Hearing the system's rewards, Han Chen pursed his lips. These rewards were merely passable.
The Earth Shield Talisman met his immediate need for defense, and 200 experience points were reasonable enough.
But calling these good rewards would have been a considerable stretch.
"Looks like I'll have to visit the Xiao Clan later. The rewards out here are pretty ordinary.
"Right, there's also that battered iron fragment. The Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations are hidden inside it.
"That might be worth getting my hands on. After all, I'm bound to Mortal, and there are Heavenly Flames in the Mortal world too."
"Chen, what are you thinking about?"
Just as Han Cheng was pondering what to do next, Nalan Yanran's voice sounded beside him.
Han Cheng focused his gaze and saw her looking at him with concern, waving a hand before his face.
Meanwhile, Ge Ye lowered his eyes to his nose and his attention to his heart, pretending not to see anything.
"I'm fine. I've just gotten a little groggy from sitting in the carriage so long."
"As long as you're all right. Let's hurry. We've reached the Xiao Clan."
With that, Nalan Yanran was the first to leave the carriage, and Ge Ye followed her out.
Seeing the Xiao Residence beyond the curtain, Han Chen stepped out as well. He also wanted to see what the future Flame Emperor was like right now.
At that moment, the Xiao Clan presented a thriving scene. Many core disciples were hurrying toward the Hall.
In a secluded, quiet room in the Core District, a Black-Haired Youth who had just finished cultivating frowned at the commotion outside.
"Strange. Is something important happening today? Why are there so many people?"
As the Black-Haired Youth pondered this, a knock came at the door, followed by a slightly aged but deeply respectful voice.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, the Group Leader wants you to go to the Hall. He says some honored guests are coming."
"Understood, Steward Mo."
Xiao Yan answered without giving it much thought. He opened the door, nodded to Steward Mo, and headed toward the Hall.
Behind him, Steward Mo watched the somewhat subdued figure of the youth recede. Helplessness surfaced in his eyes, and he sighed.
"I really don't know what evil the young master brought upon himself to end up like this."
Indeed, this Black-Haired Youth was none other than the future Flame Emperor, whose mighty name would resound throughout the Great Thousand World.
For now, however, he was merely a youth deeply troubled by his Dou Qi dissipating for no apparent reason.
By the time Xiao Yan reached the Hall, it was already packed. On the right sat the Xiao Clan's core disciples, while four outsiders sat on the left.
Xiao Yan wondered who these people were, but the next moment, he froze in embarrassment. There were no spare chairs among the Xiao Clan disciples. Did that mean he had to stand?
Seeing the gloating elders on the Viewing Platform, Xiao Yan clenched his fists.
"Young Master Xiao Yan."
"Brother Xiao Yan."
Just then, two distinctly different voices reached his ears.
Xiao Yan looked up. One came from a figure he knew all too well-his younger cousin, Xiao Xun'er.
The other came from among the outsiders.
Xiao Yan turned and saw the young man in blue robes seated in the third seat smiling at him. Pointing at the empty chair beside him, the young man said,
"The servants must have been careless and put it in the wrong place. The chair ended up over here. Sorry for the trouble, Young Master Xiao, but you'll have to move it over yourself."
Seated on the other side, Xiao Xun'er saw this unfamiliar young man rescue her Brother Xiao Yan from embarrassment, and her opinion of him improved a little.
Only a little, of course. After all, he had spoiled her plans. She had intended to have Brother Xiao Yan sit with her.
"Brother Xiao Yan, there's room here too. If you don't mind, why not sit with me?"
Xiao Yan looked from one side to the other and ultimately decided to carry the chair over.
He was a little too thin-skinned to sit together with Xiao Xun'er in front of everyone.
Seeing that Xiao Yan would rather move a chair than sit with her, Xiao Xun'er rolled her eyes at him.
She angrily lowered her head to the book in her hands, though she might not even have realized she was holding it upside down.
Xiao Zhan remained silent in the main seat throughout. When he saw the elders making things difficult for his son, he had been angry and intended to speak up.
He had not expected Han Chen to intervene. Now that Xiao Yan was fine, and they were in the clan's meeting hall,
with both clansmen and outsiders present, some dignity had to be preserved, so he said nothing.
"Xiao Clan Chief, I wonder whether you recognize this young lady beside me?"
Once Xiao Yan had taken his seat, Ge Ye and Xiao Zhan exchanged a round of pleasantries.
When Nalan Yanran felt that the time was right, she tugged at Ge Ye. Taking the hint, Ge Ye addressed Xiao Zhan.
Hearing Ge Ye's question, Xiao Zhan raised his eyes to Nalan Yanran. He had already formed a guess.
But he could not voice it. Given his son's current condition, their purpose in coming at a time like this was all too clear.
Whoever spoke first now would lose the upper hand.
"Forgive my poor eyesight, but I really haven't recognized this young lady."
"Uncle Xiao..."
Hearing that Xiao Zhan had not recognized her, Nalan Yanran immediately began to rise and explain.
Before she could say anything more, however, Han Chen stopped her.
Han Chen patted the back of Nalan Yanran's hand to reassure her, then gave Ge Ye a look.
Ge Ye knew Han Chen's former status and understood that he wanted to help Nalan Yanran, so he did not interfere.
"Clan Chief Xiao Zhan, my name is Han Chen. This is my elder sister, Nalan Yanran. Surely that name is familiar to you?"
Hearing Nalan Yanran's name, Xiao Zhan thought, Just as I suspected, while putting on a surprised expression.
"So it's my niece Yanran! A girl truly changes eighteen times as she grows. Look how much you've grown-you're a young lady now. Even your Uncle Xiao Zhan didn't recognize you."
As he spoke, Xiao Zhan smiled and nodded at Nalan Yanran.
Nalan Yanran responded with a smile. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan, seated opposite her, exchanged a few unknown words with Xiao Xun'er. His expression abruptly darkened, and he stared solemnly at the two visitors.
"Hello, Uncle Xiao Zhan."
"Good, good, good. Then may I ask what brings my niece Yanran and my nephew Han Chen to the Xiao Clan?"
At this, Han Chen smiled at the Xiao Clan disciples around him, then dropped a bombshell on Xiao Zhan.
"I believe Clan Chief Xiao Zhan and Young Master Xiao Yan both remember the marriage alliance with the Nalan Family?"
Hearing Han Chen's words, both Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan's expressions changed sharply. Xiao Zhan clenched his fists, while Xiao Yan thought, Just as I suspected, his expression equally hostile. Whatever the reason, something like this would make anyone angry.
"Oh? I do seem to recall that. What is it, Nephew Han Chen?"
Xiao Zhan leaned back, gazing indifferently at Han Chen, and asked in an even voice.
One reason he did not lose his temper was that Han Chen had not stated his full purpose. He had only mentioned the marriage.
If Xiao Zhan immediately imposed his suspicion that they meant to break off the engagement, he could easily let his preconceptions take over and lose the upper hand.
Secondly, whatever else might be said, Han Chen had just helped Xiao Yan out of an awkward situation. Xiao Zhan could not measure a gentleman's heart with a petty man's suspicions.
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