Chapter 433: The Entire Family Is Harmonious
"Grandson?" Xuanyuan Ling paused. She then shook her head and said, "I find it hard to believe that you're nothing but a grandson before him. You're pretty formidable. I think you're stronger than that blue-robed swordsman!"
Ye Guan merely smiled.
One had to be cautious with words, especially now that he was under scrutiny from his father. Offending his grandfather would make his life even more challenging. His relationship with the old man had to be handled with care.
Xuanyuan Ling suddenly asked, "Do you know that blue-robed swordsman personally?"
Ye Guan snapped back to the present and nodded, "I do."
Xuanyuan Ling's eyes widened. "Are you perhaps some ancient being?"
Ye Guan chuckled and said, "No way, I'm young. I'm just eighteen. Time here in the Milky Way flows differently than in the stars beyond."
Understanding dawned on Xuanyuan Ling, and she nodded. "I see."
Ye Guan glanced at the sky and suggested, "Shall we keep heading down the mountain?"
Xuanyuan Ling agreed with a nod. Once they descended, they were promptly invited to a grand hall. The atmosphere inside was vibrant, with about twenty prominent members of the Xuanyuan Clan gathered around a lavishly set table.
Seated at the head was Xuanyuan Ling's father, Xuanyuan Qi, and beside him sat Xuanyuan Ling's mother. The table was adorned with a feast, showcasing the Xuanyuan Clan's high regard for Ye Guan.
As they entered hand in hand, the gazes of the Xuanyuan Clan members turned peculiar. Blushing, Xuanyuan Ling tightly gripped Ye Guan's hand.
Xuanyuan Qi acknowledged their arrival, "Take a seat."
Once settled, Xuanyuan Qi raised his wine glass and turned to Ye Guan with a warm smile. "Welcome to the Xuanyuan Clan, Mr. Ye."
Ye Guan returned the gesture in kind. "Thank you for the warm welcome, Uncle."
They two then sipped from their glasses, marking the start of dinner. As everyone sat down to eat, the formidable members of the Xuanyuan Clan showed no particular interest in Ye Guan. At most, they casually inquired about his background.
The elites of the Xuanyuan Clan were present as well. Initially, they were curious about Ye Guan. After all, this was the first time Xuanyuan Ling had brought a man home.
Owing to the Xuanyuan Clan's esteemed social standing, they felt they were superior to Ye Guan. It wasn't strange, as the Xuanyuan Clan carried significant status throughout Huaxia. However, they kept their attitude in check, knowing that they had to respect Xuanyuan Ling. A clan also needed a united front when facing outsiders.
If Xuanyuan Ling were to lose face, the entire Xuanyuan Clan would lose face!
As the conversation unfolded and they observed Ye Guan's refined manners and impressive demeanor, their initial reservations began to dissipate. They realized that Ye Guan was a wise person who had experienced a lot in life.
Consequently, the elites of the Xuanyuan Clan in the hall grew increasingly intrigued by Ye Guan. They started raising their glasses to him, and after a couple of rounds, Ye Guan found himself a bit lightheaded.
Glancing at Ye Guan beside her, Xuanyuan Ling's lips blossomed with a smile. She knew that her parents and clan members had exceptionally high standards; the average person couldn't possibly get on their radar.
However, they were actually treating Ye Guan with utmost courtesy.
Xuanyuan Ling was also curious about Ye Guan's true identity. The confidence that he was exuding was unprecedented for a young man. He navigated every single situation effortlessly and talked to everyone smoothly, regardless of their status, displaying neither fear nor worry.
There was no way his confidence was fabricated.
Just who are you, really? Xuanyuan Ling thought while staring at the red-faced Ye Guan.
Xuanyuan You was about to raise a toast to Ye Guan, but he stopped upon receiving a harsh glare from his sister. Xuanyuan You pursed his lips and reluctantly put down his wine glass. After a while, the majority of the people at the table were full.
Xuanyuan Ling suddenly spoke, "Father, Little Guan is a swordsman, so I hope he can have a go at the Ancestral Sword!
Silence immediately descended upon the dining hall.
Xuanyuan Qi put down his wine glass and looked at Xuanyuan Ling.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
Xuanyuan Ling nodded. After a thoughtful silence, Xuanyuan Qi looked at the other members of the Xuanyuan Clan.
Just then, an elder said, "Little Ling, I'm sure you know that only the members of our Xuanyuan Clan can attempt to awaken the Ancestral Sword. How far have Mr. Ye and you... progressed?"
Xuanyuan Ling instantly blushed, and she lowered her head in silence. Witnessing this scene, the onlookers were left speechless. Clearly, their relationship had reached that point!
The elder shook his head, dismissing the matter. The rest of the people remained silent. The Xuanyuan Clan was rather conservative. If Xuanyuan Ling had reached that stage with this young man, it meant that they were just one step away from getting married.
Xuanyuan Qi glanced deeply at Xuanyuan Ling. He sighed softly and refrained from saying anything. Xuanyuan Ling looked at her father and asked, "Father, is it okay?"
Xuanyuan Qi calmly replied, "Let him visit the Sword Tower tomorrow."
Xuanyuan Ling was overjoyed.
The rest of the clan members didn't object, either.
The Ancestral Sword was extremely valuable, but it hadn't chosen a new master among the descendants of the Xuanyuan Clan for many years now. In addition, one of its only two masters was an outsider.
The Xuanyuan Clan didn't dare to be stubborn, and it would also be great if an in-law of the Xuanyuan Clan ended up drawing the sword.
With Xuanyuan Qi's decision, the group no longer regarded Ye Guan as an outsider.
Another round of toasts ensued, and the banquet eventually ended.
Xuanyuan Ling assisted Ye Guan back to their room; she helped him lie down on the bed, but just as she was about to leave, Ye Guan grabbed her hand.
Xuanyuan Ling's heart skipped a beat as she turned to face Ye Guan and found that he was staring intently at her. Xuanyuan Ling hesitated briefly before asking, "Are you... not drunk?"
Ye Guan shook his head. "A bit tipsy, but I'm not drunk."
He then patted the bed next to him and said, "Take a seat."
Xuanyuan Ling hesitated but complied.
Ye Guan grinned and teased, "Are you afraid I'll take advantage of the situation?"
Xuanyuan Ling shook her head. "You wouldn't do that."
She then sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Miss Ling, truth be told, I can live without seeing that sword," Ye Guan said in a serious tone of voice.
Xuanyuan Ling lowered her gaze without uttering a word.
"You mentioned that it's fine as long as we're a couple, but their gazes earlier were strange. I think they believe that we've already done that" Ye Guan trailed off and shook his head. "This will tarnish your reputation, Miss Ling. We really don't have"
"Did I trouble you?" Xuanyuan Ling interrupted.
Ye Guan smiled wryly. "Why does it seem like you're not listening to me at all? I'm really worried that what we're doing will tarnish your reputation."
"I don't mind it," Xuanyuan Ling said, reassuring him. contemporary romance
Ye Guan cast a deep gaze upon Xuanyuan Ling. "Why?"
Xuanyuan Ling smiled. "Didn't you mention that your cultivation is being sealed by someone? The Ancestral Sword in my family is incredibly powerfulthe sharpest in Huaxias history. If the sword somehow acknowledges you, you might just be able to break the seal on your cultivation base and kill the culprit who sealed you."
Ye Guan's expression stiffened. He tightened his grip on Xuanyuan Ling's hand, and there was a hint of nervousness in his voice as he stammered, "P-Please don't say that. I've never thought about harming others nor the culprit."
Xuanyuan Ling blushed furiously at Ye Guan's tight grip. She wanted to retract her hand, but she found herself holding his hand as well.
Meanwhile, Ye Guan was visibly shaken by the implications of Xuanyuan Ling's words.
Kill Ye Xuan? No way! The Yang Family members were so close to each other, and he was particularly fond of his father. There was no way he would do such a thing!
Just then, Ye Guan realized that he was holding Xuanyuan Ling's hand. He hurriedly let go of her hand and smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, that wasn't intentional."
Xuanyuan Ling remained silent while looking down at her feet.
Ye Guan felt a stir of emotion as he looked at her. He had not expected that she would still be weighed down by the words he had said. A sense of guilt crept in as he realized that she had essentially sacrificed her innocence for him.
All of a sudden, they heard oncoming footsteps from outside. Xuanyuan Ling's expression changed abruptly; she swiftly climbed onto the bed and lay down next to Ye Guan.
Ye Guan looked utterly perplexed, and he looked at her with curiosity, seeking an explanation.
Xuanyuan Ling explained, "The elders are coming. They're probably thinking that I lied to them. The Ancestral Sword of the Xuanyuan Clan is important, and it's the symbol of the clan.
"The Xuanyuan Clan will never give it to an outsider even if they can't pull it out. Of course, it's a different story for in-laws, but they still have to be cautious just in case."
Ye Guan sighed. "What should we do?"
Xuanyuan Ling lowered her head slightly and said, "T-tonight, I'll sleep here."
"What else can we do, then?" she added in a low voice.
Ye Guan smiled wryly and asked, "Are you not afraid that I'll do something inappropriate?"
Xuanyuan Ling murmured, "You won't do anything inappropriate."
"Oh?" Ye Guan teased, "Did I strike you as a gentleman?"
Eventually, Ye Guan sighed and said, "Miss Ling, this really isn't right..."
Xuanyuan Ling calmly replied, "Haven't I told you? It's perfectly normal for girls to have a few boyfriends here. Your way of thinking is too old-fashioned."
"Does that mean you'd do the same with other men?" Ye Guan asked.
Xuanyuan Ling's face and gaze instantly turned cold at Ye Guan's remark. She then turned her back on Ye Guan and declared indifferently, "Tomorrow, I'll help you have a go at pulling out the Xuanyuan Sword. Afterward, we will owe each other nothing."
Ye Guan realized that he had said something wrong. He gently tugged at Xuanyuan Ling's sleeve and said softly, "I'm sorry, Miss Ling. I didn't mean to say it."
Xuanyuan Ling remained silent.
Ye Guan tried again. "Miss Ling?"
Xuanyuan Ling remained silent.
Ye Guan sighed and wondered why he had uttered those words.
Surely, it was the Mad Demon Bloodline's fault!
Ye Gun tried again and again, but Xuanyuan Ling remained silent. Eventually, Ye Guan reached out and placed his hand on Xuanyuan Ling's waist. "I'm going to take advantage of you if you remain silent."
Xuanyuan Ling remained silent.
Ye Guan suddenly pushed himself up and leaned over Xuanyuan Ling. However, he was stunned to see her crying. Her eyes were bloodshot from the tears that streamed down her cheeks without stopping.
Ye Guan was immediately inundated with guilt. He was about to say something when Xuanyuan Ling turned away and said, "Let's sleep."
Ye Guan sighed. People really do make mistakes while they're drunk!
The night passed, and when Ye Guan opened his eyes, Xuanyuan Ling was nowhere to be seen. Ye Guan sighed upon recalling last night's incident. After a moment of silence, he got out of bed, freshened up, and pushed open the door.
The sun was bright, and the weather was excellent.
Just then, Xuanyuan Ling suddenly approached from the side.
Today, she was adorned in a flowing green dress. Her face was still veiled, which meant only her eyes could be seen. However, her eyes no longer held the warmth and friendliness from yesterday; they had become cold and unfamiliar.
Ye Guan opened his mouth to speak, but Xuanyuan Ling beat him to the chase.
"Let's go to the Sword Tower," she said before turning around and walking away.
Ye Guan shook his head and followed her. The two were quiet throughout their journey to the Sword Tower. Ye Guan tried his best to talk to Xuanyuan Ling, but she remained unresponsive.
Just then, Ye Guan's brows furrowed. His blood was starting to stir. He looked up and stared at the Sword Tower, wonderingcould the sword inside of that somehow connected to my bloodline?