Chapter 203: Goodbye Yun Yun, Xiao Yanran
The Yun Lan Sect had excellent feng shui, located at the peak of a towering mountain. On clear days, one could overlook the distant Imperial Capital. If it weren't for the strength of the former Sect Leader, the Jia Ma Empire's royal family would never have tolerated such a sect's existence.
No one is allowed to sleep by the side of a bed.
In the original story, Jia Xingtian had always been wary of Yun Lan Sect, fearing that one day they might harbor ulterior motives. With Yun Lan Sect so close to the Imperial Capital, any trouble could change the entire situation in the Jia Ma Empire.
However, this situation began to change after Yao Yan appeared.
In the end, mutual suspicion only exists when both sides are equally powerful. Once a third party with stronger influence intervenes, the two opposing sides will join forces to resist the stronger party... or perhaps choose to align with them.
Now, the Jia Ma Empire and Yun Lan Sect were almost in such a situation, though Yao Yan had yet to express a clear stance.
"Swish~"
A streak of sky-blue light cut across the sky and then stopped over Yun Lan Sect. With Yao Yan's current Hun strength, if he didn't want to be detected, no one in Yun Lan Sect could sense him. However, he didn't want to disturb too many people. A wave of Hun power, like invisible ripples, spread out, quickly covering the entire Yun Lan Sect. He soon found his target and briefly scanned the depths of the sect.
In that deep part, there seemed to be a special area that could block his Hun power perception.
With his increasing strength and the full revival of his bloodline, Yao Yan's Hun power had already reached the peak of the spiritual realm, not far from reaching the Heavenly Realm. This level of Hun power was enough to crush most Dou Zong experts, and it was not easy to block his perception.
The Life and Death Gate?!
Yao Yan thought to himself. He remembered that there was such a secret place in Yun Lan Sect, accessible only to the direct descendants of the sect. It was also the resting place of past sect leaders after their death. Nalan Yanran had used the Life and Death Gate to train, rapidly advancing from a Great Dou Master to the peak of Dou Wang in just three years.
That was undeniably fast cultivation.
In his previous life, Yao Yan had even seen many speculations online, suggesting that there were sources of energy and coordinates leading to the Great Thousand World hidden within.
"Interesting~"
Yao Yan withdrew his Hun power and quickly turned into a streak of light, heading towards the back mountain. He didn't intend to barge in. Given his current relationship with Yun Lan Sect, a simple greeting should allow him to sneak in without any need for secrecy.
It was acceptable to act like this when one's strength was low.
But once his strength had grown, there was no reason to continue with such stealthy tactics.
...
In a peaceful bamboo forest on the back mountain of Yun Lan Sect, a woman was teaching a little girl how to practice swordplay.
The woman was dressed in a golden-purple tight brocade robe, her three thousand strands of hair styled into a phoenix-longing shape, exuding an undeniable air of nobility. Her calm and beautiful face was like a clear spring in a secluded mountain, her cold and graceful eyes filled with a hint of indulgence as she carefully observed the little girl practicing her swordplay.
The little girl, not yet five years old, was cute and delicate, like a porcelain doll. She held a wooden sword in her hand, swinging it with a somewhat impressive form.
"Yanran, are you tired? Take a break, there's no need to rush~"
Yun Yun's voice was gentle and soft, bending slightly to show the perfect curve of her body... That perfection would likely be praised by Yao Yan's grandmother in his previous life as "the perfect figure to bear sons."
She reached out and gently wiped the sweat off the little girl's forehead, a tender smile curling at her lips.
"Teacher, I'm not tired!"
The little girl was quite stubborn, swinging her tiny wooden sword a few more times, calling out in a babyish voice. Her bright, clear eyes were like a little adult, and she looked extremely adorable.
"You~ you just started cultivating Dou Qi. Take your time, don't hurt your body," Yun Yun helplessly tapped the little girl's head and laughed softly. She was about to say something more but suddenly sensed something. She quickly shielded Nalan Yanran with her body.
Her cold, calm eyes instantly turned sharp, and she locked onto a particular direction before calling out softly, "Who's there!"
As her gaze settled, a familiar yet unfamiliar figure appeared before her eyes.
"Yun Yun, Sect Leader, long time no see."
Yao Yan waved his hand with a faint smile on his face, greeting her while curiously eyeing the little girl that Yun Yun had protected. This girl was the "great enemy" of the Hun Clan. In the original story, if it weren't for her cancelling the engagement, Hun Tian Emperor would have undoubtedly been the final victor.
Who could have expected that a girl's cancellation of an engagement would cause such a huge uproar?
I wonder if Nalan Yanran will still walk down the original path this time... it's quite interesting to think about.
"Yao... Young Master Yao?"
Yun Yun looked at the visitor, her eyes filled with some wariness and suspicion. After not seeing him for almost three years, Yao Yan now looked more mature. His aura and temperament had changed, making it difficult for her to be sure of his identity.
"It's me." Yao Yan nodded, stepping out from the shadows, while his gaze fell on the little girl behind Yun Yun. He smiled and said, "Your disciple? She has good talent, at such a young age she has already condensed a bit of Dou Qi. She has potential."
Upon confirming the visitor's identity, Yun Yun relaxed a little. She nodded slightly, then looked down at the little girl clutching her clothes tightly. "Yanran's talent is indeed not bad~"
She then looked at Yao Yan with a hint of helplessness in her eyes and continued, "Next time you visit Yun Lan Sect, could you let us know in advance? Always appearing so silently like this can easily cause unnecessary misunderstandings."
Her tone carried a slight reproach, as she had been quite frightened earlier by the sudden intrusion. It was impressive that someone could sneak in without any warning.
"I'm afraid of trouble~" Yao Yan explained with a smile, then turned his gaze toward Yun Yun. Looking into her clear, tranquil eyes, he teased, "Besides, do I need to make such a formal introduction just to meet a friend?"
"Friend?" Yun Yun was taken aback. When did she become friends with Yao Yan? They had only met a handful of times.
Yao Yan didn't give Yun Yun the chance to refuse, as he pushed forward with the forced friendship. He then shifted the topic, "Thank you for your help with the Snake People. Without your assistance, it would have taken a lot longer for Cai Die to move the Snake People into the Jia Ma Empire."
"I naturally take care of the matters you promised, Young Master," Yun Yun said with a faint smile, responding graciously.
"Has the old Sect Leader come out of seclusion?"
Yao Yan asked.
"The Master hasn't come out of seclusion. Breaking through to Dou Zong is never an easy task..." Yun Yun's eyes showed a trace of concern. For her teacher, this seclusion was no ordinary retreat—it was a matter of life or death. Either he would break through to Dou Zong, or he would die within.
Her teacher had always been this way.
The Jia Ma Empire was still too remote... Yao Yan thought to himself. The Jia Ma Empire was located in a corner of the northwest, where the energy of heaven and earth was thin. Even with the help of the Breakthrough Pill, breaking through to Dou Zong would take years.
If only there were resources like the Tian Shan Blood Pond, the breakthrough speed would increase by several times, but such special places didn't exist in the Jia Ma Empire. This was also why Yao Yan planned to go to Zhongzhou.
Cultivation always relied on resources.
And above Dou Zong, this became even more important.
"The old Sect Leader should be fine. I came to Yun Lan Sect this time to invite you to join the Heavenly Court. I've set up a force in the Black Corner Domain, called the Heavenly Court. You can discuss the details with Old Hai in the future. I've handed over the management of the Heavenly Court in the Black Corner Domain to the Miter family," Yao Yan reassured.
"Heavenly Court?" Yun Yun was surprised, her lips slightly parted.
"It was just established recently... not long ago, because of some issues, I wiped out a force in the Black Corner Domain. Their base was quite large, so I decided to make use of it and build the Heavenly Court there," Yao Yan casually explained.
"It seems you've gone through quite a lot in the Black Corner Domain," Yun Yun chuckled softly.
"Quite a lot."
Yao Yan nodded in agreement.
Yun Yun smiled faintly, patting the nervous little girl beside her, and then said to Yao Yan, "Young Master, why don't we change the place to talk? Standing here is fine for us, but Yanran might not be able to handle it~"
Yao Yan naturally had no objection.
...
A small house in the bamboo forest.
A gentle breeze blew, and the bamboo sea swayed.
"Gurgle~"
A stream of white mist from the teapot poured into the cup, stirring the green leaves. After a moment, a refreshing fragrance filled the air, making one feel at ease. Yun Yun pushed the brewed tea in front of Yao Yan, her eyes calm and serene: "Young Master, please."
A true Sect Leader demeanor... Yao Yan thought to himself, his evaluation of Yun Yun rising once again. Some women are simply pleasing to the eye, like the spring waters of Jiangnan.
"It's very fragrant~" He took a sip and gave his opinion.
Yun Yun covered her mouth and laughed lightly. Yao Yan's comment was quite unique. She smiled and said, "It seems like Young Master doesn't drink tea much."
"I've been busy cultivating, I didn't have the leisure for it~" Yao Yan said matter-of-factly.
Yun Yun paused for a moment and then asked, "Young Master, what level is your strength at now?"
"About the same as your teacher before entering seclusion."
Yao Yan didn't calculate his battle strength but spoke plainly. Based purely on Dou Qi, he was indeed at the peak of Nine-Star Dou Huang.
Yun Yun fell silent, and her gaze shifted from calm to complex, with a hint of looking at a freak. As the Sect Leader of Yun Lan Sect, she believed her talent was not weak. She had entered the Dou Huang stage before the age of thirty, and Dou Zong was within reach.
But compared to someone like Yao Yan... it was hard to even see clearly.
She had almost wanted to compare herself earlier, mentioning that she had broken through to Dou Huang, but luckily, she didn't, or her face would have been completely lost.
"Surprised?"
Yao Yan teased, waving his hand in front of Yun Yun, noticing her stunned expression.
Yun Yun ground her teeth slightly and looked at Yao Yan with a mixture of annoyance and helplessness. Why did someone's talent reach such a level? She nodded and said, "I'm surprised."
"If there's a chance in the future, you should visit Zhongzhou. The outside world is vast. The Jia Ma Empire is too small."
Yao Yan looked into Yun Yun's eyes and said seriously.
"... We'll talk about it when the time comes."
Yun Yun paused for a moment and shook her head slightly. She had never been one to pursue power above all else. Rather than wandering alone in the outside world, she preferred staying in the place she knew, protecting the sect that raised her.
She looked down at the little Yanran beside her, smiling. "For now, I need to teach Yanran cultivation. We'll talk about it when she grows up."
Nalan Yanran blinked, confused, and obediently stood aside.
"Hmm."
Yao Yan didn't continue the topic, quietly drinking tea with Yun Yun, enjoying the view of the bamboo sea in the distance. Neither spoke for a while, until Nalan Yanran, lying on Yun Yun's lap, fell asleep. Yao Yan broke the silence: "I want to visit the forbidden area of Yun Lan Sect."
"The Life and Death Gate? Why are you interested in that? It's where the past sect leaders of Yun Lan Sect are buried. There are some special opportunities inside, but it should be of no use to you," Yun Yun frowned slightly and said.
"I'm just curious. If it doesn't work out, then forget it," Yao Yan replied softly.
"By right, that place isn't open to outsiders. Even the disciples of Yun Lan Sect can only enter if they're the next successor. But since it's you, I can make an exception," Yun Yun paused for a long time before saying, her expression slightly serious.
She had always remembered her teacher's instructions—rules are dead, but people are alive. If this could bring her closer to Yao Yan, it would be good for Yun Lan Sect as well.
As the Sect Leader of Yun Lan Sect, Yun Yun certainly understood the world of human relationships.
"Thank you."
Yao Yan raised his cup and smiled.
Yun Yun smiled back and raised her cup. "Didn't you say before that we're friends?"
Yao Yan blinked in surprise and then teased, "Aren't you worried that this friend might have other intentions toward you?"
"?!" Yun Yun froze, not knowing how to respond.
Yao Yan didn't press the issue, pointing at the little Yanran almost drooling on her lap and said, "Your clothes are going to get dirty~"
Yun Yun looked down, then picked up Nalan Yanran, giving Yao Yan a look before saying, "Young Master, you should stop joking. No wonder Cai Die always says you can't keep your mouth shut... Some things, if you say too much, others will take it seriously."
As she walked into the house with Nalan Yanran in her arms, she left behind a graceful silhouette.
"Many truths in this world are often said in a joking tone~" Yao Yan murmured to himself, not revealing this to anyone. He hadn't directly teased Yun Yun; some women were simply beautiful to look at. Forcing something would ruin the feeling.
Moreover, with Yun Yun's personality, whether he used force or softness, it wouldn't matter. She would only care if she liked him.
Yao Yan held his tea cup and silently watched the bamboo sea in the distance, his thoughts wandering...
(END CHAPTER)
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