Let Me Explain, Fairy

"Hahaha... Xu Changtian! What a difference three days can make. I was dispatched to the Northern Barbarians for just three months, and by the time I return home, you've stirred up such a good mess. Impressive, you! Now you've even dared to lay a hand on the granddaughter of Marquis Wucheng, haven't you?! Ying'er, help me get the whip, the thickest one!"

"...." Xu Yuan.

With these scenes flashing through his mind, Xu Yuan remained silent and speechless.

Xu Changge was ten years older than Xu Changtian. With their father preoccupied with affairs of the Imperial Court, it was primarily his elder brother Xu Changge who had raised him since childhood.

However, this elder brother's method of education was rather simple and crude.

If he said he would beat you, he really would—the type that beat you to within an inch of your life.

Memories belonging to Xu Changtian continued to surface in his mind, and Xu Yuan could distinctly feel his emotions being influenced by the other party.

He didn't want this,

But at the moment, aside from silently accepting it, he had no other solution.

As the memories stretched on,

just as Xu Yuan was about to complete the Blood Essence Meteoring Art, his mind suddenly went blank.

The lingering memories from before seemed to be instantly wiped clean.

While Xu Yuan was puzzled,

a sword appeared in his consciousness.

A sword that seemed to pierce through the entirety of Tianmen Mountain.

But as quickly as the sword appeared, it also faded, vanishing almost in the blink of an eye from his consciousness.....

....

....

With the cultivation technique complete, Xu Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

The memories remained, but those emotions had already dissipated.

Yet, what was that sword that appeared in his mind at the end?

His gaze flickering, Xu Yuan suddenly recalled the sword intent he had sensed while gazing at Tianmen from the cliff.

He hadn't thought deeply about it at the time due to pressing matters, but upon reflection, he found many incongruities.

The appearance of that sword in his mind was most likely due to that gaze.

But why?

The gateway on Tianmen Mountain had been in existence for at least ten thousand years, witnessed by countless people. So why did this opportunity present itself to him?

After much thought, the only difference Xu Yuan could identify was that he did not belong to this world.

Could it be that only the will-spirit of a transmigrator could sense the sword intent that had persisted for ten thousand years?

This reasoning was a bit abstract.

Unable to make sense of it, Xu Yuan decided to let the matter rest for now.

And at that moment,

Ran Qingmo's voice softly reached him from his side:

"The formation outside has dissipated; they are coming."

Xu Yuan glanced at her and reached for the Blood Essence Meteoring Art on the jade bed, his tone indifferent:

"I see."

While speaking,

he activated the cultivation technique, delicate threads of crimson Origin Qi emerging from between his fingers, winding around him.

The next moment,

flames ignited, and the solitary copy of the Blood Essence Meteoring Art along with that secret technique vanished from the world.

Like the "Ice Cloud Step" in Ran Qingmo's cultivation technique, the Blood Essence Meteoring Art came with many uses, and the flames before him were one of them.

Having dealt with the potentially identity-exposing stolen goods,

he donned the blood-red robe of blood jade and glass, then began methodically taking stock of everything useful in the cave.

Slipping the Sumeru Ring onto his index finger, he collected both the jade bed and the Spiritual Spring into the ring.

After a pause,

Xu Yuan gave the Luminous Pearls on the stone wall a look, and with a smooth motion, also placed them into the ring.

For a moment,

the cave plunged into complete darkness.

Untroubled by the darkness, Xu Yuan began to sit cross-legged and attempted to cultivate.

He was somewhat eager to experience the speed at which the Innate Taoist Body cultivated.

And when his will-spirit spread out, he immediately noticed the difference.

Unlike the previous sensation of just a few clusters of "Qi," at that moment, with his will-spirit's sensitivity, Xu Yuan felt as though he was enveloped by a boundless sea of Qi.....

Xu Yuan was unaware,

that Ran Qingmo's clear, tranquil eyes had been quietly watching him in the darkness, her expression carrying a hint of hesitance.

Time silently slipped by,

and suddenly,

"Um..."

Hearing the voice, Xu Yuan slowly opened his eyes and looked towards Ran Qingmo.

"My name is Ran Qingmo." Ran Qingmo.

"....."

Xu Yuan was somewhat puzzled as to why she would say this.

Although he had been addressing her as Mr. Ran, Xu Yuan remembered that he had already mentioned her name back at the temple.

He gave a slight nod:

"I know."

After finishing speaking, he closed his eyes again.

After a pause of about ten seconds,

Xu Yuan opened his eyes once more, and infusing his eyes with Origin Qi, he indeed noticed the woman still gazing intently at him.

He was momentarily taken aback, then quickly realized she was inquiring about his name.

After having spent so much time together, she still did not know his name.

Instinctively he was about to give his own name, but then he stopped short.

His eyes flickered for a moment,

Xu Yuan's gaze slowly lowered, he exhaled, and the corner of his lips curved into a subtle, enigmatic smile:

"My name is...

"Xu Changtian."