Chapter 27: Flirtatious Glances

Xu Haobo left gloomily. He really didn’t want Xu Ziyan to take risks, but he couldn’t persuade her to stay. So, he left with a dark expression under the cover of night. However, as he walked, his mood lifted. He thought that this version of Xu Ziyan was a true genius. A cultivation genius needed not only talent but also a steadfast heart.

The next day, in the early morning.

Xu Ziyan opened her door and saw nineteen people standing neatly outside—they were the New Disciples. Her gaze swept over each person. Although everyone looked a bit tired, clearly having slept poorly the night before, their eyes showed determination.

Xu Ziyan nodded with satisfaction and waved her hand firmly. “Let’s go!”

At the Central Plaza of the Xu Family Clan, Xu Haoliang stood on the High Platform, giving an enthusiastic speech with grand gestures and expressive emotions. Xu Ziyan led the nineteen New Disciples and stood behind the Outer Hall Disciples. She pretended to listen respectfully, but her eyes wandered around. At the front of the plaza stood Second Uncle Xu Haobo, Fourth Uncle Xu Haomiao, and several older men who she assumed were her uncles.

Since they all faced the High Platform, Xu Ziyan couldn’t see their faces, but she imagined they looked unhappy. Her gaze swept over the disciples in the plaza. Whether they were Inner Hall or Outer Hall Disciples, everyone stood solemnly and seriously.

Suddenly, a glint of amusement flashed in Xu Ziyan’s eyes because she spotted Xu Lin among the Inner Hall ranks. Though Xu Lin stood straight, his eyes were restless, darting around. When their eyes met, Xu Lin was momentarily startled, and then they shared a knowing smile.

Their glances met and quickly parted, as if nothing had happened. They both looked up at the High Platform, where Xu Haoliang was still speaking incessantly. Then, they began to sneak glances around again. After a moment, Xu Ziyan grew bored. The other disciples stood like wooden statues, their faces showing only seriousness, devoid of any other expression.

As her gaze swept past a row of disciples, she wondered what Xu Lin was up to now. His earlier sneaky expression was quite amusing. She couldn’t help but look in his direction again and was startled to find Xu Lin staring directly at her with wide, unblinking eyes.

When Xu Ziyan looked back at him, Xu Lin blinked and made a funny face. Xu Ziyan almost burst out laughing but held it back. She glared at him and then gestured with her lips toward Xu Haoliang, who was still talking on the High Platform.

Xu Lin shrugged nonchalantly and secretly pointed at Xu Ziyan, as if to say, “You’re not listening either, so why call me out?”

Xu Ziyan frowned slightly, thinking that when she first saw him, he seemed handsome and graceful, but now he was acting mischievous. An urge to tease him arose in her. She crouched down slightly, hiding behind the people in front so Xu Haoliang couldn’t see her. Then, she turned her head and fixed her gaze intently on Xu Lin.

At first, Xu Lin seemed unfazed and blinked back at her playfully. But gradually, he grew uncomfortable under her persistent stare and started looking around. Eventually, he couldn’t resist and met her gaze again. This time, he decided to imitate her, crouching down a bit and staring back at her without looking away. They were like two fighting roosters, neither willing to back down.

Xu Haoliang spoke at length on the High Platform, but the audience below remained unresponsive, standing there with stern expressions. Of course, they had no reaction—none of those being sent out were his subordinates, and everyone knew what was really going on. Since they couldn’t resist, they chose to remain silent.

Xu Haoliang, excited to be speaking as the Family Head for the first time, kept talking enthusiastically. But when he noticed the silence below, he realized he had gotten carried away. Feeling a bit awkward, he stopped.

His abrupt stop made the entire Central Plaza fall into silence. Xu Ziyan and Xu Lin were startled. They quickly turned their heads, stood up straight, and looked seriously toward Xu Haoliang on the High Platform.

Now aware that he had said too much nonsense, Xu Haoliang began giving practical instructions. After all, if their clan failed to defend Tongyou Valley, the Xu Clan would have no future in Zhongdu City.

Seeing that Xu Haoliang had started speaking again, Xu Ziyan and Xu Lin exchanged glances once more. When they saw each other looking, they shared another knowing smile. Xu Lin noticed Xu Ziyan’s lips pressed into a thin line, curving upward, and her captivating eyes crinkled into crescent shapes. His heart skipped a beat, and his face flushed red involuntarily.

Finally, Xu Haoliang finished his speech. Led by Xu Haobo and others, the five hundred Inner Hall Disciples and five hundred Outer Hall Disciples marched out of the city gate toward Tongyou Valley.

Not far beyond the gate, they saw three groups waiting on the Imperial Highway ahead. Xu Ziyan looked closely and saw a large banner in one group with the character “Li,” which she immediately recognized as the City Lord’s Manor’s team. On the left side of the highway was a group with a banner bearing the character “Xiao,” from the Xiao Family. On the right side was a group with a banner showing the character “Wu,” from the Wu Family.

None of these three families sent their Family Heads either; each was led by the second-in-command. The City Lord’s Manor was led by Li Wanpeng’s younger brother, Li Wanbao. The Xiao Family was led by Xiao Rugui’s second brother, Xiao Ruxing. The Wu Family was led by Wu Meng’s third brother, Wu Yue.

Li Wanbao, Xiao Ruxing, and Wu Yue were chatting and laughing on the Imperial Highway, occasionally glancing toward the city gate, clearly waiting for the Xu Clan’s team to emerge.

When they saw Xu Haobo leading the group out of the gate, the three men immediately put on fake smiles. They laughed loudly and stepped forward to greet Xu Haobo.