Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return Chapter 1414: Being Repressed Isn’t Good
Previously on Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return...
"I didn’t come to express my gratitude. I came to tell you that a smile suits you far better than that constant frown. Walking around with a face like a stone statue all day isn’t good for you," Han Yan stated sincerely, yet the tender affection in her eyes could not be hidden.
"Uh…" Qian Ji was momentarily stunned by her words.
"Also, it’s healthier to voice your thoughts instead of keeping them all bottled up inside. Being a silent worrier is even worse," Han Yan added, a gentle amusement twinkling in her eyes.
In truth, she had long wished to convey these sentiments to Qian Ji during her past life but never grasped the opportune moment. Since the chance had finally presented itself, she decided to unburden her heart completely.
Perhaps it was the worsening of his injuries, but cold sweat began to bead on Qian Ji’s forehead, trickling down like a relentless downpour. Abruptly, he spun around and hurried away, his demeanor suggesting a hasty retreat.
However, as he put distance between them, the habitual tension on his face gradually smoothed out, revealing a subtle, almost imperceptible smile of relief.
Witnessing his hasty departure, Huayue and the others exchanged knowing glances.
Han Yan’s final emotional burden had been lifted by her words, and it also cleared away any lingering reticence they all felt towards Qian Ji.
"Huayue, don’t just stand there grinning. And you, [Huayue/Other Character], stop maintaining that aloof coolness all day. Speak your mind; brooding is detrimental," Han Yan advised Huayue earnestly before turning to enter her own chambers.
"Huh? What does that have to do with me?" Huayue, caught unexpectedly in the advice, tilted her head in genuine puzzlement.
Even though Gai Huangji had been defeated and forced to flee, Han Yan remained wary of the cunning old man, fearing a potential comeback for revenge. Consequently, she promptly departed from the Yan Family estate alongside Huayue and the rest, including the deeply slumbering Ye Yanran, heading back towards the Mu Family residence.
While the Mu Family currently lacked formidable cultivators, their advantage in sheer numbers remained significant. Unless Gai Huangji was willing to risk a desperate attempt to breach the protective seals, his power, artificially capped at the Ninth Rank Sword Master level, offered no real benefit even if he sought retribution. Having journeyed with considerable effort to reach the Holy Court, he was unlikely to jeopardize that for a half-hearted revenge attempt.
This was a certainty Han Yan grasped with clarity.
Contemplating her imminent departure from the Capital for Lu’an City on the morrow, a pang of deep reluctance struck her at the thought of not having more time with her parents. Yet, observing the late hour, she knew it was inappropriate to disturb them. After attending to her personal hygiene, she consumed a few medicinal pills to bolster her vitality and then retired to her room.
The night passed in quietude, devoid of any significant events.
As morning dawned, Yan Yi arrived at the Mu Family estate, accompanied by a contingent of Yan Family disciples and members from allied noble families, ready to combine their forces. Disciples from the Zhang Family also made their appearance at the same time.
"Father, Mother, I must depart now. Please take good care of yourselves," Han Yan uttered her reluctant farewells to her parents after seeing her uncles, who were still recovering, at home.
Dozens of Mu Family disciples stood behind her, their expressions grave, perhaps sensing the somber resolve associated with embarking on a perilous mission.
"Do not concern yourselves with us. Your priority is your own safety. While those Exotic Beasts may not match the ferocity of the ones that attacked the Capital, the persistent requests for reinforcements from Lu’an City indicate they are formidable opponents. Exercise extreme caution," Yue Fanling urged repeatedly.
In fact, Han Yan had already received these very words from her mother multiple times earlier when she had first gone to bid them farewell, and she found herself echoing them now.
"Yes, I will be exceedingly careful," Han Yan replied, her voice betraying a slight tremor as she nestled into her mother’s embrace. She showed not a hint of impatience.
Though she had grown considerably and her cultivated strength even surprised her father, in her mother’s eyes, she remained a young girl on the cusp of adulthood. The genuine care and maternal warmth coursing through her filled Han Yan’s heart with both affection and a profound sense of longing.
She felt a sense of gratitude that she had resumed her feminine attire; otherwise, she would have been denied the privilege of experiencing this tender mother-daughter bond.
"Enough, Han Yan’s prowess now surpasses ours, so your worries are unnecessary. Let us proceed. Remember, the future prosperity of the Mu Family rests upon your shoulders," her father stated plainly, his gaze carrying the lingering perception of her as his son, just as it had always been.
Yet, Han Yan could still detect the deep currents of concern and reluctance within his eyes.
"Yes, Father, I shall not disappoint you," Han Yan affirmed, meeting her father’s gaze and nodding with firm resolve.
"Be well," Han Yan finally released herself from her mother’s embrace, mounted a Red Charcoal Cloud Smoke Beast, and led the assembled contingent towards the city gates.
"Take care," Mu Rui’an echoed, waving his hand earnestly as he watched Han Yan’s departing figure, tears of profound emotion flowing unchecked down his cheeks.
As they neared the city gates, Han Yan’s path converged with that of other descendants from the Five Great Families and their allied noble clans, who were being spearheaded by Dan Tai Xuan.
The previous night's royal banquet was attended only by the most distinguished disciples from various aristocratic families, meaning the overall count wasn't particularly grand. Even though just two major families and one minor one ultimately aligned with Han Yan, the difference seemed negligible at the time. However, the disparity was now glaringly obvious. This expedition to Lu’an City comprised over fifty disciples from the Mu Family. Due to their family's once-dominant reputation, which positioned them as rivals to all other families, they had become the common foe of the noble houses and consequently lacked any affiliated families offering support. The sole exception was the Zhang Family; placing all their aspirations for familial advancement on the Mu Family because of Han Yan, they committed their full strength to this endeavor. All their capable combatants joined Zhang Chihua, numbering more than forty. Combined with the Mu Family, their total approached a hundred individuals. The Yan Family and He Family, on the other hand, were in a much stronger position, each mustering approximately two hundred people, encompassing both their direct family members and their allied clans. Collectively, their numbers reached about five hundred. In stark contrast, the opposing faction, representing five prominent noble families including the Changsun, Song, and Qu families, boasted prosperous family branches. Several of these clans possessed long-standing reputations that rivaled the Mu and Yan Families in terms of foundation, influence, and prestige, with a multitude of other famous clans associated with them. For the crucial ranking battle amongst the Eight Great Families, these clans had unleashed even their concealed forces this time. The Changsun, Song, and Qu families alone sent over a thousand young elites marching towards Anluo. When the Mo and Fang families were included, along with Dan Tai Xuan and more than a hundred experts from the Holy Court, their collective strength surpassed fifteen hundred, effectively tripling the size of Han Yan’s contingent. A dense formation of figures, accompanied by battle banners whipping in the wind, exuded an overwhelming aura of power. "Han Yan, is this truly the extent of your forces? Once we reach Lu’an City, I fear you won’t even be enough to serve as a mouthful for the Exotic Beasts," Dan Tai Xuan declared, his arrogance swelling as he observed his side's numerical superiority. His hearty laughter echoed. "It's quality that matters, not quantity—haven't you ever heard the saying? Still, you lot will likely be nothing more than cold appetizers for those Exotic Beasts in Lu’an City. It’s probably better for you to bring more people, otherwise, the Exotic Beasts might go hungry," Lady Mu, renowned as the foremost playboy of Heishi City, the Capital, and Long Yan, never backed down from a verbal spar. She retorted instantly.