Young Master Xiao Han, Are You Betrothed?

"Phew—I'm exhausted."

Wanting to train his movement Dou Technique, Xiao Han hadn't used his Purple Cloud Wings to travel. At last, after running for about three days, he returned to Wutan City.

Along the way, Xiao Han had noticed quite a few Mercenary Groups and traveling merchants heading in the same direction as him. Among them were some wealthy young masters riding Magical Beast Mounts, clearly people of considerable status, as well as several small and medium-sized factions from nearby cities.

How strange. What were all these people going to Wutan City for? Had the pills he'd given the Xiao Family started circulating? That didn't make sense. They were all only first-grade pills. While they could certainly attract some mercenaries and traveling merchants, what were all those wealthy young masters and leaders of factions from other places doing in Wutan City?

When he reached the city gates, Xiao Han's eyes widened.

The entrance to Wutan City was decked out with lanterns and decorations, and a large crowd of Xiao Clan members were warmly welcoming people from various factions who had come from all over.

Despite being powerful, these experts didn't put on airs in front of the Xiao Clan Disciples, who were as weak as ants by comparison. Instead, they chatted with the welcoming Xiao Clan members, smiling amiably.

Behind the guests, some weaker attendants were pulling carts loaded with gifts. It seemed there was some happy occasion they'd come to celebrate.

Curious, Xiao Han headed straight for the city gates.

Who would have thought that the Xiao Clan Disciples' enthusiasm would leave him stunned!

"Cousin Xiao Han! Cousin Xiao Han is back!"

"Ahhh! Cousin Xiao Han, I love you!"

They were a group of fervent young girls. They acted the same way around him in the Xiao Family every day, so Xiao Han was used to it.

"Cousin Xiao Han is so handsome! He truly has the bearing of a dragon or phoenix," a group of tall Xiao Clan women called out, hands pressed to their cheeks.

"So this is Xiao Han, the family's genius High-Rank Alchemist? He really is a fine young man." An unfamiliar-looking old man stroked his beard and marveled at Xiao Han. Xiao Han had never seen him before; he was probably someone who'd been sent elsewhere to manage the family's businesses.

For some reason, people who'd been sent away like him had all returned today.

In response to the Xiao Clan Disciples' enthusiasm, Xiao Han waved his right hand, nodding and smiling at them.

"It's the Young Patriarch! The Young Patriarch is back!"

"Young Patriarch, it's me, Pain! We met just the other day! Hey, don't shove!"

A group of Xiao Family guards surged forward to greet Xiao Han as well, seeming eager to make an impression on this promising young man.

"Are you calling me the Young Patriarch?"

Xiao Han frowned. "When did that happen?"

"Uh, Young Patriarch, you didn't know? Ten days ago, after Clan Head Xiao Zhan broke through to Dou Ling and emerged from seclusion, he gathered the Xiao Clan members and announced that you'd become the next Xiao Clan Head."

Pain, who knew Xiao Han fairly well, squeezed out of the crowd and came over to explain ingratiatingly.

"What?! My uncle broke through to Dou Ling?"

The news caught Xiao Han so completely off guard that his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"That's right! They say your teacher—the Alchemist—refined a Spirit Breaking Pill for the clan head, which let him successfully reach the Dou Ling level!" one of the guards beside Pain hurried to add.

Hearing this, Xiao Han was at a loss for words.

He hadn't expected Xiao Zhan to be in such a hurry. He'd managed to gather all the ingredients for the Spirit Breaking Pill in just a few days. Every single one of those ingredients was expensive, so Xiao Zhan must have paid a hefty price to get them!

Damn!

Had he emptied the family's coffers?

Xiao Han considered it, and it really was possible!

A first-grade pill could sell for at least several hundred Gold Coins, while the ingredients cost only a few dozen. With profits at least ten times the cost, and Wutan City's foot traffic now several times higher than before, the Xiao Family could easily make up for any losses.

It was easy to forget that Xiao Yan could down pills to recover as casually as he drank water in the original story because he was an Alchemist himself!

If someone who wasn't an Alchemist took pills to recover after every battle, even the richest person couldn't afford the terrifying cost!

That was why Alchemists were so highly regarded, and why they held such a lofty status. Nothing else came close—the benefits brought by all those miraculous pills were simply enormous!

Another thing Xiao Han hadn't expected was that Xiao Zhan had gone and announced that he was an Alchemist to draw people in. Everyone would find out sooner or later, but he was still living with the family!

Wouldn't this be a huge pain!

Just as Xiao Han lowered his head, lost in thought, a richly dressed old man stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said cheerfully, "So you're Young Master Xiao Han, the Xiao Clan's genius High-Rank Alchemist? You really are a fine young man!"

Interrupted, Xiao Han's thoughts came to an abrupt halt. He turned and returned the old man's salute, politely asking, "And you are?"

"I am Fan Yunfei, the City Lord of neighboring Xiyu City. I came here after hearing that Clan Head Xiao Zhan had advanced to Dou Ling and was inviting guests from all directions. I received an invitation, so I've come to offer my congratulations." The richly dressed old man smiled and gestured toward the gifts behind him.

"So you're City Lord Fan. A pleasure to meet you!"

Xiao Han put on a welcoming smile, but inwardly he wondered: Fan Yunfei was undoubtedly a Late Stage Dou Ling with formidable strength. There was no reason for him to be so deferential to Xiao Zhan.

Yet he seemed to have another purpose. On the way here, Xiao Han had encountered many powerful Dou Ling experts, all outstanding among their peers. They had no reason to show Xiao Zhan any special regard, but every one of them had gone out of their way to be polite. Why?

Just as Xiao Han was pondering the matter, the richly dressed old man's words made everything clear.

"I heard that Clan Head Xiao is searching for Heavenly Treasures that could greatly benefit Young Master Xiao Han's teacher's Soul Power. As it happens, I came across a Qing Shen Grass. Not only can it heal Soul Power injuries, it is especially effective for Alchemists whose Soul Power has been injured by a mishap while refining pills. It can also strengthen Soul Power. I've brought it as a gift."

"I see. I understand your kindness, City Lord Fan. I'll be sure to tell my teacher. If you need anything, I, Xiao, will do everything in my power to help."

Xiao Han smiled faintly. So the old man had other intentions. He claimed to be congratulating Xiao Zhan, but in reality he was hoping to use the occasion to form a connection with a High-Rank Alchemist through him.

Still, the man had come bearing goodwill, and his teacher really did need the herb. So Xiao Han readily accepted the favor. A treasure that could strengthen Soul Power was valuable enough to be passed down as a family heirloom.

Hearing Xiao Han's words, Fan Yunfei looked delighted. "Then I thank you, Young Master Xiao Han."

"Young Master Xiao Han, I'm..."

"So you're Young Master Xiao Han..."

"Young Master Xiao Han, do you remember me..."

"Young Master Xiao Han..."

"Xiao..."

After seeing that Fan Yunfei had actually managed to connect with a High-Rank Alchemist, the other guests' eyes turned red with envy. They shoved him aside and crowded around Xiao Han, each introducing themselves and chattering away until his head spun.

Unfortunately, Soul Power treasures were far too rare. Of all the many Dou Ling experts crowding around him, only Fan Yunfei had one. Apparently, he'd found it in a deadly place near his hometown in the Tagor Desert.

Fan Yunfei had nearly lost his temper when he was shoved aside, but after seeing all the people with nothing worthwhile to offer embarrass themselves while trying to curry favor, his mood improved considerably. He stood off to one side, stroking his beard and watching the commotion with amusement.

But the others refused to give up. Since they couldn't make a connection directly, they came up with another approach: they tried to use Xiao Han as their opening.

"Young Master Xiao Han, you're a fine young man. Are you betrothed?"

"Uh, I'm not."

He answered without thinking. Only then did Xiao Han notice the way everyone around him was looking at him, and realize he'd said the wrong thing.

He didn't know which numbskull had asked that, but the moment he did, the shameless old men around them turned into Ultimate Nullifiers, their eyes glowing red as they gave Xiao Han a lecherous smile.

"Young Master Xiao Han, my granddaughter Qin'er is only seven, and she's quite lovely. She'd be a perfect match for you!" A blond old man stepped forward first, promoting his young granddaughter.

Only seven? Do I really look like a lolicon?

Get lost! I'm over four thousand years old!

Xiao Han stared in bewilderment. He was just about to refuse when the red-haired middle-aged man beside him started cursing.

"Get lost, get lost! Young Master Xiao Han, don't listen to that old fool. My daughter Anbo is a rare beauty in Wind and Cloud City. She's the perfect match for you!"

"Bah! Anbo, you shameless bastard! Your daughter may be beautiful, but she's already a woman in her thirties. She's been unable to find a husband all these years, and now you want to foist her on Young Master Xiao Han? What are you playing at?"

"On the other hand, my Lisa is already known far and wide as a cultivation genius. She has an exceptional command of Lightning Attribute Dou Qi and would make a perfect match!" A brown-haired middle-aged man beside the red-haired man ruthlessly dug up the dirt.

"Heh. Is this Lisa of yours the daughter who spends all day holed up in her room, messing around with who-knows-what? Isn't she famous far and wide as a weirdo? How can you even bring her up?!"

"All right, all right, stop arguing. I'm not singling anyone out. I'm saying that every one of you here is trash!

"My seventeen-year-old daughter Keli is the prettiest girl for a hundred miles around. Her Fire Attribute Dou Qi is powerful enough to leave nothing but barren ground wherever she goes. Young Master Xiao Han has Fire Attribute Dou Qi too, so they ought to get along.

"She may be a little older than Young Master Xiao Han, but as the saying goes, 'A woman three years older brings a golden brick.' My daughter is exactly three years older than him, so they're the perfect match." A woman who looked to be in her twenties smiled, taking a shot at everyone at once.

Everyone fell silent for a moment, then began arguing again. Xiao Han couldn't take it anymore. With a shout, he charged into Wutan City, leaving a group of old men staring blankly at one another.