People in Doupo: The beginning of the game intercepts the rich woman Xun'er

The courtyard behind Lingyue Peak was shrouded in morning mist. Along the path paved with blue bricks, clusters of irises unfurled their pale purple petals, and dewdrops refracted into tiny silver light.

Several ancient cypress trees, some over a thousand years old, stand tall and vigorous, with emerald green vines twining around their branches. When the wind blows, the leaves rustle, mingling with the clear sound of a mountain spring in the distance, creating a serene atmosphere throughout the courtyard.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees and the lingering fragrance of medicinal pills. Taking a deep breath, one could feel one's fighting spirit flowing smoothly.

At the end of the courtyard, in the open square, the bluestone ground has been polished smooth by time, gleaming with a cold luster.

A streak of azure light suddenly pierced through the morning mist. Mu Qingluan, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, moved with the agility of an arrow released from a bow. Her fighting spirit surged around her, and the azure halo outlined her dashing figure.

Having just broken through to the Dou Zun realm, her aura was still somewhat immature, yet it already carried a sharp edge. Her palm strike, imbued with the pressure of the Heavenly Phoenix bloodline, slashed fiercely towards Xiao Ling, who was not far away.

"Senior brother, take my move!" the girl shouted, her voice clear and melodious like a nightingale's song. As her palms danced, countless cyan battle qi condensed into a phantom of a phoenix, screeching as it pounced on Xiao Ling. The fierce attack caused ripples to spread through the surrounding air.

Xiao Ling stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his lips, his expression remaining calm in the face of such an attack.

When the phantom of the phoenix was almost within reach, he slowly raised his palm, his fingertips swirling with fighting spirit. With a seemingly casual flick, a gentle yet powerful force spread out.

With a muffled thud, the illusory image of the azure phoenix instantly dissipated, transforming into countless specks of battle aura.

"The control over the power of a Dou Zun realm cultivator is not precise enough; the force is too scattered."

Xiao Ling's voice was gentle, but his figure flickered like a ghost, dodging Mu Qingluan's successive attacks. At the same time, he flicked his finger, and a gentle stream of battle qi landed on her wrist.

"Try to condense your fighting spirit at the edge of your palm and compress it to unleash even greater destructive power."

Upon hearing this, Mu Qingluan immediately adjusted her breathing, her azure battle qi became even more condensed, and her attack became even more swift.

However, Xiao Ling's figure remained as leisurely as if he were strolling in a garden, and no matter which angle she attacked from, he could easily neutralize it.

He occasionally raised his hand to counterattack. His moves seemed simple, but he always managed to exploit Mu Qingluan's weaknesses, forcing her to retreat repeatedly. She could only respond hastily and barely manage to defend herself.

The roar of clashing battle qi echoed across the square, with cyan streams of light intertwining with the faint golden battle qi surrounding Xiao Ling. Hundreds of collisions took place in just half an hour.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Mu Qingluan's forehead, her breathing gradually became rapid, her originally fierce attacks became somewhat scattered, and her face flushed, clearly indicating that she was at her limit.

"Bang!" In another fierce clash, Mu Qingluan was forced back by Xiao Ling's palm strike. She stumbled and could no longer support herself, collapsing onto the cold bluestone ground.

She raised her hand to wipe away the sweat, her chest heaving violently, her hair plastered messily to her cheeks, panting heavily as she waved her hand: "I can't... I have no strength left!"

She rubbed her sore arms and then subconsciously touched her pert buttocks, which were still burning with pain.

Feeling the soreness in her muscles and that indescribable burning sensation, Mu Qingluan's cheeks instantly flushed. She glared at the composed Xiao Ling not far away and scolded him playfully.

"Senior brother, you went too far! I'm in pain all over, it's awful!"

While complaining aloud, she secretly thought to herself, "My senior brother is so mean. He always teases me on purpose, touching me inappropriately every time, making it impossible for me to concentrate and causing me to embarrass myself repeatedly. It's practically cheating."

Facing Mu Qingluan's coquettish complaints, Xiao Ling seemed not to hear them, his lips still holding that gentle yet sly smile as he slowly walked towards her.

“I’m helping you hone your combat experience, so naturally I can’t hold back.” He stopped in front of the girl, his voice deep and magnetic, with an undeniable seriousness. “If you don’t suffer a little, how can the flaws in your battle qi circulation be exposed? If you don’t polish away these hidden dangers, when you encounter a real strong enemy in the future, it won’t just be a sore body.”

As he spoke, he slowly squatted down, looking at Mu Qingluan who was slumped on the ground at eye level, his smile almost overflowing: "Moreover, I will help you heal all the injuries and bumps on your body, and I guarantee that you will not have any sequelae. I can even use this treatment to help you further consolidate the foundation of your Dou Zun realm."

The moment he finished speaking, a faint blue light appeared on Xiao Ling's palm, emanating a rich life force that was gentle yet extremely penetrating.

Before Mu Qingluan could react, Xiao Ling's hand gently slipped under the hem of her outfit, his warm palm touching the girl's smooth and delicate skin, bringing a reassuring warmth as it slowly began to wander.

"Mmm..." The sudden skin-to-skin contact made Mu Qingluan's delicate body stiffen, and then she couldn't help but tremble slightly.

Xiao Ling's palm applied just the right amount of force, instantly relieving the sore muscles and calming the chaotic fighting spirit within her body, much like a guided stream. However, the distinct sensation caused her cheeks to flush bright red, and even her ears to burn.

She instinctively tried to shrink back, but Xiao Ling gently pressed her shoulder with his other hand. She could only open her large, watery almond-shaped eyes, glaring at him with a mixture of shyness and reproach, her voice barely audible: "Senior brother... couldn't you... couldn't you treat me through my clothes? This is too..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling raised an eyebrow, blinked seriously, and spoke in a very earnest tone.
"What do you know? Healing requires the connection of breath and precise application of force. Through clothing, the transmission of energy will be greatly reduced, so how can you achieve the best effect? ​​If the force is not controlled properly, it may damage your meridians. I can't bear to let my good junior sister take that risk."

As he spoke, his hands continued to move slowly, his fingertips bringing a tingling sensation as they brushed against her skin. Life energy seeped into her muscles like a trickle, not only repairing her fatigue but also stirring a strange flutter in the girl's heart, making her breath quicken.

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. The pale blue light mark on Xiao Ling's palm gradually faded. He sent the last wisp of energy into her body, squeezed her again, and then slowly withdrew his hand from Mu Qingluan's clothes.

The lingering smoothness on my palms mingled with the sweet fragrance emanating from the girl, lingering around my nose.

At this moment, Mu Qingluan was no longer the dashing figure she had been during their sparring session. Her body was weak and limp, as if all her muscles and bones had been removed. She collapsed into Xiao Ling's arms, her cheeks flushed with an intoxicating blush, and even her neck was tinged with a faint pink.

Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, like startled butterfly wings, and she dared not lift them. Her moist almond-shaped eyes were veiled with a misty haze, carrying a hint of bewilderment and shyness. Yet, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly, revealing a subtle and charming innocence.

Feeling the warm breath and slightly flushed skin of the person in his arms, Xiao Ling looked down at her submissive appearance, his smile deepening. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself; this little girl seemed to have reached her limit. The two lingered in the courtyard for a long time until the sun gradually began to set, before finally stepping hand in hand into the pavilion deep within the courtyard.

On the pavilion paved with bluestone, exquisite tea sets were already laid out. Boiling water was poured into the purple clay teapot, and the aroma of tea rose gently, mingling with the fragrance of the phoenix flowers in the courtyard, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Xiao Ling poured tea, the pale green tea swirling in the white porcelain cup. Mu Qingluan nestled beside him, her cheeks still flushed, sipping the tea with a look of contentment in her eyes.

Just then, a slender figure strode across the courtyard path, her blue skirt fluttering in the wind—it was Qing Lin.

She walked briskly to the outside of the pavilion, smiled sweetly at Xiao Ling, and said in a clear, bell-like voice, "Young Master, someone wants to visit you."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling raised an eyebrow, paused in her tea-pouring motion, and a hint of curiosity flashed in her eyes: "Oh? Who is it? Is there something urgent?"

"It's that Miss Nalan Yanran. She said she wanted to visit you, Young Master. I just bumped into her at the mountain gate. She's still waiting outside the barrier. Would you like me to bring her in, Young Master?"

Qinglin recalled what had just happened and answered truthfully.

"However, I noticed that he looked very anxious at the time, so I suppose he had something urgent to discuss with you, young master."

"Nalan Yanran?" Upon hearing this name, a hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Ling's eyes.

Counting the days, many years have passed since I brought Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran, and Yafei to Xingyun Pavilion to develop.

Thanks to Xiao Ling's casual act of kindness back then, Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran, and Ya Fei's development in Xingyun Pavilion has been quite smooth.

Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran, with their impressive cultivation and interpersonal skills, both rose to the ranks of stewards of the Starfall Pavilion.

On weekdays, they take on various tasks issued by the pavilion or handle complicated affairs inside and outside the sect in exchange for abundant cultivation resources, and their cultivation is steadily improving.

Nalan Yanran was particularly outstanding. She was already exceptionally talented, and with her diligent cultivation over the years, her strength had improved by leaps and bounds. Coupled with her beautiful and otherworldly appearance, she rose to fame among the younger generation of Xingyun Pavilion, attracting the admiration of many young male disciples. They offered her love and made invitations one after another. However, she was proud and always concerned about cultivation and sect affairs. So far, no one had been able to catch her eye or win her heart.

In contrast, while Ya Fei's talent in cultivation was not as outstanding as Yun Yun's or Nalan Yanran's, she possessed an astonishing talent in business and resource management.

After learning about her management talent, Feng Xian did not keep her in the core area of ​​Xingyun Pavilion, but instead assigned her to the bustling commercial area under the jurisdiction of Xingyun Pavilion to manage resource coordination and trade.

As expected, Ya Fei lived up to expectations. With her keen business sense, smooth interpersonal skills, and outstanding negotiation abilities, she moved among various forces, built a vast trade network, and through various business operations, continuously obtained massive amounts of cultivation resources and wealth for Xingyun Pavilion.

In just a few years, she established herself in the Starfall Pavilion's business system, becoming an indispensable key figure and holding a significant position within the pavilion.

However, Xiao Ling was often away traveling or in seclusion cultivating, so he didn't spend much time at the Starfall Pavilion. Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran were busy with their duties and cultivation, and Ya Fei was stationed in the business region to oversee trade. They were all busy with their own affairs, and even though they belonged to the same faction, Xiao Ling and the three women only had a few chance encounters over the past few years.

Each meeting was merely a fleeting encounter, a brief exchange of pleasantries about recent events, a chat about cultivation progress or trivial matters within the pavilion, without much in-depth interaction.

After all, Xiao Ling's current identity is no longer that of the promising young man from the Jia Ma Empire. Although the three women have achieved something, they are still separated from him by an insurmountable gap in their cultivation level and status. Their positions are vastly different, and when facing the former, they inevitably feel a sense of unease from the bottom of their hearts.

Xiao Ling never gave them any special care or treatment just because they were all old acquaintances from the Northwest Continent. They were able to get to where they are today, to gain a foothold in the Starfall Pavilion, and to have their own place, all because of their own hard work and ability, not because of the protection of others.

Hearing this, Mu Qingluan also looked up, her almond-shaped eyes filled with curiosity.

"That Nalan Yanran? I've heard of her. Many male disciples are her suitors, and her cultivation progress is quite good. She's considered one of the more outstanding young people."

Xiao Ling traced the rim of the cup with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and then smiled and said, "Since she's here, she's a guest. Qing Lin, go and invite her in. I want to see what she wants from me."

"Yes, young master." Qinglin replied and turned to leave quickly.

A moment later, Qinglin appeared at the end of the courtyard path, and behind her was a slender young woman.

Nalan Yanran wore a white robe with wide sleeves, the hem of which was embroidered with fine cloud patterns. As it fluttered in the wind, it exuded elegance.

Her long, black hair cascaded down to her waist and hips, loosely tied back with a matching hairband. A few stray strands clung to her temples, further accentuating her exquisitely beautiful face. Her willow-leaf eyebrows were slender and curved, her almond-shaped eyes were clear and bright, her nose was straight and upturned, her lips were naturally red, and her skin was as white as snow, radiating a faint, lustrous glow.

The white stockings she wore clung tightly to her slender legs, perfectly outlining their shapely and beautiful lines. With each step, she swayed gracefully, exuding a charming girlishness.

But at this moment, the usual aloofness and arrogance had vanished from her delicate face. Her brows furrowed with barely concealed anxiety, and her eyes held a hint of barely perceptible panic. This rare helplessness added a touch of pitiful charm to her appearance.

She followed Qinglin to the outside of the pavilion. When her gaze fell on Xiao Ling in the pavilion, she subconsciously paused, her expression became more reserved, and her steps slowed down slightly.

Seeing Qinglin leading Nalan Yanran closer, Xiao Ling looked up. Once the two had stopped, he nodded politely, his voice calm and even: "Miss Nalan, it's been quite a while since we last met. May I ask what brings you here?"

Meeting Xiao Ling's deep, unfathomable eyes, Nalan Yanran's heart tightened, and she quickly took a deep breath to steady herself.

She slightly concealed the urgency on her face, leaned forward, and bowed deeply to Xiao Ling. Her slender shoulders trembled slightly with anxiety, and her voice, filled with barely suppressed worry and pleading, clearly reached the pavilion:

"Master Xiao Ling... please save my master!" (End of Chapter)