"Enough."
Nalan Yanran's call made Yun Yun retract her aura, ceasing to pressure Gu Han.
As the Sect Master, she couldn't openly say something like, "You must refer to yourself as 'this disciple' in my presence."
Willing to use the term was a sign of respect; not using it was acceptable as long as one didn't address her directly as "Yun Yun" to her face, which would be a breach of propriety.
"Yanran, what important matter brings you to me so early in the morning?" Yun Yun's gaze softened, and she chided with a smile, "I have many trivial matters to attend to this morning and planned to test your progress in the afternoon."
Nalan Yanran instinctively glanced at Gu Han, wondering if this was one of her teacher's so-called trivial matters.
Was Gu Han, a mere nobody, more important than her, the Personal Disciple?
"Teacher, my matter is very important." Of course, Nalan Yanran didn't dare voice her thoughts aloud, so she resorted to her usual tactic—acting coquettishly with Yun Yun.
Gu Han, mindful of the opportunity's hint, kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, as if he hadn't heard anything.
A flicker of approval passed through Yun Yun's eyes as she reached out to stroke Nalan Yanran's hair. "The frontline battle ended two days early, so I returned a day ahead of schedule. Originally, I planned to test you tomorrow, so there's no rush."
"When I returned last night, I happened to run into Gu Han and discovered his cultivation level is now on par with yours, with talent no less than yours. I summoned him here to assign him an Elder as his teacher, so he can support and assist you within the sect in the future."
This explanation was for Nalan Yanran, but it also served to inform Gu Han why he had been summoned so early.
As the Sect Master, she couldn't lower herself to explain things to a disciple, but stating it directly felt too rigid.
With other disciples, it wouldn't matter, but after last night's incident, Yun Yun found it hard to be stern with Gu Han.
Or perhaps she simply didn't want to be so formal and businesslike.
Additionally, she was subtly hinting to Gu Han to build a good relationship with Nalan Yanran, as they would both be part of the Direct Lineage in the future.
"His cultivation is on par with mine!?" Nalan Yanran, unaware of Yun Yun's thoughts, was stunned by the revelation. "That's impossible."
"Why would it be impossible?" Yun Yun frowned slightly, wondering if she had been too indulgent with Nalan Yanran.
"Teacher, you might not know, but he only broke through to Dou Fighter twenty days ago." Nalan Yanran immediately recounted how she had gone to the outer sect training room and accidentally learned of Gu Han's breakthrough. "Could he have advanced two stars in just twenty days?"
"I was already aware of what you mentioned." Understanding Nalan Yanran's astonishment, Yun Yun's brows relaxed, and her voice carried a hint of laughter. "The fact remains, Gu Han has had some luck."
Yun Yun naturally knew about the seasonal Yin Wind at the peak of the third mountain and offered a brief explanation.
"So, you're really a Three-Star Dou Fighter like me?" Nalan Yanran looked at Gu Han with disbelief.
"Reporting to Senior Sister, yes," Gu Han replied.
Nalan Yanran immediately understood why Yun Yun had met with Gu Han so early.
She had started cultivating at the age of four, broke through to Dou Fighter at thirteen, and was now a Three-Star Dou Fighter at fifteen.
Gu Han had started cultivating a little over the age of six, broke through to Dou Fighter before turning fifteen, and was now a Three-Star Dou Fighter.
Factoring in resources, teacher guidance, and other conditions, Gu Han's talent wasn't just on par with hers—it was undoubtedly superior.
If not for Gu Han being an ice-attribute Dou Qi cultivator, Yun Yun might have even considered taking him as her own disciple.
"Master, were you teasing me just now?" A flicker of something unreadable passed through Nalan Yanran's eyes as she cooed at Yun Yun once more, "That talent clearly surpasses mine, overshadowing me."
"It's not the same." Worried her disciple might feel disheartened, Yun Yun smiled reassuringly, "Over the years, you've mainly focused on mastering cultivation techniques and Dou Skills, prioritizing the refinement of your foundation."
"In the coming period, I'll have more free time and will personally guide your training. With the aid of medicinal pills, breaking through to Dou Master within a year shouldn't be a problem."
"After all, I am a wind-attributed Dou Emperor."
When she mentioned "Dou Emperor," a trace of pride tinged Yun Yun's voice.
Not just in the Jia Ma Empire, but throughout the southwestern corner of the Northwest Continent, her reputation was well-established.
"Master is mighty." Nalan Yanran praised, then her eyes shifted slyly, "But Master, if you don't intervene soon, forget about reaching Dou Master in a year—even if I break through to Dou Grand Master or Dou Spirit, it'll all just end up benefiting someone else for nothing."
"How so?" Yun Yun's gaze sharpened.
"Grandfather insists I fulfill the marriage agreement and go to the Xiao family to complete the wedding once I come of age." Nalan Yanran spoke with a pitiful tone, "He's doing it all for his own word, for his own pride, without any regard for his granddaughter's life."
"Besides, I'm the Young Sect Master of the Cloud Mist Sect."
Hearing this, Yun Yun felt a headache coming on.
This matter wasn't something she hadn't discussed with the Nalan family before.
Nalan Su supported Nalan Yanran in front of her, but the old master Nalan Jie was stubbornly unyielding. She couldn't just take someone's granddaughter as a disciple and then dictate everything herself.
The Nalan family was aligned with the royal family, and the royals wouldn't tolerate the Cloud Mist Sect acting so arrogantly.
Emotionally, rationally, and in terms of power, it wasn't appropriate for her to take any action.
Yet, the Young Sect Master of the Cloud Mist Sect truly shouldn't have a fiancé—it had nothing to do with whether the other party was useless or not. Back when Xiao Yan wasn't a waste, Nalan Yanran had hoped she would resolve the engagement shortly after being taken as a disciple.
But at that time, having just accepted her as a disciple, it was even less appropriate for her to interfere in the Nalan family's affairs.
Looking back now, it might have been better to intervene then, to avoid being accused of wanting to break off the engagement only because Xiao Yan had become useless.
Never mind the current Xiao family—even a decade ago when Xiao Lin was still alive, the Cloud Mist Sect didn't hold them in high regard.
"This matter still requires careful consideration." Yun Yun still preferred to use delaying tactics.
She somewhat regretted having Gu Han present; she should have asked about Nalan Yanran's purpose first.
"Master!" Yun Yun had underestimated Nalan Yanran's determination this time, "I'm serious. I can't spend my life married to a stranger I don't know."
"If you won't help me, then expel me from the sect. I'll obediently become the Xiao family's daughter-in-law and satisfy everyone's wishes."
Seeing the resolve in Nalan Yanran's eyes, Yun Yun wavered momentarily.
Her gaze swept past Gu Han's face ahead, thinking that since he already knew about this, she might as well ask for his opinion.
It helped that he was fifteen, just like that Xiao Yan—a young man.
"Gu Han, what do you think about this?" Yun Yun acted on her thought.
Nalan Yanran instantly turned to look at Gu Han, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Sect Master, may I ask from whose standpoint?" Gu Han responded with a formal salute.
"Standpoint?" Yun Yun found the phrasing interesting and inquired, "What if it's from Yanran's standpoint?"
Gu Han nodded slightly and spoke with a straight face, spouting nonsense, "Then, why hasn't that Xiao Yan died yet?"
Yun Yun: ?
Nalan Yanran: !
"People like him waste the world's energy when cultivating, waste air when alive, and waste land when dead."
Yun Yun: !
Nalan Yanran: That's going too far, really going too far!
Achoo!
Far away in Wutan City, the young Yan Di rubbed his nose again.
"Being weak in cultivation makes one prone to illness? Damned heavens, cursed heavens."
Yao Chen in the ring: ...