Chapter 657: Eloping with a Brother-in-Law in Tow

Before Xia Lan could get upset again, Xiao Nanfeng said, "Let me analyze the situation for you."

"If you can't satisfy me, I'll tell Madam Han, if not Father!" Xia Lan gritted out.

"Over the last few days, while I was sparring with the gathered Yuqing disciples, I found out that a holy maiden's marriage is of paramount importance for the Yuqing holy land's future, and requires the approval of the hierarch. Isn't that so?"

"Is that why you've been providing guidance to the Yuqing disciples these past few days?" Xia Lan frowned.

"That's one aspect of it, but this is largely irrelevant. Is my understanding of a holy maiden's marriage correct?"

"It's no secret," Xia Lan replied. "So what if that's the case?"

"I beheaded Long Si, proving my strength. Your father didn't acknowledge me; rather, he immediately sought out an audience with the Yuqing Hierarch. I don't know what they discussed, but your father insisted that I leave immediately thereafter. I suspect that something happened during their conversation to turn your father against me."

Xia Lan frowned, deep in thought.

"I don't blame your father. Rather, I feel like what he's doing is largely for show—perhaps targeted at the hierarch. I believe the Yuqing Hierarch is against me for some reason or another."

Xia Lan replied, "If the hierarch doesn't approve of you, Father wouldn't go against him."

"What's more, you said that your father praised the Southeastern Aquatic Palace in front of Madam Han. Doesn't that seem abnormal to you? I just defeated Long Si, after all. What's praiseworthy about the Southeastern Aquatic Palace's delegation? In addition, he chose to do so in Madam Han's presence, as if trying to stir up conflict. Why?" Xiao Nanfeng continued.

Xia Lan frowned. Now that Xiao Nanfeng was enumerating these anomalies, they did seem strange to him.

"Perhaps your father was trying to hint that the Yuqing hierarch is in favor of the Southeastern Aquatic Palace."

"So what?"

"Well, why should that be the case? And why would Sage Green Lotus assist Long Si? Is there a secret that none of us know about? One that forces your father's hand, perhaps," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"You must be overthinking things. What if my father just doesn't like you?" Xia Lan frowned.

"I'm an excellent cultivator. Why would your father dislike someone like me?" Xiao Nanfeng retorted.

Xia Lan scowled. "Narcissist!"

"Let's look at things differently, then. If your father really were against me, why would he forbid Yu'er from seeing me?"

"Isn't that nonsense? My father doesn't want Yu'er interacting with you, of course!"

"No," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head. "If that were the case, he should have spoken with me directly or expelled me from the Yuqing holy land—but he chose neither option. Rather, he allowed me to continue interacting with Yuqing disciples and secure their goodwill."

"You've been instructing these Yuqing disciples to see what my father would do?" Xia Lan exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng didn't deny it. "My conclusion is that your father is rather satisfied with me—or rather, he dotes dearly on Yu'er, but can't reveal his true thoughts for some reason."

"Of course he dotes on Yu'er," Xia Lan replied.

"You agree, then. Do you really think Yu'er would be happy in the Southeastern Aquatic Palace? As a father who dotes on his daughter, would Xia Xingchen watch his daughter suffer for no reason?"

Xia Lan fell deep in thought. Considering these issues simultaneously, Xiao Nanfeng's conclusion did seem obvious.

"Your father's not just testing me—he needs me to make a move. If I can't even analyze and resolve such a simple situation, then I wouldn't be a suitable son-in-law regardless," Xiao Nanfeng concluded.

"What are you going to do?" Xia Lan asked.

"You said it, didn't you? Yu'er insists on eloping with me. That's what your father wants me to do!"

"Nonsense! That's just your one-sided perspective. My father would never approve!"

"Under ordinary circumstances, don't you think your father would have erected a sound barrier of some sort upon knowing that Yu'er wants to elope with me? That's a sensitive subject about personal thoughts best kept secret—it might reflect poorly on Yu'er herself. Your father dotes on Yu'er, and would surely be conscious of such details. He simply isn't able to act on his own. He's using Yu'er as a mouthpiece to send me a message, telling me to elope with her."

Xia Lan froze. "Don't lie to me. I won't be tricked!"

"Think about it yourself, then. Can you identify a flaw in my logic?"

Xia Lan grimaced. The situation seemed obvious, but Xiao Nanfeng was intent on sketching out a conspiracy that might not even exist! His argument did seem logical at first glance, but how was he supposed to accept his sister eloping with him?

"Of course, by 'eloping', I'm just referring to taking Yu'er away from the Yuqing holy land. I don't intend to make any advances on her," Xiao Nanfeng promised.

"As if!" Xia Lan gritted out. "Don't even dream of it. We're in the Yuqing holy land, and there are disciples on guard everywhere. If the hierarch doesn't want you and Yu'er to be together, you'd never be able to take her away."

"That's why I'll need your help."

"My help? How is this any of my business?" Xia Lan frowned.

"You're Yu'er's third brother, the one she respects most! Whose business would it be if not yours? Her future depends on it!" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

Xia Lan's face twitched. "So not only do you intend to elope with her, you want my help in doing so? Dream on!"

"It's your father's will," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"My father would never!"

"If he didn't want you to, would he allow you to send word to me? It's a measure of your father's trust in you—with your help, I'll easily be able to bring Yu'er away. You can't let your father down."

Xia Lan stiffened. He shot up in anger. "Xiao Nanfeng, are you a demon? Damn it, you want me to help you elope with my sister?!"

"Your father wants you to help," Xiao Nanfeng said seriously.

"Nonsense! You're just trying to trick me, I'm sure of it!"

"This isn't the sort of thing he can state outright. All he can do is hint at it. If you still remain unconvinced, I can explain it in greater detail," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Xia Lan glared at Xiao Nanfeng, falling deep in thought once again.

"Yu'er's future happiness depends on you, her third brother. You need to show some responsibility for her, don't you?"

Xia Lan gaped. Was Xiao Nanfeng attempting to make an ethical argument here? If he didn't help Xiao Nanfeng elope with his sister, would he really be sacrificing her happiness?

"This is all conjecture on your part. If you're mistaken, my father will beat me to death!" Xia Lan shouted.

"Relax. Your father would never kill his own son. What's more, don't you think a beating is worth your sister's lifelong happiness?"

"You're not the one getting beaten up!"

"Don't worry. I'm 90% confident—no, 100% confident in my conclusion. I guarantee it'll be alright."

Xia Lan's eyes were red with anger. "Of course it'll be alright for you—you'll have run off with Yu'er! I'd be the one in danger!"

"Don't be so emotional, will you? Think about what I've told you so far. Don't you think my argument is logical?"

Xia Lan glared. He didn't want to believe Xiao Nanfeng, but he didn't know how to refute his argument. Could his father truly...

Xia Lan grimaced. "It's not that easy for you to elope with Yu'er. As you know, the hierarch himself is paying attention to this upcoming marriage. Even if Father were to allow you to leave, others would be on guard."

"I've analyzed the situation. We have a few days until your father's millennium celebration. There'll be plenty of guests at that time—it'll be the most crowded, the most dangerous, and simultaneously the safest time to strike. After I pay my respects to him, I'll leave. You'll bring Yu'er to me and help me get away at that point," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Xia Lan's face twitched. "You've already planned out your route and time of departure? You were just waiting to hook me!"

"I'm trying to lighten your burden," Xiao Nanfeng clarified. "If I make these arrangements, you won't have to worry about them."

Xia Lan rolled his eyes. "You're just trying to involve me and make me the scapegoat!"

"You're more than welcome to leave with us if you'd like," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"You're going to elope with me?!" Xia Lan shot him a dubious glance.

"And why not? I'd bring your parents, too, if it were possible."

Xia Lan stared at Xiao Nanfeng in open amazement. "You call that eloping?"

"It doesn't matter what I call it as long as we can leave," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Xia Lan: ...

"You'll have to go with us. Only then will your father be able to make a fuss about the situation and put on a show for the hierarch."

"Let me think." Xia Lan frowned.

"What's there to think about? The conclusion is obvious! You'd be doing good."

"Doing good? As if! More like you're trying to trick me!"

"Don't worry. If there's a woman you're interested in in the future, Yu'er and I will help the two of you elope too. We're going to be one big, happy family, aren't we? There's no need to overthink things."

Xia Lan couldn't help but feel that he was falling deeper and deeper into Xiao Nanfeng's trap.