108 Is this your great plan (2/2)

'I can hear your thoughts! Rude-boy. I demand silence! Learn how to share your living space, will you?'

Argh! He wanted to tear his hair out!

But there really was nothing to be done about it now. Yuan Xuelan let out a heavy sigh. In the end, it was only thanks to her that he was still alive. He grumbled and decided to leave the study.

There was much that had changed during his time asleep. The season was changing and the Mid-Autumn Festival was upon them. The dark cloud that brewed at their borders was a deep cause for alarm, and from what Yuan Xuelan learned, Liu Sumeng was at the head of coordinating countermeasures along with Chen Gaoyong.

He had to learn more about this, but Chen Anyue had been unusually cryptic.

What was with that anyway?

Yuan Xuelan sighed and decided he needed a good look around his own sect to see things for himself.

The first thing he did was search for his Shijie. She was more difficult to find than he expected.

In the past, she had spent most of her time in her room. After returning from Wangyun Peak he occasionally caught her in the library, but she spent the majority of her time cultivating on the nearby mountain tops that hugged Reling.

But he couldn't find her in her room, and when he took a walk up the mountain path, she left no trails for him.

The servants were frustratingly cryptic as well, saying that she was busy and should not be bothered. This was not unusual, as Anyue's brothers often ordered the servants to be difficult to him. He clicked his tongue and grumbled about in annoyance until he came across his adoptive father in the halls.

”A-Zhang! It's good to see you are up and about. Very good. Please take care of your body and rest. I heard the injuries you've sustained were very severe.”

Yuan Xuelan accompanied his adoptive father on a small walk around the courtyard, as a good show of manners. His smile was a little strained, ”Yes but I'm okay now! Perfectly healthy. There's no need to worry.”

”Is that so?” Chen Gaoyong hummed. Though there was disbelief in his voice he did not press Xuelan. His eyes were busy appraising the changing colors in the trees.

The vibrant summer greens had been replaced with autumn's fiery tones. The ground became littered with leaves that the servants and disciples shuffled about to keep off the garden paths.

”Speaking of which, where did Shijie- Where did Anyue-jie go? I can't find her anywhere.” He'd been searching for her since the morning and it was already afternoon!

”Anyue? That daughter of mine sure has been busy. I worry a lot about her. She dotes so heavily on that fiance of hers, I wonder if she's happy? But you think they're a good match, don't you? The Ivory Sword Saint's ability should be enough to protect her…I need to make sure my baby daughter is protected.”

Yuan Xuelan's smile was very tense and made his cheeks hurt. But he couldn't say anything rude to his adoptive father, even if the topic of conversation really grated his nerves.

”The Ivory Sword Saint…is a very good man…” He said awkwardly. He didn't want to encourage the marriage but at the same time, he struggled to say anything bad about his Sumeng. In the end, he brought up a fist to his lips and coughed, ”Are they a good match? I mean, Shijie is really strong now, isn't she? She can take care of herself.”

”Is that so? Ah, she'd been practicing martial arts and cultivating behind this old man's back hasn't she? I'm sure my lovely daughter doesn't want me to worry, but she needs to understand that this old man only wants the best for her…”

Yuan Xuelan could hardly hold back a sigh.

Every time he would accompany this old man, he would start going on a long rant about Chen Anyue. His obsession and overbearing nature over his daughter was not one missed by those of the sect. Not many people liked this blatant favoritism that the sect leader showed to his one and only daughter.

Not even Chen Anyue herself enjoyed it. But she would always endure it with a smile, quietly lowering her head obediently and saying that her father only wanted the best for her.

Yuan Xuelan found it harder and harder to stomach as time went by.

Was Chen Gaoyong even going to answer his question?

He was thinking that he'd given the man enough time and companionship already and it was about time to come up with an excuse to flee.

But it seemed that this time he was going to be rewarded for his troubles, ”I believe that my lovely daughter is about in the city running errands for that future husband of hers… She seemed happy doing things for him, but shouldn't he make sure that she doesn't have to even lift a finger? Ah, it's so frustrating. It's not safe outside the house. Women should just stay home obediently.”

”...I'll be going now, Yifu[1]. I just remembered that there was something I had to do.”

”Is that so? Take care of yourself, A-Zhang. Make sure you grow up strong so you can protect the important women in your life.”

The important women in his life didn't need his protection. But Yuan Xuelan kept the thought to himself and only nodded a little before running off.

[1] adoptive fathe