Actually, Fei Bai Mu had a good guess. After all, it wasn’t like Xin Lan hadn’t told her the last time just why it wasn’t a good idea for Hua Lin Yu to be with Xiao Li. Still, she hoped that there was another explanation.

A last life interfering with the current one was seldom good. This was something she was sure of. And it would be even more the case if the last life had been a bad one. Even though Xin Lan had not gone into too much detail, she knew it had to be bad.

She did not want for that to make even more trouble for Xiao Yu. No, she wanted him to be able to live a regular life like all the other disciples. If that was possible, it would be for the best.

Shen An De glanced at Hua Lin Yu. “I assume it’s this disciple we are talking about?” Looking at the youth, he didn’t feel like there was anything special about him but looks could be deceiving. “Do you have any … non-human blood?”

Hua Lin Yu shook his head. “I’m from the Hua cultivation family.”

“I see.” Shen An De didn’t inquire further. The Hua cultivation family had a long tradition. It was indeed unlikely for any non-human blood to appear in it. Especially without them knowing. So whatever the reason was, it shouldn’t be about his blood.

Thinking for a while longer, he wagered another guess. “Did you get into contact with any cultivation techniques or supporting practices that could have had an effect?”

Once again, Hua Lin Yu shook his head. “No, that can’t be it either. I learned a bit about cultivation from my family but then the rest came from the Jian Yi Sect. I’ve never left the sect before this mission either. Well …” He stopped there and pursed his lips. “I was traveling with my fiance for a while.”

Shen An De nodded, not thinking too much of it. While Fei Bai Mu hadn’t said too much about Xiao Li, he figured that he should be that fiance and while he might not be completely human, he should have been able to see something as well if the reason was connected to him.

Fei Bai Mu’s reaction was different though. “Did Xin Lan teach you anything that could have had an influence?”

At that, Shen An De raised his brows. “Xin Lan?”

Fei Bai Mu glanced at him and gave a wry smile but didn’t explain any further. This matter, her disciple could explain that himself if he wanted to.

Hua Lin Yu who had answered everything else without a second thought, suddenly clammed up when it got to this explanation. He pretended he hadn’t heard and just responded to his Master’s inquiry instead. “He didn’t! I mean … not that I know of.” His expression turned a little uncertain.

It had been three full years in the dragon realm alone, not to mention the time down here in the mortal realm. Xin Lan had taught him a lot. For the most part, it had been theoretical knowledge about the past of the realms, the history of the races, and even the current situation. But he couldn’t completely rule out that Xin Lan might have also done something more.

Xin Lan had always wanted to protect him. Who knew if he hadn’t secretly done something? Knowing him, there was such a chance.

Hua Lin Yu suddenly didn’t know what to do. Even though he was happy with Xiao Li, thinking of Xin Lan still made his heart feel heavy. Being reminded of how much Xin Lan had thought on his behalf … it made it even worse.

Shen An De watched Hua Lin Yu’s expression turn from defiance to rejection to sadness all in the matter of a minute. It made him quite curious. “Xin Lan …?”

“Of the dragon race.”

“Oh.” Shen An De had some knowledge of the dragon race as well. After all, he was half a demon and he had even met and housed their king for a while. Needless to say, he also knew just who Xin Lan was. After all, that was a household name in the dragon realm. He felt that he had to be thinking too much though. “Well, I’m afraid I wouldn’t know the person. It couldn’t be who I’m thinking of.”

Fei Bai Mu sighed. “I doubt that name was given twice. So if you are thinking of somebody, it’s definitely him.”

Shen An De pointed at his face and Fei Bai Mu nodded.

“Exactly that one, yes.”

“And he is … your youngest disciple’s fiance?” Between this and An Rong hiding in an old realm to revive one of their founders, he wasn’t quite sure which of them was more surprising.

Fei Bai Mu didn’t answer and instead turned to Hua Lin Yu. This matter, she’d still like him to explain it on his own.

Her disciple … once again didn’t live up to her expectations, once more playing dead.

In the end, she could only sigh. Who had allowed him to always get away with things when he was younger? Whether it was she or her disciples, they had done that all to themselves. Now, they had to live with the consequences.

She only hesitated for a moment longer but then cleared her throat. “He was. Xiao Yu … broke up with him.” She motioned over to Xiao Li and refused to explain any further.

Shen An De turned to look at him and then slowly raised his brows. “And you’re not afraid for your life? I heard he’s not the reasonable type.”

Xiao Li could only give a strained smile. He was very much aware of it but the allure of Hua Lin Yu’s position had been too big and now, this youth was the only thing standing between him and a surefire death delivered by Xin Lan’s claws. “Well, there’s nothing you can do against falling in love.”

Shen An De gave a hum and then turned to look at his wife. Well, who was he to judge? He had married a woman who carried a sword that could very well kill him. In a sense, that wasn’t much better. Although then, the sword wouldn’t pick itself up to kill him.

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