"Heh heh."
Zhou Changqing stroked Ya Fei's silky hair and chuckled softly. "Ya Fei, I'm not just talking nonsense."
"You're such a stunning beauty. Is it really so strange for a man like me to have ideas about you? In any case, I don't care. You can only be my woman! I'll kill anyone who dares to touch you!"
"You little scoundrel. You think I'm your woman just because you say a few words?"
Hearing such domineering words and seeing the undeniable resolve in the young man's eyes, a shimmer of moisture appeared in Ya Fei's bright, bewitching gaze. She pursed her lips and muttered her reply.
Thump-thump, thump-thump.
Feeling the rapid heartbeat from the woman in his arms, Zhou Changqing raised an eyebrow. "Well, Ya Fei? Are you willing?"
A blush crept across her gorgeous face. Ya Fei shot the assertive young man a playful glare and whispered meekly, "We'll talk about it when you get back."
Then, before Zhou Changqing could say another word, Ya Fei pulled away from the embrace she so cherished and scurried out of the room.
A smile touched Zhou Changqing's lips. He rubbed his hands together, savoring the memory of her softness.
He had never been an indecisive person. Given his relationship with Ya Fei, he was fated to never tolerate another man getting close to her.
Since that was the case, what was there to hesitate about?
If not for the poor timing and his imminent departure, he would have devoured Ya Fei right then and there.
In high spirits, Zhou Changqing hummed a cheerful tune as he left the room with his hands behind his back.
On the second floor of the Miteer Auction House headquarters, inside a certain room.
Watching the two figures disappear into the crowd below, Ya Fei felt a dazed sense of déjà vu.
It was just like this back in Wu Tan City, watching her little Changqing leave.
"My dear young man, I'll be waiting for you to come back. I hope it won't be too long..."
Muttering to herself, Ya Fei retracted her gaze and suppressed the reluctance in her heart, her usual calm and collected demeanor returning.
She still had the task her young man had given her to complete. This was no time for melancholy.
Her own talent was too poor; she was destined to be unable to keep up with his pace. Therefore, she could only do her absolute best for him within the scope of her abilities.
The Misty Cloud Sect.
Upon a floating mountain peak.
This was a place where only those of Elder rank were qualified to reside.
Within a pavilion on the mountainside.
Yun Leng sat on a chair, his face dark as he listened to the report from a trusted subordinate.
On the surface, he appeared to have mostly recovered.
Because of what had happened at the three-year agreement, he had been harshly reprimanded by Yun Shan and stripped of his position as Grand Elder.
Fortunately, after so many years of tireless and dedicated service to the Misty Cloud Sect, he was still one of Yun Shan's confidants.
So, for now, Yun Leng remained a Misty Cloud Sect Elder.
Thanks to the sect's profound resources, Yun Leng had already recovered fifty to sixty percent of his injuries.
It was truly a blessing to have Pill-King Gu He as their resident alchemist elder. Even when Gu He wasn't present, the pills he had accumulated over the years were more than enough for the Misty Cloud Sect to use for some time.
"Are you certain that little bastard Zhou Changqing is still in the imperial capital?"
"Grand Elder, it's absolutely true. I entered the city today and heard that the Miteer Auction House held another Xuan-tier auction. They also announced that in five days, the Di-tier auction will reopen to sell a fifth-tier Spirit Gathering Armament."
A middle-aged man spoke respectfully, his head bowed.
Yun Leng was pleased that the man still addressed him as Grand Elder. He nodded. "Very good. You've done well. This Spirit Ascension Pill is yours."
With that, he took a jade bottle from his storage ring and tossed it to the man.
The man caught it, his expression one of pure joy. "Thank you for the reward, Grand Elder!"
"Mm. Keep this matter to yourself," Yun Leng said with a nod. His eyes then turned sharp as he added coldly, "Otherwise, you know the consequences!"
That chilling gaze made the middle-aged man tremble. He immediately bowed his head again and hastily promised, "Understood!"
"You may leave."
"This subordinate takes his leave, Grand Elder."
The man backed away a few steps as if he'd been pardoned from death row, then quickly left the room.
Watching him go, a sinister glint flashed in Yun Leng's eyes.
"Xiao Yan, Zhou Changqing. I will make you pay a terrible price for yesterday's humiliation!"
Three streaks of light shot across the sky, heading north without alerting anyone.
A few days later.
Wu Tan City.
Night fell, and the sky was clear with a smattering of stars.
Inside a room in a tavern not far from the Xiao Clan's estate.
Xiao Yan was chatting idly with Zhou Changqing, while Medusa was in the adjacent room.
"Zhou, don't you think this is a bit of an overreaction? Didn't Yun Shan say the matter was settled? Would that old bastard Yun Leng really have the guts to defy him?"
Xiao Yan looked at Zhou Changqing with a puzzled expression, unable to hold back his skepticism.
The day after the three-year agreement ended, Zhou Changqing had dragged him back to Wu Tan City at top speed.
He kept saying that Yun Leng might make a move against the Xiao Clan.
Although Xiao Yan didn't really believe it, he hadn't refused, just in case.
But after waiting a whole day with nothing happening, he couldn't help but wonder if Zhou Changqing was being overly cautious.
"Let's wait a little longer. I have a feeling that after suffering such a huge loss, Yun Leng won't let it go so easily. That old geezer doesn't look like the forgiving type."
Faced with Xiao Yan's doubt, Zhou Changqing could only offer a vague explanation. He couldn't very well say he was a man who had read the script, could he?
Of course, he couldn't be one hundred percent certain it would still happen. The butterfly effect he had created was not small, after all.
But as the saying went, it was better to be safe than sorry. A little caution was never a bad thing.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded and said no more.
After all, Zhou was doing this for his sake. If nothing happened, he could just treat it as a short break.
Time slowly trickled by.
In the blink of an eye, it was the middle of the night.
Sensing the continued peace at the Xiao Clan estate, Xiao Yan was already preparing to go back to his room to rest.
He hadn't had a proper moment to relax since the three-year agreement ended.
However, just as Xiao Yan stood up, his expression suddenly changed, and he whipped his head toward the Xiao Clan's direction.
From there, he sensed several powerful auras emerge, one of which was extremely familiar.
Zhou Changqing sensed them at the same time.
Their eyes met, both knowing exactly who those auras belonged to.
"Yun Leng!"
Without a moment's delay, Xiao Yan rushed to the window, unfurled his Purple Cloud Wings, and shot toward the Xiao estate!
Zhou Changqing didn't follow immediately. Instead, he opened his door, intending to fetch Queen Medusa.
He knew this matter wasn't so simple. Yun Leng was just a minor player; there was a much bigger fish behind him.
That monstrous entity was something that neither he, Xiao Yan, nor even Yao Lao could handle at their current level.
Only Medusa might stand a chance against it!
Within the Xiao Clan estate.
Sensing the arrival of powerful experts, Xiao Zhan and the two elders were the first to leave their residences and hurry to the main courtyard.
When they arrived, they saw a black-robed, masked figure hovering in the sky on a pair of Dou Qi Wings.
Additionally, several other masked individuals, all exuding auras stronger than a Da Dou Shi, stood atop the courtyard walls.
Seeing the intruders' attire, Xiao Zhan and the others felt their hearts sink.
The Dou Qi Wings on the back of the leading figure, in particular, sent a chill down their spines.
"My friends, may I ask why you have come to visit my Xiao Clan in the middle of the night?"
Xiao Zhan's heart was pounding in his chest. He knew they came with ill intentions, but he forced a smile and cupped his hands in greeting.
As the Clan Head, he could not panic. He had to remain calm to buy time for the Third Elder.
Indeed, although the last time had been a false alarm when Zhou Changqing returned to Wu Tan City, the incident had made Xiao Zhan and the others far more vigilant.
The last time it was Zhou Changqing, who was on good terms with the Xiao Clan. But what about next time?
The clan's upper echelon didn't dare gamble on the Xiao Clan not becoming the next Jia Lie Clan.
Therefore, Xiao Zhan and the others had devised a contingency plan for how to handle the arrival of a powerful expert.
Just like last time, Xiao Zhan and the First and Second Elders would stall for time, while the Third Elder would evacuate the younger generation.
"Heh heh, you must be Xiao Zhan, correct?"
The masked Dou King in the lead let out a hoarse chuckle, his voice dripping with contempt. "Friends? You ants are worthy of being my friends?"
"The clan of that little bastard Xiao Yan has no reason to exist. Today, not a single one of you will be left alive!"
Xiao Zhan's pupils contracted violently. He worried for Xiao Yan, but he knew this was not the time to think about that. He immediately let out a resolute roar, "Stop them!"
"Leave Xiao Zhan. Kill the rest."
A morbid delight flickered in the masked Dou King's eyes as he waved a hand, giving the order.
He had guessed Xiao Zhan's plan but didn't care. They were just a swarm of ants. In the face of absolute power, all their struggles were futile.
He wanted Xiao Zhan to watch with his own eyes as the Xiao Clan was annihilated. Only then would the hatred in his heart be soothed!
At his command, the masked men on the walls instantly shot forward, rushing toward Xiao Zhan and the two elders!
Just then, a roar filled with boundless rage tore through the air!
"Yun Leng, you old dog!"
"If you dare touch a single hair on my clansmen's heads, I swear I'll make you wish for death!"