Chapter 44

In stark contrast to Jiang Yan's situation was Tantai Yu'er.

With exceptional talent, Tantai Yu'er had cultivated to the fifth layer of the Postnatal Realm, becoming an inner disciple of the Qianshan Sect, and had even gotten involved with Kou Qing, the only son of the Qianshan Sect Master's own son.

This led Tantai Sheng to develop the idea of being unwilling to marry his daughter to Jiang Yan, who had already become a cripple.

On top of that, Tantai Yu'er had also publicly expressed her disdain for Jiang Yan.

In the end, a few days ago, Tantai Sheng, upholding the two families' friendship of more than ten years, gave the Jiang family advance notice of the news that his daughter would soon come to Dengmen to break off the engagement, so Jiang Hongwen could prepare early and avoid the two families losing face when the time came.

However, if it were only this, Jiang Hongwen would not have come to the main family to seek help.

"According to information we inadvertently obtained, that Kou Qing will also be visiting our Jiang family together with Tantai Yu'er. I've heard this Kou Qing has an erratic temperament, a narrow mind, and repays every grievance. If something were to happen at that time, I'm afraid our Xuancheng Jiang family would be in danger…"

Jiang Hongwen said with deep worry.

Unless absolutely necessary, he would not have come to the main family, but the danger contained within was already enough to destroy the Jiang family; he did not dare to gamble, nor could he afford to gamble.

Only the main family had the chance to resolve this crisis.

It was just that the Qianshan Sect's power was great; even though the main family possessed two Purple Mansion cultivators, it was not certain they would choose to step forward and offend the Qianshan Sect for the sake of their small branch family.

Just as Jiang Hongwen lowered his head, his heart filled with unease.

Jiang Daoxuan's expression, however, grew increasingly strange.

This sense of déjà vu, this familiarity — seemed to have been heard somewhere before?

Originally a genius… suddenly unable to cultivate… became the family's waste… no abnormality could be found… engagement broken off…….

Wait, does this Jiang Yan have a ring with an old grandpa in it?

Jiang Daoxuan raised both brows, suddenly gaining a bit of interest, then looked at Jiang Hongwen: "Rest assured, whether branch family or main line, all are blood of my Jiang family. How could this clan leader stand by and watch you face such a risk of annihilation?"

"Besides, so what of the Qianshan Sect? If they wish to annihilate my Jiang family's blood, just with them? They don't have the qualifications!"

The moment these words were spoken, Jiang Hongwen suddenly raised his head, looking at Jiang Daoxuan with an expression of utter disbelief.

He had never imagined that even after he laid out every risk one by one, his own clan leader had not hesitated in the slightest, agreeing instantly.

One must know that to request the clan leader's intervention, he had thought of many methods along the way.

But he hadn't expected that, before any of those methods could even be used, the clan leader had agreed readily.

Because the entire process went too smoothly, it even gave him the absurd illusion that he might be dreaming!

After a few breaths, Jiang Hongwen calmed his emotions, looked at Jiang Daoxuan, his voice slightly trembling: "Clan… clan leader, you truly…?"

Although he had already heard the other's definite answer, he still instinctively could not quite believe it.

Jiang Daoxuan's gaze shifted slightly as he looked toward the doorway, gazing into the distance, as if seeing the Qianshan Sect: "Set your mind at ease; in this matter, I will naturally step forward."

"Many thanks, Clan Leader my lord, for your aid!"

Jiang Hongwen's heart was greatly settled, and an intense joy could not help but show on his face.

The experiences along the way to Wudan City had naturally let him understand just what kind of powerful existence this clan leader of the main family truly was.

With such a powerful figure holding the line, presumably that Kou Qing would also rein himself in a bit… right?

"Rise. After this matter is settled, you may leave Xuancheng and come to Wudan City to settle down."

Jiang Daoxuan grasped Jiang Hongwen's hands and slowly helped him up.

"Clan leader…"

Upon hearing that there was a chance to return to the main family and once again set foot on this homeland, Jiang Hongwen was suddenly moved, unable to stop his old tears from flowing.

He had never expected that, having come merely to request the clan leader's intervention, he would stumble upon such a stroke of fortune!

One must know that returning to the main family was the greatest dream of their branch family for a hundred years. Even many of the older generation clan members, on the verge of death, were unwilling to be buried in Xuancheng after death; the desire to return to one's roots was deeply buried in every heart.

Just because of the sins their ancestors had committed, they had been made to atone for them across several generations.

"After so many years, the wrongs committed by your ancestors have long since been washed clean. You need not keep paying for the foolish deeds they did. From now on, our two families shall make no distinction between each other, advancing and retreating together!"

Jiang Daoxuan looked at the deeply moved Jiang Hongwen and said resolutely.

He had not forgotten that the stacking effect of the entire clan's power applied to all Jiang clan members; that is to say, besides the main family, all the other branch families were also included!

Thus, to maximize benefits, he naturally could not develop only the main family; the other branch families must also share in the blessings.

Thinking of this, Jiang Daoxuan secretly made up his mind.

Once these miscellaneous matters were concluded, he could take some time to summon back all the branch families scattered outside.

Once these people were gathered together, twisted into a single rope, and supplemented with accumulated resources, the speed at which he grew stronger could also be faster.

At this moment, listening to the conversation between Jiang Daoxuan and Jiang Hongwen, the Grand Elder standing to the side was greatly astonished.

One must know that in the past, the clan leader my lord had always looked down on these branch families, believing that sinners should meet a sinner's fate, and would not show any sympathy.

How was it that after emerging from closed-door cultivation, such a world-shaking, tremendous change had occurred?

The Grand Elder could not understand the reason behind it, but he was still very satisfied with the clan leader my lord's change.

After all, those branch family clansmen far away in other cities ultimately shared the same blood as their main family — they were all Jiang family people. Being bullied outside was also a loss of face for the Jiang family; it would be better to unite directly, for united, their advantage could cut through metal!

It was just right that over these years, along with the conflicts with the Tang family, the main family had also lost quite a number of people, and could completely rely on these branch families to rapidly replenish the family's foundation.