章 21: Family Matters

A week before the yearly exam, a servant hurriedly rushed to the City Lord's Mansion and requested to see Xiao Ning'Er, while they were in training. "Miss, Master asked for your presence in the Main Hall!" the servant said in an anxious tone.

When she arrived at the Winged Dragon Family's Main Hall, her father, who was sitting at the Family Head's seat, sat alongside the six elders of their family, in deep discussion.

Xiao Ning'Er inclined her body towards Xiao Yunfeng, bowing in sincere respect, "Father, is there any reason why you have summoned me? Is everything all right?" The seated men all turned their gazes towards her as she spoke.

"Ning'Er, we've called you here because...there have been some unusual happenings that have going on related to our family. We wanted to...clarify a few things with you so we called you here today." he said tentatively, while looking a little displeased. Knowing her father, he would not have wanted to interrogate his beloved daughter in such a setting, and he must have been pressured into it by those three uncles that have been making things difficult for him ever since he took on the position of Family Head.

Sitting next to him, Elder Xiao Yi, who was the most outspoken of these three uncles laughed condescendingly and said accusingly, "Xiao Ning'Er, recently our remaining businesses have suppressed even more by the Sacred Family for no good reason. You know that they've already taken 80% of our property and possessions. Now they are acting like they want to take the rest! My sources have told me that you have been the one stirring up and even insulting the Sacred Family."

He glanced at Xiao Yun Feng, "Does your daughter even understand what kind of trouble she is bringing the family?"

Xiao Yunfeng looked at him directly, assertively replying, "Xiao Yi, you have not told the whole story. For some reason, the Guild of Inscriptions has suddenly wanted to work with our family in ways that will benefit us tremendously." He turned to his daughter, "You would have heard of the exhibition recently where amazing new inscriptions were displayed. As part of the guild's expansion plans, they need more partners to gather the materials they need and help manage their new stores."

Xiao Yunfeng glared at Xiao Yi as he continued, "Inscription Master Wang Shu visited us personally this week and told us he wants to make us his preferred vendor, even offering us better than market rates for the materials that the guild needs in the long-term. He mentioned that Ning'Er has joined the guild and has impressed him greatly...so would like to tell me again whether my daughter is the cause of our troubles, or the one who has benefited our family?

Unperturbed, Xiao Yi smiled, turning to the elders and saying, "The business deals with the Guild of Inscriptions may be a temporary thing. We don't even understand their intentions or agenda. What we do know is that the Sacred Family has plundered most of our family's belongings, and the threat of them continuing this oppression is very real! The only thing holding them off in the last few years was the promised engagement of Xiao Ning'Er and Shen Fei. And now we're hearing that she has rejected him and slapped the face of the Sacred Family??!!"

Xiao Ning'Er's father took a big sigh, then turned to her and gently asked, "Ning'Er, is there anything you can tell us so that we have a better understanding of how we can proceed? Do you know anything about what's going on? We don't want to make any decisions just based on rumours."

"Father..." she quietly mentioned, unsure of where to start. "The relationship with the Guild of Inscriptions will continue...those new inscriptions that they currently possess, they came from me."

Before she could continue, the elders erupted in shocked conversation with each other, some disbelieving, some curious and some puzzled.

"Xiao Ning'Er! Let's say you are speaking the truth. Even if you discovered those inscriptions somewhere, you should have given them over to the family because we would have been able to make better decisions than a 13 year old child!" Xiao Yi said in a raised voice, trying to guess whether she had found them in the expedition to the Ancient Orchid City Ruins recently. "How come we haven't seen any of the profits?" he asked in a voice filled with blame.

The elders looked at her in anticipation of her response. Even her father wanted clarification on this news that the inscriptions originated from her. She decided to use a similar story that she told Wang Shu.

"Awhile back, while I was training in the forest alone, I encountered an expert who took a liking to the talent he saw in me. He was highly proficient in inscriptions and has trained me for many years. In fact, some of the items that the exhibition displayed...were made by me! The inscriptions came from my master and the profits are for him to continue his research. Please don't ask me who he is because he's very eccentric and prefers to stay unknown." she explained.

Her father searched her face, as though trying to assess whether she was telling the complete truth. He had known her to be a very responsible and honest child since young, so he quickly came to a decision not to doubt her words.

"So you all have heard the truth. My daughter has brought great fortune to our family! And she has the backing of a mysterious expert that I'm not sure if we should offend." he declared with conviction.

"So what do you propose that we do regarding the Sacred Family? You've not addressed this problem, Family Head." Xiao Yi countered, filling his voice with sarcasm as he formed the words 'Family Head'.

"Father...if you could bring me a soul crystal that can test soul force up to silver rank, I would like to show everyone something." Xiao Ning'Er interrupted.

There was a buzz of restless expectation as they waited for the servants to bring the large crystal from their family vaults. What was Xiao Ning'Er going to show them? Could this little girl, in her first year of the Apprentice Fighter's Class, have possibly reached silver rank? It was completely unheard of! Even Lord Yemo had not reached silver rank at this age.

The anticipation only grew more unbearable as she began walking up to the crystal on the table. She placed her hand against it and began channeling her soul force into it. The growing light bursting out from the crystal looked like coagulated lightning that kept growing bigger and brighter as time went on. Some of the elders had to shield their eyes as the bright rays pierced into their retinas painfully.

When the glow began to finally stabilise, Xiao Yunfeng and Xiao Yi walked up to the soul crystal to have a closer look. They could scarcely believe what they were seeing. Xiao Ning'Er had reached 4-star silver rank!!

Turning slowly, she set her eyes on each of the men in the room, one by one, and in an assured tone that did not seem to belong to a 13 year old child, she told them, "Very soon, I will be strong enough to carry whatever burdens befall our Winged Dragon Family, and even the Sacred Family won't dare to challenge our strength. And if that is not enough to convince you, I will also take the test for the Sacred Heavenly Border, and mark my words, I will succeed!"

Some of the elders inadvertently lowered their eyes as she glared at them with fierce conviction. Her commanding voice was one that brooked no argument. Even her father looked surprised at her sudden change in persona. For a moment, every single person in the room was pulled into her claim and believed it completely.

Xiao Yunfeng quietly looked at Xiao Yi, as though challenging him to raise up any more objections. No matter what angle or narrative Xiao Yi came up with, the most convincing card had already been shown, unsettling all of them greatly. 4-star silver silver rank! With this monstrous talent, it was not difficult to imagine her being the very first legend-ranked expert in their family. What a glorious future for them to hope in. Xiao Ning'Er would need their utmost protection and nurturing.

Xiao Yi sat back looking stunned. For years, he had been subtly maneuvering to find a way to seize power away from Xiao Yunfeng, even going to the extent of secretly working with the Sacred Family to weaken his own Winged Dragon Family. In one fell swoop, Xiao Ning'Er had crushed all the machinations and plots he had painstakingly constructed over time.

Seeing that they were convinced and realising that his position as Family Head was stronger than ever, Xiao Yunfeng smiled in silent gratitude towards his daughter. Addressing the elders, he concluded the meeting, "All of you have seen the tremendous potential and talent of my daughter. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she will become the next Lord Ye Mo of Glory City. We will do everything in our power to protect and support her. Is everyone in agreement?"

They all nodded in assent and he dismissed each of them from the room except for Ning'Er.

"My daughter...you are full of surprises. I don't know whether I should be more worried about the attention and trouble you may attract to yourself, or if I should be more proud of the person that you are becoming." he said with a broad smile as his eyes gleamed in love for her.

"In the last two months, you've come back with treasure from the ruins, escaped from a gold-ranked member of the Dark Guild, stirred up the Sacred Family to act against us, uncovered inscriptions of unprecedented power...and gone from not even being bronze rank to high silver rank." he continued.

"Father..." she looked down, not knowing how much she should tell him.

He cut her off gently, "Don't worry, I won't make you share your secrets with me. I just want you to know that I'm proud of you and that I love you. And also...you don't have to fight every battle alone. Let me help, if you'd let me. I'm your father, after all."

It had been a very long time since she had heard such words from her father. Ever since he had taken up the Family Head position, his mind and energy had been so focused on the politics of power and on making sure the family survived the oppression of the Sacred Family, that he had not spent time with her like this. She felt hot tears begin to fall from her eyes as she impulsively jumped forward and embraced him, feeling his strong arms wrap around her a moment later.

Feeling his deep affection for her, she didn't need to say any more words.