Chapter 160 The Nalan Family

The patriarch of the Nalan family was Nalan Jiade, the elder brother of Nalan Henzhu. However, his cultivation was a notch weaker than Nalan Henzhu's. If Nalan Henzhu had not voluntarily requested to be removed from the clan back then, she would have been the Nalan family's patriarch now. Because of this, as Nalan Henzhu knelt in the Nalan family's ancestral hall, she wept uncontrollably, regretting her past actions. She hated the ungrateful man for breaking his promise and abandoning loyalty, and she regretted her own poor judgment even more. Nalan Jiade's expression was solemn. He subtly twirled the thumb ring on his finger, and only when her cries gradually subsided did he speak coldly, "In consideration of our past sibling affection, I will show leniency and allow you into the ancestral hall. You may leave now." How could Nalan Jiade not discern what had happened to Nalan Henzhu? But what did it matter? Back then, their parents, elders, and even he himself had tried everything, yet they couldn't change Nalan Henzhu's mind. Now that their parents had passed and the elders had retired, he, as the head of the family, would never forgive someone who had betrayed the clan, even if that person was his own sister. Nalan Henzhu pressed her forehead tightly against the cold stone surface, her voice trembling, "Elder Brother, I know my sins are deep, and I dare not ask for forgiveness. However, I am not here for myself today, but for Yan'er." "You've seen Yan'er?" Nalan Jiade's movement of twirling the thumb ring paused slightly, and a shadow of unease suddenly enveloped his heart. "Elder Brother, I am serving at Kunlun Academy." Nalan Henzhu's somewhat timid voice slowly reached Nalan Jiade's ears. Nalan Jiade, who had long been capable of remaining impassive, couldn't help but look startled. This was because Nalan Yan had never mentioned anything about Nalan Henzhu. "Please don't blame Yan'er, Elder Brother. It was I who asked her to keep my secret." Nalan Henzhu recalled the moment she first met Nalan Yan, and a stream of hot tears once again welled up in her eyes. From the day she began cultivating, Nalan Henzhu had displayed her exceptional talent. She was the proud daughter of the Nalan family, their treasured pearl. The Nalan family was an ancient, reclusive clan, so Nalan Henzhu had lived in seclusion from a young age. Coupled with her smooth cultivation journey, when she first ventured into the Kyushu Continent, she had not yet witnessed the true nature of human hearts. During her travels, she met a handsome and witty man and, as fate would have it, fell for him, believing she had found an irreplaceable true love. It was only later, after she left the Nalan family and dreamed of a life together with the man, that she discovered his approach had been deliberate. There was no damned true love between them; it was all pretense and manipulation. Nalan Henzhu was a woman of passion who dared to love and hate. Upon discovering the man's true colors, she ended his life with her own heavy sword. Knowing she had made a mistake and not daring to beg for her family's forgiveness, she drifted through the Kyushu Continent like a wandering spirit until she was invited to join Kunlun Academy by its dean. When she first joined Kunlun Academy, she still hadn't recovered from the past trauma. Moreover, she stubbornly believed that all men were faithless scoundrels. She became friends with Yu Chundao through a fight – they didn't know each other before their conflict. Liu Yin Xiao had a dissolute and roguish appearance, not at all suited for Yu Chundao. Nalan Henzhu mistakenly believed he was also a despicable scoundrel who deceived women's feelings, so she drew her sword and attacked Liu Yin Xiao. Later, she learned that although Liu Yin Xiao appeared philandering, he was actually the most devoted. Only she had met the wrong person and lacked discernment. It was at that time that Nalan Yan appeared. The moment she saw Nalan Yan, she recognized her as her niece, who had been in swaddling clothes when she left home. It was no exaggeration to say that Nalan Yan was like a beam of light, dispelling the gloom and despair that had long lingered around her. Later, she reunited with Nalan Yan and implored her not to inform the family of her whereabouts. She feared that if the family found out, they would order Nalan Yan to sever ties with her. She couldn't bear to lose the last salvation in her life. Nalan Yan kept her promise and did not reveal her existence. In turn, Nalan Henzhu treated Nalan Yan as her personal disciple, imparting all her insights to her without reservation. She thought that since she had lost her eligibility to be the family head due to her foolishness, she would personally ensure Nalan Yan, her successor, ascended to the position of patriarch. Nalan Yan's performance was outstanding and did not disappoint her. Just as she was getting closer to her dream, Nalan Yan met with an accident. She emerged from her memories and slowly raised her head, crawling towards Nalan Jiade. "Elder Brother, Yan'er is in trouble. I have returned shamelessly to ask for your help." "What happened to Yan'er?" Nalan Jiade looked down at Nalan Henzhu, her face streaked with tears, his fingers trembling slightly. When he received the news of Nalan Henzhu's return, he felt something was amiss. Although Nalan Henzhu was his sister, given their age difference, he had watched her grow up and understood her thoroughly. He was certain that Nalan Henzhu would regret her actions, but he also believed that Nalan Henzhu would never set foot in the Nalan family again. Nalan Henzhu's return this time was highly unusual. That was why he led her into the ancestral hall. When he heard Nalan Henzhu's words, he was both shocked and felt a sense of inevitability. His guess was correct: if not for Yan'er, Nalan Henzhu would never have entered the Nalan family again. However, for Nalan Henzhu to be willing to let go of the past, could Yan'er's injuries be... "Elder Brother, Yan'er has been injured by the power of reincarnation and her lifespan is nearing its end. Does the Nalan family have any spiritual medicine that can enhance cultivation without harming the body?" Nalan Henzhu looked up at Nalan Jiade, her eyes filled with earnest expectation. "Her lifespan is nearing its end!" Nalan Jiade's face changed drastically. He leaned down slightly and forcefully grasped Nalan Henzhu's slender neck, "What exactly happened! Did you harm Yan'er!" "Eld... Elder Brother... cough... cough..." Nalan Henzhu did not resist. Profound sadness spread across her eyes. She had not expected Nalan Jiade to blame her for Nalan Yan's injury. She knew she had committed an irreversible mistake in the past, and she had prepared herself for this when she came. However, being besieged by the Nalan family and suspected by Nalan Jiade, she still felt overwhelmingly heartbroken. At this moment, she wished she was the one lying in the medical hall of Kunlun Academy. She would rather trade her life for Nalan Yan's. She was wrong. She was truly wrong. I'm sorry. After an unknown amount of time, the large hand on Nalan Henzhu's neck finally moved away. Nalan Jiade's muffled voice sounded above her head, "Tell me, in detail, the circumstances of Yan'er's injury at Kunlun Academy." "Yes," Nalan Henzhu's voice was somewhat hoarse. "That day... that is how the incident unfolded. Currently, Nalan Yan can only survive for six months. If we cannot find a suitable spiritual medicine within six months, then Yan'er will be... in danger." "Wan Yan Xue." Nalan Jiade uttered the name Wan Yan Xue word by word, his eyes filled with a cold glint. Those who harmed the Nalan family must pay a price. As for the spiritual medicine, although their Nalan family did not possess it, he knew someone who had such a heaven-defying medicine. However, obtaining it from that person would be as difficult as ascending to heaven. He could only try.