The short and fat Daoist shouted out, then with a swift motion, he stuffed the red-haired boy from his hand into the pouch at his waist and transformed into a rainbow beam, vanishing into the distance.
When Zhang Yan initiated his sword escape, the sharp sword light would typically leave no trace or sound in its path. However, this time, he deliberately shattered the building with a loud bang, hoping to stir up some commotion and attract the attention of the elders within the Beichen Sect. But despite the Daoist’s thunderous voice rolling like thunder, no one from the Beichen Sect came out. This left him feeling a bit perplexed.
At that moment, a steady voice sounded close to his ear, "Daoist Zhang, I am Yan Zhengting. Thank you for raising the alarm. I have my plans for this matter; let this rogue go for now."
Zhang Yan paused slightly in surprise. It was clear that this Elder Yan had already been aware of the situation. Yet, he had watched idly as his son and grandson were taken without lifting a finger. Zhang Yan couldn’t fathom what scheme he might be planning. But since Elder Yan wasn’t in a hurry to act, Zhang Yan saw no reason to meddle further. Thus, he held back on his pursuit.
The voice then continued, "Daoist Zhang, would you care to visit my humble abode for a discussion?"
Zhang Yan cast his gaze forward and saw a white wave rising into the sky, materializing into a clear and sparkling rainbow bridge that stretched beneath his feet.
He scrutinized it carefully and realized it was formed from Elixir Evil Qi. He had seen Elder Xun within the sect wield overflowing Elixir Qi before, but Elder Yan’s Elixir Evil was calm and serene, devoid of any traces of smoky impurity. Evidently, his cultivation was significantly superior.
Zhang Yan stepped onto the rainbow bridge, and it carried him forward, weaving around a mountain peak before descending shortly to a humble grass hut. Inside sat a lean old man with long eyebrows draping down his cheeks, his demeanor ethereal and otherworldly. He sat cross-legged with a smile and looked at Zhang Yan. Beside him stood two finely adorned Daoist boys, one holding a ruyi scepter and the other cradling a Dharma Sword.
Zhang Yan stepped forward by two steps, cupped his hands in salute, and said, "Is this Elder Yan before me? I am Zhang Yan and greet you, Senior."
With a gentle smile, Elder Yan gestured invitingly towards the cushion in front of him. "Please, Daoist Zhang, have a seat." With a wave of his hand, a set of jade-green tea utensils flew in from parts unknown, arranging themselves on the low table between them. The cups were filled with tender leaves, exuding a fragrance so refreshing it soothed the soul.
After Zhang Yan took his seat, Elder Yan chuckled and said, "Are you curious as to why I did not pursue them? To be honest, that short Daoist is my wife’s brother."
Zhang Yan revealed a look of astonishment. While he had considered many possibilities earlier, he had not anticipated this explanation.
Elder Yan sighed softly. "Blame it on my youthful indulgence in frivolity and pleasure. My wife, you see, is an overseas demon immortal and is now one of the Eighteen Demon Kings of the East Sea. This time, she had my children taken away. Nine times out of ten, it’s because she wants to coerce me into moving overseas to live with her. But I am a descendant of the Yan Family, the Great Elder of the Beichen Sect; how can I abandon my responsibilities here and move overseas? Thus, I will let my brother-in-law go for now. Since those taken were also her children and grandchildren, she certainly won’t harm them. However, it is I who owe you an apology, Daoist Zhang, for burdening you with such a disturbance."
Zhang Yan couldn’t help but smile inwardly, thinking how Elder Yan and his son, who had married a female demon bird, truly were cut from the same cloth, even sharing the same peculiar tastes.
Elder Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and continued, "My son’s wife was also chosen by my demon wife. She thought I was oblivious to this. This time, my demon wife even instigated my red-haired grandson to cause trouble at my birthday celebration. Now, she has provided quite the spectacle for you, Daoist. But, unfortunately, she has also dragged some fellow Daoists from Linqing Sect and Bi Yu Xuan into this undeserved misfortune. Though she won’t harm them, leaving them stranded outside is far from ideal. After my birthday celebrations conclude, I plan to enter seclusion to study a Marvelous Technique. Meanwhile, the other two elders in our sect will certainly not permit me to leave. Therefore, I’ll need to find another Daoist to head to the East Sea and bring those people back."
At this point, Elder Yan glanced toward Zhang Yan.
Raising an eyebrow, Zhang Yan asked, "Elder Yan, by bringing this up with me, are you perhaps hoping that I’ll take on this task?"
Stroking his beard, Elder Yan smiled. "Daoist Zhang, how perceptive you are. Indeed, this is my intention."
Zhang Yan’s eyes glimmered. From their very first meeting, he had sensed that Elder Yan was no ordinary figure. Now that Elder Yan spoke of this matter, he clearly had confidence that Zhang Yan would agree. Zhang Yan decided to listen further before giving a definitive answer, so he simply smiled faintly without saying a word.
Noticing this, Elder Yan’s eyes showed a glimmer of appreciation. He spoke slowly, "Daoist Zhang, as I see it, you are currently at the Xuan Guang First Realm. Considering you are traveling outside, I suspect it is to search for Hua Dan External Medicine. Perhaps you also aspire to compete someday for one of the Top Ten Disciples positions in the Mingcang Sect. However, are you aware that some noble families within the Mingcang Sect view you as a formidable rival? They’ve deliberately selected a few disciples to train intensively to contend with you. I am acquainted with one such individual from the Xiao Clan, named Xiao Han. He has already reached the Xuan Guang Third Realm and is, like you, seeking external medicines."