Chapter 3853 — To Intervene or Not
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
The reason it was named Hualan Residence was that only two masters lived there, and taking one character from each of their names had formed the name of this dwelling.
The character Hua was taken from Shangguan Tianxia, while the character Lan naturally came from the eldest young miss, Shangguan Lan'er.
Though the guards were extremely strict, Nan Tianguan, relying on the convenient identity of the Soaring Sky Pavilion's managing senior disciple, ultimately succeeded in appearing at Hualan Residence—and at this moment, Shangguan Tianxia was personally instructing Shangguan Lan'er in cultivation.
To receive personal instruction from a top-tier figure like Shangguan Tianxia—in the eyes of any cultivator, that was a blessing not to be earned over several lifetimes. Alas, comparisons were odious; this treatment that others could only dream of held no appeal whatsoever for the eldest young miss.
Just as now, when Nan Tianguan walked in trembling under the guards' escort, the eldest young miss was frolicking carelessly with Little Curly Bear, while Shangguan Tianxia, that lofty and majestically dignified Pavilion Master, sat to one side with his arms crossed and a bitter smile, wearing the pained expression of a man at his wit's end.
Affection skips a generation, and with his children all absent from his side, this sole granddaughter Shangguan Lan'er was absolutely the apple of Shangguan Tianxia's eye—even if not spoiled rotten, she was doted on beyond measure.
Unless some great matter arose, under normal circumstances Shangguan Tianxia would remain at Hualan Residence after nightfall, enjoying the pleasures of family while conveniently supervising Shangguan Lan'er's cultivation.
But what gave this Pavilion Master considerable headache was that although Shangguan Lan'er possessed outstanding talent and innate constitution, she had never taken the slightest interest in cultivation. Even with her grandfather personally watching over her, it was useless—she remained half-hearted as ever, finding every conceivable trick to shirk her lessons.
Otherwise, had this eldest young miss truly applied herself, with her exceptional talent and Shangguan Tianxia's personal instruction, she would by now surely have become an outstanding figure among the Soaring Sky Pavilion's new generation.
Seeing Nan Tianguan enter, Shangguan Lan'er immediately chirped joyfully, "Grandfather, someone's come to see you! Important business takes precedence—let's call today's cultivation to an end here."
Shangguan Tianxia was caught between laughter and tears. "Call it to an end? Little Lan'er, you haven't even formally begun today's cultivation—only you could say such a thing!"
"Hee hee!" Shangguan Lan'er stuck out her tongue cutely, and Little Curly Bear beside her pulled a funny face along with her; Shangguan Tianxia could only give up with a helpless sigh.
Nan Tianguan was, after all, the Soaring Sky Pavilion's managing senior disciple—Shangguan Tianxia could not simply ignore him. That Shangguan Lan'er had seized the chance to slip past this lesson was simply unavoidable.
Seeing that Shangguan Tianxia had noticed him, Nan Tianguan hurriedly knelt and prostrated himself, saying respectfully, "Your disciple Nan Tianguan pays his respects to the Pavilion Master!"
Before his sole granddaughter Shangguan Lan'er, Shangguan Tianxia was merely a kindly old man; yet before outsiders, he was a top-tier figure standing at the very pinnacle of the entire North Island, a top-tier power-holder in the truest sense. Even when he deliberately restrained his aura, he still made others feel an overwhelming might and domineering presence leaking through, leaving them trembling and treading on thin ice.
Shangguan Tianxia waved his hand, signaling Nan Tianguan to rise and speak. He said, "What business do you have?"