NOVEL NEXT Chapter 174.1: Intimate Friend
In the Rock Desert City, a handsome woman dressed as a nobleman walked through the streets, holding a folding fan in one hand and a report from the Snake-People Clan in the other.
This person was none other than Yun Ying, who had bid farewell to Xiao Yan in the Rock Desert City.
“No remains?”
With just a glance, Yun Ying could discern the gist of this report.
Setting aside other factors, Xiao Yan had a Nine-Star Dou Huang (Battle Emperor, 7th Level) protecting him; there was no way he could have died here.
In the next moment, Yun Ying understood why Yin Shi would publish such a report.
Then, with a calm expression tinged with disappointment, she remarked, “I thought the only advantage of the Snake-People Clan, as a half-human, half-animal race, was their unity. Now it seems even that advantage is gone.”
Although her tone was disappointed, anyone else listening could easily sense how indifferent Yun Ying was to the unity of the Snake-People Clan.
Not to mention the small Snake-People Clan, even all the countries in the northwest corner of the continent combined couldn’t catch Yun Ying’s eye.
Even the Jia Ma Empire, which the Snake-People Clan had always feared, was just a speck of dust that Yun Ying could wipe away with a wave of her hand.
In this whole affair, the only thing that interested Yun Ying, and the reason she had come to the Rock Desert City in the Jia Ma Empire, was one thing.
That was Xiao Yan.
Yun Ying raised an eyebrow, and the report in her hand suddenly disappeared without a trace.
She lightly opened the folding fan to cover her mouth, her eyes flashing with complex emotions.
After parting ways with Xiao Yan, she had ordered her subordinates to investigate everything about Xiao Yan’s past.
And the final result was exactly the same as what Xiao Yan had told her about his past experiences, without the slightest difference.
Xiao Yan truly adhered to that extremely foolish righteousness in the eyes of ordinary people, even until today.
After confirming that Xiao Yan had not lied, Yun Ying, who was already interested in Xiao Yan, became even more curious.
He wasn’t a hypocrite, nor was he one of those fools who lacked self-awareness and claimed to be on the right path.
Xiao Yan was genuine, wholehearted, and devoted to walking his own path of righteousness, constantly reminding himself to correct any deviation from that path immediately.
At this moment, Yun Ying couldn’t help but introspect.
She thought that after living for thousands of years, she had seen everything, no matter what kind of thing or person it was.
But unexpectedly, she encountered Xiao Yan, such a rare anomaly who hadn’t appeared in thousands of years.
Interesting…
Yun Ying suddenly closed the folding fan, her expression appearing joyful, and a feeling she hadn’t experienced in thousands of years emerged in her heart.
That feeling was excitement.
How interesting!
She was certain that Xiao Yan was, up to this point, the first person to pique her interest like this!
It was even possible that he was the only one!!!
It’s possible that it would take another thousand years to encounter someone like Xiao Yan once more.
Therefore, Yun Ying had come.
She wanted to ensure that Xiao Yan wouldn’t perish because of this incident.
No— not just this time!
Yun Ying made a decision in her heart.
As long as he sticks to the right path, she will ensure he doesn’t die!
She wants to see how far his right path can take him!
Will he give up on the right path halfway through after recognizing the so-called reality?
Or will he persist in the right path despite facing any obstacles, until the end?
If Xiao Yan really goes all the way to the end, what kind of earth-shaking changes will this continent, which has remained unchanged for thousands of years, undergo because of him?
Just thinking about this uncertain future, which even she couldn’t confirm, made Yun Ying’s emotions surge even higher!
She wanted to see, she wanted to see Xiao Yan’s future!
She hadn’t experienced an emotion anything remotely like this in thousands of years!
Although she was so excited inside, Yun Ying quickly calmed down.
She wanted to understand Xiao Yan more.
Therefore, Yun Ying had to continue using this identity.
Thinking of this, Yun Ying couldn’t help but smile.
Originally, she had been interested in Xiao Yan because of the extremely high combat power he had demonstrated, which was far beyond his level.
But now, it seemed that no matter how powerful his strength was, as long as it was compared to the righteousness he had always adhered to, it was insignificant.
Yun Ying chuckled softly to herself and walked towards the direction of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company.
Arriving at the entrance of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company, Yun Ying immediately saw a short-haired woman standing in front of a group of members. Her originally heroic and handsome face was now extremely ferocious, with bloodshot eyes.
Through her intelligence network, Yun Ying recognized this woman.
She was Xiao Yan’s second sister, Xiao Ding, the vice-captain of the Desert Metal Mercenary Company.
And Xiao Ding also noticed someone approaching from the side. With her eyes turning slightly as her neck moved, she saw Yun Ying holding a folding fan.
The two of them stared at each other, silent.
After a while, Xiao Ding spoke slowly, her hoarse voice low.
“Do you have any business here?”
Just by hearing Xiao Ding’s extremely low voice, one could deeply feel how desperate she was at this moment.
She had already… given up on living.
Yun Ying made this judgment in her heart.
Of course, considering the intelligence reports, after Xiao Yan’s mother passed away, it had always been Xiao Li and Xiao Ding, the two sisters, who had taken care of him attentively. Naturally, their bond was extraordinary.
However, Xiao Ding, the second sister, didn’t have the same sharp mind as Xiao Li, the eldest sister. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have believed everything written in the reports.
With this calculation in mind, Yun Ying’s eyes revealed profound sorrow.
She slightly lowered her head towards Xiao Ding and said, “Nice to meet you, Captain Xiao Ding. My name is Yun Ying, and I am a good friend of Master Xiao.”
Master Xiao? Xiao Yan?
This person is a friend of Yan’er?
Xiao Ding suddenly froze, and the despair in her eyes deepened. The feeling of self-blame once again spread in her heart.
“Yan’er… he’s already…”
Xiao Ding couldn’t continue speaking.
Without saying another word, she felt her heart wrenching in pain.
It was she, the second sister, who allowed her younger brother, Xiao Yan, to go to the territory of the Snake-People Clan.
The greatest responsibility for Xiao Yan’s death lay with her.
Xiao Ding’s fists clenched tightly.
If it had been the eldest sister, she definitely wouldn’t have allowed him to go.
I shouldn’t have… believed him…
Seeing Xiao Ding’s emotions plummet to the lowest depths, Yun Ying’s eyes flickered with a glimmer of light, and she said slowly.
“I’ve seen the reports about Master Xiao’s situation,” Yun Ying said, sighing deeply, not genuinely from the heart. “Please, accept my condolences.”
Then, Yun Ying’s expression became serious, and she continued.
“I have an unpleasant request, which I hope Captain Xiao Ding will agree to.”
“What?”
Xiao Ding looked at Yun Ying with some confusion, and Yun Ying answered promptly.