Chapter 47：Realist Young Master (2) (1/2)
Chapter 47 – Realist Young Master (2)
In cultivation stories, villains were usually the ones provoking the protagonists first. In this situation, had one of those villains been in Xu Miao's shoes, they would have sent minions to kill Xie Tian, preventing him from meeting with Jiang Lan.
Afterward, Xie Tian would bear grudge against the stupid young master, and the latter would meet his demise after the protagonist obtained enough plot-armor-like skills to slaughter the villain's entire family.
However, Xu Miao was aware of the common plotline in cultivation novels. It would be counterintuitive to provoke a protagonist early on. Instead of openly trying to kill Xie Tian right away, Xu Miao chose to befriend him, creating an image of a friendly young master.
Most protagonists had one particular trait in common. When they owe someone a favor, they never failed to return it tenfold. However, if a villain were to offend them, nothing good would ever happen to that stupid character throughout the story as the offended protagonist would destroy them.
Thus, making friends with a protagonist was a viable option. By giving Xie Tian a good impression of an honest man would be a lot better than showing hostility openly.
”Let's have a seat. I have been hoping to talk to you for a long time,” Xu Miao's political smile never faded from his face, ”I'll be frank. You see, there seems to be a misunderstanding between us.”
”Oh?” Xie Tian didn't know if he should trust this man or not. But from the reception and Xu Miao's friendly attitude, he couldn't find fault of this young master, ”What kind of misunderstanding?”
”It's the matter regarding Jiang Lan.”
Xie Tian's face changed. He turned solemn, ”Please elaborate.”
”Of course. First of all, I'm currently protecting Jiang Lan from the hands of Wei Feng.”
”Huh?” Xie Tian was confused. Wei Feng's name came out of nowhere.
Xu Miao pretended to look frustrated, ”Before I freed Jiang Lan, Wei Feng tricked her and tried to make her his slave.”
”What!?”
”I'm sorry. I'm not a good storyteller. Well, let me start over again. When I was transferred to the Silver Phoenix Sect to train under my mother, I heard of an incident from the sect workers.”
Xu Miao narrated a fake story regarding Jiang Lan, ”One of my mother's debt slaves was reported to be tricked by a certain young master. I investigated into the matter and found out that the slave, Jiang Lan, had loaned a few hundred raw spirit stones from the Wei Clan and our clan with an attached condition that she could pay off the debt by becoming Wei Feng's concubine.”
Listening to this point, Xie Tian recalled that Wei Feng used to visit his village and proposed Jiang Lan. The protagonist immediately connected the story, thinking that Wei Feng tricked the girl into marrying him.
Still, Xie Tian found the story odd, ”Then, why is she your wife?”
”This is the misunderstanding that I'm trying to explain. Let me finish my story, please.”
”Oh, okay.”
”Well, Jiang Lan couldn't break through to the second stage and couldn't pass the last year's examination tests. Because Jiang Lan had loaned spirit stones from both Xu Clan and Wei Clan, her parents gave up on her and sold her to our clan as a debt slave to pay for all debts.”
Xie Tian nodded. This part of the story was true since he saw it happened.
”Afterward, Wei Feng visited us and tried to buy Jiang Lan from us.”
”Oh!” Xie Tian's eyes gleamed. He understood what Xu Miao was trying to say as puzzle pieces began to connect.
”Fortunately, I was there when it happened. Jiang Lan told me that she was tricked by this bastard, so I asked my mother to protect her. I fake-claimed that she had become my concubine and forced Wei Feng to give up pursuing her.”
”… I see,” Xie Tian was smart. He figured out why Xu Miao said it was a misunderstanding. However, this info was one-sided. Xie Tian wanted to hear this story from Jiang Lan's mouth to compare it with Xu Miao's version.
Xu Miao turned around and looked at Xu Xiuying, who had been eavesdropping the conversation from afar. She grinned and waved her hand. Then, Jiang Lan, who had been standing behind Xu Xiuying, walked toward Xie Tian and Xu Miao.
Jiang Lan didn't have blank eyes like the usual. Her pupils were bright and clear as if she had never been mind-broken. She stopped behind Xu Miao's seat and smiled at Xie Tian.
The protagonist's heart wavered when he saw Jiang Lan's happy face. He remembered this smile. It was the smile that she always gave him when they were together.
Noticing how the two interacted, Xu Miao pushed forward his plan, ”Friend Xie, I've heard from Jiang Lan that you're her childhood sweetheart. Also, recently, Jiang Lan messed up and caused a misunderstanding when she visited you. I think you should hear it from her yourself.”
”Umm. Okay. Err, hi, Jiang Lan.”
Jiang Lan nodded to Xie Tian, ”It's been a while, little Tian.”
”That day when you ran off…”
Before Xie Tian could finish his sentence, Jiang Lan walked away from Xu Miao and stood next to Xie Tian's seat. She massaged the latter's shoulders and explained, ”I'm sorry. That day, Wei Feng sent his men to follow after me. I didn't want to get you into trouble, so I pretended to be frustrated and left that message. If I didn't do this, that bastard might target you.”
Jiang Lan winked at Xie Tian, giving him the hint that there was nothing between her and Xu Miao.
Xie Tian's heart shook. As if a mountain had been lifted from his chest, he felt relieved.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Xie Tian's eyes became wet. He turned around to look at Jiang Lan's face, ”R-Really?”
”I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm so sorry.”
Xie Tian almost cried from joy. But then, he recalled that Jiang Lan was rumored to be Xu Miao's favorite concubine. Also, Jiang Lan told him that she had a husband.
”What about your relationship with young master Xu? What's this about?”