61: Chapter 61 Gu Han and Yun Yun! Do you like this style?

"A bodyguard is most reliable when you train them yourself."

"Xiao Yi Xian can be poisonous or a healer, soft or firm, salty or sweet—her talent is peerless."

"Knowing she's right there, I can't miss out."

Gu Han thought for a moment before making a decision.

However, he didn't plan to set out immediately; he wanted to return to the sect first.

"Sect Master Yun Yun, shouldn't you show some appreciation?"

---

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

Gu Han followed the Nalan Family's group back to the Imperial Capital.

During that time, he obtained four opportunities through the guidance system, acquiring some minor resources not worth mentioning.

"Father, Yanyun."

Nalan Yanran had been waiting early at the entrance of the Nalan Family estate. Upon seeing Nalan Su and Nalan Yanyun appear, she immediately stepped forward to meet them.

Even though she already knew the outcome of the trip through letters, she couldn't help but want to confirm it in person.

"Sister Yanran." Nalan Yanyun nodded with a smile.

"Yanran, you talk with Yanyun. I'm going to find your grandfather to explain the situation," Nalan Su said gently. Before entering, he turned to Gu Han: "Worthy nephew, why not stay at our Nalan house for a few days? You could also give some pointers to the underachieving juniors of my Nalan Family."

"Thank you for the invitation, Uncle Nalan, but I must return to the sect to report and bring Junior Sister Xiao Mei into the sect." Gu Han stepped down from the carriage and stood beside Xiao Mei. "If there is a chance in the future, I certainly will."

"Very well." Nalan Su didn't insist, smiling as he said, "Then I will arrange a carriage to send you to the Cloud Mist Sect."

"Thank you, Uncle Nalan." Gu Han cupped his fists in a salute, not refusing.

"Thank you, Uncle Nalan." Xiao Mei followed suit with a salute.

Nalan Yanran took a few extra looks at Xiao Mei. Seeing that she wasn't as beautiful as herself and her strength didn't seem clear, she stopped paying attention.

Gu Han took Xiao Mei back onto the carriage, and they headed toward the Cloud Mist Sect together.

Seeing this, Nalan Yanran curled her lip in dissatisfaction. "He doesn't even know to greet his Senior Sister. How rude."

Nalan Su turned to look at his daughter, feeling that her personality was truly inferior to Nalan Yanyun's.

Her talent used to be inferior as well; she only had the upper hand in looks.

What a pity...

But if it weren't for that, the family might not have been willing to let Nalan Yanyun take Nalan Yanran's place in marrying Xiao Yan.

Quelling his chaotic thoughts, Nalan Su spoke up: "Worthy nephew Gu Han is already a Six-star Dou Practitioner and has mastered several Ice-attribute Dou Techniques. Yanran, don't put on the airs of a Senior Sister. Improving your strength is the right path."

"He broke through again?" Nalan Yanran looked astonished.

If she knew that Gu Han was already a Seven-star Dou Practitioner and not far from eight-star, one wondered what she would think.

"If you don't want to be unable to even see his back in the future, you must guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and strive to become stronger," Nalan Su warned sternly as he walked through the gate.

Nalan Yanran stood there in a daze for a while. After a long moment, she took a deep breath and thought to herself, 'It would be fine if he could be my Martial Uncle; the pressure of being in the same generation is too great.'

However, a strong sense of competitiveness rose in her heart; she had to catch up to Gu Han.

"Yanyun, let's go. Tell me about what you saw and heard at the Xiao Family these past few days."

On the other side, Gu Han and Xiao Mei returned to the Cloud Mist Sect by carriage.

"Is this Yun Lan Mountain?"

Xiao Mei walked up the stone steps, looking at the towering mountains and the grand buildings around her with a face full of shock.

Gu Han didn't say a word the whole way. Holding the Sect Master's token, he led her directly to the mountain peak to request an audience with the Sect Master.

Entering the inner hall, Xiao Mei became increasingly restrained, following closely behind Gu Han and keeping her eyes forward.

"Outer Sect Disciple Gu Han pays respects to the Sect Master."

Arriving at the center of the inner hall, Gu Han saluted the beauty sitting in the main seat.

Xiao Mei subconsciously looked up, and a sense of amazement rose in her heart.

She had thought Xun'er was a rare beauty in the world, but she didn't expect there to be a woman even more outstanding than her. (Because she hadn't fully matured yet, and their temperaments were different.)

This woman seemed to be the Sect Master of Yunlan Sect, Yun Yun, a Dou Huang expert.

"Preparatory Disciple Xiao Mei pays respects to the Sect Master." Xiao Mei lowered her head and hurriedly saluted.

Yun Yun put down her pen and raised her eyes. Her gaze met Gu Han's, a hint of a smile appearing in the depths of her eyes before shifting to Xiao Mei.

"Oh?"

Like a gust of wind, Yun Yun's figure flickered as she appeared before Xiao Mei, placing her hand on her head.

A flash of panic appeared in Xiao Mei's eyes. The next moment, Yun Yun had already withdrawn her hand and sighed, "This girl has an extremely high affinity for Wind-attribute energy. If she had practiced in the Cloud Mist Sect since childhood, her performance would not be much worse than Yanran's."

As a Dou Huang expert, her perception of natural energy was extremely keen. Moreover, the Cloud Mist Sect still had the Gate of Life and Death left behind by a Dou Zun Expert, which contained a special secret technique for selecting those with outstanding Wind-attribute talent.

"Then will the Sect Master personally take her as a disciple?" Gu Han asked.

"If I hadn't taken Yanran, I would have taken her myself," Yun Yun said bluntly. "With this girl's talent, there's no need for her to transition through the Preparatory Disciple stage. I imagine Elder Yun Shang would be very happy to take her as a disciple."

"Isn't the Punishment Elder no longer taking disciples?" Gu Han was somewhat surprised by Yun Yun's decision.

To be apprenticed to a standout among the Dou Wang Elders of the Cloud Mist Sect in terms of both strength and status—Xiao Mei had really lucked out.

Of course, if the Xiao Clan were to reappear in the future, it would be Yun Shang who lucked out.

Yun Shang was Zhang Chuchen's teacher; they were all on the same side.

"Zhang Chuchen was delayed, and she has always had the idea of taking another disciple, but there was no suitable candidate," Yun Yun explained, then added, "Xiao Mei is very good."

With a former Dou Wang family as a backing, the pressure of cultivation would be reduced.

With a family as a bond, while she might not be absolutely loyal to the sect, there was no need to worry about betrayal. After all, you can run but you can't hide.

And since the Nalan Family was to be joined with the Xiao Family, Nalan Yanran and Xiao Mei would naturally be allies, inheriting the relationship between Yun Yun and Yun Shang.

"The Sect Master's decision is fine," Gu Han replied.

"Then why did you ask so much?" Yun Yun's beautiful willow-leaf brows curved slightly.

"Didn't the Sect Master answer as well?" Gu Han boldly met Yun Yun's gaze.

Yun Yun felt inexplicably flustered. Losing the confrontation, she looked away, but immediately cursed herself in her heart.

She was the grand Sect Master, a Dou Huang expert, and a cycle older than Gu Han. How could she be the one feeling guilty?

"You are being presumptuous," Yun Yun feigned seriousness.

"I ask the Sect Master for punishment," Gu Han saluted formally.

"Hmph, forget it. This Sect Master isn't so petty as to make a mountain out of a molehill over such a small matter." Yun Yun waved her hand, her figure flickering as she returned to the main seat.

Xiao Mei: "..."

I'm young and haven't seen much.

So I want to ask, is this how the Sect Master of Cloud Mist Sect and an Outer Sect Disciple interact?

Why did the conversation between these two give her a feeling that something wasn't quite right?

"It must be my imagination." Xiao Mei felt she was overthinking. "It must be because Senior Brother Gu's talent is so outstanding that the Sect Master favors him, so her attitude is different."

"Geniuses always have some privileges."

Xiao Mei convinced herself she had found the reason.

Yun Yun placed her hand on the desk and lightly opened her vermilion lips: "Someone, come in."

Calling in a deacon, Yun Yun wrote a letter and threw it to her: "Take this disciple to see Elder Yun Shang."

"Yes." The deacon saluted respectfully and led Xiao Mei away.

Waiting until only she and Gu Han were left in the inner hall, Yun Yun slowly spoke: "I can see that you don't want to call yourself a disciple."

"If I let you call me Senior Sister, would you be willing?"

Gu Han: ?

Yun Yun likes this kind of thing?