Chapter 43: The Return of Xiao Ran

As Xian Zhennan walked through rows of elders, their gazes would often shift to the wine gourd nestled in his embrace. He even confessed the truth to himself, which several of his fellow elders testified to as they encircled him when he stepped out of Xian Yue's courtyard.

"What are you doing?" Xian Zhennan clutched the wine gourd tighter to his chest as he eyed them warily.

"What do you think?" grinned one of the elders, Xian Zhenfei. "Going to share it with us, or will we have to help ourselves?"

"What? You're the one in charge of enforcing the clan's rules. Don't you know you can't steal from your own is punishable?"

Xian Zhennan glared at them all, his tone sharp, accusatory.

"Stealing? Did you see us steal something?" Xian Zhenfei chuckled, shifting his glance to the others, who shook their heads in unison, playing along with his mock innocence.

"Shameless! The clan leader gave this to me!"

"True, but the leader didn't say you couldn't share it with us, did he? Come on, don't be so stingy. You can always get more." The elders advanced slowly, trapping Xian Zhennan in the middle of their encircling group.

"Hmph, if it's so easy, then why don't you go ask the clan leader yourselves?" Xian Zhennan retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

But as the other elders closed in, greedy eyes were fixed on the gourd, Xian Zhennan realized resistance was futile. Heaving a deep sigh, his heart aching with pain, he gave up, accepting to share reluctantly whatever little remained inside the gourd.

.

Far, far away in Feihua Mountains, dozen gigantic figures stood atop a giant goshawk, soaring across the sky. Among them was a man, clad in the long blue robe; a heightened sharpness in his eyes fixed keenly onto the downtown skyline bellow.

"That's Feihua City, home to the Xian family," Xian Ran said to the elder standing beside him. "It is situated between Lingyun Gate and Cangwu Gate."

Years had passed since Xian Ran had left this place. He hadn't necessarily wanted to come back sooner, but the truth was, he hadn't been strong enough. He had only just entered the Nascent Soul Realm, and even then, he had only just entered the Lingyun Sect. The cultivation path is never easy by any stretch; travelling through Feihua Mountains would have been much too hazardous without power from the Nascent Soul Realm.

Even now, as a cultivator of the Nascent Soul Realm, one had to be very, very watchful in such mountains.

Xian Ran clenched his fists, his nerves rising up. "Did the family get through? Did they receive my message? Did they make it out of the city?"

Whenever he felt Xian Ran's uneasiness, Chen Yuanfeng, sitting next to him, would be always there to calm him down. "Do not worry, Xian Ran. If they are your family, we sure will see that everything will be well for them once war breaks out there."

Xian Ran turned and bowed his fists in thanks. "Thanks, Elder Chen.".

Chen Yuanfeng smiled warmly. "No need to thank me. We are all members of the same sect. It is only right that we look out for one another. And once this war between the two sects is over, I'm sure you'll be promoted to elder yourself. When that time comes, we'll be equals. Maybe you can even look out for me then!

Xian Ran blushed modestly. "Elder Chen, you flatter me. I'm not worthy of such praise."

However lowly his words, according to the rules of the sect, Xian Ran knew that his recent breakthrough into the Nascent Soul Realm qualified him to become an elder, not any elder but an elder of the inner sect, a very prestigious position.

But it was speaking that allowed the goshawk to slide down silently from the sky, to land in the midst of bustling Feihua streets outside the gates of the Xian family estate.

The sheer size of the bird caused huge commotion in townsfolk who had rarely, if ever, seen a creature of this size. Whispers went around, with some speculating that the imperial dynasty had sent emissaries once again.

None of them seemed to note how far back they were from him when the younger members of the Xian family rushed out to greet them.

"Hahahah, Xian Ran. Man. It's been such a long time since we last heard from you. I was starting to think you have forgotten all of us already!" XIan Yin was beaming with her greeting.

Xian Ran opened his eyes wide with surprise. "How did you know I'm coming back?"

He had just come. Not a word to anyone about his return, except for that brief message he wrote months ago. Was he to assume that his family had somehow attuned themselves to some otherworldly abilities?

"The deputy chief said you were on your way," Xian Lang said, grinning and stepping forward. "We have been waiting to welcome you back."

"The deputy chief?" Xian Ran raised an eyebrow. She couldn't remember whether their family had ever hired someone with that name.

Xian Lang's smile only deepened. "You'll understand soon enough. Come, let's go inside first."

Wait a minute," Xian Ran interrupted, nodding toward the group of elders and senior brothers from the Lingyun Sect that had followed him. "I have brought revered guests. This is Elder Chen from the Lingyun Sect and these my elder brothers."

XIan Yin and Xian Lang, sensing the importance of the guests, took steps to show them all due respect. "Welcome, elders!"

The visiting elders nodded as if acknowledging, and as they eyed the young ones in the Xian family, they weren't disappointed. Although young, members of this Xian family had exceptional cultivations, comparable to core disciples from most sects.

"Let's go," Xian Lang said. "The elders are waiting for you in the hall."

As they walked in the direction of the hall, Xian Ran could not help but once more ask, "How did you know I'd return?"

Xian Lang just laughed. "Didn't I say? The deputy chief saw you."

"Saw me?" Xian Ran looked over at Elder Chen. To his surprise, even Elder Chen shook his head, looking just as perplexed as Xian Ran.

By the time they walked into the hall, Chen Yuanfeng looked at the elders without a care. Of course, only a few of them had come, and one was a Nascent Soul cultivator, with the rest Golden COre Realm, so much lower-ranking.

"Just as I thought," he mused. "A small force like Seven Swords City doesn't have much power to boast about."

Xian Ran stepped out from the back and bowed to the elders who had assembled before her. "Greetings to the clan leader, I, in turn, greet all elders."

With this gesture of respect from Xian Ran, Xian Lingtian, who was seated on the deputy clan leader seat, stood up also and showed respect to Chen Yuanfeng and the others. "Welcome to the Xian family, esteemed guests of the Lingyun Sect.".

It is clear that he is here only because he has tremendous respect for Xian Ran; otherwise, a small sect like Lingyun Sect wouldn't deserve the rank to grace this place.

Xian Feng was a senior family member. He spoke to Xian Ran with a warm light of affection, but his voice mixed with mild rebuke. "Xian Ran, it has been close to ten years since you left without giving word concerning your safety. Your family has been worried sick over you.".

Xian Ran sighed, his head shaking. "You mistake the situation, Great Elder. I wrote to the family at least ten times during the years but never received an answer back. Must be something went wrong with the messengers in the Feihua Mountains. Even this time was only through the charity of Elder Chen and my fellow senior brothers that we managed to get across the mountains without losing anyone.".

The elder's expression softened. "Oh, I see. Then it turns out that we have a debt of gratitude to pay to the Lingyun Sect for safely escorting you home.".