Chapter 4

Xiao Yun, carrying the thick, thigh-sized fire python, rushed towards the Xiao family.

The Purple Cloud Mountain Range was not far from the Xiao family, but by the time Xiao Yun returned, it was already afternoon.

At this moment, a group of young disciples gathered in the Xiao family’s training ground, making it quite lively.

If one looked closely, they could see two graceful and charming young girls standing among the crowd.

"It’s been only a month, and Miss Shiyan has become even more beautiful." A young man from the Xiao family smiled and said to the charming girl in the center. The looks in everyone’s eyes clearly showed their admiration for her.

"Hmph, you only know how to flatter Sister Shiyan, treating me like air?" A slightly fiery girl pouted her lips and glared at the young men from the Xiao family, scolding them, "Am I not beautiful?"

"Hehe, Miss Lin is also becoming more beautiful. I’m afraid there are very few people in our Purple Cloud County who can compare to you." Hearing this, the young man from the Xiao family shrank his neck and quickly smiled at the fiery-figured girl.

"That’s better." Seeing the praise, Miss Lin nodded in satisfaction.

Compared to Lin Xiaoman’s fiery nature, Yan Shiyan beside her appeared much more delicate.

At this moment, her crystal-clear, beautiful eyes were scanning the training ground of the Xiao family, as if searching for someone. After a quick look around, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her lips pouted in disappointment.

The young girl’s charming appearance made her even more captivating, with a hint of allure that could drive people mad.

Seeing this, the young men from the Xiao family’s eyes were filled with jealousy, clearly knowing the reason for the girl’s visit.

"Is Sister Shiyan here to find Cousin Xiao Yun?" Xiao Cheng’s eyes flashed with jealousy, but he still maintained a polite smile and gently asked the girl beside him, showing a courteous demeanor.

Yan Shiyan nodded slightly and said, "What’s wrong with Brother Xiao Yun today? Why hasn’t he come to practice martial arts?"

"I don’t know what’s wrong with Cousin Xiao Yun; he hasn’t come here." Xiao Cheng smiled. "Since Sister Shiyan is here, why don’t I show you around our Xiao family? My elder brother caught a purple fox last time, which is very beautiful. Why don’t we go see it together?"

"No, thank you." Yan Shiyan said indifferently, her eyes still scanning the surroundings, seemingly still looking for Xiao Yun.

The young girl’s indifferent attitude made Xiao Cheng frown slightly.

"He’s just a waste of space, isn’t he?" Some of the young men from the Xiao family also sneered, feeling indignant.

Yan Shiyan, the daughter of the city lord of Purple Cloud County, was exceptionally talented and destined to become a powerful figure. Yet, she was close to Xiao Yun and treated the other young men from the Xiao family coldly, making many who wanted to pursue her clench their teeth in frustration.

Despite this, they did not dare to act rashly.

"Hey, Xiao Yun is here." Just as the young men from the Xiao family were filled with jealousy, a surprised cry suddenly rang out.

"Xiao Yun?" Hearing this, everyone’s eyes moved, focusing on a young man carrying a demonic python.

At this moment, Xiao Yun was striding forward with the demonic python, heading towards his courtyard.

After yesterday’s ordeal, his clothes were tattered and bloodstained, making him look quite disheveled.

However, when Yan Shiyan saw the young man in her line of sight, a smile appeared in her beautiful eyes, and her face lit up like a blooming flower, a sight that made the world seem to dim in comparison.

"Brother Xiao Yun." Yan Shiyan hurriedly went to meet the young man, completely ignoring the gazes of those around her.

"Shiyan." Hearing her call, Xiao Yun paused, turned around, and saw a girl in a purple robe approaching like a lively lark, her clear and pleasant voice like a heavenly melody, making one unable to resist being immersed in it.

Yan Shiyan stopped a few meters away from Xiao Yun. Seeing his tattered clothes and the bloodstained demonic python on his shoulder, she wrinkled her delicate nose and covered her mouth, saying, "What a strong smell of blood. Brother Xiao Yun, did you go to the Purple Cloud Mountain to hunt demonic beasts?"

"I went to the Purple Cloud Mountain and happened to catch a demonic python." Seeing the cute expression on the girl’s face, a faint smile appeared on Xiao Yun’s lips. Yan Shiyan was his childhood friend, and they had always had a good relationship.

"Xiao Yun, why didn’t you tell us you were going to the Purple Cloud Mountain? I’ve been waiting for you for so long." Lin Xiaoman, wearing tight shorts that revealed her long, slender legs, walked over with light steps.

This girl had a slender figure, full chest, and fair skin. At just sixteen, she already had a figure that many envied. However, her fiery temper made many young men keep their distance, afraid to tease her.

"Why should I inform you if I go to the Purple Cloud Mountain?" Seeing the girl’s cold and haughty tone, Xiao Yun’s eyebrows furrowed, and his face turned cold. "It’s not like I invited you, Miss Lin, to come here."

"Hmph, why are you so arrogant? If it weren’t for Sister Shiyan dragging me here, I wouldn’t want to see your smug face." Lin Xiaoman’s cheeks flushed with anger, and she stomped her long, fair legs, her white teeth biting her lip as she glared at the young man. "It’s a good thing I didn’t get engaged to you back then; otherwise, I would have had to spend my life with a waste of space."

"Do you still think you’re the pride of heaven from eight years ago?"

Lin Xiaoman was the eldest daughter of the Lin family, one of the four major families in Purple Cloud County, and had been pampered since childhood. When had she ever been scolded like this?

However, her blunt words made the young man’s face darken.

"I don’t want a woman who is all looks and no brains, even if you were given to me." Xiao Yun’s face grew colder, and he glanced at the girl beside him. "If you have nothing else, you can leave. I, Xiao Yun, don’t have time to cater to a pampered princess like you."

"You...!" Seeing Xiao Yun’s cold and hard attitude, Lin Xiaoman’s eyes almost shot fire.

When they were young, Lin Xiaoman and Xiao Yun were very close. Once, when Lin Xiaoman accidentally fell into a pond, Xiao Yun saved her, saving her life. For this, the old man of the Lin family came to thank Xiao Yun and jokingly suggested that he marry his granddaughter, setting up a childhood betrothal. However, this was refused by the old man of the Xiao family.

The old man of the Lin family regretted this, but after Xiao Yun’s talent declined, he never mentioned it again.

Now, Lin Xiaoman bringing up this matter was undoubtedly rubbing salt in Xiao Yun’s wounds.

"Xiaoman, what are you saying?" Seeing Xiao Yun’s expression, Yan Shiyan frowned and said, "Brother Xiao Yun just hasn’t broken through in cultivation for a while. He will surely recover his former talent in the future."

"Besides, Brother Xiao Yun’s spirit beast can cure all kinds of diseases, making him a great physician." Yan Shiyan smiled, remembering how Xiao Yun had saved her life when she was seriously ill a few years ago, a condition that no one in the city could treat.

Since then, the girl had become particularly close to Xiao Yun.

"Hmph, so what if he’s a great physician?" Lin Xiaoman sneered. "In this world where martial arts are supreme, without strength, one cannot protect oneself. Shiyan, I advise you to stay away from this guy. Don’t let him deceive your heart, or you’ll regret it later."

Xiao Yun glanced at Lin Xiaoman and ignored her.

When they were young, the girl was always close to him, but as the gap between them widened, their relationship changed.

"Hehe, I’m not afraid of Brother Xiao Yun deceiving me." Yan Shiyan smiled and looked at the young man with a sweet expression.

Seeing Yan Shiyan’s appearance, it seemed she was hoping the young man would deceive her.

"Flirt." Lin Xiaoman looked at her with disdain.

Xiao Yun ignored Lin Xiaoman and continued walking forward with the demonic python.

"Brother Xiao Yun, wait for me." Yan Shiyan hurriedly ran after the young man.

"Are you here for your sister?" Xiao Yun slowed his pace and looked at the girl beside him.

"Yes." Yan Shiyan nodded, her face showing concern. She blinked her eyes and looked up at the young man, saying, "My sister’s severe poison has flared up again. When will you have time to help her remove the poison?"

"Within the next few days." Xiao Yun thought for a moment and said, "I need to recover my energy first, and then I’ll help Sister Shifei remove the poison."

"Alright." Hearing this, Yan Shiyan’s face relaxed with a smile.

Her sister had been suffering from the poison for two years, and it flared up periodically. No one in the entire Purple Cloud County could cure it.

When Yan Shifei was first poisoned, someone predicted she wouldn’t live for more than a month.

But thanks to Xiao Yun’s intervention, she had survived until now.

"Seeing my current state, I can’t accompany Sister Shiyan. I’ll come find you later." Xiao Yun smiled. Carrying the demonic python, he was covered in a strong smell of blood, which might offend the lady, so he didn’t try to keep Yan Shiyan.

"Okay, Brother Xiao Yun, remember to come early." Yan Shiyan blinked her eyes and smiled, her white teeth biting her lip.

"Flirt." Lin Xiaoman muttered to herself, "He’s just a waste of space. Is it worth being so polite to him?"

In her view, Xiao Yun was destined to make no progress in martial arts and would at most be a physician who treated people.

In this world where martial arts were supreme, how could a physician match them?

"I’ll send my regards to Sister Shifei." Xiao Yun nodded to Yan Shiyan and then walked straight to his courtyard.

Suddenly, a few young men blocked Xiao Yun’s path, making him pause.

"Cousin Xiao Yun, where did you get this demonic python? It seems to be at the sixth level of the Body Tempering stage!" Xiao Cheng looked at the young man with a playful expression, stroking the python’s scales and sneered.

"Did you steal this demonic python from the trap set by the adventure team?"

"It must have been stolen. Otherwise, how could a genius like Xiao Yun catch such a fierce beast?" The other young men also chimed in with mocking tones.

"Please step aside." Xiao Yun raised an eyebrow, glanced at the mocking young men, and tried to leave.

"This guy is getting arrogant." Seeing Xiao Yun ignore them, the young men frowned in anger.

Earlier, Yan Shiyan had ignored them and rushed to Xiao Yun, which made them very angry.

He’s just a waste of space. Why does he deserve the favor of the city lord’s daughter?

"Stop right there. Didn’t you see Brother Cheng asking you a question?" One of the young men stepped forward, blocking Xiao Yun, and said, "I think this demonic python is quite good. Why don’t we use it for a feast today?"

Saying this, the young man’s hand turned into a claw and reached for the demonic python on Xiao Yun’s shoulder.