Chapter 106: Lu Bu's Schemes Stir Up Trouble
Jia Nan Academy, Yellow Class, Second Team Dormitory. To provide students with a quiet environment for rest and cultivation, the dormitories were built in an ideal location nestled among tranquil forests, surrounded by mountains and streams. The atmosphere was serene, peaceful, and perfectly suited for study and meditation.
However, today, the normally calm dormitories were rather noisy...
Inside one of the rooms, Xiao Xun'er wore a stiff smile that didn't reach her eyes. "How lovely. I thought Sister Nalan would be too proud to honor the Three Year Agreement and serve as a maid. I didn't expect Sister to be so true to her word."
Nalan Yanran offered a somewhat awkward smile. On the way to Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan had already told her about Xiao Xun'er. While she'd initially bristled with pride, the current situation left her at a disadvantage...
"Ahem, Xun'er, Yanran..." Xiao Yan couldn't bear the tension and tried to step in to smooth things over.
"Silence. Go pour tea!"
Xiao Yan: "..."
"I didn't expect Sister Nalan to change so much over the past three years. I thought you'd still look down on Xiao Yan like before," Xiao Xun'er said with a sly edge to her tone.
"...Xun'er, Sister didn't understand things back then…"
"Xun'er..."
"I said, be quiet!"
Xiao Yan: "..."
"It seems Xiao Yan has changed a lot in the past two years as well. I thought he was still the same as before…"
"No, no!" Xiao Yan became flustered. "Xun'er, I'm still the same! Even though I like Yanran, my heart belongs to you!"
Nalan Yanran's eyes narrowed, and she let out a soft "Hmm?"
Xiao Yan: "..."
Lu Bu: "Jie jie jie..."
The trio simultaneously turned their heads, expressions darkening. They realized that somehow, something or rather, someone had slipped into their midst. Turning to the window, they saw Lu Bu lounging there, legs crossed. All he was missing was a flask of wine and some peanuts to fully enjoy the show.
"You bastard, what are you doing here?" Xiao Yan snapped.
"It's been a while. I'm just stopping by for a visit," Lu Bu said, spreading his hands with a grin.
"Ahem, Sister, forgive me. I might have spoken a bit harshly earlier," Xiao Xun'er said, cutting her sharp tone and switching to a soft and sweet voice.
You want to enjoy this drama? Not a chance!
"Not at all," Nalan Yanran replied gracefully. "Three years ago, I was deeply impressed when I first saw you, Sister Xun'er. I've admired you ever since. We sisters should get along peacefully."
"Indeed, indeed," Xiao Yan chimed in, nodding earnestly.
Xiao Xun'er turned to Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan with a smile. "Sister Nalan, Brother Xiao Yan, are you hungry? Shall I make you some noodles?"
"Xun'er, you're too precious to handle such chores. I'll do it," Nalan Yanran said, also smiling.
"Ahem. Perhaps I should " Xiao Yan began.
"Yes, you should!" the two women said in unison.
Lu Bu: "..."
How am I supposed to enjoy this if you're getting along like this?
"Ahem." Lu Bu cleared his throat and spoke in a low, teasing tone. "Yanran, it seems your strength has improved quite a bit recently."
"Ah?" Nalan Yanran blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Yes, yes, I'm currently a six star Dou Grandmaster. Xiao Yan refined a Three Lines Green Spirit Pill for me on the way here."
Xiao Xun'er's eye twitched slightly. Her smile remained, but her gaze toward Xiao Yan gained a few layers of complexity.
Xiao Yan: "..."
Lu Bu stroked his chin as if deep in thought, then said, "Xun'er, if I recall correctly, that bracelet of yours was something Xiao Yan bought for you after scrimping and saving, right? He really treats you well."
Nalan Yanran stiffened. Though her smile didn't falter, her gaze toward Xiao Yan similarly turned a bit more... meaningful.
Xiao Yan glared at Lu Bu, his face darkening. "You bastard, get over here!"
With that, Xiao Yan lunged forward, grabbed Lu Bu, and hauled him off to a distant corner.
He had no choice. The twin gazes boring into his back made him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles, and Lu Bu's presence felt like a thorn lodged in his throat!
...
"What's your deal?" Lu Bu complained, shaking off Xiao Yan's grip. "I worked so hard to set up a good show, and you ruined it!"
Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his teeth grinding. If only I could beat you, you'd already be dead!
"I need something from you," Xiao Yan growled.
"Not interested."
"A trade!"
Lu Bu's demeanor changed instantly, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Why didn't you say so earlier? What do you need?"
"The Xiao Clan was attacked by the Hall of Souls. My father is missing!" Xiao Yan said coldly, his expression grim. He hadn't expected the Hall of Souls to target his family.
Initially, he'd suspected that it might have been Lu Bu's fault. After all, during the Yunlan Mountain battle against the Protector Wu, Lu Bu had manipulated both Xiao Yan and Yao Lao as pawns.
But to outsiders, that battle had appeared as though Xiao Yan had rallied a coalition for his own safety, with Lu Bu as one of his recruited experts.
This perception frustrated both Xiao Yan and Yao Lao to no end.
"So, Lu Bu, I need to know: Why did they attack my family? And why did they take my father?" Xiao Yan asked coldly.
"Hmmm…" Lu Bu tapped his chin thoughtfully before grinning. "It won't come cheap."
"What do you want?" Yao Lao materialized beside Xiao Yan, his expression equally grim. He, too, couldn't fathom the Hall of Souls' motivations.
"Heh heh... I want the method for refining physical bodies," Lu Bu said. His trip to Jia Nan Academy had a dual purpose: finding the Heavenly Flame in the magma and locating the soul of Tian Huo Zun zhe.
"What do you want with that?" Yao Lao frowned.
"Does it matter? Are you giving it to me or not?"
With a cold snort, Yao Lao threw over two scrolls one detailing the refinement of physical bodies and the other a formula for Bone Melting Blood Elixir.
"Speak!" Yao Lao demanded.
"If I'm not mistaken, you possess a family heirloom a jade fragment, correct?" Lu Bu asked.
Xiao Yan nodded and took out a yellowish, warm jade fragment, his brow furrowing. "Does this have anything to do with it?"
"Jie jie jie... Bold of you to wave it in front of me," Lu Bu chuckled darkly. "That, my friend, is a piece of the Tou She Ancient Emperor's Jade."
Yao Lao's face paled.
"What does that mean?" Xiao Yan demanded, his grip tightening around the jade fragment.
"The Tou She Ancient Emperor," Lu Bu said with a sinister smile, "was the most recent Dou Emperor in history. That jade is the key to unlocking his inheritance."
"What?"
A sharp gasp came from nearby. Xiao Yan and Lu Bu turned to see Xiao Xun'er and Nalan Yanran, who had been eavesdropping.
Caught red handed, the two women could only step out from the shadows.
Lu Bu's expression twitched slightly. Why did Xiao Xun'er bring Nalan Yanran here?
Xiao Xun'er's expression was calm, but her gaze grew sharper. If Nalan Yanran harbored any malicious intent...
Golden sparks flickered deep within her pupils.
"So, the Hall of Souls was targeting this?" Nalan Yanran said, her shock giving way to hope. "Does this mean Uncle Xiao can still be saved?"
Xiao Xun'er's eyes flickered with faint disappointment but quickly concealed it.
Xiao Yan inhaled deeply, cautiously storing the jade fragment away.
"This is similar to the Demon Saint's Map Fragment you carry, isn't it? Both are keys to a strong individual's legacy," Xiao Yan remarked, trying to shift focus.
Lu Bu rolled his eyes. "No kidding. But one leads to a Dou Emperor's legacy, and the other leads to that of a late stage Nine Star Dou Saint. Totally different leagues."
Nalan Yanran and Xiao Xun'er both stared at Lu Bu, stunned. They hadn't realized he possessed something so valuable.
Nalan Yanran's expression grew complicated. She felt like she'd stumbled into a realm she didn't belong in.
Hmph. Two can play at this game.
Lu Bu smirked coldly before pulling out the Demon Saint's Map Fragment and flashing it. "Yep, I've got one fourth of this map. Your jade fragment, however, is just one eighth of a whole."
"Oh, by the way, Xun'er, isn't one reason you're living with Xiao Yan to keep an eye on that jade fragment?"
The moment he said this, the others' gazes all turned to Xiao Xun'er.
Xiao Xun'er: "..."
And just like that, the pressure shifted to her.
Lu Bu smiled faintly and walked away, leaving the group to deal with the aftermath. Whatever happens next has nothing to do with me.
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