127: Xiaoyaozi

Just then, an old man walked out of the compound.

The old man had a kind face, giving people a comfortable feeling as if basking in a spring breeze.

He walked up to the Head of the Zhang Family and whispered, "Head of the Family, the elders are all waiting for you to make a decision."

The Head of the Zhang Family looked at the old man, a flicker of disgust passing through his eyes.

He looked at the Great Elder before him, a feeling of resentment welling up in his heart.

Years ago, the Great Elder had failed in his bid to become Head of the Family, and had harbored resentment ever since.

Although on the surface he was always kind to others.

In reality, he always worked against him behind his back.

Even the great disaster caused by his son this time was not unrelated to the Great Elder.

Although the Head of the Zhang Family wished he could personally kill this old man.

But he also knew that now was not the time for internal strife.

He steadied his mind, and his expression softened.

"Great Elder, what do you think should be done about the current situation?"

The Great Elder said with a serious expression, "I am old, and my thoughts are often incomplete. It is still up to the Head of the Family and the elders to decide."

"However..."

The Great Elder paused deliberately after saying this.

The Head of the Zhang Family said, "Great Elder, just speak your mind. Is there anything else that cannot be said?"

The Great Elder then continued, "Then I will state my opinion, which is, of course, just my humble view. The Head of the Family can just listen to it."

He straightened his expression, then continued, "Since the Old Ancestor suddenly left three thousand years ago, the Ning Family is no longer what it once was."

"Many forces are eyeing my Ning Family covetously."

"However, they are also deterred by the Old Ancestor's lingering prestige and dare not act rashly."

"But now, there are two God Kings outside. If they are angered, it will undoubtedly be a catastrophe for my Ning Family."

"Therefore, I hope the Head of the Family can distinguish between what is important and what is not."

Although the Great Elder did not explicitly state it, his meaning was very clear.

It was nothing more than surrendering someone.

The Head of the Zhang Family said with an unchanging expression, "What the Great Elder said is very reasonable, but the Great Elder overlooked one thing."

The Great Elder blurted out in confusion, "What is it?"

The Head of the Zhang Family said, "Does the Great Elder know the background of the people outside?"

The Great Elder said, "I naturally know that. They are people from the Ning Family of Laizhou."

The Head of the Zhang Family asked again, "Then whose jurisdiction does Laizhou belong to?"

The Great Elder replied without hesitation, "This is something everyone knows. Laizhou is, of course, under the jurisdiction of the Northern God Emperor."

The Head of the Zhang Family smiled mysteriously, then said, "Then tell me, how is the relationship between the Northern God Emperor and our Western God Emperor?"

This time, the Great Elder did not answer directly. He stroked his beard and fell into contemplation.

After a moment, the Great Elder seemed to understand the meaning of the Head of the Zhang Family.

He tentatively asked, "Does the Head of the Family mean that if we hand over the person, it would be a sign of weakness to the Northern God Emperor, and would displease the Western God Emperor?"

The Head of the Zhang Family sighed and said, "Exactly. If the life of my unworthy son alone could help the family overcome this difficulty."

"I wouldn't hesitate at all."

"But now, we are in a dilemma."

"Whether we hand him over or not, this matter probably won't end well."

At this moment, the composed look on the Great Elder's face also vanished.

He wanted to be the Head of the Family and was happy to see the Head of the Family's lineage suffer losses.

But now it was no longer a matter of personal gain or loss.

If not handled well, the Zhang Family might truly face annihilation.

He respectfully asked, "Does the Head of the Family already have a countermeasure?"

The Head of the Zhang Family shook his head helplessly and said, "Now we can only hope that they can successfully find the Old Ancestor."

The Great Elder's face showed disappointment upon hearing this.

He said bitterly, "The Old Ancestor has been gone for three thousand years. It's unknown whether he is alive or dead."

"Even if he is found, there are two God Kings outside!"

The Head of the Zhang Family also said helplessly, "Although that is true, this is the only path we have now."

The Great Elder said, "Just now I heard the people from the Ning Family say they only gave us half an hour."

"Even if Zhang Linpeng and the others find the Old Ancestor, it will probably be too late."

An anxious look appeared on the Great Elder's face.

In contrast, the Head of the Zhang Family said calmly and steadily, "There's no need to panic. I have already sent a message to Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child), and by my calculations, he should be arriving soon."

The Great Elder was startled upon hearing this: "Is it Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child), the fifth-ranked of the Ten Great God Kings of the God Realm?"

The Head of the Zhang Family affirmed, "That's right, it's him."

"When Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child) first broke through to the God King Realm, he received guidance from the Old Ancestor."

"The Old Ancestor said before he left that if we encountered a life-or-death crisis, we could seek help from Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child), and he would act for the Zhang Family once."

Upon hearing this news, the Great Elder's face showed a look of relief.

"If he can truly make it, it might temporarily resolve this urgent crisis."

As the two were speaking, a streak of light suddenly appeared in the sky.

In the blink of an eye, a disheveled young man holding a wine gourd flashed across the sky and arrived.

The young man tilted his head back, took a swig of wine, and then scanned the crowd.

He leisurely said, "Is the Zhang Family having some kind of celebration? Why is it so lively?"

The Ning Family members surrounding the Zhang Family's entrance all showed wary expressions upon seeing the young man.

They had all heard of the name of God King Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child).

With a single Carefree Sword, he had traversed the God Realm for a thousand years.

He had almost never been defeated in the God King Realm.

The reason he was ranked fifth among the Ten Great God Kings was because he had rarely made a move in recent centuries.

And the old man leading the Ning Family showed an even more apprehensive expression.

Because he had once exchanged blows with Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child), though it was only a sparring match.

But it still left him with lingering fears to this day.

Back then, Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child) had only used one sword strike to cut off his hair.

He hadn't even had time to make a move.

This had once made him a laughingstock among his peers.

Even so, he had never intended to regain his face.

Because he knew that even if he cultivated for another ten thousand years, he would not be Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child)'s opponent.

And now, facing Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child) again, he still felt a bit lacking in confidence.

But as soon as he thought of the reliance he had on this trip, he regained some confidence.

He cupped his hands to Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child) and said, "Fellow Daoist Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child), greetings. May I ask why you have come here?"

As soon as the old man finished speaking, a figure suddenly walked towards Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child).

That person walked up to Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child), bowed respectfully, and said.

"Junior Zhang Guilin greets Senior Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child)."

The Ning Family's old man's brows subtly furrowed upon seeing this scene.

If Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child) were to stand up for the Zhang Family, it would be troublesome.

He suddenly said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child), we and the Zhang Family have a personal vendetta today. I hope Fellow Daoist will not interfere in this matter."

"The Ning Family will surely offer a generous reward in the future."

The old man's words were neither humble nor arrogant, giving Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child) ample face.

Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child) glanced at the old man, then said.

"I was also entrusted by someone to look after his descendants."

"How about, Fellow Daoist, you give me some face and let the Zhang Family off?"

The old man's face turned very ugly upon hearing this.

Meanwhile, the young woman beside him had fewer reservations.

She said with a disdainful tone, "You are merely a rogue cultivator. Do you really want to oppose my Ning Family?"

"Don't forget, my Ning Family has an Ancestor at the God Monarch Realm."

"If you know what's good for you, go back to where you came from, lest you be buried with the Zhang Family."

Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child) heard this and, instead of getting angry, laughed.

His bold and unrestrained aura made the onlookers marvel.

After a few laughs, he leisurely said, "I, Xiao Yaozi (Carefree Child), have traversed the God Realm for a thousand years."

"After only a hundred years of not venturing out, some people are already questioning whether my sword is still sharp."

"Then today, I shall experience the Ning Family's unique techniques."