"I’m not here to say thank you. I want to say that you look much better when you smile. Keeping a zombie face all day isn’t good." Han Yan said earnestly, but the softness in her eyes couldn’t be concealed.

"Uh..." Qian Ji was taken aback.

"Also, it’s better to say what’s on your mind rather than bottling it up. Being a closet brooder is even worse." Han Yan continued with a smile in her eyes.

In fact, she’d wanted to say these things to Qian Ji many times in her previous life, but never found the opportunity. Since she was saying it today, she decided to spill it all out at once.

Perhaps Qian Ji’s injuries had worsened, as cold sweat poured down his forehead like a waterfall. He suddenly turned around and strode out, looking as if he was fleeing in panic.

However, his habitually tense face gradually relaxed, revealing a light-hearted smile.

Watching him flee in panic, Huayue and the others shared a knowing smile.

The previous words not only eased Han Yan’s final emotional knot, but also left them with no reservations towards Qian Ji.

"Huayue, don’t just laugh. You too shouldn’t keep a stiff face all day pretending to be cool. Say what’s on your mind; brooding isn’t good." Han Yan glanced at Huayue and advised her earnestly before heading into her room.

"Oh, what does that have to do with me?" Huayue, innocently caught in the crossfire, scratched her head in confusion.

Despite Gai Huangji’s defeat and flight, Han Yan dared not underestimate this crafty old fox, fearing he’d come back for revenge. So she quickly left the Yan Family estate with Huayue and the others, along with Ye Yanran who was in deep sleep, returning to the Mu Family.

Though the Mu Family currently lacked strong experts, they still had the advantage of numbers. Unless Gai Huangji made a desperate attempt to break the seal barrier, his strength, suppressed at the Ninth Rank Sword Master level, would not gain him any benefit even if he returned for revenge. Since he had come to the Holy Court with great difficulty, he wouldn’t risk it unless he was absolutely certain.

This was something Han Yan understood clearly.

Thinking that she’d be leaving the Capital for Lu’an City tomorrow, without the chance to spend more time with her parents, Han Yan felt a deep reluctance. But seeing the night deepening, it wouldn’t be appropriate to disturb them. After freshening up, she took some elixirs to boost her energy and retired to her room.

No words were spoken throughout the night.

In the morning, Yan Yi arrived at the Mu Family estate with a group of Yan Family disciples, as well as disciples from affiliated noble families, to join forces. Disciples from the Zhang Family also arrived simultaneously.

"Dad, Mom, I’m leaving. Take good care of yourselves." After bidding farewell to her uncles who were recuperating at home, Han Yan reluctantly spoke to her parents.

Dozens of Mu Family disciples stood behind her with solemn expressions, perhaps feeling the tragic determination of heading into battle.

"Don’t worry about us. Just take care of yourself. Those Exotic Beasts might not be as strong as the ones that attacked the Capital, but since Lu’an City keeps asking for reinforcements, they surely aren’t weak either. Don’t be careless." Yue Fanling repeatedly urged.

In fact, Han Yan had heard these words from her mother multiple times when she rose to say goodbye to her parents earlier, and she couldn’t help but repeat them now.

"Yes, I’ll be careful." Han Yan was not the least bit impatient, nestling into her mother’s embrace and whispering, her voice slightly choking.

Although she had grown up and her strength even surprised her father, in her mother’s eyes, she was still just a newly-aged girl. The heartfelt care and warmth filled her heart with affection, and reluctance.

Thankfully, she had returned to her female attire; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to experience this warmth between mother and daughter.

"Alright, Han Yan’s strength is greater than ours now, no need for you to worry. Let’s get going. Remember, the future of the Mu Family lies in your hands." Her father said bluntly, with an expression that suggested he still regarded her as a son like before.

But Han Yan could still see deep concern and reluctance in his eyes.

"Yes, Dad, I won’t let you down." Han Yan looked at her father and nodded heavily.

"Take care." Eventually, Han Yan left her mother’s embrace, mounted a Red Charcoal Cloud Smoke Beast, and led the group towards the city gate.

"Take care." Watching Han Yan’s departing figure, Mu Rui’an waved his hand earnestly, his face unknowingly wet with tears of comfort.

Just as they reached the city gate, Han Yan encountered other descendants from the Five Great Families and affiliated noble families led by Dan Tai Xuan.

Only the elite disciples of the various aristocratic families attended last night’s royal banquet, so the numbers weren’t actually large. Although only two large families and a small family sided with Han Yan in the end, it didn’t seem like much of a difference. But now, the disparity was apparent. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

This trip to Lu’an City included more than fifty Mu Family disciples. Because the Mu Family’s former reputation was so prominent that all families viewed them as rivals, they became the common enemy of noble families and thus had no affiliated families supporting them.

The only exception, the Zhang Family, placed all their hopes for family rise on the Mu Family due to Han Yan and went all out this time. All capable fighters joined Zhang Chihua, numbering over forty; together with the Mu Family, they numbered just about a hundred.

The Yan Family and He Family fared much better, having around two hundred people each, including their own family members and affiliated families.

Together, they numbered about five hundred.

In contrast, the opposing faction from the five noble families, including the Changsun Family, the Song Family, and the Qu Family had prosperous family branches. Several families had long-standing reputations that matched the Mu and Yan Families in foundation, connections, and prestige, with many more famous clans affiliated with them.

For the ranking battle among the Eight Great Families, these families revealed even their hidden reserves this time. Just the Changsun, Song, and Qu families had over a thousand young elites heading to Anluo. Adding Mo and Fang families, along with Dan Tai Xuan and over a hundred Holy Court experts, their total exceeded fifteen hundred, which was three times larger than Han Yan’s group.

A dense mass of figures accompanied with battle flags fluttering in the wind, displaying overwhelming power.

"Han Yan, is this all the people you have? Once in Lu’an City, I’m afraid you’re not even enough to be a snack for the Exotic Beasts." Seeing his side’s numbers far exceed Han Yan’s, Dan Tai Xuan’s pride surged, as he laughed heartily.

"Quality over quantity—haven’t you heard of that? But then you’re just cold appetizers for the Exotic Beasts in Lu’an City. It’s better you have more people, lest the Exotic Beasts starve." As the top playboy in Heishi City, the Capital, and Long Yan, Lady Mu would never concede verbally, so she retorted immediately.