That night, Xiao Yan and Hun Dai'er—once bitter enemies entangled by love and vengeance—had a very thorough… exchange. Xiao Yan vented all the resentment and hatred he had accumulated across his past life, and Hun Dai'er accepted it all without resistance. Both of them could sense that the intense animosity between them had significantly diminished.
As the saying goes, a smile can erase all grudges—and sometimes, there's truth in it.
Due to Hun Dai'er's divine-grade bloodline, there were still certain things that couldn't be done too excessively. But another saying goes: There's no path until people walk it. Since one route couldn't be taken for now, Xiao Yan naturally forged a new shortcut—actually, two smaller ones.
Hun Dai'er was surprisingly gifted in some respects. Xiao Yan had only given her minimal instruction, and she quickly grasped all the knowledge and could even extrapolate on her own. Her way of solving problems both surprised and satisfied Xiao Yan immensely. After all, what could be more enjoyable than turning a former nemesis into a loyal pet?
Inwardly, he couldn't help but sigh, 'Dogs really are a man's best friend. Looks like I need to walk mine more often.'
The only thing Xiao Yan found slightly disappointing was that Hun Dai'er gave in too easily.
He hadn't even done much before she was already starry-eyed, begging to be his dog. The fire poker he'd prepared for the occasion ended up being completely useless.
What Xiao Yan didn't know was that Hun Dai'er's quick learning stemmed from her previous "accidental" use of that crystal to spy. She'd gotten far too immersed in what she saw. With her photographic memory, she had memorized every scene—particularly those involving Qing Lin and Xiao Yixian. Now, she was simply copying everything from memory.
Of course, to be safe, Xiao Yan still left a backup plan—he planted a Heavenly Flame mark in her soul, just like he had once done with Queen Medusa. Although Medusa had since become his obedient daughter and had completely submitted to him, rendering the mark unnecessary, Hun Dai'er's future performance would determine whether she could become a qualified pet.
With the issue of Hun Dai'er resolved, Xiao Yan went to speak with Gu Yuan, the patriarch of the Gu Clan, just as he had promised. According to the version he told Xun'er, it was a pleasant meeting where they clinked cups and exchanged laughter. In the end, Gu Yuan was so impressed by Xiao Yan's talent and potential that he gladly agreed to marry off his daughter.
That was the story Xiao Yan told Xun'er.
In reality, things were far less peaceful. Xiao Yan had beaten up every member of the Gu Clan's upper echelon—except Gu Yuan—before the latter was finally forced to concede.
It wasn't like Gu Yuan had much choice. His daughter was already standing with Xiao Yan. Even if he wanted to stop them, he didn't have the strength to do so.
The only reason Xiao Yan spared Gu Yuan from a beating was because he was Xun'er's father. It wouldn't have been appropriate to lay hands on him publicly. Besides, Xiao Yan didn't really dislike the man. In his memory, this would-be father-in-law, while often unreliable, was at least sometimes dependable…
Then again, during the Path of Reincarnation, Gu Yuan had repeatedly vowed to hold off Hun Tiandi… and every time, Hun Tiandi still managed to intervene. Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel speechless. If this guy had followed through even once, the later battles wouldn't have been such a nightmare.
"Brother Xiao Yan, where are we heading next?" After leaving the Gu Realm, Xun'er gave a strange look to Hun Dai'er—who was now wearing a collar—then asked.
"We're heading to Starfall Pavilion first, to pick up a few people," Xiao Yan replied as he patted her head. "Then… we'll pay a visit to the Black-Corner Region."
"Black-Corner Region? What are we doing there?" Xun'er asked curiously.
"I still have some matters to settle at Jia Nan Academy," Xiao Yan said with a faint smile. "And more importantly… have you forgotten the three-year agreement I made with Nalan Yanran?"
"What? You're actually going to honor that agreement?" Xun'er looked exasperated. Of course she remembered that infamous three-year vow. She had been present back then and was furious at Nalan Yanran's arrogance. But now—was it still necessary?
With Xiao Yan's current cultivation, even her own father wasn't a match. At the very least, he was at the Nine-Star Dou Sheng level. And Nalan Yanran? What realm could she possibly be in now—Dou Shi? Da Dou Shi? Even if she had an extraordinary bloodline or stumbled into a once-in-a-millennium inheritance, Dou Wang would be her limit. How was she supposed to fight Xiao Yan?
Even if they dug up all the ancestors of the Misty Cloud Sect and had them transfer their cultivation to her, Xiao Yan could still slap them all to death with one hand.
"Of course I'm going," Xiao Yan said lightly. "There's a saying—a man is nothing without his word. I keep my promises."
He chuckled, then added, "Besides… your Brother Xiao Yan holds grudges."
He'd never had much fondness for Nalan Yanran. And after what he went through in the Path of Reincarnation, his disgust had only deepened.
All that talk about freedom in marriage—wasn't it just chasing after strength? If she really valued that so-called freedom, why didn't she cancel the engagement when he still had talent? Why wait until he'd become a 'waste'? And back when he disguised himself as Yan Xiao and treated her coldly, she still fell head over heels for him?
What angered him most was not the breakup itself, but the humiliating way she did it—trampling his father's dignity in front of everyone.
During the Path of Reincarnation, for the sake of the greater good, Xiao Yan had restrained himself and spared her. But this time… he no longer had to care about such trivial concerns. If he didn't raze the Nalan family and the entire Misty Cloud Sect to ashes, it wouldn't quench the fire in his heart.
Even Hun Dai'er was surprised as she looked at Xiao Yan. As someone who knew him better than anyone else on the Dou Qi continent, she could clearly sense the immense killing intent he harbored toward Nalan Yanran.
In her experience, anyone who evoked this level of hatred from Xiao Yan usually ended up with their family exterminated and their sect annihilated. The only exception had been herself. Now, she couldn't help but wonder what Nalan Yanran had done to earn this level of wrath from the current, far more composed, Xiao Yan.
But Hun Dai'er didn't dwell on it. After all, none of this had anything to do with her anymore. She was now just Xiao Yan's pet. All she had to do was enjoy her master's affection.
As for everything else…
What did it matter to her?
(End of Chapter)
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