Chapter 8: Xiao Xun’er Is Curious

Chapter 8: Xiao Xun’er’s Curiosity

“Xiao Yan.” Outside the door, Xun’er knocked gently.

Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Yan’s voice rang out from inside the room, tinged with a hint of anger. “Go away. Don’t disturb my cultivation.”

“……”

“Get lost!” Xiao Yan’s tone grew harsher.

Hearing this, Xiao Xun’er was stunned. This was the first time Xiao Yan had snapped at her. She sighed softly and reluctantly left the courtyard.

Ling Ying, who was hidden nearby to protect Xun’er, saw this scene and a flash of anger crossed his eyes. How dare Xiao Yan treat his young lady like that?

But since Xiao Yan was the only friend Xun’er had in the Xiao family, Ling Ying suppressed his anger. Upon closer observation, he found that Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi cultivation had dropped to the eighth stage.

He immediately relayed this by voice transmission to Xiao Xun’er. “Miss, it seems that Young Master Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi cultivation has fallen to the eighth stage.”

“What?” Xun’er paused in her steps, surprised. No wonder Xiao Yan stayed in his room, not even eating, as if possessed by some obsession over cultivation.

“Old Ling, do you know why his Dou Qi has diminished?” Xun’er responded through Ling Ying’s Dou Qi assistance.

Ling Ying shook his head. “Young Master Xiao Yan’s body is a bit weak from lack of sleep and food, but otherwise everything seems normal.”

“I understand. Old Ling, please keep an eye on his health when you have time. If you notice anything, help him if you can.”

“Yes, I will obey.”

Taking a deep breath, Xun’er slowly walked out of Xiao Yan’s courtyard.

At that moment, a familiar figure appeared in the distance.

Xiao Xun’er was slightly startled, her heart filled with some surprise. “Is that him?”

“Miss, that brat named Xiao Se is a genius no less than Young Master Xiao Yan. He has already broken through to the Dou Zhe stage,” Ling Ying whispered from the shadows.

Upon hearing this, Xun’er’s delicate brows furrowed slightly in confusion. “But Old Ling, why is he hiding himself?”

It wasn’t that Xiao Xun’er cared much about the boy before her, but he was not only exceptionally talented but also the only person in the Xiao family who ignored her charms.

Ling Ying paused briefly, then spoke gently, “Perhaps due to his difficult upbringing, this boy has developed a good temperament. He knows how to protect himself, to be patient, to hide his talents. He’s neither foolish enough to ‘play dumb’ and actually become a fool, nor does he shine too brightly. Miss, have you noticed that he plays an almost invisible role in the Xiao family? Except for a little interaction with a girl named Xiao Yu, most young disciples in the Xiao family can’t even recall his name.”

He never mentioned Xiao Yan in the entire conversation because if he did, one would notice how Xiao Yan’s temperament was vastly different—how even slight setbacks nearly crushed his spirit.

Xun’er nodded slightly, agreeing with Ling Ying’s judgment.

She had instructed Ling Ying to investigate Xiao Se’s background.

Orphaned at a young age and raised by family servants, Xiao Se’s father had been strict and impartial, offending many. After their deaths, Xiao Se was almost abandoned by the family.

If not for his impressive cultivation talent showing at six years old, he might never have entered the Xiao family at all.

Xun’er approached Xiao Se with a smile. “Cousin Xiao Se, what a coincidence to meet you here.”

Though aware of his background, Xun’er, who prided herself on good manners, wouldn’t ignore him.

Xiao Se was slightly taken aback, a trace of surprise in his eyes.

He had noticed her when she came out of Xiao Yan’s courtyard, planning to ignore her and go find Xiao Yu as usual, so he was surprised she greeted him first.

“Miss Xun’er, is there something you need?” Xiao Se spoke calmly, neither arrogant nor servile. Unlike others who flattered her, he had no habit of being a sycophant.

“Hehe…” Xun’er pursed her lips, unfazed by his tone. Cute dimples appeared on her lovely face as she smiled gently. “Nothing much, I just saw you alone here and wanted to ask if you needed any help.”

Hearing this, Xiao Se glanced subtly at Xiao Yan’s courtyard out of the corner of his eye, understanding immediately. It seemed she was afraid he would discover Xiao Yan’s declining cultivation. He replied lightly, “It’s nothing. I promised Xiao Yu I’d see her off when she left for Canaan Academy.”

Upon hearing this, Xun’er’s smile widened, genuine and free of pretense. “Then Cousin Xiao Se, you might be late. Xiao Yu already packed up early this morning and probably left. If you hurry, you might still catch up.”

“Uh—” Xiao Se grimaced, a dark line appearing on his face. If he really missed her, that little troublemaker Xiao Yu would surely chase him down with a sword next time.

Without hesitation, Xiao Se turned and swiftly headed toward the Xiao family’s exit, off to the Canaan Academy gathering point in Wutan City.

Before leaving, he called back, “Thanks!!!”

Watching Xiao Se’s flustered expression, Xun’er laughed softly, murmuring, “He really is an interesting person.”

---

What neither Xun’er nor Xiao Se knew was that from the second floor of Xiao Yan’s courtyard, through a crack in the window, Xiao Yan watched their conversation through gritted teeth.

---

Wutan City, Canaan Academy’s designated gathering point for new students.

At this moment, Xiao Ning held Xiao Yu’s hands tightly, reluctant to part. “Big sister, I’ll miss you.”

“Cut the romance. Don’t drip your tears and snot on me,” Xiao Yu said with disdain as she shook off her undisciplined younger brother.

Xiao Ning wiped his tears and lowered his head, looking a bit downcast. “I understand.”

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yu spoke earnestly, “Alright, you’re a grown man. Don’t cry so easily. Also, don’t get jealous or compete with Xiao Yan. You won’t win. Learn from Xiao Se instead: mature, steady, and unflappable.”

As she spoke, Xiao Yu scanned the surroundings, looking for Xiao Se.

“Uh,” Xiao Ning’s face darkened. Besides Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun’er, he was the only one in the Xiao family who knew of Xiao Se’s formidable strength.

In his eyes, this younger cousin, though at a lower Dou Qi stage than himself, was frighteningly powerful. He had challenged Xiao Se several times in secret, only to return beaten and bruised.

“Yu’er, it’s time to go,” Ruo Lin, the new student mentor at Canaan Academy, urged Xiao Yu.

“Oh, coming,” Xiao Yu replied.

After looking around for a long time without seeing Xiao Se, her beautiful eyes reddened slightly. She bit her red lips and thought resentfully, “Could that little scoundrel have forgotten the time? Damn it. Next time he comes back, I’ll teach him a lesson.”

Just then, a familiar male voice approached Xiao Yu’s ears. “Xiao Yu, sorry, I’m late.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu turned toward the voice, her eyes shining as tears uncontrollably streamed down. Amid the stunned gazes of Xiao Ning, Ruo Lin, and many new students from Canaan Academy, she leapt into the arms of the newcomer.

“You little scoundrel, I thought you forgot!”

(The End of this Chapter)