Chapter 455: Chapter 454: Helian Zhan Sneaks into the Room
In the spacious guest hall, Zhao Wannian was invited to sit in the place of honor, followed by the two accompanying elders from Qingtian Sect, Gong Haichao and Qin Sizhong, who took their seats in order.
The host, Helian Bo, sat to the left of Zhao Wannian, with Helian Zhan right beside his father.
Although other members of the Helian Family were of higher seniority than Helian Rong, they did not take seats. Instead, Helian Rong was arranged to sit next to Helian Zhan.
It’s true that Zhao Wannian had given enough face to Helian Bo, but surely the Helian Family should also know their place, shouldn’t they?
If not for Helian Zhan, the people from the Helian Family would be nothing more than minions in front of these big shots from Qingtian Sect. It was already a great honor for Helian Bo to be seated on an equal footing with them.
"We brothers have always been looking forward to holding a grand birthday feast for our junior brother, inviting peers from all over the world to celebrate. However, after waiting for so many years, this year our junior brother has only turned forty-seven, and celebrating a birthday at this age with such pomp is really quite inappropriate," Qin Sizhong said with a look of smugness on his face, laughing.
Laughter filled the hall.
Zhao Wannian nodded and said, "Indeed, the junior brother is too young. One should at least wait until the age of sixty. By that count, we still have to wait for thirteen more years."
Gong Haichao said with a chuckle, "I’m just afraid we won’t even have to wait that long."
Helian Zhan quickly said, "Great Elder, please don’t talk like that. You are still strong and in good health."
Gong Haichao waved his hand and, with a smile, turned to Immortal Yan. "Miss Rong, it’s been ten years, and you’ve grown up to be so graceful. Truly, you are a remarkable girl. How come you don’t recognize us old folks anymore?"
Immortal Yan quickly stood up and made a respectful curtsy, sincerely said, "The three venerable masters have always treated me as their own daughter. Rongrong still remembers when I was a child on the mountain, how much you liked me. Even when your own great-grandson caused me trouble, you would take my side."
Gong Haichao laughed heartily, gently stroking his beard, the more he looked at her, the more he liked her. "If I remember correctly, the young miss is twenty-five this year, isn’t she?"
Upon hearing this, Helian Zhan smiled. "Yes, Great Elder, you have a good memory."
Zhao Wannian snorted, "He’s keeping the girl in mind for his family’s boy."
As soon as he said this, Helian Bo’s eyes brightened.
The others from the Helian Family also showed looks of pleasant surprise.
If they could establish a marriage tie with Gong Haichao’s family, the status of the Helian Family would be lifted yet another notch—a result the Helian Family would clearly welcome.
Sure enough, Gong Haichao made no secret of his intentions, saying, "What’s wrong with keeping an eye on the girl? My boy is also a dragon among men; he should be more than a match for Miss Rong, don’t you think?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Sizhong smiled. "Great Elder, you are being too modest. How could your great-grandson be merely sufficient for Miss Rong? In terms of family background, you, Great Elder, are the Great Elder of our Qingtian Sect. As for talent, Yu Chong is not yet thirty but is already at the Middle Late Stage of the Innate Realm, a leading figure among the younger generation of our sect. Moreover, he is handsome and of exemplary character, having been raised under our watchful eyes; naturally, he’s more than worthy of Miss Rong."
On the surface, Immortal Yan appeared to blush with shyness when her marriage was being discussed, but inwardly she cursed, if these people weren’t her senior elders and currently the leading figures of the world, she would have already left with an upset expression.
Although she hung her head in feigned timidity, her eyes darted toward her father.
Helian Zhan, catching his daughter’s glance, naturally understood what she meant.
But thinking about his earlier discovery, he felt inclined to test his precious daughter.
"Heh, Great Elder’s suggestion is..."
"Father!"
Before Helian Zhan could finish, Helian Rong couldn’t help but softly interrupt, "How could your daughter with her frail health be a burden to someone else?"
Helian Zhan internally scoffed, feeling even more hatred for the man hidden in his daughter’s room, and a murderous intent flickered deep in his eyes.
"It’s fine, it’s fine. Yu Chong knows about your frail health, and over the years, he has traveled the world and gathered quite a collection of precious medicinal herbs. Taking advantage of your father’s birthday, he asked me to bring some for you."
Gong Haichao said with a smile, "Unfortunately, Yu Chong is currently away from Central State and can’t make it back. Otherwise, I would have definitely brought him along today for you two to meet in advance."
Qin Sizhong nodded as well, saying, "That’s right, Miss Rong, there’s no need for you to worry. We watched Yu Chong grow up, and his character is beyond reproach. As for the condition of your health, my own medical skills have also improved over these years. Let me examine you first."
Helian Zhan agreed, "Right, your Third Master Uncle is a saint of medical skills, and had it not been for him, you wouldn’t be here today. In these years, he has delved into medical texts regarding your ailment, and he has gained some insights which might completely rid you of your chronic illness. Please let him take a look."
Helian Rong knew she couldn’t evade this checkpoint set by her Third Master Uncle, and indeed, it was he who had saved her life when she was younger, so she trusted him greatly. Thus, she went over and sat down beside Qin Sizhong.
Suddenly, Qin Sizhong heard a voice transmission: "Third senior brother, give Rong’er a thorough check and delay for some time."
Qin Sizhong didn’t verbally respond but subtly nodded his head in acknowledgment before taking Helian Rong’s pulse. The room fell silent, everyone watching expectantly as he examined her.
Seeing that his daughter hadn’t noticed his move, Helian Zhan quietly slipped away.
Zhao Wannian, Gong Haichao, and Helian Bo, among others, saw him leave and were curious why, yet no one asked.
After a long while, Qin Sizhong wore an expression of admiration and exclaimed, "The old poisoner from the Poison Sect indeed has remarkable medical expertise; he managed to use poison to suppress the stubborn disease within Miss Rong, preventing it from flaring up, truly remarkable."
Upon hearing the mention of the old poisoner from the Poison Sect, everyone showed a mix of awe and respect.
In their realm, who could claim not to fear the old poisoner?
Qin Sizhong released Helian Rong’s wrist and, after pondering for a moment, said, "You have True Qi circulating inside you, which means you have entered the threshold of cultivation. However, the True Qi is very sparse, and your reserves are extremely limited. If you can elevate your cultivation to the Energy Transformation Realm or even the height of the Innate Realm, it should be more effective in suppressing your chronic illness."
The crowd found nothing strange about this.
Helian Rong had grown up in the Qingtian Sect, and because she was frail and sickly since childhood, the old fellows of the sect had taught her cultivation methods in an attempt to strengthen her constitution. Unfortunately, she was too young at that time, and due to the chronic illness inside her, cultivation proved to be difficult.
Now that she was twenty-five, it wasn’t surprising that some True Qi had developed within her.
After all, she was the daughter of Helian Zhan. If not for being plagued by illness, her natural talent for cultivation shouldn’t be too poor.
"Old Third, why do you speak so much nonsense? Just tell us if she can be cured," Gong Haichao asked.
Qin Sizhong glared at him: "What’s the rush?" Then, turning to Helian Rong, he asked, "Have you taken Bone Erosion Powder?"
Helian Rong’s expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and she looked at Qin Sizhong in surprise.
Qin Sizhong kept his gaze on her, and seeing her reaction, he knew he hadn’t misread the signs.
However, inside, Helian Rong was extremely shocked and somewhat panicked.
How could it be possible?
That her Third Master Uncle could even discern the already functioning Bone Erosion Powder was mind-blowing.
While Helian Rong was inwardly flustered by Qin Sizhong’s words, Helian Zhan, who had left the parlor, moved swiftly to his daughter’s private courtyard at the fastest speed.
With a heart filled with complex emotions, he pushed open the door to his daughter’s room.
Immediately, a man’s voice came from behind the screen: "Why have you returned so soon?"
Helian Zhan’s eyes flashed coldly as he forcefully suppressed the fury in his heart and quickly closed the room’s door, fearing the man’s voice might drift out and be overheard by others.