Chapter 49 - 49 46 Parting in Sorrow

49: Chapter 46 Parting in Sorrow 49: Chapter 46 Parting in Sorrow Although the two chatted while they walked, their conversation did not slow their pace. Before long, they arrived in front of the Nangong family’s residence. “The Family Head is waiting for you in the reception hall ahead…” Housekeeper Zhao led Ye Xuan to the Nangong family’s home and, after a series of turns, arrived at the entrance of the reception hall. Ye Xuan nodded, then stepped in without any hesitation. As he entered the reception hall, he saw Nangong Bo sitting above, looking rather troubled and vexed. To the right, a gray-clad elderly woman sat in the guest seat, apparently well beyond her seventies, eyes closed, her aura concealed with a slightly cold and fluctuating presence. “Ye Xuan, you’ve finally arrived.” Seeing Ye Xuan, Nangong Bo’s spirits lifted, and he quickly stood up and walked over. “I’m already aware of the situation.” Ye Xuan nodded and then turned his gaze to the gray-clad elder, his eyes shifting slightly, “This must be Granny Ning from Xuanbing Mansion, right?” Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, the elder dressed in gray slowly opened her eyes. After sweeping her murky gaze over Ye Xuan a few times, she then spoke with dry lips, “You are the lad called Ye Xuan. I’ve heard that you suppressed the Xuanyin Body of the Nangong girl? To suppress the Xuanyin Body with your little cultivation is somewhat impressive. No wonder that girl is so fixated on you, as you are to her, a lifesaving grace.” “It was just a little trick.” Ye Xuan shook his head with a smile, then his expression became a bit more focused, “However, I’ve always had a question that I hope Granny Ning can clarify. Among the Sects of the six nations of Tiannan, I’ve never heard of Xuanbing Mansion. Of course, it could also be due to my limited knowledge.” “I am not from the Tiannan Region,” Granny Ning said expressionlessly. Not from the Tiannan Region? Ye Xuan was surprised. If Granny Ning wasn’t from the Tiannan Region, then was Xuanbing Mansion not a Sect of that region either? “Xuanbing Mansion is a Fourth Grade Sect.” Granny Ning’s subsequent words surprised Ye Xuan again. Everyone knew that in the entire Tiannan Region, the Sects reached at most Third Grade, whereas Xuanbing Mansion was a Fourth Grade Sect, ranking above all the Sects in the Tiannan Region. Indeed, Xuanbing Mansion was not to be underestimated. “Your talent can only be considered mediocre, barely enough to become a common disciple at Xuanbing Mansion, but to become my disciple, you are still lacking. Moreover, even if you had the aptitude and were unsuitable for cultivating my Cultivation Technique, I would not accept you,” Granny Ning declared coldly. “Naturally, I harbor no such expectations,” Ye Xuan replied, feeling a mix of amusement and indignation. Mediocre talent? This was the first time someone had so casually belittled him to his face. However, considering it, Granny Ning’s words weren’t entirely without reason—on the surface, at eighteen he was only at the level of a Third Grade Martial Master, certainly a genius by Great Xia Kingdom’s standards, but among a Fourth Grade Sect like Xuanbing Mansion, he probably would only qualify as the most low-level disciple. But to be exact, it took him only half a year to advance from a Third Grade Martial Disciple to his current Third Grade Martial Master realm; such speed would surely be hard to match even for someone from Xuanbing Mansion. However, Ye Xuan never intended to become Granny Ning’s disciple; he was more than willing to agree with her judgement if she thought she couldn’t take him in. “I will persuade Yaoer to go with you, but you must promise me that you will take good care of her,” Ye Xuan pondered for a moment and had made a decision. “Don’t worry. Nangong girl’s physique is one in ten thousand. She’s a disciple I had great difficulty in finding, and I will certainly treat her as my granddaughter,” Granny Ning nodded, her gaze towards Ye Xuan improving significantly. At such a young age yet speaking so appropriately and showing good character, he was talented indeed in the world’s eyes. Having gotten the answer he wanted, Ye Xuan bid farewell to Granny Ning and Nangong Bo in the reception hall and headed to the small building in the Nangong family’s backyard where Nangong Yao lived. Thump, thump… Ye Xuan knocked on the door a few times. “Who is it? I won’t see anyone but Brother Ye Xuan!” Nangong Yao’s indignant voice came from the room. “Yaoer, it’s me.” Ye Xuan felt touched; this little girl was so adamant about not going with Granny Ning, and it was likely largely because of him. There were no more sounds from the room, just the rapid approach of footsteps, then the “creak” of the opening door. A slightly troubled, pretty face peeked out, and seeing no one else, she fully opened the door and stepped out. “I know all about it.” Looking at the somewhat haggard silhouette in front of him, Ye Xuan let out a silent sigh. It seemed that the other party really didn’t want to leave, and he guessed that Nangong Bo must have tried to persuade her many times already. However, it takes the one who tied the bell to untie it, otherwise Nangong Bo wouldn’t have sought him out. “I’m not going to go with that Granny Ning,” Nangong Yao said, cutting off Ye Xuan before he could speak further, clearly guessing what his intent was. “Let’s walk and talk.” Ye Xuan feared that as soon as he opened his mouth, Nangong Yao might whimsically close the door again, and then no matter what he said, she probably wouldn’t open the door. After hesitating for a moment, Nangong Yao nodded and followed behind Ye Xuan. All the way, Ye Xuan did not speak, and before they knew it, they had come to the front courtyard. If they walked a bit further, they would have to leave the residence. “That Granny Ning is from Xuanbing Mansion, which is a Fourth Grade Sect. I think you understand what a Fourth Grade Sect implies. Moreover, I observed earlier that Granny Ning’s own strength is unfathomable. I fear her strength has already reached the peak of the Martial Sect. If you could become her disciple, you could have a much better prospect for development in the future, both for the Nangong family and for yourself.” After thinking for a while, Ye Xuan felt that he still had to say what needed to be said. Since he came to persuade her, he couldn’t always let it remain so stiff. “If that’s the case, if Brother Ye Xuan you could also become part of Xuanbing Mansion, then wouldn’t it also be a good thing for you and the Ye family? Did Granny Ning agree to take you under her wing as well?” Nangong Yao asked, looking at Ye Xuan. Ye Xuan shook his head, his expression becoming much more serious, “You and I are different. Even if she wanted to take me as her disciple, I wouldn’t agree. Everyone has their own path to walk, not to mention that taking in a disciple is no trivial matter. Moreover, Granny Ning isn’t suited to be my teacher, so why force her to do something difficult?” “Your Xuanyin Body is most suitable for cultivation at Xuanbing Mansion. If you stay in the Nangong family, your achievements will be very limited. That way, our strengths will inevitably grow further apart over time, and we might end up at two different levels, even becoming people of two different worlds. Would you be willing to see that happen?” His words struck directly at Nangong Yao’s soft spot because she also knew that although her cultivation pace was not slow, there was still a gap between her and Ye Xuan, and this gap was bound to widen over time. Eventually, she and Ye Xuan would become people on separate paths. Suddenly, a struggle appeared on Nangong Yao’s small face, her expression looking on the verge of tears, tugging at the heartstrings. “Go then. I promise you, within three years, I will surely come to Xuanbing Mansion to find you.” With another sigh, Ye Xuan gently grasped Nangong Yao’s little hand, radiating warmth to ease its coolness. Ye Xuan had long regarded Nangong Yao as a younger sister. Making this decision hurt him as well, but although he was young in years, he was worldly wise and wouldn’t indulge in too much sentimentality. Finally persuaded by Ye Xuan’s words, Nangong Yao agreed to leave. At the same time, she also began crying, forcing Ye Xuan to comfort her before her emotions stabilized a bit. “Go back.” Ye Xuan patted Nangong Yao’s shoulder gently, saying softly. “Mm.” Nangong Yao’s eyes, red and swollen from crying, nodded and followed Ye Xuan toward the direction of the guest hall. “Have you thought it through?” When Ye Xuan brought Nangong Yao into the guest hall, Granny Ning also opened her pleated eyes, her tone becoming much softer when she looked at Nangong Yao. After looking at Nangong Bo, Nangong Yao then turned to Ye Xuan. When both men nodded, she took a deep breath, her gaze becoming much more determined, “I’ll go with you.” “Good, then pack up and leave with me.” Granny Ning’s eyes lit up, and a rare smile appeared on her old face. “Now?” Nangong Yao was stunned. “Leaving sooner or later, you must go. Staying a few more days will only make you more hesitant. My time is precious; I can’t afford to waste it here.” Searᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Granny Ning’s expression cooled down significantly. After being lost in thought for a moment, Nangong Yao nodded her head in agreement, as Granny Ning had said, since she had decided to leave, what was the point in delaying? Before long, everything was ready. Outside the residence, Nangong Yao followed Granny Ning and boarded the carriage leaving the city. As the carriage set off and gradually moved away, Nangong Yao occasionally looked back. In her eyes, the figure of Ye Xuan became increasingly blurred, and in her heart, she was tenderly murmuring, “Brother Ye Xuan, you must come… Three years from now, Yaoer will certainly not disappoint you…” Watching from afar, as if understanding Nangong Yao’s thoughts, Ye Xuan felt moved. A beam of light rapidly converged in his eyes. Rest assured, he would not forget this promise.