"Xiao Yan, do you know her?" Shi Lieya asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the newcomer.
Jinyao moved to Xiao Yan's side, her voice dripping with suspicion. "So, you were running away from me because of another woman, right?"
"Well, it's not like that," Xiao Yan responded, his collar feeling a bit tight. "I wasn't running—"
"If it's not like that, then what is it?" Jinyao interrupted furiously.
Shi Lieya stepped forward, blocking Jinyao's path. "So you two do know each other? Well, Princess Jinyao, this is my friend right here. Make some space."
"He is my friend too, you know!" Jinyao snapped back. "And I have known him much longer!"
Xiao Yan felt a headache coming on. (System, is there a skill that will make women go away from me?)
[Master, there is no such skill. Be serious instead of being scared of women.]
"Xiao Yan!" Jinyao demanded, turning back to him. "What do you say? Which of us do you choose to stay with?"
"Well, I don't choose either of you," Xiao Yan said firmly. "We are just friends. There is no time to quarrel with each other."
"Hmm... okay, fine. We will both stay with you then," Shi Lieya said, throwing a challenging look at Jinyao.
"Well, I need to find somewhere to spend the night," Xiao Yan suggested, trying to change the subject.
"No worries, my room is big," Jinyao responded instantly.
"Nope! Mine!" Shi Lieya countered.
In the meantime, Yan Bingxue was relaxing under the night sky at the Immortal Hall.
"Princess Bingxue, he will be at the mountain too. What will you do?" her messenger asked.
"Well... I won't reveal my identity to him just yet, but I will be happy to see him."
"Will he recognize you?"
"I don't think he will. I have changed a lot since we were children."
"Allow me to escort you to the mountain, Princess."
"Okay. I'm going seven days from now. I will contact you then."
"It is my pleasure to serve you."
Bingxue's messenger disappeared into the night air. Bingxue looked up at the stars, a soft smile on her face. "Xiao Yan, once you prove yourself worthy, nobody will stop me from marrying you this time. You never learned that I was your contracted fiancée from birth. My family opposed it because they thought you were 'trash,' but this time they won't be able to. I believe in you."
The morning sun rose over Canghai City. Inside the hotel, all three were in the same room but in different beds. Shi Lieya leaned over and whispered into Xiao Yan's ear, "Wake up, my friend."
"Oh my gosh... " You act more like a lover than a friend," Xiao Yan groaned, sitting up.
"Well, you're single. Why not consider me?" she teased.
"Enough, Shi Lieya! Give him some space," Jinyao scolded from across the room.
(Hmm... if only they knew I had a fiancée,) Xiao Yan thought. (But I don't even know who this fiancée is. No one can find out about my contracted marriage; if they do, they will definitely discover my true identity.)
[Good morning, Master. It's time for your daily challenge: 1 hour of meditation.]
"Alright, Michael."
He sat on the bed, legs crossed. He felt his aura rebounding through his heart, and his veins of thunder hummed with power. As the pressure of his aura intensified, the air in the room grew hot.
"Wow, he is truly a good partner in both cultivation and character," Shi Lieya whispered, her eyes fixed on him. "I like him more and more."
Once the hour passed, Lieya was right there again. "You have stayed on the bed for so long meditating. Now, can you come with me?"
"Where do you want to go?"
"The clothes stalls!"
"Alright, alright." Xiao Yan picked up his heavy sword and strapped it to his back.
"Why don't you get rid of this silk?" Shi Lieya asked, pointing to his eyes. "Are you actually blind?"
"No. It's personal."
They left the room together, only to find Jinyao already waiting in the hallway. "Finally done. I will accompany you guys." (I can't let Lieya steal him away,) Jinyao thought. She quickly grabbed Xiao Yan's left hand, while Shi Lieya grabbed his right.
(Women are truly trouble... is it always like this when you have a harem?) Xiao Yan wondered as they walked.
As they reached the market stalls, a group of cultivators approached. At the center of the group was Haoran, Xiao Yan's brother.
"Why is he here?" Xiao Yan whispered, his body tensing.
"Oh, do you know him?" Jinyao asked.
"No! How would I? I was talking nonsense."
"Alright..."
"That is Haoran of the Longshen Empire," Shi Lieya explained, assuming Xiao Yan didn't know the politics of the capital.
As Haoran advanced, he passed right by Xiao Yan. Their eyes met, and their auras collided like a deadly weight. The pressure was so intense that nearby birds took flight in a panic. They glared at each other with the intensity of two madmen ready to kill on the spot.
"Are you okay, Xiao Yan?" Shi Lieya asked, noticing the look on his face.
"Yep, I'm alright. No worries."
(This time, I will make sure I kill you, Xiao Yan,) Haoran thought, his face twisting into a demonic smirk as he walked away.
At the same time, Xiao Yan's grip tightened on his sword. (You won't get away this time. I promise you.)
TO BE CONTINUED!!!