The First Encounter in Fengle City

Five days later, within Fengle City, Qin Yan, clad in a set of black combat attire, traversed the bustling streets.

A bamboo hat shielded his head as his eyes, brimming with curiosity, surveyed everything around him.

For the past sixteen years, he had essentially remained sequestered near the Yanqing Sect, his only venture down the mountain, a distant excursion, occurring when his master had escorted him to the Xiao family for his engagement.

After all, this was a world akin to ancient times, yet one where women held paramount status, making it common for many young masters to rarely venture beyond their family gates.

The street teemed with a boisterous crowd, the incessant cries of vendors and peddlers filling the air.

The majority of these bustling figures were women, for in this world, women were expected to stand tall, taking charge and ruling their households—such was the prevailing ethos.

This time, Qin Yan had secretly descended the mountain.

Taking five days, he had finally reached Fengle City, the home of the Xiao family.

His arduous journey, fraught with climbing mountains and crossing rivers, had left him thoroughly dust-ridden and utterly exhausted.

“Waiter, a bowl of hot tea for me,” Qin Yan found a street vendor, settled onto a stool, and called out.

“Coming right up, honored guest.”

The vendor, a woman appearing to be over thirty, was dressed in coarse linen clothes and sold savory pancakes.

A fair number of diners occupied the surrounding seats, adding to the lively atmosphere.

Qin Yan rather enjoyed the bustling clamor of human voices.

Having spent so long in secluded cultivation and arduous training in the mountains, he inevitably yearned for this touch of worldly life, especially as he was a man who had lived two lives.

“Hey, have you heard? It seems the Yanqing Sect is going to annul the engagement with that good-for-nothing from the Xiao family!”

“Ah, indeed! I thought our Fengle City was about to produce another peerless genius, but alas, that Xiao family genius—what was their name again? Xiao Miao, right? They must have done something truly heinous to incur the wrath of both heaven and man.”

“…”

The murmurs of the many diners drifted into Qin Yan’s ears, and a flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes.

So, he was the last to learn about this annulment?

Yet, he could understand; after all, such gossip was a rare and valuable topic of conversation in this ancient world.

“Young master, your tea.”

Just then, the woman brought the tea and offered it to Qin Yan.

Even with the bamboo hat concealing his face, Qin Yan’s male voice was unmistakable.

Meeting the woman’s curious gaze, he nodded, gesturing for her to place the tea on the small table before him.

It was the season of early autumn, and the weather was prone to swift changes.

Moments ago, the sky had been clear and boundless, but in an instant, it became overcast with dense clouds.

Witnessing the sudden shift in weather, pedestrians on the street inevitably quickened their pace.

Soon after, raindrops as large as beans began to patter down with a resounding splish-splash.

Fortunately, the street vendor Qin Yan was patronizing had an awning.

Originally intended to shield from the scorching sun, it now served perfectly to block the rain, leaving Qin Yan unperturbed by the sudden downpour.

In moments, the once bustling street grew considerably quieter as many people sought refuge from the rain beneath the eaves of buildings lining both sides of the street.

Gazing at this scene, Qin Yan picked up the hot tea from the table and took a sip.

He pondered silently, ‘How am I to find this Xiao Miao? I can’t possibly go directly to the Xiao family, or I might just be thrown out.’

Just then, a figure caught Qin Yan’s attention.

It was a young woman in a long black dress, seemingly approaching from outside the city.

She walked slowly along the street, large raindrops soaking her black hair and body, yet she appeared remarkably unhurried and calm.

After all, no amount of panic would halt the torrential downpour, which in an instant, would leave anyone caught in it thoroughly drenched.

“That seems to be the Xiao family’s eldest daughter, Xiao Miao?”

Just then, the vendor’s voice drifted into Qin Yan’s ears.

She was Xiao Miao?

Qin Yan observed his surroundings, noticing that many eyes were fixed on the young woman.

People around him were whispering, their hushed tones clearly audible to Qin Yan.

This was truly a case of ‘speak of the devil!’

Thus, Qin Yan rose and walked directly toward the young woman, quickly reaching her side.

The young woman stopped her steps, gazing at Qin Yan, who blocked her path.

Such an occurrence was rare, especially within Fengle City, for no matter what, she was still a prominent figure from the Xiao family.

“My name is Qin Yan.”

Qin Yan removed the bamboo hat from his head.

Not a single drop of rain touched him, for a simple spell like the Rain Evasion Art made such protection effortless.

‘Qin Yan?’

The young woman gazed at the slender man before her, with his sword-like brows and starry eyes, truly a handsome countenance.

She couldn’t possibly not recognize that name, for he was her fiancé.

‘Haha, fiancé?’ she thought.

‘They had indeed shared that relationship once, but it would likely not endure much longer.’

The matter of her cultivation decreasing instead of increasing had tormented her body and mind, making her a subject of intense controversy within the Xiao family and throughout Fengle City.

And the news of the annulment was a direct slap to the Xiao family’s face, all of it stemming from her, Xiao Miao.

One blow after another had left Xiao Miao utterly breathless.

She looked at Qin Yan before her, took a deep breath, clasped her hands in a respectful fist-and-palm salute, and spoke:

“May I ask what brings the Yanqing Sect’s prodigy to seek me out? Surely you’re not here to humiliate me as well?”

As she spoke, a hint of self-mockery flickered across Xiao Miao’s face.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yan felt no anger, even though Xiao Miao’s words carried undisguised mockery.

He carefully observed Xiao Miao before him.

The young woman was not tall, reaching only to his shoulder.

She wore a somewhat tight black dress, and her figure was only just beginning to blossom, like a lotus bud revealing its first delicate tip.

Qin Yan’s gaze shifted downwards, settling on Xiao Miao’s stubborn, almond-shaped eyes.

He noticed her pursed lips, with damp strands of hair clinging to the corner of her mouth.

Her face was diamond-shaped, with a distinctly angular quality.

Xiao Miao watched Qin Yan, who remained silent, merely observing her.

She lowered her clasped hands, intending to turn and walk away.

“Wait, Xiao Miao.”

Qin Yan called out.

Xiao Miao stopped her steps as well, turning to look at Qin Yan beside her.

She was curious to hear what he had to say.

“I’m not here to humiliate you…”

Qin Yan began, but before he could finish his sentence,

“Then are you here to get close to me?” A hint of mockery flashed in Xiao Miao’s eyes.

“Your Yanqing Sect truly employs clever tactics, a mix of hard and soft, intending to fully control my Xiao family, to control me, Xiao Miao?!”

By the end, the young woman’s words carried an undeniable surge of anger.

The current situation was quite beyond Qin Yan’s expectations.

However, Qin Yan had not come to find Xiao Miao for any of those reasons.

He had approached her with good intentions, only to have them taken for ill.

Regardless of how formidable Xiao Miao might become in the future, at present, what right did this young woman have to speak to him in such a manner?

If he were truly a man of this world, he would likely have burst into tears on the spot.

“Xiao Miao, you truly are ungrateful! You are merely a good-for-nothing from the Xiao family, while I am a prodigy of the Yanqing Sect.

How dare you speak such words to me?

Does my Yanqing Sect need to employ such ‘hard and soft’ tactics against your Xiao family?

You think too highly of yourself, and too highly of the Xiao family!”

Qin Yan’s words, laced with a hint of anger, retorted.

Hearing this, Xiao Miao’s chest heaved violently.

She clenched her fists, glaring furiously at Qin Yan before her, but soon she sighed, acknowledging that what Qin Yan said was indeed true.

“Then, Qin Yan, what is it you seek me for?” she asked.

“This is no place to talk.

Come with me…”

Qin Yan glanced at the surrounding onlookers, then reached out, took Xiao Miao’s hand, and led her towards an inn beside the street.

Xiao Miao was utterly caught off guard by Qin Yan’s action.

After all, this world still observed strict distinctions between men and women, and she couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned.