Translator: CinderTL
Two days later, Thousand Autumns City came into view in the distance.
The great elder gazed at the sole surviving descendant behind him, a pang of sorrow gripping his heart. This last scion wasn't even the true root of the Wang Family.
It was too late for regrets.
For the Wang Family, this battle had been unavoidable. Allowing the Qian Kingdom to run rampant on their territory would not only severely damage their prestige but also invite the attention of ambitious rivals like the Li Clan.
In the dog-eat-dog world of the Chaotic Cloud Mountains, any sign of weakness was fatal. Once a vulnerability was exposed, rival factions would swarm like hyenas, tearing and devouring the exposed flesh.
The great elder had never anticipated such devastating losses.
He had initially planned to swiftly annihilate the invading forces using the Nine Extremes Immortal Slaughtering Formation, hoping to intimidate other factions. Instead, his scheme backfired, resulting in a mutually destructive stalemate.
No one could have foreseen such a catastrophic outcome. Now, they could only swallow the bitter pill with tears.
"Sigh..."
The great elder sighed softly, lowering his head as he silently stepped into Thousand Autumns City.
The Soul Refining Realm elders who had perished were all descendants of the Wang Family, bound to him by blood.
Despite his lofty status as the great elder, he couldn't bring himself to face his clan relatives, nor did he know how to explain the situation.
Xu Sanyan, however, had no such qualms. He followed the great elder into the inner city, where Wang Family disciples bowed respectfully as they passed, their eyes filled with unspoken questions.
They all knew the great elder had led a group to intercept the invading enemies, but no one understood how things had gone so terribly wrong. Of the dozen or so who had set out, only two had returned.
Yet, given the great elder's position, no one dared to ask.
Upon entering the Wang Clan Manor, the great elder turned to Xu Sanyan and said, "Go rest now. I'll explain everything to the clan chief myself."
"As you command," Xu Sanyan replied, cupping his hands in farewell before heading toward Third Madam's courtyard.
As he stepped through the arched gate, his footsteps faltered slightly. In that instant, one of the Demonic Seeds in his mind vanished.
It wasn't the seed planted in the Wang Family's three sisters, but rather the one in Maid Meng Zhuer, who was far away at the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect. For reasons unknown, she had died.
Without Xu Sanyan's protection, her death in such a place was hardly surprising.
Five Demonic Seeds had now been planted: Xiang Tan, the Wang Family's three sisters, and Chang Yulian.
"Ah, Brother Lin, you're back!" A joyful voice interrupted his thoughts. Wang Zixuan leaped forward excitedly, scrutinizing him from head to toe for injuries.
Standing not far behind them, Third Madam watched the scene with an expressionless face, a bitter feeling rising in her heart.
Although Lin Fan was exceptionally talented, she still didn't want her daughter to marry. The thought of her cherished daughter becoming someone's wife, subject to another's whims, was unbearable.
But the matter was now beyond her control. The clan head had already given his consent, leaving her no room to intervene.
"Did everything go smoothly?" Third Madam asked, trying to maintain composure.
Xu Sanyan paused, then slowly shook his head. "Well... not exactly."
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Third Madam raised a delicate eyebrow, surprised by his answer.
Xu Sanyan briefly recounted the events, concluding, "The great elder sustained serious injuries and will likely be incapacitated for quite some time."
Third Madam lowered her head in silence, seemingly deep in thought. After a moment, she said, "Go get some rest."
With that, she rose and walked toward the inner courtyard.
Wang Zixuan, oblivious to these concerns, tugged Xu Sanyan into the house, asking anxiously, "Is Brother Lin alright?"
"I am..." Xu Sanyan replied, shaking his head. Then, changing the subject, he added, "I need a batch of sword- and blade-type magic artifacts. Can you help me with that?"
Wang Zixuan instinctively asked, "How many does Brother Lin need?"
"About forty pieces," Xu Sanyan replied.
"Hmm... That's quite a lot," Wang Zixuan said, shaking her head slightly. "I'm afraid it will be difficult to gather them all quickly." Despite being the clan head's daughter, she held no real power and had little influence over the Wang Family's resources.
Forty magic artifacts was a substantial quantity, roughly equivalent to forty thousand spirit stones—far beyond her means.
Seeing her hesitation, Xu Sanyan offered, "I'll cover the expenses."
"That makes things much easier," Wang Zixuan immediately agreed, nodding eagerly.
With money, anything was possible. What couldn't be bought?
The two entered the room, Wang Zixuan turning to gently close the door behind them. With a shrug, the thin veil draped over her shoulders slipped off, revealing a pale pink, gossamer-thin dress that barely concealed her snow-white skin.
"Brother~ Did you miss me?" Wang Zixuan wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her ear against his chest to listen to his heartbeat. Her cheeks slowly flushed crimson.
Xu Sanyan silently curled the corner of his lips. Why does she seem even more eager than I am?
Before he could react, footsteps approached outside the door. "Young Master Lin, the clan head requests your presence in his study."
"Sigh..."
Wang Zixuan retrieved the veil from the floor and draped it over herself, her face clouded with disappointment. Helpless, she could only murmur, "Brother Lin, you should go quickly. Don't keep Father waiting."
"Mm," Xu Sanyan replied, pushing open the door and following the maid toward the study.
Wang Zixuan squeezed her thighs together, inwardly grumbling, Father, really? Couldn't you have waited a bit longer...?
When Xu Sanyan entered the study, he found a gathering of people. Besides the Wang Clan Head, there were four women present, including the Third Madam.
"You're here. Take a seat," the Wang Clan Head said, his expression calm, though a hint of irritation flickered in his eyes. The sudden loss of over a dozen Soul Refinement Realm family elders had dealt a significant blow to the Wang Family, leaving many positions severely understaffed.
Xu Sanyan bowed respectfully and sat down beside them.
The women's gazes turned toward him. Some offered polite smiles, while others remained cold and silent.
The Wang Clan Head didn't introduce the women. Instead, he cut straight to the point: "I promised to betroth Xuan'er to you upon your return. Since I made that pledge, I cannot break my word. Today's meeting is to discuss the arrangements."
"I defer to the clan head's judgment," Xu Sanyan said, rising to bow.
"Hmm." The Wang Clan Head nodded slightly, then paused before continuing, "Over a dozen family elders perished at the hands of that Demoness. With recent mourning in the family, a wedding would be inappropriate. How would you feel about postponing it for about a month?"
"I will follow the clan head's wishes," Xu Sanyan replied with a nod.
"Hmm, there's one more matter. After this expedition, many of our industries will lack personnel to oversee them. Although you and Xuan'er are not yet married, you are considered half a member of the Wang Family. I intend to appoint you to oversee all affairs in the western region of the family. Do you have any objections?"
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow, surprised to be given such authority so quickly.
After a moment's hesitation, he replied cautiously, "As a newcomer, I'm still unfamiliar with many aspects of the family's operations. Taking on such a responsibility so abruptly might... lead to mistakes."
The Wang Clan Head shook his head. "That's no problem. The western region was originally under the fourth elder's jurisdiction. Though he tragically passed away, the basic framework remains intact. You'll have assistants to guide you; simply follow established procedures."
Hearing this, Xu Sanyan no longer refused. He cupped his hands in a respectful bow. "Understood, Clan Head. Thank you for your trust."
"Good. The western region is relatively stable, with only four families and one sect. Your primary task is to prevent any chaos from erupting there. Others will handle the rest."
Xu Sanyan nodded, understanding that his role was primarily to serve as a deterrent through martial prowess.
"You may leave now. I'll have someone arrange for a courtyard in the inner city for you tomorrow."
"Understood."
Xu Sanyan cupped his hands in farewell and withdrew.
(End of the Chapter)
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