"Elder Ge Ye, please just tell us already," Nalan Yanran urged, her voice carrying a rare hint of impatience.
Though she was proud—exceptionally so—she was not foolish.
When it came to matters involving her family, she could not afford to be careless.
Ge Ye smiled faintly, clearly satisfied with the attention he now held.
"Hehe… a genius of that level—how could our Yunlan Sect possibly ignore him?" he said slowly. "After conducting a thorough investigation, we were able to uncover Xiao Se's background rather quickly."
He paused briefly, then continued.
"When he was very young, due to internal turmoil within the Xiao Clan, his parents sacrificed themselves for the family."
Nalan Yanran's eyes flickered.
Ge Ye's tone remained calm, but the content of his words carried weight.
"But the Xiao Clan…" he went on, "instead of honoring them, did something quite… disappointing."
"Because Xiao Se's parents had been too upright and had offended the interests of several people within the clan, those same individuals turned their backs on him after their deaths."
"They drove him out."
"At the age of three."
The hall fell silent.
Even Nalan Su's expression shifted slightly.
"They left him outside the clan gates, refusing to take him in," Ge Ye continued. "It wasn't until he turned six, when his exceptional talent for cultivation began to show, that the clan elders—seeking to use him as leverage against Xiao Zhan and to compare him with Xiao Yan—decided to bring him back."
"But Xiao Se was clever."
"Very clever."
"He refused to be manipulated by them."
"So he hid himself."
"For years, he remained inconspicuous within the Xiao Clan—silent, unnoticed, as if he were nothing special at all."
Ge Ye's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke, as if picturing the scene.
"Then, three or four years ago, without alerting anyone… he left on his own to train."
"During that time, he almost never returned to the Xiao Clan."
"Even when Jia Nan Academy came to Wu Tan City for recruitment two years ago—he didn't go back home. He simply took the entrance exam and left again."
Ge Ye finally fell silent.
Then he looked at both Nalan Su and Nalan Yanran, his voice lowering.
"Tell me…"
"When a child's parents sacrifice themselves for their clan… yet that same clan casts him out, denies him a home…"
"How do you think that child would feel toward that clan?"
Silence.
Complete silence.
Nalan Yanran said nothing.
But for some reason, in her mind—
The image of Xiao Se began to overlap with another figure.
Xiao Huohuo.
Her teacher, Yun Yun, had once told her that Xiao Huohuo might be using a disguise.
The first time she met him, he had worn a half-mask. Yet even then, the exposed part of his face—his jawline and skin—looked far younger and more refined than the appearance he showed later during the Alchemist Grand Meeting.
Both of them were surnamed Xiao.
And Xiao Huohuo had once traveled to Wu Tan City with Hai Bodong…
Could it be—
They were the same person?
As Nalan Yanran's thoughts spiraled, Nalan Su suddenly lit up.
His previously tense expression shifted, his eyes gleaming with a trace of hope.
"So what you're saying is…" he said quickly, "not only will Xiao Se not hold a grudge against our Nalan Clan—he might even feel a sense of satisfaction from Yanran breaking off the engagement… since it indirectly embarrasses the Xiao Clan?"
Ge Ye stroked his graying beard, chuckling softly.
"That may be a bit of a stretch," he admitted. "But one thing is certain—Xiao Se has no affection for Xiao Zhan, nor for the Xiao Clan as a whole."
Hearing this, Nalan Su finally let out a long breath.
The tight knot in his chest loosened.
He had truly feared that the Nalan Clan would end up offending such a terrifying prodigy.
Now—
At least that particular worry was gone.
"In that case… I should head back."
Nalan Su stood up and cupped his hands politely toward Ge Ye before turning to his daughter.
"Yanran, even if Xiao Se won't trouble our Nalan Clan, that Xiao Yan boy is not to be underestimated either."
"You must continue your cultivation diligently at Yunlan Sect. Do not grow complacent."
"And when you have time… go back and visit your grandfather."
"I understand, Father," Nalan Yanran replied with a slight nod.
"Hehe, actually, Brother Nalan, there's no need to worry too much," Ge Ye added with a smile. "Recently, Elder Gu He seems to have discovered a medicinal formula while exploring ancient ruins—something that can significantly accelerate cultivation speed."
"Soon, the Sect Master will personally travel to the Magical Beast Mountain Range to gather the necessary materials for him."
"Oh?"
Nalan Su's eyes lit up again.
"What kind of formula is it?"
Ge Ye's old face broke into a mysterious smile.
"You'll find out soon enough."
"Hmph… fine, then I'll wait and see," Nalan Su replied, though his curiosity was clearly piqued.
As he spoke, he turned and began walking toward the hall's exit.
"Wait—"
Nalan Yanran's clear voice suddenly rang out behind him.
"Father… do you have any news about Xiao Huohuo?"
"Xiao Huohuo?"
Nalan Su froze mid-step.
He turned around and exchanged a glance with Ge Ye.
The two men looked at each other, then at her—
And almost simultaneously, faint smiles appeared on their faces.
"Yanran…" Nalan Su said slowly, amusement creeping into his tone, "don't tell me you've taken a liking to that Xiao Huohuo?"
"Honestly, if the two of you ended up together, it wouldn't be a bad thing. Your grandfather and I both think highly of that young man."
After all—
A seventeen-year-old capable of refining fifth-grade pills?
In the entire imperial capital—even the entire Jia Ma Empire—
There was practically no one who didn't admire him.
He was widely regarded as the only person in the empire with the potential to refine a peak sixth-grade pill like the Po Zong Pill.
Hearing this, Nalan Yanran's face instantly flushed a soft shade of pink.
She shot her father a sharp glare, her tone turning slightly embarrassed.
"Father, stop talking nonsense!"
"Just answer me—do you have any information or not?"
Nalan Su chuckled and shook his head.
"No. After the Alchemist Grand Meeting, it was said that he went into seclusion within the Mittel Clan. Later, they claimed he left the imperial capital."
He paused, then added casually:
"And during that time… you happened to go to the Xiao Clan to annul your engagement."
"…Left the imperial capital… annulment… Xiao Se entering Jia Nan Academy… rising suddenly to fame…"
Nalan Yanran's eyes narrowed slightly.
The timelines overlapped too closely.
Everything pointed in one direction.
Her earlier suspicion grew stronger and stronger.
"…Could it really be him?"
"Father," she said suddenly, her tone firm, "I'll return to the imperial capital with you to visit Grandfather."
This time—
She had another purpose.
She intended to find Ya Fei…
And uncover the truth about Xiao Huohuo.
Meanwhile—
At the border between the Jia Ma Empire and the Tagore Desert—
A vast expanse of golden sand stretched endlessly into the horizon, shimmering beneath the sunlight like a sea of molten gold.
"Wow… we're back, we're back!"
Die's voice rang out, filled with excitement.
"This is the Tagore Desert twenty years later? It really hasn't changed at all."
She gazed at the familiar landscape, her eyes filled with nostalgia.
"Then go ahead and take a good look," Xiao Se said with a faint smile. He turned to Medusa, his tone light. "I'm right, aren't I, Shasha?"
"Mm."
Medusa nodded firmly.
She was no longer the queen bound by rigid, decaying traditions.
And this time—
She intended to lead the Snake-People out of this cursed desert.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Die said eagerly. "Let's go back already! I want to see what the Snake-People are like now too!"
But just as they were about to leave—
Xiao Se shook his head slightly.
"Shasha, Die… you two go ahead."
"I need to make a trip back to the Jia Ma Empire first—to find that old soul and exchange for the 'Poison Pill Method.' After that, I'll come find you."
"…What?"
Die's lips instantly puffed out in dissatisfaction.
"You're not coming with us?"
She looked both disappointed and annoyed, but she knew she couldn't really stop him.
"Fine…" she muttered. "Then go and come back quickly. And don't forget—you still owe my sister a wedding."
"I will," Xiao Se replied with a small nod.
He turned his gaze toward Medusa, waiting.
"Come back soon," Medusa said softly.
She stepped forward, gently straightening his slightly disheveled robe and smoothing his hair.
Her movements were careful.
Tender.
Xiao Se reached out, catching her hand before she could withdraw it.
Then—
In front of Die's mix of envy and frustration—
He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against Medusa's forehead.
Without another word, he turned away.
His Evil God Wings spread wide behind him.
With a single powerful beat—
His figure transformed into a streak of golden light, shooting into the sky and disappearing beyond the horizon.
Medusa stood there, watching the place where he vanished.
For a brief moment, she seemed lost in thought.
Then—
Her brows slowly furrowed.
"…Wait."
"That old man he mentioned… isn't he in Wu Tan City?"
"Then why…"
"…was Xiao Se flying toward the imperial capital?"
A dangerous thought surfaced.
"…Could it be…"
"…he's going to see that little vixen named Ya Fei?"
Her expression darkened slightly.
"…How annoying."
(End of Chapter)
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