At this moment, Xiao Yan’s gaze began to shift toward the little girl sitting quietly beside Gu Yuan.
The little girl looked to be about three or four years old, wearing a light purple dress, her features as exquisite as if carved from jade.
In those clear, lively large eyes, there was a calmness and a hint of coldness that shouldn’t belong to this age; she just sat there quietly, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.
‘Hm, this little girl is quite cute, just like a porcelain doll.’
Xiao Yan, with the aesthetic judgment of an adult in his heart, began to evaluate Gu Xun’er.
‘However, she looks a bit cold and doesn’t seem very approachable.
Is this little girl’s name supposed to be ‘Xun’er’?
What a nice name!
Is she this big shot’s daughter?
What is the meaning of sending her to our Xiao Family?
Boarding?
Foster care?
Or is there some kind of special purpose?’
While guessing aimlessly, he continued to maintain the ignorant expression that a four-year-old child should have, even deliberately tilting his head to appear more “innocent.”
He thought, ‘This Xiao Family, the water seems even deeper than I imagined.
This ‘benefactor’ who suddenly popped up, bringing along such an excessively cute little girl, always feels not so simple!’
Xiao Yan cast his gaze once again toward the little girl named Xun’er, just in time to meet her occasionally raised, clear, yet emotionless gaze.
If Xiao Qing were here, he would probably feel that if Xiao Yan suddenly blurted out, ‘I have seen this younger sister before,’ it wouldn’t be strange at all.
Just then, Xiao Zhan’s figure appeared at the entrance of the Council Hall.
He walked in with steady steps, his gaze immediately falling upon that middle-aged man with an extraordinary temperament.
Seeing this, the Grand Elder hurriedly stood up, his face full of smiles as he introduced the two sides: “Clan Chief, you’ve finally arrived!
This is Senior Xiao Yuan, whom the late Clan Chief often mentioned during his lifetime and who has a great favor to our Xiao Family!”
The Grand Elder then turned to Gu Yuan and said respectfully: “Senior Xiao, this is our Xiao Family’s current Clan Chief, Xiao Zhan.”
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan was suddenly enlightened.
So it was that benefactor whom his father deeply respected during his lifetime who had arrived!
Xiao Zhan dared not be negligent; he immediately stepped forward a few paces, bowed solemnly to Gu Yuan, and said with a sincere tone: “Junior Xiao Zhan, greets Senior Xiao!
I have often heard my late father speak of Senior’s kindness; seeing you today is truly this Junior’s good fortune!”
Although Xiao Zhan had secretly advanced to Dou Ling, facing this figure who had once helped his father break through to Dou Wang and appeared to be a generation older than his father, Xiao Zhan’s heart was filled with awe.
He secretly guessed that the other party was at least a Dou Huang level powerhouse, so he kept his posture very low at this moment.
Gu Yuan nodded slightly, acknowledging the greeting, then looked at Xiao Zhan with a calm gaze and stated his purpose directly: “Clan Chief Xiao Zhan, no need for such formalities!
I have indeed come this time to entrust you with a matter.”
“I would like to let my daughter, Xun’er, stay temporarily in the Xiao Family for a period of time.
When the day comes, I will come to take her back.”
Although his tone was plain, it carried an unquestionable meaning.
Although Xiao Zhan was somewhat surprised, he did not show it at all on his face and immediately promised solemnly: “It is the honor of our Xiao Family that Young Miss Xiao can stay in our Xiao Family for a long time!
Senior, rest assured, everyone in the Xiao Family will take care of her attentively, and we will never let Young Miss Xiao suffer even the slightest grievance!”
Gu Yuan shook his head, sighed lightly, and then said in a plain yet profound tone: “No need for special care; just treat her as you would any ordinary member of the clan.”
“Letting her experience ordinary life is the best.”
The two Clan Chiefs—one standing at the very Peak of the continent as the leader of an Ancient Emperor Clan, and the other as the Clan Chief of a fallen Ancient Emperor Clan, the Xiao Family—had, in this brief conversation, once again completed an intersection that spanned a thousand years of time, was of extraordinary significance, yet carried some unknown meaning!
At this time, Xiao Qing’s figure also arrived outside the entrance of the Council Hall.
He did not rush to go inside but stood at the doorway, his gaze looking at the scene inside the hall.
At this moment, everyone in the hall naturally noticed that there was an additional figure of a youth outside the door.
‘Is it Qing’er?’ Xiao Zhan’s heart stirred slightly, and a trace of joy flashed in his eyes.
And Gu Yuan’s gaze, from the very moment Xiao Qing appeared, had already swept, seemingly unintentionally, over the simple black ring on Xiao Qing’s finger, the bone flame ring!
This gaze seemed very casual, yet it seemed to be able to see through all falsehoods; everything appeared pale and powerless in his eyes.
Xiao Qing keenly captured Gu Yuan’s fleeting, inquisitive gaze, his heart suddenly chilled, and his pupils began to contract!
‘Not good!
Is it Gu Yuan, this old codger?!’
Only now did Xiao Qing realize that this middle-aged man in hemp clothing was Gu Yuan!
At this point in time, a middle-aged man with unfathomable aura, wearing simple hemp clothing, visiting the Xiao Family with a three or four-year-old little girl?