Su Fan had been neglecting his cultivation in reality recently. After returning from the Martial Alliance, he had consumed some attribute pills and cultivated for a while before entering the game.
Su Fan was still in the Grand Commandant's mansion. He was still recuperating from his injuries, and Xu Mu would not allow him to leave at this time.
"Young Master Su, the Master requests your presence," said the maid serving Su Fan, standing outside his door.
"Alright," Su Fan replied. He got out of bed, tidied himself up, and followed the maid to the reception hall.
The Grand Commandant's mansion was eerily quiet. Everyone was dressed in plain clothes, adorned with white silk, as if preparing for Xu Fengnian's funeral rites.
Xu Mu sat at the head seat, with other members of the Xu family also present.
"Su Fan, you were close with Nian'er, and you even took a blade for him before he died. I can see the depth of your bond," Xu Mu said to Su Fan in a deep voice from the head seat.
"I wonder if you would be willing to become my adopted son. From this day forward, you will be one of the Xu family."
Xu Mu's proposal to adopt Su Fan as his son caught Su Fan off guard.
"This... Nephew is naturally willing, but is this an appropriate time?" Su Fan immediately agreed, feigning a hesitant tone about the current timing.
"It matters not. As long as you agree, you are my adopted son from this day forward. After Nian'er's funeral rites are concluded, I will announce your identity publicly." Xu Mu waved his hand, indicating that Su Fan need not worry.
He had only one son, Xu Fengnian. Now that Xu Fengnian was dead and the Xu family had no heir, and he needed someone of the same age as the Third Prince to maintain the relationship between the younger generation of the royal family, lest the Xu family decline when the new emperor ascended the throne, he had no choice but to resort to this measure.
"Thank you, Father!" Su Fan immediately seized the opportunity and called out "Father."
"Master, the Third Prince has arrived," a servant suddenly announced, informing them of the Third Prince's arrival.
"Quick, invite him in!" Xu Mu immediately rose to greet him.
Su Fan's heart stirred. He could interact with the Third Prince so soon? It seemed this task was not difficult.
To complete the mission, Su Fan also went along.
"Your Highness the Third Prince, we are honored by your presence," said a young man dressed in brocade robes and jade belt as he entered through the main gate.
"Grand Commandant Xu, there is no need for such formality. I heard of Fengnian's unfortunate demise. As Fengnian's friend, I have come to bid him farewell," the Third Prince, Xiao Zhihong, said as he reached out to help up Xu Mu, who was about to bow.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Third Prince," Su Fan seized the opportunity to cup his hands in greeting. The mission required him to get acquainted with the Third Prince, and he could not miss this chance.
"And who is this?" Xiao Zhihong looked at Su Fan with a hint of confusion. He was not aware of such a person in the Xu family.
"Ah, this is my adopted son, Su Fan. He was very close with Nian'er and even took a blade for him before his incident," Xu Mu introduced Su Fan to the Third Prince.
"Oh, I see. Truly a man of loyalty and righteousness," the Third Prince said, looking at Su Fan with admiration.
"Your Highness is too kind," Su Fan replied.
[Ding! Stage two of the mission is complete. You have gained 100000 experience points and 200 reputation.]
[Ding! Congratulations on leveling up.]
[Stage three of 'Overturning Rivers and Seas': Cause conflict between the princes. Reward: 300000 experience points, 500 reputation.]
After a brief exchange, the Third Prince entered the mourning hall to pay his last respects to Xu Fengnian.
"Uncle, do you know who poisoned Fengnian?" the Third Prince asked Xu Mu with a frown after seeing Xu Fengnian.
Xu Mu shook his head slightly.
"I do not know, but I already have a suspicion. Only those of the Qi family could wield their spear techniques with such mastery. It must be the surviving remnants of the Qi family from back then, seeking revenge for my denunciation of their family." Although Xu Mu had no concrete evidence, he already suspected that it was the survivors of the Qi family seeking revenge.
"The Qi family? They embezzled military funds back then, and my father ordered their execution. Yet, some survived? This is an act of deceiving the emperor!" the Third Prince exclaimed in anger.
Su Fan's heart stirred. It seemed this Third Prince was also kept in the dark and did not know that the Qi family had been framed.
"I have already identified the remnant of the Qi family. It is the youngest daughter, Qi Ling, who served in the army disguised as a man for many years. She is currently wanted by the military for violating military law and her whereabouts are unknown." Xu Mu seemed to have put in a great deal of effort in the past few days and had already found some information about Qi Ling.
"So that's how it is. I will immediately send people to search the city. She will not escape!" The Third Prince nodded thoughtfully and planned to help Xu Mu search for her.
"Your humble servant thanks Your Highness!" Xu Mu had said all this precisely to enlist the Third Prince's help in the search. The Xu family had too few people, and the soldiers did not obey his orders. It would be much easier with the Third Prince's intervention.
Su Fan, however, frowned. If the soldiers started investigating him, it would be troublesome.
"Father, I haven't been home for two days. My two friends are still there, and I should go back to avoid them worrying," Su Fan said to Xu Mu at an opportune moment, wanting to arrange for Qi Ling's safety before the Third Prince did.
"Hmm, I will have the steward escort you back," Xu Mu did not detain Su Fan and instructed the steward to take him home.
Su Fan rode in the steward's carriage. Under Su Fan's guidance, they arrived at the courtyard where Su Fan lived.
"You can drop me off here. The road is narrow inside, and the carriage cannot enter," Su Fan got off the carriage outside the alley.
"No, the Master instructed that I must escort Young Master Su to his home," the steward insisted.
Su Fan's eyebrows twitched. He immediately understood the implication. They were here to investigate his background.
"Thank you for your trouble," Su Fan could not refuse and thanked the steward softly.
"Young Master, there is no need for such courtesy. You honor this old servant too much," the steward felt overwhelmed and dared not accept Su Fan's thanks. In the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty, the hierarchy between master and servant was strict. Su Fan was now Xu Mu's adopted son, and in terms of status, he was the steward's master. As a servant, he dared not accept his master's gratitude.
Su Fan was indifferent. He walked directly into the alley and arrived at the entrance of his courtyard.
"We're here. This is my home," Su Fan said to the steward at the entrance.
"Young Master's residence is indeed unique," the steward said with a wry smile upon seeing the courtyard.
"Would you like to come in for a moment?" Su Fan invited the steward.
"No, I still need to return to handle the young master's funeral rites. I will not disturb Young Master Su any further," the steward said, intending to leave once he had noted Su Fan's address, so he could report back to his master.
After watching the steward leave, Su Fan pushed open the door and walked in.
"Where have you been these past two days? We haven't seen you," Long Die was the first to notice Su Fan's return and asked in confusion.
Since Su Fan's plan was only known to Qi Ling, no one else knew where Su Fan had gone. As communication between Qi Ling and Xiao Yan and Long Die was difficult, they were unaware of Su Fan's whereabouts.
"Where is Qi Ling?" Su Fan did not explain and first went to find Qi Ling.
"In the backyard," Long Die pointed towards the backyard. Su Fan hurried to the backyard.
At this moment, Qi Ling was practicing her spear techniques. Her Qi family spear technique was proficient and powerful. She wielded an iron spear with great vigor, as if she were fighting an enemy before her.