Xun'er Has Returned

That day, Ya Fei arrived at the Xiao Clan in a red dress, smiling brightly.

Behind her, two Mittel Auction House attendants carried a heavy chest.

"Mr. Xiao, Ya Fei has come especially to offer her congratulations!"

As soon as she entered, she covered her lips and laughed. "I heard the Jia Lie Family suffered a major setback last night? That truly is delightful!"

"Congratulations to us both."

Xiao Chen smiled and ushered her into the hall. "Miss Ya Fei is certainly well-informed."

"Of course."

Ya Fei's eyes flickered as she waved her jade-like hand, signaling the attendants to bring the chest forward.

"This is a small token from Ya Fei, as a congratulatory gift for Mr. Xiao."

"Two three-hundred-year-old mountain ginseng roots, three snow lotuses from the Western Regions, and a chest of fine alchemy materials. It is only a modest offering; please accept it, Mr. Xiao."

Xiao Chen swept his gaze over the items, his heart stirring slightly.

Every one of these items was premium material for alchemy. Those two three-hundred-year-old mountain ginseng roots in particular were things that money alone might not buy in a place like Wutan City!

"Miss Ya Fei, you are too generous."

"Mr. Xiao has worked tirelessly for the Xiao Clan. Ya Fei cannot be of much help, but she can at least afford this small gesture."

Ya Fei suddenly changed the subject.

"However, Mr. Xiao, to be honest, Ya Fei came today not only to offer congratulations, but also... to discuss serious business with you."

"Oh? I would like to hear the details."

Ya Fei lifted her teacup and took a light sip before speaking unhurriedly. "Some time ago, the City Lord's Mansion intended to make trouble for the Xiao Clan, but Ya Fei was the one who blocked them. Mr. Xiao, surely you must give Ya Fei some credit for that?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen understood.

This girl had come to claim her reward.

He smiled faintly and did not rush to respond, merely blowing gently across the tea leaves.

"Miss Ya Fei is right."

Xiao Chen set down his teacup and smiled. "I will remember this favor."

"Remembering it is not enough."

Ya Fei's eyes shifted as she said in a half-serious, half-playful tone, "Mr. Xiao, Ya Fei has recently helped the Xiao Clan fend off quite a few open and hidden attacks. Surely you should... let Ya Fei share in the Xiao Clan's prosperity?"

Xiao Chen smiled.

This was precisely the sentence he had been waiting for.

"What are you saying, Miss Ya Fei? Why should we speak of merits between us?"

"However..."

Xiao Chen paused, took out a document he had prepared long ago, and pushed it before Ya Fei.

"Since Miss Ya Fei has brought it up, I have a proposal. How about gifting Miss Ya Fei a thirty-percent stake in the Xiao Clan Apothecary?"

"What?!"

Ya Fei abruptly sat up straight, her beautiful eyes widening round.

"Mr. Xiao, you... you must be joking? The Xiao Clan Apothecary is now bringing in gold by the day. A thirty-percent stake is a mountain of gold!"

She flipped through the document, growing more shocked the further she read.

"This..."

Ya Fei looked up and stared at Xiao Chen in disbelief.

"Mr. Xiao, you prepared this long ago?"

"I never joke."

"Miss Ya Fei, from now on, we will be tied to the same rope."

Ya Fei stared blankly at Xiao Chen. After a long while, she suddenly smiled.

"Mr. Xiao, do you realize that once you give me this thirty-percent stake, Ya Fei's life will belong to the Xiao Clan?"

"That would be excellent."

Xiao Chen smiled faintly, raised his teacup, and lightly clinked it against Ya Fei's.

"Happy cooperation."

Ya Fei solemnly accepted the document and left with a beaming smile.

When she reached the entrance, she turned back and looked at Xiao Chen once more, her eyes carrying an unprecedented gravity.

"Mr. Xiao, from this day forward, Mittel and the Xiao Clan are one family."

"One family."

Xiao Chen smiled and nodded.

Ya Fei had barely left when Xiao Zhan rushed over in a flurry.

"Elder Xiao Chen!"

As soon as Xiao Zhan entered, he lowered his voice, his face full of distress.

"I heard you gave Ya Fei a thirty-percent stake in the apothecary?! That is more than half of the Xiao Clan's assets!"

"Clan Leader, do not be hasty."

Xiao Chen smiled and poured him a cup of tea.

"Sit down first, and listen to me explain."

"How can I not be hasty?!"

Xiao Zhan plopped down and slapped his thigh anxiously.

"That is a thirty-percent stake! The dividends alone are at least tens of millions of gold coins a year!"

"Clan Leader."

Xiao Chen slowly blew across the tea leaves and spoke at an unhurried pace.

"What has the Xiao Clan Apothecary's business relied on to grow?"

"Your pill formulas, Elder."

"And through what channel were those pill formulas sold?"

"The Mittel Auction House..."

"Exactly."

Xiao Chen set down his teacup and spoke meaningfully.

"The pill formulas depend on Mittel to sell, the medicinal ingredients depend on Mittel to procure, and even the City Lord's Mansion's harassment depends on Ya Fei to block. Clan Leader, tell me, is Mittel not the lifeline of our Xiao Clan?"

Xiao Zhan froze slightly, deep in thought.

"But that lifeline is ultimately held in someone else's hands. Today, Ya Fei values old ties and is willing to help the Xiao Clan. But if someone heartless takes charge tomorrow, would the Xiao Clan not be at their mercy?"

"Now that I have given Ya Fei a thirty-percent stake, the more she gains, the less willing she will be to see the Xiao Clan fall. The higher she rises, the steadier the Xiao Clan's support will become."

Xiao Zhan listened in a daze. After a long while, he suddenly slapped his thigh, his face filled with admiration.

"Brilliant! Elder Xiao Chen, this move of yours truly is... killing two birds with one stone!"

"Four birds."

Xiao Chen smiled and held up four fingers.

"First, Ya Fei and the Xiao Clan will be completely bound together. Second, Mittel's intelligence network will serve the Xiao Clan. Third, with her backing, the City Lord's Mansion will have to think twice before trying to trip us up again. And fourth..."

He paused, a meaningful glint passing through his eyes.

"If the Xiao Clan's business is to grow in the future, Wutan City alone will not be enough. Ya Fei is the bridge that will let us do bigger business."

Xiao Zhan's blood surged with excitement. He rose and gave a solemn bow.

"Elder Xiao Chen, with you in the Xiao Clan, our ancestors must truly be smiling upon us!"

"You flatter me, Clan Leader."

Xiao Chen smiled and helped him up. "We are family. There is no need for such formality."

The three-month deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.

That day, a slender figure in pale green quietly appeared before the gates of the Xiao Clan.

"Miss Xun'er has returned!"

The Xiao Clan servants ran about spreading the news.

When Xiao Xun'er had left, she had done so silently. Yet upon returning, she carried herself with an entirely different air.

She still had that peerlessly delicate face, but there was now a touch of cold nobility between her brows. Her aura was unfathomable, and she faintly possessed the bearing of an expert.

"Why does Miss Xun'er feel like an entirely different person after this trip?"

"Shh—keep your voice down! Miss Xun'er's presence now is probably even more intimidating than the Clan Leader's!"

Several servants whispered among themselves, their gazes toward the slender figure filled with reverence.

Standing in the courtyard, Xiao Chen looked at her from afar, his heart tightening slightly.

"This girl's cultivation has likely improved again... The Gu Clan's foundation truly is terrifying."

Sure enough, Xiao Xun'er came that evening.

"Grandpa Xiao, Xun'er has returned."

She stood at the entrance to the small courtyard and smiled softly.