Xiao Qing arrived at the Clan Chief’s residence and happened to run into the maid An Ran, who was tending to the flowers and plants in the courtyard.
He stepped forward a few paces and asked politely, “Sister An Ran, is my aunt home today?
I would like to visit her.”
Upon seeing that it was Xiao Qing, the maid An Ran quickly put down the watering can in her hand and bowed with a smile, “Young Master Xiao Qing, please do not humble me like that; just call me An Ran.”
She paused and continued, “The Madam was resting in the courtyard just a moment ago, but not long ago, an honored guest arrived at the estate holding the former Clan Chief’s token.
The Madam has already personally gone to the Council Hall to receive them, and she is likely speaking with the guest there now.”
‘An honored guest?
And holding the former Clan Chief’s token?’ Xiao Qing’s doubts deepened.
The former Clan Chief Xiao Lin had passed away for many years, and old connections had long since faded.
The sudden appearance of such a guest was truly suspicious.
Seeing that Yan Qian was not there, Xiao Qing did not want to overstay his welcome, so he nodded at An Ran, “I see.
Then I won’t disturb you.
If my aunt returns, please let her know I came by.”
“Rest assured, Young Master.” An Ran respectfully acknowledged.
Xiao Qing left the residence full of doubt, but his footsteps unconsciously turned toward the direction of the Council Hall.
He wanted to see what kind of “honored guest” would visit at this time.
…
Inside the Xiao Family’s Council Hall, the atmosphere appeared quite “warm.”
The three Elders of the Xiao Family were currently seated around a middle-aged man with an extraordinary temperament; although his face bore the marks of time, it could not hide his faint majesty.
Their faces were filled with almost sycophantic smiles, and their words were extremely enthusiastic.
This man was, naturally, Gu Yuan, using the pseudonym “Xiao Yuan.”
The Clan Chief’s wife, Yan Qian, sat a little further away with the four-year-old Xiao Yan, quietly listening to their conversation, maintaining a polite but slightly awkward smile on her face.
She did not know this Senior “Xiao Yuan” and could not join the conversation, so she occasionally stood up to pour tea for everyone, fulfilling her duties as the hostess.
The Xiao Family’s Grand Elder glanced with burning eyes at the few jade bottles on the table, which looked ordinary but actually contained subtle spatial fluctuations.
These were clearly gifts Gu Yuan had casually taken out; to the Ancient Clan, they were insignificant, but to the Xiao Family, they were precious treasures.
The wrinkles on the Grand Elder’s face deepened as he smiled, his tone filled with exaggerated gratitude:
“Senior Xiao, you might not know this!
Many years ago, our former Clan Chief Xiao Lin often mentioned you to us Juniors, saying that you were one of the people he respected most in his entire life!” Read the latest chapters at novelping.com.
“If it hadn’t been for your righteous intervention back then to turn the tide, our Xiao Family would likely have ceased to exist long ago!
You are the great benefactor of our entire Xiao Family!”
He spoke with such sincerity that it was as if he wanted to rip his heart out to show the other party.
Decades ago, the Xiao Family had indeed been suppressed by local forces due to conflicts of interest and was once in a precarious situation.
At that time, Xiao Lin, who had just taken over as Clan Chief from the late former Clan Chief, was frantic and overwhelmed.
And Gu Yuan, far away in the Ancient Clan, perhaps due to a subtle sensing of the remaining Bloodline of the Xiao Clan, or perhaps just casually placing a chess piece, had indeed secretly helped and casually offered Xiao Lin a few pointers, helping him achieve a Breakthrough to the Dou Wang Realm.
This kindness, Xiao Lin had always kept in his heart and had mentioned a mysterious “benefactor” to the clan Elders, though the specific details remained vague.
If anyone else were here and knew the truth behind this “kindness” and Gu Yuan’s true identity, they would likely scoff and sneer at it.
This was much like saying, “Gu Yuan of the Ancient Clan, today I fulfill the legacy of my old friend Xiao Xuan to save the Xiao Family in their time of crisis!
To protect the continuation of your Xiao Family Bloodline!”
The Xiao Family had fallen from being the head of the Ancient Eight Clans, with an endless stream of experts within the clan, to the point where the entire clan now only had one Great Dou Master and a few Dou Masters to hold up the facade, and their Cultivation Techniques and Dou Techniques were reduced to only a few Yellow Rank ones, with even Profound Rank ones being few and far between…
The so-called kindness seemed so small and ironic against the backdrop of the clan’s survival.
Gu Yuan, using the pseudonym “Xiao Yuan,” swept his gaze, which appeared calm, over the eager and even somewhat servile faces of the three Elders.
His heart remained undisturbed as he said indifferently, “I haven’t been to the Xiao Family for a long time…
I didn’t expect that after the changes of the world, even that kid Xiao Lin…
has been gone for many years.”
His tone carried a hint of perfectly measured lamentation.
He reached out and gently patted the head of Xun’er, who was sitting quietly beside him, his eyes deep, wondering what he was thinking about.
Yan Qian sat on the side, feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles.
The three Elders’ bottomless flattery made her cringe so hard she wanted to dig a hole in the ground, and she could only use the act of pouring tea to hide her embarrassment.
At this moment, the Xiao Family’s Third Elder seemed to feel that the Grand Elder’s performance was not “sincere” enough.
He glanced at the Grand Elder with slight “dissatisfaction,” and then his face instantly filled with a miserable look, his voice even carrying a hint of choking as he hurriedly interjected:
“Senior Xiao, you don’t know!
The former Clan Chief…
in his final moments, the person he missed the most was you!
He kept mumbling that not being able to see you one last time was his greatest regret!
The Second Elder on the side, seeing that the spotlight was about to be stolen by the two of them, also hurriedly forced himself into the conversation, his voice raised a few notches: “Yes, yes!
What the former Clan Chief talked about most when he was alive was your high righteousness, Senior!”
“He was most grateful and nostalgic for you!
He said you are the eternal benefactor of our Xiao Family!”
Gu Yuan looked at these three Xiao Family Elders, whose cultivation was at most at the Dou Master level, yet who were performing so hard.
He only found it somewhat ridiculous; their strength was likely not even as good as Yan Qian, who was sitting to the side.
But on the surface, he maintained his indifference, only gently shaking his head without saying much.
Yan Qian sat on the side, watching the three Elders, who were usually full of dignity and haughty in the clan, now scrambling to fawn and flatter like commoners, acting out such explicit and even somewhat shocking rhetoric.
She only felt her cheeks burning, extremely embarrassed.
She couldn’t join the conversation at all, so she could only lower her head and silently pour tea for everyone to hide her discomfort.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan, who was sitting beside his mother, although his body was that of a young child, his Soul was that of a mature Transmigration traveler.
His black and white eyes seemed to blink innocently, but in reality, he was rapidly analyzing and roasting them in his heart.
‘Aren’t these three Elders’ acting skills too exaggerated?’
Xiao Yan looked at the Grand Elder’s expression of gratitude that seemed desperate to squeeze out tears, the Third Elder’s feigned miserable choking, and the Second Elder’s eager, forced interjection, and just felt a stomachache.
‘This sycophancy is about to overflow out of the Council Hall.
It seems this so-called Senior ‘Xiao Yuan’ has a significant background; at least the’sincerity’ he brought out is enough to make these three money-grubbing old guys drop all their reserve.’
Xiao Yan continued to take it all in, his heart churning: ‘Pretend, keep pretending!
These three really have no shame for the sake of some benefits!
But this Senior surnamed Xiao is quite composed; it looks like he doesn’t take this flattery seriously at all.
Well, what scene hasn’t a real big shot seen?’
‘And mother…
it’s really hard for her, accompanying them in this awkward chat.’
Xiao Yan glanced at Yan Qian, who was trying hard to keep smiling, and sighed in his heart.
His gaze then turned to the middle-aged man known as “Xiao Yuan.”
This person’s aura was restrained and seemed peaceful, but the majesty of someone who had long held a high position was revealed inadvertently.
‘Truly unfathomable…
This kind of aura is definitely not that of an ordinary person!
And that little girl next to him…’