Misty Cloud Sect Elder Xiao Zhan!

"Master Gu He, your presence graces our humble home and brings splendor to the Xiao Clan..." The shock had completely crashed Xiao Zhan's brain. He mechanically repeated his prepared lines, cupping his hands to welcome Gu He.

"Hahaha." Seeing Xiao Zhan so stiff he looked as though he were doing a robot dance, Yun Congxin finally lost it and laughed aloud.

"Uh, Elder Yun, what brings you here in person?" Xiao Yan, who had slipped away early to slack off, had been dragged back by Xiao Yu. He looked up, spotted Yun Congxin failing to suppress his laughter, and scratched his head.

Yun Congxin turned toward the voice and saw the embarrassed Xiao Yan, with a startled Xiao Yu behind him. He quickly coughed twice, put on a sham air of solemnity, and signaled for Xiao Yan to hurry over and salvage the situation.

Seeing his father standing there as stiff as if his joints had rusted shut, Xiao Yan immediately understood and hurried forward to rescue him.

Xiao Yu, meanwhile, grew visibly flustered. Two rosy clouds flew onto her pretty cheeks, and she became utterly bashful, a completely different person from the fierce girl who had just dragged the slacking Xiao Yan back.

Seeing Xiao Yu at a loss, Yun Congxin assumed it was because she had heard him snickering at her elder. He hurried to explain, "Ahem, it's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. Clan Head Teng Shan just told me a couple of amusing stories. They were so funny I couldn't help laughing... isn't that right, Clan Head Teng Shan?"

"Y-yes. I told him a few funny stories about my niece's antics, which made Sect Master Yun laugh..." Under the threat in Yun Congxin's eyes, Teng Shan hastily nodded along.

"Yu'er, what brings you here? Have you packed everything for your return to the academy?" Freed from his predicament by Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan invited Gu He to join Yun Congxin's table. Seeing Xiao Yu acting like a bashful young girl, he spoke with some surprise.

"The academy? Jia Nan Academy?" Yun Congxin suddenly recalled that, under normal circumstances, Xiao Yu should already have been at Jia Nan Academy by now.

Presumably, she would originally have returned before Yun Leng attacked the Xiao Clan, but his unexpected visit had changed her plans.

"I... haven't yet..."

"Well, that's perfect. I haven't finished packing either!" Hearing this, Xiao Yan's eyes lit up at another golden opportunity to slack off. He quickly chimed in, "Everyone here is an elder from one clan or another. It's hardly appropriate for us juniors to be here. Let's go pack our luggage first!"

"Elder Yun happens to be heading to the Black-Corner Region too, so we'll be traveling the same way. Whatever you want to say can wait..." Xiao Yan leaned closer to Xiao Yu and spoke softly.

Ever since he had learned of his older cousin's little secret, Xiao Yan had found her much more pleasant to look at. After all, a girl dreaming of romance was far cuter than a humanoid tyrannosaurus...

Their relationship had quietly changed as a result. They still traded barbs whenever they met, but at least they no longer clashed like spearpoint against spearpoint.

"Since breaking through to Dou Zong and regaining his youth, Sect Master Yun's charm has truly soared..." Watching the Xiao Clan's youngsters take their leave, Gu He sat beside Yun Congxin and marveled in a low voice.

"What's soared?" Yun Congxin, who had been steadily munching on fried peanuts, glanced back at Gu He and asked.

Gu He smiled and shook his head, thinking that Sect Master Yun really had shed many burdens after his breakthrough. Not only was his demeanor no longer gloomy, even his temperament had grown carefree.

"I mean that, since your breakthrough restored your youth, you've once again become the Jia Ma Empire's most handsome man, the one whose carriage women filled with fruit tossed in admiration..."

"You flatter me..." Yun Congxin scratched his cheek awkwardly and changed the subject. "Yun'er told me you once ventured deep into the desert in search of Heavenly Flames, Master Gu He. How did that turn out...?"

At this, Gu He gave a bitter smile. "At the risk of making you laugh, Sect Master Yun, the Heavenly Flame I sought back then was the Green Lotus Core Flame now in young Xiao Yan's hands. We fought tooth and nail and schemed against the Snake-People Tribe for ages, only for the boy to end up with it..."

"Heavenly treasures belong to those destined to possess them..." After offering that consolation, Yun Congxin said earnestly, "But I know of another Heavenly Flame, and I intend to try securing it for you, Master Gu He..."

Since he was going to the Black-Corner Region, he could hardly make the trip for nothing. That bastard Han Feng was as good as dead anyway, having run into a walking calamity like Xiao Yan. He might as well help speed things along...

The Sea Heart Flame was rather wasted in Han Feng's hands. He would take the trouble to relieve him of it.

"Is that truly so?" Hearing Yun Congxin's words, Gu He grew so excited that even his voice changed pitch.

"Easy, easy..." Smiling, Yun Congxin poured a cup for himself and another for Gu He, then began discussing terms. "You've been a friend to our Misty Cloud Sect all these years, Master Gu He, and I've always valued our friendship. But as you know, Heavenly Flames are dangerous. Whether this will succeed is still uncertain..."

Holding his cup in both hands, Gu He clinked it against Yun Congxin's and drained it in one gulp. "If I can obtain a Heavenly Flame, I'm willing to join the Misty Cloud Sect and serve Sect Master Yun as faithfully as a hound or horse!"

"Oh, that's far too much, far too much. We're all friends here. There's no point in such formal words that put distance between us." Knowing that Gu He had always been an honest, loyal man, Yun Congxin spoke with a smile.

To him, Heavenly Flames were like chicken ribs: little meat to enjoy, yet a shame to discard. At most, they could serve as an extra flourish; they could never shine as brilliantly as they would in the hands of an alchemist like Xiao Yan.

Besides, devouring Heavenly Flames was far too dangerous, so Yun Congxin had no intention of keeping one for himself. In his view, the best use for something so unrewarding and dangerous was to bind a high-ranking alchemist with limitless prospects like Gu He to his warship.

Taking this opportunity, Yun Congxin chatted with Gu He for a long time. In the end, the usually cautious Gu He decided to take a gamble and accompany him to the Black-Corner Region.

Yun Congxin was delighted and could not help drinking a few more cups.

"Sect Master Yun, it's about time. Would you..." Just then, Xiao Zhan came personally to invite Yun Congxin onto the stage to say a few words before the banquet began.

"Come, have a drink." Smiling, Yun Congxin raised the wine jug to pour for Xiao Zhan. He was not actually drunk; he simply wanted to show everyone how highly the Misty Cloud Sect valued the Xiao Clan.

"Oh, I couldn't possibly, I couldn't possibly. Let me pour, let me pour." Xiao Zhan hurriedly took the jug from Yun Congxin's hand.

"Hahaha, Clan Head Xiao, you're far too polite." Under everyone's gaze, Yun Congxin clinked cups with Xiao Zhan and drank his wine in one gulp. Laughing heartily, he said, "From now on, you're an elder of our Misty Cloud Sect. We're all family, so don't be so stiff..."

An elder? Wasn't it supposed to be an Outer Sect Steward?

The assembled guests exchanged bewildered looks, unsure what Yun Congxin was playing at.

"Sect Master Yun, doesn't this go against the Misty Cloud Sect's rules?" Thinking Yun Congxin had drunk too much, Gu He hastily reminded him, afraid he might embarrass himself.

"What rules? I am the rules!"

Yun Congxin walked steadily onto the stage, his eyes clear and without the slightest hint of drunkenness. He said solemnly, "None of you received the wrong invitation. The position originally intended for Clan Head Xiao was that of Outer Sect Steward. However, we recently discovered that the Mo Clan of Blackrock City had engaged in treason! Their clan's Grand Elder, Mo Cheng, had utterly forsaken his conscience and deserved death a thousand times over! Fortunately, the Xiao Clan's young clan head reacted swiftly. In his capacity as a Guest Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, he reported the matter to the sect and purged the traitors from our ranks, preventing a great disaster!"

"Therefore, the Misty Cloud Sect has decided to appoint Clan Head Xiao Zhan as a Misty Cloud Sect Elder in recognition of his service!"