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Night, the vast and sparsely populated Jia Nan Academy Inner Academy was exceptionally quiet and cold, with sparse clouds drifting across the sky, and the moon appearing and disappearing.
After a large patch of clouds drifted past, the sky became clear, and the moonlight, like water, spilled onto the ground, the tiles of the pavilions, and the trees planted in the courtyard, as if covering the entire World with a layer of silvery-white gauze.
The girl leaned forward, bent slightly, her elbow resting on the railing, and her palm supporting her head.
"Sigh…" She sighed, an unshakeable sorrow between her brows.
"Ling Ying, have the old geezers in the clan not urged me to return recently? Have they not sent anyone over?" Ever since she sent a message back to the clan last time, saying that she wanted to stay in Jia Nan Academy for a while longer, there had been no further movement from the Gu Clan.
This surprised Xun Er a little. According to the style of the old guys in the clan, it would be normal to urge her every so often, and then directly send someone over after a few times.
Ling Ying's figure emerged from the shadows. He respectfully said, "I have not received any news."
He rolled his eyes inwardly, thinking, the Clan Leader is right here, if he really wanted to take you back, why would he send anyone else!
"Heh… have those old geezers really changed their ways?" Xun Er's face showed a suspicious expression.
Just then, a voice sounded from the room, "So, in your eyes, I'm already an 'old geezer'… Thinking like that will make me sad."
Hearing this familiar voice that she hadn't heard for a long time, Xun Er was startled. She quickly turned around and said in surprise, "Father! Why are you here?"
Cough cough… Gu Yuan cleared his throat and said, "I am the one those old guys sent to bring you back."
Facing his daughter, Gu Yuan was not so unyielding. Although it was his own decision, he pushed everything onto the old guys in the clan…
He temporarily forgot that he was one of the oldest among them.
Xun Er's face fell, and she frowned, saying, "If you weren't willing, who in the clan could order you around…"
As she grew older and gained more experience, Xun Er gained a deeper understanding of her father's power and authority, and she also realized that the constraints he faced within the clan were actually not as many as she had imagined.
Looking at Xun Er's resentful expression, Gu Yuan chuckled dryly:
"I also miss my little darling… I'm worried that after a while, my little darling will have a lover and forget about her old father."
Xun Er's face flushed, knowing she couldn't hide it from Gu Yuan, she didn't deny it.
"Furthermore, I am also somewhat worried about your safety." Gu Yuan's expression became serious, and he spoke solemnly.
"My safety?" Xun Er's eyebrows twitched, not understanding why Gu Yuan would say that.
"With Ling Ying here, with the spatial jade slip you left me, and presumably there are still hidden guardians around me… Is that not enough?"
Gu Yuan shook his head, "Not enough… This continent is once again becoming turbulent… The Soul Clan has gradually recovered its strength and is stirring again. I met their Soul Clan Leader in Central Plains before."
Xun Er's pupils contracted… The Soul Clan Leader, that title was terrifying.
"Do you know under what circumstances we met?"
Xun Er shook her head.
Gu Yuan said with a serious expression, "We both sensed a terrifying power gathering that surpassed a Dou Saint and could destroy even us… He and I went to investigate.
"In my conversation with him, he revealed a very surprising thing… The Xiao Clan is not as simple as imagined; they hide a secret behind them."
"Ah?" Xun Er looked at Ling Ying somewhat blankly. Didn't they both know the situation of the Xiao Family? What secret could a family that was forced into desperation by a mere first-grade Alchemist, Liu Xi, possibly have?
Ling Ying was also hearing Gu Yuan mention this for the first time, and his face was particularly bewildered… He really hadn't discovered anything!
"It's not the Xiao Family you live in; it's another hidden power, which probably has some connection with the Xiao Family, but it's not close."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Xun Er blurted out… If that were the case, Xiao Yan would also have support behind him, and wouldn't have to go it alone, which would be much easier.
Gu Yuan's gaze deepened, and he stared intently at Xun Er, "The Xiao Clan is not the Xiao Family, and you, might become the heir of the Gu Clan!"
Xun Er's mind turned, "Father, are you worried that the Xiao Clan will be detrimental to me? Or use me to exploit the Gu Clan?"
Gu Yuan nodded.
"Xiao Yan would never do that," Xun Er said with extreme certainty.
"Xiao Yan is Xiao Yan, and the Xiao Clan is the Xiao Clan. The Xiao Clan should have some arrangements on him, but he himself doesn't know," Gu Yuan replied in a calm tone.
"If the Xiao Clan and the Gu Clan come into conflict, whose side will you take?"
"Naturally, the Gu Clan," Xun Er replied as a matter of course.
Gu Yuan nodded slightly and then asked, "What if it's Xiao Yan and the Gu Clan who are in conflict?"
"Ah? This…" Xun Er hesitated, not answering directly, "We should first understand the truth of the matter… Xiao Yan is not an unreasonable person."
Afterward, Gu Yuan asked a few more questions and found that Xun Er's fundamental stance was fine; she was loyal to the Gu Clan.
Only when it came to Xiao Yan would she hesitate and try to balance the interests and conflicts of the two clans, though there was a subtle tendency to lean towards Xiao Yan.
Gu Yuan was not surprised by this result; from his previous observations, Xun Er's attitude towards Xiao Yan was already evident.
It's alright, not completely off track… Gu Yuan breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Towards the end of their conversation, he said with a firm tone, "Xun Er, prepare yourself. We will return to the clan in three days."
"Three days, that's too short, can't we have a few more days?" Xun Er tried to bargain.
Gu Yuan shook his head firmly, "Only three days, you decide what to do."
Xun Er snorted, somewhat pouting, and said, "Ling Ying, please take me to Xiao Yan. Let's go now!"
"Ah?" Ling Ying looked at Xun Er, then at Gu Yuan, and did not immediately act.
Gu Yuan said with a smile, "Since I said three days, then it's three days. Xun Er can arrange these three days herself; I won't interfere too much.
"However, since you want to see Xiao Yan, then go see him. I'll send you over."
As soon as Gu Yuan finished speaking, Xun Er found herself no longer in the Inner Courtyard pavilion, but in an unknown magical beast's cave.
Many strange plants grew in the cave, and their fragrant scent masked the smell of the magical beast, preventing the air in the cave from being too bad.
Xiao Yan opened his eyes from meditation and looked at Xun Er, who was standing opposite him, only two steps away. A look of surprise appeared on his face, "Xun Er, why are you here?"
Xun Er said with a beaming smile, "Because I missed you."
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