Chapter 26: Provocation
The moment the white robed youth entered the hall, it seemed as though the entire space brightened.
The white robe fit him perfectly, adorned with an elegant ink bamboo pattern. His clean, handsome face carried not only the nobility and poise of someone from a prominent family but also a hint of carefree mischief.
A few strands of messy hair hung casually over his forehead, adding a touch of dashing charm. His demeanor could only be described as suave and debonair, but the deep black eyes held a calm maturity that seemed far beyond his years.
"Grandfather!" Seeing Dan Yangzi seated in the hall, Dan Chen practically ran to him like she'd found her savior.
Meanwhile, Cao Ying, the red dressed girl to the side, observed Xiao Yan with a curious glint in her eyes.
"What's wrong, my dear granddaughter?" Dan Yangzi furrowed his brows at his granddaughter's flustered demeanor, sensing that something unusual had happened.
"H He kept following me…" After a brief moment of hesitation, Dan Chen finally decided to complain.
"Oh? Are you talking about this young man?" Dan Yangzi's brows furrowed deeper as his gaze shifted to Xiao Yan, a hint of displeasure in his eyes.
"Young man, I hear you're Yao Chen's disciple. What business does he have sending you here?" Dan Yangzi's tone was calm, giving no indication of his true feelings.
Although Yao Chen was a fellow eighth tier alchemist, his connection with the Dan family was tenuous at best. The two were little more than acquaintances.
"To be honest, my teacher didn't send me," Xiao Yan said with a bright smile, flashing his white teeth. "I simply thought your granddaughter seemed frail and wanted to escort her safely back home."
"You thought my granddaughter looked frail and wanted to escort her?" Dan Yangzi blinked in surprise, then his expression darkened with a flicker of anger.
"A dignified Young Master of the Starfall Pavilion tailing a delicate young girl? I never thought Yao Chen, the so called paragon of virtue, would have such poor judgment in choosing a disciple."
With a cold snort, Dan Yangzi added, "Now that my granddaughter is home, there's no need for you to concern yourself further, Young Master."
"Yao Chen, a paragon of virtue? He's more like a reserved and prudish old gourd." Xiao Yan sneered internally but maintained his polite facade.
"Senior, you misunderstand," Xiao Yan said, still smiling. "As the saying goes, 'a fair maiden is what every gentleman desires.' I merely escorted your granddaughter home while taking the chance to establish a connection with your esteemed family."
"You little rascal," Dan Yangzi scoffed. "Your abilities may be hard to gauge, but your shamelessness clearly surpasses Yao Chen's. Out of respect for your teacher, I'll overlook this incident. But if it happens again, don't blame me for bringing this matter to Yao Chen himself."
With that, he gestured toward the door in a clear dismissal.
Seeing how far Dan Yangzi was willing to go to maintain decorum, Xiao Yan knew it was best not to press his luck.
Being shameless in moderation might leave a lasting, humorous impression, but overstepping could easily lead to resentment or outright hostility.
As Xiao Yan prepared to leave, his gaze briefly lingered on the red dressed girl seated beside Dan Yangzi.
"This fiery little lady is something else. Just from looks, she's probably prettier than Dan Chen. Hmm, she might score a nine when she's fully grown. Her figure is already much more alluring than Dan Chen's. Should I go back and ask for her name? No, no Dan Chen's right here. If I make a move now, I'll definitely mess it up."
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Xiao Yan walked on without hesitation.
"This boy may be shameless, but his composure is remarkable," thought both Dan Yangzi and the Cao family patriarch simultaneously.
For a mere fifteen year old boy, it was already exceptional to stand before two powerful figures like them without the slightest trace of nervousness.
What they didn't know, however, was that Xiao Yan had lived an entire previous life filled with trials and tribulations. In his rebirth, he'd pulled pranks on a Dou Sheng, urinated on a Dou Saint's head, and even chatted casually with a Dou Di. Compared to those experiences, dealing with two eighth tier alchemists was hardly worth sweating over.
Just as Xiao Yan was about to step over the threshold, a magnetic female voice called out from behind.
"Wait a moment!"
"Hmm? Did the opportunity come knocking on its own?" Xiao Yan stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around.
The red dressed girl slowly stood up, her tone laced with challenge.
"I heard you're a disciple of Yao Chen. Does that mean you're here to participate in the so called Youth Alchemist Competition?"
"That's correct." Xiao Yan smiled faintly.
"My teacher, Xuan Yi, and your teacher, Yao Chen, have been rivals for years. I wonder if you're qualified to be my opponent."
As she spoke, the girl's bewitching face carried a trace of provocation.
"No, your teacher definitely didn't tell you they're not just rivals; they're old flames."
At this point, Xiao Yan had already pieced together the girl's identity.
Fixing his gaze on her, he asked, "You must be Cao Ying from the Cao family?"
"Exactly!"
The girl's rosy lips curled into a smirk.
"What a stroke of luck! Little sister, this outfit of mine was prepared just for you. Oh, how exciting!" Xiao Yan's heart raced as he silently praised her stunning appearance.
Despite his internal musings, his face showed a hint of pride as he smiled back at Cao Ying.
"Heh, since our teachers are equally matched, it seems only right that we settle the score ourselves."
Dan Chen and Cao Ying, though both exceptional young women, couldn't be more different in personality.
To win over someone as shy and reserved as Dan Chen required offering her a sense of security, earning her trust and reliance being bold but gentle, assertive yet caring. Of course, a solid background or considerable strength was a must, or one risked being beaten to death by the Dan family.
On the other hand, winning over someone like Cao Ying an innately gifted woman who had consistently outshone her peers was far trickier. Such women were confident, talented, and unlikely to be impressed by a gentle and harmless demeanor; instead, they might even look down on it.
To capture the heart of someone like Cao Ying, one had to dominate her outshine her in areas she excelled at, like alchemy or combat, and then, as Xiao Yan's inner monologue cheekily suggested, "finally dominate her on the bed."
She was a wild horse, and taming her wouldn't be easy.
Seeing the arrogance on Xiao Yan's face, Cao Ying wasn't annoyed; instead, she was intrigued. Among her peers, she had never encountered a worthy rival. Even Dan Chen, though talented, was too timid to challenge her.
Xiao Yan's demeanor successfully sparked her competitive spirit.
"This guy does look good, but I wonder if he's all talk." Cao Ying's interest in Xiao Yan began to grow. Of course, if he lost to her, that interest would quickly vanish. What she didn't consider, however, was how a victory on his part might change her opinion entirely.
"As alchemists, mastering fire control is fundamental. Though the competition is still seven days away, why don't we have a fire duel right here and now?" Cao Ying's lips curved into a confident smile, her eyes brimming with battle intent as they locked onto Xiao Yan.
"Ying'er, this is the Dan family hall. Show some restraint," the Cao family elder warned, frowning slightly.
After all, this was Dan family territory, and it would be impolite to initiate a challenge without the host's permission.
Surprisingly, Cao Ying ignored the warning. It was Xiao Yan who turned to Dan Yangzi and asked respectfully, "Senior, may I humbly request your permission for us to have a small fire duel?"
"Hehe." Dan Yangzi chuckled.
"You're quite the bold one, boy. Yao Chen's disciple should be no slouch, and I'd like to see just how capable you are. Ying'er, you may teach this Starfall Pavilion scoundrel a lesson for your Dan Chen sister."
With a wave of his hand, the space within the hall visibly solidified, forming a stable area for their duel.
"You old rascal," the Cao family elder muttered helplessly, shaking his head. Turning to Cao Ying, he warned, "Go easy on him, child."
But Cao Ying wasn't in the mood to listen. Her eyes were glued to Xiao Yan's self assured face, her excitement growing by the second. With a flick of her finger, a crimson flame burst forth and filled the duel area.
"Heh." Xiao Yan smirked, feigning a touch of arrogance. With a flick of his own finger, a wisp of azure flame rose and danced in the air.
(To be continued)
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