Chapter 331 - 160: Master’s Old Flame, One ’Shiniang Xie’ Call to Break 3 Great Limits?

Chapter 331: Chapter 160: Master’s Old Flame, One ’Shiniang Xie’ Call to Break 3 Great Limits?

"The reason I’ve come..."

"Is to see the descendant of an old acquaintance."

Shifting her gaze to Ji Xiu,

Xie Fuyao’s eyes softened, and she nodded in approval.

"You carry yourself well and show great promise. You have some of your Master’s flair from his younger days."

"Zhinan."

Huh?

Xie Zhinan, who had been cowed into silence by a single look from Xie Fuyao, was stunned for a moment, still processing the information hidden in Xie Fuyao’s words.

The next moment.

"Apologize to Ji Xiu."

Before she could even open her mouth, Xie Zhinan heard her aunt’s words, and her small face instantly flushed bright red.

"I..."

’I am a noble lady of the great Xie Clan, from a line of Giant Houses.’

’Perhaps I’d have to lower my head before the direct heirs of dukes, high Nobles, or families with generations of officials.’

’But in an ordinary state or prefecture, am I not free to do as I please!?’

’Making me bow my head to this brat...’

Xie Zhinan stiffened her neck, just about to say something defiant.

But when she saw the ’Jade Pattern’ on the noble woman’s forehead, she meekly lowered her head. Then, looking toward Ji Xiu, she mumbled reluctantly,

"Just now... I was presumptuous."

After speaking, she bowed and performed the rite of a Noble Family, feeling extremely aggrieved.

That Jade Pattern represented a true ’class’ distinction.

In other words, within the Jade Universe Xie Clan, only those who inherited the ’Ancestral Blood’ were considered true ’Direct Lineage’ members, officially recorded in the genealogy.

Otherwise, unless your father was a Martial Saint—or even stronger!—you wouldn’t receive special treatment.

If not, all others, whether from branch or main lineages, would be treated as equals.

The gap between them was like that of an outsider to a Giant House—as wide as the heavens!

So for her, Xie Zhinan, to use the title of ’Giant Mansion Maiden’ was, in fact, incorrect.

Strictly speaking, only a figure like Xie Fuyao was qualified to call herself a ’Miss Xie’ in any setting, because she represented the face of the clan.

Otherwise, for a clan member who hadn’t even inherited the lowest level of Ancestral Blood to use the family’s name in high-profile situations would only bring shame upon the clan.

Therefore, no matter how much anger Xie Zhinan was holding back, she dared not act presumptuously before Xie Fuyao, who far surpassed her in both strength and status.

’I have never been so humiliated in my entire life!’

’Setting aside this brat’s status for a moment...’

Just thinking about the words she had blurted out earlier almost gave Xie Zhinan a heart attack.

’I had just shamelessly told Ji Xiu that my aunt was right here in Jiangyin Prefecture, and that by privately receiving the ’Feathered Immortal Robe,’ he was slapping the Xie Family in the face!’

And Xie Fuyao, having inherited the Ancestral Blood and being truly recorded in the Xie Clan Genealogy, had the legitimate right to defend her own family’s heritage.

No matter how she punished him, even Xiao Mingli would have no right to intervene.

Unless she was willing to risk protecting him and go against the entire Xie Family!

The logic was sound, and that’s how things should have been.

But something had gone terribly wrong!

While sizing up Ji Xiu, Xie Zhinan gritted her teeth, her face flushed crimson.

After finishing her bow, she hastily took her maids and departed.

As she left,

her mind was consumed with a single question.

’This aunt of mine, who inherited the Ancestral Blood, recently came into her own, is highly valued by the clan and was dispatched to the One State’s Feudal Town of Cangdu to oversee and gain experience, with a promising future of receiving a Title...’

’...what in the world was her relationship with this brat’s master?’

’Once I get back to my lodgings, I absolutely have to investigate this thoroughly!’

As Xie Zhinan hurried away, everyone present wore different expressions.

Ji Xiu, however, looked at Xie Fuyao with a hesitant expression, pondering for a long time but still not sure what to say.

’I had originally thought I knew enough about my Master’s past.’

’But now it seems I had only scratched the surface.’

’Looking at Xie Fuyao’s complicated expression, it’s obvious the two of them had a thing back in the day!’

’Otherwise, why would she have rebuked Xie Zhinan, embarrassing a woman from her own clan, just to take my side?’

’And from what she said, she’s a major figure who has already established a firm foothold in the One State’s Feudal Town of Cangdu. Her status and background are unfathomable!’

Cangdu!

’That’s the very heart of a One State’s Feudal Town! The ancestral lands of all the Noble Clans of Cangbei, with their Fiefdoms and Fiefs, are gathered there. Even a True Sect has an outpost there that one can join!’

’There, the rumored and elusive Title of ’Martial Saint’—a being whose will is said to reach the heavens—is no mere legend!’

’Now that’s what I call a powerful backer!’

’If the setting weren’t so inappropriate, I would’ve loved to cozy up to this Xie Fuyao... oh, no, Master Xie, and claim some kind of family connection.’

Ji Xiu’s mind was racing with calculations:

’I wonder how many lifetimes of good luck my old Master burned through to have a woman like her thinking of him for so many years... ’

’And he had the nerve to call me a social climber. Looking back at his youth, his own game wasn’t any weaker, was it?’

’What’s more, it seems that girl Ye Ningzhi’s master has some kind of connection to him too, tsk tsk...’

’One is an influential figure in a prefectural School and a Prefecture Official. The other oversees a One State’s Feudal Town and possesses the Direct Bloodline of a Giant House!’

’Master might have been exceptionally dashing a decade or so ago, but now, it seems he’s been left far behind. I wonder if he’ll ever have a chance to catch up...’

Ji Xiu was still muttering to himself internally.

Xie Fuyao looked at him and began to speak:

"I once gave your Master a chance. But at the time, Senior Wang Xuanyang was like the sun at high noon; his future as a ’Martial Saint’ was all but guaranteed."

"It’s just a pity that he aimed too high. He sought the absolute highest echelon of Martial Dao Will to restore his school’s glory, and it led to his collapse midway..."

As she spoke of this, Xie Fuyao’s voice held a trace of regret.