Visiting the Xiao Family

The uproar over Jia Nan Academy's admissions had yet to fully die down, but Mo Lin's name had already spread through Wutan City's upper circles.

That morning, after making a few preparations, he set off for the Xiao Family.

On the surface, he was visiting a prominent local family to exchange cultivation insights. In truth, he had two objectives: first, to search for any trace of the possibly existing, yet seemingly erased from this world's timeline, "Xiao Yan" and Old Yao; second, to see for himself the Ancient Clan's young lady hidden within this small family—Xiao Xun'er.

The Xiao Family residence stood in Wutan City's eastern district, built of gray bricks and dark tiles, with upturned eaves and ornate brackets.

Though it lacked the Gale Family's splendor and did not possess the Ouba Family's ostentatious nouveau riche flair, it carried an antiquity and weight refined by time, along with the imposing bearing of an old aristocratic house that could not be underestimated.

Upon hearing that the recently renowned Mo Lin had come to visit, clan leader Xiao Zhan personally came to greet him at the gates, wearing a suitably warm smile.

"Young friend Mo Lin, your visit brings great honor to the Xiao Family! Please, come in, come in!"

Xiao Zhan wore a brocade robe and had a refined appearance. His gentle gaze contained the shrewdness honed through years of navigating the world of commerce. His words were courteous, yet they faintly revealed his desire to build ties.

Mo Lin cupped his hands in return, his manner composed. "Clan Leader Xiao is too polite. This junior has come uninvited and troubled you."

The two entered the main hall and took their respective seats as host and guest. A maid served fragrant hot tea.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, their conversation naturally turned to cultivation.

Xiao Zhan lavishly praised the strength Mo Lin had displayed during the admissions event, his words filled with appreciation for a talented young man.

Mo Lin responded appropriately, neither arrogant nor excessively modest, and the conversation proceeded pleasantly.

After chatting for some time, Mo Lin smoothly said, "I have long heard that the Xiao Family is a century-old family of Wutan City with deep foundations. Would it be possible for this junior to take a casual look around and experience the atmosphere of such a great family?"

The request was perfectly reasonable. It both expressed respect and gave him an excuse to investigate freely.

Xiao Zhan readily agreed with a smile. "Since young friend has such refined interest, you are more than welcome."

He then summoned a family member who appeared steady and capable. "Xiao Dou, accompany young friend Mo Lin and show him around. Be sure to attend to him properly."

The young man named Xiao Dou respectfully accepted the order and gestured for Mo Lin to proceed.

Mo Lin rose and followed Xiao Dou on a stroll through the Xiao Family's courtyards.

He appeared to be taking a leisurely walk, admiring the pavilions, towers, bridges, and flowing water, but his powerful soul perception had already spread out like countless fine, invisible tendrils, silently sweeping every corner they passed.

The youths sweating profusely on the Training Ground, the children playing beneath the corridors, and even secluded residences all escaped none of his investigation.

He paid particular attention to youths whose auras seemed weak, whose expressions were dejected, or whose behavior clashed with that of the other family members. He tried to find someone matching clues such as "fallen talent," "mocked by others," and "an arranged engagement."

Yet after this seemingly casual tour, Mo Lin's heart gradually sank.

Among the Xiao Family's younger generation, talents varied and personalities differed, but not one matched the image of the ill-fated "Xiao Yan" from his memories.

What confirmed it even further was that his soul perception had not detected even the faintest concealed fluctuation from an unusually powerful ancient soul.

It seems... this world's course really has shifted because of my arrival. Mo Lin mused inwardly. Though somewhat regretful, he was not overly surprised.

Under the butterfly effect, it was only natural for certain predetermined fates to be rewritten. It seemed he would need to find another way to search for Venerable Yao.

After walking for a while longer, his gaze casually swept over a corner of the courtyard.

There, beneath an ancient ginkgo tree, a young girl in a pale green dress stood quietly, holding an ancient book and reading with her head lowered.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, scattering mottled flecks across her body as though draping her in a sacred halo.

She appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, her figure just beginning to bloom with grace. Though simply dressed and without cosmetics, she could not conceal the innate purity and elegance that set her apart.

Her skin was fair as jade, and her features were as delicate as those of a fairy in a painting. Most striking of all were her clear eyes, like autumn waters, yet so profound that they seemed capable of reflecting a person's heart.

Though still young, she was already undeniably a great beauty in the making. Given time, she would surely possess beauty capable of toppling cities and kingdoms.

What stirred Mo Lin's heart even more was the extremely restrained yet astonishingly high-quality energy fluctuation he sensed from her, like an undercurrent in the deep sea, with terrifying power hidden beneath a calm surface.

"This is...?" Mo Lin stopped at the right moment, his gaze still resting on the girl beneath the ginkgo tree as he asked Xiao Dou beside him with mild curiosity.

Following his gaze, Xiao Dou revealed a trace of barely perceptible respect and answered softly, "In reply to Young Master Mo Lin, that is Miss Xun'er."

Xiao Xun'er! So it really was her!

A flicker of understanding flashed through Mo Lin's eyes.

He slowly approached, stopping several steps away from the girl. With a slight smile, he said evenly, "I am Mo Lin. Forgive my intrusion. Miss Xun'er certainly has elegant taste."

Xiao Xun'er raised her head at his voice and looked calmly at Mo Lin.

Her gaze was crystal-clear and free of impurities, yet it carried a natural sense of distance, as though nothing in the world could stir waves within her heart.

She gave a slight nod, her voice cool and pleasant. "Young Master Mo Lin, I have long heard of your name." Her manners were impeccable, but a faint distance remained in her tone.

Mo Lin did not mind her coldness. Instead, he studied this secluded orchid hidden within the Xiao Family with even greater interest.

He suddenly spoke, his voice still calm, but his words carried an almost imperceptible edge. "Miss Xun'er's aura is as steady as a mountain, and her brilliance is hidden like uncut jade. You appear no different from an ordinary young lady of a noble family, yet in truth... you are unfathomable. This mastery over your own strength, this ability to restrain and release it at will, truly earns Mo's admiration." These were no longer ordinary compliments, but an obvious probe.

The slender fingers holding Xiao Xun'er's book paused almost imperceptibly. A trace of surprise, nearly too swift to catch, flashed through her autumn-water eyes before they instantly returned to the stillness of an ancient well.

She gently closed the book in her hands and met Mo Lin's gaze. A faint scrutiny appeared in her clear eyes. "Young Master Mo Lin overpraises me. Xun'er's aptitude is ordinary. I merely follow my family's teachings and cultivate diligently every day."

She neither directly admitted it nor flatly denied it. Her words were measured perfectly, leaving no openings.

However, Mo Lin's soul perception, tempered by two experts from another world and far surpassing that of his peers, precisely caught the minuscule change in the flow of energy within her body the instant he exposed her secret.

Mo Lin smiled inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged. Instead, he lowered his voice further, as though whispering. Every word was clear and struck directly at the core. "With such 'ordinary' talent, even direct descendants of those ancient great clans of the Central Continent that have endured for ten thousand years may not be able to compare. The Ancient Clan bloodline truly is extraordinary."

The words "Ancient Clan" crashed into this quiet corner of the courtyard like twin thunderclaps!

The air seemed to freeze completely at that instant!

For the first time, a clearly visible change appeared on Xiao Xun'er's beautiful, tranquil face!

Her fingers tightened abruptly around the book, her knuckles turning faintly white as she suddenly raised her head!

In her autumn-water eyes, a flash of incredulous shock appeared first, only to be replaced by sharp, icy vigilance and a trace of chilling killing intent!

Though she tried her utmost to suppress her aura, a brief ripple still made the surrounding air tremble.

At that moment, she was no longer the quiet girl reading beneath the tree. She was like an unparalleled divine weapon accidentally disturbed, suddenly drawn half an inch from its sheath!

"Who exactly are you? What do you know?" Her voice remained crisp, but her tone had changed completely, filled with icy interrogation and unquestionable authority. The polite veil of distance from before had been utterly torn away.

Facing the sudden pressure of her aura, enough to make even an ordinary Da Dou Shi lose focus, Mo Lin's expression remained as calm as ever, as though he had anticipated it all along.

He calmly met her blade-sharp gaze and said, "Who I am is not important. What matters is that I may know more than Miss Xun'er currently suspects, though perhaps not everything. This is not a place for deep discussion." His gaze swept over the servants occasionally passing in the distance. "Nor is it a suitable place to confirm what is in our hearts. There should be a quiet, deserted place in the back mountain behind your residence. Would Miss Xun'er be willing to move there, so that Mo may have the honor of truly witnessing the Ancient Clan's peerless arts?"

His proposal was both a direct challenge and an excellent opportunity for them to speak privately beyond all eyes and ears. There was even a trace of consideration for her in his words.

Xiao Xun'er's deep eyes locked onto Mo Lin, her icy stare seeming to pierce through his flesh and peer into the deepest secrets of his soul.

A brief, suffocating silence spread between them.

After a moment, the blade-like sharpness in her eyes receded slightly, but her scrutiny grew even stronger. She fully closed the book in her hands and uttered a single word.

"Yes."

The two understood each other without words. Avoiding the eyes of others, they leaped several times and silently vanished into the dense forest of the Xiao Family's back mountain.