Silence abounded as everyone watched the jade slip in Hei’s hand grow brighter before shooting off into the horizon.

“A mad man,” muttered Elder Genmo. “He’s a mad man.”

It had to be known that the Merchant Guild wasn’t an entity to be trifled with. Not only did they have tremendous influence in the lower continent, but it was also known to all that they were based in the upper continent. The same upper continent where experts grew like grain.

There were even rumours of them being headquartered in the middle continent, a place that those in the eastern continent could only dream of seeing.

That massive entity had just now been threatened by what appeared to be a little boy from a group no one had ever even heard of.

If not madness, then what word would better describe this?

Meili was thinking the same.

She knew that there was more to Shao Tianlan and his brother than she had initially thought, and she hoped that with her advice, they would be able to navigate their way around a direct confrontation with the Merchant Guild, but now she knew that Hei’s confidence wasn’t merely for show.

The only question was, was it warranted?

Was he a fool with delusions of grandeur, or was he truly powerful enough to not only contend with but issue demands to the Merchant Guild?

If it was the former, then she could only leave him to his fate. No matter how much goodwill she had toward him, she couldn’t allow herself to bring her clan to ruin for his sake.

However, if it were the latter…

Didn’t they already have a good relationship? Perhaps this encounter would end up being a major boon for the Lanxiang Clan. If she played her cards right…

“Well,” said Elder Genmo “It would appear the matters here have been resolved.”

He clasped his fist and offered a slight bow.

“I don’t intend to get involved in your business, and neither does my Lanxiang Clan. Now, if you’ll excuse us-”

He waved his hand, wrapping Meili and Meilin in a layer of qi, intending to take them with him as he took his leave.

However,

“Please wait a moment, Elder Genmo.”

Elder Genmo frowned. He wasn’t pleased with Meili’s interruption.

“Speak,” he said.

Meili curtsied and extended her hand, gesturing toward Hei.

“We owe this man a debt of gratitude.”

Those words caused Elder Genmo’s frown to deepen.

“He rescued Meilin from the clutches of a demonic sect,” she continued.

“He what?”

Elder Genmo’s eyes narrowed.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t noticed Meilin’s presence in the clan for a while now. It had previously been a trivial detail as she never was a high-profile figure among the juniors. Meilin’s family had also neglected to mention the matter.

“To think she had been kidnapped by demonic cultivators. This is a serious matter.”

It would mean that a group of demons had managed to infiltrate their way into the Lanxiang Clan, which was of grave concern.

“Why would your father neglect to mention something so important?”

“That…”

Meili was lost for words. Even she who was out on the field was unaware where Meilin was, so how could her father accurately report the details?

“It matters not,” he interrupted. “I shall bring this information before the council. Meilin’s account will be heard then.”

Those words caused Meilin to shiver. Somehow, the matter had escalated and she was going to be brought before the council of elders…

And it was based on a misunderstanding too…

She could feel tears welling up in her eyes.

Of course, it would be easy for her to resolve the misunderstanding. All she had to do was tell the truth. But it wasn’t as if she could just come out and admit to running away.

She was already scared of facing her father, let alone someone who didn’t love her.

While her mind was occupied with trying to find a way out of this, Elder Genmo turned to Hei.

“If what I am hearing is true, then my Lanxiang Clan truly owes you a debt of gratitude. Please accept an invitation to stay with us for a few days. We shall show you nothing but the finest hospitality.”

Those words were spoken begrudgingly.

Truth be told, Elder Genmo didn’t want to have anything to do with this Shao Hei or his clan. However, this matter concerned the Lanxiang Clan’s security, and thus it would be best to gather as much information as possible.

As such, an invitation was extended.

“Uh… No thanks.”

“Excellent. Then we’ll… Pardon me?”

“Yeah… Not feeling it. Maybe next time.”

“That’s…”

Elder Genmo was left without words to speak.

He wasn’t the only one.

Just as Meili had been pleased with the flow of events, the party she had considered easy to move turned out to be stable as a rock.

“May I ask why you’re refusing our invitation?” she asked. “Has our clan offended you in some way?”

Hei waved his hand dismissively.

“There’s no offence. I just don’t have time for that.”

Before Meili could respond, her younger sister was already upon Shao Hei, pulling at his sleeve in protest.

“Oh, don’t say that. You simply must come. We’ll hold a huge banquet in your honour. Please say you’ll come. For me?”

Hei shifted his eyes before giving Meilin a suspicious look.

“You just want me to take some of the heat off you, don’t you?”

“W-What? No. O-Of course not…”

“Yeah right. It’s written all over your face.”

“… But… Oh! That’s right! Big Sis and Cousin Jihan are both students of the Academy. It may not be anything to you, but maybe you know someone who would benefit from going there. I'm sure Big Sis and Cousin Jihan would help you reserve a few spots at the entrance exams if you let us show you our gratitude.”

“Oh?”

Seeing that he was interested, Meili jumped back in.

“It isn’t much, but the two of us can reserve two spots each. If they would be of use to you, please feel free to take them. You agree, don’t you, Jihan?”

Jihan shrugged his shoulders in response.

“The Academy, huh? That could be interesting. I’ll take you up on your offer.”

“Great. I’ll make sure to prepare the spots for you.”

“Hm?” interrupted Meilin. “Wait, Big Sis, you’re supposed to-”

“When are these entrance exams taking place?” asked Hei.

“The Academy holds entrance exams every year, but due to the high demand, we’ll only be able to reserve places in the exams set to take place two years from now on the first of Winterfall.”

“Wait. He’s supposed to-”

“Two years, huh? And what is it that they examine?”

“That’s best explained by the information held in the prospectus.”

Meili withdrew a jade slip from her spatial ring and handed it to Hei personally.

“As long as the people you choose meet the requirements outlined within, then all you’ll need to do is show up at the entrance exams and I’ll handle the rest for you.”

“Cool.”

Hei gave the jade slip a cursory glance before throwing it into his sleeve.

“But... Big Sis... The... The banquet...”

“I suppose you’ll be wanting some information from me in exchange,” said Hei.

“We wouldn’t dare to-”

He interrupted her by waving his hand, then turned to Elder Genmo.

“I don’t have much in the way of proof, so believe me if you want, or don’t. It doesn’t really matter.

“Geng Yong is a demonic cultivator, Lanxiang Jihan is not. The Merchant Guild was working with the demonic sect that kidnapped Meilin. They are likely conducting a large-scale operation in search of Yin Physiques. Their intentions remain unknown.

“That about sums it up. Do with the information what you will.”

As his words came to an end, a biting cold blanketed the area.

“Did you say the Merchant Guild had something to do with Meilin’s disappearance?”

It was Jihan who had spoken. His usual sleepy look was wiped from his face and was replaced by a steely gaze. The water molecules in the air were cooled to a white mist that blanketed the ground, dousing any remaining flames.

“J-Jihan,” stammered a startled Meili. “You can’t mean to-”

She couldn’t complete her sentence.

If there was one thing she knew about Jihan, it was that once he set his mind on something, it would take an awful lot to change it.

“Cousin Jihan?”

It was Meilin who spoke this time.

She had already walked over to where Jihan was and was looking up into his eyes.

His gaze was unwavering.

“You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

“For me?”

He nodded in response.

Meilin lowered her head and clenched her fist so tightly that it began to tremble.

“You…” she said with a shaky voice. “I didn't know you were a hero too.”

Meili raised a brow. She wasn't sure where her sister was going with this.

Said sister extended her fist to Jihan’s chest and raised her head to meet his gaze.

“You can do it! Teach those people a lesson they’ll never forget!”

“Meilin! You’re not helping!”

“They'll make movies about this! I just know it!”

“That’s enough!” yelled Meili as she grabbed her sister by the arm. “We’re going home!”

She quickly pulled her over to Elder Genmo who enveloped them in his qi.

“I know you can do it, Cousin Jihan! You too, Hero! Oh! And Hero’s big brother too! I’ll be waiting to hear the good news!”

Meilin’s voice echoed as she was swept off into the distance.

“…” Hei

“…” Tianlan

“…” Jihan