The Young Lady Arrives

Ever since receiving the letter of greeting from the Gu Clan, Chen Cang had spent every day brimming with anticipation.

Really, he wanted to improve so badly.

Day after day, month after month, he even grew less attentive to training the three Xiao brothers.

But a genius was a genius. Even without Chen Cang's attention, Xiao Yan still reached three-stage dou qi within eight months.

Such speed might have been unremarkable on the grand stage of the Central Plains, but in Wutan City, it was absolutely unprecedented.

With that, Xiao Yan's reputation as a genius gradually began spreading within a small circle. Many people eagerly awaited how many years he would need to condense a dou qi vortex, which would give them a rough idea of his future achievements.

Yet Xiao Yan himself was nowhere near as happy as they imagined.

Because he had discovered that, in those same eight short months, Chen Cang had also broken through twice. He was now a five-star Da Dou Shi, officially surpassing Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan, as well as the leaders of the other two major clans, to become the strongest person in Wutan City!

They had both broken through twice, but the difference between them...

Was a little too big.

Compared to children his age, Xiao Yan was somewhat more mature in his thinking. But the clearer his understanding became, the harder the blow hit him. This left him unable to feel smug at all. He could only redouble his cultivation efforts, hoping to one day escape Chen Cang's shadow.

What the little Flame Emperor did not know was that Chen Cang had deliberately guided all of this.

Brats were the most annoying creatures. Since he happened to be in the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan could forget about looking down his nose at everyone. Nipping that budding arrogance in the bud would bring nothing but benefits later.

That day, Chen Cang had just returned from walking his horse when he keenly sensed something unusual about the Xiao Clan's atmosphere.

A bunch of normally lazy people were actually sparring diligently in the square, looking exactly like the displays of busywork he remembered from when the higher-ups came to inspect.

"Xiao Yu, what's going on? Where's the clan leader?"

Stopping a girl who was taller than others her age, Chen Cang asked her about it.

"Brother Chen, I don't know either. Half an hour ago, Grandpa suddenly ordered everyone to come to the square and cultivate seriously. Anyone caught slacking would lose a month's allowance. Then he hurried off. Xiao Ning even sneaked over for a look. Grandpa and the others were actually standing guard outside the reception hall, and only the clan leader stayed inside. It seemed like he was entertaining an honored guest."

Xiao Yu was one of Chen Cang's little admirers. Delighted that he had stopped her, she spilled everything she knew in one breath, selling out her younger brother along the way.

Fortunately, Chen Cang never bothered with such things, and right now, he had even less attention to spare.

At this moment, all he wanted was to rush over and confirm one thing: Had that Gu clan leader I've never met finally arrived?

With no time to explain, Chen Cang hurried away.

As though heaven were playing a joke on him, when he rushed over, he found the reception hall doors wide open. Xiao Zhan was discussing matters with several elders, and there was not a single unfamiliar face.

Was it already over?

Or had he never come at all?

"Guest Elder Chen is here."

"My young friend?"

They invited Chen Cang to sit, only to find him staring blankly at Xiao Zhan.

Quickly coming to his senses, Chen Cang gave a casual laugh.

"No need. I just heard the clan leader was entertaining an honored guest, so I came over for a look out of curiosity. Seems I'm a step too late."

"They weren't really honored guests. Do you remember the letter I received on the day Jia Nan Academy held its recruitment, my young friend? I never imagined there really was a Xiao Clan branch I knew nothing about. They arrived just now and brought a young family member to stay with us. Oh, right, I've already had her settled in the courtyard beside yours. The child is rather pitiful, so please look after her a little when you meet her."

Well played, Xiao Zhan. I bare my heart to you, and you play mind games with me.

If Chen Cang had not known everything, he might actually have believed that nonsense.

"Rest assured, Clan Leader."

Turning to leave, Chen Cang felt deeply helpless.

From Xiao Zhan's memories, he could tell that Gu Xun'er had indeed arrived, and Gu Yuan had brought her personally.

Unfortunately, after waiting so long, he had still failed to meet the Gu clan leader with his own eyes.

But once he calmed down and thought about it, it was only natural.

With Gu Yuan's strength, if he was determined to send his daughter to the Xiao Clan in Wutan City, even Hun Tiandi probably would not have noticed, let alone a mere five-star Da Dou Shi like him.

Moreover, to keep things as secret as possible, Gu Yuan had met only Xiao Zhan this time. Even the Xiao Clan's elders had not gotten to see him. Even if Chen Cang had happened to be there, the outcome probably would have been the same.

Even taking ten thousand steps back, not running into Gu Yuan was rather good.

If Gu Yuan had noticed a teenage Da Dou Shi within the Xiao Clan, he might have started connecting dots and changed his arrangements for Gu Xun'er accordingly. That would have been worse for Chen Cang.

He's just an old fossil who's lived for thousands of years. I'm not interested. Not interested at all!

Chen Cang muttered inwardly, hypnotizing himself, while his feet honestly carried him toward the rear courtyard.

Looking from afar at the three neighboring courtyards, Chen Cang increasingly felt that Xiao Zhan's lie was riddled with holes.

If she really were just an ordinary child from a branch family, why would she have been settled here?

Of the three courtyards, the middle one is the most elegant. If I hadn't taken it, Gu Xun'er would most likely have stayed here. The pavilion nearest the water catches the moon first-this practically handed that brat a natural opportunity to get close to her.

But the past was the past, and the present was the present. With him now planted between them, Xiao Yan would find it difficult to get a chance.

Through the half-open doors and windows, Chen Cang could see a figure bustling back and forth inside Gu Xun'er's room, seemingly putting things away.

Although Chen Cang very much wanted to meet Gu Xun'er immediately and gain some benefits, the thought of the Dou Emperor Ling Ying lurking in the shadows forced him to set that desire aside for now.

Gu Xun'er was already caught in his net anyway. He would have plenty of opportunities to meet her in the future. There was no need to rush and make Ling Ying overly wary.

Back in his room, Chen Cang was pondering things when he suddenly heard the Void Pegasus Beast neigh.

Without hesitation, he rose and hurried over.

Upon reaching the back of the Small Courtyard, Chen Cang saw that the Void Pegasus Beast was rather frightened, clearly unlike its usual leisurely self.

He went over, soothed it briefly, and read its memories.

Soon, he understood the reason.

Just moments earlier, a dark shadow had appeared here with startling abruptness. When it revealed its true form, it proved to be a mysterious expert clad in black robes.

The newcomer seemed greatly surprised upon seeing the Void Pegasus Beast. He circled it twice to examine it, clicking his tongue in wonder.

The pressure brought by this man's surging dou qi was immense. That the Void Pegasus Beast had endured such tremendous pressure without fleeing showed how deeply it had bonded with Chen Cang over their years together.

"Don't be afraid. It's all right."

Gently stroking the Void Pegasus Beast, Chen Cang knew exactly what had happened.

That black-robed expert was undoubtedly Ling Ying.

Had any other Dou Huang expert discovered the Void Pegasus Beast, Chen Cang would have been worried.

But Ling Ying...

There was no need!

This man had the Gu Clan behind him, a mission to carry out, and unwavering loyalty.

A Void Pegasus Beast might surprise him, but that was all. He would never try to seize it or anything of the sort.

Chen Cang guessed that Ling Ying had merely been investigating the Xiao Clan's internal situation and happened upon the Void Pegasus Beast along the way.

"Once Ling Ying finishes investigating, he'll find that the Void Pegasus Beast and I are currently the only unknown factors in the Xiao Clan..."

As he murmured, Chen Cang's thoughts grew increasingly clear.

He seemed to have found a way to approach Gu Xun'er without arousing excessive suspicion!