183: Duan Yao's Tribulation

So, Duan Yao came down from the mountain to undergo trials; that explains everything!

Her master really is an enlightened expert; he can predict the future with uncanny accuracy!

Duan Yao didn't notice Gu Xiaoyue's knowing expression and continued talking to herself.

"I don't know what got into my master, but he insisted that I had to undergo trials.

What kind of trials? My life is barely hanging by a thread, yet he insists I help my grand-nephew's academy compete in the National Competition. It's just one mess after another!

I called my master earlier; it took many tries before he finally picked up, only to say he predicted I would have help from a noble person. If that were true, why am I still trapped here?!"

Duan Yao pouted, looking like she was about to cry.

Gu Xiaoyue helped her sort it out: the dispute with Yong'an Plaza was a trial of fame and fortune.

Meeting that scoundrel Cao Yuyang and his gang was a trial of villains.

Having a lover she couldn't be with was a trial of love.

However, she didn't know if Duan Yao truly loved Chu Li.

And now, the Xiao Family intending to kill them and seize their pets—this was a trial of life and death!

Gu Xiaoyue shook her head and sighed.

"If you can pass this hurdle, you should be able to return to the mountain and continue your cultivation properly."

The two girls continued chatting idly.

Xiao Hongjun, in the study, was already so angry that he crushed his teacup into powder.

Gu Xiaoyue was right; the room they were locked in did indeed have listening devices, and their entire conversation reached Xiao Hongjun's ears.

Xiao Hongjun ordered his servants to summon Xiao Mingyan and Xiao Yun to the study.

As soon as they arrived, he hurled the inkstone from his desk at Xiao Mingyan!

"How much longer are you going to keep things from me? Huh? Xiao Mingyan, you've spoiled Xiao Yun rotten!"

Xiao Mingyan didn't know why his grandfather was so angry, but he stood straight and took the impact of the thrown inkstone.

"I have hidden nothing from you, Grandfather."

Xiao Mingyan's attitude was humble, while Xiao Yun bit her lip, looking guilty.

"Nothing hidden, is that so? Fine! Xiao Yun, you tell me yourself: why were you expelled from Huaqing?!"

Xiao Yun's eyes darted around, and she walked over to act coquettishly.

"Grandfather, it's been a year; let's not bring up old history!"

"Bang!" Xiao Hongjun slammed the table, pointed at Xiao Yun's nose, and roared.

"You know it's been a year? I've been kept in the dark by you two for a whole year! During a competition, you actually went to kidnap the Ye family's child, and when you came back, you tricked me into believing you were framed by that girl from the Gu Family!"

Seeing that her grandfather didn't believe her, Xiao Yun started acting shamelessly again.

"Why don't you believe me when I say something, but you believe whatever she says? You don't believe your own granddaughter, but you trust an outsider!"

"I believed you back then and sent people to abduct her, but I am not blind! With that girl from the Gu Family's skills, you wouldn't be a match for her even if there were three of you! Why would she need to frame you?"

Xiao Yun rolled her eyes, pouted, and stopped talking.

However, Xiao Mingyan said: "Regardless of whether she framed Xiao Yun or not, it is a fact that she stole items from the auction. Abducting her is not unjust."

"You still have the face to say that!" Mentioning the auction made Xiao Hongjun even angrier!

"You insisted on using that newly developed display stand. When the Mental Power of Beastmasters above Heaven Tier wasn't enough, did you never consider that there might be higher-level ones? And you said it was Gu Xiaoyue—where is the evidence? Without evidence, should we kill her first and then check if she has that Immortal Tier egg? How did the Xiao Family end up with descendants as stupid and wicked as you two!"

"She's not anyone important; just kill her!" Xiao Yun muttered, her volume just loud enough for Xiao Hongjun to hear clearly.

"Idiot!" Xiao Hongjun was furious, grabbed a teapot, and threw it at Xiao Yun!

Xiao Yun dodged to the side and shouted at Xiao Hongjun, feeling wronged.

"What did I say wrong? We've already caught her! And that Duan Yao, claiming that all four God-Rank Pets are her companion beasts—that's nonsense, how is that possible! She's just saying that because she's afraid of death. I think we should just kill them both to prevent future trouble!"

Before Xiao Hongjun could explode again, the Xiao Family butler knocked on the study door.

"Master, Young Master Xiao Hang and Miss Xiao Han have returned and wish to see you."

Xiao Hongjun took a deep breath and sat down.

"Let them in."

Before long, Xiao Hang and Xiao Han entered the study.

"Oh, quite a crowd today. Are you all here to pay your respects to the old man?"

Xiao Hang started teasing Xiao Mingyan as soon as he walked in.

He glanced at the inkstone on the floor next to Xiao Mingyan and knew he had just been reprimanded.

Xiao Mingyan snorted coldly and ignored him.

"Old man, Xiao Han and I came back today because we calculated that the time is near, to report on the situation at the Beastmaster Association. The KPI for my region was completed quite well. I wonder how things are on Mingyan's side?"

Xiao Hang glanced provocatively at Xiao Mingyan and continued.

"I heard that previously, in order to hold the auction, Mingyan persuaded someone to withdraw items listed at the Beastmaster Association and insisted they put them up for sale at his auction instead. But the person's treasure was rare, so they sold it directly to the National Team as a reward for the National Competition. Mingyan was also unlucky; the auction he held was stolen clean. What a pity!"

Seeing Xiao Hongjun's expression growing increasingly ugly, Xiao Han spoke up immediately.

"Brother, stop talking about things that upset Grandfather. I have good news. Isn't there an exchange student from Sun Never Sets for this National Competition? I heard that Sun Never Sets has a Snow Mountain Secret Realm; maybe there is a thousand-year snow ginseng in the secret realm!"

Xiao Hongjun's expression softened slightly, and his eyes rolled.

He had always thought the Dragon Kingdom was vast and rich in resources and had never considered that a thousand-year snow ginseng might be in another country's secret realm.

He slapped his thigh. "Send people to investigate! But be careful; don't let the news leak!"

The Duan Family head's God-Rank Pet is also Lord-level, and they are searching everywhere for the whereabouts of the thousand-year snow ginseng. We must not let them get the upper hand.

"Xiao Hang, Xiao Han, you've worked hard. Go down and rest first."

With the new lead on the thousand-year snow ginseng, Xiao Hongjun's mood improved slightly, but remembering the stupid things Xiao Mingyan had done, he was still furious.

Xiao Hang and Xiao Han exchanged glances and obediently took their leave.

After going out, they didn't walk far before they heard Xiao Hongjun berating Xiao Mingyan and Xiao Yun again.

The two smiled at each other and began to split up to search for the room where Gu Xiaoyue was being held.

Xiao Hang's luck was quite good; he found the room where Gu Xiaoyue and Duan Yao were being held first.

"Oh, whose beautiful lady is here?"

He poked half his head in, confirmed they were safe, and immediately sent a message to Xiao Han.

Gu Xiaoyue didn't know Xiao Hang, but she felt he looked somewhat like Xiao Han.

She figured that Xiao Han must have given him her information, which is why he recognized her.

Xiao Hongjun was very confident in the restrictions on this room, so he hadn't arranged any servants to guard the door.

Looking at Xiao Hang, who had the air of a playboy, Gu Xiaoyue curled her lips.

"Duan Yao, your lover has come to find you!"