Chapter Thirteen: Nalan Yanran’s Request

"Master Ancestor truly lives up to the title—such incredible abilities!"
"However, with your cultivation progressing so rapidly, aren’t you worried Master Ancestor might be forcing growth, which could affect your future training?"
Nalan Yanran asked with some concern.
"Don’t worry, I know my own limits. If I thought it would hinder my cultivation down the line, I wouldn’t hesitate to refuse," Lin An replied with a smile.
Nalan Yanran nodded, but then seemed to remember something. She hesitated, as if on the verge of speaking, but held her words back.
"Is there something you need my help with?" Lin An asked, already able to guess from her demeanor.
"Although we haven’t known each other for long, I can tell you’re an upright person—not like the rumors say, that you only became Master’s disciple to pursue me."
Nalan Yanran’s cheeks flushed. Though she was acknowledged as the foremost beauty in the Cloudmist Sect, she was still a young girl. Uttering such self-flattering words clearly embarrassed her.
What she said was true. At first, there had indeed been rumors that Lin An had only joined the sect to chase after her. But in reality, from beginning to end, she could sense that Lin An harbored no such intentions. Their relationship was nothing more than that of true peers.
This, in fact, brought her some relief, for it meant she could invite Lin An to accompany her in what came next without any awkwardness.
"Actually, before I was even born, my marriage was arranged. I already have a fiancé."
Nalan Yanran finally spoke the secret she had kept buried in her heart.
Apart from her master, no one in the entire Cloudmist Sect knew of this.
After speaking, she glanced at Lin An, but to her disappointment, he seemed unsurprised, as if he had known all along.
"What do you plan to do?" Lin An asked.
"You must have noticed—I’ve never even met my fiancé. I used to hear he was a prodigy, but I was preoccupied with cultivation and never considered breaking off the engagement. But now, as I grow older, my grandfather has repeatedly urged me to meet this Xiao Yan.
So, I told Master that after I broke through to the Fighter realm, I would have an elder from the Cloudmist Sect accompany me to the Xiao family in Wutan City and annul the engagement.
I could never think of a good reason, but now…I believe you’re the perfect candidate!"
Nalan Yanran revealed all in one breath.
"We haven’t known each other long. Aren’t you afraid we’ll be discovered?" Lin An asked.
"Don’t worry. As soon as we hand the marriage contract to Xiao Yan, we’ll leave immediately. The Xiao family is just a small clan—they wouldn’t dare offend the Cloudmist Sect," she replied with conviction.

Lin An nodded silently.
"They wouldn’t dare offend the Cloudmist Sect," he thought. "If only you knew what fate awaited you in the future, you might not speak so lightly."
Still, from the beginning, Nalan Yanran had done nothing wrong. Lin An felt it wouldn’t hurt to help her.
Not to mention, Xiao Yan possessed a storage ring with the still-unconscious Master Yao inside.
Lin An had been pondering how to find a reason to accompany Nalan Yanran to Wutan City before Master Yao awoke.
After all, as a new member of the Cloudmist Sect, it would otherwise be impossible for him to leave the mountain.
Now that Nalan Yanran had come to him herself, Lin An was more than willing.
"Don’t worry, I’ll play my part well," Lin An promised with a smile.
"Thank you, Brother Lin!" Nalan Yanran replied joyfully.
"It’s nothing. When do we set out?" Lin An asked.
"In ten days. I’ll come find you," Nalan Yanran replied.
After that, the two began their training.
Lin An practiced the Soaring Dragon Movement, an intermediate Profound-rank body technique he had found in the Cloudmist Sect’s library.
From their last sparring match, Lin An had realized how important a good movement technique was for a martial artist.
After less than ten days of training, he’d already mastered the Soaring Dragon Movement.
Meanwhile, Nalan Yanran came and went, seemingly busy with her own affairs.
On the eve of their departure, Nalan Yanran brought Lin An a set of luxurious clothes. Since she was going to meet her so-called fiancé, she naturally wanted to make a proper impression.
"Elder Ge Ye will accompany us to Wutan City. You don’t need to worry about anything else—just play your role in front of Xiao Yan," Nalan Yanran explained his duties.
Lin An nodded.
When he had washed and changed into the clothes Nalan Yanran provided, even she was momentarily stunned by his transformation.
It was true what they said: the clothes make the man.
Previously, Lin An had always worn his training attire, never paying attention to his appearance. Yet even then, in Nalan Yanran’s eyes, he was already more striking than most disciples of the sect.
Now, he seemed almost like a different person.

Lin An noticed Nalan Yanran staring and cleared his throat.
She snapped back to herself, cheeks burning with embarrassment.
It was the first time she had ever lost her composure like that, especially in front of her junior.
Her face was thoroughly lost.
"At dawn tomorrow, I’ll come for you. Don’t forget!"
With that, Nalan Yanran fled the scene.
A few passing disciples of the Cloudmist Sect witnessed her, and soon rumors began to spread: Nalan Yanran had fallen for Lin An, and perhaps even more…
Qian Qixian, after much effort, had finally broken through to become a two-star Fighter, and felt on top of the world.
Even without being the Sect Master’s disciple, few dared provoke him, for his grandfather was a highly influential elder within the Cloudmist Sect.
Now that he’d reached the two-star Fighter realm, he’d heard that Nalan Yanran had also recently broken through to the same level.
"Indeed, among the younger generation, only I, Qian Qixian, am worthy of being Nalan Yanran’s man," Qian Qixian declared confidently.
"Brother Qian, you might be mistaken. Haven’t you heard the recent rumors?"
A fellow disciple reminded him.
"What rumors?" Qian Qixian asked, puzzled.
Lin An… Even if he was the Sect Master’s disciple, Qian Qixian didn’t consider him a threat.
"I heard Junior Sister Nalan has already…"
"Impossible! How could she fall for someone without power or status? Where is Lin An? I’ll settle old and new scores with him!"
"Unfortunately, he left early this morning with Junior Sister Nalan to descend the mountain."
…