Xiao Yan thought for a few minutes and still decided to let this little apprentice break off the engagement.
After all, he was her master.
If he couldn’t handle the first thing she asked of him, how could he maintain his authority?
But the compensation gift had to be good.
With his current funds…
Finally, Xiao Yan’s eyes flickered, as if he had made a decision.
“You cultivate well. Give me a few months. Master will figure out the rest. I’ll make sure it’s done with proper splendor.”
“Breaking off an engagement… maybe not too splendid…”
Luo Qingci said softly, her fingers drawing unconscious circles on the stone table.
“I just want to quietly dissolve the betrothal. I don’t want everyone to know. That wouldn’t be good for him or me.”
“You don’t understand,”
Xiao Yan leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs.
“With things like this, attitude matters. If you show up casually carrying two bags of tea leaves, they’ll think you’re looking down on them. They’ll hold a grudge, and even a betrothal that could be dissolved won’t be. But if you arrive with style, complete with proper etiquette and generous compensation, they’ll feel respected, and the dissolution will go smoothly.”
Luo Qingci thought it over.
Her master’s words seemed to make some sense, but there was also something not quite right.
“But…”
“No buts.”
Xiao Yan waved his hand.
“Listen to your master. Cultivate peacefully these next few months. I’ll take care of everything else when I get back.”
Luo Qingci opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing the resolute look on her master’s face, she swallowed her words.
“Then… thank you, Master.”
Luo Qingci lowered her head, the corners of her mouth curving slightly.
Xiao Yan took a bite of a spiritual fruit, crunch, crunch, chewing.
His obedient disciple wanted to break off her engagement.
The other party was his nephew, Xiao Han.
They had never met, had no emotional foundation.
A forced melon isn’t sweet.
Logically, the engagement should be dissolved.
From the little disciple’s perspective, she wanted it, so he would help her.
That was his duty as her master.
But from his nephew’s perspective…
Xiao Yan’s chewing paused.
‘Whatever. That kid’s tough. He can handle it.’
What he needed to consider now wasn’t how Xiao Han felt, but how to dissolve this engagement neatly and beautifully, so his little disciple wouldn’t suffer even the slightest grievance.
The compensation gift.
Xiao Yan spat out the fruit pit and silently calculated.
Although the Xiao family wasn’t top-tier in Qinghe City, they were still a respectable household.
For a matter like dissolving an engagement, too little compensation would seem disrespectful, too much… he didn’t have that much right now.
With his current savings, plus the salary from that “respectable job,” after saving for a few more months, he should be able to put together a decent gift.
But before that, he had to take care of one thing first.
Xiao Yan uncrossed his legs and stood up.
“Alright, stop sitting here,” he said, brushing the dust off his robe.
“Go do your own thing. Changqing is cooking tonight. Go help him out. Don’t let him handle everything alone.”
“Okay.”
Luo Qingci stood up, took a couple steps toward the kitchen, then turned back.
“Master, aren’t you eating tonight?”
“No, I have to go out.”
“Going out again?”
Luo Qingci frowned.
“You just got back, Master.”
“Busy earning spirit stones.”
Xiao Yan formed a hand seal, and his flying sword hovered before him.
“Wait for me to return.”
The moment the words fell, he was already ten zhang away.
His gray-blue robe billowed in the mountain wind, and in the blink of an eye, he disappeared around a bend in the path.
Xiao Yan rode his flying sword, skimming over the layered peaks of the Cangwu Mountain Range in the twilight.
The night wind blew his scattered hair away from his forehead, revealing a smooth brow.
His expression wasn’t as relaxed as it had been on Lingyun Peak.
There was no smile on his lips, and his face was unusually heavy.
Soon, Xiao Yan withdrew his flying sword and landed at the entrance of a hidden cave.
The entrance was small, completely covered by vines and weeds.
If not for a careful look, no one would have noticed there was a cave here.
He pushed aside the vines and squeezed inside.
The cave was deep, growing wider the further in he went.
After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the space suddenly opened up—a naturally formed stone chamber, about half the size of a training ground.
Moonlight stones were embedded in the four walls, emitting a faint white glow that illuminated the entire chamber as bright as day.
Xiao Yan walked into the chamber and began rummaging through his storage ring.
Finally, from the very bottom, he pulled out an item.
A dress.
He usually wore that gray-blue Daoist robe, but now he held a… skirt.
Water-red, silk fabric, with pale gold intertwined lotus flowers embroidered on the collar, a matching silk ribbon at the waist, and a wide hem.
The material was excellent—just by looking, one could tell it was expensive.
Xiao Yan held up the skirt.
The color was very delicate.
Then he closed his eyes.
Spiritual power surged from his dantian, flowing along his meridians to every limb and bone, to his muscles and skin.
His bones subtly contracted; his shoulders narrowed, his hips widened, his Adam’s apple slowly disappeared, and his fingers became longer and thinner.
His muscles redistributed, the waistline tightened, and the contours of his chest changed.
The pores of his skin shrank, becoming fine and smooth.
The spiritual power kept flowing.
His hair began to lengthen from the roots.
The shoulder-length black hair grew like vines watered by rain, and in an instant, it hung down to his waist.
The texture changed too—from stiff, straight hair to soft, smooth long locks that shimmered faintly in the moonlight.
Xiao Yan opened his eyes and looked into the bronze mirror.
He appeared about seventeen or eighteen.
His brows curved gently, the corners of his mouth naturally upturned, and two shallow dimples appeared faintly.
This face wasn’t stunningly beautiful, but it had a kind of endearing quality that made people want to get close.
Xiao Yan faced the mirror and tried to smile.
The dimples deepened, and his eyes curved into crescent moons.
‘Sigh… time to go to the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion and accompany the guests again…’
He pushed aside the vines, walked out of the cave, and stood on the stone platform.
Moonlight spilled onto the water-red dress, dyeing it a faint silver-purple.
His long hair was lifted by the wind, spreading like ink behind him, the tips brushing against the embroidered pouch hanging at his waist.
Xiao Yan took a deep breath, stepped onto his flying sword, and flew toward Central State.
This job had been introduced to him three months ago by a friend from Central State.
At the time, Xiao Yan almost stabbed him with his sword.
Who was he?
Peak Master of Lingyun Peak of the Azure Cloud Sect, a Golden Core stage cultivator, a proper sword cultivator.
Using a Transformation Art to go to Central State to accompany guests at a banquet?
If that ever got out, where would he put his face?
“Don’t rush. I know you’re strong, but you’re from the Eastern State. Even if I trust you, others won’t. Generally, when rustic folks from other places come to Central State, even with the same cultivation, they can’t beat the locals. Who would want you? Why don’t you try it for one day? I’ll give you a spiritual sword.”
“What grade?”
“Fifth-grade spiritual sword.”
“Deal.”
Then… he realized that this Central State place was disgustingly rich…
The tips he got in a single day for stepping on someone’s back, giving massages, and washing feet seemed higher than his monthly income as a peak master.
Besides, that friend from Central State was the only one who knew him there.
The key point was… he was poor.
And now that he had taken on another disciple, he was even poorer!
If he didn’t get more spirit stones, he wouldn’t even be able to afford to maintain his own life-bond flying sword.
Of course, he had principles.
He wasn’t selling his ass.