198 Xiao Yan, I Hate You!

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--- Chapter 195 ---

The Bodhisattva Ancient Tree has brought the floating island away.

Baek Ain activated his Origin Ashen Eyes and spread his spatial strength over the atmosphere, sensing countless people falling from the sky. He was searching for someone in particular.

'Oh, I thought he would be hiding somewhere.'

'But it seems the protagonist will always be the protagonist.'

In the sky, a black-robed youth descended with a pair of fiery wings and approached the Pill Tower swiftly. If one doesn't have sharp sense, one could only see a white-robed man as the youth-only companion.

However, if one has sharp senses or innate ocular powers, one should see a ghostly female cultivator beside the youth.

Baek Ain glanced at Gu Xun'er and thought about something for a moment.

If he recalls correctly, he has a quest related to Gu Xun'er and Xiao Yan.

[Name: Heroine, Open your eyes!]

[Objective: Destroy Xiao Yan's image in Gu Xun'er heart]

[Reward: Bodhisattva's Heart x3, Bodhisattva's Seed x15, Perk: Protagonist Halo's Nullification(Upgradeable)]

[Failure: Unknown]

"Hmm..." Baek Ain rubbed his chin. From the looks of it, Baek Ain doesn't have to do anything for this quest.

One might wonder, How?

Xiao Yan's image is already low enough for Gu Xun'er to despise him. It was 'actually' proven by the state of Gu Xun'er after finishing the Bodhisatta Ancient Tree's trials.

The question is, how low is Gu Xun'er feeling toward Xiao Yan?

'Alicia, how does the Perk actually work?'

[Phew, you finally let me speak] Alicia sighed in relief.

[Well, to answer your question... It works like an invisible aura around you]

[As you know, the Protagonist always has ridiculous-level luck and aura that makes other people dumber for no reason. The Protagonist Halo's Nullification negated those effects]

[Of course, it varies from Protagonist to Protagonist]

[Some Protagonist Halo is more powerful than others, after all]

'Then, how strong is Xiao Yan's Protagonist Halo?'

[About that, since this world is only an alternative version of the original molded by the Goddess of Opportunity's influence. The Protagonist Halo shouldn't be too strong] Alicia answered tactfully.

'Can you put it in numerical value, or maybe grade it?' Baek Ain wanted to make things simpler.

[I can do that, but we should wait until he is close enough]

'How close are we speaking?'

[Ten, no. Seven meters is enough]

Meanwhile, the other Dou Saints in the area also sensed Xiao Yan and his two companions' arrival. They frowned deeply, especially Gu Yuan.

Even though Xiao Yan covered himself in a black cloth, how could he possibly hide his identity from the powerhouses of this world? He's courting death by approaching them.

Gu Xun'er clutched Baek Ain's sleeve and stared at the black-robed youth gravely. She could sense a familiar aura from him, but not in a good way.

This familiar aura saddened her once-broken heart.

'Ain, what should we do?' Lan Rou asked with [Parasitic Telepathy].

'Yeah, I don't know why, but this fellow's aura makes me want to beat him to a pulp.' Yi Xian added bizarrely. Something about the black-robed youth irked her for some reason.

Qing Lin didn't say anything, but one could see a menacing glint in her green eyes.

Xiao Yan immediately sensed the unfriendly and heavy atmosphere upon his arrival. He couldn't help but grit his teeth and clench his hand.

He calmed himself down, descending toward Gu Xun'er.

"Xun'er." He called her in the warmest way possible.

Gu Xun'er emotionally shook as she lifted her head, staring at Xiao Yan's kind eyes.

[Processing...]

[Calculating Numerical Value]

Baek Ain heard Alicia's voice in his head.

"W-What do you want..." Gu Xun'er stared at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan's expression fell because Gu Xun'er viewed him as an outsider from how she spoke. He didn't like this.

Before Xiao Yan could salvage the situation, Gu Yuan stepped forward and sent a powerful strike at him.

BOOM!

The mysterious female ghost created a barrier and blocked the attack, causing Gu Yuan and other leaders of Ancient Clans to frown slightly.

"You are quite brave to come here, brat..." Gu Yuan said indifferently.

"You have caused a lot of trouble for my Gu Clan, and you still dare to approach Xun'er! As her father, who do you think you are!"

Xiao Yan stared at Gu Yuan and responded calmly, "Gu Clan's Patriarch, I know what I've done in the past is sinful. But trust me, there is a reason for it."

"I was in dire need of Medicine that could recover one's soul."

"Gu Clan's Patriarch. Xiao Yan stole the medicine to help me. If you want to blame someone for this matter, you must blame me first." Yao Chen sighed and hovered before Xiao Yan.

Yao Dan recognized this voice and grumbly said, "You're Yao Chen..."

"I thought you died."

Yao Chen laughed and responded humbly, "Hehe... I might not be the strongest person on the Dou Qi Continent, but I have a decent disciple."

"I couldn't die so easily, no?"

"That matter aside, you still hurt Gu Clan by committing shameless burglary." Gu Yuan glared at Xiao Yan.

"I don't care what your intention is."

"You still stole the medicine from us and caused several elders of the Gu Clan to be injured. Some of those elders are even close to deathbed."

"And here you expect me to overlook your wickedness? Do you think Gu Clan is a pushover?" Gu Yuan released immense pressure on the area. A storm is brewing because of this act alone.

BOOM!

Yao Chen's expression turned solemn.

"Xiao Yan, I think we should retreat first... The situation will be more dangerous if we stay, as there is no room for discussion right now."

Xiao Yan shook his head stubbornly and said, "No!"

"Just let me talk with Xun'er."

"I can clear the misunderstanding, and everything will be okay."

[Bruh, this guy is delusional] Alicia suddenly commented in disbelief.

'Have you finished it?' Baek Ain asked.

[Yes]

[Here, see it for yourself]

Baek Ain blinked his eyes and mumbled in amusement, "What a surprise..."

[Name: Xiao Yan]

[Cultivation Realm: 10th Star Dou Venerate]

[Protagonist Halo: 9000 points]

[Description: The Protagonist of Alternative Battle Through the Heaven, who possesses low-grade world luck]

Xiao Yan pulled out a pendant and screamed, "Xun'er! Do you still remember this pendant!"

"I wanted to give this to you back in Wu Tan City."

Gu Xun'er bit her lips and saw a green pendant with melancholy.

Xiao Yan was delighted when he saw Gu Xun'er still remembering this pendant and continued, "Please forgive me... I know what I've done is nearly unforgivable."

"Just give me one more chance."

"Let's talk this out, okay?" He smiled at her.

"You bastard!" Gu Yuan couldn't believe the audacity of this brat. He wanted to sway his daughter with those sweet words!

'Calm down, Patriarch Gu.' Baek Ain's voice entered Gu Yuan's ears.

Gu Yuan breathed in and gave Baek Ain a doubtful look, 'But...'

Baek Ain smiled reassuringly and replied, 'Xun'er is a strong girl, so she should be able to differentiate between wrong and right. Don't tell me you forgot that she passed the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree's Trials?'

'She has gone through a lot. So she can decide for herself.'

'I... Very well.' Gu Yuan wanted to refute Baek Ain's claim. However, he could only agree with him in this situation.

Gu Xun'er stood beside Baek Ain and said, "Teacher, I..."

"Go." Baek Ain patted Gu Xun'er on the shoulder. "Whatever choice you make, I will support you."

"After all, you're my precious disciple."

Xiao Yan frowned inwardly at Baek Ain and thought, 'Who is this guy?'

Gu Xun'er patted her chest and slowly hovered toward Xiao Yan, making her father worry a little.

"Okay, let's talk."

Xiao Yan extended his hand and replied, "I know you would listen to me, Xun'er."

Xiao Yan and Gu Xun'er went to the other part of the Pill Tower, talking to each other. Everyone listened to their conversation silently.

"Xun'er, who is that man?" Xiao Yan asked while giving Baek Ain a side-eye.

Gu Xun'er narrowed her eyes and answered calmly, "He's my teacher. He taught me how to be a refiner."

"Refiner?" Xiao Yan's eyes widened in surprise.

The Refiners are like alchemists, but to Xiao Yan's knowledge, they are rarer because the Artifact Refining Technique has long gone in the Dou Qi Continent.

"I see..."

"It's good to have a teacher."

He tried to grab her hand and coughed gently, "Ehem, Xun'er... I watched you and others enter the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree a while ago, so you should get that treasure, right?"

"What do you mean?" Gu Xun'er responded solemnly.

Her expression darkened as she expected Xiao Yan to ask about her well-being, not this. She doesn't like where Xiao Yan is going.

Xiao Yan laughed awkwardly, "Well, I just wanted to know if you get the Bodhisattva's Heart or Seed."

"If you do, can you please give it to me?"

"I need it to reach Half-Saint Realm..."

"W-What?" Gu Xun'er released her hand from Xiao Yan's grip and gazed at him in dread. "S-So, you wanted to talk to me just for that..."

"I thought you care about me more?"

"No, no, I do care for you, Xun'er." Xiao Yan said with a heavy tone. "But Bodhisattva's Heart and Seed is more important at the moment! Without them, I couldn't break through."

"Please?"

"It's fine if you don't have them, but can you tell me who has them?" Xiao Yan wanted to grasp her hand again.

PA!

Gu Xun'er slapped Xiao Yan's hand away.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"I should know better..."

"Cultivation Resources is more important..."

"You never care about me!"

"You're a bastard who only cares about yourself! You egoistic scum!"

PA!

She lunged forward and slapped Xiao Yan's cheek, imprinting a red palm imprint on him.

"Xiao Yan, I Hate You!" She cried out loud.

[Ding! You have completed the 'Heroine, Open your eyes!' quest]