The next day, to avoid the Special Department's surveillance and unnecessary trouble, Yunxi deliberately activated the concealment array on her flying boat. After slipping past all monitoring, she arrived above the Wei Lan estate, stowed the flying boat, and flashed to the front gate of the manor.
Yunxi's sudden appearance startled the guards. Their hands moved to their waists on reflex. When they saw the visitor was a beautiful girl in a white dress, one of them asked in a low voice,"Who are you? What business do you have here?"
He remained wary. Her appearance had been too abrupt, and she had not triggered any unmanned surveillance devices. He deeply distrusted her intentions.
Yunxi smiled slightly. "I am Ran Xi, invited here to see Mr. Wei Lan."
"You are Master Ran Xi?"
"I am."
"My apologies. This way, please."
The guard led Yunxi politely into the reception hall. The butler greeted her with courtesy. "Miss Ran Xi, please wait a moment. Mr. Wei Lan is in a video conference. He will come to see you as soon as it ends."
Yunxi nodded and said nothing more, sitting casually on the sofa.
After the butler served the prepared tea and refreshments, he withdrew quietly.
By then, Yunxi had already released her divine sense. She found that the rooms around the reception hall were filled with fully armed guards waiting silently for orders. Meanwhile, Wei Lanlan had been locked in her own third-floor room and did not know what was happening downstairs. Li Li was lazily curled on his cushion with eyes closed.
"Li Li, is the Wei Lan family planning to keep me here?"
Hearing Yunxi's voice transmission, Li Li opened his eyes, yawned, and replied by transmission,"This is all Wei Lanlan's father's doing. He wants to preserve the Wei Lan family's glory for the next hundred years without paying any price."
"Does his stance represent the entire Wei Lan clan?"
"At present, no. The guard detail was mobilized behind Grandfather's back. Today's 'impromptu meeting' for Wei Lansong was also arranged by him on purpose."
"Tsk, a father and son at odds."
"Yes."
"Say goodbye to Wei Lanlan in advance. If talks fall apart, we are leaving."
"Got it. Among the Wei Lan family, Wei Lanlan is the most clear-headed. Unfortunately, she has little say."
Li Li flicked his tail, rose from his cushion, padded to Wei Lanlan's side, and tapped her leg with his furry tail.
Wei Lanlan looked down at Li Li, then bent to pick him up. "Li Li, what is it?"
Li Li lifted a paw and pointed at the door. Wei Lanlan tried, "You want to go out?"
Li Li nodded.
Wei Lanlan held Li Li in one arm and reached for the doorknob with the other, but the lock would not turn. Frowning, she dialed the internal line. "Butler, my door will not open. Send someone to take a look."
The butler did not agree at once. He apologized, "Miss, your father asked that you remain in your room. He said he will handle the rest."
"How can Father restrict my freedom? Does Grandfather know?"
"I am not sure, miss, but it should not take long."
Wei Lanlan's eyes flashed and she cut him off, "Has Master Ran Xi arrived?"
"Miss, I am not at liberty to say."
"All right. I understand."
She hung up, then turned to Li Li. "Li Li, is your master here, and that is why you want to go out?"
Li Li nodded again.
Wei Lanlan knit her brows. "What do we do? Father locked me in. I cannot get out."
Li Li leaped from her lap, went to the door, and paused. With elegant ease he raised a paw and swept it lightly. There was a beep, then a blare of alarms. Three claw marks scored the door, and Li Li slipped through without effort.
Wei Lanlan's mouth fell open, but she reacted quickly, ducked through the rent door panel, and hurried after him downstairs.
When Wei Lanlan reached the reception hall, she saw Li Li already nestled in Master Ran Xi's arms. She stepped forward, a little embarrassed. "Master Ran Xi, I did not know you had arrived."
Yunxi stroked Li Li's head and smiled. "It is fine. I came mainly to pick up Li Li, and to meet your grandfather. But it seems the Wei Lan clan is not united. I have learned what I need to know. I will not intrude further. Excuse me."
She stood with Li Li in her arms and moved to leave.
Wei Lanlan wanted to stop her, but in the next instant two teams of fully armed guards rushed into the reception hall, cutting her off from Master Ran Xi and aiming their guns at Yunxi.
"You, what are you doing? Stop, now!"
Wei Lanlan barked the order, but these guards did not answer to her.
Yunxi disliked having guns pointed at her. With a flick of her wrist she formed an immobilization seal, then looked at the middle-aged man who entered surrounded by attendants and asked coldly,"Is this how the Wei Lan family treats a guest?"
Wei Lanliang glared at Yunxi with hatred. "Hmph. For those who offend our gates, this is how we receive them. Were you not arrogant? Did you not say our Wei Lan clan must pay a price? I would like to see what price you intend to name."
Yunxi stroked Li Li's head and raised her gaze. "Is this your idea, or the decision of the entire Wei Lan family?"
"I have no obligation to answer you. Today, I only need to keep you here."
He gestured to the men behind him.
"Father, you cannot do this!"
Wei Lanliang snapped with disgust, "Shut up, do not call me father. You, who side with outsiders. Our Wei Lan clan has no use for a coward like you. If not for Grandfather, I would never have allowed you to bear my name."
Yunxi gave a cold snort. She raised a hand and drew. Wei Lanliang's soul was ripped from his body. Zi Yan instantly coiled around it, and within a single breath burned the soul to nothing.
Before everyone's eyes, Wei Lanliang toppled headfirst to the floor and lost consciousness. When they looked back to where Yunxi had been, there was no one there.
Wei Lanlan's eyelids twitched violently. She lunged to Wei Lanliang's side, shouting, "Butler, call the doctor. Hurry!"
Sweat beaded on the butler's brow. His hands shook as he dialed the family physician's private number, urging him to come at once.
Wei Lanlan looked at the guards who still held their guns at the ready and shouted in shock, "What are you doing standing there? Get out!"
One guard, sensing something was wrong, stepped forward for a closer look. He jerked his head up at once and said to Wei Lanlan, "Miss, they cannot move!"
"It was, it was Master Ran Xi!"
Wei Lanlan understood immediately.
At that moment, Wei Lansong returned. He stepped through the door to this scene and, seeing his eldest son collapsed on the floor, demanded at once, "Lan Lan, what happened?"