As Xiao Yan rose again, the Xiao Clan gradually monopolized the medicinal salve trade in Wutan City with his covert help, overpowering the Jia Lie Clan. Even the Aoba Clan didn't dare to confront them directly. The Xiao Clan was riding high, and people came to call on them every day, hoping to become friends.
Gu Shenge arrived at the Xiao Clan's gates, leading his little beauty of a snake girl by the hand. The two Xiao Clan disciples on guard saw that the pair were well dressed and carried themselves with distinction, clearly not ordinary people. There was no clichéd scene of them looking down on visitors.
One of the disciples came down the steps, clasped his hands in greeting, and asked in a low voice, "Greetings, young master. May I ask what brings you here?"
"Nothing in particular. I'm passing through Wutan City on business, and a friend of mine happens to be a member of the Xiao Clan. His name is Xiao Ding. I have a letter from him to his family and am here to deliver it."
A letter from Xiao Ding appeared in Gu Shenge's hand. He held it out to the disciple.
Hearing that the visitor was the eldest young master's friend, the disciple's expression turned serious. He quickly accepted the letter and didn't ask Gu Shenge to wait outside. Instead, he ushered him and Qing Lin into the Xiao Clan.
The Xiao Clan disciple asked Gu Shenge and the others to wait in a side hall while he took the letter to the clan head.
On the other side of the Xiao Clan.
With Jia Nan Academy due to arrive soon, Xiao Zhan, the clan elders, and the promising younger generation were discussing the academy.
In truth, they were mainly asking Xiao Yu whether she could put in a good word with one of the instructors coming to Wutan City to recruit students. They hoped to persuade Jia Nan Academy to rest and stay at the Xiao Clan, boosting the clan's standing and showing outsiders that the Xiao Clan had close ties with the academy.
"Clan Head, I understand."
Xiao Yu nodded. The instructor coming to recruit students in Wutan City this time happened to be her mentor. She couldn't guarantee that her mentor would be willing to stay at the Xiao Clan, but she would do her best.
They had just finished their discussion when the disciple who had received Gu Shenge entered the hall with Xiao Ding's letter. He bowed respectfully to Xiao Zhan, who sat at the head of the room, and reported loudly, "Clan Head, someone claiming to be a friend of Young Master Xiao Ding just came to call. He also brought a letter from Young Master Xiao Ding."
With that, he presented the letter to Xiao Zhan.
Hearing that it was a letter from his eldest son, Xiao Zhan hurriedly opened it. Xiao Yan leaned forward, hoping to see what it said as well.
The elders were puzzled that Xiao Ding had suddenly written home. They knew that Xiao Zhan's eldest and second sons had formed a mercenary group called Mo Tie in Shimo City. Could they have run into trouble and be asking the clan for help?
A moment later, Xiao Zhan finished reading the letter. Shock appeared on his face, then he burst into laughter.
"Excellent! Excellent! Ding'er has done our Xiao Clan a tremendous favor!"
The elders were even more bewildered. Xiao Zhan was so pleased—judging by his tone, had Xiao Ding gotten into trouble, or had he come across something valuable?
Seeing their confused expressions, Xiao Zhan passed the letter around for them to read.
After all three elders had read Xiao Ding's letter, they too looked astonished, their joy impossible to hide.
They had thought Xiao Ding must have obtained something valuable to make the clan head so happy. They hadn't expected that he had made the acquaintance of a Dou Emperor expert. The expert was visiting Wutan City on business, and Xiao Ding had invited him to stay at the Xiao Clan. He'd asked the clan to treat their guest well. Winning the favor of a Dou Emperor expert could only benefit the Xiao Clan.
"Where is our distinguished guest? Have you treated him well?"
Xiao Zhan hurriedly questioned the disciple, his voice anxious. They couldn't afford to slight a Dou Emperor expert. If the Xiao Clan lost this chance to make an acquaintance, it would be a tremendous loss.
Hearing this, the disciple realized that Gu Shenge must be someone of great importance. Otherwise, why would the clan head sound so anxious? Thankfully, he hadn't turned the visitor away.
"When I saw that he had a letter from the eldest young master, I assumed he was the young master's friend. I invited him and his attendant to wait in a side hall. I haven't treated them poorly."
Xiao Zhan and the elders breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly rose to meet Gu Shenge.
Everyone else had read Xiao Ding's letter as well, and they were just as shocked as Xiao Zhan. A Dou Emperor expert stood at the very pinnacle of the Jia Ma Empire—and now he was in the Xiao Clan. They had to treat him like royalty!
Xiao Yan was no exception. He had never met a Dou Emperor expert before.
Feeling his disciple's excitement, Yao Lao spoke up to reassure him. "It's only a Dou Emperor. What's there to be excited about? With my help, you'll surpass the Dou Emperor realm one day."
His teacher's reassurance gradually calmed Xiao Yan. Rather than envy someone else, he would be better off working hard himself. One day, he too could become a Dou Emperor—and even surpass that realm to reach greater heights!
But that was for the future. A Dou Emperor expert was visiting the Xiao Clan, and he was his eldest brother's friend. He should at least meet the man and make a good impression. He might need the expert's support when he went to the Misty Cloud Sect.
After all, if he defeated Nalan Yanran in the Three-Year Agreement, the Misty Cloud Sect might refuse to let him leave in order to preserve its reputation. With a Dou Emperor expert backing him, he might be able to get away unscathed.
He hurried after Xiao Zhan, following the disciple to the side hall where Gu Shenge was waiting.
East Courtyard side hall.
Gu Shenge sipped the tea brought by a maid. His ears twitched as he heard the sound of many hurried footsteps. The first four sets were steadier than the rest, but their owners' breathing was slightly rushed. It must be the Xiao Clan's head and its three elders.
He gently set down his teacup and looked toward the hall's entrance. A broad-featured, robust-looking middle-aged man strode in, followed by three elderly men and several young men and women.
When Xiao Zhan saw Gu Shenge's face, his heart lurched. He'd expected the Dou Emperor expert in his eldest son's letter to be a middle-aged man around his own age, or perhaps an old man. He hadn't expected someone so young and handsome—he looked no more than twenty.
Then he thought better of it. If Gu Shenge had been around his age, the difference in age alone would probably have made it impossible for Xiao Ding to become friends with him.
The Xiao Clan's three elders and the young men and women were equally astonished to see that the Dou Emperor expert mentioned in the letter was a young man.
He was far too young!
Xiao Yan, following behind the others, was stunned too. Gu Shenge looked only three or four years older than him, yet he was already a Dou Emperor expert.
Even Yao Lao couldn't help taking another look at Gu Shenge. But he quickly withdrew his spiritual perception. He had sensed that the Soul Power emanating from Gu Shenge's body was no weaker than his own. The young man was probably more than a Dou Emperor expert—he might even be a fifth- or sixth-grade alchemist!
Gu Shenge sensed an extremely faint surge of Soul Power sweep over him, and turned to look at Xiao Yan at the back of the group.
Yao Lao realized something was wrong. He hadn't expected Gu Shenge to be so perceptive that he'd notice even that. He quickly suppressed his Soul Power as much as possible and played dead.
"Then you must be the friend Ding'er mentioned in his letter. I'm Xiao Zhan, the head of the Xiao Clan. Xiao Ding is my eldest son. Since you're visiting Wutan City on business, would you be willing to stay with us, if it's no trouble?"
Xiao Zhan greeted Gu Shenge cautiously, afraid he might refuse to stay at the Xiao Clan. Gu Shenge smiled faintly and introduced himself.
"I am Juan Shoutian. Since Clan Head Xiao is so gracious, I'll accept your hospitality."
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