Battle Through the Heavens: Oh no, I've become the succubus Xiao Yan!

After the start of spring, Xiao Yan went to see Xiao Zhan and his mother.

"Father, Mother, I want to go to the Monster Mountain Range first, and then to the Tagor Desert."

Xiao Zhan was handling family affairs in his study when he heard this, and he paused for a moment.

Xiao's mother was also very surprised, and her eyes immediately reddened.

"The Monster Mountain Range? The Tagor Desert? Why are you in such a hurry to get out?" Xiao's mother asked, puzzled.

"Mother. Utan City is too small. I need stronger opponents and a wider world. The Monster Mountain Range has a place where I need to hone my skills, and the Tagor Desert has what I need."

Xiao Zhan put down his pen and looked at Xiao Yan. The fifteen-year-old boy stood before the table, his gaze calm, but there was something familiar in his eyes—the same restlessness, the same yearning for adventure, as in his own youth. But he lacked Xiao Yan's talent and strength.

"Yan'er, you're only fifteen." Xiao Zhan was a little worried. Xiao's mother was also watching with concern from the side.

"I know," Xiao Yan said, "but a fifteen-year-old Great Dou Master has no rivals in Wutan City. Staying here any longer is a waste of time."

Moreover, I had actually reached the Dou Ling level, but Xiao Yan did not tell Xiao Zhan, since the news of becoming a Da Dou Shi had already made Xiao Zhan speechless for days.

Xiao Zhan fell silent.

He wasn't unaware of this principle. But he was still a father.

He recalled Xiao Yan's childhood—at seven years old, he had reached the seventh level of Dou Qi, shocking the entire city. Back then, he held Xiao Yan in his arms, feeling that this child would definitely be extraordinary in the future. Later, Xiao Yan broke through step by step—Dou Zhe, Dou Shi, Da Dou Shi—each step filled him with pride, but also filled him with worry.

The stronger you are, the further you can go. From now on, Xiao Yan will have to walk his own path; his family cannot offer him any help.

Are you going alone?

"Um."

Xiao Zhan remained silent for a long time.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he only said, "Go. But remember, the Xiao family will always be your home. Be careful."

"Yan'er, take good care of yourself while you're away." Although Xiao's mother was reluctant to part with him, she knew that Xiao Yan would eventually leave home.

Xiao Zhan stood up, walked to Xiao Yan, and patted him on the shoulder. The pat was heavy, as if he wanted to transfer his strength to him. His hand lingered on Xiao Yan's shoulder for a long time before slowly releasing it.

Xiao Yan noticed that his father's eyes were slightly red.

"Father, I will come back. Mother, you and Father don't need to worry about me too much when you're at home." Xiao Yan's voice was a little choked up.

"I know, be careful and watch your step." Xiao Zhan turned around, his back to Xiao Yan. "Go on, but don't embarrass the Xiao family when you're out there."

Xiao Yan's mother hugged him tightly and gave him a series of detailed instructions. After all, a mother worries when her son travels far. Xiao Yan nodded and said he would be careful and keep a low profile while he was away.

  

---

Over the next few days, Xiao Yan began preparing for his trip.

First, there were the pills. He spent three days refining a batch, sorting them by quality—high-grade Qi-Nourishing Pills and Foundation-Strengthening Pills for Xiao Zhan, Fire-Condensing Pills for Xiao Ding, and Ice-Heart Pills for Xiao Li. Enough for them for a year. He also prepared a large quantity of low-grade pills for the Xiao family's daily use and sale, enough to last until Xiao Yan returned.

Then Xiao Yan went to the Mittel Auction House to find Ya Fei.

Ya Fei was reviewing the accounts in her office at the Mittel Auction House. Upon hearing the news of Xiao Yan's impending departure, she paused, her pen pausing.

"Are you leaving?"

"Go to the Monster Mountains, then the Tagor Desert."

"Alone? Do you really have to leave?"

"Yes. I have a reason to go."

Ya Fei put down her pen and looked at Xiao Yan. Her expression softened unconsciously compared to usual.

"Don't worry about the supply of medicinal herbs," she said. "I'll continue receiving the goods as usual while you're away. I'll also keep an eye on your 'senior's' elixir supply chain for you."

"Thanks, Sister Yafei."

Yafei took a letter from the drawer and handed it over: "If you need help outside, just find someone from the Mittel family and take this letter."

Xiao Yan reached out and took the letter—their fingers touched.

Ya Fei did not shrink back.

Instead, he grabbed Xiao Yan's hand and they interlocked their fingers.

Xiao Yan was surprised that Ya Fei was suddenly so bold.

"You owe me a favor," she said, looking into Xiao Yan's eyes, "and you'll pay it back slowly in the future. Don't forget it."

"must."

Xiao Yan hugged Ya Fei tightly and whispered in her ear.

Ya Fei's body stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, resting her head in Xiao Yan's arms. The two hugged like that for a while until someone knocked on the door. Only then did Xiao Yan reluctantly let go.

Xiao Yan looked at Ya Fei's delicate face, which was flushed with a hint of allure. "I will come back safely. I'll come back to find you."

Ya Fei's lips curled slightly as she watched Xiao Yan turn and leave. After taking a few steps, Xiao Yan turned back and hugged Ya Fei again.

She smiled and watched Xiao Yan's figure, holding the letter, disappear at the end of the corridor.

---

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li reacted very differently after hearing the news.

Xiao Ding frowned: "Going to the Monster Mountain Range alone? That's too dangerous."

"Don't worry, big brother. I can beat him. Don't you know my strength?"

Xiao Ding glanced at him, wanting to refute, but then swallowed his words when he thought of Xiao Yan's Dou Ling cultivation.

"Then be careful."

Xiao Li was straightforward: "Third brother, bring me back plenty of monster cores and treasures!"

"OK."

"You keep your word!"

"You keep your word."

Xiao Ding looked at Xiao Li with annoyance, unsure whether he was carefree or too confident in Xiao Yan's strength.

Xiao Ding thinks both are correct.

---

When Xiao Mei came to see Xiao Yan, she didn't do it secretly.

She walked directly in front of Xiao Yan, put her hands behind her back, and looked up at him.

"Cousin, are you really leaving?"

"Um."

Xiao Mei took out a packet of osmanthus cakes from her pocket—wrapped in oil paper, still warm.

"I made this, I didn't buy it. Take it with you."

Xiao Yan took it, unfolded the oil paper and glanced at it—the osmanthus cake was crooked and twisted, clearly the first time he had made it.

"Why did it turn out like this this time?"

"Don't be disgusted!" Xiao Mei blushed, "I... my hands were shaking when I was making it, and several batches were ruined."

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Thank you."

Xiao Mei mustered her courage and took a deep breath: "Cousin, come back soon."

Then he turned and ran. After a few steps, he turned back—

"You must finish the osmanthus cake! Don't throw it away!"

Xiao Yan watched her retreating figure and put the osmanthus cake into his storage ring.

The old man said from inside the ring, "Another one."

"Master—"

I'm stating the facts.

---

It was already evening when Xiao Yu came to find Xiao Yan.

She stood at the entrance to the courtyard, arms crossed, in her usual posture. But Xiao Yan noticed that her eyes were a little red—not like she had just cried, but more like she had been holding back for a long time.

"Xiao Yan".

"cousin."

Xiao Yu walked in and sat down on the stone bench. Instead of teasing him as usual, she remained silent for a while.

"Are you leaving?"

"Um."

Xiao Yu lowered her head, looking at her fingers. Her nails were cut very short, and there were thin calluses on her knuckles from practicing swordsmanship.

"I'm leaving soon too," she suddenly said. "Canaan Academy has an admissions office in Utan City this year, and I'm going there."

Xiao Yan was a little surprised but also thought it made sense: "You're going to Canaan Academy?"

"Yes. Xiao Ning is going too. He's been saying he wanted to go for a while, so I'll go with him." Xiao Yu's tone was as calm as possible, but Xiao Yan could tell that she hadn't made the decision on a whim.

"Canaan Academy is good," Xiao Yan said. "You can access more systematic cultivation resources there."

"I know." Xiao Yu looked up at him. "So if you go to Canaan Academy in the future—"

She paused for a moment, then swallowed the rest of her sentence.

"Never mind, it's nothing."

Xiao Yan looked at her. Xiao Yu was a person who was stubborn but soft-hearted, and never spoke her mind completely. But for her to take the initiative to come to him today and say something like "I'm leaving soon too" was already quite remarkable.

"Cousin," Xiao Yan said, "see you at Canaan Academy."

Xiao Yu was stunned for a moment, then the corners of her mouth turned up slightly—not the usual smile she gave Xiao Yan when she teased him, but a genuine smile of happiness.

"You'd better not keep me waiting too long."

She stood up, walked to the door, paused, and didn't turn back.

"...Be careful on the road."

The voice was very soft, but Xiao Yan heard it.

---

When Xun'er came to find Xiao Yan, it was already dark.

She didn't cry, but her eyes were red.

Xiao Yan sat down next to her.

The two sat quietly for a while.

Then Xun'er took out a bracelet from her sleeve—made of red silk thread with a small firestone strung on it.

"I made this," she said softly, "you take it with you."

Xiao Yan took the bracelet and put it on his wrist. The firestone felt slightly warm against his skin.

Xun'er grasped Xiao Yan's hand—her fingers were cool, but her grip was tight.

"Brother Xiao Yan, I'll wait for you to come back. No matter how long it takes."

"Xun'er, when I become stronger, I will go to the ancient clan to pick you up."

Xun'er hummed in agreement, leaned on Xiao Yan's shoulder, and sat quietly for a long time.

The moon rose, its silvery light spilling into the courtyard. Xun'er's breathing gradually became even—she had fallen asleep, leaning on Xiao Yan's shoulder.

Xiao Yan did not move.

As the night breeze cooled, he gently picked up Xun'er and carried her back to her room. Xun'er, still half asleep, clung to his sleeve, refusing to let go.

"Don't go..."

Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment, then sat down on the edge of the bed. Xun'er immediately leaned in, buried her face in his chest, and gripped his clothes tightly with her hands.

Xiao Yan sighed and gently pulled her into his arms.

Xun'er was small, nestled in his arms like a kitten. Her hair brushed against Xiao Yan's chin, her breathing even and warm.

"Brother Xiao Yan..." she called out in her dream.

Xiao Yan didn't say anything, but simply hugged her a little tighter.

The moonlight outside the window was like water, shining on the two figures sleeping in each other's arms.

Xiao Yan didn't sleep at all. He just held Xun'er in his arms, listening to her breathing, until the sky began to lighten.

He gently released Xun'er and tucked her in. Xun'er turned over, hugged her pillow, and smiled, as if she were having a sweet dream.

Xiao Yan glanced at her tenderly and quietly slipped out.