Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 118 Feng Xiaolu's Choice

Feng Wenyuan nodded with a smile: "Of course! Everything should be based on Xiaolu's wishes. I wonder... if we could see Xiaolu now?"

All eyes were drawn to the screen.

Behind the screen, Feng Xiaolu took a deep breath, squeezed Zhao Mengmeng's hand tightly, glanced at Xiaoling'er and Lin Xiaoman beside her who looked worried, and finally mustered up her courage to take a step out.

She walked into the hall and stood beside Su Wan, her gaze somewhat evasive yet stubborn as she looked at Feng Wenyuan and Madam Feng.

Upon seeing Feng Xiaolu, Madam Feng's eyes instantly reddened. She stood up, her voice choked with emotion, "She looks...so much like her...almost exactly like my cousin-in-law when she was young..." She took a step forward, seemingly wanting to get closer, but fearing to be abrupt, she could only stop in place, looking at Feng Xiaolu with anticipation and excitement.

Feng Wenyuan also stood up, looking at Feng Xiaolu with a complicated expression, his tone gentle to the point of being cautious: "Xiaolu... I am your Uncle Wenyuan, and this is your aunt. Child, you have suffered these years."

Feng Xiaolu looked at the two "relatives" in front of her, their expressions excited and their words sincere, and her heart pounded. She opened her mouth, but didn't know how to address them. In the end, she just said dryly, "Hello, you... I, I'm doing very well in the Cloud Hidden Sect. My senior sister, junior brothers and sisters have all been very good to me. I haven't suffered."

"That's good, that's good..." Madam Feng nodded repeatedly, tears finally falling. "Seeing you grow up safely and become so beautiful, we... we can finally rest assured."

Feng Wenyuan sighed, his gaze loving: "Little Deer, your uncle knows you're finding it hard to accept right now. We've come not to ask you to make an immediate decision. We just hope you can give us a chance, a chance to make amends. Even just going back to visit, staying for a few days, letting the elders of the clan see you, would put their minds at ease, would that be alright?"

He adopted an extremely humble posture, almost pleading.

Feng Xiaolu was in a state of confusion. She subconsciously looked at Su Wan, then at Chen Anran and Wei Qingyi.

Su Wan nodded slightly to her, her gaze gentle and supportive.

Chen Anran stepped forward and stood beside Feng Xiaolu, saying to Feng Wenyuan, "Mr. Feng, this matter concerns Third Senior Sister's life, and it may be difficult to make a decision hastily. How about this, since you have all come from afar, why don't you stay on the mountain for a few days, giving Third Senior Sister some time to consider it?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Wenyuan immediately expressed his understanding: "Of course, of course! We were too hasty." He looked at Feng Xiaolu and said softly, "Xiaolu, take your time to think it over, there's no rush."

He then cupped his hands to Su Wan and said, "Sect Leader Su, I apologize for disturbing you. Whatever decision Xiao Lu ultimately makes, the Feng family will always remember the great kindness of the Yunyin Sect."

Su Wan nodded slightly, then looked at Lin Xiaoman and said, "Xiaoman, take the guests to the private rooms."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

After seeing the Feng family off, the atmosphere in the main hall did not ease much.

Feng Xiaolu plopped down in a chair, let out a long sigh, and rubbed her forehead: "My god...it's more tiring than fighting someone..."

Wei Qingyi walked to her side and asked softly, "Little Deer, what do you think?"

Feng Xiaolu scratched her head in distress. "I don't know either... They seem... genuinely sincere? And it sounds like there's nothing wrong with going back to see them?" She looked at Chen Anran. "Junior Brother, what do you think?"

Chen Anran looked into Feng Xiaolu's eyes, which were filled with confusion and expectation, and his thoughts were in turmoil.

Zhang Nanshan's warning, "Never take the initiative to contact the Feng family's main branch," still echoed in his ears, yet it remained stuck in his throat, impossible to utter. He had no evidence whatsoever; how could he, based solely on Zhang Tianshi's private admonition, directly deny the seemingly sincere "family" before him in front of everyone?

Chen Anran did not answer immediately. He pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, "Third Senior Sister, this matter concerns you personally, and your feelings are the most important." He paused slightly, then said firmly, "But no matter what choice you make, the Cloud Hidden Sect will always be your support, and no one can bully you."

Hearing Chen Anran's words, Feng Xiaolu felt relieved, but the worry between her brows remained. She murmured, "Let me think about it some more... let me think about it some more..."

Wei Qingyi gently patted her shoulder and said softly, "Whatever decision you make, we will support you."

………………

The rain stopped in the evening, and the setting sun shone through the gaps in the clouds, casting a warm glow on the damp courtyard.

After settling in, the Feng family members did not wander around casually, showing great restraint. Only Feng Wenyuan and his wife, led by Lin Xiaoman, briefly toured the outer area of ​​the sect, praising the tranquil environment and profound heritage of the Yunyin Sect.

At dinner time, Su Wan ordered a separate table to be set up in the main hall to entertain the Feng family.

The dishes were not spiritual food, but the atmosphere was still quite harmonious.

Feng Wenyuan was witty and knowledgeable, able to talk about everything from anecdotes in the cultivation world to local customs and traditions, which enlivened the atmosphere. Madam Feng, on the other hand, would gently serve food to Feng Xiaolu from time to time, showing concern for her well-being; the care in her eyes seemed genuine.

Feng Xiaolu was a little awkward at first, but under this gentle approach, she gradually relaxed and occasionally responded with a few words. She secretly observed these "relatives," and the longing for blood ties in her heart, like a seed nourished by spring rain, quietly sprouted.

Chen Anran sat at the table, mostly silent. He calmly observed everyone in the Feng family, especially the younger members. They were polite, and their cultivation levels were roughly between the early and middle stages of Qi Refining. They looked at Feng Xiaolu with curiosity, and when they occasionally glanced at Su Wan and Wei Qingyi, they would blush and lower their heads, not daring to look directly at them.

Wei Qingyi spent more time talking with Madam Feng, trying to learn more about Feng Xiaolu's parents from her. Madam Feng's account was no different from Feng Wenyuan's; her eyes reddened when she mentioned the past, her emotions genuine.

After the banquet, everyone returned to their rooms.

The Cloud Hidden Sect returned to tranquility under the cover of night, with only the pattering sound of raindrops dripping from the eaves.

Chen Anran didn't go back to her room to rest, but instead strolled to the old locust tree in the courtyard. Moonlight filtered through the damp leaves, casting dappled shadows.

A lingering doubt remained in his mind. The Feng family's behavior was too perfect, too reasonable, making it seem unreal to him. Zhang Nanshan's stern face and solemn warning echoed repeatedly in his mind.

"What's wrong? Still thinking about the Feng family?" A gentle voice sounded from behind.

Chen Anran turned around and saw that Su Wan had also come into the courtyard at some point. The moonlight shone on her elegant long dress, as if she were enveloped in a layer of gentle glow.

"Senior Sister," Chen Anran bowed slightly, "it just feels a little...too smooth."

Su Wan walked to his side, looked up at the lush canopy of the locust tree, and said softly, "Things in this world sometimes seem complicated, but sometimes they are surprisingly simple. Whether the Feng family is genuinely acknowledging kinship or has other motives, time will tell."

"Senior Sister doesn't seem surprised or worried?" Chen Anran looked at Su Wan's calm profile.

Su Wan smiled faintly, a smile that appeared somewhat hazy in the moonlight: "Worrying is useless. What's meant to be will be. Although the Cloud Hidden Sect is small, it has its own integrity and bottom line. Xiao Lu is our family, and that will never change. Whatever the Feng family's intentions, as long as they keep their promises and respect Xiao Lu's choices, we will treat them with courtesy; if they harbor ill intentions..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but Chen Anran saw a fleeting, cold glint in her usually gentle eyes.

Chen Anran felt a little more at ease and nodded: "I understand."

"But you, Anran," Su Wan turned to look at him, her gaze gentle, "although your cultivation has progressed rapidly recently, your mind seems to be too burdened. On the path of cultivation, there is a balance between tension and relaxation; being too rigid will lead to breakage. As for the Feng family's affairs, your senior sister has already set an example; you don't need to shoulder all the pressure yourself."

Chen Anran remained silent, knowing that his senior sister had noticed his inner tension.

"You might want to seriously consider your second senior sister's suggestion," Su Wan said softly. "Going out into the mountains for a walk and changing your mindset might not be a bad thing."

"...Yes, Senior Sister."