Lin family

The carriage slowly reached the city gate, where Lin family guards led by an old man were waiting for them. Once the carriage reached them, Xue'er, Xiao Yan, Yi, and Yun got down from the carriage.

"Grandpa Tao," Xue'er greeted cheerfully.

"Little Xue'er, I was worried about you," said Zou Tao, the Grand Elder of the Lin family with a concerned expression. He was stronger than the Grand Elders of the Ma and Yang families as he was in Eighth stage Qi Sea realm while the rest were still in the seventh stage, "And who might this be?"

"This is Young Master Yan, we met him while traveling this time," said Xue'er obviously trying to keep their intimacy a secret for now.

"More like rescued me when I was in terrible condition. If not for Miss's generosity I would have become food for some beast," said Xiao Yan with a smile, he obviously did not like Xue'er calling him Young Master, so he did the same calling her Miss, "It is my pleasure to meet you, Grand Elder."

"H-how did you know he is the Grand Elder?" asked Xue'er confused, she had yet to introduce him.

"Well, I can see his cultivation. So I made a guess. I assume I am correct?" asked Xiao Yan.

"ha-ha-ha, Young Master Yan sure is insightful," Zou Tao laughed loudly, "I am indeed the Grand Elder of Lin family, Zou Tao. It's nice to meet a Young Genius like you."

"You are overpraising me. Also, even though I have some achievements in cultivation, you are my elder, so please call me Yan."

"Good, not arrogant at all. I like you, young man. Just call me Grandpa Tao like little Xue'er. Come, let's go to the Lin family estate. Patriarch is waiting for you," said Zou Tao and led them into the city.

…

The Fallen Star City was well planned as this was a relatively newer city. Four main roads connected from four city gates all the way to City Lord's mansion. It was thirty feet wide, enough to accommodate the high traffic. Stores, taverns, inns, bars, etc. occupied both sides of the road. Many streets crisscrossed and connected to the Main roads. Areas near the City Gates and the Main roads were commercial areas. Residences were in the inner areas. It was unusually busy as they arrived near dawn. Zou Tao told them that the business will be booming this time of the year as a lot of beasts move to the outer areas of the Fallen Star Mountain. No one knows why they do it, but usually, beast tides occur this time of the year.

"Grandpa Tao, when will the Fallen Star Hunt organized this time?" asked Xue'er. The Fallen Star Academy, the top academy in the city will usually organize a hunt during the beast tide season to clear out as many beasts as possible before the actual tide.

"Rumors say it will be in eight to ten days, why?"

"Young Master Yan, will you be able to stay till the end of the Hunt?" asked Xue'er, her intentions were obvious.

"I don't think I can, the maximum I can stay is a week. If the Hunt happens before, I will join you," said Xiao Yan. For him, his family's safety is more important than some Hunt.

"Oh," Xue'er lowered her head. Obviously disappointed.

"Don't worry, I will come back after settling everything. I might even bring my brother for a stroll," said Xiao Yan with a smile.

"Okay," she could do nothing but nod.

They took around ten to fifteen minutes to reach the Lin family Estate.

Outside, there was a massive arch with 'Lin' written which emitted overwhelming Qi. Obviously written by an expert. People had asked Patriarch Lin, Lin Jian about this, but he had only said, 'I invited an expert who was passing by for some tea and he wrote it for me,' but Xiao Yan instantly understood this thing was written by his Uncle Jian himself.

After entering the arch, Xiao Yan made a scan with his Spiritual Sense, although he found Lin Jian in his study, he couldn't find his Aunt. Which made him frown. 'Let me ask Uncle Jian then,' thought Xiao Yan.

Seeing him frown, Xue'er thought he was feeling nervous, "Don't worry, my father is a good man, once he knows we love each other, he will definitely agree," said Xue'er in a low voice that only he could hear which made Xiao Yan smile wryly. 'Thank god Uncle Jian isn't monitoring us, or he would have already heard everything without waiting for you to say,' thought Xiao Yan.

"Mm" but outward he could only nod. Even though Xue'er said all that, she was even more nervous.

After walking for a couple of minutes, they came to a large villa. It was built purely using white marble. The whole structure was in the shape of a large 'U' character with a bar at the bottom where a large hall was located.

"Miss, Patriarch would like to see you," as they were about to enter, a maid came and told them.

Yun was not allowed to enter the villa, as they probably received report of her betrayal by now. So, she could only wait outside. Xue'er had seen the terrible pain brought by the Curse and her anger towards Yun had started to turn into pity. Sometimes she really wanted to forgive her and end her pain, but whenever she tried, it seemed as if a huge wall was blocking her from taking that step. She herself didn't know what it was or when it would go away.

"Lead the way," said Xue'er.

The maid led Xiao Yan and Xue'er towards the study. Yi had left them as she had to arrange a place for Xiao Yan to stay.

Once they arrived, the maid bowed and excused. Standing in front of the door, Xue'er could feel her hands trembling. It was an important decision in her life that she had made without her parent's consent. Now, if they stood against it, she didn't know what to do. Hence, her anxiety.

She turned towards Xiao Yan and started arranging his clothes to make him more presentable. The clothes were fine, but she still tried to adjust them which made Xiao Yan chuckle.

"Please lord help me, please!!" she prayed to an unknown deity and instructed Xiao Yan to behave and opened the door.

Lin Jian was truly busy with work, so he hadn't had time to monitor them with his spiritual sense or he would have been shocked the moment they entered the gate and that had nothing to do with Xue'er.

Once Xiao Yan and Xue'er came in, Lin Jian was going through some documents sitting behind a wooden desk. He was a handsome middle-aged man with golden curly hair. His eyes shone with blue color. Just from this once could tell Xue'er did not inherit her looks from him, not one bit. He was wearing a white robe. He was making notes after reading a heap of documents. When they entered, the writing brush in his hands slipped and fell and he abruptly stood up. With shock written all over his face.

"Young …" just when he was about to call out to him, 'Don't' that was the only message Xiao Yan sent to him with Spiritual Sense. After one enters the Golden Core realm, a lot of changes happen to one's body and mind. One is flight, Golden Core realm experts can fly for a short time, the other is their perception with turn into Spiritual Sense which will allow larger perception area and allow one to communicated with it.

"Dad this is Big brother Yun, big brother Yun this is my father," said Xue'er introducing them, she thought it was normal for her dad to react this way when she brought a man to introduce to him, "Dad, I have an important matter to discuss with you."

"Mm?" It was only now that he noticed, Xue'er came with Xiao Yan. Ever since they entered his mind was concentrated on Xiao Yan, he didn't even notice her, "What is it?"

"Dad, I and Big brother Yan love each other and would like to ask for your permission," asked Xue'er. She thought her dad would be shocked or at least showed some surprise, to her misfortune or fortune, her dad's mind was shocked the moment Xiao Yan came for a different reason of course. When she was nervously waiting for her father's next words,

"Xue'er, can I talk to him for a moment? Alone?" asked Lin Jian.

Xue'er was surprised, she shot a 'Don't mess it up' glare to Xiao Yan and left the study.

Once Xue'er left and closed the door, Lin Jian created a barrier with is spiritual sense so none could hear them, "Young Master!" he yelled.