Gu Ni's words were like stones thrown into a lake, instantly rippling through Mo Yuhan's heart.
It seemed he truly had a talent for alchemy.
His aunt's injuries might require a vast amount of rare medicinal ingredients for recuperation and repair in the future, and Little Fairy Doctor's research into the "Seven-Colored Poison Manual" and methods to delay the Woeful Poison Body also demanded various strange and expensive poisonous materials.
Not to mention the enormous future cost of the Revival Purple Pill, and so on.
Money, he needed money.
Moreover, as Gu Ni said, the identity of an Alchemist itself was a powerful protective umbrella.
More importantly, a deeper understanding of alchemy, and a thorough study of medicinal properties and pharmacology, might lead him to a clearer direction for his aunt's complex and severe injuries.
With hardly any hesitation, Mo Yuhan raised his head, meeting Gu Ni's eager and fervent gaze, his small face filled with solemnity, and he clasped his hands and bowed: "Disciple Mo Yuhan, greets Master!"
"Good! Good! Good!"
Grandmaster Gu Ni repeated "good" three times, his beard trembling with excitement as he quickly stepped forward to help Mo Yuhan up, immensely relieved, "Hahaha! I never thought that in my later years, I would gain such an excellent disciple! Quick, get up, get up!"
Ya Fei, standing to the side, watched this dramatic scene, her red lips slightly parted, then a genuine smile blossomed, tinged with a hint of inexplicable emotion.
Ya Fei gracefully stepped forward and bowed to Gu Ni, "Congratulations, Grandmaster Gu Ni, on gaining such a brilliant disciple! Yu Han, Younger Brother, congratulations!"
Her gaze fell upon Mo Yuhan, and in her narrow phoenix eyes, the curiosity and scrutiny grew even stronger, mixed with a hint of… subtle closeness that even she hadn't noticed.
This Little freak always seemed to bring unexpected surprises.
Soon.
The news of Mo Yuhan becoming Grandmaster Gu Ni's disciple spread throughout the streets and alleys of Wutan City like wind with wings, thanks to the deliberate promotion by Gu Ni and the Mittel Auction House.
The stir it caused even far surpassed his initial punch that defeated Jia Liejie.
An eight-year-old Dou Zhe was already astonishing.
Unexpectedly, he also possessed alchemy talent and was even regarded as the inheritor of a Second-Rank Alchemist, Grandmaster Gu Ni.
This was no longer just a genius, but a monstrous talent among monsters!
The Mittel Auction House's entrance instantly became bustling with visitors.
The three major families of Wutan City, numerous small and medium-sized factions, and even representatives from surrounding towns who heard the news, all came bearing heavy gifts to visit Gu Ni.
They sought to establish a connection with Gu Ni through his new disciple, even if it was just to become acquainted.
The identity of an Alchemist itself was a priceless pass, not to mention that Mo Yuhan, being so young and taken as Gu Ni's personal disciple, surely had limitless potential in the future.
This sudden storm completely disrupted some people's plans.
At the Jia Lie Family mansion, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the dead calm before a storm.
In the council hall, Jia Lie Bi's fat face was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water, and the malevolence in his eyes almost materialized.
He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
"Useless! Ouba Pa, that fence-sitter! Useless!"
He suddenly slammed the teacup in his hand onto the ground, the expensive porcelain instantly shattering into pieces, and hot tea splattered everywhere.
"We agreed to cooperate, we agreed to advance and retreat together, but as soon as that little beast Mo Yuhan became a disciple of that old man Gu Ni, Ouba Pa couldn't wait to fawn over him! He even sold me out completely, damn it!"
He was so angry that his entire body trembled.
Just this morning, he received a secret report that Ouba Pa had personally brought lavish gifts to the Mittel Auction House, not only congratulating Gu Ni on taking a disciple but also subtly hinting at Jia Lie Bi's previous secret plot with him to deal with Mo Yuhan.
Although Ouba Pa spoke vaguely, this was tantamount to publicly slapping Jia Lie Bi hard.
"Father! Are we just going to let this go?!"
Galeo, still wrapped like a mummy on the soft couch, let out a hoarse, unwilling roar, his eyes filled with insane hatred.
"That little beast harmed me so badly, and killed so many experts in our family, making our Jia Lie family lose all face, and now he's climbed up with that old man Gu Ni… Are we just going to watch him flourish? I'm not reconciled! I'm not reconciled!"
"Shut up!"
Jia Lie Bi suddenly turned, glaring fiercely at his son, "Not reconciled? What can you do even if you're not reconciled? He is now Gu Ni's personal disciple, a person protected by the Mittel Auction House."
"Moving against him is slapping the Mittel Family's face, slapping the Alchemist's face. Do you want the entire Jia Lie family to be buried with you?"
Galeo shivered, intimidated by his father's murderous gaze, and dared not speak again, but the malevolence in his eyes grew deeper.
Jia Lie Bi's chest heaved violently as he forcibly suppressed the surging killing intent.
He walked to the window, looking at the gloomy sky outside, his voice as cold as a venomous snake: "The plan… is temporarily shelved. That little beast is currently at the height of his fame, and has Mittel as his backing. A head-on confrontation is courting death."
Then, a calculating glint flashed in his eyes, "However… fame always fades. Can that old man Gu Ni protect him for a while, but for a lifetime?"
"That old fox Ouba Pa thinks he can curry favor with him by selling me out? Hmph, naive! Once I've initially mastered the Wind Scroll Technique… once the hype dies down… there will always be a time when he's alone. I've noted this debt, and one day, I will make him repay it with interest!"
On the other side, deep within the Mittel Auction House, in a well-equipped alchemy room specially prepared for Grandmaster Gu Ni's new disciple, Mo Yuhan.
The air was filled with a peculiar scent of various mixed medicinal ingredients, along with the unique heat of fire.
Mo Yuhan, wearing a plain, First-Rank Alchemist robe that had been specially tailored to fit him, stood focused before a half-human-height reddish-bronze medicine cauldron.
Flames rose beneath the cauldron, and his small hand hovered over the cauldron's fire control opening. Streaks of pale green Dou Qi, mixed with invisible spirit power, like the finest threads, carefully probed into the cauldron, sensing every subtle change in the medicinal liquid within.
Grandmaster Gu Ni stood to the side with his hands behind his back, his face showing undisguised approval and satisfaction.
In just under three months, starting from scratch to become a First-Rank Alchemist, this disciple's progress speed truly made him, the teacher, feel startled.
The precision of his fire control, the keenness of his spirit power perception, and the accurate grasp of the timing for medicinal fusion were completely unlike a beginner.
Many techniques that Alchemists needed years to master came to him as if by instinct.
Gu Ni even vaguely felt that if his Dou Qi cultivation and total spirit power were not yet limited, his alchemy skills would likely have progressed even faster.
However, although Mo Yuhan already met the three assessment criteria for a First-Rank Alchemist, the nearest Alchemist Guild was currently in Black Rock City, and Mo Yuhan was temporarily unwilling to travel far just to obtain a First-Rank Alchemist certification.
Fortunately, the Alchemist Guild also had a regulation: for low-ranked Alchemists, such as those of the First to Third Ranks, as long as they had guarantees from three individuals whose rank was at least one rank higher than the assessor, plus a jade slip or scroll detailing the entire process of the assessor personally refining a pill, they could directly be awarded the corresponding badge.
Although Gu Ni was only a Second-Rank Alchemist, the connections he had accumulated over the years were enough for him to obtain recommendation letters from two Second-Rank Alchemist friends.
"Condense!"
Mo Yuhan uttered a low cry, his eyes sharp as lightning. His hand seals changed, and the flames from the control opening suddenly retracted and then expanded. The churning medicinal liquid within the cauldron was instantly compressed and condensed by an invisible force.
Buzz!
A faint hum emanated from within the medicine cauldron.
The cauldron lid opened, and three round, full, verdant pills, emitting a fresh medicinal fragrance, tumbled into the jade bottle in his hand.
"First-Rank Pill, Strength Accumulation Pill, three pills formed, clear pill patterns, excellent quality!"
Grandmaster Gu Ni stepped forward, picked up the jade bottle, and examined it carefully, a wide smile spreading across his old face as he clapped his hands in praise, "Good! Good! Yu Han, your talent is truly something I've never seen in my life! In just one month, you can stably refine First-Rank Pills of excellent quality. This achievement is enough to make those so-called alchemy geniuses feel ashamed!"
A faint smile also appeared on Mo Yuhan's small face as he carefully put away the jade bottle.
This was not just a batch of pills, but an important step towards his goal.
Becoming a First-Rank Alchemist meant he had officially entered this noble profession, gaining the capital to earn vast wealth and resources
What made Mo Yuhan even more delighted was that during the daily, highly focused alchemy process, his spirit power underwent unprecedented tempering and growth!
His spirit power, which was already far superior to others of the same rank, became even more condensed and keen, his perception range greatly increased, and he even became more adept at controlling the Xuan Huang Flame within his body.
The surge in spirit power, like water flowing into a stream, in turn boosted his Dou Qi cultivation.
Just yesterday, after successfully refining a batch of perfectly-quality First-Rank Qi-Restoring Pills, he clearly felt the violent fluctuation of his Dou Qi vortex.
Naturally and smoothly, he stepped into the realm of a four-star Dou Zhe.
The pale yellow Dou Qi became even more condensed and powerful, surging through his meridians like a stream.
"Thank you for your guidance, Grandmaster."
Mo Yuhan bowed respectfully.
He was genuinely grateful to Gu Ni; although this Grandmaster had a peculiar temper, he taught him everything without reservation.
"Haha, it's all thanks to your own efforts!"
Gu Ni stroked his beard, becoming more and more satisfied with this disciple the more he looked at him.
He glanced towards the entrance of the alchemy room, lowered his voice, and with a mischievous smile, said, "Yu Han, that girl Sister Ya Fei… she seemed to have been standing outside for a while."
Mo Yuhan followed his Grandmaster's gaze and indeed saw Ya Fei's graceful figure leaning against the doorframe.
She seemed to have just finished an auction and hadn't had time to change out of her iconic bright red cheongsam.
The tight fabric perfectly outlined her breathtaking curves: her full bosom, her willowy waist, and her round, perky hips formed a suffocating silhouette in the light filtering through the doorway.
At this moment, she didn't wear her usual professional smile; instead, her arms were crossed, and her narrow phoenix eyes were fixed on Mo Yuhan, her gaze complex and unreadable.
Mo Yuhan's heart stirred slightly.
During this period, his interactions with Ya Fei had inevitably increased.
Besides alchemy, he also needed Ya Fei's help in finding some special medicinal herbs, and Ya Fei often used various pretexts to "visit" the alchemy room.
Every time they met, Ya Fei's captivating charm and shrewd mind left a deep impression on him.
But recently, he always felt that Ya Fei's gaze towards him… was somewhat different.
It seemed no longer purely admiration, curiosity, or commercial solicitation, but rather a hint of… scrutiny? Confusion?
Or even a trace of… bewilderment that she herself hadn't noticed?
"Cough, cough, cough."
Gu Ni cleared his throat, and in a voice only the two of them could hear, with the cunning of an old fox, he whispered, "Yu Han, that girl Ya Fei, I've watched her grow up.
She's shrewd, capable, and ambitious."
"In the Mittel Family, she isn't of the main lineage, and after all, she's a woman.
Although her abilities are sufficient, to truly control her own destiny, ability alone isn't enough; she also needs… powerful assistance."
He gave Mo Yuhan a meaningful look, "You, my boy, are exceptionally talented and steadfast in character; your future is limitless.
Once your birthday passes this year, you and she will only be ten years apart in age.
If you could… well, form a good match with Ya Fei, for her, it would be the best opportunity to break free from family constraints and truly control her own life."
"And for you… the Mittel Family's resources and channels spread across the continent would also be a great help.
Of course, this is just a small suggestion from me; you can think about it carefully, hmm?"
After speaking, Gu Ni patted Mo Yuhan's shoulder, put his hands behind his back, hummed an off-key tune, and leisurely strolled out of the alchemy room, leaving Mo Yuhan alone to face the swaying red lotus at the doorway.
Mo Yuhan was stunned.
Even though his mental maturity far surpassed his peers, he was still shaken by Gu Ni's sudden, almost blunt "hint."
A good match? Ya Fei? Him?
A child who was almost nine years old?
This… He subconsciously looked at Ya Fei at the doorway, his eyes filled with astonishment.
Ya Fei seemed not to have heard Gu Ni's whisper, but seeing Mo Yuhan's astonished gaze, an extremely unnatural expression flashed across her face instantly, and her crossed arms also subconsciously loosened.
She discreetly cleared her throat, then walked in with elegant steps, her high heels making crisp "click-clack" sounds on the polished floor, bringing with them a waft of fragrance.
"Congratulations, Yu Han, Younger Brother, on successfully certifying as a First-Rank Alchemist and breaking through to a four-star Dou Zhe.
Double happiness, truly… a young hero."
Ya Fei's voice was still like honey-dipped silk, with her characteristic magnetism, but on closer listening, it seemed to lack some of its usual smoothness and composure, replaced by a subtle… hint of shyness?
Her gaze fell on Mo Yuhan, carrying both scrutiny and an unprecedented complexity.
The young man before her, dressed in a plain Alchemist's robe, was still slender and youthful, his face even retaining the contours of a child.
Yet, his dark eyes were as calm and profound as an ancient well, as if they could see through people's hearts.
He lacked the friskiness and naivety of children his age, possessing only a near-rational composure and a maturity that was incongruous with his years.
He could make the Jia Lie family lose face in casual conversation, and in just one month, he could become a respected First-Rank Alchemist… All of this made it impossible for her to simply view him as a child.
Grandmaster Gu Ni had already hinted at this to her.
Although she hadn't heard the specific content of his words just now, the old fox's meaningful glance and the gesture of patting Mo Yuhan's shoulder before leaving were like a seed, uncontrollably taking root and sprouting in her heart.
To control her own destiny.
To break free from family constraints…
Women of the Mittel Family, while seemingly glamorous, often found their marriages to be bargaining chips for family interests.
How could Ya Fei, with her high aspirations, be content to be a pawn at someone else's mercy?
But… this choice before her?
She looked at Mo Yuhan's clear yet unfathomably deep dark eyes, at his face, still childish but already showing hints of sharpness.
A sense of absurdity washed over her like a tide.
She was only nineteen, in the prime of her youth, with countless suitors.
And he… was just a child approaching nine years old.
But another voice echoed in her heart: Was he a child?
Could an ordinary nine-year-old possess such terrifying strength and mental fortitude?
His future… was destined to be brilliant.
Gu Ni's words, though absurd, were not entirely without reason.
If that day truly came…
Two completely different emotions fiercely tore at her heart.
One was an instinctive resistance and embarrassment towards this absurd proposal.
The other, however, was a trace of… an indescribable flutter and vague anticipation arising from Mo Yuhan's unfathomable potential and his maturity and reliability beyond his years?
These complex thoughts made her agitated, and her gaze towards Mo Yuhan became even more complex and unreadable, carrying a trace of bewilderment she herself hadn't noticed, and a faint… maidenly shyness.
"Sister Ya Fei, you flatter me."
Mo Yuhan quickly composed his astonished expression, returning to his usual calm demeanor.
He keenly noticed the complex changes in Ya Fei's eyes, but he wisely chose to ignore Gu Ni's unreliable hint.
He brought the topic back on track: "Grandmaster just said that Sister Ya Fei was looking for me?"
Ya Fei took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the chaotic thoughts in her mind, and her captivating smile returned to her face, though this smile seemed to hold a subtle, almost imperceptible hint of forcedness: "Yes, there is something.
I've found some of the medicinal herbs you asked me to look out for earlier, those that nourish meridians and restore vitality."
Mo Yuhan looked up at Ya Fei's phoenix eyes, which held countless charms, and nodded solemnly: "Thank you for your trouble, Sister Ya Fei."
"And as for the Jia Lie Family, Grandmaster Gu Ni said he could help you resolve it," Ya Fei said with a smile, gradually returning to her usual interaction mode with Mo Yuhan.
Mo Yuhan shook his head, refusing.
He intended to solve his own problems.
He looked at Ya Fei and suddenly said, "Sister Ya Fei, Grandmaster mentioned the matter with the Jia Lie family.
However, I want to handle it myself and clean it up.
I might need the auction house here… to help me keep an eye on Jia Lie Bi's recent movements."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of understanding passed through Ya Fei's phoenix eyes, followed by a hint of worry, but it was quickly replaced by a sharp edge.
Her red lips curved slightly, and her smile took on a cold edge: "Don't worry, Yu Han, Younger Brother, if I don't help you, who will?
I'll have people keep a close watch on their movements, and you can tell me anytime if you need any cooperation."
At this moment, the shrewd, capable, and influential chief auctioneer was back, but in the depths of her gaze towards Mo Yuhan, the complex emotions seemed to have deepened.
This monstrous "younger brother" was indeed acting more and more like a true… man
Mo Yuhan gently caressed the cool surface of the First-Rank Alchemist badge, his gaze fixed on the grand entrance of the Xiao Family.
The golden-red glow of the rising sun dyed the horizon, and also the bustling Wutan City.
The time for revenge had come.
And the method had already been rehearsed countless times in his mind—no need for novelty, just effectiveness.
Xiao Yan's original strategy of cutting off the Jia Lie Family's lifeline by choking their throat with pills was the sharpest and most deadly blow.
Xiao Family's main hall.
Incense smoke curled upwards, but the atmosphere carried an unusual solemnity.
Xiao Zhan sat in the main seat, with the three Elders positioned on either side.
When Mo Yuhan, led by an attendant from the Mittel Auction House, stepped into this hall, which symbolized the core of the Xiao Family's power, all eyes immediately focused on this young man, who was only eight years old but had already stirred up a storm in Wutan City.
The silver-white badge on his chest gleamed with an undeniable radiance in the light filtering through the window lattice.
"Young Friend Mo, please have a seat."
Xiao Zhan's steady voice broke the silence, and as his gaze swept over the First-Rank Alchemist badge, a hint of unconcealed shock and fervent desire flickered deep within his pupils.
Such a young Alchemist, his value and potential far surpassed that of an ordinary Great Dou Shi, not to mention that Mo Yuhan's strength was already at Dou Zhe Four-star!
Previously, when Mo Yuhan suddenly sent a Visiting Card from the Mittel Auction House, Xiao Zhan had only assumed that Mo Yuhan wanted to thank them for the gifts they sent during the apprenticeship ceremony.
Mo Yuhan nodded slightly and sat down calmly, not showing the slightest bit of unease despite being in the core of the Xiao Family.
He got straight to the point, his voice clear and direct: "Patriarch Xiao, three Elders. My audacious visit today is for cooperation and mutual benefit, and the target is—the Jia Lie Family!"
"Cooperation? Mutual benefit?"
The First Elder frowned slightly, his gaze scrutinizing.
Although Mo Yuhan was Grandmaster Gu Ni's disciple, because of Mo Yuhan's age, he subconsciously looked down on him, not thinking Mo Yuhan could offer any cooperation.
Unless Grandmaster Gu Ni himself came to speak, it would be more convincing.
"Exactly."
Mo Yuhan's gaze calmly swept over everyone. "According to Patriarch Ouba Pa, Jia Lie Bi holds a grudge against me for severely injuring his son, Galeo, and intends to harm me."
"So, I plan to strike first!"
"Young Friend Mo, what brilliant plan do you have?"
Xiao Zhan was overjoyed to hear Mo Yuhan's words.
The Xiao Family was already at odds with the Jia Lie Family; if someone could join forces to oppose the Jia Lie Family, they would be more than willing.
"From what I understand, the lifeline of the Jia Lie Family largely depends on the healing medicines sold in the market. If we can provide healing medicines of higher quality, lower price, and sufficient quantity, completely monopolizing the healing medicine market in Wutan City and cutting off their financial source… then the Jia Lie Family will collapse without a fight!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was moved.
Monopolizing the healing medicine market would undoubtedly be a fatal blow to the Jia Lie family's most vulnerable point.
But the problem was… where would the high-quality, low-priced, and sufficient quantity of healing medicines come from?
Mo Yuhan met Xiao Zhan's sharp gaze, a faint curve appearing at the corner of his mouth, filled with extreme confidence: "The source of the medicine will be provided by me, and the Mittel Auction House will serve as the sole sales channel, offering full support."
"You?"
The Third Elder couldn't help but exclaim, then realizing his gaffe, he suppressed his shock, "Young Friend Mo, although healing medicine is not a high-grade pill, the demand is huge, and stable quality is especially crucial, this…"
Mo Yuhan said nothing more, simply flipping his palm, and hundreds of small jade bottles instantly appeared in the council hall, filling every empty space.
Then he flicked his finger, and a few other jade bottles flew towards Xiao Zhan and the three Elders.
Xiao Zhan pulled out a stopper, and a pure, gentle medicinal aroma instantly permeated the air. He poured out a few pale green pills; the pills were round and full, evenly colored, and free of impurities.
As a Great Dou Shi, Xiao Zhan's discerning eye was naturally sharp. He immediately saw that the quality of this healing medicine far surpassed the "Blood Coagulation Powder" sold by the Jia Lie family on the market, and was even significantly better than some of the fine products in his own Xiao Family's inventory.
After the three Elders passed it around, their faces also showed unconcealed shock.
"This medicine is called Fushang Pill."
Mo Yuhan said indifferently, "Its efficacy is 1.5 times or more than the Jia Lie Family's currently sold Rejuvenation Powder, but its cost can be compressed to 70% of theirs."
"As long as the Xiao Family provides the venue and ensures the market sales channels, I have already discussed the specific basic medicinal material procurement channels with the Mittel Auction House. The production of this pill… will not be a problem."
He deliberately emphasized the words "not be a problem," backed by the confidence of a First-Rank Alchemist and the deep cooperation achieved with the Mittel Auction House due to his backing by Gu Ni.
Xiao Zhan's eyes flashed brilliantly. He slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair, his voice filled with suppressed excitement and resolve: "Good! Young Friend Mo is a man of his word. Since you've said so, what reason does my Xiao Family have not to agree? Our Xiao Family will definitely cooperate fully. The venue, market channels, and so on will be arranged immediately, and of the profits obtained, the Xiao Family will only take 30%!"
He showed great sincerity.
Mo Yuhan nodded: "For specific details, Patriarch Xiao can discuss them with Miss Ya Fei. The Mittel Auction House will be responsible for the unified procurement of medicinal materials and the unified sale of Fushang Pill. The profit sharing will also be negotiated by her and Patriarch Xiao."
He pushed Ya Fei to the forefront, which was both a sign of trust and a leveraging of influence.
With the golden signboard of the Mittel Auction House and Ya Fei's operational prowess, this plan would be like adding wings to a tiger.
The intention to cooperate was instantly reached.
The atmosphere in the hall immediately became lively, and the gazes of the Xiao Family members towards Mo Yuhan were filled with admiration and eagerness.
This young man was not only monstrously talented, but also held such a profitable tool in his hands, and his methods were also excellent; his future prospects were limitless.
Just then, the side door of the council hall was gently pushed open.
A young woman, dressed in a goose-yellow gauze dress, entered gracefully, carrying an exquisite tea tray.
Her figure was slender and well-developed, her full bosom supporting the gauze dress in an alluring curve, her slender waist easily spanned, and a small section of smooth, delicate calf was exposed beneath her skirt. As she moved with light steps, she exuded a unique youthful vitality and charming grace belonging to a young woman.
The young woman was Xiao Mei.
At this moment, she kept her eyes lowered, her posture extremely humble, and walked cautiously to Mo Yuhan's side, placing a cup of fragrant clear tea on the tea table beside his hand.
The moment she set down the teacup, her wrist trembled slightly, seemingly due to nervousness. Her full bosom gently rose and fell with the movement, almost brushing against Mo Yuhan's arm.
A faint, delicate fragrance of a young woman, mixed with the aroma of tea, quietly wafted into Mo Yuhan's nostrils.
"Young… Young Master Mo, please have some tea."
Xiao Mei's voice carried a hint of deliberate softness and timidity, like an oriole leaving the valley, stirring the heartstrings.
She raised her eyelids and quickly glanced at Mo Yuhan. Her watery peach blossom eyes were filled with unconcealed admiration, reverence, and a hint of… ambition to climb higher.
As a collateral branch member of the Xiao Family with no outstanding talent, she understood too well the value and opportunity represented by the young man before her. If she could latch onto this big tree…
"Mhm." Mo Yuhan responded indifferently, picking up the teacup, his gaze not lingering on Xiao Mei for too long.
The young woman's deliberate closeness and the subtle, almost imperceptible touch did not stir much ripple in his heart.
His will was firm, his goal clear; beauty to him was but a fleeting cloud.
But he also somewhat understood Xiao Zhan's intention behind this—to use Xiao Mei to forge a closer relationship and deepen the Xiao Family's ties with him