Xia Yan had grown up in the Wolong Martial Sect since she was a child.
Not only was she hailed as a prodigy from a young age, but her status was also extraordinary.
Ever since she was little, she had been doted upon by all manner of influential figures. Even in a place like the Wolong Martial Sect, she existed much like a princess.
Because of this, everyone around her — men and women, young and old — fawned over her and even feared her.
Ever since she was young, Xia Yan had been troubled by one thing: she had no true friends, because she could never be sure who was sincere toward her.
It was only when Xia Yan turned sixteen that she met a friend who genuinely cared about her.
That friend was a girl her own age who, due to her special Heavenly Bestowed Divine Body, had been brought into the Wolong Martial Sect at a very young age.
Her name was Zhao Xiaobu.
Because of her sincerity and their shared interests, Xia Yan and Zhao Xiaobu quickly became the closest of friends.
Though Xia Yan cherished this hard-won friend deeply, having been spoiled since childhood, she inevitably had something of a young lady's temper.
That temper frequently flared at Zhao Xiaobu.
But Zhao Xiaobu never got angry, and she never changed her attitude toward Xia Yan because of it.
This only made Xia Yan treasure Zhao Xiaobu even more.
During a cultivation session, however, Xia Yan's greed led her into a great calamity.
At the critical moment, it was Zhao Xiaobu who stepped forward and saved Xia Yan.
Xia Yan survived, but Zhao Xiaobu was left gravely wounded.
To save Zhao Xiaobu, Xia Yan's grandfather even invited the Sect Master of the Wolong Martial Sect himself to treat her injuries.
But the wounds were too severe. In the end, Zhao Xiaobu died.
Xia Yan was devastated, and she felt immense guilt toward Zhao Xiaobu.
She desperately wanted to make amends, but the dead cannot return to life. If Xia Yan was to make up for what she had done, she would have to find another way.
As it happened, Zhao Xiaobu had once told Xia Yan that she had a younger brother.
That brother's name was Zhao Xiaoran.
Zhao Xiaobu and Zhao Xiaoran's parents had died when they were young, and the two siblings had relied on each other to survive.
After Zhao Xiaobu was brought into the Wolong Martial Sect, only Zhao Xiaoran was left out in the world alone.
Zhao Xiaobu had always been deeply concerned about her younger brother. She had pleaded with the elders many times to bring him into the Wolong Martial Sect as well.
But because Zhao Xiaoran's talent fell short of the requirements, her requests were never granted.
Before she died, for the first time, she made a request of Xia Yan.
She asked Xia Yan to use her connections and find some way to look after her brother Zhao Xiaoran — at the very least, to ensure that Zhao Xiaoran survived.
To make amends for Zhao Xiaobu, Xia Yan agreed.
After Zhao Xiaobu's death, she begged her grandfather to bring Zhao Xiaoran into the Wolong Martial Sect.
Zhao Xiaoran's talent was extremely poor, so her grandfather naturally refused. But when he saw Xia Yan moping around day after day, despondent and listless, with no desire even to cultivate, Xia Yan's grandfather had no choice but to make an exception and bring Zhao Xiaoran into the Wolong Martial Sect.
Once Zhao Xiaoran entered the Wolong Martial Sect, Xia Yan immediately adopted him as her sworn younger brother and treated him… with extraordinary indulgence.
Xia Yan poured all of the guilt she owed Zhao Xiaobu into Zhao Xiaoran.
And Zhao Xiaoran — that was Xia Ran.
After being acknowledged as Xia Yan's brother, he had changed his surname of his own accord, renaming himself from Zhao Xiaoran to Xia Ran.
Xia Yan did not approve of this. She despised it, even.
She had no genuine affection for Zhao Xiaoran. Her kindness toward him was entirely because of Zhao Xiaobu.
But every time she thought of Zhao Xiaobu, Xia Yan's heart softened, and she grew even more lenient with Xia Ran. Whenever Xia Ran caused trouble, regardless of right or wrong, Xia Yan would cover for him.
Over time, in the eyes of outsiders, Xia Ran had become the younger brother whom Xia Yan spoiled beyond measure.
"So it's not that you didn't know what Xia Ran was doing."
"You just wanted to take care of Zhao Xiaobu's brother on her behalf."
Chu Feng asked.
"You might not believe me, but I actually find Xia Ran very detestable."
Xia Yan said to Chu Feng.