412: Masochistic tendencies?

Just how many people were in An Haoran's An Family? Apart from the sisters Yun Xi and Yun Miao, and counting the Personal Disciple, the total number of people was no more than ten.

An Haoran had fathered four children in his life. Besides the sisters An Yunxi and An Yunmiao, there were another son and daughter. One died early because they failed to achieve Foundation Establishment, and the other had their Divine Soul destroyed while forcibly attempting the Golden Core Breakthrough.

His eldest son was born very early. At that time, An Haoran himself was only at the Foundation Establishment stage; that was over a thousand years ago.

Neither Yun Xi nor Yun Miao had ever met this brother of theirs; they only knew of the descendants of the An Family lineage he had left behind.

Although there were quite a few direct descendants in the An Family, none of them had any talent, nor had any Prodigy emerged among them, so True Lord Haoran had never valued them.

Liu Xuan knew this clearly. The An Family was supported entirely by An Haoran and the father-daughter duo of An Yunmiao; their Foundation was actually very weak.

The Liu Clan Merchant Alliance was managed by An Yunmiao. The Liu Family might suffer some losses in the short term, but in the long run, once Liu Xuan's children grew up, the An Family would merely be a vassal of the Liu Family.

Liu Xuan looked at the eldest Senior Sister Yun Miao, who had a tall, statuesque figure and a temperament completely different from the cute, loli-like Yun Xi.

What a pair of sisters! Since they were so close, how could Liu Xuan bear to separate them?

'When the time comes, Yun Xi will call me brother-in-law, Yun Miao will call me brother-in-law, I will call Yun Xi sister-in-law, and call Yun Miao sister-in-law. We will live happily as a family...'

Seeing Liu Xuan agree so readily, True Lord Haoran thought Liu Xuan had deep feelings for Yun Xi, and his internal resistance diminished significantly.

"It is good that you agreed!"

"Yun Miao, you will take people to liaise with the Liu Clan Merchant Alliance later, and then arrange a few trusted aides in the Artifact Refining Workshop and the Pill Refining Tower."

"Also, keep an eye on the Merchant Alliance's finances yourself. Do not let yourself be kept in the dark."

True Lord Haoran did not look highly upon the meager business of the Liu Clan Merchant Alliance. He did this entirely for his daughter Yun Xi's sake. Only by having the lifeblood of the Liu Family in her hands would his foolish daughter not be bullied by Liu Xuan and his other women.

Afterwards, True Lord Haoran arranged for his eldest daughter Yun Miao to stay here temporarily to support her sister, gave a few more minor instructions, and then left with a wave of his sleeve.

While True Lord Haoran appeared not to care for Liu Xuan, he actually instructed Yun Miao to protect Liu Xuan well. She could give him a slight warning, but not go too far.

Returning to Zhengqi Tower, he immediately notified his natal spirit beast, Yue Chen, about Liu Xuan's status as his son-in-law.

Yue Chen, the Mountain Shaking Demon Lord, was a Mid-Nascent Soul Stage Mountain Shaking Sacred Bear. The three big bears—Fatty, Big Mountain, and Big Stone—were all his descendants.

Unlike the three silly Big Black Bears, Yue Chen was a sturdy man with dark skin and a calm expression.

Not only was he True Lord Haoran's natal spirit beast, but he was also the Vice Academy Head of the Southern Courtyard of the Beast Taming Sect.

Like Liu Xuan, True Lord Haoran was an absentee manager, so the numerous administrative affairs of the South Courtyard were actually handled by the Mountain Shaking Demon Lord.

"Does Master mean for me to try my best to help the Liu Family and the Liu Clan Merchant Alliance?"

True Lord Haoran nodded faintly, "No need to be too deliberate. Just provide them with some conveniences. While helping them, deepen their connection with the South Courtyard. It would be best if they cannot easily withdraw."

"Also, send people to the Peach Blossom Sect to investigate whether Liu Xuan has any connection with the Peach Blossom Demon Lord. If there is a connection, determine the extent and report to me as soon as possible."

True Lord Haoran did not believe Liu Xuan could have a deep connection with a big shot like the Peach Blossom Demon Lord; at most, he was just a chess piece.

Even if Liu Xuan had extremely high talent, he was merely a more important chess piece, not someone who could sit at the table.

As long as he was a chess piece, whether to discard him was just a matter of cost. Since Yun Xi was deeply in love with Liu Xuan, he had to take this chess piece out of the Peach Blossom Demon Lord's hands.

"This subordinate understands!"

Yue Chen bowed and retreated, holding a stack of information on Liu Xuan, a hint of curiosity on his dark face.

Great Sun City. The backyard bedroom of the Liu residence.

An Yunxi continued what she hadn't finished this morning, tying her hair up once again. Following Liu Xuan's suggestion, she specifically tied it into twin tails.

Perhaps because she had been suppressing herself for over a decade, this girl was excessively proactive—so excessive that Liu Xuan felt she had masochistic tendencies, which was completely different from her usual good-girl image.

"Junior Brother, what are you thinking about?"

"Could it be that you think Senior Sister is not a good woman? I... I don't know what's wrong with me either, I just like the feeling of being bullied by you."

"If Junior Brother doesn't like it, I can change!" An Yunxi said anxiously.

"No!"

"You misunderstood, I like it very much."

Liu Xuan held An Yunxi's weak body and smiled, "No matter what Senior Sister is like, I like it."

"Really?"

An Yunxi's small face was full of tenderness. Recalling the decade or so she had known Liu Xuan, she didn't know when she had started falling for him.

It wasn't just falling for Liu Xuan's handsome appearance and his various top-tier talents; it also included Liu Xuan's various shortcomings.

Lustful, greedy, selfish... How could she not know Liu Xuan's true nature? Yet, she was willing to accept all of this without reason, just wanting to be by his side every day.

"Junior Brother, I want to be by your side forever and ever. Even if it's just watching silently from the side, I am satisfied."

"Senior Sister Yunxi..."

Liu Xuan was moved by An Yunxi's sincere expression, feeling a trace of guilt.

Regardless, he could not respond with the same feelings.

"Shh~"

An Yunxi reached out a finger and pressed it against Liu Xuan's lips. She revealed a bright smile.

"Senior Sister doesn't need your promises. I just want you to be happy every day."

After speaking, she kissed him again. There was not a hint of grievance on her face, only the satisfaction of having her wish fulfilled.

With a long-cherished wish fulfilled, An Yunxi was immersed in happiness, as if she were lying in a pool of hot springs.

Her Peak Foundation Establishment mana circulated unconsciously, merging with Liu Xuan's Five Elements Golden Core mana. The fused mana flowed through their bodies along a mysterious path, and An Yunxi's Dantian dao foundation gradually became tinged with a faint golden color.

Liu Xuan also seemed to have entered a mysterious state of Epiphany, and his perception of the Yin and Yang Origin became inexplicably clear.

'Isolated Yin cannot grow, solitary Yang cannot flourish. The harmony of Yin and Yang is the ultimate truth of the world...'

'Yin and Yang, Joyous Union, Dual Cultivation... It is not an evil path, but truly the Righteous Path!'

Liu Xuan suddenly had a deeper understanding of the Dual Cultivation path. The Fusion of mana was only the entry level of Dual Cultivation; only when the Divine Soul was in harmony could it be true Dual Cultivation, increasing efficiency countless times over.

How could they achieve harmony?

It must be the amount of emotion invested by both sides, due to the eruption of An Yunxi's accumulated emotions over more than a decade.

"Hum~"

An hour later.

When Liu Xuan recovered from his Epiphany, he was surprised to discover the change in An Yunxi's dao foundation.

"Yun Xi!"

"Quick, look at your Dantian dao foundation. It seems like you are about to have a Breakthrough!"

Liu Xuan said, holding An Yunxi's shoulders.

"Mmm~"

An Yunxi woke up in a daze. Hearing Liu Xuan's words, she looked at her Dantian with her Divine Sense.

"This..."

"Why has a trace of golden nature been born in my dao foundation? I seem to have felt the opportunity for a Breakthrough!!"

Her dazed little eyes immediately became incomparably clear.