As the daughter of the Lord of Mist City, Xiao Xinran was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
From childhood, her parents cherished her dearly, showering her with endless affection.
Everything she desired was within easy reach; she had never known a single worry.
Now, the Xiao Family’s daughter had grown up, intelligent as snow and ice, graceful and upright, and her Spiritual Root was extraordinary: Fire Master Sunflame, a rare talent for cultivation. Xiao Father nurtured her as the hope of the entire clan.
She received the best Qi Refining Method as her foundation, the finest tutors for guidance, and the most precious Spiritual Medicine to nourish her meridians.
Even the treatment given to an Imperial Princess could hardly surpass this.
Before even enrolling, Xiao Xinran was already the Shenhua Sect’s chosen candidate.
Moreover, she had a perfect Protector Daoist by her side, growing up together with her.
The Yun Clan and Xiao Family were old allies, their relationship close, with a marriage contract already arranged—strengthening their bond further.
The Yun Clan’s youngest son, Yun Liu, was a little older, born with a Heavenly Spiritual Root.
He had joined the Shenhua Sect two years earlier, and at a young age was already an Inner Disciple.
The two grew up together, childhood friends without a hint of awkwardness, well-matched in every way.
At that time, Xiao Xinran didn’t even understand what a Dao Companion was.
She just knew it was something like a contract, afterward, she and Yun Liu would be each other’s exclusive partners, destined to become husband and wife and walk the Great Dao together.
With such a reliable older brother by her side, always accommodating and attentive, Xiao Xinran thoroughly enjoyed it and became even more dependent.
Until one day, a blonde-haired girl descended from the sky, shattering her peaceful life.
The gears of fate began to turn.
***
That day, Yun Liu and Xiao Xinran set out together for cultivation practice.
In half a month, the Shenhua Sect would start its new term.
Xiao Xinran, with her Letter of Introduction, didn’t need to queue for Spiritual Root testing, but still had to take the entrance examination with everyone else.
Fortunately, Yun Liu was already an Inner Disciple of the Five Peaks, seasoned and experienced, offering her plenty of advice.
So, the two decided to hunt a few Beasts as practice, preparing for the martial trial of the entrance exam.
Xiao Xinran was fourteen this year, at the Refining Qi Third Stage.
Aside from basic Qi-nurturing techniques, she’d only learned a few simple sword moves and spells,and she often slacked off. Even so, she was no worse than Yun Liu had been at her age.
“Where do you think you’re going? Watch how awesome I am!”
The girl in red shouted, brandishing her sword and easily felling a Wild Boar, pride written all over her face.
Yun Liu gave her a thumbs-up. He cultivated hard in the Sea of Clouds, only coming down during holidays to visit the girl and check on her progress.
With Xiao Xinran’s ability, she was more than ready to pass the entrance exam.
Still, she couldn’t afford to be careless.
Soon, ordinary Beasts could no longer satisfy Xiao Xinran. Growing bold and confident, she suggested they visit the Sea of Clouds Peaks Forest to see the legendary Demon Beasts.
At first, Yun Liu disagreed.
“No, it’s too dangerous. If we run into a powerful Demon Beast, I might not be able to protect you.”
“I don’t need your protection!”
The girl declared self-righteously, plunging into the dense forest.
She was used to acting recklessly, after all, she had her bodyguard to back her up.
With no choice, the boy followed.
Around Mist City, Demon Beasts were rare.
Their luck couldn’t be that bad.
But after only a few steps, voices echoed from the woods.
The two crouched in the grass to spy, discovering a group of black-clad figures searching for something, each exuding a sinister aura.
“Unfamiliar faces?”
“They’re Demon Sect fiends, let’s go!”
Yun Liu’s face darkened.
He grabbed Xiao Xinran and turned to leave, but it was too late.
Among the Demon Cult Disciples, there were experts too.
Sensing someone nearby, they closed in from all sides, eyes filled with murderous intent.
“Shenhua Sect, huh? Take them! That brat is hiding somewhere, if we alert the Inner Sect elders, things will get messy.”
“W-what should we do?”
Xiao Xinran’s face turned pale.
She nearly dropped her sword, hiding behind Yun Liu.
She’d never seen such a scene; the Demon Sect’s fiends were infamous for killing without blinking.
The leader was a sallow, skinny little man at the Refining Qi Ninth Stage, gripping a Bone Spike, sneering coldly.
Strike at the snake’s seven inches; capture the king first.
With no other choice, Yun Liu’s mind raced.
He drew his sword and went all out from the start.
Sword energy swept through the forest as the boy repelled several would-be bullies.
Taking advantage of the moment as the other Demon Cult Disciples hesitated, he charged straight at the leader!
The short man hadn’t expected such decisiveness, nor had he anticipated Yun Liu’s strength.
In a rush, he activated his Bone Spike to defend, but suddenly felt a coldness at his neck.
A flash of moonlight. When the white-robed youth returned to Xiao Xinran’s side, the Demon Cult Disciple at Refining Qi Ninth Stage collapsed, head and body parting ways.
There was no time for celebration.
Xiao Xinran saw the Bone Spike’s barbed tip embedded in Yun Liu’s abdomen, blood gushing out.
“Xiao Yun!”
The remaining fiends were cowed by his swordsmanship, stunned in place.
No one dared step forward after their leader fell.
Yun Liu forced himself to stand, shielding Xiao Xinran and facing off with the survivors for a long time.
But his Qi Sea felt as if it were leaking, his consciousness fading, until a golden flash appeared in his blurred vision.
From the sky, the mysterious blonde-haired girl landed. She wasn’t an enemy.
With ease, she dispatched the remaining riffraff, flicked her golden hair, and smiled at the red-clad girl.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s over now.”
***
Later, someone carried Yun Liu home for treatment.
The fact that Demon Cult scum had appeared around Mist City, almost harming the Lord’s beloved daughter, startled the County Guard, prompting a thorough investigation.
External wounds were easy to heal; Yun Liu’s abdominal injury closed quickly.
But the evil energy had damaged his Qi Sea. Every physician was pessimistic.
Xiao Xinran didn’t fully understand.
She only knew that Xiao Yun needed to rest.
Her heart ached, and she blamed herself even more.
If only she were as strong as that older sister, Xiao Yun wouldn’t have been hurt.
For the first time, she felt a desire to become stronger.
These days, the mysterious blonde-haired girl stayed as a guest at the Xiao Family.
The two girls quickly became close, as if they’d known each other forever.
Ji Shiyu came from the High Heaven Star River, also on her way to the Shenhua Sect for further study.
She was powerful, her sword skills outstanding.
Xiao Xinran admired her more and more, always pestering her with questions about the outside world.
The two agreed to travel and study together.
Strangely, after hearing about Xiao Yun’s injury, the elders of the clan all changed their expressions.
Their initial concern vanished, and they focused on thanking Shiyu, even though Xiao Yun had saved her too.
Although he wasn’t in good shape, it had been an even trade…
Shiyu truly was impressive.
When the clan learned she was from the Star Isle Ji Clan, their respect only grew.
Even her father seemed to forget about Xiao Yun, lavishing all his attention on Shiyu for fear of offending their savior.
Butler Grandpa even gently reminded everyone not to disturb Young Master Yun’s recovery, and even changed his usual address from “Son-in-law.”
Xiao Xinran didn’t mind. She was just happy to have made a new friend.
Such a beautiful and skilled young lady would soon be her fellow disciple!
***
After a few days at home, Xiao Xinran grew restless with worry for Yun Liu.
Unable to sit still, she snuck out with Ji Shiyu.
But when the boy awoke, he seemed like a different person, cold, indifferent, paying her little mind.
His eyes were only for the blonde-haired girl.
Fuming, Xiao Xinran slammed the door and locked herself in her room all morning, sulking.
“He actually, actually called me Miss Xiao!?”
Maybe she’d misheard—did he mean ‘little girl’?
Could it be that Xiao Yun had hit his head and lost his memory…
Xiao Xinran glanced down at herself.
Compared to Shiyu, she was indeed a bit smaller, and couldn’t help but sigh.
“Hmph, it’s just a bigger chest and a perkier butt. Give me a few more years and I’ll be like that too!”
She muttered to herself for a while, but then thought of the boy, injured and alone, with no one to pour him a glass of water when thirsty.
Biting her lip, her anger faded.
Regret crept in—she’d lashed out at him, but maybe she was the one in the wrong.
Surely Xiao Yun must be feeling awful. It was only natural for him to be upset, he was the one injured, not her.
With that thought, Xiao Xinran rushed out, ignoring Butler Grandpa’s attempts to stop her, determined to apologize to Xiao Yun.
At the Yun residence, she ran right into the boy heading out.
She was about to call out when she saw a blonde-haired girl by his side.
The two walked together, chatting and laughing as if they’d been friends for years, strolling through the streets, a handsome pair, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Huh? No wonder I couldn’t find Shiyu, she’s with Xiao Yun, and they’re so close! Didn’t she tell me that all men are big pig trotters and not one of them is reliable?”
Xiao Xinran tilted her head in confusion, completely baffled.
Now it’s reverse NTR from her Perspective
So its literally all her fault the original was crippled.
“The two walked together, chatting and laughing as if they’d been friends for years” Clearly something was wrong with her vision because he was not smiling or laughing once.