After a burst of exclamations, Xiao Zihan slowly retracted his leg. Meanwhile, a few meters away, Pufan maintained his defensive posture. After a moment, seeing Pufan exhale deeply, he finally lowered his two arms.

Several students hurriedly ran over, asking, "Master, are you okay?"

In fact, these students had been observing the battle from a distance when Xiao Zihan and Pufan first clashed. At that time, they were discussing their insights and reflections on meditation and happened to witness the duel between the two formidable experts. Xiao Zihan and Pufan's confrontation was brief, and their movements were too fast for the students to follow. They could only stare wide-eyed, unable to comprehend the extraordinary nature of the fight. They had never seen their master take formal action before because no one was a match for him. And now, the person opposite had defeated their master?

They glared at Xiao Zihan with a mixture of anger and disappointment.

Xiao Zihan shrugged, calmly looking at Pufan. "There's no need for that. I didn't win, and he didn't lose."

Pufan moved his arms a bit and addressed the students surrounding him, "I'm fine, you all can disperse."

The students saluted Pufan and cast strange glances at Xiao Zihan before leaving in a sullen manner.

Pufan gazed at the remaining sunset and said slowly, "Do you know why I challenged you at this time and place?" Seeing Xiao Zihan's silence, he continued, "Over twenty years ago, at the same time, in a place covered with lush greenery, I challenged your father. You, and your father back then, looked almost identical."

Knowing that he closely resembled his father, Xiao Zihan's lips twitched, but he remained silent.

"I don't need to mention the outcome; you also know I lost, and it was a miserable defeat. However, what surprised me was that your father told me he admired me and wanted to be friends. Later, after we became friends, he shared with me a method of cultivating 'qi.' He said that when I mastered it, I would be able to challenge him."

"If you had used that 'qi' technique just now, I might have already lost," Xiao Zihan sighed. Recalling the last strike he delivered to Pufan, he distinctly felt the presence of 'qi.'

Pufan shook his head slightly, "I just wanted to reminisce about the situation when I fought your father. Winning or losing doesn't matter. Three years ago, I visited the place where you used to live, and your father was no longer there."

"I killed my father," Xiao Zihan said solemnly.

Expecting Pufan to show a shocked expression, Xiao Zihan was surprised to see no change in Pufan's face. Pufan slowly shook his head and said, "You're wrong. Your father died by his own hand. With your current strength, you couldn't have killed him."

He turned to look at Xiao Zihan and continued, "Even at his peak, two of me now wouldn't be his match. He said that if I could successfully cultivate 'qi,' I would have the strength to challenge him. It was just a form of encouragement. In our recent battle, I sensed that your control of 'Qi Ruanhua Xuan' has become quite proficient. I wonder how you've progressed in practicing the dominating 'Yuandao Wuji.'"

"'Qi Ruanhua Xuan'?"

"Yes, 'Qi Ruanhua Xuan.' Your father named it himself. It's not mentioned in the ancient texts passed down in your family. He came up with it based on the characteristics of 'qi,' and it seems he didn't tell you about it either."

Xiao Zihan remained silent. His father had never told him about it, not even that the cultivation of his Qi was a family tradition. He recalled the coldness in his father's voice when he was instructed to clean and organize all the books. When he discovered an ancient book placed at the highest position, encased in a simple wooden box with peculiar patterns, his interest was immediately piqued. Now it seemed that it was all intentional on his father's part. However, he couldn't understand why his father didn't personally teach him and instead left him to cultivate on his own – a puzzle that remained unresolved.

Xiao Zihan chose not to delve deeper into these thoughts. Whether his father died by his hand or not, reflecting on his father's affairs only added to his pain.

"Uncle Pu, can we not discuss this for now?" Xiao Zihan's words carried a sense of melancholy.

Pufan, however, was determined. "No, I must speak about it; otherwise, you won't truly free yourself from your father's death. This is not what your father wanted to see. He trained you to understand how much strength one can attain from enduring harsh training since childhood. However, due to certain reasons, he changed his mind. So, he made sure you learned 'Qi Ruanhua Xuan' because he knew it could soften one's character, while 'Yuandao Wuji' had the opposite effect."

"Why did he change his mind?" Xiao Zihan asked expressionlessly.

"A person, your mother."

Xiao Zihan's heart trembled, shocked. "Isn't my mother dead?"

Pufan shook his head. "No, your father lied to you. As a mother, how could she want her son to become a mindless, characterless fighting machine? She couldn't stop your father; she couldn't accept what your father was doing to you. So, she left you when you were very young."

Xiao Zihan's face grew darker, pupils narrowing rapidly, fists clenching audibly.

Seeing Xiao Zihan's expression, Pufan sighed. "Later, your mother confronted your father, perhaps after that, your father began to change his mindset. He knew you hated him, but he didn't know how to make amends for everything he had done to you. In the end, he chose death as compensation."

Xiao Zihan sneered. "What did my mother say to him?"

"I don't know. He didn't mention it in the letter he gave me. He only told me all this and shared the essential method of practicing 'Yuandao Wuji,' instructing me to pass it on to you."

"Where is my mother?"

"In Beiping City. Visit her when you have time. I've been searching for you for the past three years, never expecting you were so close."

By now, the sun had dipped below the horizon, but its lingering glow still warmed the earth, resisting the encroaching cold.

"Don't hate him. It's a mistake that a lonely strongman is bound to make. If it weren't for the letter your father gave me, I might have walked the same path as him." Pufan spoke with profound meaning.

Xiao Zihan forced a bitter smile. "Don't hate him. It sounds easy, but it's incredibly difficult to do. Perhaps his final choice was the right one – to die by my hand, easing my hatred, yet making it unforgettable."

After spending some time at Pufan's martial arts academy, Xiao Zihan returned to Dianheng University. Along the way, Pufan's words lingered in Xiao Zihan's mind. He hadn't expected his mother to be alive, let alone having a son and a daughter, meaning he had a younger brother and sister in the world – something he had never imagined.

Xiao Zihan instructed the taxi driver to stop at the entrance of the faculty housing complex at Dianheng University, paid the fare, and got out of the car. According to Yu Zeming, entering the university through the faculty housing complex and reaching their dormitories would be quicker than going through the main gate.

With his hands in his pockets, Xiao Zihan continued to think about his mother, completely unaware of where he was heading. When he looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, he sighed inwardly; he had gotten lost. In truth, he had no idea about the route from the faculty housing complex to the dormitory. It was just that when the taxi passed by the complex, and he saw the words "Dianheng University Faculty Housing Complex," he suddenly remembered what Yu Zeming had told him and decided to ask the driver to stop.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

It seemed he needed to ask someone for directions. Glancing around, he noticed a food store not far to his left. He walked towards it, intending to inquire. As he pushed the door open, about to ask a question, a slightly familiar figure caught his eye.

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged woman. When she saw someone enter, she glanced towards the door. The person she was talking to also followed her gaze to the entrance.

Xiao Zihan smiled faintly, thinking, "No wonder this figure looks so familiar. How could the beautiful Liuxin Ran not recognize me?" Initially, his mood wasn't great, but upon seeing the graceful and alluring Liuxin Ran, his mood instantly changed for the better.

"Xinran, turns out you're here. I've been looking for you for half a day and couldn't find you anywhere." Xiao Zihan said with a smile.

The shopkeeper, a middle-aged woman, upon seeing the handsome Xiao Zihan and observing the somewhat shy but blushing Liuxin Ran beside him, smiled meaningfully, saying, "Xinran, Auntie has always treated you like a daughter. How can you lie to Auntie? Just now, Auntie asked if you had a sweetheart, and you insisted you didn't. Now, you've brought him here. Look, he's found you."

Liuxin Ran, still somewhat stunned from seeing Xiao Zihan, blushed even more upon hearing the shopkeeper's words. She retorted, "Auntie Li, how can you say that? I don't have a boyfriend, and I don't know him."

Xiao Zihan walked up to Auntie Li, greeted her politely, and then said, "Auntie Li, since you and Xinran are so close, I have to tell you the truth. We've only become close recently. She didn't tell you because she's still testing me, checking if I'm sincere about her. Auntie Li, with your vast life experience, you surely can discern people at a glance. Could you help her assess whether I'm suitable for her?"

Auntie Li scrutinized Xiao Zihan from head to toe. The young man looked good, was well-spoken, and exuded a unique charm when he smiled. For a moment, she seemed transfixed.

Xiao Zihan thought, "Could it be that I'm so charming that even middle-aged women are enchanted by me?" About to awaken Auntie Li, he noticed Liuxin Ran had already walked towards the door.

Politely bidding farewell to Auntie Li, Xiao Zihan quickly followed, leaving behind a mesmerized Auntie Li.

Once Xiao Zihan and Liuxin Ran exited the food store's main door, Auntie Li smirked mysteriously and said, "The young man is not bad. He has passed my initial test."

"Xinran, won't you invite me to your place?" Xiao Zihan said with a smile.

"You better leave quickly; there's no benefit in staying by my side," Liu Xinran's delicate face showed a hint of worry.

"Why wouldn't there be benefits? Enjoying the moonlight with a beautiful lady is a great way to live. Plus, the faint fragrance, which seems to come from nowhere, adds so much more to it." Xiao Zihan deliberately moved closer to Liu Xinran, and he deeply sniffed the air in front of her.

Seeing Xiao Zihan, acting like a scoundrel, leaning towards her, Liu Xinran couldn't help but feel a bit dizzy. As he got closer, a strong masculine scent overwhelmed her senses, causing her to feel lightheaded, and the blush that had just receded returned to her cheeks.

"Xinran, I feel like that fragrance is coming from you; it smells great, like bergamot. What brand of perfume are you using?" Xiao Zihan looked at Liu Xinran in surprise.

"No, no, I never use perfume. It's, it's my natural scent," Liu Xinran's body softened, and she trembled as she spoke.

"Oh?" Xiao Zihan widened his eyes in surprise, then slowly squinted, secretly delighted that he had found something valuable. Liu Xinran was already exceptionally beautiful, and her unique natural fragrance complemented her beauty perfectly. It was simply perfection. All those talks about ominous auras and bad luck were just baseless rumors; Xiao Zihan wondered where Yu Zeming had heard such things. Nevertheless, it was fortunate that there was such a rumor; otherwise, Liu Xinran would have been pursued by others long ago, and he wouldn't have had the chance to pick this precious flower.

However, what puzzled Xiao Zihan was that on the day he and Liu Xinran had close contact, why didn't he smell this fragrance? He sniffed again, and the scent was indeed strong. There was no reason why he couldn't smell it that day. What was going on?

"Xinran, how come I didn't smell this fragrance a few days ago when I saw you?" Xiao Zihan furrowed his brow.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xinran's face turned even redder. Her unique scent only manifested when she was emotionally excited. When she first met Xiao Zihan, she had treated him like any other wandering cultivator. However, after returning home, she couldn't help but think of him. In other words, Xiao Zihan's proximity made her heart beat faster, and her blood flow increased, triggering the release of this unique fragrance. But she couldn't explain this to him; it was too embarrassing.

"I don't know what's going on. This fragrance doesn't always exist; it only appears occasionally. Don't ask me anymore," Liu Xinran said, her expression shyly lowering.

Xiao Zihan had never seen a girl who blushed so easily, but Liu Xinran's shy and beautiful appearance was incredibly captivating. He felt that even after looking a hundred or a thousand times, it still wouldn't be enough.

"Oh, I almost forgot. You should leave quickly; don't stay by my side. Otherwise, you'll be in trouble," Liu Xinran said urgently. As she spoke, a touch of sadness flashed in her eyes.

Xiao Zihan had been watching Liu Xinran all this time, and he had not missed the anxious expression on her face. He could tell that Liu Xinran must know about the school rumors regarding her carrying ominous energy. Because she knew the reason, she was uneasy about him not leaving. He wanted to know the truth.

Liu Xinran was still anxiously pacing, but on the other side, Xiao Zihan seemed relaxed, which annoyed her. Suddenly, her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't had dinner yet.

Xiao Zihan, teasingly, commented, "Xinran, did I just hear thunder?"

Blushing, Liu Xinran spat lightly and remembered that she had gone downstairs to buy jam, leaving the microwave with bread inside. She exclaimed, "Oh, my bread!" and rushed towards Building 3 of the residential area. Xiao Zihan smirked, about to follow her, but then a cold and stern voice came from behind him, "Kid, you better not go in. If you take one more step forward, the consequences won't be something you can handle."

Xiao Zihan, somewhat surprised, turned around to see a dark figure standing about six or seven meters away from him. Xiao Zihan squinted to get a glimpse of the person's face. He was around thirty years old, but his cold expression carried a maturity that exceeded his age. His whole being exuded an intimidating aura, a quality gained only through life and death experiences.

The robust atmosphere on this person was different from Xiao Zihan's, who had lost his aggressive edge after three years of carefree living. In contrast, this man exuded strength at all times.

"Kid, let me tell you. Stay away from Miss Xinran, or I won't be polite," the man warned in a chilly tone.

Xiao Zihan, maintaining his composure, said casually, "Excuse me, brother. What's your relationship with Xinran, and how close or far I am to her is none of your business."

The man's face turned colder, and he sternly said, "Kid, cut the nonsense. I'm telling you again, stay away from Miss Xinran, or I'll make you regret it."

Xiao Zihan chuckled and said, "What do you mean? Are you going to fight me? Alright, if you beat me up, then I'll have to go find Xinran. She'll have to take responsibility for taking care of me. Suffering a bit now might mean enjoying a comfortable life later. Being close to a beauty brings good fortune."

"Kid, you need a lesson." The man spoke and started walking towards Xiao Zihan. His steps were silent, like a ghost. The distance between each step seemed constant, a result of years of practice.

He stopped about three meters in front of Xiao Zihan, and a fierce voice echoed, "Kid, you've got some skill."

Xiao Zihan, trying to hide his aura, was surprised that the man noticed. He remained calm and replied, "Without a bit of skill, how could I dare confront someone like you? Just with the intimidating aura you radiate, I bet you scared away many people trying to get close to Xinran."

"Kid, you have a bit of strength." The man suddenly spoke.

Xiao Zihan was secretly amazed. Although he had hidden his aura, this man still sensed something. Xiao Zihan focused his mind, his face showing no sign of fear.

"Kid, let me make it clear. Keep away from Xinran, or I won't be polite to you." The man spoke with a chilling tone.

Xiao Zihan grinned and said, "What do you mean? Are you going to fight me? Well, if you do, I'll have to find Xinran. She should take responsibility for my care. Hehe, enduring some suffering now might mean enjoying a comfortable life later. The harder to endure, the sweeter to remember."

The man's voice turned colder as he warned, "Kid, don't play games with me."

Xiao Zihan maintained his relaxed posture and responded, "Why so serious? Just trying to make friends. But if you insist, we can have some fun."

The man, with an expressionless face, moved towards Xiao Zihan, and the distance between them gradually closed.

"Kid, you lack discipline." The man said as he approached.

Xiao Zihan, staying calm, replied, "If you say so. But Xinran is in a different situation. She shouldn't be alone. My advice is to let her have some company, or her life will be ruined."

"Better ruined than losing her life," the man said coldly.

At this statement, a touch of sorrow flashed in his eyes like dead water. Then, his right hand moved backward suddenly.

Xiao Zihan thought he was about to attack. Preparing for the worst, he found the muzzle of a pistol aimed at him.

Shocked, Xiao Zihan hadn't expected this man to be carrying a firearm. It indicated that the man's identity was extraordinary.

"Knowing your type, I expected you wouldn't yield easily. Behave yourself. Although it won't take me long to deal with you, I don't have the time. Let me give you a taste of hardship first," the man said before delivering a powerful punch to Xiao Zihan's abdomen.

The punch was heavy, and even with Xiao Zihan's robust physique, he had to crouch down to alleviate the pain. The man was about to launch a continuous attack when a loud shout came from upstairs, "Leng Xing, what are you doing?"

A hint of tenderness flashed in Leng Xing's icy eyes. After glancing at Xiao Zihan, he coldly said, "Consider yourself lucky this time. But remember my words." He turned around and quickly left.

Xiao Zihan rubbed his abdomen, staring at Leng Xing's departing figure until it disappeared. He then commented, "You really don't hold back."

Before he could stand up, urgent footsteps echoed from the 3rd residential building. Liu Xinran, with a worried look, ran down. Due to her haste, she didn't notice the doorstep and stumbled.

"Ah!" Liu Xinran screamed and flew towards Xiao Zihan. In a split second, Xiao Zihan, enduring the pain in his abdomen, extended his arms and smoothly caught the airborne beauty. However, due to the force, they ended up tumbling on the ground.

Startled, Liu Xinran closed her eyes tightly, clenching Xiao Zihan's neck with delicate hands. Her legs straddled Xiao Zihan's body.

Xiao Zihan, lying on the ground, felt like he was about to be choked to death. He coughed twice, and words emerged from his throat, "Xinran, are you trying to strangle me? I can't breathe."

Seeing her hands gripping Xiao Zihan's neck as he described, Liu Xinran blushed, immediately retracting her hands.

Xiao Zihan, still lying down, rubbed his neck, recovering his breath. Suddenly, a mischievous smile appeared on his face as he said, "Xinran, don't you think the place you were sitting was a bit inappropriate?"

Liu Xinran, after hearing this, realized she was sitting on something strange. Curious, she was about to check when she noticed the sly expression on Xiao Zihan's face. She looked at herself and then at Xiao Zihan, realizing she was straddling him, and her bottom was sitting on an intimate area.

With a loud bang in her mind, Liu Xinran felt her entire body heat up. She screamed, like a frightened bird, leaping off Xiao Zihan, running to the side. Her face was as red as if it would drip red ink, her delicate hands intertwined, and tears streamed down her big eyes. She appeared extremely delicate and pitiful, creating a beautiful scene of a tearful beauty.

Xiao Zihan, still lying down, suddenly felt pain on his right shoulder. He instinctively touched it and unexpectedly found a peach pit lodged in his shoulder.

Sighing at his misfortune, Xiao Zihan hadn't felt much during the fall, but now that he moved, the pain was excruciating. He cursed the person who carelessly discarded the peach pit.

With a wry smile and a face full of pain, Xiao Zihan got up. As he stood, he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. The peach pit was wedged in an uncomfortable spot.

Ignoring the pain, Xiao Zihan changed the topic, "How about your bread?"

Liu Xinran, still blushing, sadly replied, "Can't eat it."

Xiao Zihan pulled her hand, "What are you waiting for? Go buy another one."

Liu Xinran, seeing him holding her hand again, panicked and forcefully shook it off. Then she ran into the building.

With a faint smile, Xiao Zihan watched Liu Xinran's slender figure and didn't follow her. He checked his watch; it was getting late, and he should return to the dormitory. He glanced in the direction where Leng Xing had left with a meaningful look, then left with large strides.

After he left, Leng Xing emerged from the shadows, gazing coldly at Xiao Zihan. A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.