"Thank you, Son-in-law, for your cultivation guidance. I, Han Chong, will definitely practice diligently in the future and won't let you down," Han Chong said, excitedly flattering Xu Ran with every breath.
However, it was obvious that this rough man still had some learning to do when it came to flattery.
While Xu Ran was talking with Han Chong, from the distant city gates, there suddenly came the sound of horse hooves, which quickly approached in their direction.
Seeing this commotion, Han Chong and the others quickly gripped their weapons. However, a moment later, someone with sharp eyes exclaimed with surprise, "It's one of ours."
The sound of the hooves came to a swift halt before the caravan, and soon a figure leapt down from the horse. The man appeared to be in his early twenties, dressed in a tight-fitting garment and looked full of vigor. He had a somewhat handsome face and a tall, slender figure, exuding an air of grace. But when Han Chong and the others saw him, their brows furrowed slightly.
As the sound of hooves rang out, Han Xue emerged from the carriage, first resting her gaze on Xu Ran and Xin Lan with gritted teeth, extremely dissatisfied, while the latter seemed oblivious, merely focusing on chatting with Han Chong. Whether for herself or for Han Yue, she was very displeased with Xu Ran's display of affection with other women. She even felt that her sister was being wronged.
Seeing this, she could only bite her silver teeth in frustration and turn her head towards the man who had dismounted, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Xue, are you alright?" When the man saw Han Xue, joy instantly surged in his eyes, and he walked over quickly, asking with concern.
"I'm fine," Han Xue replied casually.
"Miss, you've returned too?" The man was surprised to see Han Yue. Clearly, Han Yue held a much higher status in the family than Han Xue, as the eldest miss who was expected to inherit the clan. Moreover, Han Yue's talent was also extremely high; even without Xu Ran, her talent was sufficient to make a breakthrough to Douzong in the future.
Douzong, for the Han Family, was already a strong expert capable of suppressing the petty thieves.
Thus, to the other youths in the Han Family, Han Yue was someone they greatly respected.
"Hmm."
Han Yue merely nodded slightly.
She had spent most of her time cultivating at Canaan Academy in recent years and was unfamiliar with many people in the clan. Clearly, this person trying to cozy up to her was also not someone she recognized well.
Just then, Xu Ran and Xin Lan also dismounted.
Getting close to the Han Family's base, Xu Ran dared not show affection with Xin Lan any longer. Otherwise, provoking the anger of the masses would not be good. After all, he was there to visit relatives, not to make enemies.
Xin Lan felt the same, as she had been rattled enough. When she jumped down from the horse, she nearly fell to the ground. Barely steadying herself, her body seemed very delicate. If someone unaware of the situation saw her, they might think Xin Lan was a frail beauty.
"Yue'er."
Xu Ran approached with a hearty laugh.
"You still remember me," Han Yue said, as if a jar of vinegar had been knocked over and Xu Ran's voice had set it ablaze. However, her mood quickly returned to normal. She didn't want to cause Xu Ran to lose face in front of others, so she walked over to his side and let him hold her in his embrace.
"Sister is really spineless. You'll suffer for this in the future." Even Han Xue, who had never been in love, understood. Someone had been intimate with another right in front of her, and her sister got angry for less than a second before immediately surrendering. If she's stepping back now, who knows how many more times she'll encounter such situations in the future. With such a soft personality, won't she end up being bullied?
"Miss Han Yue, what is this?" The handsome man beside her, seeing the normally cold and distant Han Yue showing such a daughter-like demeanor in front of the young man, naturally felt a trace of jealousy. He asked with a casual laugh, yet his words were filled with envy.
Han Yue was the top talent of the Han Family and as beautiful as Han Xue.
Everyone knew that Han Yue would become the Family Head of the Han Family in the future. Marrying Han Yue meant reaching the pinnacle of life overnight.
In the Han Family, many people thought this way. After all, relying on one's talent to become the person of the highest authority in the Han Family is simply a dream. But marrying Han Yue seemed not so far-fetched.
"Han Lin, watch your tone. He is my sister's boyfriend and our Han Family's honored guest," Han Xue said, even though she was displeased with Xu Ran. However, she didn't want to see others picking on him. As detestable as Xu Ran was, it was still a matter between them. Moreover, Xu Ran was the benefactor of the Han Family, and they all needed to rely on him in the future.
"What? Miss, you?"
Han Lin was stunned.
Han Yue suddenly brought a man back from outside?
"What's the matter? You have a problem with that?" Han Yue looked at Han Lin coldly, feeling annoyed.
"But, I think I just saw...uh, right, her and him hugging each other," Han Lin pointed at Xin Lan. It was only now that he took a good look at Xin Lan's face and felt even more jealous.
Xin Lan was an Alchemist, and her temperament was even more elegant and pure than that of Han Yue and Han Xue, and her appearance was no less beautiful. Even when Han Yue and Han Xue stood together, they did not diminish the beauty that Xin Lan radiated.
Clad in a long blue dress, she was graceful and imposing. One could tell from her demeanor that Xin Lan's status was definitely not simple.
"So what?" Han Yue was even more annoyed. She had no issues with Xin Lan; in fact, they had a very good relationship and were close friends. After all, they both came from Canaan Academy and were part of Xu Ran's "Harem" from the Canaan branch, naturally creating a close relationship. But having witnessed so much public display of affection along the way, she was in a terrible mood.
"Ah?" Han Lin was dumbfounded. Could it be that Miss Han Yue didn't mind someone being intimate with her boyfriend? Was she really that open-minded? It shouldn't be! Could this outsider truly be spoiled by being loved from both sides and enjoying multiple blessings?
"Miss, you should be aware of your status. You're going to be the Family Head of the Han Family in the future. Your marriage shouldn't be decided by yourself alone. Besides, even if the Miss is to marry, she should prioritize someone from within our Han Family," Han Lin said with a flushed face. He wouldn't have dared to speak to Han Yue like this, but at that moment, he was too jealous. Who wouldn't want to marry a beauty like Han Yue and then do some indescribable things?
And Han Lin made some sense. In most families, if women were to lead the family, they had to marry someone from their own clan. Otherwise, once they married into another family, their children would no longer be considered part of the Han Family, and wouldn't that mean handing over the family's foundations to outsiders?