Chapter 164: Zi Yan: Are you trying to shirk your responsibility?

Hun Tu brought Gu Dao to the courtyard where Gu Xun'er resided. Hun Tu said, "Brother Gu Dao, Gu Xun'er is inside." 

"I have brought you here, and now you're on your own, Brother Gu Dao." 

"Thank you, Brother Hun Tu." Gu Dao nodded and bowed slightly to Hun Tu, who returned the gesture before leaving. 

In an instant, Gu Dao sensed the size of the courtyard. It seemed quite spacious. He thought to himself, "Is this where Gu Xun'er resides? She doesn't seem like a prisoner in the Soul Clan!" 

Indeed, Gu Dao sensed Gu Xun'er's presence within the courtyard. She seemed to enjoy a considerable degree of freedom, and the size of the courtyard was far beyond what one would expect for a "prisoner." 

Curiosity piqued, Gu Dao walked toward the entrance gate. 

"Halt!" As expected, Gu Dao was stopped, with two guards of Dou Zun level blocking his path. This demonstrated the treatment Gu Xun'er received within the Soul Clan. 

Gu Dao introduced himself, "I am Gu Dao from the Gu Clan and would like to see the owner of this place." 

"Hmm?" 

"A person from the Gu Clan?" The two guards of Dou Zun level were taken aback upon hearing Gu Dao's words. 

They couldn't comprehend how someone from the Gu Clan could appear within the Soul Clan. 

They were simply too low in rank to be privy to many things! 

The person before them emanated an aura of Dou Sheng, vast and immeasurable like the sea. 

Without hesitation, the guards, after a brief moment of surprise, hurriedly went to inform their "Lady" of the situation. 

Soon enough, the message spread. Finally, a Dou Zong-level maid approached Gu Xun'er respectfully and said, "Lady, there is someone from the Gu Clan outside. Would the Lady receive them?" 

"What?" Gu Xun'er's composure was instantly shattered upon hearing about the arrival of someone from the Gu Clan. She stood up abruptly, her body trembling with excitement. 

She asked anxiously, "Did that person mention his name?" 

She had waited and waited! Finally, the people from the Gu Clan had arrived. 

The maid replied, "That person said his name is Gu Dao!" 

"What?" Gu Xun'er was astonished. 

She was well aware of Gu Dao's identity. He was one of the Three Immortals of the Gu Clan, a pinnacle powerhouse within the clan. 

If he had come to the Soul Clan, it meant there was hope for her! Snapping out of her shock, Gu Xun'er quickly rushed outside. 

... 

"Gu Dao, is it really you? Have you come to take me back home?" Gu Xun'er rushed towards Gu Dao when she saw him. 

"Xun... Xun'er..." Gu Dao looked at the graceful and elegant Gu Xun'er before him and was momentarily stunned. 

In his memories, Gu Xun'er was just a child who would bite her fingers. He never expected that after so many years, Gu Xun'er had grown up so much. 

"Yes." 

"I am Xun'er." Gu Xun'er nodded eagerly, her face filled with excitement as she looked at Gu Dao. 

Gradually regaining his senses, Gu Dao realized that the poised and graceful young woman before him was indeed Gu Xun'er, the daughter of Clan Leader Gu Yuan. 

Gu Dao sighed and said, "The Gu Xun'er who used to bite her fingers and wanted milk. I never expected you to grow up so quickly." 

Hearing his words, Gu Xun'er felt a little embarrassed. 

"Gu Dao, that was a long time ago." She quickly changed the subject and asked with anticipation in her eyes, "Gu Dao, have you come to take me back?" 

Looking into her eyes, filled with hope, Gu Dao sighed and shook his head. "It's not the right time yet." 

He wanted to take Gu Xun'er with him, but Hun Tiandi simply wouldn't allow it. His own strength also didn't permit it. If he dared to take Gu Xun'er, he would be forever trapped in the Soul Clan. 

"Does that mean... the clan has truly abandoned me?" Gu Xun'er couldn't help but take a step back, her body trembling slightly, a disappointed expression on her face. 

She had never believed the claims that she had been abandoned by the clan, even when "Hun Xiu" told her so. But now, it seemed that it was true. She had indeed been abandoned. 

"No... Xun'er, don't overthink it. You have not been abandoned by the clan. You possess the unique divine bloodline of the clan. The clan would never abandon you," Gu Dao hurriedly explained. 

If Gu Xun'er misunderstood and believed that she had been abandoned by the clan, he would be a sinner. 

Gu Xun'er looked at Gu Dao and asked, "If I haven't been abandoned by the clan, why hasn't my father, the Clan Leader, come to take me home after all this time?" 

Her small fists clenched tightly. If her father, the clan Leader, came to take her back earlier, how could she have been deflowered by that beast... 

The thought made Gu Xun'er feel incredibly wronged, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. 

Gu Dao sighed, "The Gu Clan is also helpless..." He proceeded to explain the current situation across the entire Central Continent. 

As Gu Xun'er listened, her tears stopped, and she stood frozen, utterly shocked. She learned that among the ancient races, only the Soul and Gu Clans remained, and the Gu Clan was no match for the Soul Clan. 

The two clans had reached a certain level of cooperation and understanding. Moreover, in order to leave the Soul Clan, she had to reach the level of a Dou Sheng! 

Currently, she was only a Dou Wang, and there was still a long, long way to go before she could become a Dou Sheng. 

Furthermore... Gu Xun'er couldn't be certain if she could access the cultivation resources to reach the level of a Dou Sheng within the Soul Clan. 

With overwhelming disappointment in her eyes, she realized that she might be stuck in the Soul Clan forever.

Gu Dao seemed to understand what was on Gu Xun'er's mind and spoke up, "Xun'er, don't worry! I will go back and discuss with the Clan Leader. We will find a way to bring you back." 

"The Clan Leader has been concerned about you ever since the incident. If he knows you're safe, he will be very happy." 

"Yes..."

... 

Gu Dao didn't spend a long time catching up with Gu Xun'er. It was only about an hour before he left the courtyard where Gu Xun'er resided. He found Hun Tu and bid farewell before leaving the Soul Clan.

... 

In the main hall, Hun Tu respectfully said, "Clan Leader, Gu Dao has left." 

"Hmm," nodded Hun Tiandi. Even without Hun Tu's report, Hun Tiandi could sense it. 

Hun Tu said, "Clan Leader, the purple-haired woman you brought back last time has been insisting on seeing you." 

"Zi Yan?" Hun Tiandi murmured to himself, then looked at Hun Tu and said, "Bring her here." 

"Yes!" Hun Tu left. 

Hun Tiandi muttered, "I remember that I haven't paid much attention to Zi Yan since the last time I brought her back. If she wants to see me, could it be that she has been mistreated within the Soul Clan?" 

"She's a Dou Sheng, and with my instructions, who would dare to mistreat her within the Soul Clan?"

... 

In a short while, Hun Tu brought Zi Yan over. As soon as she saw Hun Tiandi, without waiting for him to speak, she anxiously questioned him, "Are you trying to shirk your responsibility towards me?"

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