Chapter 178. Unexpected gains.

Chapter 178: 178. Unexpected gains.

The silence at the Lin Family gate had grown increasingly uncomfortable.

Wei Rong stood beneath the shade of the stone archway, his expression becoming colder with every passing moment.

He had served the royal family for many years and had accompanied royal envoys to cultivation families far more powerful than the Lin Family.

Wherever the royal crest appeared, there had always been someone waiting at the gate, elders standing respectfully to receive them, and servants rushing to announce their arrival.

Yet here they were, their path blocked by a mere child.

Beside him, Mo Jian’s expression was no better.

As an elder of the royal Treasury Department, Mo Jian was accustomed to being treated with considerable respect.

He had dealt with powerful clans, wealthy merchants, and cultivation families throughout the kingdom. Even when those people did not particularly like him, they understood what his position represented.

The Lin Family appeared not to care.

Mo Jian glanced toward the little girl once again.

The young girl had remained exactly where she was.

She stood several steps before the gate, her posture relaxed and her expression indifferent. Despite knowing precisely who had arrived, she had shown no intention of stepping aside.

Mo Jian’s patience finally wore thin.

His gaze shifted past Hai Yue and settled upon Lin Xuan, who stood nearby.

"Patriarch Lin," he said, his voice carrying a clear edge of displeasure, "is this some kind of mockery?"

The atmosphere immediately became tense.

Mo Jian’s eyes hardened.

"Tell me, Patriarch Lin, are you deliberately making a spectacle of the royal family?"

The surrounding guards fell silent.

Even Wei Rong’s expression changed.

Although he shared some of Mo Jian’s displeasure, he had not expected the elder of the Treasury Department to voice the accusation so directly.

Before the silence could become any more oppressive, an old voice came from among the delegation.

"Mo Jian."

The single call was quiet.

Yet it carried enough authority to make Mo Jian immediately turn around.

Elder Qian Deyu stepped forward.

His robes shifted gently as he walked, his aged face carrying a faint smile.

"There is no need to speak so seriously."

Mo Jian opened his mouth.

"But Elder—"

Qian Deyu raised one hand making Mo Jian immediately stopped.

Qian Deyu looked toward Hai Yue, then toward Lin Xuan, before giving a small chuckle.

"We have only just arrived. It would be unbecoming for the royal delegation to quarrel with a young girl at another family’s gate."

His gaze settled briefly upon Mo Jian.

"Besides, Patriarch Lin personally came several kilometres outside the city to welcome us. If he truly intended to mock the royal family, would he have bothered to do so?"

Mo Jian’s expression stiffened.

Qian Deyu continued before he could respond.

"We should not mistake an unusual circumstance for an insult."

He turned toward Hai Yue with a genial expression.

"Young lady, would you kindly allow us to pass?"

Hai Yue looked at him.

Unlike Mo Jian, Qian Deyu’s words contained no hostility, so she did not feel the need to argue.

She stepped aside.

"There."

Qian Deyu smiled.

"Thank you."

He then turned toward Lin Xuan and cupped his hands.

"Patriarch Lin, please forgive the elder’s impatience. We have traveled a long distance, and the journey has left everyone somewhat weary."

Lin Xuan remained silent before nodding his head.

The scene he had expected didn’t happen at all.

Qian Deyu smiled once more before turning toward the delegation.

"Come. We have already taken enough of Patriarch Lin’s time."

The royal delegation finally began moving forward.

Wei Rong followed behind Qian Deyu, his expression thoughtful.

Mo Jian remained silent.

As he passed through the gate, he glanced once more toward the little girl.

There was still displeasure in his eyes, but he no longer spoke.

Qian Deyu had made his position clear.

Whatever strange circumstances awaited them within the Lin Family, they had not come here to start a conflict.

They had come to uncover the truth behind the appearance of the legendary Blue Whale People.

And for that purpose, maintaining a cordial relationship with Lin Xuan was far more important than winning an argument at the gate.

Lin Xuan walked through the gate after the royal delegation had entered.

As he passed Hai Yue, his gaze briefly fell upon the little girl who had just stepped aside.

Without giving it much thought, he reached out and placed a hand upon her head.

"You did good but put the chair back."

Her expression instantly changed and she could only stare at him in disbelief.

What?

By the time she was ready to make her move, Lin Xuan had already withdrawn his hand.

Hai Yue took a quick step backward, and then she looked at Lin Xuan.

For a moment, she simply stood there watching Lin Xuan turned around and already walking.

Her expression was still one of complete disbelief.

After a moment, she looked toward the chair that had been left beside the gate and then her expression slowly darkened.

"Why do I have to put it back?"

Lin Xuan, on the other hand, was in a bright mood.

[Like the proud dragon spawn you are, you made the royal envoy bend to fit your will.]

[Reward: 100 Large Pristine Spirit Stones.]

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Lin Xuan’s lips.

This would never have happened if Mo Jian had been even half as witty as that old man, Qian Deyu.

Lin Xuan was 99% certain that Qian Deyu already knew Hai Yue’s identity.

Yet he had deliberately acted as though he knew nothing and instead, he had calmly stepped forward, stopped Mo Jian from escalating the situation, and presented himself as the reasonable elder who was willing to overlook a young girl’s unusual behavior.

It was a clever move.

By doing so, Qian Deyu had accomplished several things at once.

He had preserved the royal family’s dignity, prevented the situation at the gate from becoming hostile, and made himself appear tolerant and gracious in front of everyone present.

More importantly, he had avoided a direct confrontation against the blue whale people.

Lin Xuan’s wary deepened.

Old fox.