Xiao Ze understood. He clasped his hands and said, "Thank you for the guidance, Clan Leader. I understand what I should do."
"You're a clever young man. I don't need to keep reminding you."
Gu Yuan smiled faintly. As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of hurried wind-cutting sounds suddenly came from the foot of the mountain.
He shook his head helplessly. "That girl must have sensed I was here. She's afraid I'll harm you, so she hurried over."
With that, his figure wavered slightly, about to vanish into the clouds and mist. Before leaving, he turned to look at Xiao Ze, his tone growing more serious. "Remember, protect Xun'er, and protect yourself too. The future of the Xiao Tribe may still depend on you."
Before his words had even faded, Gu Yuan's figure had completely disappeared, leaving only the clouds and mist drifting slowly through the mountains, as though their conversation had been nothing but an illusion.
Xiao Ze stood where he was, still turning Gu Yuan's words over in his mind, when Xun'er hurried over. Her beautiful eyes were full of worry. "Brother Xiao Ze! Are you all right? I sensed a powerful presence here just now and was afraid..."
"Afraid your father would attack me?" Xiao Ze smiled and stepped closer, brushing away the strands of hair the wind had tousled at her temple. "Your father isn't unreasonable. He just had a chat with me, and reminded me to beware of the Hun Clan and those ill-intentioned elders in the Heavenly Tomb."
He briefly repeated Gu Yuan's words, leaving out the part about the Ancient Emperor Jade.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Xun'er. He simply didn't want her worrying over this.
After hearing him out, the tension finally left Xun'er's face, and a faint smile