"I support the Clan Leader’s decision!"

Unexpectedly, Grand Elder Maureen didn’t continue to press the issue of being informed. After Mosie finished speaking, he was the first to raise his hand and declare his support.

Immediately after, nearly all the high-ranking members of the clan present at the meeting raised their hands, expressing their support for the Lord’s wise decision! The only ones who didn’t raise their hands, besides Yisha, were the naturally timid Raymond... Yisha’s father. It was all he could do for his daughter.

Mosie sighed softly after he finished speaking. ’No matter how much I dote on my granddaughter, I can’t just disregard the clan’s interests and completely side with her. If I did, my time as Clan Leader would be over. My son is useless, and my granddaughter... she’s still a bit naive! Alas.’ Mosie sighed again in his heart. ’Yisha, my dearest granddaughter, can you understand your grandfather’s painful decision? In the long run, this is the only way to shut them up! If you could just tell us who provides the Elixirs, and that only you... can get them, would they still dare to be so arrogant? And so, Yisha... I’m sorry!’

Yisha turned to look at her grandfather, the one who had always doted on her most, her expression one of disbelief. The mist in her eyes thickened, but she fought to control herself, her pearly teeth grinding together audibly. The light in her beautiful, star-like eyes began to fade. She stood up woodenly, the money still in her hand. ’I’ve made up my mind,’ Yisha resolved. ’No matter what, I have to get this money to Ling Xiao. Otherwise, I’ll have completely failed him!’

’As for the future... this position of Clan Leader... do you really think I covet it? If it weren’t for my responsibilities, if... if it weren’t so I could be of more help to Ling Xiao, did you all really think I would have fought for it?’

Yisha turned a deaf ear to everything being said, spun around, and started to walk out! 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Stop her!"

The Grand Elder shot to his feet with a roar. "Don’t let her get away!" he fumed. "Hmph, the Huangpu Clan already handed that money over to her! That girl is betraying her own family for an outsider! Clan Leader, has the Gandalf Clan run out of people? Do we really need a successor who betrays her own family like this?"

Yisha froze in her tracks but didn’t turn around.

Mosie was at a loss for words. He said after a moment of deliberation, "Yisha’s status as heir to the Clan Leader position... is temporarily revoked. She has been overworked due to her efforts for the clan. For now, let her reside at Cui Zhu Pavilion."

Yisha closed her eyes, and two lines of tears finally streamed down from their corners.

...

Ling Xiao and Ye Wen Ni were now on the road to the Imperial Capital, dressed in the same attire as when they had returned from the Vendia Great Snow Mountain. The people at the Viscount’s Mansion only knew that the Lord had left for a while. As for his destination... that was a secret.

Under a clear, starry sky, the two rode on swift horses. They still didn’t know if the Southern King had learned the exact location of the children Xu Daoxuan had adopted, and they desperately hoped to get there first and whisk the children away to safety.

Ye Wen Ni had also told Ling Xiao that many of those children had talent that was in no way inferior to her own. Since Ling Xiao harbored ambitions of founding his own sect, he naturally took this matter very seriously.

After traveling for several days, braving the elements, the two finally arrived at the Imperial Capital at dusk.

The Imperial Capital was the same as ever, just as prosperous and bustling. Wearing large, conical hats, the pair looked as unremarkable as two common Adventurers.

The term they heard most often from the lips of passersby was "Beauty Pill." Almost everyone was talking about those two words. The commoners could only express their envy for such a miraculous Elixir. For them, an item with such a sky-high price was something they’d never even get a chance to see, let alone use. That kind of thing was only for nobles and the wealthy to enjoy! Still, that didn’t stop them from making it a topic of conversation.

The two found an inconspicuous little inn not far from the Imperial Academy. After a simple dinner, Ling Xiao went out alone and slipped through the gates of the Imperial Academy under the cover of darkness.

Shangguan Yutong was in her room reading a travelogue. ’My dear friend Ling Su has been gone for over a year now,’ she thought. ’Except for a few messages in the first few months, I haven’t heard anything from her in more than half a year.’ Shangguan Yutong was worried. ’My friend is just too audacious. Her skills are decent, but the people who go seeking out ancient ruins... besides archaeology enthusiasts like her, it’s mostly... those barbaric Adventurers!’

She sighed softly, and the handsome face of a certain young man suddenly appeared in her mind. Shangguan Yutong blushed. ’That heartless little rascal hasn’t written to me in so long. No, wait... he hasn’t written to me a single time since he left. Does he really expect me, his teacher, to be the one to write first?’

A soft knock suddenly sounded on her door, startling Shangguan Yutong out of her reverie. She silently chided herself for her wandering thoughts. ’How could my alertness have dropped so low?’ After composing herself, Shangguan Yutong asked softly, "Who is it?"

"It’s me."

Shangguan Yutong froze. A blush instantly bloomed across her cheeks, followed by an expression of disbelief. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Ling Xiao?"

"Mm."

’It really is him!’ That voice was just as familiar as ever; even after so long, there was nothing strange about it. Shangguan Yutong shot to her feet, wanting to rush over and throw the door open, but then she pursed her lips and sat back down. With a faint smile, she said, "Come in."