C54 Meeting

"Stop calling me a big lug! I'm destined to be the Hanyu Family's future leader!" Hanyu Xiongba declared, his eyes blazing with indignation.

Yet, the young man and woman before him seemed unfazed by his booming voice. Hanyu Xiaorou had witnessed this act too many times and was now thoroughly immune to her towering brother's tantrums. She had a history of putting him in his place since they were kids and had long since adopted a stance of blissful ignorance to his complaints.

Hanyu Xiaotian, on the other hand, was still captivated by the recent thrilling "Pearl of Neptune price war." He had never encountered such a spectacle before and was amazed to learn that there was so much nuance to buying and selling. It was truly an eye-opener for him.

"Oh, I'm Hanyu Xiaotian. Pleased to meet you," he replied promptly when the girl, who introduced herself as Hanyu Xiaorou, greeted him.

"Hanyu Xiaotian?" Hanyu Xiaorou paused, then smacked her forehead. "Oh, you're the one in the family who can't practice martial arts—the so-called 'good-for-nothing'!"

"Could you possibly phrase that any less delicately?" Hanyu Xiaotian grimaced.

Hanyu Xiongba caught on too. "You're the 'good-for-nothing' who's always seen with Hanyu Duofeng and Hanyu Shengxi, aren't you?"

"Do you two ever start your day without a verbal jab? Calling someone a 'good-for-nothing' right to their face!" Hanyu Xiaotian said, his expression a mix of exasperation and disbelief.

"Let's just drop it. Who you are doesn't really matter. Take this pearl," Hanyu Xiaorou said nonchalantly.

"For me? But weren't you going to make it into pearl powder for beauty treatments?" Hanyu Xiaotian asked, taken aback.

"Do I look like I need beauty treatments? I was born gorgeous. I only stepped in because I saw our clan members bidding and thought you might get swindled, given how clueless you looked," Hanyu Xiaorou teased.

Accepting the 'worthless trinket' from Hanyu Xiaorou, Hanyu Xiaotian's mouth twitched as he struggled to muster a "Thank you," and then proceeded to transfer two hundred thousand yuan to her.

"Don't mention it! Consider it my treat," Hanyu Xiaorou said generously, giving Hanyu Xiaotian's shoulder a friendly pat.

"Huh?"

Something seemed off, and Hanyu Xiaorou's surprise was evident.

Noticing her reaction, Hanyu Xiaotian asked, "What's up?"

"Nothing. Just keep enjoying your shopping, and try not to get conned again, okay? We're heading home. By the way, you're planning to attend the family's Soaring Dragon Martial Meet in six months, right?"

"Yeah, if nothing else comes up, I'm looking forward to it."

"Great, see you at the meet," Hanyu Xiaorou said, and with a swish, she turned and strode off. Hanyu Xiongba gave Hanyu Xiaotian a long, penetrating look before trailing after his sister.

Hanyu Xiaotian was somewhat taken aback by Hanyu Xiongba's reaction. He had half-expected a look of scorn followed by a haughty reminder, "Remember, I am the future leader of the Hanyu Family!"

After their recent encounter, Hanyu Xiaotian came away with a very favorable impression of the sibling duo. Their direct manner of speaking might have been blunt, but it was this very candor, without any hint of pretense, that made Hanyu Xiaotian find them refreshingly genuine and straightforward.

"Sister, why would you even ask if Hanyu Xiaotian is going to compete in the martial arts tournament? He's considered a good-for-nothing by our family!" Hanyu Xiongba's thinking was more nuanced than the rough exterior he presented to others. He had picked up on something based on the way his sister treated Hanyu Xiaotian.

As for his sister, Hanyu Xiaorou, he knew her all too well. She was fearless, never one to mince words with any of her peers, regardless of their talent. The number of people in their family who could impress her could be counted on one hand.