"Because I want to keep up with you!" Jian Ruyan replied.
"Keep up with me? What do you mean?" Xiang Mantang frowned.
Jian Ruyan said, "I know, after the Dragon King has fallen asleep, you will not be content to let Shen Cangsheng and the others get away with their deeds. Sooner or later, you will seek them out for retribution."
"Therefore, if I were still only at the early stage of Energy Transformation, you definitely wouldn't take me with you then."
Jian Ruyan looked intently at Xiang Mantang and said, "Only if I can keep up with your pace will you allow me to follow you."
Jian Ruyan still had some things she hadn't clarified; the words she had shared with Mu Hongchen were half-true. She had indeed concealed her strength before, but at that time, she was just at the completion stage of Energy Transformation.
However, her current strength at the peak of Energy Transformation was indeed something she had only broken through in the past few days.
The price she paid to break through to the peak of Energy Transformation, however, was known to no one.
When Xiang Mantang heard Jian Ruyan's words, he couldn't help but smile bitterly and sighed, "I really don't know what it is about me that makes you do this."
Xiang Mantang actually also felt that Jian Ruyan's attitude towards him was rather inexplicable.
Jian Ruyan had joined the Dragon King Hall a year ago and had become the hall master of Yaoguang Hall right after she entered. Her background was very mysterious; no one knew how she had joined the Dragon King Hall.
Initially, Xiang Mantang thought she, like Qin Qiaochu and Shen Cangsheng, Di Yin, might have been helped into the Dragon King Hall by the power behind them.
But later, Xiang Mantang noticed that Jian Ruyan did not mingle well and behaved differently from Shen Cangsheng and the others.
Thus, he speculated that Jian Ruyan might be like Wu Shisan and Mu Hongchen, a foster child of the Old Dragon King.
However, Mu Hongchen and the others indicated that they had never seen Jian Ruyan before, meaning she was not another foster daughter of the Old Dragon King.
It was possible to become a sub-hall master of the Dragon King Hall; if not the above two types of people, then one had to climb up step by step like Xiang Mantang had.
But more than a year ago, Jian Ruyan hadn't been in the Dragon King Hall at all.
And the Old Dragon King didn't discuss much with them.
So, the origin of Jian Ruyan remained very mysterious.
This sense of mystery stemmed from her loner behavior, the treasured sword in her hand, and the various elixirs she would occasionally produce...
However, Xiang Mantang didn't care about her mystery, nor did he want to delve too deeply into her origins, because Jian Ruyan's attitude toward him was very good.
Initially, Xiang Mantang stuck to the principle that no work meant no reward and was reluctant to accept Jian Ruyan's goodwill. Yet, after it happened again and again, in the end, he truly appreciated it.
As Xiang Mantang recalled all this, Jian Ruyan spoke, "The next time you have some dangerous mission, could you take me along? I am no longer a burden!"
When Jian Ruyan spoke, her eyes were fixed on Xiang Mantang, and her gaze was a bit tense, as if she was afraid he would refuse.
About the recent event in Kunlun Mountain, Jian Ruyan had already learned the gist of it from Mu Hongchen's side.
She had been very frightened at the time, which is why she hastily worked to break through to the peak of Energy Transformation so that she could keep up with Xiang Mantang.
She didn't want such a thing to happen to Xiang Mantang again, and while she was saddened by Mu Jinyu's sacrifice, she was also relieved that it wasn't Xiang Mantang who had died.
After all, if Xiang Mantang had died, she really wouldn't know what to do!
Whether she could continue to live!
To her, Mu Jinyu was just a leader, even a hands-off kind of leader, whom she barely saw a few times a week.
The only thing that made her feel somewhat fond of Mu Jinyu was his brotherly relationship with Xiang Mantang.
Otherwise, Mu Jinyu would be even more a stranger to her.
"Yes!"
Hearing Jian Ruyan's request, Xiang Mantang thought briefly and then gladly agreed.
A master at the peak of Energy Transformation — he was planning to annihilate the Tianhe Sword Sect and crush Shen Cangsheng into ashes; there was no reason not to take her along.
But...
Xiang Mantang grew increasingly curious and wondered why Jian Ruyan favored him so much.
Was he worrying that he might refuse to bring her along?
After a moment's hesitation, Xiang Mantang asked, "Ruyan, do you... like me?!"
At 25, Xiang Mantang was always alone. With his status and appearance, he had no shortage of suitors, including daughters of prominent families from the Capital City and even foreign princesses.
However, his focus was solely on finding his sister and uncovering the clues and reasons behind his parents' deaths to eventually seek revenge.
Thus, he had never pursued a romantic relationship.
And truth be told, he was somewhat envious of the carefree and graceful Mu Jinyu.
But though he envied him, he was not like Mu Jinyu; he could not offer a woman a future either.
During his interactions with Jian Ruyan, Xiang Mantang had wondered if she indeed liked him.
But considering her status and looks, she probably wouldn't be interested in him, and to avoid being called delusional, Xiang Mantang never delved into that matter.
Now, seeing Jian Ruyan's increasingly special emotional expression towards him, Xiang Mantang became curious if she really liked him, and if so, he thought he should persuade her to give up on him as soon as possible.
Upon hearing Xiang Mantang's question, Jian Ruyan nodded without hesitation, saying, "Yes!"
"Uh..."
Xiang Mantang had thought his question would be dismissed by Jian Ruyan as delusional, or perhaps boldly, she actually liked him and would nod shyly.
Instead, although Jian Ruyan admitted to liking him, her expression remained cold without any change, and her cheeks didn't even blush, not resembling someone who liked him at all.
Her gaze, however, really seemed similar to the way Gu Xiyan and Mei Yinxue looked at Mu Jinyu.
Could it really be that she liked him, and it wasn't just his own wishful thinking?
Xiang Mantang couldn't comprehend, shook his head, and sighed, "I'm sorry, I cannot accept your feelings..."
He hadn't finished speaking when he was directly interrupted by Jian Ruyan.
"It's okay, liking you is my business, it has nothing to do with you!"
Jian Ruyan said indifferently.
Perhaps having spoken out, Jian Ruyan's gaze at Xiang Mantang was no longer restrained and gradually became brazen!
Xiang Mantang felt that Jian Ruyan's words made a lot of sense, only to soon notice that the way she looked at him was a bit off.
Not right...
As Xiang Mantang faced Jian Ruyan's gaze, he felt it more and more inappropriate, unlike the way Gu Xiyan and others looked at Mu Jinyu.
The way Gu Xiyan and others looked at Mu Jinyu was filled with admiration, joy, and happiness, but Jian Ruyan's gaze... was more like how Su Zijin looked at Mu Jinyu.
It was a gaze filled with love, attachment, and indulgence...
It might sound strange, but that's how it felt to Xiang Mantang.
Xiang Mantang frowned in deep thought, trying to figure out why Jian Ruyan's gaze was of that sort.
"Thump!"
Suddenly, someone at the training ground seemed unable to hold on and fainted.
"Hm?!"
Xiang Mantang glanced over, and his eyes suddenly narrowed.
Because the person who fainted was Mei Yinxue!
Xiang Mantang immediately stopped thinking about his and Jian Ruyan's relationship and rushed over!
Jian Ruyan also hurriedly followed and took out an elixir from her pocket.