Chapter 25

Slipping stealthily into his room, Xiao Yan quickly closed the door and then darted to the corner of the room. Finally, he took out a large pile of medicinal herbs and a few magic crystals from his bosom, carefully placing them in the cabinet. He deeply inhaled the scent of the medicinal herbs on his hands and heaved a sigh of relief with a chuckle.

In order to focus on cultivation, Xiao Yan had purchased enough medicinal herbs for eight months. From the looks of it, he planned to spend the rest of the year in intense cultivation.

Patting the cabinet affectionately, Xiao Yan’s lips curled into a lazy smile as he walked to the bed and slumped down. The hustle and bustle of the day had left him quite exhausted.

"Yan'er, are you there?" As he was about to drift off, a knock on the door suddenly sounded.

Blinking his drowsy eyes, Xiao Yan hurriedly jumped out of bed, opened the door, and looked at Xiao Zhan standing outside. He scratched his head and asked with a sheepish smile, "Father, is there something you need?"

"Can’t I come to see you if there’s nothing? You little rascal, you’ve been avoiding me for two months." Xiao Zhan laughed and ruffled Xiao Yan’s hair affectionately.

Seeing Xiao Zhan’s warm smile, Xiao Yan felt a bit moved. His nose tingled slightly, but he didn’t know what to say.

"Still feeling guilty about that? Heh, if she doesn’t like my son, it’s her loss. What’s there to be sad about? A man shouldn’t act like a little girl. I know my son, Xiao Zhan’s son, is definitely not a failure!" Xiao Zhan said boldly.

"Heh, Father, in three years, Yan'er will go to the Yunlam Sect personally." Xiao Yan smiled and said softly.

Xiao Zhan’s smile faded slightly, and he stared at Xiao Yan intently, hesitating for a moment before saying, "Father has no objections, but... are you really going? I didn’t say you were inferior to Nalan Yanran, but the strength of the Yunlam Sect..."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly, nodded, and pursed his thin lips into a stubborn line: "Father, some things can’t be avoided. A man must take responsibility."

"Heh, that’s just like me. Your two older brothers would be very happy to know you think this way." Xiao Zhan smiled in relief at Xiao Yan’s determination, sighed lightly, and then nodded firmly: "Good, Father will wait for the day my son brings me glory! I want that old scoundrel Nalan Su to come with a dowry and beg me to revoke that divorce paper!"

Xiao Yan nodded and chuckled.

"Here, take it. Consider it Father’s support!" Xiao Zhan pulled out a familiar white jade bottle from his bosom and handed it over.

Looking at the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid that had made its way back to his hands, Xiao Yan felt a mix of amusement and exasperation, but he maintained a puzzled expression: "Father, what is this?"

"Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. It can speed up the cultivation of Combat Qi. I bought it at the auction today." Xiao Zhan grinned.

"Did it cost a lot?" Taking the white jade bottle, a warm current flowed through Xiao Yan’s heart.

"Forty thousand gold coins, but as long as it’s useful to you, it’s worth it." Xiao Zhan said nonchalantly.

"Spending forty thousand gold coins on this Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid for me, the elders will probably use this as an excuse to cause trouble again." Xiao Yan smiled bitterly.

"Tch, I’m the head of the clan. They can only talk. " Xiao Zhan snorted.

"Father, thank you. At the Chengren Ceremony next year, I’ll make them shut their noisy mouths." Xiao Yan pursed his lips and smiled softly.

"Good, I’ll wait for the day my son transforms again!" Although he didn’t know where Xiao Yan’s confidence came from, Xiao Zhan was delighted by his son’s confident demeanor and laughed heartily.

"Alright, I won’t disturb your rest. If you need anything, come to Father. We’re family, there’s no need to be embarrassed." Waving his hand, Xiao Zhan turned and strode towards the front courtyard.

"Damn, I still have to deal with those old coots. It’s just forty thousand gold coins, and they act like I’ve spent their life savings." Xiao Zhan’s grumbling voice faintly drifted through the darkness.

Watching Xiao Zhan disappear into the darkness, Xiao Yan touched his nose and smiled softly, "Don’t worry, Father. I’ll use reality to make those people shut up. Three years ago, I made them look up to me, and three years later, I will do the same!"

Standing at the door for a while, Xiao Yan put away the white jade bottle and glanced at the corner of the room, teasing, "Girl, is it fun to eavesdrop?"

"Brother Xiao Yan, you have quite a sharp sense..." A purple-clad girl appeared from the corner, tilting her head slightly, her beautiful face smiling.

Seeing the mischievous girl, Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly.

"Where did Brother Xiao Yan go this afternoon?" Xun’er walked up, smiling.

"Just went out for a walk."

"Is that so?" Her eyes scanned him up and down, and Xun’er suddenly stepped forward, bending slightly, her nose wrinkling: "There’s a woman’s scent."

"Cough, don’t joke around, there’s no such thing as a woman’s scent." His young face turned slightly red, but fortunately, it was dark, and the girl couldn’t see clearly.

"Hehe." Xun’er seemed to enjoy Xiao Yan’s embarrassment and laughed like a silver bell. After a moment, she stopped laughing, fell silent, and said softly, "I heard what Uncle Xiao said just now. I believe in Brother Xiao Yan. If you really have to go to the Yunlam Sect in the future, Xun’er can help..."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan blinked and stared intently at the girl’s beautiful face.

Under Xiao Yan’s unbridled gaze, Xun’er’s elegant face slowly turned a shy shade of red, and she said softly, "Brother Xiao Yan, what are you looking at..."

"Hehe, Xun’er blushing, that’s rare." After a moment, Xiao Yan suddenly laughed.

Xun’er rolled her eyes at Xiao Yan, thinking to herself, "Only you would stare at me like that."

"Alright, alright, have a little confidence in Brother Xiao Yan. The Yunlam Sect is strong, but I’m still young and have plenty of time. If Yun Yun could raise a woman like Nalan Yanran, she can’t be much better." Xiao Yan laughed and rubbed the girl’s hair.

"Alright, it’s late, go back and rest."

Watching Xiao Yan wave, Xun’er shook her head helplessly, nodded, and slowly walked into the darkness under his watchful eye.

Turning a corner, the sound of Xiao Zhan and several elders arguing suddenly came from a room, the argument centered on the forty thousand gold coins.

Pausing, Xun’er’s delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she sighed. Her slender fingers pinched a purple-gold card.

With a light tap of her finger, the card turned into a golden light and shot into the room where the argument was taking place.

Glancing at the suddenly quiet room, Xun’er said calmly, "The money for the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, consider it my contribution. There are one hundred thousand gold coins on the card. The elders don’t need to make things difficult for Uncle Xiao."

The room fell silent. After a moment, the three elders responded with a bitter laugh.