Chapter 108 - News of Xu Xinyao

Most ordinary methods of voice transmission worked by wrapping sound in source qi or soul intent, then delivering it into the other person’s ears.

The voice transmission between the Sage’s remnant soul and Xu Yuan, however, was a little more advanced. It used a direct soul-link, making the voice ring out straight from the depths of the heart. Unless an outsider pushed their own soul intent deep into the connection, the most they could detect would be an unusual fluctuation of soul intent.

Yet the Heaven Derivating Art could ignore all that and hear their conversation directly?

Xu Yuan’s gaze immediately swept toward Tian Yan behind him.

The empty bamboo skewer lay by her bare feet. Tian Yan had returned to her original posture, hugging her legs, only revealing a pair of golden eyes as she stared at him. Even though she had discovered the Sage’s remnant soul, even though she had heard the conversation between him and the Sage’s remnant soul, she showed no intention of interfering at all. She was like an observer, quietly watching his every move.

Xu Yuan did not think this was a good thing. This kind of observation felt more like an evaluation. An evaluation of the benefits and risks of killing him, the butterfly who might bring uncertainty to the future.

More importantly, Tian Yan had revealed herself of her own accord. With her strength, she could have stayed hidden and watched from the shadows the entire time. Showing herself but refusing to communicate, did that mean her observation was already nearing its end?

At that thought, Xu Yuan lowered his head and glanced at the soul ring on his index finger. This damned riddle woman really deserved to die. If he had jumped out of the future she had predicted and come right to her door, what exactly would she do to him?

He drew in a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

Just then, Zhou Xiaohe’s airy voice drifted over. “Ah, that was so good. Thank you, Young Master Zhou. The last time I got to eat white fierce bird meat was thanks to the Fourth Miss of the Chancellor’s Manor.”

Xu Yuan glanced at her. It must be nice to be so carefree. He had spent all that effort preparing this midnight snack, yet now he had completely lost his appetite. But then, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

Wait, the Fourth Miss of the Chancellor’s Manor... wasn’t that his little sister?

Xu Yuan looked at Zhou Xiaohe, who was wiping the grease from the corner of her mouth with a silk handkerchief. He focused a little more of his attention on her and said, “Xu Xinyao?”

Seeing that this mysterious and handsome Young Master Zhou had finally stopped brushing her off, Zhou Xiaohe’s beautiful eyes instantly lit up. “Young Master Zhou knows Sister Xinrou?”[1]

Xu Yuan’s eyes flickered slightly. He shook his head and said, “I’ve heard of the Fourth Miss of the Chancellor’s Manor. I’m a little curious. Is she still at the Myriad Manifestations Sect?”

Zhou Xiaohe shook her head, looking somewhat regretful. “No. Sister Xinrou left for Stillwater a month and a half ago.”

“Stillwater?” Xu Yuan’s eyes lifted slightly.

Zhou Xiaohe hesitated for a moment, then said, “I think something happened to her third brother. She said goodbye and left the very same day she received the news.”

Counting the days, that would have been right after the incident in Stillwater. Had she gone to look for him?

Xu Yuan shook his head and said softly, “That really is a pity. If she had not left, I would have liked to meet this Fourth Miss, whose kindness is so well known.”

Zhou Xiaohe also looked regretful. “Sister Xinrou really is a good person. Young Master Zhou, you would definitely like her if you met her. She even helped Sageridge set up an illusion array before.”

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow. He knew his little sister specialized in formations. After a brief pause, he asked with some curiosity, “Sageridge? An illusion array?”

“Young Master Zhou, since you came from out of town, you may not know. Sageridge is close to the Myriad Ascents Mountain Range, so large packs of demonic beasts often attack the city. The protection array carved by the imperial court is so old and neglected that it has almost completely broken down. Every year, many people die fighting there.”

As she said this, a trace of admiration appeared in Zhou Xiaohe’s eyes.

“Because of this, Sister Xinrou came to our Myriad Manifestations Sect for help. She provided the array blueprints and the corresponding circulation routes, while our Myriad Manifestations Sect supplied the materials. Together, we set up a huge illusion array near Sageridge. She really is amazing! Once the great array outside activated, the entire county was covered in thick fog, and all those attacking demonic beasts were kept outside!”

Xu Yuan had not expected to hear news about his fourth sister here. After a pause, he suddenly let out a soft laugh and nodded. “She really is amazing.”

Her actions were impressive, and so were her methods. Setting up an array to protect the common people was her action. Getting a sect to pay for something the imperial court should have handled was her method. Unlike the paper-thin character built from a few scattered details in Azure Point, this fourth sister had become a living, breathing person.

To aid the world when one had the means. His fourth sister had always been putting her ideals into practice in her own way. Of course, he still absolutely would not approve of her stabbing her own family in the back. If she showed even the slightest sign of doing that, then even if Xu Changge could not bear to make a move, Xu Yuan would let her experience what was known as a loving slap from an elder brother. Well, assuming he could beat her...

Zhou Xiaohe seemed to be a complete fangirl of Xu Xinyao. Her heavy chest swayed as she chuckled softly. “Hehe, Sageridge is even preparing to build a living shrine for her.”

Xu Yuan shook his head when he heard that and was just about to speak when a series of crunching footsteps suddenly came from outside the door, stepping through the snow.

This time, it should be that iceberg of a woman.. She was much later than usual.

Xu Yuan was not the only one who heard the footsteps. Zhou Xiaohe instinctively looked outside, her eyes a little puzzled as she murmured, “Why are so many people coming to Li Family Village tonight?”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than a breathtaking woman in black slowly stepped into the shabby but fairly warm room.

The moment Xu Yuan saw her, he beckoned. “Ying’er, come here.”

Hearing that name, Ran Qingmo looked at Xu Yuan with a hint of confusion. Then her gaze locked onto Tian Yan behind him. Her black dress stirred though there was no wind, and a black sword appeared soundlessly in her palm.

In that instant, time inside the room seemed to freeze.

Zhou Xiaohe was staring blankly at Ran Qingmo’s face.

Li Erzhu, sitting cross-legged in the corner, reacted as if facing a great enemy and gripped the sword sheath he had taken off his back.

Xu Yuan opened his mouth, about to speak.

Tian Yan remained in the same posture as before. Her eyes glanced at Ran Qingmo once, then returned to Xu Yuan.

Time resumed.

Ran Qingmo put away her sword, walked up to Xu Yuan, and said briefly, “Let’s go.”

Xu Yuan’s eyes lifted at once. If Ran Qingmo said she had found it, then she must have found the entrance to that secret realm.

He confirmed, “You found it?”

“Mhm.” Ran Qingmo nodded.

Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, then looked back at Tian Yan. Could her showing herself tonight have something to do with Ran Qingmo finding the entrance to the secret realm?

Zhou Xiaohe sat in the corner, looking from Xu Yuan to Ran Qingmo and back again. Her expression was a little downcast, but also a little shocked.

A Sumeru Ring. Young Master Zhou and this Ying’er each had a Sumeru Ring.

And in the next moment, she saw Young Master Zhou casually wave his hand. Aside from the portable inscription lamp on the wall, the roasting rack on the ground, and the heating stove, everything else was swept into his Sumeru Ring.

Then, in that warm, jade-like voice of his, he said to her, “I have some matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first. Consider this white fierce bird meat my apology for the discourtesy.”

With that, the handsome Young Master Zhou led the woman in black and the adorable little girl out of the broken-down house, and they gradually disappeared into the dark, snowy night.

1. Assuming this is a courtesy name, just like Xu Changtian and Xu Yuan. ☜