Chapter 1719 - 884: Inside and Outside the Family

"What are you talking about, family reunions are full of endless conversations, usually a good thing?"

Ji Jue smiled nonchalantly: "May I ask your name?"

"An Jiu, just a handyman of the family."

The visitor smiled slightly: "Just now you mentioned that the main victim of these stairs is me. Unfortunately, the people at home won't let me fix the road, so every time I buy some bottles and jars, I have to climb over the hills... Ahem, talked too much, please follow me up."

"Uncle Jiu!"

Xiao An greeted proactively, his eyes bright.

"Ah Ran is back?"

On the way, the elderly man lovingly ruffled his hair: "Let me see, you've grown taller, how's your studies going?"

"I've learned a lot!" An Ran replied obediently: "Brother Ji Jue taught me, I can speak Imperial Language now, and also physics, chemistry, and mathematics..."

"Oh, that's impressive, are you planning on going to college?"

"Hmm, yes!"

"Then you have to work hard, you might be the first college student in the family."

An Jiu chattered sentimentally: "Don't be like your sister who always brings back a pile of textbooks from downhill, only to never read them and use them as firewood..."

They walked up the stone steps, the scenery in the mountains was magnificent. After crossing the gate, it looked like a village.

Completely different from the expected heavily guarded or dark and severe scene.

A rustic atmosphere, yet with modern equipment, people came and went, mostly ordinary people, but they all carried traces of the White Deer, occasionally a few Chosen Ones who also acted like villagers, some even lying at the entrance playing on their phones, not paying much attention to the outsider Ji Jue.

But when Ji Jue looked around, he couldn't find that familiar figure.

They were directly led to the hall of a courtyard, served tea exchanged pleasantries, courteous and elegant.

Accompanying them, An Jiu still smiled: "Ah Ran has been wandering outside, yet he managed to achieve something, thanks to Mr. Ji's care."

Ji Jue burst into laughter: "What are you saying, it's just random stuff, if there's any excellent virtue, it's probably not taught by me."

"For the White Deer, isn't this the right path?"

After exchanging pleasantries, An Jiu fell silent for a moment and straightforwardly said: "You have deep connections with the An Family, you are a friend of Ah Ning and Ah Ran, and a guest vouched for by these two guys beside you. You visiting us, we naturally extend our welcome.

If you have any orders to place, the An Family will not ignore them.

But if you came here hoping for aid, you might be disappointed."

He said: "The An Family will not vote, doesn't vote for anyone."

Although it's just one place, not considered an official branch of the Desert Market, and doesn't hold any voting rights. But as an orthodox lineage among the four systems of scales and claws, while the An Family has no official duties within the Desert Market, it can still be considered a part of it.

Hunting Finger·Flying Light, even the name carries weight, and the influence it can exert is more terrifying and vast than that of a mere branch's vote.

If the An Family reveals favoritism toward anyone at this time, releasing related news would undoubtedly directly interfere with the selection of leaders.

The leader's hand always follows the leader's instructions, where's the logic in turning against the leaders?

This directly contradicts the foundational principles of the An Family.

Ji Jue was not surprised at this.

"I understand."

Ji Jue slowly nodded, solemnly responded: "Please rest assured, I have absolutely no such intention."

From the very start, he never counted on borrowing any power from the An Family in the selection process. If he truly wanted manpower, he could directly speak to Ni Lin, easily outsource the White Country's White Deer, saving money, effort, and worry.

"So, Mr. Ji, what is the purpose of your visit?" An Jiu asked again.

"Xiao An has been away from home for so long, and although he hasn't said it, I know he's always homesick. I wanted to bring him back for a visit."

Ji Jue sat up straight, speaking frankly: "Besides that..."

"Besides that?"

Beside him, An De and An Neng showed a mischievous smile, narrowing their eyes at each other. Ignoring the rules, they leaned in with sparkling eyes.

"Besides that, there's also a thought of seizing the opportunity while the An Family won't make any big moves to take advantage."

Ji Jue looked seriously at An Jiu, not hiding his intention for his visit.

"—I want to remove the nail from Xiao An."

For a moment, the hall fell silent.

An Jiu was stunned, An De and An Neng fell silent, even beside him, An Ran froze:

"Brother Ji Jue..."

Thud!

Before he finished speaking, Ji Jue suddenly felt dizzy, a fruit fork inexplicably appeared on his face.

He paused, trying to speak, but then felt dizzy again.

Another appeared!

"..."

Ji Jue looked around, but saw nothing, only to have another appear on his forehead, then another...

Until a row of fruit forks seemed finally thrown, abruptly stopping.

He sighed helplessly.

So, you've been watching all along, haven't you?

Inexplicably angry?

What's going on!

"Cough cough..."

An Jiu coughed softly, as if warning, then seemed to realized the situation, displaying shock: "Oh dear, what's happening?

Are you alright, Mr. Ji?"

"No harm, no harm!"

Ji Jue waved his hand, awkwardly removing the forks from his face, placing them aside.

Meanwhile, An De and An Neng were still beside him, sighing loudly.

"Really no harm?"

"I'd say, it's almost better if it were a bit harmful."

"Indeed, after some troubles, a person should be able to recall some matters."

"Exactly, exactly."

"When I watched this episode last time..."

Bam!

The sound of slamming the table erupted, interrupting the magical sound echoing in the ears of the two people.

"What are you two doing?! Have you lost all sense of manners?"

An Jiu glared at the two expressionlessly, then turned to Ji Jue with a complex expression, hesitated several times before finally giving a dismissive gesture as if he had no choice.

"Alright, since Mr. Ji is emotional, our family isn't entirely unyielding beyond the rules."

He pondered for a moment and solemnly said, "But you must understand that the family's rules are rules. Although it may sound rigid, the rules are what make this family."

"Ah Ran, being one of the designated dual fingers of this generation, refuses to accept the Flying Light. Once word spreads, the negative impact it would create needs no further elaboration."

An Jiu spoke sternly, "According to the family's method of dealing, regardless of how tolerant, he should be stripped of all skills and expelled from the family."

This pin is not the family's punishment but a guarantee fought for by Ah Ning.

He paused and suddenly asked, "Do you understand my meaning?"

"..."

Ji Jue nodded silently and helplessly.

The An Family, having been passed down for so many years, its rules are rules and cannot be changed or shaken because of a craftsman like you.

Not to mention, even a leader like Ji Jue doesn't have the qualifications to interfere.

Furthermore, speaking of it, the An Family is actually the biggest victim — a rightful heir suddenly refuses to carry on, where do you reason with that?

Hammering a pin and casting it away, letting it live or die, even without abolishing the legacy on him, allowing him to rely on it for lifelong unworried food and clothing.

Moreover, as long as you're willing to turn back, the family can help you pull out the pin, and from then on, you're still the good child of the family, work hard and you're the dual finger of this generation, the hand of the leader respected by everyone.

What more can be said?

The family has truly been generous and righteous.

On the contrary, Ji Jue boldly visited today, making outrageous demands, being beaten out with a stick would be justified.

Even now, An Jiu keeps subtly hinting.

Telling him not to be stubborn!

Almost placing the simplest solution directly in front of him.

As long as An Ran still acknowledges this family, he needs to abide by the family's rules, then, conversely, the same applies.

As long as he does not acknowledge the An Family, naturally, the family rules don't apply to him.

This is the best, the simplest.

After all, not having received the Flying Light, the family won't do anything to him. Considering his sister, at most he is expelled from the family, announced to the outside.

Henceforth, separated freely, life has dreams, each brilliant in their own ways.

Just...

The uncles, aunts, and cousins will never recognize you again.

If you, Ji Jue, were sensible, you should now obediently get up and bid farewell, taking An Ran with you, wait until the matter cools down, quietly removing the pin for An Ran.

Everyone ambiguously covering up the matter, ending it, wouldn't that be good?

Why insist on charging in and weighing things at home?

"...That's why I came."

After a brief silence, Ji Jue let out a sigh, showing no retreat.

"Back in the Crack Realm, it was Xiao An who saved me, not just once." He said, "I promised him that as long as there's a chance in the future, I will definitely remove this pin from his leg..."

"Appreciating Uncle Jiu's meticulous effort, unfortunately, I can't achieve it.

When I was insignificant, I dared not speak about the future, even if there was some thought, I only considered doing some maneuvers quietly, but today, barely some minor achievements are made, not daring to claim strength or power, yet I still want to remove this pin for him."

He straightened up, raised his voice, and decisively said, "If it's to be removed, it must be removed openly and honorably, so he can return home openly and honorably!"

Fool, what are you saying!

Sounds of discontent arose, seemingly unable to bear this guy's lack of understanding and unwillingness for him to continue speaking.

Decisively flung out what was in his hand.

Click!

In an instant, a fruit knife abruptly halted before Ji Jue.

Clutched tightly by a wrinkled hand.

Not allowing the young ones to disrupt further.

In the middle of the hall, an elderly, gaunt figure manifested, standing before everyone.

All at once, not only An Jiu, An Neng, and An De but even An Ran was caught in shock.

"Grandfather?"

Everyone instinctively rose, bent forward in greeting.

An Jiu opened his mouth attempting to speak, yet saw the elder waving hands: "Enough, the guest is coming honorably, must I, the old man, pretend to not see?"

He looked back, facing the young man who rose beside him.

"Ji Jue?"

"It is I."

Ji Jue solemnly nodded.

"Old man, I have hearing issues, might have unclear understanding."

The current Hunter Finger, the Heavenly Person of the An family, turned around, staring straight at him, showing no emotion, "Did you just want to say, you have some thoughts about my family's rules?"

"..."

In dire silence, Ji Jue took a deep breath and looked up.

"Yes."