"A bodyguard trained by oneself is the most reliable."
"Little Fairy Doctor can poison and heal, be soft or firm, salty or sweet, with unparalleled talent."
"Knowing exactly where she is, I can't miss this opportunity."
After brief contemplation, Gu Han reached a decision.
However, he didn't plan to depart immediately, intending to return to his sect first.
"Sect Leader Yun Yun, shouldn't you show some appreciation?"
In the blink of an eye, two days passed.
Gu Han returned to the capital with the Nalan Family's entourage.
During this time, he received four opportunity leads and obtained some insignificant minor resources.
"Father, Yan Yun."
At the entrance of the Nalan Family residence, Nalan Yanran had been waiting early. Seeing Nalan Su and Nalan Yanyun appear, she immediately approached.
Even though she already knew the outcome of this trip through letters, she couldn't help but personally confirm it again.
"Sister Yanran." Nalan Yanyun smiled and nodded.
"Yanran, you chat with Yan Yun. I'll go inform your grandfather of the situation." Nalan Su spoke gently, then turned to Gu Han before entering: "Nephew, would you like to stay at our Nalan Family for a few days and provide some guidance to our mediocre younger generation?"
"Thank you for the invitation, Uncle Nalan, but I must return to the sect to report and bring Junior Sister Xiao Mei into the sect." Gu Han stepped down from the carriage and stood beside Xiao Mei: "If there's an opportunity in the future, certainly."
"Very well." Nalan Su didn't press further, smiling as he said: "Then I'll arrange a carriage to take you to the Cloud Mist Sect."
"Thank you, Uncle Nalan." Gu Han clasped his fists in salute without refusing.
"Thank you, Uncle Nalan." Xiao Mei followed with a salute.
Nalan Yanran glanced at Xiao Mei a few more times, noting that she wasn't as beautiful as herself and her strength seemed unclear, then lost interest.
Gu Han brought Xiao Mei back onto the carriage, and they proceeded to the Cloud Mist Sect together.
Seeing this, Nalan Yanran pouted discontentedly: "Didn't even know to greet her senior sister, how rude."
Nalan Su turned to look at his daughter, feeling her temperament truly couldn't compare to Nalan Yanyun's.
Her talent had actually never been superior either, only her appearance was better.
What a pity...
But if not for this, the family might not have been willing to let Nalan Yanyun replace Nalan Yanran in marrying Xiao Yan.
Suppressing his chaotic thoughts, Nalan Su said: "Nephew Gu Han is already a Six Star Dou Fighter, having mastered multiple ice attribute Dou Skills proficiently. Yanran, don't put on senior airs - improving your strength is the true path."
"He broke through again?" Nalan Yanran looked astonished.
If she knew Gu Han was already a Seven Star Dou Fighter and not far from Eight Star, one wonders what she would think.
"If you don't want to eventually lose sight of even his shadow, you must guard against arrogance and impatience, and strive to become stronger." Nalan Su sternly admonished before entering the main gate.
Nalan Yanran stood still in a daze for a while, then took a deep breath and thought to herself: "It would be better if he could be my martial uncle - the pressure of being his peer is too great."
But a powerful competitive spirit rose within her, determined to catch up to Gu Han.
"Yan Yun, come, let's talk about your experiences at the Xiao Family these past days."
Meanwhile, Gu Han and Xiao Mei rode the carriage back to the Cloud Mist Sect.
"Is this Cloud Mist Mountain?"
Xiao Mei walked up the stone steps, gazing with awe at the surrounding majestic mountains and magnificent buildings.
Gu Han remained silent throughout, holding the Sect Leader Token as he led her directly to the mountain peak to request an audience with the sect leader.
Entering the inner hall, Xiao Mei grew increasingly restrained, following closely behind Gu Han without daring to glance sideways.
"Outer sect disciple Gu Han pays respects to the sect leader."
Arriving at the center of the inner hall, Gu Han bowed to the beauty seated in the main position.
Xiao Mei instinctively looked up and felt a surge of astonishment in her heart.
She had thought Xun Er was one of the rare beauties in the world, but she never expected there would be a woman even more outstanding than her. (Because Xun Er hadn't fully matured yet and their temperaments were different)
This woman appeared to be Yun Yun, the sect leader of Cloud Mist Sect—a Dou Emperor expert.
"Preparatory disciple Xiao Mei pays respects to the sect leader." Xiao Mei lowered her head and hurriedly performed the salute.
Yun Yun set down the brush in her hand and raised her eyes, her gaze meeting Gu Han's with a trace of amusement flickering in their depths, then shifting to Xiao Mei.
"Oh?"
Like a gust of wind, Yun Yun flashed to stand before Xiao Mei, placing a hand on her head.
Panic flashed in Xiao Mei's eyes, but the next moment Yun Yun had already withdrawn her hand, sighing with admiration, "This girl has an extremely high compatibility with wind attribute Heaven and Earth Energy. Had she cultivated in Cloud Mist Sect since childhood, her performance wouldn't be much inferior to Yanran's."
As a Dou Emperor expert, her perception of Heaven and Earth Energy was extremely sharp. Moreover, Cloud Mist Sect still possessed the Gate of Life and Death left behind by a Dou Venerable expert, which contained special techniques for selecting those with outstanding wind attribute talent.
"Will the sect leader personally take her as a disciple then?" Gu Han inquired.
"If I hadn't already accepted Yanran, I would personally take her as a disciple," Yun Yun stated frankly. "With this girl's talent, there's no need for her to go through the preparatory disciple stage first. I believe Elder Yun Shang would be very willing to accept her as a disciple."
"Didn't the Punishment Elder stop taking disciples?" Gu Han was somewhat surprised by Yun Yun's decision.
To become a disciple of the Dou King Elder who excelled in both strength and status within Cloud Mist Sect—Xiao Mei had really hit the jackpot.
Of course, if the Xiao Family were to reemerge in the future, the one benefiting would be Yun Shang.
Yun Shang was Zhang Chuchen's teacher—they were all on the same side.
"Zhang Chuchen was delayed, and she has always wanted to take another disciple, just never found a suitable candidate," Yun Yun explained before adding, "Xiao Mei is perfect."
With a former Dou King family as backing, the pressure of cultivation would be reduced.
Having family ties, while not guaranteeing absolute loyalty to the sect, at least meant no worries about betrayal—after all, the monk can run away, but the temple remains.
Moreover, the Nalan Family was to form a marriage alliance with the Xiao Family, meaning Nalan Yanran and Xiao Mei would naturally become allies, inheriting the relationship between Yun Yun and Yun Shang.
"Whatever the sect leader decides is fine," Gu Han replied.
"Then why did you ask so many questions?" Yun Yun's beautiful willow-leaf eyebrows curved slightly.
"Didn't the sect leader answer them all?" Gu Han met Yun Yun's gaze boldly.
Yun Yun inexplicably felt flustered, yielding and looking away, but immediately scolded herself inwardly.
A dignified sect leader, a Dou Emperor expert, a whole generation older than Gu Han—why was she feeling guilty instead?
"You're being presumptuous," Yun Yun pretended to be stern.
"I beg the sect leader's punishment," Gu Han saluted with perfect form.
"Hmph, forget it. This sect leader isn't so petty as to make a big deal out of such a small matter." Yun Yun waved her hand, her figure flashing as she returned to the main seat.
Xiao Mei: "..."
I'm young and haven't seen much of the world.
So I'd like to ask—is this how the Cloud Mist Sect leader and an outer sect disciple normally interact?
Why did their conversation give her a feeling that something wasn't quite right?
"It must be my imagination." Xiao Mei thought she was overthinking it. "Surely it's because Senior Brother Gu has exceptional Talent, and the sect master holds him in high regard, which explains the different attitude."
"Geniuses always get some privileges."
Xiao Mei felt she had found the reason.
Yun Yun placed her hand on the desk and parted her crimson lips: "Attendant."
A steward entered, and Yun Yun wrote a letter before tossing it to her: "Take this disciple to see Elder Yun Shang."
"Yes." The steward bowed respectfully and led Xiao Mei away.
Once only she and Gu Han remained in the inner hall, Yun Yun spoke slowly: "I can see you don't wish to call yourself a disciple."
"If I let you call me senior sister, would you be willing?"
Gu Han: ?
Does Yun Yun like this kind of dynamic?