This time, upon returning to Wu Tan City, Zhang Yuan had many things planned.
First, he would properly handle the matter of Nalan Yanran's annulment and avoid the worst possible outcome as much as possible.
Second, he would establish goodwill with Yao Chen ahead of time and, if things went smoothly, ask him for some Qi Methods and request him to refine pills.
Third, he would comprehensively strengthen the Xiao Clan from multiple angles, whether for future self-preservation or long-term faction development.
All three plans had been executed perfectly. Along the way, he had also deepened Xiao Yan's feelings toward him and confirmed his relationship with Xun'er.
However, behind these three plans, he had concealed an even deeper scheme. Everything related to it was proceeding quietly in the shadows, and it might not even be carried out in the end.
He had not expected Xiao Zhan to notice something ahead of time. At which point had he revealed a flaw?
Seeing through Zhang Yuan's thoughts, Xiao Zhan smiled and said, "Yuan'er, your uncle did not discover that you had a plan. I guessed it. As the saying goes, nephews are closest to their uncles. You and Yan'er were both raised by my own hands. How could I not understand you?"
"Since childhood, you have been humble, your temperament restrained, and your actions steady and orderly. You never behaved like a reckless youth. Yet after returning to the clan this time, every move you made was high profile, as if you were deliberately drawing someone's attention."
"At first, I thought this was a change after training in the army. But when I saw how you handled cooperation with Ya Fei and Gu Ni, I realized you were still the same as before, meticulous and far-sighted. That made me suspect there was another purpose behind your actions."
"I did not intend to pursue it further until this morning, when Jia Lie Bi brought people to cause trouble."
"With your personality, even if you were confident you could deal with Jia Lie Bi, you would never have said those words."
"You deliberately lured Jia Lie Bi into coming to find you."
This analysis made Zhang Yuan inwardly praise Xiao Zhan.
'Worthy of being the Xiao Clan's Clan Leader who had managed to re-establish the clan in Wu Tan City after it had nearly fallen to ruin, he truly could not be underestimated.'
Zhang Yuan also understood that his idle move had not been exposed. Rather, Xiao Zhan knew him too well and had noticed something amiss from another angle.
"Uncle, let's go inside and talk."
Zhang Yuan turned and walked into the discussion hall, heading straight for the inner chamber.
Xiao Zhan followed quickly. Xun'er hesitated slightly, then followed as well.
At the same time, in the rear courtyard of the Jia Lie Clan.
After taking a 3rd Tier healing pill and circulating his Dou Qi for half a day, Jia Lie Bi finally suppressed his injuries. With his Da Dou Shi strength, he would fully recover after half a month of recuperation.
Yet for some reason, he still felt a looming sense of catastrophe.
'It must be because of that brat's talent. He must be eliminated as soon as possible, or my Jia Lie Clan will face utter destruction sooner or later.' Thinking of the contempt in Zhang Yuan's eyes when he struck him, Jia Lie Bi felt a dull pain in his dantian once more.
He walked out of his room, intending to discuss how to eliminate Zhang Yuan with Jia Lie Qing, but instead saw a not entirely unexpected person in the discussion hall.
"Ao Ba Pa, have you come to my Jia Lie Clan to watch me make a fool of myself?" Jia Lie Bi said coldly.
"I am not that idle," Ao Ba Pa replied, setting down his teacup with a grave expression. "Last night, you obtained a High Xuan Class Dou Technique, Wind Curl Art. I was already planning to guard against your Jia Lie Clan. But now, Zhang Yuan is our true hidden danger."
"Although there are frictions between our two clans, they are only frictions. But between the Xiao Clan and us, there is the grudge of betrayal. If the Xiao Clan rises again, none of us will have good days."
Jia Lie Bi snorted. "I naturally understand this. But suppressing the Xiao Clan is not something that can be done in a single day. That brat Zhang Yuan is part of the Black Armored Guards. Once he returns to the army, we will have even fewer opportunities. If one day he becomes a Dou Ling, then…"
"Then do not let him return to the army," Ao Ba Pa said, murderous intent flashing in his eyes. "I have already received news that he will remain in Wu Tan City for at most four more days before returning to the army. We can act on the road."
Jia Lie Bi's eyes lit up, but he soon frowned. "Zhang Yuan is a 1-Star Da Dou Shi, stronger than either of us. He also has dozens of Black Armored Guards with him. To kill him, our two clans would need to mobilize at least half of our elites."
"Such a move cannot be hidden from the Xiao Clan, the City Lord's Mansion, or the Miteer Auction House. Once faces are torn, neither of us can bear the crime of intercepting and killing Imperial Black Armored Guards."
Ao Ba Pa narrowed his eyes. "Why must we do it ourselves?"
"The Black Armored Guards rotate defense with the Soaring Dragon Guards, which means they will be stationed at Qingyun Town."
"From Wu Tan City to Qingyun Town, there is an unavoidable passage. We can…"
He did not finish his sentence, but Jia Lie Bi understood after a brief thought. His eyes brightened. "Brother Ao Ba means…"
"That very thing," Ao Ba Pa replied.
The two exchanged glances and let out sinister laughter.
At the same time, in the inner hall of the Xiao Clan.
Zhang Yuan invited the two to sit at a small round table. He took out a tea set from his storage ring and handed it to Xun'er. Receiving a white glare in return, he did not mind and smiled. "Uncle, tell me. Why do you think Jia Lie Bi made such a big show and insisted on coming after me over a junior conflict?"
"You are testing your uncle?" Xiao Zhan shook his head with a laugh. "Naturally, he noticed your talent and wanted to personally assess your growth potential. If possible, he would shatter your resolve or severely injure you. Failing that, he would kill you in secret."
Between factions with competing interests, stifling the opponent's talented juniors was a common tactic and nothing new.
Of course, there were also factions that would choose to bet early and attach themselves, waiting for the other side to rise and bring them along. But due to historical grudges, such a situation would never occur among Wu Tan City's three major clans.
If the Jia Lie Clan or Ao Ba Clan produced a genius like Zhang Yuan, Xiao Zhan himself would likely lose sleep and scheme in secret.
Back when the Xiao Clan was strong, the Jia Lie Clan and Ao Ba Clan had been small clans attached to the Xiao Clan. Yet after the Xiao Clan suffered a great upheaval, they chose to betray them, joining forces to divide Xiao Clan resources and take control of Wu Tan City.
Fortunately, even when they were still subordinates of the Xiao Clan, these two clans had never gotten along and had long-standing conflicts. This prevented them from fully uniting to wipe out the Xiao Clan, ultimately forming the current three-way balance in Wu Tan City.
Because of that betrayal, neither clan wished to see the Xiao Clan rise again. Likewise, if either of those two clans showed signs of rising, the Xiao Clan would also join forces with the other to suppress them.
Now, Zhang Yuan's displayed strength and potential were enough to break this balance. The two clans were very likely to set aside their conflicts and join hands to suppress him.
"That is exactly what I want. For them to attempt to kill me." Zhang Yuan's gaze was restrained, a sharp curve forming at the corner of his lips. "Uncle, your earlier guess was not entirely correct. I struck Jia Lie Ao simply to drive away an annoying fly for Xun'er. As for telling Jia Lie Bi to come find me, that was a spur-of-the-moment thought. I was not even sure he would come."
"If he came, I would finish it in one step. If he did not, I would deliberately act high profile over the next few days. The goal was to make the Jia Lie Clan and Ao Ba Clan notice me, until I was certain they would attempt to kill me."
Hearing this, Xun'er's heart remained calm as she focused on brewing tea.
No matter what schemes Zhang Yuan had, she would support him unconditionally.
With Ling Ying guarding him in secret, she had no need to worry about his safety.
Xiao Zhan, however, was puzzled. "Yuan'er, why do you want to do this?"
Zhang Yuan did not answer immediately. He reached out to take the tea Xun'er handed him, took a sip, then asked instead, "Uncle."
"Do you not think Wu Tan City is too small, so small that even our Xiao Clan alone cannot fully stretch its legs here?"
(End of Chapter)
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