Chapter 408: Xiao Ruyan in Trouble!

Shi Haoran really didn't know how to describe his feelings.

What did he mean by fearing an unstable foundation? What did he mean by having just broken through five realms?

Cultivating primal force was a slow, grinding process; even the most talented martial artist wouldn't dare break through realms like that!

Shi Haoran decided not to argue with Ye Yuan anymore. He would report this matter to his master and let the master advise the junior apprentice brother.

"Fine, you win!" Shi Haoran said, speechless.

Ye Yuan smiled and asked, "Big Senior Brother waited for me here specially. Is there something?"

Shi Haoran nodded. "Master instructed me the other day to have you go see him immediately after leaving seclusion, saying he has important matters to discuss with you. I figured you'd be coming out around today, so I waited here for you."

Ye Yuan's heart stirred. Could it be that there was news about the senior and junior apprentice brothers?

"Thank you, Big Senior Brother. I'll go see Master now." Ye Yuan cupped his hands in thanks.

"Hold on!" Shi Haoran suddenly said.

"Does Big Senior Brother have something else?" Ye Yuan asked curiously.

"Before seeing Master, I'm afraid there's someone you need to meet first."

"Oh? Who?"

Ye Yuan was a bit puzzled. He didn't seem to know many people in the royal city. Why would someone come looking for him?

"You'll know when you go."

...

When Ye Yuan saw the visitor, he couldn't help but have a bad feeling.

"Master Ji, please save the Second Miss!" Manager Tong grabbed Ye Yuan's arm and knelt directly, tears streaming down his aged face.

The visitor was none other than Tong Su'an, the head manager of the Four Seas Pavilion. Seeing him in such a state, Ye Yuan's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

He quickly helped Tong Su'an up and asked, "Manager Tong, don't panic. Speak slowly. What happened to Miss Ruyan?"

Tong Su'an sobbed, "The Second Miss... she took Nine Nether Soul-Severing Powder this morning. She is now... now..."

Ye Yuan frowned and said, "Let's go. Talk on the way!"

With that, Ye Yuan grabbed Tong Su'an and whisked away like the wind. Shi Haoran hesitated for a moment, then followed.

On the road, the three moved swiftly like the wind, but Ye Yuan managed to grasp the gist of the matter.

Since the Pill Duel Assembly, the Xiao family had regained seventy percent of their business operations, and the family's situation had improved considerably.

But the matter of the martial arts marriage tournament was already water under the bridge, and the Xiao family lacked the confidence to retract that promise.

However, Xiao Ruyan didn't want to marry at all. She had been depressed all month.

In the meantime, Xiao Ruyan had come to see Ye Yuan once, but Ye Yuan was in seclusion.

As the day of the martial arts marriage tournament drew nearer, Xiao Ruyan grew increasingly despondent.

No one expected that tonight she would take the Nine Nether Soul-Severing Powder herself!

Nine Nether Soul-Severing Powder was an extremely potent quasi-fourth-grade poison, lethal at the slightest touch. By the time the maid discovered Xiao Ruyan, she was deeply poisoned and beyond cure!

Even Xiao Changfeng, a Pill King, was helpless.

But Tong Su'an had a flash of inspiration and, on a whim, went to Qixia Mountain. As luck would have it, he ran into Ye Yuan just as he came out of seclusion.

"This foolish woman!" Ye Yuan ground his teeth in anger.

Ever since Xiao Ruyan stood up for him at the Pill Duel Assembly, Ye Yuan had considered her a friend.

For a friend, Ye Yuan naturally wouldn't stand by and watch her die.

But he was still furious at her stupid behavior.

If she didn't want to marry, she could have eloped, run away from home, or pretended to be crazy. Why did she have to resort to such a foolish method?

...

When Ye Yuan arrived at Xiao Ruyan's boudoir, it was already in chaos.

In truth, Xiao Ruyan's talent in the Dao of alchemy surpassed even Xiao Rufeng's, and her future achievements would surely be extraordinary.

But now, a genius of the alchemy Dao, one of the two peerless beauties of the royal city, had withered away like this, leaving many sighing in regret.

When Ye Yuan saw Xiao Changfeng, his eyes were red-rimmed, clearly deeply pained.

Seeing Ye Yuan, Xiao Changfeng was somewhat surprised, but still stepped forward to greet him. "Greetings, Master Ji!"

The incident of the Seventh Prince bearing thorns to apologize had caused a sensation throughout the royal city.

Everyone knew that Star Abyss Emperor had taken an eighth disciple, whose face was so influential that he made the Seventh Prince bear thorns and kneel to apologize!

And in the royal city, no family knew Ye Yuan better than the Xiao family. Xiao Changfeng naturally held Ye Yuan in even greater awe.

His status as a Pill King meant nothing before Star Abyss Emperor.

But Ye Yuan had no good expression. He sneered, "You're quite the father, driving your own daughter to death!"

Xiao Changfeng's expression darkened, but he didn't argue. He sighed and said, "Though I am the family head, I have many helplessnesses too! Who would have thought... who would have thought Ruyan... would be so resolute!"

"Enough talk. Let me see Ruyan!" Ye Yuan couldn't be bothered to waste words with him.

Xiao Changfeng nodded slightly and stepped aside.

Ye Yuan rushed in like a gust of wind. On the jade bed, Xiao Ruyan lay quietly in a simple white dress, as if asleep.

Seeing Xiao Ruyan, Ye Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Her breath had not completely faded!

As long as her breath hadn't ceased, Ye Yuan could save her!

"Everyone, get out!" Ye Yuan stepped forward to support Xiao Ruyan and turned around with a roar.

Several Xiao family elders were watching nearby. At his words, they frowned.

"Ji Qing, who do you think you are, shouting at us like that?"

"Exactly! You're no longer a guest elder of the Xiao family. Since when do you have the right to meddle in our family's affairs?"

"Put Ruyan down, or we won't be polite!"

"Respect the dead! How dare you touch Ruyan's remains? Do you think the Xiao family has no one?"

Several elders immediately began shouting indignantly.

Ye Yuan sneered inwardly. He knew that it was these sanctimonious elders who had driven Xiao Ruyan to her death.

Xiao Ruyan had once wept to him about how the elders of the Xiao family bullied her, treating her like goods to be sold off.

Although Xiao Changfeng was somewhat indecisive, he still had deep affection for Xiao Ruyan and wouldn't do such a thing.

But for the sake of the family's survival, he hadn't said much either.

Ye Yuan saw through it all clearly, which was why he had no good face for Xiao Changfeng.

Of course, Ye Yuan understood Xiao Changfeng's difficulties, but in Ye Yuan's view, even if the Xiao family were to cease to exist tomorrow, a father should not sacrifice his daughter's happiness.

"Xiao Changfeng! If you want to see your daughter die like this, then let these scumbags keep yapping here!" Ye Yuan's voice was filled with indescribable anger.

Xiao Changfeng trembled at the words and said in surprise, "You... you can save Ruyan?"

Ye Yuan didn't answer him, only said coldly, "I don't want these flies buzzing around my ears!"

"You! Ji Qing, how dare you call us scumbags and flies!"

"Changfeng, don't listen to this kid's nonsense. Ruyan is deeply poisoned; even Star Abyss Emperor couldn't save her!"

"Changfeng, as the head of the family, are you going to let an outsider make trouble here?"

In an instant, the Xiao family elders erupted, bombarding Xiao Changfeng with reproaches.