Hearing Xun'er's words, Xiao Mei was momentarily stunned, then felt a touch of embarrassment. If other young ladies from the family had spoken thus, she would have been able to gain the upper hand with her beauty and talent. But when the opponent was Xun'er, she felt utterly defeated. Glancing at Xiao Yan's composed expression, she sighed to herself with a self-mocking smile and quietly retreated. The crowd gathered in the training ground watched as Xiao Yan was gently held by Xun'er, their hearts filled with envy. As the family's brightest star, they had never seen Xun'er treat a man so warmly and affectionately. Watching Xiao Mei's awkward retreat, Xiao Yan was surprised, feeling the softness of her arms and turning to smile at Xun'er, who was beaming with delight. He couldn't help but chuckle and tease, "Xun'er, what are you doing?" Xuan still clung to Xiao Yan's arm, her clear, liquid eyes sweeping over the crowd that had grown momentarily stunned by her endearingly intimate gestures. Then, with an air of innocent surprise, she asked, "Didn't Xiao Yan brother actually want to refuse her?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan rolled his eyes. It was one thing to say "refuse" from either of them—each carried a different meaning. Recalling the awkwardness on Xiao Mei's face earlier, he shook his head in resignation, glanced sideways at Xuan, who was smiling warmly, and murmured to himself: She must have done it on purpose. "Xuan just didn't like how quickly she changed her demeanor. Heh, going to the Battle Technique Hall together to learn battle techniques—this kind of invitation, it had never happened before." Xuan gently guided Xiao Yan toward the training grounds, paying no attention to the stares from around them, her voice soft and laced with a quiet, subtle disdain for Xiao Mei's shifting attitudes. With a slight shrug, Xiao Yan nodded in understanding, offering a wry smile. Three years ago, his relationship with Xiao Mei had been fairly good, but since he had been labeled a "waste," he had truly come to appreciate the woman's practical nature. Watching Xiao Yan and Xun'er walk off together in close companionship toward the training grounds, Xiao Ning's face tightened, his fists clenched tightly, emitting a series of creaking sounds. The jealousy in his heart was so intense that his eyes even began to glisten. "Little brat! By the end of next month, I'll have you crawling around like a fool!" Xiao Ning gritted out, his voice fierce, then stormed off in a huff of rage. Even Xiao Zhan, who had just been about to head back to his quarters, was momentarily stunned by the scene. He stared intently at the couple's affectionate figures, slightly surprised, then a subtle concern flickered in his eyes: "Is it possible... is it possible that Yan has fallen for Xun'er?" To be honest, her status... wasn't something that could even be compared to Nalan Yanran's. Even with an astonishing cultivation talent, securing recognition from her backing faction wasn't an easy task at all. After a brief silence, Xiao Zhan sighed softly, shook his head, and then slowly walked away. Feeling the slightly warm gaze from Xiao Yan, Xun'er's delicate face instantly flushed. Her hands instinctively lifted higher, blushing and chiding, "Xiao Yan brother, you—" Xun's face flushed as she lowered her head, the calm grace she once carried completely gone, replaced now by the shy timidity of a young girl in a private sanctuary. Her gaze would occasionally flicker, only to meet Xiao Yan's steady, unblinking face. Amid this unusual atmosphere, a path that wasn't particularly long seemed to stretch on endlessly—like the Long March, always seeming to have no end. Of course, even the Long March has an endpoint. When they reached the fork in the path, Xiao Yan hesitated, then offered a nervous greeting before scrambling to escape. "Xiao Yan brother," Xun said, slightly startled by his awkward flight, then chuckled softly and called out. "Huh?" Xiao Yan paused mid-step, turning to look at the graceful girl standing beneath the willow tree. His already restless heart leapt with the sudden shift. In her pale green robe, she stood even more refined against the lush willows. As the breeze swept through, it gently stirred her cascading hair, and the purple sash draped across her waist swayed, flowing with a graceful, elegant movement. "Tomorrow... will you accompany Fujin?" Beneath the willow tree, the girl's delicate face slightly flushed, her pearly teeth gently biting her invitingly red lips. Her beautiful, autumnal eyes, brimming with quiet anticipation and an elusive charm, gazed warmly toward the figure of Xiao Yan beyond.