"Of Course, how can I forget someone from my village?"

He could figure out that she was from his village from the way she talked to him. Moreover, she had a low cultivation of origin realm, meaning that she was of a similar or younger age than Huan Tian.

She even joined the Beast King Sect as a disciple, meaning she was talented too, giving him a rough idea of her age.

Next, she asked if he remembered her, meaning she was not that close to the original Huan Tian.

From all this information, Ashen could narrow down the possibilities to two — a friend or a simple acquaintance.

He removed lover from the list of possibilities since that would be someone difficult to forget. Moreover, the way she acted didn't resemble a lover.

Ni Yan, unaware of all this, was relieved by his answer:

"Thank the heavens! I thought you forgot me and the promise you made to me years ago!" She spoke in a playful manner.

Here, Ashen acted to try to remember:

"Promise... I don't seem to recall it clearly since it has been so long. Can you remind me what it was?"

Ni Yan, visibly displeased by this, forced a smile as she reminded:

"Huan Tian, you promised me that you would join the Beast King Sect and then marry me, making me your one and only bride! I have been waiting for you for so long! Why were you so cruel to me? You don't even remember the promise that you made yourself!"

Ashen's gaze saw right through her pitiful act. He knew how Huan Tian was treated by others.

There was no way someone as beautiful as Ni Yan would wait for Huan Tian, whose future was collectively seen as cursed and dark.

It was obvious she was here for the status of being the Beast Sovereign's Successor's spouse, not for Huan Tian.

Now, Ashen was only considering how to deal with her.

Should he let her leave unscathed or make use of her?

Well, of course, making use of her was the correct choice, right?

He glanced at the back of Ni Yan, looking at Yu Li as he pointed and asked with a gentle smile:

"Is that your friend? Won't you introduce her to me??"

Ni Yan was delighted to oblige to his request since this gave her a chance to show her status to Yu Li and prove to her that Huan Tian still loved her.

She called Yu Li to her side before introducing:

"She is my best friend, Yu Li, a disciple of the Jade Qilin Peak like me."

Yu Li gracefully greeted Ashen: "Nice to meet you, Lord Huan Tian!"

Ashen responded with a nod before requesting:

"Miss Yu Li, why don't you tell me about your best friend here? It's been so long since I saw her last. I would like to know how much she has changed."

It was simply a question to know about Ni Yan since Ashen didn't even know her name.

Yu Li immediately began to put Ni Yan on a pedestal as the most desirable woman in the world who only had eyes for Huan Tian.

She exaggerated and fabricated lies about how much she waited for Huan Tian, rejecting proposals from other male disciples of the sect, all in the hopes that Huan Tian would return for her.

Even Hu Shui, who was standing behind Ashen all this time, could tell that all of these were fabricated lies just from how ridiculous they were.

Only a blind person would believe these illogical words of hers.

This long speech of Yu Li gave Ashen enough time to come up with a plan to put Ni Yan to good use.

After Yu Li was finished, Ashen calmly said:

"Ni Yan, I'm sorry for making you wait this long; however, I know that, being as magnanimous as you are, you will forgive me, right?"

"Of course! I know how difficult it must have been for you without me!" Ni Yan spoke sympathetically.

Ashen smiled gently before speaking:

"Ni Yan, I cannot fulfill the promise I made to you before I help Princess Fanrong win the Conqueror's Battlefield, and for that, I need your help!"

"Of course, I'll help my future husband! Tell me what I need to do," Ni Yan replied, eager to help.

"Ni Yan, I'll be leaving the Princess's side to take care of an important matter. Will you be by the princess's side in my stead? Help her till I return."

"Of course, leave it to me!"

Alright! I've gained a free spy who'll give me the whole report about what happened in my absence!

Ashen mused before ordering Hu Shui:

"Hu Shui, guide the two ladies to Princess Fanrong's side. I'll leave with the other tiger kings. Come and join us when you are done with the given task!"

Hu Shui nodded: "I understand, Master!"

"I'll wait for you, Huan Tian!" Ni Yan muttered with a soft gaze before leaving to follow Hu Shui.

Ashen flew ahead, taking the four tiger Kings with him. Their destination was the same forest where he had captured them.

Soon after, Hu Shui was able to catch up to them.

Ashen was lying on the back of Moyun, the Infernal Flame Tiger King, since he had the softest back among all the tiger kings.

Since it would take hours to reach the forest, Ashen reminisced of the day that haunts him to this day——

The Day when Xiran returned...

Two days before the Emperor's Birthday,

A carriage entered the Shang Clan's gates, bearing a letter from Ashen. The letter itself served as the carriage's pass, its authenticity confirmed by Ashen's personal seal stamped at the end.

This carriage housed three people: Chen Jie, the servant of Ashen's mansion, Li Xiran, the gorgeous woman who took Ashen's virginity, and the girl from Xiran's Village.

Xiran was no longer the immature girl she was back then; maturity had begun to take over her.

Losing her village, she couldn't smile like before, nor was she cheerful like the girl she was; however, she had a light, mature smile on her face, thinking about the reunion she was about to have with the love of her life.

She hadn't even missed her dead parents as much as she missed Ashen; however, that didn't mean that she had forgotten the massacre of her village.

She planned to request Ashen's help in taking her revenge, which further added to her joy of meeting Ashen.

Holding the small girl's hand, she walked into the huge Shang Clan's palace where Ashen was residing, her heart racing with anticipation, thinking about how she would react when she would come face to face with Ashen.

However, calming her racing heart, she walked with grace, following the servant who was guiding her to Ashen's room.

Standing in front of his room, she took a deep breath before knocking on the door:

Knock! Knock!

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(A/N - Thanks for reading. ^..^)