"Intentionally being so warm and close with me, making me act as a shield to block that man?" Lin Ya stopped at a spot near the entrance of the hall, and suddenly offered a quiet, gentle smile. "I'm sorry..." Seeing through her earlier intentions, Ya's cheeks flushed slightly as she murmured an apology, "He really kept me pinned down—no matter how hard I tried to push him away or scold him, he wouldn't budge. So I ended up doing this..." "You... you won't be angry, will you?" Ya looked at Xiao Yan, timidly asking. Though this helped her feel a bit relieved, it had the unfortunate effect of making Xiao Yan resent Nü Wan without any reason. "After all, this isn't the first time I've gone through something like this," Xiao Yan shook his head with a faint, weary smile. Upon hearing this, Ya gently pressed her lips together, offering a soft, quiet laugh—but still hesitated to speak, and thus the atmosphere between them settled into a warm, quiet stillness. "Ahem... You go ahead and wander around a bit. I need to attend to Lan Laozi's detox treatment today." After a while, Xiao Yan cleared his throat, picked up a glass of red wine from a silver platter held by a maid passing by, took a small sip, and then casually placed it into Ya Fei's hands, smiling as he walked toward the side door of the hall. Standing in place, watching Xiao Yan fade into view, Ya Fei gently swayed the transparent glass filled with deep crimson wine. Under the reflection of the wine's color, her delicate, alluring face appeared even more rosy and enchanting. As she walked out of the hall, holding the glass, Ya Fei stood beside a pillar, swaying the glass, recalling the sharp, commanding presence Xiao Yan had displayed during his battle moments. It had been just over a year since they last saw each other, and the once-innocent young man had grown so confident. "Ya Fei, what are you thinking about?" an elderly voice suddenly echoed from behind. Mi Ter Teng Shan approached with a warm smile. "Ah? Nothing," Ya Fei exclaimed, startled by the interruption, and quickly replied. "Hehe…" Mitel Tengshan smiled gently and stepped forward slowly, with a thoughtful tone, asking, "How do you think of Rock Hawk?" "Without emotion—well, that can be cultivated," Midler Tengshan smiled, with a thoughtful tone. "You must know, as members of our kind, large families, mutual, two-way engagements are rare. Our families prioritize practicality; to simply find someone who doesn't mind and whose family agrees is already considered fortunate." Her teeth clenched against the full red lips, Yafei lowered her gaze to the glass of red wine in her hands. The delicate, alluring face—once so enchanting—now bore a quiet, poignant sorrow that stirred the heart. Yafei knew Tengshan’s words were true. Though she enjoyed the countless titles and privileges afforded by her noble family, she had also lost much in the process. Unlike Lan Yanran, who possessed both natural talent and fortune, Yafei lacked the latter. Yanran’s status within Yunlan Sect allowed her to easily break free from her family’s constraints, enabling her to unilaterally withdraw her engagement to the Xiao family years ago. Yafei, however, knew she did not possess that same strength. With both hands clasped gently around her chest, Yafei sat quietly on the stone steps. The night breeze swept through, bringing a chill to her. Looking up at the bright moon in the sky, after a long while, her captivating eyes suddenly softened, curving like those of a fox—brimming with sharp intelligence and subtle allure. "To not be controlled by the family, one must... control the family themselves." In a soft whisper, Yafei gazed into her glass of red wine, her delicate features now subtly revealing something new. "I may not possess Lan Yanran's natural aptitude for cultivation, yet the Miter family is a business dynasty. With my abilities, reaching the position of steward seems quite achievable." Her slender fingers lightly tapped the rim of the glass, producing a clear, crisp sound. To have already assumed leadership of the Miter family's headquarters auction hall at her age speaks volumes about her innate talent in business and human resource management. After all, in this world, there are countless individuals who, though physically unremarkable, command vast armies of loyal and capable followers. Listening to that crisp sound, a gentle curve formed at Yafei's lips, her allure and grace radiating effortlessly—more beautiful than before, without a doubt. Just as an inexplicable feeling was taking root within Yafei's heart, a black robe gently settled over her from behind. The familiar, soothing voice stirred a quiet resonance within the most sensitive woman at that moment. "It's cold both indoors and outdoors—yet you don't seem to mind getting sick..." Suddenly turning her head, Yafei stared at the plain face after the disguise, her nose suddenly tinged with a subtle ache. She gently puffed out her nose, clasped the robe with both hands, and pressed her slender body closer to it, the gentle warmth now wrapping around her heart—once chilled by a single sentence from Mitel Tengshan. Her long lashes fluttered, and she smiled softly, "Done?" “Xiao Yan asked with a look of curiosity. “Perfectly fine, actually,” the Yafu smiled warmly, giving Xiao Yan a playful wink. “Oh,” Xiao Yan nodded, yawned lazily, and glanced at the bustling hall, shaking his head with a touch of resignation—these people truly knew how to keep things going. “Alright, I can’t take it anymore. I’m heading back. Would you like to come with me?” He yawned again, asking casually as he stood up. “Hmm…” At first, Yafu intended to shake her head and decline, but as her hand gently brushed against the black robe draped over her body, she hesitated and finally nodded. Standing up, the two prepared to leave. Yet, as Xiao Yan’s slightly weary expression suddenly shifted, he swiftly turned his gaze toward the northwest of the imperial capital—there, two immense presences surged upward, rising dramatically. “Hai Bo Dong? This old man has been missing for two days. How is it that he’s now fighting someone?” A second aura—its strength no less than his…" Having fought alongside Hai Bo Dong before, Xiao Yan was familiar with Hai Bo Dong's presence and immediately recognized it. What caused his expression to grow more serious, however, was the equally formidable aura that was not only comparable but even stronger than Hai Bo Dong's. As Xiao Yan murmured these words, two shadows suddenly burst forth from within the hall and materialized in front of him and the other. They were Lan Jie and Mitel Tengshan, who had also sensed the disturbance. Following them, Mu Zhan, Lan Yanran, and others emerged one after another, all turning their faces in astonishment toward the northwest. "Battle royals of the Battle Emperor rank?" After exchanging glances, Lan Jie and Mitel Tengshan both expressed deep seriousness. Upon hearing their voices, Lan Yanran and the others were all startled—Battle Emperor rank warriors were typically among the pinnacle of the empire's strength. To suddenly see two of them appear tonight was indeed unexpected. "Let's go check it out..." Nalan Jie and Mitel Tengshan simultaneously launched themselves into the air, their magnificent aura wings rapidly forming behind them and transforming into two streaks of light, swiftly rushing toward the epicenter of the surge in power. With such elite warriors suddenly appearing in the imperial capital, they couldn't afford to be careless. "Hehe, we'll join you—true Divinity Realm masters, aren't they?" With eager eyes fixed on where Nalan Jie and Mitel Tengshan had vanished, Mu Zhan planted his foot on the ground, then shot upward toward the rooftops, swiftly leaping and sprinting across the city's buildings like a grasshopper. Behind him, Nalan Yanran, Liu Ling, and the others each summoned their own abilities, closely following in their wake. The battles between the Dou Huang-level强者 aren't something you can just show up for—definitely not something that happens on a whim. Xiao Yin furrowed his brows. Haibo Dong was his personal shield at Cloud Rains Sect, so he absolutely couldn't afford any mishaps before now. Otherwise, having Xiao Yin face off alone against that massive sect would truly be a headache. "Just stay here and be careful. I'll go check things out," Xiao Yin said after a moment's thought, turning to the side to address Ya Fei. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Ya Fei nodded politely, without offering any objections. With a light tap of his foot on the ground, Xiao Yin leapt gracefully onto the roof. A slight tremor ran through his back, and then, under the stunned gazes of everyone present, he summoned the Zhi Yun Yi. Ya Fei gazed at Xiao Yin, her red lips slightly parted, her eyes brimming with disbelief. Her wings trembled slightly, and in an instant, Xiao Yin's form transformed into a streak of light, shooting off toward the northwest like a comet. "Whoa! Did he just turn his qi into wings?" Mu Dan, leaping across the roof, heard the rushing wind behind him and quickly turned around—only to stare in bewilderment at Xiao Yan swiftly gliding past, wings flapping. "Damn it! He's a Duke-Class powerhouse? How is that even possible?" Standing like a fool on the rooftop, Mu Dan watched Xiao Yan fade into the distance. A moment later, turning to see behind him, he found Lan Yanran and the others also looking utterly stunned. "By the gods!..." Young voices echoed in the dark night, filled with growing disbelief.