Lan Xueyi's cultivation naturally entered the Xuan Gang realm.
Lan Junjie, on the other hand, benefited from misfortune. After a period of closed-door cultivation, he also broke through to the Xuan Gang realm!
In an instant, the Lan family gained two more genius powerhouses in the Xuan Gang realm, reaching unprecedented prosperity.
...
Ling Fan was having a simple meal with Xueyi, his in-laws, and his brother-in-law.
Lan Tianxiong hesitated, wanting to say something but not voicing it. He nudged Li Huimei with his elbow.
Li Huimei smiled obsequiously and said to Ling Fan, "Xiao Fan, you should know about the Lan family's origins, right?"
Ling Fan nodded.
He had inherited the memories of the previous Ling Fan and naturally knew many things about the Lan family.
Strictly speaking, the Lan family was not indigenous to Jiangnan City.
They had relocated from the outer city.
Lan Tianxiong originally came from a prominent family in Tianchu City – the Lan Clan.
He seemed to be a direct descendant of the Lan Clan, with a very noble status.
Later, for reasons unknown, Lan Tianxiong left the Lan Clan and came to Jiangnan City with his wife, Li Huimei.
The couple started from scratch and eventually established the Lan family's foundation in Jiangnan City.
Ling Fan wondered why his mother-in-law was suddenly bringing this up.
Li Huimei continued, "There are many things we haven't told you because you were young children back then, and we didn't want you to bear that pressure."
"Now that Xueyi, Xiao Fan, and Junjie have all grown up, and with Xiao Fan's support, the Lan family is also developing very well. So, my husband and I have discussed it and decided to tell you."
"Your father was actually driven out by the Lan Clan..."
Li Huimei's words immediately shocked Lan Xueyi and Lan Junjie!
Lan Junjie, with his mouth full of food, forgot to chew and froze.
Li Huimei continued, "The Lan Clan in Tianchu City places great importance on arranged marriages and alliances to elevate its status and consolidate its strength."
"Every direct descendant often has their marriage arranged in advance, with their alliance partner decided..."
"At that time, your father was very outstanding and was also highly regarded by the Lan Clan. The Old Madam of the Lan Clan, your great-grandmother, personally arranged a marriage for him. The family he was to ally with was a very powerful martial arts family in Tianchu City!"
"But at that time, I and your father had already secretly pledged ourselves to each other..."
"For me, he refused to comply, even to the point of death. In the end, the arranged marriage ended unhappily. The Old Madam was furious and expelled him from the Lan Clan..."
Ling Fan glanced at Lan Tianxiong with slight surprise.
He hadn't expected his father-in-law to have such a past.
Li Huimei looked at Lan Tianxiong with some heartache and said, "Although he was expelled from the Lan Clan, my husband has always cared about the Lan Clan over the years, constantly thinking of returning to the clan one day."
Lan Junjie immediately said angrily, "Mother, if that Lan Clan is so heartless, not only separating you two but also kicking Father out of the family, why should we acknowledge such a family!"
Lan Tianxiong slapped him and said angrily, "You brat, shut up! What do you know? While the Lan Clan was certainly at fault, your mother and I were also at fault. I was too impetuous back then and greatly angered the Old Madam and my parents. In fact, if I had handled it differently, perhaps the matter could have been resolved smoothly... Alas!"
"Moreover, no matter what, the blood of the Lan Clan flows through us... For decades, I haven't been able to fulfill my filial duties to my parents and the Old Madam. This is my fault."
Lan Tianxiong said with a dejected tone.
Lan Xueyi and Lan Junjie fell silent.
Thinking from their father's perspective.
If their siblings were ever driven out of the house by their father,
They would probably also miss their father like he did, always thinking of reconciliation and being recognized by their father again.
This was an unbreakable blood kinship.
Li Huimei said, "About ten years ago, my husband and I felt that the Lan family had developed reasonably well in Jiangnan City, so we wanted to take you siblings back to acknowledge our family. But that time, we were met with cold stares and couldn't even step across the threshold of the Lan Clan."
"It seems that after decades, the Lan Clan still holds a grudge against your father's defiance back then and cannot forgive him!"
Li Huimei was clearly somewhat disappointed.
Because all of this was closely related to her.
If it hadn't been for her back then,
Perhaps Lan Tianxiong's life trajectory would have been different. With the background of the Lan Clan and the family of his intended bride, perhaps Lan Tianxiong would have been much more glorious and powerful than he was now.
Lan Xueyi and Lan Junjie exchanged glances, recalling some long-buried memories.
Although their memories were somewhat vague,
They remembered it as a very unpleasant experience.
At that time, they were just children and didn't understand anything. Now they realized it was for this reason.
Lan Tianxiong put his arm around his wife's shoulder and said, "Let's not talk about what happened back then. Our Lan family is now unprecedentedly powerful, possessing a complete crystal vein, whose value is immeasurable. I am also only one step away from the late stage of the Xuan Gang realm. Xueyi and Junjie have both broken through to the Xuan Gang realm consecutively, with boundless futures."
"Not to mention, our Xiao Fan is comparable to a Grandmaster! He is a true powerhouse. With such a foundation and strength, who are we inferior to? I don't believe the Lan Clan still won't accept us!"
Lan Tianxiong seemed somewhat excited, his heart filled with confidence and anticipation.
For decades, he had dreamt of the day he would return to the Lan Clan.
Now, that day was finally not far away!
"Xiao Fan, in about half a month, it will be the hundredth birthday of the Lan family's Old Madam, Xueyi and Junjie's great-grandmother. Our whole family plans to go celebrate her birthday, and you should come along!"
Lan Tianxiong looked at Ling Fan with great anticipation.
Ling Fan thought for a moment and nodded.
Lan Tianxiong was overjoyed.
Li Huimei was also very happy, constantly serving Ling Fan food.
Suddenly, a powerhouse dressed in the attire of the Tianchu Provincial Governor's Mansion, led by several Lan family members, rushed in.
Lan Tianxiong and his wife, as well as Lan Xueyi and the others, were greatly surprised.
They usually had no dealings with the Governor's Mansion.
Even if they had wanted to curry favor with the Governor's Mansion before, they wouldn't have qualified.
What wind had blown a powerhouse from the Governor's Mansion here today?
And it was a Xuan Gang realm expert with no low status!
Soon, their questions were answered.
The Xuan Gang realm expert from the Governor's Mansion knelt on one knee and respectfully said to Ling Fan, "Mr. Ling, Young Master Seven asked me to deliver a letter to you."
Ling Fan frowned slightly.
He nodded.
The expert from the Governor's Mansion quickly held the letter above his head with both hands and presented it.
After reading the letter, a chill quietly spread from Ling Fan, causing the expert from the Governor's Mansion to shiver. He felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar by being even slightly close to Ling Fan.
This young man was too terrifying!
No wonder Young Master Seven repeatedly instructed him to never show any disrespect to Mr. Ling, otherwise, even Young Master Seven couldn't save him!
However...
He quietly looked up at Ling Fan.
Why were Mr. Ling's hair all gray and white, filled with the aura of old age, completely unlike a vibrant young man?
Young Master Seven hadn't mentioned this either.