Chapter 554: Jealousy and Vinegar

Yao Yao!

Song Yan and the others' faces changed drastically, almost turning into several afterimages as they rushed over.

At the same time, Feng Xuanji and Bian Chen on the other side also had their pupils constrict, their faces filled with disbelief, as if they had seen some unbelievable miracle.

After a brief moment of shock, they showed delighted expressions, not caring about anything else, and hurriedly quick-stepped toward the direction where Xie Zixu was.

"Junior Brother!" Feng Xuanji's voice carried a barely perceptible tremor, "You're still alive!"

Meanwhile, among the monster clan prodigies not far away, the Young Prince Xie Ang, the Third Princess Xie Ying, and the Fourth Prince Xie Xu—three of them—saw their formerly calm faces suddenly change dramatically.

At this moment, the phoenix blood in their bodies stirred uncontrollably, and a noble, powerful phoenix aura emanating from deep within their souls faintly spread out.

"He is..." The three exchanged a glance, each seeing deep shock and doubt in the others' eyes.

Ying Wuji stepped forward quickly, reaching out to take the unconscious Yuan Yao from Xie Yan's arms; his motion was urgent and natural, as if it were only right.

But Xie Yan merely shifted his body slightly, avoiding his hand without a trace.

Afterward, he carefully placed the person in his arms into the crook of Xiao Lingwei's arm beside him.

He explained in a steady voice: "Her spiritual power is exhausted, her mental power has collapsed, and she has suffered a strong backlash; she has merely fallen into a deep sleep for now."

Seeing him stare at her while speaking, Cang Li understood that Xie Yan wanted her, as a healer, to properly treat Yao Yao.

"Come inside first, then we'll talk!" Xiao Lingwei decided on the spot, quickly hugging the Yuan Yao in her arms and returning to the barrier area.

Xie Yan's arms suddenly lost that soft warmth and the faint scent lingering on her, and his brow furrowed ever so slightly.

He pressed his thin lips together, his gaze following her like a shadow, never blinking as he tracked the figure in Xiao Lingwei's arms.

If he could, he would hide her away.

But she does not like that.

"Junior Brother?"

"Zixu!"

Feng Xuanji's and Bian Chen's voices sounded almost simultaneously.

Xie Yan looked at them, silent for a few seconds, then said slowly: "There is no longer Xie Zixu in the world; only Xie Yan remains."

Upon hearing that, the two were stunned.

Before they could digest those words, they saw the youth lift his feet and stride toward the barrier area; the hair trailing behind him curled into a few waves, its color a blazing red.

Feng Xuanji and Bian Chen now also understood everything.

Feng Xuanji's eyes reddened.

Seeing this, the human clan prodigies exchanged glances, wanting to say something, but saw Yu Jing raise her hand to make a silencing gesture.

The human clan prodigies fell into silence.

Meanwhile, the monster and demon clan prodigies were now sizing up Xie Yan, their eyes holding a hint of scrutiny and examination.

Xie Yan was extremely handsome, causing many prodigies to stare, dazed.

Xie Yan walked straight toward where Yuan Yao was, but midway someone reached out to block him.

Qian Yunzhou raised an eyebrow and said: "Little Six Sister needs quiet rest now, so you'd better not get too close. Besides, your status is special; I think you should be communicating with your relatives right now."

His eyes coldly fixed on Xie Yan, yet the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

"Isn't that right, Young Prince?"

As soon as those words were spoken, the monster clan prodigies all changed expression.

"He is..."

At that moment, a monster clan prodigy seemed to have received an order, rose abruptly, and sneered: "You're that half-monster lost abroad for many years! What are you, a Young Prince? Now the Monster Emperor is the former Eldest Prince, and the current Young Prince is His Majesty's eldest legitimate son, Xie Ang!"

Another monster clan prodigy immediately chimed in, mocking more intensely: "You're nothing but a mongrel, still dreaming of the Young Prince's position? You ought to have some self-awareness; besides, your kind has long mixed with humans, and you still want to return to our monster realm? Heh, do you even have any shame?"

Xie Ang slowly raised his hand to stop the other monster clan prodigies from speaking further, and he let out a light sigh: "Let bygones be bygones; the Imperial Uncle is doing well in the cultivation world now and will certainly not return to the monster realm. Since that's the case, why must you hurl malicious words at each other?"

Having said that, Xie Ang's tone seemed to carry a hint of warning.

Xie Yan paid them no heed, instead directly pushing aside Qian Yunzhou's hand, walking over to Yuan Yao's side and squatting down.

Song Yan and the others were somewhat surprised, exchanging glances.

Yet Xie Yan's indifference made the monster clan prodigies appear to be performing a solo act.

Quan Li and Quan Fan from the demon clan couldn't help bursting into laughter, their gazes at Xie Ang carrying a teasing tone.

Xie Ang's face stiffened slightly.

Many strange glances frequently fell upon Xie Ang.

Xie Ang's hand, hidden within his sleeves, clenched slightly; he lowered his eyelashes, concealing that trace of resentment and embarrassment.

Among the human clan prodigies, Ying Wuji slightly lifted his eyes, looking at the guard beside him, Xie Yan, and spoke coolly: "Daoist Xie, we can take care of Yao Yao ourselves."

"I want to watch her." Xie Yan's gaze remained fixed on Yuan Yao's face.

Upon hearing that, Ying Wuji's brows furrowed slightly; seeing Xie Yan like this, he couldn't help recalling his previous life, when he seemed to regard nothing in the world, cold-hearted and ruthless, his strikes extremely vicious, his obsession and madness……

Song Yan felt that Xie Yan constantly staring at Yao Yao was somewhat improper, so he suggested: "Daoist Xie, thank you for your goodwill. You should also be injured; you can first sit here to meditate and rest."

"Yeah." Qian Yunzhou also walked over, speaking in a cool tone: "Even if you look at Little Six Sister a few more times, she won't wake up sooner, and it will only invite gossip from others. Your reputation can be sacrificed, but Little Six Sister's reputation must not be ruined by you."

Xie Yan raised his head, looking toward Qian Yunzhou.

"You two, stay far away from me." Xiao Lingwei furrowed her brows, giving them both a cold glance.

Xie Yan's fingers twitched slightly; he turned his head, glanced at Yuan Yao, then rose and walked to a place not far away.

Qian Yunzhou gave Xiao Lingwei a slight nod, then also walked away.

After they had left, Cang Li sent a mental transmission to Song Yan and the others: "Did you notice?"

Song Yan blinked in confusion: "Notice what?"

"Those two obviously have feelings for Yao Yao, so they're jealous and competing for her affection!" Cang Li said mysteriously: "I've noticed that several other prodigies also like our Yao Yao, but they……"

Before Cang Li could finish the transmission, Xiao Lingwei reached out and slapped him on the back of the head.

Cang Li hissed in pain, he rubbed the back of his head, and exclaimed, "Second Senior Sister, why did you hit me?"

Xiao Lingwei said coldly, "Is your focus off? What matters most now is Yuan Yao's physical condition, not these jealous quarrels."

"But I just examined her, and Yuan Yao's condition is fine; she just needs quiet rest," Cang Li said, feeling aggrieved.

Before Yuan Yao was sent back by Xie Yan, she must have taken a high-grade Healing Wound Pill and received meticulous treatment.