"Clan Chief Xiao, congratulations, congratulations! Xiao Clan has produced a Qilin among men."
Wutan City's lord, Lin Zhengqing, approached Xiao Zhan with unprecedented enthusiasm in his voice.
Though he was a Dou Ling, he was already advanced in years, and his achievements in this life would go no further. He had only come to Wutan City as its lord to find a place to retire and earn some more benefits for his descendants. Thus, he had never involved himself in the open and covert struggles among Wutan City's three great families.
But Zhang Yuan's appearance had stirred his ambitions. As long as Zhang Yuan did not perish, becoming a Dou Emperor was practically certain. As a member of the Black Armored Guard, he could also attain status and achievements in the military.
He intended to befriend him in advance. Perhaps he could forge a fortunate connection for his descendants.
"Thank you, City Lord."
Xiao Zhan did not dare act presumptuously before Lin Zhengqing, but the smile on his face was impossible to hide.
After exchanging a few words with Xiao Zhan, Lin Zhengqing turned to Zhang Yuan with a gentle smile. "I heard that you serve in the Empire's Black Armored Guard. This old man is acquainted with one of the commanders. If you have time, young friend, you may come to the City Lord's Manor for a chat."
Zhang Yuan's eyes flickered. This was an unexpected delight, and he smiled. "You are too kind, Senior. This junior will certainly come and trouble you."
"Good. Then this old man will return first and await you with a swept couch," Lin Zhengqing said with a smile.
He did not linger in the Xiao Clan. After agreeing on a time with Zhang Yuan, he left with his men.
The only outsiders remaining were Master Gu Ni and Ya Fei from the Mittel Auction House.
The two came before Zhang Yuan. Every movement Ya Fei made exuded the charm of a mature beauty, while every frown and smile carried a seductive grace. Some of the hot-blooded young men of the Xiao Clan blushed furiously and did not dare look at her twice.
The young women led by Xiao Mei all cursed "vixen" in their hearts, but their eyes were extremely honest as they stared at her, eager to learn from what they admired.
"Little Brother Zhang Yuan, does last night's agreement with your sister still stand?" Ya Fei's voice carried a hint of intimacy as her peach-blossom eyes gazed at Zhang Yuan with a trace of admiration.
Ordinary men would find it difficult to reject a woman's admiration like this.
But Zhang Yuan was no ordinary man. He ignored it completely. "That depends on Sister Ya Fei's sincerity."
"Is your sister not sincere enough?" Ya Fei forcefully hugged her chest and slightly turned to the side, revealing a sliver of a ravine only Zhang Yuan could see. A beautiful bare leg, unwrapped in black stockings, appeared and disappeared beneath the slit of her cheongsam.
Yet Zhang Yuan ignored her again and turned to Xiao Zhan. "Uncle, take the Great Elder and Sister Ya Fei to discuss the cooperation in detail. I still have something to handle."
Xiao Zhan naturally had no objections and nodded in agreement.
As it happened, the Xiao Clan's business affairs had always been handled by the Great Elder. He was the oldest, and his heart was as still as water.
Other than hoping the younger generation of the clan would succeed, he no longer had many pursuits.
"Farewell, Sister Ya Fei."
After nodding to Ya Fei, Zhang Yuan walked straight to Xun Er's side. Taking her little hand, he headed toward the clan's rear courtyard.
After cultivating all night, he needed something to eat. Having a beauty accompany him would be even better.
Ya Fei clenched her silver teeth.
If a sixteen-year-old boy could reject her charm, she would think there was something wrong with him.
But when that boy clearly showed affection for another girl, she felt an unprecedented sense of defeat.
"He must be pretending. I'll definitely make you reveal your true colors." Ya Fei felt a fighting spirit she had never experienced before rise within her.
However, much of that passion was soon worn away by Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan's Great Elder.
Those two were very skilled at business negotiations. One played the good cop, the other the bad cop. On top of that, her teammate Gu Ni offered no cooperation at all. She had completely failed to seize the initiative in this partnership and could only passively accept a share of the profits.
Still, having enormous benefits to divide was better than gaining nothing at all.
Most importantly, this connection would allow her to befriend Zhang Yuan and the Alchemist behind Xiao Yan.
"Uncle."
When Xiao Zhan escorted Gu Ni and Ya Fei out of the hall, Zhang Yuan returned with Xun Er. She wore a calm, faint smile.
To Ya Fei, that smile looked like a victor's smile, and she felt inexplicably irritated. She deliberately moved close to Zhang Yuan and said, "Little Brother Zhang Yuan, your sister chose to suffer such a huge loss for your sake. Shouldn't you show some appreciation?"
She was very close. A scent that could have been her natural fragrance or perfume drifted over. Zhang Yuan could immediately see her exquisite collarbones. If he lowered his head, he would probably see an absolutely stunning sight, but with Xun Er beside him, he would not do that.
"Sure." Zhang Yuan met Ya Fei's eyes and said, "The next time I meet Mu Zhan, I'll beat him up and tell him you're the sister I've acknowledged. I'll tell him not to pester you again. How about that?"
Ya Fei's beautiful eyes lit up, and she laughed coquettishly. "Little Brother, Mu Zhan is your brother. Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
"Who told you to sacrifice so much, Sister?" Zhang Yuan said seriously. "You're worth it."
Ya Fei cast a somewhat smug glance at Xun Er and smiled. "Little Brother, you're so good to me."
"Pfft!" Xun Er covered her mouth and let out a string of silvery laughter.
"What are you laughing at!?" Ya Fei narrowed her peach-blossom eyes.
"Nothing. I remembered a joke Brother Zhang Yuan once told me," Xun Er said with a straight face.
"Are you sure you aren't laughing at me?" Ya Fei eyed her suspiciously.
"No." Xun Er smiled sweetly. "As a young lady of the Xiao Clan, I received strict training. I wouldn't be so rude."
Unless I couldn't hold it in?
Zhang Yuan's expression immediately turned strange.
Xun Er actually had a talent for comedy.
Seeing that Xun Er did not seem to be lying, Ya Fei did not pursue the matter. After teasing Zhang Yuan a few more times, she left contentedly.
Watching her departing figure, Xun Er asked with a smile, "Brother Zhang Yuan, if she finds out later that you and Mu Zhan do not actually get along, do you think she'll want to bite you to death?"
Zhang Yuan fell silent for a few breaths, then smiled. "We'll find out when the time comes. If she wants to bite me, I'll let her. I can take it."
Hearing this, Xun Er reproached him softly. "I know Brother Zhang Yuan's body is no weaker than some Third-tier Magical Beasts, and even stronger when protected by Dou Qi Armor. Your speed is clearly fast enough, so don't take people's attacks head-on next time. What if they have a trump card too?"
Zhang Yuan did not argue and immediately said he would remember it.
It was far too foolish to waste words arguing with a woman who cared about him.
Xiao Zhan and the Great Elder were speechless. Why did they feel so full despite not having breakfast?
"Great Elder, go arrange for people to coordinate with those from the Mittel Auction House," Xiao Zhan said. The Great Elder nodded and took his leave.
Once only the three of them remained, Xiao Zhan asked, "Yuan'er, where is Yan'er?"
"My strength inspired him to strive harder," Zhang Yuan said with a smile.
Although the pressure of the Three Year Agreement was not as great as it had been in the original story, with him as a cousin for comparison, Xiao Yan would probably work even harder.
"That child has suffered enough. Fortunately, his hardship can finally come to an end. As his uncle, I must thank you on Yan'er's behalf, Yuan'er." As Xiao Zhan spoke, he actually prepared to bow.
Zhang Yuan immediately reached out to stop him, a trace of anger on his face. "Uncle, are you planning to draw a line between us and speak like family members are strangers from now on?"
Xiao Zhan's nose stung at those words. He raised his head to look at the sky so his eyes would not grow moist.
Whenever he saw Zhang Yuan's face, he thought of his late wife, as well as his biological younger sister and brother-in-law, who had sacrificed themselves for the Xiao Clan.
By now, Zhang Yuan's true combat strength had likely surpassed his own. Even if he went to the afterlife immediately, he could proudly tell them that he had raised Yuan'er well.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Zhan placed a hand on Zhang Yuan's shoulder. "Your uncle was being too distant. Yuan'er, just treat what I said as nonsense and don't take it to heart."
A smile appeared on Zhang Yuan's face. He asked Xun Er, "Did Uncle say anything just now?"
Xun Er smiled and shook her head.
Xiao Zhan froze for a moment, then burst into loud laughter. "You two are still so in sync, and you're becoming more and more suited to each other."
A flush immediately spread across Xun Er's fair little face. Does this count as receiving an elder's approval?
Unfortunately, Brother Zhang Yuan still had a long way to go before gaining her father's approval.
"Uncle has good judgment," Zhang Yuan said with a smile.
The implication was that if he thought they were not well matched, there was something wrong with his eyesight.
Xun Er shot him a reproachful look, but her heart felt sweet.
Xiao Zhan chuckled. "You're still so mischievous when you speak."
"Why would a nephew be polite with his mother's brother?" Zhang Yuan said as if it were only natural.
"Right, no need for politeness. Not only am I your maternal uncle, I'm also your uncle by marriage." Xiao Zhan patted Zhang Yuan's shoulder, then asked, "So, Yuan'er, what exactly are you planning by deliberately provoking the Jia Lie family? Can you tell your uncle?"
Zhang Yuan's dark eyes shifted, and he looked slightly surprised. "Uncle saw through it?"
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