The sun was beginning to set, casting golden streaks across the cobbled streets of Wu Tan City.
Xiao Ranyu and Ya Fei strolled hand in hand through the outer edges of the Xiao estate—where the noise of the crowd couldn't reach, and the only sound was the soft rustle of wind through bamboo and the distant chirp of spirit birds.
Her fingers intertwined with his, warm and slightly trembling.
Ya Fei wore a soft smile—half dreamy, half embarrassed—still processing the emotional rollercoaster of the day. Her usually sharp gaze was gentler now, her proud posture relaxed as she leaned just slightly closer to his side with every step.
They didn't talk much.
They didn't need to.
The silence between them was comforting.
The occasional brush of her hair against his shoulder, the light squeeze of her fingers, and the soft flush on her cheeks said enough.
By the time they reached the courtyard, It's already nearing afternoon.
Xiao Ranyu gently let go of her hand.
> "I'll go see you before I leave."
Ya Fei nodded, lips pursed tightly.
> "...Mm."
---
After that, Xiao Ranyu headed inside to find his parents.
He found Gu Wenxin and Xiao Zhan seated in the inner hall—his mother sipping tea, his father reviewing documents.
When they saw him, they both looked up.
> "Mother. Father." Ranyu spoke seriously. "I came to inform you… I'll be leaving this afternoon."
Gu Wenxin blinked.
> "Leaving? Where?"
> "To train," he said. "I may be strong in realm... but not in actual strength. My control is lacking, and I've never fought seriously. I need real experience."
He stood upright, tone calm and resolute.
Xiao Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly, listening.
But Gu Wenxin—
Instantly slammed her teacup down.
> "No! Absolutely not!"
She stood up in a rush, robes fluttering.
> "You just caught fire, your face has barely cooled down, and now you want to run off into some dangerous mountain range?! Have you lost your mind?!"
Xiao Ranyu opened his mouth—
Only to be drowned out by her rapid-fire nagging.
> "You didn't even pack properly! Do you have enough inner shirts? What if you get sick? What if you don't eat enough?! Do you even know how to cook for yourself—?!"
> "Wenxin," Xiao Zhan finally interrupted, calmly setting down the scroll in his hand. "Let him speak."
Gu Wenxin huffed but folded her arms tightly, clearly still fuming.
Xiao Zhan turned to his son with a faint smile.
> "You've grown. And your decision is correct. Strength without experience is like a sword with no edge."
He looked at his wife.
> "He won't be gone forever. Let the boy temper himself."
Gu Wenxin's eyes fluttered with emotion—conflict, reluctance, maternal dread.
Finally, after a long sigh—
> "...Fine. Then when do you leave?"
Xiao Ranyu scratched his cheek sheepishly.
> "This afternoon."
> "—What?!" Gu Wenxin nearly dropped her teacup again.
Her expression darkened.
> "And when will you be back?!"
Ranyu hesitated.
> "Ah… well… about… five years…?"
A visible crack formed on the teacup in Gu Wenxin's hand.
> "F-Five... YEARS?!"
She stormed forward, hands glowing with Dou Qi.
Xiao Ranyu instinctively took a step back.
> "I-It's necessary! I need enough time to build real combat instinct—!"
> "I'll BEAT combat instinct INTO you!" Gu Wenxin roared.
Xiao Zhan swiftly stepped in and grabbed her arm.
> "Calm down. Don't injure the boy before he even departs."
Gu Wenxin seethed.
> "If you're not back in five years, I swear I'll come find you myself—drag you back by your ear and break your legs!"
Xiao Zhan blinked and muttered on the side.
> "He's a Dou king. You're still a Dou Grandmaster. You can't break his legs even if you tried."
Gu Wenxin heard that.
She slowly turned her head toward her husband, eyes blazing.
> "What about Dou King? He's still my little boy. I gave birth to him. If I want to break his legs—he'll obediently sit down and let me!"
Xiao Ranyu shivered.
> Why does that sound... terrifyingly true...?
---
Not long after, he stood at the outer gates of the Xiao estate, travel bag slung over his shoulder.
Gu Wenxin dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief, trying not to cry.
Xiao Zhan, ever calm, gave a firm nod.
> "Go. Temper your heart. Steel your fists. Return not just stronger—but wiser."
> "And don't die!" Gu Wenxin added, half-threatening, half-worried. "Or I'll kill you again!"
Xiao Ranyu smiled, heart warm despite the chaos.
He bowed deeply.
> "I'll be back."
And with that, beneath the setting sun and the reluctant eyes of his family—
Xiao Ranyu walked outside the courtyard.
---
After leaving his parents courtyard
Xiao Ranyu walked alone, robes fluttering gently, his figure casting a long shadow beneath the sun.
His thoughts, however, weren't on himself.
They were on someone else.
> If I remember right…
> Tonight is the night Yao Lao awakens.
A quiet smile curved at the corner of his lips.
> And with that… Xiao Yan's rise begins.
A new star was about to shine over Wu Tan City—one that would shock the clan, the city, the empire… and eventually the continent.
Xiao Ranyu knew this wasn't just coincidence. Destiny was beginning to move.
But even so—
> No matter how much talent or luck you have, alchemy still requires resources.
He remembered the original timeline vividly.
> To refine Foundation Establishment Liquid, he'll need gold coins. Quite a few.
He thought to himself,
> I should leave him something. Not too much… just enough to help him take that first step.
Speaking of gold coins…
Ranyu sighed, rubbing his temple.
> After becoming a 4th-tier peak alchemist, I've refined more pills than I can count…
Most of the higher-grade ones he kept for himself or locked away.
But the tier-1 and tier-2 pills?
He'd sold many through the Miteer Auction House—under a hidden identity, of course.
The results?
A massive pile of gold coins.
> Roughly two million gold coins, last I checked.
To him now, giving some to Xiao Yan was not a problem at all.
But for a struggling alchemy novice like Xiao Yan?
> Even a thousand would feel like a windfall.
> If I give too much, he'll start asking questions... maybe even refuse it altogether.
After a moment of consideration, Ranyu nodded to himself.
> Five thousand should do. Not too little… not too suspicious.
---
Inside the room, Xiao Yan still hadn't recovered from the earlier shock.
He sat motionless, staring into the air as if his soul had left his body.
> Dou King… at thirteen…?
His thoughts spiraled.
Just yesterday, his fourth brother was still the low-profile, quiet presence in the clan. Someone who never showed off, never fought, and preferred to stay out of attention's reach.
And yet, without anyone noticing, he had stepped into the Dou King realm.
Even with the talent Xiao Yan once possessed, it would take at least ten years—and numerous life-or-death opportunities—to achieve such a feat. Especially while staying confined to Wu Tan City, of all places.
On the side, Nalan Yanran was equally stunned, seated quietly, lips pursed.
She, too, was doubting her life.
The silence was finally broken by a gentle knock on the door.
Knock knock.
Xiao Yan stood up, still dazed, and opened it.
Standing outside was none other than Xiao Ranyu.
His crimson hair glimmered under the light, and a relaxed smile played on his lips.
> "Fourth brother?" Xiao Yan blinked. "Did you need something?"
Before Xiao Ranyu could respond, Nalan Yanran also walked out from the inner room, brushing her sleeves and adjusting her expression.
The moment Ranyu's gaze fell on her, he froze for a second—then arched a brow and gave them both a meaningful smile.
> "Oh?" he said, voice light with mischief. "Did I come at a bad time?"
The two looked confused at first… then the implication hit them.
Simultaneously, their faces flushed red.
> "It's not what you think!" they said in unison, voices filled with panic.
Xiao Ranyu chuckled but said nothing more.
To break the awkward silence, Nalan Yanran quickly stepped forward.
> "I… was just saying goodbye to Xiao Yan," she explained, still flustered. "It's time I returned to the Yunlan Sect."
She gave Xiao Yan a polite nod, avoided Ranyu's amused gaze entirely, and left in a hurry—her footsteps a little faster than usual.
After the door closed, the two brothers sat down for tea.
Xiao Yan poured the cups in silence, then finally spoke.
> "I still… can't believe it. You became a Dou king at thirteen. It's unreal."
Xiao Ranyu simply smiled and sipped his tea.
> "Don't think too hard about it," he said casually. "Everyone has their own path. Yours just paused for a while."
There was a pause before Xiao Ranyu continued, voice a bit more serious.
> "I came to say goodbye. I'm leaving Wu Tan for training for five years."
Xiao Yan was silent for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
> "...Got it," he said quietly. "Take care of yourself."
Xiao Ranyu stood, then reached into his sleeve and placed a gold-etched card on the table.
> "There's five thousand gold coins in that account," he said. "I won't need them during training. Consider it a gift—from one brother to another."
Xiao Yan's brows furrowed. "That's too much. I—"
> "Take it," Xiao Ranyu cut him off. "It's not about the gold. It's encouragement. You're not done yet, Xiao Ya
n."
He placed a firm hand on his brother's shoulder.
> "One day, you'll rise above them all."
Xiao Yan stared at the card for a few seconds… then, finally, accepted it.
> "Thank you, Fourth Brother."
Xiao Ranyu turned, his robe fluttering slightly as he headed toward the door.
> It's time to look for her… he thought, eyes narrowing with purpose.
> Xun'er... wait for me.