Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

And so, Xie Xiaoyan decided to run far, far away.

’I’ll go to the Baihua Sect! If I can recover my strength there, then fine. But if I’m destined to remain powerless, then... even if it means sacrificing the entire Xie Family, I will spread the news that Ling Xiao killed two Outer Hall People from the Baihua Sect!’

However, she was now just a helpless woman. How could finding a hidden family like the Baihua Sect be easy? All Xie Xiaoyan had heard was that the Baihua Sect was located somewhere in the Vantia Mountain Range, in the northern part of the Zichuan Empire.

Fortunately, she still had her stunningly beautiful face and an intellect that surpassed the ordinary. These were Xie Xiaoyan’s final assets.

Before her family could learn of her scandal, she visited a Xie Family business establishment in the Imperial Capital and withdrew a large sum of money. For the Xie Family’s "genius girl," taking out some cash was a trivial matter.

Once her preparations were complete, Xie Xiaoyan posted a notice at the Adventurer’s Guild, looking for people to protect her on a journey into the Vantia Mountain Range. For a simple escort mission, Xie Xiaoyan offered a reward of five thousand gold coins, with half paid upfront!

For five thousand gold coins, it was a major job, not just for solo Adventurers, but even for a large adventurer’s group!

Thus, Xie Xiaoyan easily found an adventurer’s group of over thirty people. The contract was for six months; if she wished to employ them any longer, she would have to pay extra.

With such a hefty reward, and an employer as stunningly beautiful as Xie Xiaoyan, every man in the adventurer’s group was incredibly excited.

Unexpectedly, however, their journey proved to be incredibly difficult. The Vantia Mountain Range was teeming with countless Magical Beasts of all ranks. Although these Mercenaries were veteran Adventurers, none of them were exceptionally powerful. As a result, after a series of perilous encounters, the group of over thirty had dwindled to just over a dozen.

They finally realized this was not a worthwhile job. Fortunately, the group was honorable. Though they decided to abandon the mission, they made no untoward advances toward Xie Xiaoyan. They even urged her to return with them and offered to waive the rest of their fee.

But how could Xie Xiaoyan possibly agree to go back? For her, this was an all-or-nothing gamble. If she couldn’t succeed, she would rather die in these vast mountains than return to face the pointing fingers and whispers of others. Yet, she never once considered that when she had hurt Ling Xiao so deeply, he, too, must have been subjected to the same treatment.

With no other option, the group of Mercenaries eventually left the Vantia Mountain Range. However, two of the Adventurers had grown fond of Xie Xiaoyan. With a little hinting on her part, they stayed behind, not leaving with the main party.

And so, the three of them continued their search for the Baihua Sect’s location in the mountains of the northern Zichuan Empire.

Along the way, they encountered many adventurer’s groups and heard a great deal about events in the Lanyue Empire. They also heard about the biggest topic of conversation—Ling Xiao.

The former Celestial Vein Master, now the Lord of Penzes City, Viscount Lingxiao... no, Marquis Lingxiao!

Later still, Xie Xiaoyan heard that Ling Xiao’s power was advancing by leaps and bounds, and that Penzes City, in the south of the Lanyue Empire, had completely become his personal fiefdom...

Whenever she heard such news, Xie Xiaoyan would fall into her deepest silences. No one knew what she was thinking in those moments.

Of course, in these vast, uninhabited mountains, you can’t guarantee that everyone you meet will be a kind soul. Xie Xiaoyan possessed a world-toppling beauty, and even though she did her best to conceal it, she inevitably attracted the attention of those with malicious intent.

Her two "Guardian Knights" were slain in just a few exchanges. Just as Xie Xiaoyan was hesitating, wondering if she should use her charms as a honey trap to make her opponents turn on each other...

A figure descended from the heavens like a god!

Before the men could even beg for mercy, all Xie Xiaoyan saw was a flash of sword light, and then... the world fell silent.

Then, the incredibly handsome and very young man helped the fallen Xie Xiaoyan to her feet like a true gentleman. The moment their eyes met, Xie Xiaoyan keenly caught the look of stunned admiration in his.

Indeed, Xie Xiaoyan was a natural beauty. It was only normal—people are drawn to beautiful things, men to beautiful women, and women to handsome men.

In that single instant, however, a thousand thoughts raced through Xie Xiaoyan’s mind.

’This man... he’s even more valuable than the Baihua Sect!’

Although Xie Xiaoyan was not of noble birth, the Xie Family was still a prominent and powerful one. Her ability to read people was thus quite formidable. With a single glance, she could see the absolute arrogance hidden beneath the young man’s placid exterior.

And his power... it was intoxicating to Xie Xiaoyan.

So, Xie Xiaoyan instantly transformed herself into a helpless maiden, a victim of a marriage alliance, desperate to seek her freedom. Just as she’d hoped, the young man’s admiration for her grew, and he brought her back to his family without a moment’s hesitation.

Furthermore, his every action was proper; he never once overstepped his bounds. As Xie Xiaoyan spent more time living with this family, the Lie Family, she came to realize that they were not just a hidden family, but one of the most powerful of them all... a true super-family!

Xie Xiaoyan felt as if she’d been struck dizzy by a prize that had fallen from the heavens. Not only was this a super-family, but the young man who had saved her and fallen for her was the eldest grandson of the family’s direct lineage!