In short, because of the Calamity Poison Body, Xiao Yi Xian, despite being innocent and kind, had never had anyone really get close to her heart. Xiao Yi Xian, having accidentally killed her relatives and villagers as a child when the Calamity Poison Body erupted, always felt guilty, which is why she chose to become a healer and tend to the sick for Mercenary Groups as a way of atonement. Although she was well-liked in Qing Shan Town, there wasn't a single person of importance to her there.
That's why she felt so special about Xu Ran.
If Xiao Huohuo had given her a chance, perhaps Xiao Yi Xian would have clung to him, looking at him as her everything.
But Xiao Yan missed out on someone who had eyes only for him.
However, it ended up being to his advantage, as Xiao Huohuo finally met with tragedy in this world at his hands. This was his punishment for flirting without the intention of taking responsibility. If you're not going to be with someone, then don't act charming and flirt.
"What about Canaan Academy? It's not like I don't know about your philandering ways, you scoundrel," Xiao Yi Xian gave Xu Ran a sidelong glance. She didn't need Xu Ran to say it; she knew he must have left affections scattered all around Canaan Academy, certainly adding many more 'sisters' to his list.
Canaan Academy has many of Heaven's Proud Daughters from different places, so there surely would be no shortage of beautiful girls.
"You don't care?"
"That depends on the situation. Who knows if they are all that outstanding? If they are narrow-minded women who aren't that great then I... Although I can't make decisions, Yun Yun and the others definitely wouldn't agree," Xiao Yi Xian realized she wasn't Xu Ran's legal wife, so she banded together with Yun Yun and the others to warn Xu Ran.
Especially about visiting brothels... Even though Xu Ran presumably wouldn't have such poor taste, he still needed to be careful.
What if Xu Ran went someplace and caught something unhealthy, then passed it on to all of them?
"Of course, of course, I know my limits. They are all excellent and very sociable, and wouldn't cause the kind of trouble you imagine," Xu Ran quickly explained. Infighting within the "Harem" wasn't common on his side. Since they all knew Xu Ran disliked that behavior, they wouldn't escalate conflicts to that extent, even if they had them.
"Well, that's good. I'm not one of those unreasonable women." She was, after all, one of the latter arrivals; how could she pick on Xu Ran about this? If Xu Ran wasn't a philanderer, she would still be treating the mercenaries in her original group. That's why she was rather open-minded about Xu Ran's philandering. The reason she was angry today was that when she had gone to find Xu Ran, she happened to see both Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran with him... and out of shame and rage, she ended up being petulant all day long.
Xu Ran thought that if Xiao Yi Xian went to Canaan Academy, he didn't know if she would get angry, but she surely wouldn't talk to him for several days. However, he had just managed to placate her, so Xu Ran certainly wouldn't bring up Gu Yuena and the others at an inopportune time.
If Xiao Yi Xian knew about the many romantic debts he owed outside...
Xu Ran's defeat of Hun Miesheng was something that, other than Queen Medusa and the Moon Charm Serpent Tribe, nobody else knew about—those strong among the Snake-People Tribe were unaware that they had unknowingly avoided an utter catastrophe.
However, upon returning, Xu Ran's battle with the Void-swallowing Flame was clearly visible to the Snake-People Tribe. The whole Jia Ma Empire saw it clearly, too, and combined with the rumors spreading from the Yunlan Sect, the storytellers took to lavishly praising Xu Ran again over the last few days, digging up everything from his relationship with the Yunlan Sect to the Xiao Family's entire history.
At the same time, the news of Xiao Yan leading strong fighters against the Snake-People Tribe, the Jia Ma Empire, and the Yunlan Sect was also revealed.
Anyone from the Jia Ma Empire had nothing but curses for Xiao Yan.
If it weren't for Xu Ran, the entire Jia Ma Empire would have been doomed.
Apart from the Yunlan Sect and the Snake-People Tribe, the Mittel Family and the Jia Ma Empire's royal household also faced mass slaughter by the Hun Clan experts, but they were all dealt with by Hun Miesheng who arrived just in time. Even though these factions all suffered losses, the losses were within a controllable range.
"Speaking of which, Lord Xu Ran took out that super expert brought by Xiao Yan with just one move," someone said.
"I originally thought Lord Xu Ran might be a Dou Zong expert. I never imagined that his strength was beyond our capacity to guess," was heard all over the tavern amidst voices of reverence and gratitude towards Xu Ran. The wise ones all knew that if Xu Ran hadn't made a move the day before, when that black flame fell, all of them would have had no place to be buried. Xu Ran was truly their lifesaver. Even those who had once envied Xu Ran's good fortune now saw the light, celebrating the hero winning the beauty as a splendid tale.
Despite his formidable strength, Lord Xu Ran didn't scorn their status, but instead, interacted with them who were weaker, and just that alone was enough to endear him to them greatly.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan was met with nothing but a slew of harsh curses.
"Alas. Lord Xu Ran had never expected Xiao Yan to crazily strike out against the Xiao Family in his delusion, so after he saved the Snake-People Tribe, he hurried to the Yunlan Sect. Who could have predicted that Xiao Yan would actually strike down his own family? Clan Leader Xiao Zhan died by his hand, and that was his own father!"
"Xiao Yan, this insane piece of human trash. I heard rumours before that he had personally killed his two brothers and I thought they were just rumors. Not until the Xiao Clan was laid to ruin by Xiao Yan's hands did I realize he had truly lost all humanity," someone else chimed in.
"You should think about it. If Xiao Yan didn't have the terrible character as the rumors said, how could the Xiao Family have been driven out, and why would Miss Nalan Yanran have broken off the engagement?"
"Back in the day, when Miss Nalan Yanran went to confront Xiao Yan, we had many complaints, but it turns out she possessed true foresight, having seen through Xiao Yan early on. It's fortunate the two never ended up together, otherwise Miss Nalan Yanran might have been harmed by such a heartless wretch today."
Xiao Yan had become the very embodiment of a devil devoid of all humanity. It was said that many people even used stories of Xiao Yan's evil to scare children.
Xu Ran had no sympathy whatsoever for Xiao Yan.
When Xu Ran arrived among the Snake-People Tribe, he was met with endless cheers. The beauties of the Snake-People Tribe danced and sang, welcoming him in their own way.
The relationship between Xu Ran and Queen Medusa was also a source of pride for the Snake-People Tribe.
With a peerless expert like Xu Ran as their protector, the Snake-People Tribe could now rest easy. Even the most conservative among them realized that the Snake-People Tribe had struck it big this time.
Xu Ran also established a Spatial Wormhole within the Snake-People Tribe, which left its upper echelons thoroughly astonished. Claiming a Spatial Wormhole meant the Snake-People Tribe now had a powerful trump card in their possession.
Spatial Wormholes, if unable to be defended, can spell disaster for a faction. But for those who can defend them, it's a never-ending source of wealth. The relationship between the Snake-People Tribe and Xu Ran had long been brought to light, which naturally belonged to the latter category.