In the blink of an eye,
a month passed.
That night, darkness fell.
In Wu Tan City at night,
the silver moon hung high, and stars shimmered faintly.
Xiao Family, rear courtyard!
Xun'er gently shook the bell on her wrist, summoning Ling Ying.
"I'm very sorry, Miss. There is still no reply from Green Shadow," Ling Ying replied respectfully, somewhat nervous.
Xun'er waved her hand with a serious expression. "No need. I have already discovered Brother Hao's whereabouts."
Ling Ying was startled.
Could it be…
that there were other guards around Miss whom he did not know about?
Xun'er clenched her fists and continued,
"It's just that because of that hateful woman from the Yunlan Sect, she frightened him away again! And until now, we still haven't found Brother Hao."
The reason she had not rushed to settle accounts with Nalan Yanran was because she had discovered that Nalan Yanran was also searching for someone.
"Elder Ling, I think Brother Hao is still in Wu Tan City. You must find a way to locate him for me!"
As she spoke, Xun'er handed the portrait on the table to Ling Ying.
"This is his portrait."
"This old servant will do his utmost."
"No. Not do your utmost. You must find him and bring him before me. Otherwise, you need not return."
"This old servant obeys."
Ling Ying wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He stepped back, his figure blending into the shadows before disappearing.
Xun'er snorted softly. "Hmph! I shouldn't have trusted Xiao Yan. It's already been a month, and there's still no news!"
Xiao Yan: And that's my fault?
…
Wu Tan City, Yunfeng Inn.
"Ahhh!!"
Nalan Yanran screamed helplessly in her room.
She had searched for so long.
They had nearly searched all of Wu Tan City, yet still had not found Ye Hao!
"Yanran, we've already delayed for a month. We can't delay any longer. Let's return to the Yunlan Sect first," Ge Ye advised softly.
Over the past month, he had followed Nalan Yanran nonstop in searching.
"No! If I can't find Brother Hao, I won't go back!!"
Nalan Yanran declared firmly.
At this moment, she was like Tang Sanzang on his pilgrimage to the Western Heaven to obtain the scriptures.
If she did not retrieve the true scriptures,
she would never retreat!
Ge Ye's head throbbed.
He felt like a powerless father.
No matter what he said, it was wrong!
With no other choice,
Ge Ye took the Yunlan Sect deacon token and went to one of the three great families of Wu Tan City, the Jia Lie Family.
"This humble one, Jia Lie Nu, greets Lord Ge Ye."
Jia Lie Nu spoke respectfully.
Ge Ye said, "I have come to ask for your assistance."
"Lord Ge Ye, just give the order. As long as my Jia Lie Family can accomplish it, we will certainly do our best," Jia Lie Nu said obsequiously.
If they could board the ship of the Yunlan Sect this time,
then wouldn't the overlord of Wu Tan City become their Jia Lie Family?
Ge Ye nodded in satisfaction and casually placed a portrait on the table.
"Mobilize all your forces. Within three days, find this person."
Jia Lie Nu stepped forward to look.
His expression froze.
"Huh, this… isn't this Ye Hao from the blacksmith shop?"
"You know him?"
"Yes. This kid is a blacksmith in our marketplace. Lord Ge Ye, did he offend you?"
"Quick! Take us there!"
Ge Ye was overjoyed. After searching everywhere in vain, success came effortlessly.
He should have relied on the three major forces of Wu Tan City from the beginning.
Afterward, he returned to Yunfeng Inn and told Nalan Yanran the news.
She was overjoyed!
Immediately, she followed him to the Jia Lie Family's marketplace.
Jia Lie Nu pointed at the blacksmith shop. "Lord Ge Ye, it's right here."
"Hehe, please wait here. I'll call him out!"
Jia Lie Nu strode over proudly.
Bang!
He kicked the door open!
"You little brat, hurry up and come out to welcome Lord Ge Ye of the Yunlan Sect!!"
Jia Lie Nu shouted with his hands on his hips, acting arrogantly by relying on others' power.
The moment Nalan Yanran heard him call her Brother Hao a little brat,
she was instantly displeased!
Without a word, she walked over and slapped him!
Smack!
Jia Lie Nu was stunned.
Covering his slapped face, he stammered, "Miss Nalan, I… I…"
"Dare to call him a brat again and I'll tear your mouth apart! I'll make your Jia Lie Family disappear from Wu Tan City forever!!!"
Nalan Yanran stood with her hands on her hips, her tone fierce.
After speaking, she ran into the blacksmith shop.
"Brother Hao, Brother Hao, where are you?"
"Stop hiding, I've already seen you!"
But…
after searching around, she did not see a single figure.
Nalan Yanran felt she had been fooled!
She was furious.
She vented all the resentment she had accumulated these past few days onto Jia Lie Nu.
Jia Lie Nu was completely dumbfounded!
He never imagined that Ye Hao actually had ties to the Yunlan Sect!
He had originally wanted to use this opportunity to ruthlessly take revenge on Ye Hao.
Now it seemed he would never have that chance.
"Miss Nalan, I was wrong. I won't dare shout nonsense again. Please spare me."
Facing the enormous force that was the Yunlan Sect and the colossal Nalan Family,
even though Nalan Yanran only had the strength of a Dou Practitioner, he did not dare retaliate, nor even utter a single complaint.
"What's the use of apologizing to me? The one you insulted was Brother Hao! Go apologize to him!!"
Nalan Yanran said angrily.
You could curse anyone!
But you could not curse her Brother Hao!
Smack! Smack!
Two more slaps landed.
"Alright, alright! I'll apologize to Ye Hao, I'll apologize!"
Jia Lie Nu knelt facing the blacksmith shop and kowtowed in apology.
The Jia Lie Family's decades of accumulated reputation was completely ruined within this single month.
"You think apologizing is enough? Elder Ge Ye, break his legs!"
"You won't do it? Fine, I'll do it myself!"
Nalan Yanran walked into the blacksmith shop, took out a large iron hammer, and smashed it fiercely onto Jia Lie Nu's knee.
He howled in agony!
"If there's a next time, it won't just be broken legs, it'll be your life!"
Nalan Yanran threw down the hammer and stormed off!
Second floor across from the blacksmith shop.
Through the window, Ye Hao witnessed everything!
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Good thing I hid in advance. Otherwise, I would've been caught by now."
Ye Hao returned to the table, drinking wine as his gaze fixed tightly on the letter lying on it.
This was a handwritten note he had discovered inside the furnace when he decided to leave the blacksmith shop and dismantle it.
The handwriting belonged to his father.
It read:
[Father, my child has been born. I named him Ye Hao. I hope that one day he will possess boundless talent and change the fate of our lineage. Your son is useless and can only be a blacksmith. However, rest assured, even if I can only forge iron for a living now, I will definitely let Hao'er fulfill your wish from back then!]
[I believe Hao'er will certainly accomplish it in the future.]
[Father, Hao'er is five years old now. I'm sorry. The wish you had back then, we will never be able to fulfill it for you. Because Hao'er simply cannot cultivate, let alone possess fire and wood attributes.]
[Father, they have come again. For Hao'er's safety, I can only lure them away. I hope that in the heavens, you will bless Hao'er and the others with peace.]
[I hope Hao'er will never discover this casual note. Let him live as a blacksmith and pass this life in peace and simplicity. I'm leaving…]
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Bonus chapters every 200 Power Stone!