The Fourth Elder watched Rebirth's departing back, his eyes full of confusion. In his opinion, Elder Tie, having served the Jin family for many years with diligence and merit, and being exceptionally skilled in forging, was the best candidate for an executive elder. Within the Forging Hall, no one surpassed him in talent and ability. Yet, the patriarch stated there was someone more suitable. Who could it be?
"Is there truly someone more suitable than Elder Tie?" The Fourth Elder, harboring his doubts, headed towards the Punishment Hall. The Punishment Hall was to be a separate hall, meaning all its members had to be reselected. He had to choose suitable people to join the Punishment Hall.
Elder Ping had been closely observing the Jin family's movements. However, the Jin family remained calm, and Fengling City was tranquil.
"Elder, the Young Sect Master is out."
Elder Ping looked outside and indeed saw Yue Ran and Xiao Man emerging from the Jin family, chatting and laughing. Although they were some distance away, it didn't prevent Elder Ping from clearly seeing the smile on Yue Ran's face.
"The Young Sect Master truly favors this Xiao Qin."
"Elder, do you find the Young Sect Master’s interactions with Xiao Qin to be somewhat peculiar?"
"Peculiar?" Elder Ping stared at the two for a long time but found nothing peculiar between them. If there was anything that made him uncomfortable, it was that the Young Sect Master's smile was too silly, simply an eyesore!
Xiao Man and Yue Ran strolled through the city. Whatever Xiao Man glanced at, Yue Ran would unhesitatingly buy it. Halfway down the street, Yue Ran's arms were already piled high with items.
Seeing Yue Ran still buying everything, Xiao Man couldn't help but shake her head. Who said only girls liked to shop? Boys loved shopping too. The vendors on this street, seeing Yue Ran generous and unwilling to haggle, treated him like a foolish son of a wealthy family, pushing their wares at him with all their might.
"Stop buying," Xiao Man pulled Yue Ran. Yue Ran handed Xiao Man a bag of roasted chestnuts. "Second Brother, roasted chestnuts. Eat them while they're hot; they're fragrant and sweet."
Xiao Man looked at the roasted chestnuts offered to her, her hand hovering for a long time. Once upon a time, someone had accompanied her shopping, eating from one end of the street to the other, buying her roasted chestnuts and taking her to eat osmanthus wine-fermented glutinous rice balls.
"Second Brother?" Yue Ran noticed Xiao Man's mood dip for a moment, as if she were looking into the distance through him. "Second Brother, are you alright?"
Xiao Man snapped back to reality, took the roasted chestnuts Yue Ran handed her, and unconsciously reached out to rub Yue Ran's head. "My Ah Ran is truly a thoughtful and good young man. I wonder which fortunate girl will have the blessing of becoming your bride in the future."
"Will any girl like me?" Yue Ran lowered his gaze and asked softly. Because of his fiery temper, he would resort to fighting at the slightest disagreement. Apart from Xiao Man, he didn't even have a true friend. How could any girl like him?
"Of course!" Xiao Man said with certainty. "The girl who likes you will undoubtedly be very outstanding."
"Really!"
Yue Ran's face immediately lit up with joy. "Second Brother, what kind of girl do you like?"
"Outstanding!"
"Anything else?"
"Isn't being outstanding enough?" Xiao Man retorted. "Too many demands will make you unlikable."
Yue Ran paused. "That seems to be the case. Then, do I need to become even more outstanding to be liked by outstanding girls?"
"Naturally!"
Elder Ping, wearing a mask, secretly followed behind, pursing his lips dismissively. Those who wished to be their Young Sect Master's wife could line up from the mountain of the Heavenly Sword Sect all the way down to its foot. Their Young Sect Master did not lack potential wives!
"Second Brother, do you have a sister?" Yue Ran asked abruptly.
"My mother only gave birth to me, but I have two sworn sisters," Xiao Man said with a smile. "One is named Shan Yun, currently at the Spirit Snake Sect, and the other is Shi Lan, currently at the Hundred Herbs Hall."
"No biological sister?" Yue Ran was very disappointed. "If only Second Brother had a biological sister, then I would marry her. Second Brother is so outstanding; his sister must also be not bad."
Xiao Man instantly thought of Xiao Ling and Xiao Xiang, and her mouth twitched. Back then, the relationship between the three sisters was fraught with tension. If one were to call them outstanding, they weren't particularly so, but when compared to the Cangxuan Continent, it was hard to say. After all, they were just ordinary people and couldn't compare to these cultivators!
The two walked to the second street, and Yue Ran continued to buy whatever caught his eye, looking as if he wanted to buy out the entire street!
Cheng Ze watched the two shopping, his expression extremely unpleasant. "Damn it, how did she get involved with the Young Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
Cheng Le, while biting into a flatbread, said, "I'm not surprised who she knows. To be able to transform the Jin family in such a short time, this ability... is quite terrifying!"
"You don't know anything. She is the Young Sect Master's..." Cheng Ze fell silent for a moment, swallowing his words. No matter what Xiao Man did or who she befriended, their task was to protect her!
Suddenly, Xiao Man looked towards the direction outside the city. A powerful oppressive aura was approaching Fengling City!
"A strong presence is coming," Yue Ran stepped forward, blocking Xiao Man. "It seems the visitor has ill intentions."
"Fengling City is the Jin family's territory, and few dare to come to Fengling City to cause trouble. Whoever is coming at this time must be related to the change in leadership of the Jin family..." Xiao Man's gaze turned backward. Yue Ran followed Xiao Man's gaze and saw Elder Ping following behind them.
"Elder Ping!" Yue Ran frowned. "Did you call people here?"
"It's not our people!" Elder Ping quickly distanced himself. "Young Sect Master, the opponent's arrival is aggressive. It's best to avoid them for now."
"Why should we avoid them? You are a Nascent Soul expert; what are you afraid of?"
"Ah Ran, let's leave here first. This is the main street, with too many civilians. If a conflict erupts, casualties will be severe." After speaking, Xiao Man pulled Yue Ran and ran. "Let's return to the Jin family. The Jin family has several Nascent Soul experts, and the opponent only has one. The Jin family members working together can wear him down!"
"Is the opponent targeting the Jin family?" Yue Ran asked in surprise.
"Fengling City is the Jin family's base. To release such a powerful oppressive aura so overtly towards Fengling City means the opponent is utterly fearless of the Jin family's deterrence. If they are not targeting the Jin family, then they are people who do not fear the Jin family!" Xiao Man's heart pounded. She had never felt such a powerful oppressive aura. The visitor was likely at the peak of Nascent Soul, on the verge of entering the Spirit Transformation stage. Such a powerful expert arriving in Fengling City at this time was not a good omen! Su Dan Novel Network
Xiao Man dragged Yue Ran and quickly retreated towards the Jin family, with Elder Ping following closely behind. Xiao Man's cultivation was only at the early Core Formation stage, yet her speed was not slow at all. Elder Ping couldn't help but sigh. Such a talent, if it could be used by the Heavenly Sword Sect, would undoubtedly become a pillar of the sect in time. When the Young Sect Master inherited the position of Sect Master, she would be an indispensable aid. He had to find a way to recruit her into the Heavenly Sword Sect.