I don't want to be trained by my senior sister!

Fang Xuan followed the elder outside into the main hall.

The Fifth Elder had already set up a tea table next to the main seat. When Fang Xuan entered, he gently raised his hand to gesture for him to sit down.

The ensuing conversation consisted mainly of the Fifth Elder exchanging pleasantries and reporting on the family's recent situation.

Fang Xuan listened patiently for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, only occasionally uttering an "hmm" or two.

"...Young Master's talent is extraordinary, a once-in-a-century...no, once-in-a-millennium genius in our Fang family! His safe return is a great fortune for the family! If the patriarch knew, he would be overjoyed!"

When the Fifth Elder got emotional, his eyes even reddened.

"Young Master is still recovering from his injuries and is well-suited to recuperate in the clan. You may use any resources in the clan's treasury."

Fang Xuan felt that the groundwork had been laid, so he interrupted his long-winded speech and stood up: "I have a general understanding of the situation. I have other important matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer."

"Important matter?" The Fifth Elder was taken aback and quickly stood up as well.

"Young Master has just awakened, and his injuries are severe. What could be more important than his recovery? Young Master, the Fang family needs you! The situation in the Southern Frontier is currently turbulent, with various families vying for power. Although our Fang family has a strong foundation, we urgently need a peerless genius like you to take charge and restore our prestige!"

He spoke with heartfelt emotion, his voice even trembling with emotion: "Young Master, you can't leave! The Fang family can't live without you!"

As he spoke, the usually dignified and composed Fifth Elder actually burst into tears, and with snot and tears streaming down his face, he tried to grab Fang Xuan's sleeve.

Fang Xuan: "......."

Isn't this art style changing a bit too fast...?

He deftly avoided the Fifth Elder's outstretched hand, his tone calm yet firm: "I won't say much more. My master... my Daoist partner, where is she now?"

Dao... Daoist partner?!

The Fifth Elder's crying stopped abruptly, his eyes widened, and his expression looked as if someone had stuffed an egg into his mouth.

He had previously received a report from the Third Elder that the young master was being entangled by a powerful "demoness" who was suspected to be a wandering immortal, and that the two of them encountered a powerful enemy and a tribulation of lightning together.

The young master was seriously injured but was rescued, while the fate of the "demoness" remains unknown.

He automatically imagined a scenario where "a vixen lusts after the young master's good looks and talent, uses evil magic to control him, and ultimately brings disaster upon herself."

He felt deep regret and vigilance about this.

But now the young master himself says... they're cultivation partners?!

The Fifth Elder instantly felt extremely regretful, wishing he could turn back time and go back to the scene of the lightning tribulation to slap himself twice!

If he had known that she was the young master's chosen partner, he would have shamelessly had her carried back with him!

A Daoist partner with exceptional strength, capable of shattering Earth-grade magic artifacts with ease, would be a double blessing for a family, like adding wings to a tiger.

Not only can it keep the young master's heart, but it can also add a top-tier combat force to the family!

We've lost money, we've lost a fortune.

He coughed several times before speaking:

"That...that girl...she...she woke up on her own...and left."

Fang Xuan stared at him intently, the meaning in his eyes quite clear.

How could my senior sister abandon him and leave alone?

He preferred to believe he was Qin Shi Huang and finished reviewing the memorials overnight.

The Fifth Elder felt immense pressure under his gaze, sweat beading on his forehead. He quickly changed his tune: "Alright... she, she actually... got up quite early, she's probably... still sleeping in somewhere safe nearby, so I didn't see her."

He couldn't even believe the reason he made up, and his voice grew softer and softer.

Fang Xuan sighed and simply said that he hadn't brought her back.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind on his body.

Inside my senior sister's body... there is a soul imprint that he secretly carved. Well, I won't say more about the location, but the place where it was carved is a bit hidden.

It was something his senior sister did to him when she was "punishing" him too much... and he fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion.

Anyway, even my senior sister didn't know.

He carefully sensed that faint yet clear connection.

The mark is still there, which means that my senior sister's life is not in danger.

The location is roughly... Kitahara? That's so far.

"How long have I been unconscious?" Fang Xuan asked, opening his eyes.

"Less than two months," the Fifth Elder answered honestly.

Fang Xuan felt a slight unease.

broken.

two months.

Knowing his senior sister as he did, not seeing her for two months was definitely not a problem that could be solved by crying for a few days.

This troublesome girl, senior sister, is probably currently playing out countless melodramatic scenarios in her mind, such as "my junior brother doesn't want me anymore" or "my junior brother has been taken away by his family."

Then, while frantically cultivating, they might also be planning something silly like "just sneaking a peek at him."

We can't delay any longer.

"I'm about to leave," Fang Xuan said directly.

"No, Young Master Fang! What will we do without you!"

Upon hearing this, the Fifth Elder disregarded all decorum and rushed over, clinging tightly to Fang Xuan's leg, tears and snot streaming down his face again.

"You've only just woken up! Your injuries haven't healed yet! It's so dangerous outside! Where are you going? The family needs you! I... I need you too!"

He simply couldn't imagine what would happen if the hot-tempered Second Elder, who was far away in the ancestral land of the Southern Frontier, found out.

Not only did I fail to bring back the young master's Daoist partner, but I also "let go" of the young master who had just woken up. My backside will be whipped raw by the Second Elder!

Fang Xuan tried to pull his leg away, but couldn't.

That's... a really tight hug. "I'll come back as soon as I find her."

He tried to reason with them.

Nothing is more important than his sweet and soft senior sister who gets shy and acts a little sulky right now. He hasn't been able to hug her for two months.

"Really?" The Fifth Elder raised his tear-filled face, still somewhat doubtful.

"Then... how about we stay for a few days? Let your injuries heal a bit before we go? The Northern Plains are a harsh and cold place, and the journey is long. We're really worried about you going like this, young master!"

"No, thank you." Fang Xuan refused decisively.

"Then...then let us send some people to follow you and serve you?" The Fifth Elder asked as a second choice.

"Alright," Fang Xuan replied casually.

Then, we can just find a chance to dump them.

The Fifth Elder was overjoyed to see Fang Xuan relent, but then he remembered a crucial matter that he had never dared to mention.

He cautiously observed Fang Xuan's expression: "Um... Young Master, actually... how about leaving tomorrow? Just one more day... Tomorrow is your family head succession ceremony, can you just show your face?"

Fang Xuan: "???"

A ceremony to mark the succession of the head of the family?

The Fifth Elder quickly explained, "It's not about having you actually handle family affairs; it's just about being a figurehead and going through the motions."

"The main purpose is to boost the morale of the younger generation in the clan, stabilize their hearts, and let the outside world know that the Fang family's unparalleled genius has returned and the future head of the family has been decided! All they need to do is stand for a while at the ceremony and receive the seal."

Fang Xuancai didn't believe his nonsense.

With a thought, he drew his right hand, fingers together like a sword, and lightly slashed at the air beside him—

A pitch-black spatial rift appeared instantly.

Fifth Elder: "!!!"

Young Master can actually use spatial power?

Even injured like that, he can still casually rip through space! That's incredible strength...

Before he could finish being shocked, he saw Fang Xuan lift his leg to step into the crack.

"Young Master, no!!"

The Fifth Elder unleashed an unprecedented surge of power, clinging tightly to Fang Xuan's waist once more, practically hanging on him, and wailing, "You can't leave! If you leave, the Second Elder will kill me! He really will! I don't want to be killed!"

"Young master, please! Just one more day! Just one more day! Leave immediately after the ceremony, I'll personally see you off! I'll even be your mount! Waaah..."

Fang Xuan was momentarily stunned by his attack, and the spatial rift rippled slightly due to the instability of spiritual energy.

He looked down at the old man clinging to him, crying uncontrollably.

"Fine," Fang Xuan frowned, finally giving in.

"I'll stay for one day; I'll leave immediately after the ceremony."

"Okay, okay! Just one day! Just one day!"

The Fifth Elder felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He immediately let go of her hand, wiped his face haphazardly with his sleeve, and burst into laughter through his tears.

"Don't worry, young master. The ceremony will be kept simple and won't take up your time. I'll make the arrangements right away. You should go back to your room to rest and recover."

Watching the Fifth Elder practically skip and jump as he ran out of the main hall to make arrangements, Fang Xuan rubbed his temples, feeling even more exhausted than if he had just fought someone.

He walked back to the quiet room and closed the door...