Chapter Forty-Nine: First Meeting with Xuanyuan

Tang Wei, seeing that Zixuan had finished what he was doing, asked curiously, “Zixuan, what was the point of that gesture you just made?”

“You! I keep telling you to learn more useful spells, but you always find it annoying. Now you don’t even understand this—honestly!” Zixuan tapped Tang Wei on the forehead, smiling, and seeing her still at a loss, explained, “That was the Voice Across a Thousand Miles technique. I mastered it back when I was at the Foundation Establishment stage!”

Tang Wei touched the back of her neck, embarrassed, and muttered quietly, “I just like making pills. I don’t have the time, alright?”

“Alright! It’s fine if you don’t understand, as long as I do. After all, I’ll always be by your side to protect you!” Zixuan seized the chance to confess his feelings.

As soon as Tang Wei heard this, her face turned scarlet, and she retorted loudly, “Who needs your protection? I’ve got Little Fire and the others—I’ll be just fine!”

Zixuan rushed to defend himself, “How can they compare to me? I’m your fiancé—I can—!”

“If you keep it up, I’m going to ignore you!” Tang Wei saw that Zixuan was about to say something else, quickly tugged at him, and threatened him with her tried-and-true tactic. But when she saw his disappointed expression, she couldn’t help but explain, “It’s not that. When we’re outside, we address each other as senior and junior apprentice siblings!”

“Oh, I got it!” Zixuan pulled a face at her in disappointment. Only in front of Tang Wei would he show such childishness, sometimes with a hint of mischief. Before others, he was always the picture of polite composure.

In the ancestral residence of the Xuan Yuan family on Wolong Mountain, the family head was handling affairs when he received the transmitted message. He exclaimed, “Voice Across a Thousand Miles!” and hurried outside. The inner disciples serving and cleaning nearby craned their necks, eager to see where the voice had come from.

After standing at the door for a moment, the Xuan Yuan family head said to his attendant, “Dongfang! Go tell the young master to come down the mountain to receive our distinguished guests, and make sure not to provoke them again! I’ll go to the rear mountain and ask the elder to come out of seclusion!”

“Yes, Master!” the man named Dongfang replied expressionlessly.

After giving his instructions, the family head signaled with his eyes for the other three attendants not to follow, then set off alone toward the rear mountain. Passing through several checkpoints, he entered a secluded valley. The scenery within was beautiful and suffused with spiritual energy. Though not as refined as the valley Tang Wei’s family had transformed, such a concentration of spiritual energy was a rare find on Earth.

“Are you the current head of the Xuan Yuan family? Isn’t it the rule that only those who have stepped down after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage may enter?” An elderly man at the entrance blocked his way, clearly displeased.

The family head bowed deeply to the old man, then said anxiously, “The matter is urgent. I wish to ask the grand elder to come out of seclusion and preside over the family’s affairs.”

“To request the grand elder’s presence at such a time—has something happened to the family?”

“Just now, someone at the foot of the mountain used the lost Voice Across a Thousand Miles technique to send me a message. They seek an audience, and have already clashed with the outer disciples. I fear they come with ill intent. I am powerless to handle this alone, so I have no choice but to ask the grand elder to intervene.” The family head briefly and earnestly recounted the situation.

“Anyone capable of using the Voice Across a Thousand Miles must be at least at the Foundation Establishment stage. Very well! Wait here. I will inform the grand elder at once,” the old man said, moved.

At the foot of the mountain, Tang Wei was growing impatient. She was about to urge Zixuan to use the spell again when a burst of hearty laughter sounded from up ahead: “Hahaha! This is hilarious! Who’s so skilled? They actually burned down the main gate like this—brilliant!”

“Young master! Please mind your manners, there are outsiders ahead!” Dongfang, following behind, reminded him.

The young man dismissed it, “What’s the big deal? I’m just laughing, not hurting anyone. Ah, this is just perfect! I’ve never liked that gate. If I had the ability, I’d have burned it down myself. I need to see which genius managed this work of art!”

Just hearing his voice before he came into view made Tang Wei’s face twitch with exasperation. Truly, there are all kinds of people in this world!

“Boss! Boss! You’re amazing! I’ve decided—Xuan Yuan Zhe is going to follow you from now on!” The young man rushed over to Zixuan and Tang Wei as soon as he appeared.

Dongfang, worried for his safety, had no choice but to follow, eyeing Zixuan and Tang Wei warily.

Zixuan stepped protectively in front of Tang Wei, but Xuan Yuan Zhe leapt at him with a bear hug. Zixuan quickly activated a defensive spell, bouncing him to the ground, where he landed flat on his back. “Ouch! My backside! Boss, what’s that for? I just wanted to give you a warm hug to show my admiration—was that really necessary?” Xuan Yuan Zhe complained as he got up.

Before Zixuan could respond, Tang Wei asked curiously, “Why do you admire him?”

“You don’t know! I’ve wanted to smash that gate for over ten years but never had the guts—afraid my old man would hunt me down!” Xuan Yuan Zhe replied with a casual air, unable to take his eyes off Zixuan.

“Why did you want to smash the gate?” Tang Wei asked earnestly, the picture of a diligent student.

“Hehe! That’s a secret! Anyway, I owe this brother a big thanks. From now on, you’re my boss! Hehe!”

Zixuan laughed, “You’ve got the wrong person. I didn’t burn the gate. It was my senior sister who fulfilled your wish. You should call her boss.”

“No way! I thought you looked the type, but I guess I was blind to greatness! Big sister, you’re truly a heroine among women. My admiration for you is like an endless river, impossible to contain!” Xuan Yuan Zhe turned to flatter Tang Wei, making her shiver with discomfort.

Watching from the side, Dongfang’s face turned even darker—what a disgrace! Their family head was so wise and dignified; how could he have such an unseemly son? He could only keep a stony poker face as he reminded, “Young master, the family head is still waiting.”

“Oh, right! Boss, let’s walk and talk!”

“What about them?” Dongfang quickly pointed to the disciples still frozen in place, clearly hoping Tang Wei and Zixuan would lift the spell.

Unexpectedly, the young master didn’t care at all and even suggested, “Boss, let’s just ignore them, shall we? Serves them right—let them sunbathe a little longer!”

“Do you really want them to stay out in the sun? Why?” Tang Wei asked, puzzled.

“No reason, I just don’t like the look of them!” Xuan Yuan Zhe replied breezily, leading Tang Wei forward.

“They call you young master, so your old man must be your father. What’s your status in the Xuan Yuan family? Who is the family head to you?”

“Geez, you ask so many questions at once—how am I supposed to answer? The family head is my old man. Are you here to see him? Tell me what you want and I’ll see if I can help. The old man’s too naggy—he’ll drone on forever.”

He showed no respect at all when talking about the family head—one had to wonder what grudge lay between father and son.

“Why do you keep calling him ‘old man’? Aren’t you afraid he’ll scold you?”

“What’s there to be afraid of? He’s been beating me since I was a kid. But you know what? He can’t catch me now—I run faster! Haha! And when he gets mad, his mustache trembles—it's hilarious!” Xuan Yuan Zhe launched into stories about his father, his chat with Tang Wei growing softer as they walked away.

When their voices faded, Dongfang bowed to Zixuan and said, “Please, elder, be magnanimous and forgive them. They were blind to your greatness and offended you. I apologize on their behalf.”

Zixuan said nothing more, just waved his hand and released the spell.

Dongfang promptly shouted to his fellow disciples, “Hurry up and apologize to the elder, you idiots!” With his perpetual poker face, he was actually quite intimidating.

“Alright! Let’s hurry up. My senior sister and the young master should be there by now!” Zixuan was eager not to waste any more time; Tang Wei had gone ahead with that rascal, and he felt uneasy, so he urged them forward.

“Please, then—the family head has been waiting for you up ahead!” Dongfang responded tactfully.

“Very well, let’s go!” Zixuan replied with a smile, taking the lead, leaving behind the group of clowns still shouting, “Thank you, elder, for sparing our lives!”