Over the next few days, the replies I received were all the same.
It'll be finished soon. They say it'll be fixed in two days. The stewards are working day and night. Please be patient, senior.
Every time I asked, I got the same answer, the tone of my excuses became more and more perfunctory, and the time was dragged out day by day.
On the fourth day, Elder He specially sent someone to comfort Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er.
The newcomer was a young man in his thirties, dressed in a gray-blue robe befitting a steward of the Wind Lightning Pavilion, embroidered with silver thunder patterns, and wearing an insignia on his chest to indicate his identity.
This person was very polite on the surface, addressing Tang as " Senior Tang " repeatedly, and his manners were impeccable.
What he said was nothing more than polite platitudes.
The formation is still under repair, so please be patient. Elder He will personally oversee this matter, and it will be resolved soon.
However, Xiao Yan keenly sensed a unique emotion emanating from this person.
That emotion wasn't hidden very well, and perhaps the other person didn't intend to pretend too seriously at all.
As he exchanged those polite words, his gaze would occasionally drift towards Xiao Yan, a hint of amusement in his eyes, and a faint, mocking smile would sometimes appear at the corner of his mouth.
Xiao Yan noticed the emotional fluctuations emanating from him almost immediately.
Something's not right.
After that person left, Xiao Yan sat alone in the room, his brows furrowed, carefully reviewing the events of the past few days in his mind.
Because of his Clone Martial Soul, Xiao Yan is extremely sensitive to people's emotions.
He could clearly sense the malice emanating from that person; though it was wrapped in layers of polite words, it could not escape his perception.
Combined with the various unusual behaviors of the past two days, from initially claiming a malfunction in the formation to repeatedly making excuses, he was also aware of the situation.
Xiao Yan already had a bad feeling.
At first, Xiao Yan thought that this was the territory of the Wind Lightning Pavilion, one of the four great pavilions of the Central Plains, with great strength and many powerful figures. If a conflict were to break out here rashly, it would be very disadvantageous for both him and Lin Wan'er.
So he remained calm and accepted the other party's explanation on the surface, pretending not to notice anything unusual.
But now that things have come to this, we can't just sit here and wait to die, or we'll really be considered fools.
" Brother Tang, what should we do?"
Lin Wan'er also sensed the unusual atmosphere and asked him quietly during dinner.
"No rush."
"Tonight I'll go investigate and see what Wind Lightning Pavilion is really up to. You stay in the room and don't go anywhere."
He wanted to find out more about what exactly the Wind Lightning Pavilion was planning.
However, before Xiao Yan could even set off that evening, he stopped behind the door.
He clearly sensed a hidden presence creeping silently toward their courtyard from afar.
The owner of that aura was clearly also deliberately concealing himself, moving slowly and taking every step with extreme Xiao Xin.
Her breathing was extremely low; if Xiao Yan's soul perception hadn't far surpassed that of ordinary people, it would have been almost impossible for him to detect it.
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, his pupils contracting slightly in the darkness.
The fact that they chose to come at midnight, and in such a furtive manner, clearly indicated they weren't there to do anything aboveboard.
The hand that was about to push the door was quietly withdrawn, and the figure swayed and silently retreated into the shadows.
His figure was hidden in the shadow of the old locust tree in the corner of the courtyard, blending into the darkness as if he had never existed.
However, as the aura drew closer, a hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes.
The newcomer's aura wasn't particularly strong; in his perception, they were only at the Dou Wang realm, roughly between three and five stars.
This level of strength is only considered below average within the Wind Lightning Pavilion; it's hardly enough for someone coming to assassinate or investigate.
Moreover, the other party's expression didn't seem to contain any murderous intent; their emotional fluctuations were more of tension and Xiao Xin. This made Xiao Yan temporarily suppress his intention to attack directly, deciding to observe the situation first.
"Knock knock knock!"
A very light knock sounded, three short and restrained knocks, as if the person knocking was afraid that the sound would be heard by others.
Then it became quiet outside the door, with only the rustling of the night wind through the old locust tree branches and leaves.
A hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes again.
The visitor's Xiao Xin knocking suggested that they were not trying to force their way in or launch a surprise attack, but rather that they had something to say privately.
After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Yan gestured for Lin Wan'er to stay inside and not come out. He then silently walked to the door, placed his hand on the latch, and opened the door.
The door hinges creaked softly, a sound that stood out clearly in the quiet night.
Immediately, a figure dressed in the attire of a steward from the Wind Lightning Pavilion appeared before him.
Using the faint lightning cast from the distant tower outside the courtyard, Xiao Yan could make out the appearance of the person who had just arrived;
The other person looked to be around thirty years old, with a square face, a well-defined jawline, slightly prominent brow bones, and eyes that shone brightly in the night.
He wore a dark-colored robe in the standard attire of the Wind Lightning Pavilion, with an insignia pinned to his chest indicating his identity; he exuded competence and composure.
After the door opened, the person was clearly not expected that Xiao Yan would open the door so quickly. He was slightly taken aback when he saw Xiao Yan, but then quickly calmed down.
He glanced around instinctively, as if to make sure no one else was nearby, then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Xiao Yan and spoke in a low voice:
" Senior Tang, please forgive my intrusion in visiting so late at night."
My name is Tan Bin, and I am a steward of the Wind Lightning Pavilion. I received a great favor from the former patriarch of the Lin Clan in my early years, and I have been cultivating in the Wind Lightning Pavilion all these years.
I heard today that Miss Lin Wan'er is here, so I came to see her. I have something important to tell her.
Xiao Yan did not immediately step aside.
He stood at the doorway, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized the man who called himself Tan Bin from head to toe.
In the dead of night, acting suspiciously, under the guise of repaying a debt of gratitude—anyone would find these words suspicious.
Xiao Yan glanced at the already pitch-black sky outside. In this deep night, who would be so kind as to come knocking on their door in the middle of the night?
If there is truly a debt of gratitude to repay, wouldn't it be better to come openly and honestly during the day?
But Tan Bin's gaze was honest, and there was no malice in his emotional fluctuations; there was only tension and a certain underlying urgency.
Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment, but ultimately stepped aside to make way for him.
Whether Tan Bin is sincere or not, it's not too late to listen to what he has to say before making a judgment.
If he truly harbored ill intentions, a mere Dou Wang wouldn't be able to cause any trouble for him.
"Come in."
Xiao Yan said it calmly.
Tan Bin quickly slipped into the courtyard, his movements so light they made almost no sound, clearly indicating his experience.
Xiao Yan gestured for Lin Wan'er to come out of the house, and the three of them quickly sat down at the stone table in the courtyard.
When Lin Wan'er looked at Tan Bin, her eyes clearly showed a hint of doubt and wariness.
After Tan Bin sat down, he took a deep breath, seemingly to calm his nerves.
His gaze first fell on Xiao Yan, and with sincere admiration and respect, he clasped his hands in a fist salute to Xiao Yan and said:
"I had long heard that Senior Tang was incredibly talented and possessed formidable strength, and now that I have seen it, I can confirm that his reputation is well-deserved."
To have reached the Dou Emperor realm at such a young age, one could probably not find another like him in the entire Northern Continent.
Xiao Yan remained unmoved, simply waiting quietly for him to continue.
This kind of opening is often just to ease tension or shorten the distance; the real focus is yet to come.
Sure enough, Tan Bin's gaze immediately turned to Lin Wan'er, a complex expression and a hint of guilt that he didn't quite manage to hide appearing in his eyes.
He began:
"Miss Lin, my Tan Clan owed Old Clan Head Lin a life back then."
When my father was training and cultivating outside, he was injured by a Fifth Rank Magical Beast, his meridians were severed, and he was on the verge of death.
Fortunately, they encountered Old Clan Head Lin along the way. The old man personally intervened, using his pure Soul Power to reconnect my father's meridians, which allowed him to survive that calamity.
This immense kindness will forever be etched in the hearts of our Tan Clan, and we will never forget it.
Upon hearing these words, Lin Wan'er's wariness lessened slightly.
She was about to ask for more details, but Tan Bin raised his hand to interrupt her.
He bit his lower lip, his right hand unconsciously clenching his sleeve, before leaning forward and speaking in a low voice:
" Senior Tang, Miss Lin, please consider the fact that my father was saved by the Old Clan Head Lin back then, and also consider the great kindness and virtue that the Old Clan Head Lin to my Tan Clan back then."
My advice to you is to leave as soon as possible. The sooner the better, ideally first thing tomorrow morning.
"Deacon Tan, what do you mean by this?"
Lin Wan'er's face instantly showed a hint of surprise, her mouth slightly open, her eyes filled with disbelief.
On the contrary, Xiao Yan's face remained completely calm.
Upon hearing these words, a cold glint flashed in the depths of his eyes, but he showed no surprise, as if he had expected it all along.
He had long sensed something amiss about the various arrangements made these past few days.
Tan Bin's words merely lifted the last veil shrouding the mystery.
Looking at Xiao Yan's calm expression, Tan Bin felt even more uneasy.
This calmness itself demonstrates that this young Senior Tang is definitely not someone who can be easily fooled.
He gritted his teeth, and when he spoke again, his voice was even lower and his pace faster, as if he were afraid of losing the courage to continue halfway through his sentence:
"Miss Lin, I cannot say more."
I'm just a lowly butler; I'm nothing in their eyes.
His gaze swept back and forth between the two women, finally settling on Lin Wan'er's face, his tone sincere and heavy:
"I only came to inform you this time because of the life-saving grace of Old Clan Head Lin."
This is all I can do, and it can be considered as repaying the kindness that Old Clan Head Lin to my Tan Clan back then.
Wind Lightning Pavilion is, after all, one of the four great pavilions of Central Plains, with strict rules and deeply entrenched power.
The Lin Clan has been kind to me, and you are a young lady of the Lin Clan. Besides, you... are not important, so naturally they won't do anything to you, and you will be fine."
At this point, Tan Bin's gaze slowly shifted to Xiao Yan, tinged with obvious apprehension. His tone grew heavier, and he practically forced each word out:
"However, Senior Tang, you..."
He didn't finish his sentence; he swallowed the second half of it.
Tan Bin's lips moved a few times, but in the end he didn't say those words.
However, Xiao Yan and Lin Wan'er already understood his meaning.
The Wind Lightning Pavilion might not treat Lin Wan'er badly, but they probably won't be so polite to Xiao Yan.
Lin Wan'er's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she stood up abruptly.
She looked at Xiao Yan, her eyes filled with anxiety and fear. " Brother Tang, what about us—"
Xiao Yan raised his hand to stop Lin Wan'er from saying anything more.
His expression remained calm. He looked at Tan Bin slowly and deliberately, and began to speak:
"Deacon Tan, since you've already said so much, why not explain it more clearly?"
What are they going to do to me? Is this Elder He's doing, or the others from the Wind Lightning Pavilion?
Tan Bin felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze, and a few more drops of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
He gritted his teeth, and finally just stood up, bowed deeply to Xiao Yan, and as he straightened up, his face showed sincere apology and helplessness.
" Senior Tang, Elder He is now in charge of this branch pavilion. I heard that he seems to have owed a favor to an elder of the Yellow Springs Pavilion in his early years."
You are a smart person, and I'm sure you already have the idea. That's all I have to say; you two must make a decision as soon as possible.
Goodbye.
After saying this, Tan Bin didn't linger. He strode towards the courtyard gate and then disappeared into the deep night.
The courtyard returned to silence.
Lin Wan'er quickly walked to Xiao Yan's side and reached out to tug at his sleeve:
" Brother Tang..."
Xiao Yan slowly turned his gaze away from the direction where Tan Bin had disappeared, and the cold and stern look that he had been suppressing finally surfaced deep in his eyes.
He raised his hand and gently patted Lin Wan'er's shoulder, indicating that she didn't need to panic.