C6 Director Jiang Yikong
After Xiao Yan and Xiao Xuner had left, it wasn't long before a formidable figure arrived, one who was even more powerful than Chiang Tianhai at Golden Core Stage Level 2 – he was at Level 4!
This individual was none other than Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan. Wutan City was known to have a greater overall strength than Fire Cloud City, suggesting that the Xiao family likely had the upper hand over the Chiang family.
The disparity in power could be discerned by comparing the abilities of the heads of the two families and their respective prodigies, although the gap wasn't enormous.
While Xiao Zhan's prowess was notable, Chiang Xie found himself more intrigued by Xiao Zhan as a person. After all, in "Battle Through the Heavens," it's said that without this dedicated father, there would be no Flame Emperor.
"Hello! I am Xiao Yan's father..." Xiao Zhan began, addressing Chiang Xie, but his expression betrayed a sense of urgency.
Chiang Xie wasn't quite sure what Xiao Zhan was getting at, but given that he was in the man's home, he responded courteously, "Mr. Xiao, please feel free to speak your mind."
Prompted by this, Xiao Zhan got right to the point: "You... Where have you taken my son?"
Chiang Xie was taken aback. Kidnap his son? That was absurd! Plus, hadn't his son just left? Could he have gone missing?
Noticing Chiang Xie's bewildered expression, Xiao Zhan quickly clarified to avoid any misunderstanding, "Where did my unattractive son go?"
Yet Xiao Zhan's explanation only deepened Chiang Xie's confusion. Could it be that Xiao Yan had undergone such a drastic transformation after using some beauty soap that his own father was struggling to cope with the change?
"I haven't kidnapped your son," Chiang Xie replied, somewhat exasperated.
In a state of panic and worried he might not make himself clear, Xiao Zhan grabbed a cup of tea from the table and downed it in one go, which seemed to settle his nerves. "After my son left your place, he was completely transformed, almost like a girl! I'm not accustomed to this! He doesn't even seem like my son anymore..."
Xiao Zhan's idea of masculinity meant having a robust presence, but now Xiao Yan, post-fragrance soap, was more beautiful than a girl... How was he to come to terms with that?
Even though he knew the young man was his son, he found it hard to come to terms with the sudden change. He had come to Chiang Xie's to vent his frustrations and to seek an explanation for the transformation.
Xiao Yan had claimed it was all due to a special soap Chiang Xie had used, but such a notion seemed ludicrous. If it were that simple, wouldn't everyone just use Chiang Xie's soap to become attractive? It was clearly not plausible.
The scene unfolding before him was a result of this confusion. Chiang Xie had a good idea that Xiao Zhan was likely worried about his son. What parent wouldn't be concerned about their child experiencing something so extraordinary?
With this in mind, he purposefully remarked, "I think it's not so much that you're uncomfortable, Mr. Xiao, but rather that you're concerned about Xiao Yan."
Xiao Zhan's face flushed with embarrassment as he retorted defensively, "I'm just not used to it. Concerned about that kid? ... Anyway, I have just one question for you."
"What's the question?" Chiang Xie asked calmly.
"Would you ever harm Yan'er?" Xiao Zhan asked after a long pause.
"Absolutely not!" Chiang Xie anticipated this question and he had never intended to harm Xiao Yan. He might push him to switch careers, but causing harm was out of the question—it was a line he would never cross.
"Then I'm relieved. I'll be entrusting Yan'er to you more in the future," Xiao Zhan said, rising to his feet and getting ready to leave.
Chiang Xie quickly escorted Xiao Zhan to the door, offering a warm smile. "Not at all, Mr. Xiao. Take care."
As soon as Xiao Zhan departed, the system's mocking voice chimed in, "Young man, that smile of yours is quite peculiar. It's obvious you're forcing it. What's weighing on your mind?"
Chiang Xie, incredulous, responded to the system, "Is my smile really that unconvincing? I thought my acting was passable... Yes, I'm bothered by something! I'm really not pleased!"
Back on Earth, he had been an orphan who entered the workforce early. To make ends meet, he'd worked as a stunt double, even breaking several ribs in the process, and all he could do was rest at home to recover.
On my first day after arriving on the Profound Sky Continent, I found myself locked in a cell. My so-called father here, a stranger to me, had already let me down. Have you ever heard of a father who would rather kill his own son than offend someone else?
So, when I met Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan, I couldn't help but feel that Xiao Yan was fortunate, despite being scorned and mocked by his fellow clansmen. At least he had a competent and loving father.
Thinking about the father of this body I'm in, it's like comparing day and night, and it's hard not to feel a bit melancholic.
The system, sensing my mood, tactfully shifted the conversation: "You seem down. I'll tell you something for free."
"What's that?"
"You lost some of your memories during the transmigration. It doesn't affect you much, but you've experienced memory loss."
That left Chiang Xie stunned. No wonder every time he tried to recall Earth, it felt like something crucial was missing. He had amnesia!
"Is there a way to get those memories back? Though I guess they can't be that important if they were lost so easily," Chiang Xie remarked offhandedly.
"Memory loss during transmigration usually happens for two reasons: one is due to bad memories, which the host subconsciously discards, and the other is due to memories being too precious. Since they're so fragile, they're more susceptible to damage."
Chiang Xie was at a loss for words. What good memories could he possibly have? Impatiently, he asked, "Can I recover them or not?"
"Yes, but you'll likely need to use Main Character Value to purchase the recovery from the mall. If I recall correctly, it's quite affordable—only 100 Main Character Value."
You've got to be kidding me! This system is nothing but a swindler, already eyeing my Main Character Value before I've even earned any.
Without mincing words, he retorted, "Who knows, I might just regain them on my own. Why would I need to buy them?"
"If you don't buy, be careful—you might end up losing all your memories one day. Young man, you could become a complete fool. Won't you regret it then?"
"Regret my foot! I said I'm not buying, and I won't. Even if I earn some Main Character Value, I'm not spending it on that!"
After a lengthy verbal sparring, the system and the individual finally came to a peaceful coexistence, mainly because they were exhausted... Otherwise, they could have kept at it for three days and nights.
The following day, the female cultivators of the Xiao family were in complete disarray. The man who was once considered a genius, now deemed a failure, had somehow transformed into an incredibly handsome figure overnight! This rekindled the flames of their youthful hearts. Suddenly, Xiao Yan's lack of cultivation talent didn't seem to matter to them anymore. They were willing to do anything just to spend a delightful night with him, even if it meant paying for the privilege! Witnessing the fervor of these young women, Xiao Yan was so frightened that he dared not even step out of his room. He sought out Chiang Xie for advice, only to discover that Chiang Xie had already vanished without a trace.
Meanwhile, Chiang Xie, the instigator of the young girls' infatuation, was now on the bustling streets of Wutan City. Holding a bun in one hand and a wad of cash in the other, he called out to the pedestrians, "I'm the director, Jiang Yigou! Our production team is hiring. Come be an extra and you'll get a meal! You can also watch me count my money and enjoy a bun..."
It was clear that his offer of buns and cash had nothing to do with any real benefits, and it was no wonder that no one was taking him seriously. With no one showing interest, Chiang Xie resigned himself to eating the bun and pocketing the cash before announcing, "The Xiao family is looking for recruits!"