."
Yafei's eyes turned crescent, "Mm."
Unexpectedly, the lunch will become awkward because Xiao Yixian and Gu Xun'er are at home, waiting for Han Yuan. The dining table is cold, colder than any battlefield.
Yafei smiled at Xiao Yixian and Gu Xun'er, "I didn't expect to meet you two like this."
"How long has it been again? Three months ago, Miss Xun'er barely made her presence clear, but now she actually visits the Young Master Yuan's house personally."
"I thought you would hide a little longer..."
Gu Xun'er scowled inside but hid it with a calm smile, "I have nothing to hide."
"Like that fallen genius of a brother you sucked for years?" Yafei covered her mouth in shock, giggling innocently. "You didn't hide it?"
"Ah, Brother Xiao Yan, this! Brother Xiao Yan that!"
Crack!
Gu Xun'er immediately froze on the spot as the chopsticks in her hand snapped in half.
Yafei doubled down, "I heard you spent a fortune on the black market to purchase the pure, high-quality Dou Qi Boosting Pills to help Xiao Yan escape his predicament."
"I wonder how that's going for you? Does Xiao Yan squeal in happiness and hug you like a good patron you are? Of course not, he's trash now with severe insecurity."
"I bet he berated you, and you just took it silently with a smile, like a good girl you are..."
Gu Xun'er glared at Yafei, displaying intense heat coming from her body, or more precisely, the Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame!
'Damn, and I thought I was the pettiest one.' Xiao Yixian didn't expect her to be the most tolerant one in the group.
Seeing how riled Gu Xun'er was, Yafei merely smiled and prompted her to take a bite of the roasted beef on her plate. She chewed silently, feigning Han Yuan's bitter expression.
"You don't understand..." Gu Xun'er mumbled.
"You don't understand me at all..."
"What do you know about me and him..."
Yafei stopped her cutlery, gazing deep into the princess's eyes, "No, I understand you well enough, Lady Xun'er. You are living in denial, and when that doesn't work anymore, you're looking for a replacement, and that replacement is Xiao Yuan."
"Unfortunately, Xiao Yuan and your Brother Xiao Yan aren't the same kind of people."
"You're seeking another comfort when the previous one doesn't work for you."
"People called me a seductress, but I didn't play like this."
"Then, again, you're here... You've made your choice..."
"There is no return from here and out."
"You either choose to stay or fall out with us."
"I..." Gu Xun'er fell into silence. She realized Han Yuan was too kind for her and wouldn't say such a thing directly. Xiao Yixian would, but chose not to.
Nonetheless, Yafei is different. The conflict between them didn't just start today. They have a several-year-long history of arguments due to their views.
Back then, Gu Xun'er adamantly supported Xiao Yan despite knowing he was wrong.
She thought she could fix him!
She thought that if she could make Han Yuan and Xiao Yan befriend each other, everything would be alright.
Oh, boy, how wrong she was.
And Yafei didn't mind criticizing Gu Xun'er for it.
Although Yafei was biased toward Han Yuan, she could see the conflict more clearly as the watcher.
At first, it was just a simple loss, but Xiao Yan held a grudge and started attacking Soaring Wind Dojo's disciple in the guise of a spar. Yet, when Han Yuan challenged back, the Xiao Clan's genius fled like a cowardly dog with its tail tucked between its legs.
It happened back and forth for years!
The humiliation in Xiao Yan's heart made his hatred toward Han Yuan so extreme yet hidden that Yafei knew they couldn't befriend each other, as the 'petty' grudge had grown into a full-blown hatred.
And here Gu Xun'er wanted to fix that?
Foolish is an understatement to her naivety!
Gu Xun'er couldn't see how prideful Xiao Yan is.
"Okay, Yafei, stop." Han Yuan finally decided to meddle in.
"Let's just finish our lunch peacefully."
Yafei rolled her attractive eyes at Han Yuan, knowing well that this boy was just too soft. She was frustrated by this side of him, but also found it charming.
"Fine..." She grumbled while casting a playful gaze at Gu Xun'er.
"Lady Xun'er, I think you should reflect on what happened in the past and present before choosing your future."
"Of course, if you wanted to stay 'childish' like this, I wouldn't comment a word about it anymore."
"We are smart girls, and I'm sure you know what I meant..."
With that, Yafei continued eating. Sometimes, she would cut some of her portion and feed Han Yuan to show her affection, which made Xiao Yixian grumble.
"By the way, Yixian." Yafei suddenly glanced at Xiao Yixian. "I've looked into some records and might discover a lead about your origin."
Xiao Yixian raised her eyebrow, "What are you talking about?"
Yafei wiped her mouth with a napkin, "You're not native to Jia Ma Empire, believe it or not."
"Xiao Yuan shares the same impression."
"Your 'unique' physique, while appearing randomly, is traceable to some degree."
"Brother..." Xiao Yixian frowned at Han Yuan.
Han Yuan shrugged, "Believe it or not, what Yafei said is the truth. I asked her to investigate some places, and we discovered your mother was from the Central Region."
"Central Region?" Gu Xun'er put aside her complicated feelings and then gave Xiao Yixian a surprised look.
Han Yuan explained solemnly, "Ice River Valley, one of three valleys, is a faction that focuses on gathering and researching unique constitution, and your 'physique' is no exception."
"Xun'er might know this because the Ice River Valley put a bounty on several people in the past few years, and a pregnant woman is one of them."
Gu Xun'er recalled a little information at the back of her head before snapping at Xiao Yixian in shock, "Y-You can't be that woman's child, right?"
"The bearer of Woeful Poison Infant, Xiao Lengya."
"I see..." Xiao Yixian's eyes reddened slightly because that was exactly her mother's name.
Han Yuan knew this from Xiao Lengya herself. Her soul didn't perish as it should, and became a guardian for Xiao Yixian years ago. He only asked Yafei to look into it for more information.
He didn't tell Xiao Yixian because she wasn't ready five years ago. But now? She's strong enough to travel around the Dou Qi Continent.
Gu Xun'er chewed her lips before continuing, "The Ice River Valley has been experimenting to create an 'artificial' constitution."
"Their image is so bad as they have ravaged countless innocents, but a rumor said that they have succeeded in cultivating a vessel that can give birth to a special constitution."
"But just when they were about to celebrate, the vessel vanished without a trace."
"Who would have thought the rumor is true..." Gu Xun'er stared at Xiao Yixian with a deep look. Then, she looked at Han Yuan with a confused gaze.
'Woeful Poison Body, a controlled one at that!'
She knew Han Yuan and Xiao Yixian weren't biological siblings, but this was something else.
Han Yuan reached for Xiao Yixian's head and patted her, "Don't worry, even if Ice River Valley wants to catch you, they have to step over my body first."
"Brother..." Xiao Yixian was touched. She wanted to cry after hearing this.
"And if they dare to lay their hand on you, I will make sure they disappear from the face of this world..." Han Yuan coldly added, revealing the might of an emperor.
At this very moment, Gu Xun'er finally saw the side that Han Yuan had revealed a while ago again.
The domineering, determined, and protective side that made her heart flutter.
'If only Brother Xiao Yan were like this...' Gu Xun'er bit her red lips in frustration and sadness.
'So hot!' Yafei groaned inwardly. She wished she could pounce on Han Yuan right now, but that would ruin the moment.