Chapter 416: Falling in Love Romantically
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It was not surprising that Wang Julong was avoiding him, considering how awkward she must have felt after the embrace and tears. Yan Xiaobao hoped that she just needed some time to move past the embarrassment and pretend it had never happened. However, what worried him profoundly was that Sha Yun had also vanished. She was a magical beast, and though she had a beast contract, she was still a beast. Yan Xiaobao couldn't help but be concerned about what she was doing, where she had gone, and why she seemed to distance herself from him. In the end, he understood—she had been hurt when he chose Wang Julong over her. Yet all he wanted was to maintain the friendship with Snake Woman, even if romance was not in the cards for them.
"I really should go back to my family and travel to the magical forest," he muttered, his voice so soft that no one could hear it, except for the low rumble of his thoughts. Perhaps Sha Yun wished to return to her roots. Perhaps she longed to reunite with her sisters and revisit the simpler world she once knew. While letting her return to the magical forest, Yan Xiaobao also felt an urge to visit his own family. He couldn't help but worry about them—what had they been doing all this time? It had been years since he last saw his younger brother or his parents.
As he stepped into the grand entrance hall of Rong Twin Towers, a whirlwind of thoughts occupied his mind. However, as he entered the hall, the crisp air seemed to cleanse his mental fog. His swirling reflections on his friends, his family, and their circumstances coalesced into clarity, and his thoughts zeroed in on the task at hand. He had to make an impression on the city's elite and demonstrate that they should not overlook him lightly. Nobles, as a rule, never walked the streets but always traveled by carriage. Yet Yan Xiaobao didn't care about such conventions. Walking alongside him, Deng Wu's hair was as blue as the summer sky, partnered with a matching robe. His robe bore a splendid silver dragon curling up from the lower back to the top of one shoulder. On the other side was Cai Jie, whose hair gleamed like the purest gold and whose skin had the porcelain perfection of alabaster. He wore a gold robe adorned with pearls and intricate designs of suns and stars. Flanked by both sides walked Yan Xiaobao in robes white as the purest snow, adorned with gold and silver inlays and embroidered phoenixes.
Behind the trio of astonishingly handsome young men were Gao Yan and Ma Kong. Both were dressed in the finest black robes, emblazoned with family crests across their chests. A short distance away stood Xu Biao, a robust middle-aged man. Gazing at these striking individuals, everyone thought of them as celestial beings, descending angels. Even those who usually looked down on them for their mixed heritage now gazed in awe, as their radiance overwhelmed every prejudice. All eyes fixated on them, stunned and starstruck.
The two mansions were located in the same district of the city. Despite the notable differences between the two estates, Yan Xiaobao's residence catered to a small family or individual, while the Rong twins' mansion housed an entire clan. If the Rong Family decided to enter the city, their grand estate could comfortably accommodate them all.
Numerous homes and apartments had been designed to host over a thousand family members. Although the mansions of the Rong twins and Yan Xiaobao were both within the same district, the sheer scale of the estates meant that walking distances were longer than expected. The vastness of these properties was precisely why most people traveled by carriage. Even moving between locations within the same district covered considerable distances. Yan Xiaobao, lacking a carriage and with no intention of visiting his friends' homes at the moment, opted to walk instead. This gave him the time to focus on his thoughts while leaving the noble circle to sweat in anticipation. Once again, he felt like the Great Marshall of the Spanish Empire preparing to address the masses. Reflecting on the faces of the many magical beasts that followed him, he felt calm and composed.
As the group traversed the small town, excitement filled the air among them. They couldn't wait to reach the grand mansion and announce the formation of their new alliance. This revelation was certain to astonish all the nobles and merchants. How the new faction would reshape perceptions remained a matter for time to unveil.
After crossing the town, they finally arrived at the mansion. As Yan Xiaobao gazed upon it, a sense of familiarity washed over him. In front lay a magnificent staircase leading from the gilded gates to a pavilion-like mansion. Light streamed in through the open doors, pure radiant windows resonated with applause, and the clinking of glasses floated into the cool night. Clearly, the banquet had already begun, and the guests were enjoying their time immensely. Ma Kong had spent an entire day—with the help of his family—preparing the banquet. At present, his father stood at the castle's entrance, welcoming attendees. As their host, he ensured all glasses were filled, trays always abundant, and that numerous families were thoroughly enjoying themselves. As the mansion's owner appeared before the crowd, curiosity filled the air. Guests chatted amongst themselves, their spirits buoyant as they waited.
Arriving at the mansion gates, Yan Xiaobao nodded politely to the many guards outside. The guards, in return, bowed deeply to him with utmost respect. Though Yan Xiaobao had acquired the mansion only recently, he had become indelibly etched in the memories of every servant in the household. This was thanks to the Memory Stones they carried, detailing everything about their new master. Upon seeing this silver-haired young man in person, they immediately recognized him as their employer and accorded him the fitting respect.
As Yan Xiaobao advanced closer to his new mansion, the sounds grew louder—clinking glasses, murmurs, laughter—all intensifying with his approach. Alongside the rising cacophony, a tide of confidence surged within Yan Xiaobao. A subtle smile unfurled on his lips, untying a knot of tension in his stomach. "Just how many people were invited?" he wondered as he mentally counted the faint voices. As he neared the open doors, the din became unmistakably clear.