Upon returning to the General's Estate, Dugu Jin headed straight for the study.
Ever since he learned the true identities of Jiyue's master and martial uncle, the Grand General's mind had not known a moment's peace. He didn't even have the heart to dwell on the fact that his spatial ring had been forcibly taken from him.
His head was now entirely consumed by one question: how could he make Jiyue return to the General's Estate of her own accord?
At today's banquet, even though he had been unable to move, his eyes had been fully functioning. The speed and power with which Jiyue had dealt with Anran could never have been achieved by an ordinary five-year-old child.
Aside from those known backgrounds and connections, Jiyue herself was clearly extraordinary. Otherwise, why would Venerable Gucang have taken her as a disciple?
By now, Dugu Jin had long since come to believe that Jiyue was indeed his own late daughter's biological child. His daughter had been exceptionally talented as well, except...
Since she was his own flesh and blood, there was no reason for her not to return to the General's Estate. But right now, what method could bring her back?
"Ah, right."
The Grand General suddenly thought of something and shouted without hesitation, "Come here!"
"General," a figure in black knelt directly before him.
"Go and call Chenyu back. As fast as you can," the Grand General ordered.
"Understood, General." The man in black acknowledged the command and withdrew.
Chenyu had the best relationship with her. Sending Chenyu to persuade her to come back would be the ideal approach. Once she returns, my General's Estate will finally... Hahaha...
***
Meanwhile, in King Zhan's study.
"Your Highness, as soon as Dugu Jin returned to his estate, he immediately dispatched someone to summon Chenyu back, intending to use Chenyu's relationship with the young lady to persuade her to return to the General's Estate," a man in black reported, kneeling before King Zhan.
Dugu Chenyu? Dugu Jin was overthinking things. How could someone who genuinely cared for Yue'er ever try to talk her back into a wolf's den? Dugu Chenyu would certainly never do such a thing.
"Keep watching Dugu Jin. If necessary, you don't need to report to me—just kill him!" King Zhan commanded.
"Understood, Your Highness." The man in black was one of King Zhan's shadow guards. It seemed King Zhan's network of eyes and ears was vast indeed.
***
Today was the day of the Elixir Exhibition.
Early in the morning, King Zhan brought Jiyue along toward the exhibition venue.
"Yue'er, put on your alchemist badge, or you won't be able to get in later," King Zhan said to Jiyue with a smile.
"Brother, can't you just carry me in?" Jiyue asked.
She didn't want to expose her abilities just yet, but wearing the badge would make things different.
"No, rules are rules." Seeing Jiyue's conflicted little expression, King Zhan chuckled.
"Fine then!" Jiyue produced the badge reluctantly and pinned it to her chest.
"Brother, I never took you for a divine-tier alchemist!" Jiyue exclaimed when she caught sight of King Zhan's badge.
"What? Do I not look like an alchemist?" King Zhan asked with amusement.
"Not at all. I figured you were just some young lord who wouldn't know the first thing about alchemy, even if your cultivation is unfathomably high," Jiyue muttered, pretending to analyze him with deep solemnity.
"I broke through to the divine tier long ago," King Zhan said indifferently.
"Then you're amazing, Brother!" Jiyue praised him.
"Well, obviously. Did you think your brother only knew how to look cool all day?" King Zhan wasn't modest in the slightest as he patted Jiyue's little head.
Giggles...
"Brother is naturally cool. You don't even have to try," Jiyue praised sweetly with a laugh.
The carriage pulled up to the main entrance of the Elixir Exhibition, and Jiyue was carried down once again.
Their arrival immediately drew the gazes of a massive crowd.
After all, with King Zhan's status and his identity as the young master of the guild, wherever he went, he naturally commanded the spotlight.
"Brother, look, those people aren't wearing alchemist badges," the sharp-eyed Jiyue quickly spotted a group without badges and pointed it out.
King Zhan lightly pinched the tip of Jiyue's nose. "Little fool, most of those people are just visitors. We're heading backstage; we practically count as hosts, understand?"
"Oh," Jiyue nodded, signaling that she understood.
Yet her bewildered gaze made it clear she only half-comprehended.
"Big Brother! Yue'er!" King Xiao's voice called out as he strode toward them, a gentle smile on his face and two candied hawthorn skewers in his hand.
"Here." He held them out to Jiyue.
"Thank you, Brother Yu!" Jiyue's little eyes narrowed into slits of pure joy. Brother Yu was simply the best—he always brought her delicious treats.
"Every single time, you always have to show off. Where did you dig these up from this time?" King Zhan's tone was dripping with vinegar. Why couldn't he be the one to impress her?
"Yue'er likes them, don't she? I happened to pass by and bought a few sticks," King Xiao replied, putting on an indifferent air.
"Delicious!" As long as there was food, Jiyue was happy.
"I'm taking Yue'er to the back now. See you later," King Zhan said, scooping up Jiyue and hurrying away as if afraid King Xiao might snatch her from him.
King Xiao didn't mind at all; he simply smiled faintly and walked into the exhibition hall.
When King Zhan brought Jiyue inside, a large gathering of alchemists had already congregated within.
Seeing that King Zhan had actually brought a small child inside, someone immediately spoke up:
"This little girl surely isn't an alchemist, is she? Isn't it a bit inappropriate for her to be in here?" a young woman's voice rang out.
"What's inappropriate about it? Are you worried a five-year-old child is going to steal your techniques, or what? Picking on a kid—have you no shame?" At that moment, another bright, confident, and utterly uninhibited young woman's voice chimed in.
As they spoke, both girls walked right up to Jiyue.
However, because King Zhan was carrying Jiyue, he happened to block the badge hanging on her chest, rendering it invisible to them.
Naturally, nobody would ever imagine that a five-year-old tot could practice alchemy, so everyone simply assumed Jiyue wasn't an alchemist.
"Oh, look who it is. If it isn't Lin Ruoxi, whose daddy is a senior alchemist. No wonder you're speaking with such a big mouth," An Rumu said in a tone dripping with sarcasm.
"That's right! My dad is a senior alchemist. I'm not acting arrogant; I'm just proud of it!" Lin Ruoxi rolled her eyes at An Rumu.
"Must be nice having a good daddy. You say that as if *you're* a senior alchemist," An Rumu sneered with absolute disdain.
"Sigh... can't help it. This is the era of relying on your father. Too bad your old man isn't any sort of senior alchemist, oh well." That single remark made An Rumu's face turn dark.
It was true—An Rumu's background simply couldn't compare to Lin Ruoxi's. She only possessed decent natural talent and had caught the eye of an association elder, which was how she managed to enter the guild in the first place.
When it came to relying on one's father, there was simply no contest.
"Brother, let's go. Let's get to our own business," Jiyue said, finding their petty bickering utterly boring.
"Alright," King Zhan agreed, carrying Jiyue deeper into the hall.
Watching King Zhan completely ignore them, the two young women instantly felt humiliated, their faces burning bright red.
An Rumu's eyes filled with a venomous glare as she stared fixedly at Jiyue in King Zhan's arms. *Don't think that just because you're young, you have the natural right to be held by King Zhan.*
*So what if King Zhan is your master's junior? King Zhan belongs to me, An Rumu, and he can only ever be mine.*
"An Rumu, your eyes are giving away your thoughts. Watch yourself—don't offend people you can't afford to cross," Lin Ruoxi warned in a cold voice.
An Rumu no longer had the mood to continue squabbling with Lin Ruoxi. Fixing her gaze on the retreating figure of King Zhan, she hurriedly quickened her pace to follow.