Chapter 76: The Arrival of Xun Er

Xiao Zhan was quite satisfied with Guqing's attitude; since that was the case, it would not be right for him to put on a sour face for the man.

He greeted Guqing as well, then immediately turned his gaze toward the little girl, whose face was pale and whose frame was trembling slightly.

"This must be the young lady Xun Er from the Gu family, right?" Xiao Zhan asked Guqing.

"Yes," Guqing said politely, "I leave the young lady in your care, Clan Leader Xiao."

Looking at Xun Er with a somewhat complex expression, a trace of reluctance flashed in his heart. After spending many days together, Guqing felt some sympathy for this young lady, whom the clan valued quite highly.

"Leaving one's home and native land, it is nothing more than this, is it?" he sighed to himself.

To have to live alone in a strange environment just after beginning to form memories was, in his view, truly too cruel, but the Clan Leader's decision was clearly not something a common Elder like him could interfere with.

"Please rest assured, niece Xun Er will not suffer any grievances while she is with me," Xiao Zhan said with a solemn vow.

At the same time, he prepared to ask his wife to help look after her; perhaps it would even put his wife in a better mood.

Just thinking about it made Xiao Zhan feel sorrowful. He, the dignified Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan and an Emperor-level expert, had actually been sleeping on a floor mat in the study for the past few days.

He did not know if it was menopause, but Xiao Long had seemed somewhat irritable lately. The three Xiao brothers plus Xiao Zhan—all four grown men—had been beaten by Xiao Long.

Perhaps their household had too much yang energy; now that Xun Er had been sent over, it could balance things out, Xiao Zhan calculated in his heart.

Looking at the little girl, who seemed to be in poor health, it was truly pitiable. She was also so cute that his wife would definitely not refuse.

……

After the people from the Ancient Clan left, Xiao Zhan brought Xun Er before Xiao Long.

Just as Xiao Zhan had expected, Xiao Long was currently looking at the somewhat delicate and shy Xun Er with stars in her eyes.

With the air of a wicked auntie about to kidnap a child, she asked with a grin: "You are Xun Er, right?"

Xun Er first glanced at Xiao Zhan, then slowly nodded in affirmation.

Xiao Long finally could not hold back, "Come, let Auntie Long give you a hug."

Without waiting for Xun Er to reply, Xiao Long suddenly moved forward and pulled Xun Er directly into her embrace. A thick, maternal aura radiated out, soothing Xun Er's originally uneasy heart.

Before long, Xun Er, exhausted from her long journey, fell into a deep sleep.

Xiao Long held Xun Er quietly in her arms, then looked at Xiao Zhan with a serious expression: "Well, is this the little girl?"

"That's right." Clearly, Xiao Zhan had no intention of hiding anything.

"Very well, this girl will be our daughter from now on,"

Xiao Long said, looking at Xun Er's sleeping face with joy, her words truly shocking.

"Wife, you..." Xiao Zhan said, somewhat flustered.

"Enough, I know what you are thinking." Rolling her eyes, Xiao Long pursed her lips.

"I mean that from now on, Xun Er will live in our home, and we will raise her as our own daughter."

"That is only natural." Xiao Zhan breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought his wife truly intended to "claim her as her own"; that would have been difficult for him to handle!

"Then it's settled," Xiao Long said, her tone carrying a strong sense of threat,

"If I find out that you and the boys are bullying her, hmph hmph~"

That look made Xiao Zhan's heart tremble, but immediately after, he felt fortunate; it seemed the days ahead would be much easier.

If he could build a good relationship with niece Xun Er, his treatment would definitely not be bad.

He still needed to warn those three little brats early, so as not to offend the "sacred presence" and risk being implicated himself—that would be bad.

At this moment, Xiao Long was still muttering: "Why is this little girl Xun Er so weak? She really needs more care and nourishment."

Seeing his wife's state, Xiao Zhan knew he was no longer needed here. Now it was time to go see Yan Er; that little guy's talent for cultivation was not bad at all!

However, before that, there were still things to be done.

Walking out the front door, Xiao Zhan glanced at a certain corner, then headed toward the back mountain of the Xiao Clan.

"Come out!"

After arriving at the back mountain, Xiao Zhan spoke directly.

As soon as his voice fell, a black figure appeared before Xiao Zhan and bowed respectfully: "I am Ling Ying, paying respects to Clan Leader Xiao."

Xiao Zhan nodded faintly, "Your young lady will be fine in my Xiao Clan."

Upon hearing this, Ling Ying thought Xiao Zhan was going to drive him away; if that happened, he would have no way to answer to the Clan Leader!

As a servant, although Ling Ying's strength was not high, since he could obtain the task of protecting Xun Er, he was naturally among the trusted confidants.

If he just slunk away like that, how could he be worthy of the Clan Leader's trust?

Just as he was about to say something, "Clan Leader Xiao..."

"However, to put your mind at ease, you may secretly follow by Xun Er's side from now on."

Xiao Zhan continued: "Only, if you dare to do anything to the Xiao Clan..."

Xiao Zhan did not finish this sentence, yet Ling Ying could fully grasp the miserable fate that awaited him if he disobeyed.

"Many thanks, Clan Leader Xiao. My task is only to protect the young lady," Ling Ying said cautiously, devoid of any arrogance from a great clan.

There was no help for it; after all, Ling Ying was not one of those idiots from today's advance team.

Before being sent to the Xiao Clan, Gu Yuan had specifically met with him to tell him about the Xiao Clan's strength, especially that the Clan Leader, Xiao Zhan, was an Emperor-level expert.

As a mere Emperor-level expert himself, no matter how much he boasted, he would never be a match for an Emperor!

Although the Ancient Clan was strong, distant water could not quench a near thirst!

Ling Ying had circled the Xiao Clan today; even with a special Cultivation Method that could hide his form and aura, he had still nearly been discovered several times.

In his perception, there were no fewer than ten experts in the Xiao Clan who could kill him. In a place like this, if he dared to act up, the Xiao Clan would dare to kill him!

Now, he had even been plucked out directly and cleanly by Xiao Zhan.

Sigh! Time to lie flat!

Although slacking off did not fit his professional standards, did the young lady really need his protection?

Today, he had seen the Xiao Clan's matriarch's attitude toward the young lady clearly; it seemed even the Clan Leader had never cared for the young lady that much.

Furthermore, he could also stay behind; he would only need to move from the shadows into the light.

It is all the same!

"Very good," Xiao Zhan had a rather favorable impression of Ling Ying, who understood etiquette and knew when to advance or retreat.

"If there is anything you need help with, you may also contact my Xiao Clan."

"Many thanks, Clan Leader Xiao." Ling Ying was somewhat moved; with this promise from Xiao Zhan, it would be much more convenient for him to act in the future.

After finishing his conversation with Ling Ying, Xiao Zhan left directly, preparing to go visit Xiao Yan, who had just begun cultivation in the last few days.

And Xiao Yan was currently bewildered as well.

Over the past few years, although he had long known that this was a world possessing extraordinary power,

this was the first time he had personally experienced this thing called Dou Qi.

Feeling the faint Dou Qi within his body, Xiao Yan clenched his fist, filled with a sense of unreality.

Following that, he gritted his teeth and slammed a punch onto the sandalwood table.

Only a muffled thud was heard, and Xiao Yan's face flushed red,

"Urgh—"

A pig-like shriek escaped from his tightly shut mouth.

"Yan'er, are you there?"

Xiao Zhan's sudden arrival made Xiao Yan abandon the idea of continuing his experiment, preparing to seek another opportunity.

"I am here, Father." Xiao Yan opened the door and walked out. Due to the presence of his mother, Xiao Long, Xiao Yan had integrated into this world quite quickly, and his relationship with his family was good.