A Family of Hopeless Romantics, Except for the Evil Little Junior Brother

Watching Xiao Ran reignite his fighting spirit, Li Xuanxiao couldn't help but nod approvingly.

Keep growing stronger, young man.

Unless pushed to your limits, you'll never realize your true potential.

Only this way can Old Soul be saved from dire peril.

As for how this peril came about... better not ask.

It was worth all that mental self-debate to stage this elaborate performance.

As expected, after this incident, Xiao Ran returned to his former diligent cultivation habits.

Training through winter's coldest days and summer's hottest.

Making every day count double.

Would he go berserk? Would the boy go astray? Could others corrupt his values...

Li Xuanxiao tossed and turned at night.

It felt like sending one's child to school for the first time.

Yet Li Xuanxiao understood he couldn't watch over Xiao Ran forever.

Eventually, he had to assess his teaching results.

If things went south, he'd cut his losses.

Better than letting it become a fatal weakness later.

"........."

Daxia Capital.

The Chief Minister looked down at the young man kneeling before him.

"Zhang Haoran, you disappeared while guarding the Dragon Vein. Explain yourself."

As one of the Dragon Vein's guards, Zhang Haoran had vanished along with Shi Hao from the Ministry of Rites.

Shi Hao was later found, but had lost all memory of the incident.

Zhang Haoran took a deep breath. "This subordinate was captured by Liu Qiushui along with Minister Shi. During our escape, I covered Minister Shi's retreat but failed to escape myself."

"Imprisoned until now, I barely managed to return upon escaping. Hearing of the emperor's passing and the Dragon Vein's damage, I beg for punishment!"

The Chief Minister waved dismissively. "What could you have done? Even our capital's strongest couldn't stop Liu Qiushui. Your return is miracle enough."

Zhang Haoran bowed lower. "This subordinate failed his duty!"

The Chief Minister said leisurely, "Document your experiences thoroughly, then rest for now."

"Yes!"

Zhang Haoran knew his return from the demonic cult would raise suspicions.

He never planned immediate reinstatement.

After Zhang Haoran's death by Liu Qiushui's hand,

Li Xuanxiao had spent considerable effort recreating Zhang Haoran.

Crafting a flawless, undetectable avatar wasn't easy.

Only now had he successfully reclaimed the Zhang Haoran identity,

weaving a plausible backstory before returning as an escapee.

Instead of going home, Zhang Haoran was assigned a luxurious residence by the Chief Minister -

ostensibly for cultivation,

actually for surveillance.

He needed to document every detail while enduring constant tests.

But for Li Xuanxiao, this was routine.

Only after three months did Zhang Haoran finally return home.

His house stood in the capital's expensive districts.

Despite his salary, buying property here without corruption was nearly impossible.

The Chief Minister himself had purchased this house, showing unusual favor.

Though his junior sister Zhao Lu now ruled Daxia,

too many complications remained.

He couldn't remotely control her decisions.

Reading stories before, Li Xuanxiao always disliked how female characters lacked independence,

existing solely to orbit the protagonist.

Now he wished for such convenient "tools" himself.

None of the women around him were simple -

most outthought him constantly.

Except Big Silly Phoenix.

Thus this chess piece was necessary.

Knocking brought a waist-high girl with braids to the door.

Staring in shock, she suddenly shrieked:

"Big Brother Zhang!!"

She hugged him tightly, crying tears of joy.

This was the village's sole survivor when Hou Tianlai massacred it.

After killing Hou Tianlai, Zhang Haoran tried finding her a good home,

but she kept escaping back to him.

Her name was plain - Wang Erni.

At least it sounded like a background character -

unlikely to become another Feng Liuli.

"I thought you were dead!" Erni sobbed uncontrollably.

After comforting her, Zhang Haoran watched her excitedly run out with money,

returning with groceries to cook enthusiastically.

Knowing he was still watched,

Zhang Haoran practiced swordplay in the courtyard.

Soon his adoptive father Old Zhang arrived with family.

Once a retiring county constable who couldn't sire children,

finding Zhang Haoran seemed heaven-sent -

bringing marriage, promotion, and biological children.

His son serving in the capital was Old Zhang's pride.

Hearing of his return,

Old Zhang rushed his family to the capital,

planning permanent relocation.

Though adopted, Zhang Haoran received nothing but love.

Sitting in the courtyard watching his happy family,

Zhang Haoran felt strangely moved.

Perhaps such days awaited him too.

"........."

Though not reinstated, the Chief Minister frequently summoned Zhang Haoran.

Today, they visited Egret Academy together -

one of the seventy-two Haoran Academies,

Zhongzhou's premier Confucian institution.