Inside the Haotian Mirror.
Xiao Fan spent his days with Long Xiaoxiao, not knowing how many seasons had passed. Their life was peaceful and filled with warmth.
Dragons were naturally long-lived, and even after decades, Long Xiaoxiao remained an innocent and pure-hearted girl. Despite the passage of time, she remained very timid and scared of strangers.
Xiao Fan did not force her to change. Whenever he went out to buy daily necessities, he left Long Xiaoxiao alone in the valley. Initially, she would cling to his clothes, afraid he would abandon her, her eyes filled with fear and worry.
She would repeatedly ask if he would leave her. Xiao Fan patiently reassured her, promising to return at a fixed time. He never broke his promise, always returning at the agreed time to build a sense of security in her heart. This way, she wouldn't be as fearful when he had to go out again.
One day, Xiao Fan was delayed on his way back from buying supplies due to an unforeseen event. He returned half a day later than usual. This delay made Long Xiaoxiao extremely anxious and uneasy, her eyes filled with terror.
When Xiao Fan finally appeared, she rushed into his arms.
"Master, I knew you wouldn't abandon Xiaoxiao..." Long Xiaoxiao's face was wet with tears.
Xiao Fan, feeling guilty, patted her head and comforted her, "Don't worry, Xiaoxiao, Master will never leave you."
After wiping her tears, Xiao Fan took out a skewer of candied hawthorn.
"Candied hawthorn!" Long Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up, and she eagerly took a bite.
"Master, it's sweet!" Long Xiaoxiao said, beaming with satisfaction.
Xiao Fan smiled indulgently.
She was still just a child, easily appeased.
However, their warm moment was interrupted by an unexpected guest.
"Who's there?" Xiao Fan shielded Long Xiaoxiao behind him, vigilantly looking toward a spot in the valley.
Long Xiaoxiao, not understanding, clung tightly to Xiao Fan's sleeve, peeking out with wide eyes like a frightened deer.
The air in the direction Xiao Fan was watching began to ripple, revealing the figure of a middle-aged man.
The man was burly and had a commanding presence. Xiao Fan's eyes narrowed slightly in recognition.
"It's you!"
He recognized this man. The delay that day was because he had encountered this suspicious individual. To avoid attracting attention, Xiao Fan had hidden his aura while in the city, making him appear as an ordinary mortal even to those with higher cultivation levels.
However, this middle-aged man had taken special notice of him. Xiao Fan could sense that the man was a powerful cultivator, likely on par with himself. After spending decades with Long Xiaoxiao, Xiao Fan had reached the peak of the Tongtian Realm, just a step away from the Sage Realm. This made him one of the top cultivators in the world.
He hadn't expected to encounter another cultivator of similar strength in a mortal city. The odds were incredibly low.
Xiao Fan had taken several detours to shake off the man, which caused the delay. He thought he had succeeded but now realized the man had found his way here.
"What is your purpose in following me?" Xiao Fan asked calmly.
Despite his displeasure, he showed no hostility until he understood the man's intentions.
The middle-aged man ignored Xiao Fan's question, his eyes fixed on Long Xiaoxiao with fervent excitement.
"My earlier sense was correct!"
Xiao Fan's expression turned cold. The man not only ignored him but seemed to have a particular interest in Long Xiaoxiao. It was clear the man had been drawn to him because of Long Xiaoxiao's aura. He wasn't after Xiao Fan but after Long Xiaoxiao.
Long Xiaoxiao, sensing the man's intense gaze, shrank back in fear, clinging to Xiao Fan's clothes to hide from view.
"Don't be afraid, Master is here," Xiao Fan reassured her before turning back to the man.
This time, Xiao Fan released his aura, displaying his full strength.
Respect in the cultivation world often required a display of power.
As expected, the middle-aged man's gaze shifted to Xiao Fan, surprise flickering in his eyes. He hadn't sensed any spiritual energy from Xiao Fan earlier. Clearly, Xiao Fan's cultivation technique was extraordinary.
The man now regarded Xiao Fan with a new level of respect.
"My apologies for my earlier rudeness," the man said with a polite bow. "I am Long Xiao. May I know your name, Daoist friend?"
"Xiao Fan," he replied with a simple nod.
The man's courtesy was clearly due to Xiao Fan's revealed strength. Had Xiao Fan been an ordinary person or a weaker cultivator, the man likely wouldn't have acknowledged him at all. Such was the harsh reality of the cultivation world.
Xiao Fan scrutinized Long Xiao. The man's surname and his keen interest in Long Xiaoxiao suggested a connection to the dragon clan.
Could Long Xiao be one of Long Xiaoxiao's kin?
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